Planning & Zoning: Crushing Rocks and Special Permits

By Susan MacEachron At its four-hour meeting on Feb. 14, the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) devoted almost three hours to discussions on the proposed dog park (see page one article), but also addressed the Foundation for Norfolk Living’s request to crush rock at its Haystack Woods development site and individual homeowner special permits.  Kate […]

Board of Finance Proposes School Cooperation

By Susan MacEachron At the February 14 meeting of the Board of Finance (BoF), First Selectman Matt Riiska reported on the current year’s budget and the bridge reconstruction projects.  BoF Chair, Michael Sconyers described a virtual meeting with the Connecticut Department of Education. Riiska said the lack of snow has been a boon to the […]

Project Updates at Board of Selectman Meeting

Eye on Town Government By Ruth Melville At the Jan. 4 meeting of the Board of Selectman, First Selectman Matt Riiska reported that two of the town’s ongoing projects are facing slowdowns. First, in regard to the proposed new firehouse, Riiska said that although a good design has been drawn up, there are still issues […]

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 […]