Eye on Town Government

by Ruth Melville and Susan MacEachron

The June 2 meeting of the Board of Selectmen opened with the board approving Jenna Brown as a new member of the Economic Development Commission. 

First Selectman Matt Riiska then updated the board on the status of major construction projects and other future town expenses.

The town has a balance in its Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) account of about $140,000, which will be used to help pay for four projects, all of which have been approved by LoCIP.

The first was helping to pay for new radios for the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD). Unfortunately, the new radios, which Norfolk purchased jointly with Winsted, are not compatible with the state system. The fire department is waiting for the state to update the radios so they can be used. Riiska says that other towns who have gotten new radios have run into the same problem.

Other town projects benefiting from LoCIP funds are improving the exterior lighting around Town Hall (expected to cost around $40,000); repairing the back stairs at Town Hall; and replacing the fuel tank at the Public Works Building (around $30,000).

Riiska has heard nothing further from the state about the bridge on Mountain Road at Route 272. This project will have to go out to bid again later this summer, with work then expected to start next spring. An engineering firm is currently working on the preliminary plans for the other bridge on Mountain Road, at the intersection with Westside Road, which spans three culverts made out of old boilers. Once that work is finished—mapping out the wetlands and the watercourses—the town can apply for federal bridge funding (at an 80-20 reimbursement rate). Surveyors are also out on Maple Avenue, again doing the preliminary work so that the town can get quotes and then apply for funding.

Traffic speed in town is an ongoing concern. Residents have contacted Town Hall to ask for speed bumps in two locations. One is at Emerson Street, where people come up from Shepard Road too fast, and the other is on Golf Drive, which every summer sees increased traffic going to Tobey Pond and the country club. Temporary, rubber speed bumps will be installed in both places for the summer. 

The NVFD has been unable to find anyone to repair its leaking tanker truck and would like to replace it. A new truck, which takes 16 to 18 months to build, would cost about $325,000. A $12,000 down payment is needed to build the chassis alone. Some of the cost could be recouped by trading in the old truck, or by turning it into a plow truck for the Public Works Department. Riiska will be taking this project to the Board of Finance.

Selectman Paul Madore asked why replacing the water main next to the village green was taking so long. Riiska said that the job was harder than state engineers had anticipated, since they’ve hit ledge almost every day that has to be broken up with sledgehammers. Also, state guidelines stipulate that workers have to be gone by 3:30 p.m. and that the hole be filled, packed and topped with asphalt. The work will probably go into August.

In other business, Tobey Pond went over budget last year, and the town will be keeping a closer eye on staffing costs. Riiska reported that the Firehouse Committee would be interviewing three architectural firms for designing the new firehouse. (A firm has now been chosen. See Selectman’s Corner for update.)