Author: Kathryn Boughton

Joseph Kelly took issue this week with the way First Selectman Matt Riiska described costs incurred in a lawsuit contesting the Planning and Zoning Commission’s modification of the Manor House’s special permit.

In fact, the costs were incurred over the course of a year or more, mostly prior to the lawsuit itself. 

Riiska told the Board of Finance last week that the town has expended about $43,000 for attorney fees, and another $6,000 to $7,000 for transcribing transcripts of the P&Z proceedings during the first few months of the lawsuit.

“This is not accurate,” Kelly wrote. He said that the town’s decision to retain counsel was made more than a year ago and took place months before the Manor House filed its application for modification of its special permit.

In fact, the town retained counsel for the P&Z on the advice of the interim Zoning Enforcement Officer at the time Manor House filed its first application, which it later withdrew.

Kelly further noted that the attorney attended meetings and public hearings, consulted with town officials and participated in drafting the P&Z’s decision. “This work represents the bulk, if not the entirety, of what is encompassed in the $43,000 fee,” Kelly asserted, noting that the expenditure would have been incurred regardless of whether the neighbors or the Manor House appealed the decision.

“Presumably, the town was monitoring the cost of the legal services being provided and endorsed this continuing investment,” he said. “It is unclear why this $43,000 bill should surprise anyone.”

Riiska agreed this week that many of the costs incurred resulted from Casagrande’s earlier work but said that the town was behaving prudently in providing legal counsel for the P&Z in a case “that was going to court no matter which way it was decided. We knew what was coming and we had to cover all our bases. The town has to support its boards and commissions and make sure they have the tools they need to do a proper job.”

He sees the earlier legal expenses as being part of a continuum in deciding the case.

The legal fees are actually closer to $47,000 than $43,000, he added, and “we are still incurring a large amount of money.” As to the “surprise” at the amount of the bill, Riiska said it was not a surprise, but it is his duty to report such expenses to the Board of Finance.

—Kathryn Boughton

Bibliophiles’ hearts are going pitter-pat this week in anticipation of the annual Book Sale sponsored by the Norfolk Library Associates to benefit the library’s cultural programs.

The event opens tonight (Friday), 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a festive fundraising party under the tent outside the library at 9 Greenwoods Road East. Music will be provided by Albert Rivera and his jazz trio while patrons enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a signature cocktail, wine and beer. Black and white is the theme, and revelers are asked to attire themselves in their favorite black and white outfits, formal or casual. Tickets are $50 and are available at the door.

The sale, frequented each year by book lovers and dealers from throughout the Northeast, gets underway Saturday morning. Evidence of Friday’s party will be whisked away, and an army of volunteers will arrive at 7:00 a.m. to transport cases of books up out of the library’s cellar to tables under the tent. Instead of delicious hors d’oeuvres, there will be a smorgasbord of food for thought contained between the covers of some 30,000 books, all temptingly priced and divided into 30 categories.

Seventy-five percent of the books are hardcover, donated from Norfolk’s private libraries. There are hundreds of art and photography books, cookbooks, oversized garden books, travel and children’s books. Other categories include history, biography, literature, religion and philosophy, social science, animals, business and law, music and theater, technology, science, health, politics, foreign languages, and recent and rare fiction.

About 500 “rare and vintage” books will be displayed inside the library and priced to sell in one day.

There is absolutely no early access. Boxes are provided, and credit cards are accepted.

Sale hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday; 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday (all books under the tent are free after 3:00 p.m.) and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, when all books under the tent are free to take away.

The Library Associates start fresh every year. Book donations are received year-round and stored in the library’s basement, where volunteers sort and price them for the sale.

—Kathryn Boughton

Kevin Case, the new superintendent at Botelle School, is chafing at the bit to get the school year started next Wednesday. “I am so excited to welcome back the staff and students,” he said.

Principal Lauren Valentino was also all smiles as well as she prepared to welcome back her charges. Over the summer, she and Case have been working to expand on Botelle’s educational endeavor to give student’s “ownership” over their educational goals.

“We want to personalize instruction for our students,” said Case. “We have 55 students this year and we will focus on the personal strengths and needs of each student.”

“We want the children to take ownership in setting their goals,” he said. “Sometimes students complete a task but don’t understand why it is important in their lives. We want them to understand why we are teaching them certain things and to set their own goals.”

Even young children can be engaged in this process. “Children in kindergarten, first and second grade can understand,” he asserted, “but you have to communicate it in language they understand. Every morning the teacher will have in front of them a target goal. For the younger set, it could be as simple as ‘today I will practice adding two digits.’”

Valentino said the program, “What I Need,” or “WIN,” is a continuation of one Botelle has been using. “We make all our decisions on research-based best practices,” she said. “The children work with the teachers to understand what they need to do to get to the next level.”

Case said he is also seeking to increase community involvement in the school. “Parent engagement is so important,” he said. “I am thinking of a mentoring program so people can come into the school, and the students have another person that they can work with and who they know cares about them.”

School supplies were donated by residents this summer for families in need and were collected at the Hub, Case said. They were distributed last week but the event was poorly attended and the supplies have been transferred to the school where parents may choose what they need. 

—Kathryn Boughton

After making draconian cuts to the plans for the new firehouse Wednesday night, the Fire House Committee is still faced with reducing costs by nearly $1 million.

