Eye on Town Goverment

Manor House tub draws comment at P&Z Meeting By Susan MacEachron The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) reviewed plans for an extension of the Rails to Trails network, heard concerns about a zoning permit granted for a new garage and hot tub at the Manor House and accepted two applications for matters that require a […]

Eye on Town Goverment

Wetlands considers new trail request By Susan MacEachron The primary matter before the Inland Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) at the July 1 meeting was a presentation by George Johannesen from Allied Engineering describing the Rails to Trails Committee’s plan to create a new trail. The North Brook trail will begin at the trail head on North […]

Wetlands Reviews Applications

By Susan MacEachran The Inland Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) meeting on June 3 included discussion and approval of work at a residence on Mountain Road, review of Great Mountain Forest (GMF) work plans, a truck accident impacting a brook and concern about spraying the phragmites in City Meadow and the impact on local bee populations. Wetlands […]

Selectmen Focus on Project Funding

By Ruth Melville The main item of business at the June 5 meeting of the Board of Selectman was to approve several appointments to town positions. Jesse Warner was reappointed as animal control officer, Bill Millard was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Inland Wetlands Agency and Libby Borden and James Jasper were reappointed […]

$480K, by the Numbers

Norfolk’s debt service explained By Susan MacEachran Norfolk’s debt service for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is approximately $480,000, accounting for 11 percent of the town government portion of the budget. The total cost to run the town will exceed $9 million in 2024/25. Town government is 47 percent of the budget, and education costs […]

Eye on Town Government

Town Meeting Moves Quickly By Avice Meehan With about two dozen residents in attendance, Norfolk’s proposed $9.074 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year was approved without discussion and only one dissenting vote at the May 13 annual town meeting held at the Botelle School Hall of Flags. Immediately after the 15-minute meeting, the Board […]

Modest Tax Increase in a Difficult Year

By Susan MacEachron The Board of Finance approved a 2.5 percent increase in the mill rate for the fiscal year 2024/25 budget at its special meeting on April 23. To keep the tax increase below 3 percent, the significant increases in the education components of the budget were partially offset by a larger than usual […]

Eye on Town Government

Board of Selectmen April Meeting By Ruth Melville In the main item of business at the Board of Selectmen (BoS) meeting on April 3, First Selectman Matt Riiska raised the question of the Town of Norfolk’s 25-year $4 million loan from Dime Bank to pay for the reconstruction of Maple Ave and the new roof […]

Eye on Town Government

P&Z Approves Home Business By Susan MacEachron The Planning & Zoning Commission determined that a home-based dog training business could be approved for a zoning permit at its meeting on April 9. Annie Johnson introduced herself to the commissioners and described how she moved to Norfolk last year and wanted to start a dog training […]

P&Z Gives No to Parking Lot on Ashpotag

By Susan MacEachron Norfolk’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has given the green light to construction of a drivewayand parking lot across the street from the sober house now operating on Ashpohtag Road. Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan, which runs the sober house as part of its extendedresidential treatment program, said the additional parking […]