Norfolk Voters Speak Their Minds

By Avice Meehan
In recent years, Norfolk’s annual town meeting has been short, sharp and poorly attended. Not so this year, when more than 100 residents crowded into the Hall of Flags at Botelle Elementary school on May 12 to make their voices heard on two disparate topics: an appropriation for City Meadow and the question of whether to make the role of town clerk an appointed position.

Opposition to City Meadow was not enough to derail approval of the proposed budget for 2025-26 and it passed by a 71-36 hand-counted vote. Total expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year are $9.237 million, but the amount to be raised through taxes will be $8.24 million after state funds, fees and other revenues are accounted for.

Voters overwhelmingly rejected the idea of making the town clerk an appointed position in a voice vote that left no room for doubt.

Town Clerk Debbie Nelson opened the meeting with a call for nominations for moderator. There being no candidate other than Richard Byrne put forward, he was elected by acclamation and the meeting got underway. Voters got through the first five items with dispatch (summary below) and then the meeting took on a life of its own.

Questions about the $40,000 line item for maintenance of the town-owned City Meadow property—a wetland crisscrossed by an elevated boardwalk that can be entered from Robertson Plaza—had begun bubbling up at the Board of Finance meeting, where member Jeff Torrant objected to the spending. He was the sole dissenting vote on the town’s net budget of $8.24 million.

“When City Meadow came to Planning and Zoning in 2017 for a special permit, we were told in no uncertain terms that no town money would be used,” said Edward “Ned” Barron, a member of the P&Z.

First Selectman Matt Riiska, who was not in office at the time, said he could not speak to any assurances that may have been offered. He noted that much of the work has been funded through state grants or private donations and that a campaign to raise additional funds is being led by Libby Borden and George Cronin, co-chairs of Friends of the Meadow. He said the appropriation, which would supplement ongoing efforts to eradicate invasive plants, would cost $24 a year for a person with a home assessed at $220,000.

Opponents were not satisfied. Speakers sought a guarantee that no further money would be spent (not possible) and questioned whether enough people even use City Meadow to justify maintaining it. Supporters countered by describing it as an asset to the town and as an appealing venue for bird walks, among other activities.

The resolution to make the town clerk an appointed position was the final item of the evening. Like many other communities, Norfolk voters have already voted to make some town offices appointed rather than elected. These include the tax collector and assessor.

Riiska had surfaced the idea of converting the town clerk’s office to an appointed position some months ago following the resignation of clerk Linda Perkins for health reasons. The two had clashed over a variety of matters, including the office’s hours of operation. At the town meeting, Riiska said appointing a town clerk would provide “some control over the office.”

Voters were having none of it. Norfolk’s town clerk is not typically a partisan role, with candidates cross-endorsed by both political parties, but many at the meeting had been galvanized by emails circulated by members of the Democratic Town Committee. They described the move to an appointed town clerk as a loss of democracy for Norfolk.

Resident Walter Godlewski said the resolution was “insulting” and described it as a “power grab by the Board of Selectmen,” a line that drew applause. He said, “an elected town clerk is directly accountable to us” and that the job should be held by a Norfolk resident. The individuals in the town’s appointed roles have been recruited from outside Norfolk and generally work for multiple communities. The majority of Connecticut’s town clerks are elected.

Nelson, who had been hired by Perkins as the assistant town clerk, lives in Norfolk and completed the lengthy certification process. She was singled out for support by many at the meeting. “I think this is a solution in search of a problem,” said Bill Thomas. “I am personally disappointed at the way this was handled, and the only right thing is to vote it down.”

Actions approved at town meeting included:

• A requirement that the Board of Finance maintain a positive fund balance of 15 percent of the approved town budget.
• The expenditure of $7,500 from the Moore Bailey Trust to maintain plantings in the town center and City Meadow.
• Authorization for the Board of Selectmen to apply for and spend state or federal grants.
• Authorization for the town to borrow up to $500,000 in anticipation of taxes for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and further authorization for other borrowing as needed.
• The nomination and election of Deb Bell as a representative of Norfolk on the Regional School District No.7 Board of Education.