By Ruth Melville

Because of the Covid pandemic, the Cemetery Committee, which oversees Norfolk’s three municipal cemeteries—Grantville, Pond Town and South Norfolk—hasn’t met in over two years. At their April 6 meeting, the Board of Selectmen (BoS) appointed Linda Perkins to replace on the committee Pete Mulville, who died last July. Also on the committee are Stan Civco, Phylis Bernard, JoAnn Gundlach, Sandy Evans and Matt Riiska (sexton). The next meeting of the Cemetery Committee was scheduled for April 13.

First Selectman Riiska reported to the board that Lodestar Energy, the company that is installing the solar field at the transfer station, will present their plan at the Planning and Zoning Commission in April and at the Wetlands meeting on May 2. The Connecticut Siting Council will also have to approve the plan. Originally the solar field was to occupy 10 acres, but Lodestar wants to add 3.2 acres by the town farm. Riiska said that this additional acreage will produce more kilowatts and thus provide more money to the town, and he hopes to get the project on the agenda for the town meeting on May 9, at 7 p.m.

Starting on July 1, the town is taking over management of the town website. Riiska noted that the purpose of the website is not just to provide an attractive picture of Norfolk but also to provide vital information for residents. In addition to what is already on the site, the goal is to put online additional information, such as all applications (for dog licenses, Tobey stickers, transfer station stickers, etc.) the town code and Planning and Zoning and Wetlands regulations. The Selectmen will appoint the committee, and guidelines and a budget still need to be determined. There will be further discussion of the website committee at the May meeting of the BoS.

Bob Gilchrest, who is overseeing the City Meadow project, has told Riiska that the work should be finished in June. Once that’s done, the new Friends of the Meadow Committee will be in charge of future fundraising, maintenance and event scheduling. This project was funded entirely by state and private funds; no town money was used.

Riiska warned that with all the repair work taking place on Mountain Road, there will be a lot of disruption in that area this summer. The Mountain Road bridge will be closed until the end of September, the River Place bridge work won’t be completed before the end of November, and the water main repair from Route 272 to Falls Village will also go on all summer. Although there have recently been two breaks in the water main on Westside Road between the River Place bridge and Route 44, work on that section cannot begin until the bridge repair is finished.