Author: kathrynwboughton@gmail.com

NORFOLK—The Foundation for Norfolk Living group is still working toward construction of 10 net-zero homes. It has now installed the road to Haystack Woods, site of its new affordable housing development at the base of Haystack Mountain, and a new street sign has gone up, but final construction costs are pending.

The next steps will be assembling the construction bids and applying for a construction loan.

Foundation President Kate Briggs Johnson said the houses are designed to be highly energy efficient and to meet affordability standards. 

She said there is a new housing assessment toolkit available to communities as they assess their housing needs. The toolkit was developed in part by the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity.

Among other things, it shows that Norfolk has 109 households (15.8 percent) that they pay more than 50 percent of their income in housing-related expenses. The recommended cap for housing expenses is 30 percent. 

By this standard, in 2023, a family of four earning $90,000 would be making less than 80 percent of the area median income and should pay only up to $27,000 a year for housing. Housing expenses include rent or mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities and any homeowner association fees. 

This fact underscores the importance of developing more housing options that are affordable, Johnson says.

Funding will come from three sources: a federally funded Community Development Block Grant that flows through the state Department of Housing to the Town of Norfolk and thence to the foundation; a construction mortgage based on the sale prices of the houses, and a $1,800,000 Department of Housing grant.

The last grant is meant to cover the gap between the cost of construction and the price the foundation can sell the houses for as they will be deed restricted to keep them affordable. Buyers will own their houses, but the foundation will continue to own the land beneath them.

—Newsletter Editor

No town or city in Litchfield County currently has an adequate stock of affordable housing, Jocelyn Ayer, director of the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity, told Norfolk Economic Development Commission members. Speaking at the commission’s April 11 meeting to discuss surveys of housing availability, she reported that, at present, 94 or more workers travel 45 minutes or more to get to their Norfolk jobs.

Noting that the EDC’s function is to promote business growth, Kate Briggs Johnson, president of the Foundation for Norfolk Housing, said it would be fundamental to know what percentage of people living in the town’s affordable housing work in Norfolk. The foundation has already created 12 affordable housing units and is in the process of building 10 new homes.

While Norfolk does not have as large a retail center as some communities, it was observed that many residents are self-employed and operate service businesses from their homes.

“Employers have been pretty outspoken about their inability to find and sustain a workforce,” said EDC co-chairman Michael Selleck.

“It won’t hurt to ask questions of employers and I think it would be great to hear from people who work in town as to whether they have housing,” said Ayer, “A significant number of people who live in town can’t afford to live in town. They are severely cost-burdened in situations that are not sustainable over time.”

The paucity of affordable housing in Norfolk was underscored by Lauren Valentino, principal of Botelle School, who said there have been families who wanted their children to attend the elementary school but could not find housing they could afford. Botelle has 59 students in six grades and there has been concern among town leaders about the low enrollment, as well as about young volunteers not coming into the ambulance squad and fire department.

There was lengthy discussion about what kind of a housing survey would be appropriate for Norfolk. No decision was reached but the EDC will pursue. 

In other business, the EDC members agreed to write a letter supporting the Norfolk Foundation’s application for a $460,000 grant to install an elevator in the Royal Arcanum building. The elevator would make the apartments on the second-floor handicap accessible.

—Newsletter Editor

The Norfolk Food Pantry is encouraging Norfolk shoppers to pick up a bouquet at the Winsted Stop & Shop during May as part of the food chain’s “Bloomin’ 4 Good” promotion. Every time an appropriately marked $10.99 bouquet is sold, the Norfolk Food Pantry will receive $1.

The food pantry, https://norfolkct.org/directory/the-norfolk-net-food-pantry-clothes-closet/located in Battell Chapel, 12 Litchfield Rd., has experienced increased demand since covid struck. Demand increased even more when inflation soared following the pandemic. In fact, the pantry served 22 families this past Tuesday, a one-day record according to volunteer Marie-Christine Perry. 

Perry said food items particularly needed this week are chunky soups, cookies and children’s snacks.

—Newsletter Editor

The Rails to Trails Committee is nearing the end of a long journey as it prepares to construct the North Brook Trail along the former Central New England Railroad right-of-way. The trail will stretch from a parking lot off Route 272 North to Ashpohtag Road. 

The committee has labored for more than a decade to bring the project to fruition. In May 2023 it received a $399,725 Recreational Trails Program grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The grant represents about 80 percent of the total cost of construction, which has been estimated at $500,000. The balance is to be covered by grants, donations and in-kind services. 

“There’s been a lot of activity,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska, who serves as secretary for the committee. “We got an easement from the Archdiocese of Hartford and an encroachment permit from the DOT for the parking lot. Allied Engineering in Canaan has been working on the plan and that is nearly completed. We still have to go before the Inland Wetlands Agency and the Planning and Zoning Commission before we can start construction.”

North Brook Trail is designed for use by both pedestrian and pedal traffic. “The surface will be firm enough for strollers and even wheelchairs,” he said. “It will be handicap accessible and open for everyone to use.”

A long boardwalk will traverse a wet section created by an active beaver colony. “You used to be able to walk it,” Riiska reported, “but now it is pretty close to being a pond. Instead of getting rid of them, we incorporated the wetlands so people could observe the beavers.”

He predicted the trail will be ready to open next year, but that is not the end to the committee’s aspirations. “We hope to work with the Norfolk Land Trust and eventually connect to its Stoney Lonesome trail. Then on the other end, we want to bring the trail to the town’s center.” He estimated the total distance as about four miles.

Riiska termed the Rails to Trails Committee “an excellent group to work with … As many barriers as are put up, they really work to break them down,” he said.

