An Announcement and Lots of Work Still to be Done

By Matt Riiska

I have made the decision not to run again for first selectman this fall. This was not an easy decision, but being three months shy of my 70th birthday when I complete my fourth term, I have decided it is time. The past eight years have had its challenges to say the least. Dealing with all the budget and managerial activities is one thing, but there have been little things like the Covid pandemic, Hurricane Isaias when trees blocked roads and we were without power for a week, an 8,200-gallon gas spill and a flood that destroyed two bridges and washed out roads.

Having spent many hours at Town Hall attending too many meetings to think of, I asked my wife Linda, “when does the fun start.” She let me know that the fun starts when you want it to.

So, it is time to start enjoying life.

Until then there is still work to do. The River Place bridge, although completed, still requires reconciliation of the state funding, which will take months. The bridges destroyed in South Norfolk will require many meetings with the CT Department of Transportation (CT-DOT) to get them underway. The bridge on Mountain Road at Westside Road is in its design process and requires us to go through the bidding process and selecting a contractor. Although the state is picking up the expense of these three bridges, we will still be heavily involved.

The biggest project that Norfolk has ever taken on is the building of the new firehouse. The Firehouse Committee has gone through many ups and downs, but we are determined to provide a facility for the town that not only meets the needs of the fire department but also provides a building that is architecturally fitting and, most importantly, meets budgetary requirements. The committee has spent hours honing the design and an equal number of hours have been spent looking for and procuring state, federal, and private funding. This will not stop until the project is completed.
As you are reading this, Weekend in Norfolk will be in full swing. How time flies, with this being the 10th anniversary of this wonderful event. So, if you see Sue Frisch or one of her dedicated volunteers tell them thanks for all their work in making this event a success.

Have a great summer and please slow down and enjoy everything Norfolk has to offer.