Eye on Town Goverment

By Susan MacEachron

The Inland Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) reviewed the proposed solar array at the Norfolk town farm at its June 6 meeting and determined that the impact on wetlands would be minimal. Wetlands Chair Hartley Mead proposed sending a letter to the Planning & Zoning Commission explaining their reasons for approval.  

Wetlands Enforcement Officer Michael Halloran next described the plan to abandon a previously granted special permit for construction of a five-bay garage/barn by Studio LLC at 139 Mountain Road. The owner now plans to build a four-bay structure and increase the size of the existing house. None of the proposed construction is in wetlands and the plan was approved.

Wetlands also approved a new septic tank and field at 952 Route 183. The location is very close to Sandy Brook. Halloran said the Connecticut Department of Public Health had granted an exception to allow the project and that it was approved by the Torrington Area Health District.  

Moving on, Mead expressed his concern about the material being used in an erosion control sock provided by Franklin Erosion Control. He had a sample of the sock material, advertised as biodegradable, and he questioned whether it would degrade. In a follow-up call with the manufacturer of the product, Filtrexx, company representative David Olexson explained that the Filtrexx Siltsoxx was a significant improvement over the more common silt fencing made from a material that never degrades. Filtrexx makes two types of Siltsoxx products. One, the type Mead displayed, is photo degradable plastic and takes from two to five years to degrade. The other has a wood fiber exterior and is 100 percent biodegradable within one year. Olexson said the wood fiber product is somewhat more expensive and harder to handle. Filtrexx emphasizes that it needs to be installed within three to four days of being delivered or it will start to fall apart when it is moved around.