Nonprofits and Volunteer Commissions Play an Important Role in Town Life

By Lindsey Pizzica Rotolo

The Coalition for Sound Growth [CSG] was formed 11 years ago out of a need to provide a thorough, scientific study on the potential environmental impact of the proposed Yale Farm Golf Course. The group went on to spearhead the revision of the town plan in 2009, and decided then that their mission moving forward would be to enact the strategies quantified in that plan.

This charge enables the organization to be involved in a stunning diversity of pursuits, from the institution of annual water testing at Tobey Pond to the implementation of a First Alert program for the town, to the small business Micro Loan Program through National Iron Bank, and the creation (along with the Economic Development Commission) of a “Welcome Wagon” type of brochure for new residents.

CSG President Vint Lawrence shudders at the thought of being compared to a civic association, as that implies some element of bureaucracy. “What makes a community a community are the non-governmental organizations [NGOs], and Norfolk has a huge number of them.” Along that vein, one of CSG’s goals for 2014 is to visit each and every volunteer group in town (including town government commissions) to find out exactly what each organization is working on. “We are keeping an open mind as we do this, and just seeing where it goes,” Lawrence said. “We’ve always been committed to getting the ball rolling on various projects, and then passing it off to a more appropriate organization.”

Lawrence uses Town Planner Glen Chalder’s analogy of the NGOs as silos on a farm with CSG helping to build bridges between the silos. “We look forward to getting these organizations together for a night to enhance the brainstorming process,” Lawrence said. His 2013 newsletter describes the coalition as being “unique in its ability to spontaneously intervene for the common good,” which is music to the ears of Litchfield County resident Steve Lehman.

Lehman shared his desire for our non-profit groups to work together toward a common goal at the Norfolk 2023! symposium in October. He came up with the Scenic & Wild Northwest Connecticut initiative as a reaction to “Connecticut’s long history of poor planning and the ill-conceived wind turbine project in Colebrook.”

While still in the concept phase, Lehman’s initiative proposes that northwest Connecticut be established as a special “Scenic and Wild” zone to stimulate the economy, create jobs, protect habitats, advocate sustainability and promote culture. Under the plan, Winsted and Torrington would become centers for the arts. “It’s important to go on the offensive, and have the legislation in place to protect us from overdevelopment and other poor land use decisions. When the golf course was proposed, we had no choice but to play defense. If we are able to create a framework for future policy, we will be able to preserve the beauty and special character of this region for future generations,” Lehman said.

A meeting of the Scenic & Wild Northwest Connecticut initiative will take place at the library on Monday, December 9 at 6 p.m. Members of CSG will surely be in attendance.