Busy Month for Selectmen
By Avice Meehan The outgoing Board of Selectmen met twice in November; both meetings focused on ensuring a smooth transition in leadership from Matt Riiska to Henry Tirrell as first selectman. Two members of the new board, Tirrell and Selectman Leo Colwell Jr., also held a special meeting on Nov. 21 for a “get to […]
Eye on Town Government
Firehouse Costs, Traffic Calming on Selectmen’s Agenda By Ruth Melville The main topics up for discussion at the Sept. 2 special meeting of the Board of Selectmen were ongoing efforts to reduce the budget for the new firehouse and the possibility of setting up speed cameras in town. First Selectman Matt Riiska began with two […]
Eye on Town Government
Change in System Stymies Town By Susan MacEachronThe town’s ongoing struggle to manage a new financial accounting system, the higher than estimated bids for construction of the new firehouse and interim financing for the reconstruction of three bridges were topics addressed by First Selectman Matt Riiska at the Sept. 9 Board of Finance (BoF) meeting. […]
Eye on Town Government
Selectman Outlines Key Fiscal Pressures for Finance Board By Avice Meehan The Board of Finance received an update from First Selectman Matt Riiska at a brief Aug. 12 meeting that highlighted some of the fiscal pressures facing Norfolk early in the new fiscal year. Kevin Case, the new school superintendent, joined the meeting and said […]
Eye on Town Government
Board of Selectmen Discuss Fire District Proposal and Closing Old Colony Road By Ruth Melville With no items to be voted on this month, First Selectman Matt Riiska devoted the Aug. 6 meeting of the Board of Selectmen to a quick rundown of ongoing town projects. Riiska acknowledged that it was a concern that the […]
Thinking About What Comes Next
By Avice Meehan The most recent attempt to bring Norfolk and Colebrook to plan for the future of their respective elementary schools has quietly fizzled out—made official by a mid-June vote by the Colebrook Board of Selectmen to dissolve its half of a collaboration committee. In an email to residents, First Selectman Brad Bremer said […]
Annals of Democracy
Norfolk Voters Speak Their Minds By Avice MeehanIn recent years, Norfolk’s annual town meeting has been short, sharp and poorly attended. Not so this year, when more than 100 residents crowded into the Hall of Flags at Botelle Elementary school on May 12 to make their voices heard on two disparate topics: an appropriation for […]
Selectmen Review Town Projects, Annual Budget
By Ruth Melville At their April 2 meeting, the Board of Selectmen discussed a range of topics, including vehicle assessments, municipal solid waste disposal, road projects and the proposed FY 2024/25 town budget. The Old Newgate Coon Club has expressed an interest in purchasing 31.5 acres of land next to the Transfer Station. That parcel […]
Eye on Town Government: Special Town Meeting Planned
By Avice Meehan The Board of Selectmen held an efficient meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6, with much of the discussion focused on resolutions to be brought before a special town meeting that First Selectman Matt Riiska hoped to call on Nov. 20 (See related article, page XX.) Riiska walked his colleagues, Sandy Evans and Henry […]
Eye on Town Government: Selectman to review new job descriptions
By Ruth Melville Since Sarah Bruso will shortly be resigning as the town tax collector, Town Hall has drafted a job description for the position, which First Selectman Matt Riiska presented at the Sept. 4 Board of Selectmen meeting. The draft will be voted on at next month’s meeting. Pam Pelletier, an experienced, certified tax […]