The committee consists of Robert Gilchrest (chairman), Michelle Childs, Riiska, David Beers, Erick Olsen, Daryl Byrne, Andra Moss, Gary Scheft and alternates Marie Isabelle and West Lowe.

—Newsletter Editor

Edited 4/23/24 to reflect the corrected list of names for the Rails to Trails Committee.

The saga of Maple Avenue is coming to an end. A long-planned reconstruction was delayed by just a year as crews cleaned up after a massive gas spill on Route 44 that made its way down to the street through the drainage system. The scheduled work on a comprehensive upgrade of thoroughfare could not begin until late last fall.

Happily, it was a warm winter and work could continue through the cold months. 

“They will start working on forming up the sidewalks Friday and will be pouring cement next week,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska. “We also hope to put down the first layer of asphalt.”

—Newsletter Editor

First Selectman Matt Riiska has put out a call for more volunteers. Currently, volunteers are needed for the Inland Wetlands Agency, the Planning and Zoning Commission and other boards need alternates. 

“We’re desperately looking for people to volunteer. There are so many groups that could use members,” Riiska said. “And it’s not just town boards. The Lions Club is desperate for people to help.”

He urged anyone who has even an inkling of interest in volunteering to call town hall at 860-542-5829.

—Newsletter Editor

The legacy of pioneering environmental activist Rachel Carson will be celebrated this weekend in Norfolk with a hike and discussion of “Crossings” by Ben Goldfarb; a lecture on Carson’s continuing influence in the modern environmental movement; a children’s pollinator program and a play at Botelle Elementary School.

The programs are all part of the Norfolk Earth Forum on Saturday and Sunday, a collaborative effort by the Church of Christ Congregational, Aton Forest, Botelle School, Great Mountain Forest, the Norfolk Conservation Commission, the Norfolk Land Trust and the Norfolk Library. 

Saturday events include a “Books and Boots” hike and talk at 10:00 a.m. along the Tait section of the Billings Trail, during which hikers will discuss Ben Goldfarb’s book, which looks at how road ecology is shaping the future of our planet. Meet at the trailhead .4 miles east of the intersection of Grantville and Winchester roads. 

The program is offered through the Norfolk Library, and the Norfolk Land Trust. No hiking experience or reading is required. Register here.

At 2:00 p.m., a “Connecting Community and Nature” lecture will be held in Battell Chapel with Rebecca Henson, founder of the Rachel Carson Springsong Museum in Maryland, who will describe the effect of Carson—author of the seminal “Silent Spring”—had on the modern environmental movement. The program is sponsored by Aton Forest. 
Register here. 

Sunday brings a children’s program, “Help the Pollinators,” at 11:00 a.m. at Battell Chapel. Children are invited to come to learn about pollinator pathways, start seedlings of purple coneflowers to take home, and make a steppingstone for their home garden. Register here.

The program is offered by Great Mountain Forest and will be followed at 2:00 p.m. at Botelle School by the play, “A Sense of Wonder,” a one-person performance by stage, film and television actor Kaiulani Lee based on the writings of Rachel Carson. 

This performance, which is rated PG-13, is offered free. Donations will be welcome. Register here. 

—Newsletter Editor

The Planning & Zoning Commission did not issue a special permit to Annie Johnson for her dog training business as stated in the April 12 newsletter, but rather was exploring its regulations to determine whether a zoning permit could be issued for such a use. It concluded that a permit issued by Zoning Enforcement Officer Karl Nilson would be permissible. We regret the error.

A decline of $55,000 in municipal spending was offset by an increase in education costs of more than a half-million dollars in the budgets presented to the Board of Finance Tuesday night.

The combined budgets currently stand at $9,072,442 for 2024-25. Of this, general government spending and the municipal capital plan call for expenditures of $4,331,551, much of which will be consumed by salaries, benefits and infrastructure improvements.

Pointing to highlights in his proposed budget, First Selectman Matt Riiska said that $546,000 is allocated for roads and infrastructure, while another $40,000 would fund removal of dead and dying trees by the town public works department. Public works spending, at $916,249, consumes nearly a quarter of the general government budget.

“One thing I’m leaving out is major tree work,” he said. “We usually spend $60,000 on a private contractor to remove trees from along the roadsides.” 

Riiska hopes to save the town money by refinancing its $4 million loan for the upgrade of Maple Avenue, currently carrying 5.87 percent interest. If he can refinance at 2.25 percent, it would save the town $50,000 annually over the duration of the loan.

The town also has $1.2 million left after closing out its defined benefit plan and providing annuities for pensioners. Riiska proposes using $367,000 to retire the three remaining years of debt on windows and doors at Botelle Elementary School and the ambulance corps headquarters. 

Finance member Myron Kwast asked whether, with interest rates still high, it might be more worthwhile to continue the debt and invest the $1.2 million. Riiska said he would seek advice on the matter.

Riiska said he and Board of Finance Chairman Michael Sconyers discussed allocating $250,000 in unreserved capital funds to next year’s budget to help lower taxation.

In its presentation, the Board of Education said an unexpected increase in the special education needs of one student added $185,000 to the Botelle budget, boosting the budget increase to 9.54 percent. The total cost for local education is expected to be $2,655,086, up $230,630.

To lower spending, the board cut $80,000 in special ed salaries from its budget by decreasing the certified staff and hiring paraprofessionals.

Special education needs are also largely responsible for the increase in the town’s assessment for Region 7, which is slated to rise $341,751 to a total of $2,146,681.

If passed as presented, the total Norfolk budget will rise from $8,554,744 to $9,072,442. 

The budget will be taken to a public hearing April 30 and to a town meeting vote in May.

—Newsletter Editor