Eye on Town Government

by Susan MacEachron

At its Jan. 3 meeting, the Inlands Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) continued its public hearing to discuss the application by First Selectman Matt Riiska to allow use of the town farm by third parties for processing material. 

The town farm is an area of approximately 180 acres owned by the town which incorporates the transfer station. Riiska had previously described how the site provides a convenient location for storing and processing material from work being done by Aquarion Water Co. to replace the water lines running through Norfolk. The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) determined that the use of the site by third parties required a special permit and prior approval by Wetlands.  After discussing the matter, Wetlands voted to approve the proposed use.  

As Aquarion’s work replacing water pipe proceeds down Mountain Road, the proposed plan, at the intersection of Mountain and Westside Roads, is to bring the pipe above ground to cross over Spaulding Brook, rather than digging underneath it. Several Wetlands members noted how that stretch of road is a walking route frequented by many Norfolk residents and expressed concern about the appearance of a large pipe next to the bridge.

Wetlands chair Hartley Mead noted that the above-ground pipe Aquarion installed on Route 272 South just past the intersection with Mountain Road is considered an eyesore by neighbors.  Wetlands and Riiska also discussed the fact that the bridge on Mountain Road over that section of brook is scheduled to be replaced in the near future.  

Michael Halloran, Wetlands enforcement officer, said he had been in touch with Snyder Civil Engineering, which manages the project for Aquarion, to suggest they coordinate with Cardinal Engineering, the firm engaged by the town for the bridge replacement.

Wetlands member Myron Kwast asked Riiska about the increasing water level along Westside Road due to beaver dams. Riiska said the beavers are active on the Ellen Battell Stoeckel Trust property, and therefore any countermeasures are not the town’s responsibility. He said he had talked to Jack Beecher, chief operating officer for the trust, about the issue.  Mead noted that many members of the Norfolk community are ardent defenders of beavers.