By Joe Kelly

Norfolk has hired a veteran land use professional, Karl Nilsen, to take over as Zoning and Wetlands Enforcement Officer.

Nilsen replaces Mike Halloran, who stepped down after 13 years. An earlier attempt to fill the position with a recent college graduate,  Alan Drapach, did not work out and the town renewed its search, ultimately landing on Nilsen.

Nilsen, 82, has a long track record working with developers and communities across Connecticut.  He has played a role in several large housing and commercial developments in his hometown of Derby as well as Brookfield, East Haven, New Hartford and Windham. 

For many years, Nilsen held municipal land use positions for several communities in the northwest corner including, previously, in Norfolk. In 2010, he was charged with over-billing for his time and travel while serving as the zoning enforcement officer in North Canaan, Burlington and New Hartford. Nilsen said the billing was legitimate and that the charges  were the result of a misunderstanding regarding the reporting of weekend hours. He repaid more than $16,000 as well as legal fees, but later reached a settlement in which he was reimbursed by the town of Burlington. 

First Selectman Matt Riiska said he was aware of the situation and obtained letters from  multiple individuals in both the private and public sectors vouching for Nilsen’s character. 

The position of zoning and wetlands enforcement officer is basically part-time. Along with Nilsen’s appointment, Marinell Crippen, who has been the secretary for both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Inland Wetlands Agency, will now serve as office manager handling a range of administrative tasks previously done by the ZEO.

Nilsen said he is excited about being back in Norfolk. “It’s a small town and very unique,” he said. “The affordable housing project [Haystack Woods] is getting a lot of notice all over the state.”