By Ruth Melville

First Selectman Matt Riiska proposed two appointments at the Aug. 7 meeting of the Board of Selectman: Rebecca Easton as an alternate on the Conservation Commission, and Philip Carr-Harris as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Both appointments were approved by the board.

In his monthly Selectman’s Report, Riiska first provided updates on the town’s several ongoing road and bridges projects.

River Place Bridge: The good news, Riiska said, is that work has recommenced after an 18-month hiatus. Unfortunately, costs for the project have increased, because of the delay and the need to address design and engineering issues. The additional cost to the town (which normally pays 20 percent to the state’s 80 percent) is about $200,000. Riiska has met with NBT Bank, with whom the town has a line of credit for the project, but he said he plans to ask the CT-DOT to cover all of the increased cost. Further action, including a special town meeting, would be required if additional town funding is needed. The project is expected to be completed in April 2025.

As reported last month, work on Maple Avenue is finished, but Guerrera Construction will be doing some landscaping and tree planting in the fall. Riiska added that he is in discussions with attorneys from Shipman & Goodwin about how the town can recoup some of the money the town spent on remediation work on Maple Avenue.

Riiska said currently plans to put a temporary bridge on Smith Road to provide relief for South Norfolk residents affected by last year’s washouts while the state concentrates on repairing the Old Goshen Road bridge. He’s still collecting information on the replacement bridge and will discuss costs with Board of Finance. Riiska noted that he has met with residents twice in the past month and he understands their concerns.

Turning to other town matters, Riiska noted that Norfolk has been without a zoning enforcement officer since Karl Nilsen resigned in July. Troy LaMere, public works supervisor, has been filling in temporarily, but the town has now hired Stacey Sefcik, who lives in Harwinton and works in Thomaston. She will be working for Norfolk two days a week.

The town also needs a new tax collector, since Sarah Bruso will be leaving at the beginning of September. Bruso, who is a member of the Litchfield Country Tax Collectors Association, is helping with the search for her successor.

As of the selectmen’s meeting, the town had not yet hired a construction manager for the new firehouse project, but was talking with a firm recommended by the project architects, Silver Petrucelli. Since then, Downes Construction, which has offices in New Britain and Providence, R.I. has been brought on to manage the project.  The capital campaign for the new firehouse is being headed by Tony Kiser and Barry Roseman, and the town has been seeking state and federal money. The fire department will also be working with a grant writer to apply for money for the sprinkler and ventilation systems.