By Ruth Melville

Weekend in Norfolk (WIN) was added as a separate line item in the Economic Development Commission’s 2022/23 budget at the March 10 EDC meeting. The two-day winter festival features art tours, talks on Norfolk history, winter sports and children’s activities.

Jenna Brown reported that the Friday Nights on the Green schedule is now full. The William and Mary Greve Foundation is sponsoring four musical guests and three picnics. State Representative Maria Horn has agreed to be a judge at the pet parade on June 17, and the Republican and Democratic town committees will be asked if they want to have informational tables on the green that evening. Brown requested $700 for one more band and $700 to pay Ann DeCerbo for her work on the flyer and social media posts. This request was approved.

Marie Civco, on behalf of steeple committee at the Church of Christ Congregational, has asked the EDC for a letter in support of a state historic preservation grant that the church is applying for to finish the work on the steeple. The EDC, considering that the restoration of the steeple would help tourism and thus benefit the economic development of the town, agreed to write the letter.

This year the town has received $241,199 in American Rescue Act Funds (ARPA), which are intended in part to help offset economic losses caused by the pandemic. A subcommittee of the EDC will be contacting town businesses, telling them how they can apply for ARPA funds.

Commission members asked First Selectman Matt Riiska if there was an update on the fiber optic project. Riiska said he hadn’t talked recently with Kim Maxwell, who had been spearheading the project, but that the Northwest Hills Council of Governments was still interested. Michael Selleck, co-chair of the EDC, said it might be worth inviting Maria Horn to town to discuss fiber optics and other local issues.

Riiska also said that the town needs to find ways of raising revenue, and he suggested that the EDC and the Planning and Zoning Commission get together to discuss ways to open up land in the center of town. Even a few more houses or a small condominium would appreciably increase the town’s real estate taxes.

The revamping of the town website is proceeding. Sue Frisch said that the design phase over, and Jim Jasper is currently building the new site, which should be ready sometime this spring.

Speaking on behalf of the Community Association, Marie Lowe said that the annual town cleanup day would be April 23. The rededication of the Battell fountain on the village green will take place June 12.