Handover Begins for Selectmen

By Avice Meehan

The Oct. 1 meeting of the Board of Selectmen primarily focused on matters related to the pending transition in leadership with two notable exceptions: emergency repairs to a bridge on Ashpohtag Road after a car accident and the town’s response to a complaint filed with the state Division of Occupational Health and Safety (CONN-OSHA). Leo Colwell, Jr., an incoming member of the board, attended.

First Selectman Matt Riiska handed over a stack of files related to the possible use of speed cameras in Norfolk, specifically at locations on Route 44 and Route 272. He said it would likely take a minimum of six months before the initiative could move forward, and that Norfolk would be able to choose from among several vendors if the town decided to pursue the program.

Riiska, who has met regularly with his likely successor, Selectman Henry Tirrell, also reviewed the status of Norfolk’s efforts to be reimbursed for approximately $752,000 in costs associated with the oil spill from Federated Insurance. He said “wads of paperwork” have been turned over to the law firm of Shipman & Goodwin, which represents the town, in response to a subpoena from Federated’s law firm. That ranges from the minutes of 15 meetings with Cardinal Engineering to 13 receipts and details of the $5,200 in lost tax revenues because of abatements granted to owners of three affected properties. He noted that test wells would remain in place for several more years.

Riiska also reviewed the possible sequence of events for the proposed firehouse, which was the subject of an Oct. 6 special town meeting (see related story). Matt Ritter of Phoenix Advisors, the town’s bond counsel, suggested a delay in executing paperwork related to the firehouse until the new Board of Selectmen takes office. Bidders on various aspects of the construction had agreed to hold their bids and he noted that the Firehouse Committee would continue to work on bringing down costs.

The bridge on Ashpohtag Road was damaged on Saturday, Sept. 27, when a Cadillac Escalade SUV owned and driven by an employee of the Mountainside Treatment Center went off the road and struck the bridge near 215 Ashpohtag Road. Mountainside operates a sober house at the base of Bald Mountain Road. Jersey barriers and barricades were immediately put in place. Riiska said he immediately contacted Dan Smith of Evergreen Construction for an estimate, which came in at $73,200, so that repairs could be completed before winter. Several weeks after the meeting, Riiska reported that Mountainside’s insurer was responsive and that the repairs are nearly complete.

Riiska reported that the town has been cited by CONN-OSHA for workplace violations related to a town tree-cutting operation on Lovers Lane. A town employee was operating a chain saw when a branch kicked back and caused a broken ankle. That employee has been out of work for several months, but the complaint itself was filed by another employee. Riiska said the town has been fined $2,000 but also received an additional citation when the CONN-OSHA inspector saw a violation as he was driving out of Town Hall. That violation involved the failure of town staff to place protective cones and warning signs around the mini excavator while working on Maple Avenue.

Public works employees will participate in several full-day training sessions run by the T2 Center from the University of Connecticut beginning on Nov. 6. Riiska had earlier shared information about the training sessions, which will include employees from other communities. Topics will include safe use of chain saws and woodchippers, wearing of protective gear and weather cleanup.

In response to a question from Selectman Sandy Evans, Riiska said the town currently lacks policies and procedures for the public works department. Supervisor Troy Lamere has been tasked with obtaining sample policy documents through the Northwest Council of Governments.