Josh DeCerbo is now on Board

By Bob Bumcrot

For the first time in a decade the Norfolk Board of Selectmen has a new member. In the November 5 election, Josh DeCerbo was chosen to
replace retiring Selectman James J. Stotler, Sr.

Raised in Wallingford, Conn., DeCerbo came to Norfolk about ten years ago. “I’ve always had two main interests,” he said. “Since I was
three I knew I wanted to be a scientist, while my passion for public service began in high school. Indeed, in high school DeCerbo was a volunteer peer teacher working with fifth grade students, seven years his junior. After school and on the weekends he loaned his labor to local political campaigns.

DeCerbo earned a PhD in biomedical sciences at the University of Connecticut Medical Center in Farmington. His thesis involved comparing protein location sites on genes to the approximately one million RNA ‘alu’ that can turn them off. “I’m good at analyzing massive data sets without bias,” a skill that he says “drives my approach to my work in government as well. I look at demographic and other data over long time periods and try to formulate effective, long-term plans.” This approach is reflected in his recent Norfolk Now article detailing a steep decline in the number of young child-rearing families in Norfolk, relative to Litchfield County as compared with the entire state.

DeCerbo teaches secondary-level chemistry and physics at the Masters School in East Simsbury, where he heads the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) unit. He is also completing a Masters of Education degree in a program offered by St. Joseph University on the Masters School campus.

A few years ago, DeCerbo ran against Sue Dyer for First Selectman, “Mainly as a way to introduce myself to more Norfolkers.” As part of this experience, he later ran for, and was elected to, the Board of Finance, where he has served for two years.

Although he plans to begin his term quietly, “learning and taking inventory,” DeCerbo is full of ideas. “We need to get better at telling our story,” he said. “There should be an internet contact place on the Town web site where people can communicate with town officials. We should work more closely with realtors to help create a warm, friendly face at Town Hall. The Selectmen have been very welcoming and collegial,” he added. “I’ve lived in a lot of places, large and small. Norfolk is the best.”