Dog Park Discussion Leads P&Z

Eye on Town Government By Susan MacEachron Plans to create a dog park in Norfolk were presented to the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) at its meeting on Jan. 9. Joel Howard, president of the Friends of the Norfolk Community Dog Park, said the proposed location would be on Westside Road about 500 feet south […]

ARPA Funds Distributed

Eye on Town Government By Susan MacEachron The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), approved by the United States Congress in March 2021, provided funds to address the continued public health and economic impacts of the Covid pandemic across the country. Norfolk’s share of the federal funds allocated to Connecticut in 2021-22 was $482,399. Funds need […]

Fiber Optics, Infinity Hall, Topics at January EDC Meetings

Eye on Town Government By Ruth Melville Recent developments in two ongoing town projects were discussed at the Jan. 12 meeting of the Economic Development Commission (EDC). Change in Plans at Infinity Hall Jon Riedeman told the EDC that the proposal from the current owners, GoodWorks Entertainment Group, to turn Infinity Hall over to the […]

Board of Finance Considers Town Projects

Eye on Town Government By Susan MacEachron At the Board of Finance meeting on Nov. 10, First Selectman Matt Riiska reported on several projects that will impact the town’s future budgets.  Riiska described impending state legislation that will increase the incentive for EMS volunteers from $1,000 per year up to $2,000. The town’s current budget […]

October Meeting of Inland Wetlands Agency

Eye on Town Government By Susan MacEachron Richard Byrne, director of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, attended the Inland Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) meeting on Nov. 7 to provide an update on the Nov. 5 gasoline spill on Route 44. Byrne described the ongoing work of digging out contaminated soil and drilling wells along Maple Ave. […]

Board of Selectman Approves Requests

Eye on Town Government At their Nov. 2 meeting, the Board of Selectmen (BoS) voted on two motions. The BoS affirmed the request from the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) to opt out of Connecticut’s Public Act 21-29, which would relax some restrictions on accessory apartments. First Selectman Matt Riiska said that, after discussions with […]

Board of Selectman Considers Proposals

Eye on Town Government By Ruth Melville The first item of discussion at the Oct. 5 Board of Selectmen’s (BoS) meeting was a request from the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) for approval to opt out of Connecticut’s Public Act 21-29, which, among other things, relaxes restrictions on accessory apartments (an accessory apartment is defined […]

Wetlands Agency Addresses Several Issues and Concerns

Eye on Town Government By Susan MacEachron The Inland Wetlands Agency discussed several permit applications at its meeting on Oct. 3 and addressed concerns about a resident who has refused to identify a product sprayed along a stretch of Bruey Rd. At the August Wetlands meeting, Ginger Creek Nursery had requested a permit to clean […]

EDC Discusses Fiber Optics, Economic Vitality, and the Future of Infinity Hall

Eye on Town Government By Ruth Melville At their Oct. 13 meeting, the Economic Development Commission (EDC) voted to give $100 in support of this year’s Tour de Forest bike ride, an annual fundraising event to support Norfolk Rails to Trails and Great Mountain Forest. Commission co-chair Libby Borden also took the opportunity to remind […]

Planning & Zoning Consider Cannabis, Home Enterprises

Eye on Town Government By Susan MacEachron The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z), at its meeting on September 14, approved a home enterprise application and a number of changes to the town’s zoning regulations, including classifying cannabis sales as permitted in a retail zone. The meeting began with a public hearing to discuss Lisa Ludwig’s […]