The volunteer ambulance and state trooper will occupy new space 

By John G. Funchion 

After four and a half years involving innumerable building committee meetings, excitement is running high for members of the Norfolk Lions Ambulance and the community, in anticipation of the grand opening of the new Emergency Services building. A celebration will take place on Sunday, September 19, at the corner of Shepard Road and Rte. 44 from 3 to 5 p.m. 

Ready to roll: Emergency Services Building celebrates its long-awaited official opening later this month.

The opening is the culmination of persistent efforts by an intrepid building committee, headed by Chairman Ted Veling. 

Leading off the day’s events will be comments by Veling, along with First Selectman Sue Dyer, Ambulance Chief Marc Tonin and an official of the Connecticut State Police. Activities will include tours of the building and the ambulance, refreshments, (including a cake), balloons for the children and a chance for the community to see how some of the technical operations of the ambulance corps work. 

Features of the new structure include an expanded bay for the ambulance, an updated, more functional meeting/training room, office space for EMS personnel, a much-needed kitchen, and a larger office for Resident State Trooper, Greg Naylor. Visitors can also experience the comfortable environment of the new day room, which has been designed to encourage engagement in ambulance activities as well as a place where personnel can rest and complete their required paper work. 

Architect, Robert Lamson, adhered to the architectural patterns of the surrounding area. Many observers have commented that they like the dual roofed, barn-like look. A unifying, neutral color scheme for the interior and exterior was devised by local Interior Designer, Ruth Ann Olsson, who donated her services. 

The $750,000 building was built with a grant of $400,000 from the Small Town Economic Assistance Program from the State of Connecticut. The remaining $350,000 is to be absorbed by the Town of Norfolk. Everything in the new building conforms to the standards of local building codes and OSHA regulations for an Emergency Services building. 

“The great thing is that we had town support in poor economic times,” Veling says, “and that the Lions Club stepped forward in total support of the ambulance corps. They donated the funding for all interior fixtures and furnishings.” Also helping towards cost reduction was the hiring of local contractor, Scott Reeve, as construction manager. 

Says First Selectman Dyer, “the State requires all contractors that are working on a public project have to be registered with the State. This process is long and costly. Having a construction manager, we didn’t have to do that.” Veling added his sentiments in praise for the work of Reeve and also that of Millenium Builders of Rocky Hill, Conn.  

Earlier plans for a larger building had to be scrapped when bids came in over one million dollars. According to Veling, “the most difficult thing was to scale down plans, yet having everything necessary included. It had to be functional for all users as originally planned.”  

Dyer also lauded the efforts of the building committee “for an excellent job in overseeing the entire project from beginning to final completion.”  

Still to be completed for the new space will be landscaping, which the town will fund.  

Photo By Bob Bumcrot