Eye on Town Government

by Ruth Melville

First Selectman Matt Riiska began the July 7 meeting of the Board of Selectmen meeting with an update on three capital improvement projects that that the town will pay for with state LoCIP (Local Capital Improvement Program) funds:

1. Replacing the fuel tank at the Public Works building. The new tank will cost $36,620 (the lowest quote offered) and should arrive in three months.

2. Improving the exterior lighting at Town Hall. The town is working with Kevin Fuscus (who also does the lighting for the library), on a lighting plan, which will include five light poles, two at the front of Town Hall, one at the north side of the building, and two on the south side. Estimated cost is $42,000. 

3. Repairing the sidewalk along Route 44 leading into town. The Public Works Department will take away the old cement and repave the walkway with asphalt. Riiska said that using cement would be too expensive and more likely to deteriorate more because of salt on the road. Total cost is $41,830.  

The town currently has enough money in its LoCIP account, about $150,000. The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved all three projects.

The town tax assessor, Cory Iacino, has given notice, and the town plans to hire a replacement quickly. This is a part-time position, and the assessor works in both Norfolk and Colebrook. Riiska will meet with the Goshen assessor to see if she can fill in temporarily. She also suggested to him that the position be posted on the website of the Litchfield County Assessor Group.  

Riiska brought up three issues that will need further discussion in coming months. The first is the town’s substance abuse policy. The question was raised by the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department in light of the recent legalization of marijuana in Connecticut. Riiska will meet with the Connecticut Council of Municipalities (CCM) to see what other towns are doing. He will also contact the Norfolk’s insurer, CIRMA, which provides legal services for many other towns in the state. The hope is that the board can vote on this next month. Any policy will also be shared with union for the Public Works employees and the town attorney.

The second issue is a policy on carrying firearms on town property. Again, Riiska is going to meet with our CCM representative, Mike Muzynski, to see what other towns have decided to do and to find out what the state rules are.

A third, related, issue is the discharging of firearms in town. Numerous residents have called Town Hall to complain about target practice taking place near their property. If this is a noise issue, there’s not much the town or the state police can do. State regulations prohibit firing a gun within 500 feet of an occupied building, domestic animals or combustible materials; or within 250 feet if you’re hunting on your own residence. Riiska will look into this more, but he said it will be a long process, and any rule will be difficult to enforce. The principal goal is to encourage safety and consideration for one’s neighbors.

In his selectman’s report, Riiska reported that under the American Recovery Act Norfolk has already received $241,000 and will get the same amount next year. There are no restrictions on how the money is spent, but any spending must be documented. Riiska will be taking this to the Board of Finance.

The firehouse committee has chosen Silver/Petrucelli of Hamden as the architect for the new firehouse.

The Public Works Department has been working on several road projects. Trees were cut down on Old Colebrook Road because they were growing into the road, pulling up the ground and blocking drainage. The road will be paved, probably at the end of August. On Laurel Way, the road was completely taken up and repaved. The sewer department also had to do work there, so the town will get $25,000 from the Sewer District to offset part of the $46,000 total cost.

Riiska will be talking with the Board of Finance about replacing the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department’s leaking 1999 Freightliner tanker truck, at a cost of about $330,000. It is hoped that the old tanker can be converted into a plow truck for the Public Works Department. 

The Norfolk Ambulance has asked for security cameras around its building. Kevin Haitsch, who is an ambulance member and an IT person, gave Riiska a quote of $2,000 and offered to install the cameras himself. The firehouse committee has requested that cameras be provided for the new firehouse as well.