By Ruth Melville

A delegation from the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department, lead by Fire Chief Matt Ludwig, appeared before the June 7 meeting of the Board of Selectmen to discuss lack of progress with finalizing plans to build a new firehouse.

Ludwig told the selectmen that the fire department was ready to start a capital campaign to raise money for the project, and they have also discussed with State Representative Maria Horn the possibility of getting money from the state. The estimated cost for the new building is $5 million, of which, potentially, $4 million could come from the state, and $1 million from a capital campaign, leaving no expense to the town.

However, to apply for state money, all the necessary permits and approvals need to be in place. Last fall, Benesch Engineering submitted a site plan for the new firehouse to the town Planning and Zoning Commission, which requested changes in the design.

In addition, the Inland Wetlands Agency told Banesch that they would need to see a plan for replacing the wetlands that would be disturbed by new building. In exchange for the loss of 5,000 square feet of wetlands near the firehouse, 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of wetlands have to be created elsewhere in town.

Both Wetlands and P&Z must sign off on the new plans before the architects, Silver Petrucelli, can finalize their design.

Ludwig said that the fire department is increasingly worried that the necessary permits will not be ready in time to apply for state money. He urged Town Hall to do whatever it could to move the process forward.

In response, First Selectman Matt Riiska said that he would contact Will Walter at Banesch to find out where the engineers are at present with drawing up the new plans.

In his Selectman’s Report, Riiksa said that the gas-spill remediation work along Route 44 is now done. The site will be graded off with top soil, and there will be a new fence, vegetation and swale plantings. The site will continue to be monitored for a minimum of a year.

Environmental Services Inc. (ESI), working under the supervision of Verdantas and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, is now moving its operations, including a 20,000-gallon frac truck, to Maple Avenue. The work scheduled to begin on June 19, and the road will be closed from Terrace to Mills Way.

Once the remediation work along Maple Avenue is completed, Guerrera Construction will come in to start the new sewer construction.