P&Z’s TOOTHLESS REGULATIONS

At the May 10 annual town meeting, Norfolk’s citizens, by an almost two-to-one margin, defeated a proposed ordinance granting the Planning and Zoning Commission authority to impose fines (“up to $100 a day”) for violations of its regulations. State law allows towns to impose sanctions of this sort, so long as they have the voters’ advanced approval.
Despite statements by P&Z chair Bill Riiska, vice (and former) chair West Lowe and P&Z’s lawyer Dave Cusick in favor of the ordinance, the majority were swayed by concerns expressed by a number of people that citizens should not be approving penalties covering regulations over which they have no say.
A last-ditch effort by P&Z alternate Larry Friedman to explain that voters do have the last word since they elect P&Z’s members failed to sway the majority.
What this means for Norfolk is that P&Z is left toothless, with lots of fine-sounding regulations about where and what individuals can and cannot do that may impact the rest of us, but no effective way to enforce them. As Riiska tried to explain, the only recourse available now is to sue violators, something that has never been attempted because of the heavy legal expenses and time involved.  Asked for an example of a current unsanctioned violation, Lowe cited the case of an individual who for four years has been flagrantly disregarding P&Z’s written warnings and citations.
Under these circumstances, one might logically ask: What’s the point of the town spending money to elect and carry a “regulatory” commission that cannot carry out its primary duty, or to hire an “enforcement officer” who cannot enforce the regulations?
P&Z will have to work harder to persuade the voters that an ordinance granting it enforcement authority is in everyone’s best interest.  Let’s hope P&Z and our town leaders don’t wait another whole year before giving us another chance to vote on this.
Ted Briggs

Canine Culpability

There seems to be a problem with owners who do not “curb” their dogs. The garden that was donated to the Village Green by the Norfolk/Colebrook Garden Club in honor of the 250th Anniversary of Norfolk has been the recipient of unwanted attention by dogs.
Some of the plantings have been killed by this unnecessary carelessness of the owners walking their pets on the green and not controlling them properly. This should apply to any plantings on the green or in Norfolk in general. The deceased plants have had to be replaced several times.
This is a serious appeal to those who walk their pets anywhere in Norfolk.
Curb your dogs!
-Pam Collins
Norfolk/Colebrook Garden Club