Changes to P&Z Regs Considered
By Susan MacEachron The Planning & Zoning meeting on March 10 was dedicated to a discussion of potential changes to regulations governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and family compounds and camps. P&Z also considered a new regulation addressing blight. There were no decisions. P&Z commissioner Jordan Stern has suggested revisions to Norfolk’s ADU regulations at […]
Wetlands Weighs New Fees
By Susan MacEachron An in-depth discussion of the appropriate fees to charge for a wetlands permit consumed most of the Inland Wetlands Agency meeting on March 2. Wetlands Enforcement Officer Stacy Sefcik reported that a site meeting had been held to discuss tree removal on Mountain Road related to the upcoming bridge replacement and that […]
Baffling Budget Move Needed
By Avice Meehan Norfolk voters will likely see an unusual item on the agenda for this year’s annual town meeting in May: A request to appropriate $58,366 for Botelle Elementary School for the current fiscal year. The action will ensure that Norfolk remains in compliance with a nearly 40-year-old state statute that sets out minimum […]
Regional Budget Vote Is May 4
The referendum on the Northwestern Regional School District No. 7 budget has been set for May 4 in Norfolk, Colebrook, Barkhamsted and New Hartford. If approved, the district budget would be $25.25 million for the 2026-27 school year, an increase of 1.74 percent over the current year. Norfolk’s assessment, based on the town’s anticipated enrollment, […]
Envisioning Botelle’s Future
The Board of Education and Superintendent Kevin Case will hold a series of community conversations beginning April 1 to help inform the future of elementary education in Norfolk. Additional conversations will be held on April 22 and May 20. All are from 7 to 9 p.m. at Botelle School. The project grew out of discussion […]
Botelle Fine Tunes at Mid-Year
By Avice Meehan The Board of Education received a mid-year snapshot of student performance and growth from Botelle Principal Lauren Valentino at its Feb. 24 meeting as part of a packed agenda that also included reports on completion of elevator repairs and praise for the “Blizzard of Fun” program during Weekend in Norfolk. Staff and […]
Eye on Town Government
Board Chair to Step Down, Botelle Seeks to Set New Goals By Avice Meehan Board of Education Chair Virginia Coleman-Prisco announced that she would step down from that role once the board identifies a successor. Coleman-Prisco shared the news at a busy meeting of the BoE on Oct. 14 that saw the board receive a […]
Eye on Town Government
P&Z Approves Permit for Greenwoods Road Property By Avice Meehan A multi-year standoff between the Planning & Zoning Commission and an entity known as Love Simply, LLC moved closer to resolution with the granting of a special permit to replace the windows at the yellow building at 24 Greenwoods Road West. A reading of the […]
Eye on Town Government
Board of Finance Updates By Avice Meehan During a 19-minute meeting on Oct. 14, the Board of Finance received updates from Botelle School Superintendent Kevin Case and First Selectman Matt Riiska while also setting the 2026 meeting calendar.Case has said he plans to attend as many BoF meetings as possible, addressing what was an often […]
Eye on Town Government
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 […]