The total costs for the structure, as bid, would be $11,072,420, including about $1,047,760 in soft costs, according to First Selectman Matt Riiska. The town rebid four of the contracts for the building, reducing actual construction costs by $421,525, but soft costs still keep the total tab far above the $9.5 million estimated last spring.

Of the $11 million price tag, approximately $9.3 million would be for construction and the remainder would cover a contingency fund and other expenses not directly related to construction, such as insurance.

Uncertainty about Trump Administration tariffs and their effect on the market has caused contractors to dramatically increase their bids.

Accepting the inevitable, the committee voted Tuesday to eliminate much desired items: the rooftop ventilation monitor, the tower designed as both an esthetically pleasing architectural element and a facility for drying hose, and a three-bay garage.

Eliminating the garage saves approximately $337,000. Riiska did not have exact figures for how much cutting the other two elements would save but hopes it could be another $500,000. Contractors’ “allowances”—the total amount they thought they could reduce their bids to help the town—would amount to another $65,000.

Riiska said a metal Morton garage can be built later for an estimated $80,000, saving almost two-thirds of the cost of the proposed structure. It would initially be a simple shell but would at least provide cover for the department’s trailers and ATV. The firefighters would finish the building later with volunteer labor.

The firefighters have also eliminated all the furniture and kitchen appliances, planning to use those currently in the old firehouse and attempt to raise funds later for upgrades. They also cut the expensive washer and dryer required by the state for decontamination of their turnout gear and will continue to use the older machines now housed at Botelle School.

If all items are added up, the amount saved would still not bring the total cost down to $9.5 million. “I still have to find a little less than $1 million dollars to cut,” Riiska said, expressing frustration with the “ridiculous” prices bid. 

“The hose tower bothers me in multiple ways,” he admitted. “Not only is it beneficial to the fire department, but it helps to define the architecture of the building. We’ve told the architect and construction managers that we want no frills—everything is to be standard, no custom colors, no epoxy on the floors. We’re doing everything we can to get the price down.”

The new, towerless design requires the committee to go back before the Planning and Zoning Commission to get approval, and the delay brings up the question of when construction can begin. Riiska noted that the bids are only good until mid-October. Also in question is what interest rates will be like at the time the town is ready to move forward.

—Kathryn Boughton

An afternoon of fun is planned for this year’s Tobey Pond Day, set for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. All are welcome.

The annual event invites patrons to enjoy a Pirate-themed party that will include a water balloon toss at 3:00 p.m., a Limbo contest at 3:30, a tug-of-war at 4:00, a walk-the-plank contest at 4:30 and a sandcastle contest at 5:00. 

A potluck and cookout starts at 6:00 p.m. Those intending to eat should sign up here to bring food (suggestions are available). Following the potluck, there will be a game of watermelon polo among the lifeguards.

—Kathryn Boughton

The Board of Finance heard reports from First Selectman Matt Riiska Tuesday night that concerned several issues of concern to the town, including the Manor House lawsuit, finance software woes and the formation of a fire district.

The lawsuit contesting the Planning and Zoning Commission’s approval of a special permit modification for Manor House has already cost the town about $50,000 and there is no end in sight. 

First Selectman Matt Riiska told the Board of Finance Tuesday night that the first few months’ costs have been for attorney fees, about $43,000, and for transcribing all the transcripts of the P&Z proceedings, expected to be $6,000 to $7,000.

The town was sued by residents who opposed the expansion of amenities at the Manor House, which operates as a country inn.

Riiska told the finance members that he does not have a lot of information yet and that no court date has been set. “Nothing will happen this year,” said Finance Chair Michael Sconyers, who is also an attorney. “Zoning cases take forever.”

Riiska said he has contacted the town’s insurer to see if any of legal costs can be reimbursed.

In addition, he told the finance members that setting up new software for the town’s finances has been “painful to this point.” The first firm hired was sold and the new owners proved to be incompetent. The town has now moved to SBS Accounting, a firm that “has helped tremendously,” Riiska reported. 

Finally, he described the first steps in setting up a fire district, an independent agency that would be able to tax for emergency services. The tax would be levied on everyone, including non-profits who that currently do not pay taxes.

He said he has contacted the town of New Hartford, which has two fire districts, and is receiving information about how the fire district’s function there. 

“There are a lot of components required by state statute,” he said.

Sconyers noted that a petition signed by at least 15 residents is required to start the legal process of forming a district.

“We need everyone in town who uses the services to pay for those services,” Riiska said. The fire district taxes would remove many costs for emergency services from the municipal budget and would require persons and entities , tax exempt or not, to pay for those services. “You’ve got to spread the pain,” said Riiska.

—Kathryn Boughton

First Selectman Matt Riiska has a punch list of things that he wants to complete before he hands over town administration to his successor, and creating a fire district is at the top. 

“The Board of Finance has tasked us to create a fire district,” said Riiska. “I’ve been collecting information on that. I think the Board of Finance is looking at ways to generate funds from sources other than the municipal budget.”

In Connecticut, fire districts are special taxing entities and primarily levy property taxes to fund their operations and services, which usually include fire protection. They can levy taxes on real property within the district. 

Fire districts can also tax personal property located within their boundaries and create special assessments on a portion of the cost of public works such as drains, sewers, sidewalks, curbs or gutters and upon properties specifically benefited by such projects.

Fire District levies and the details of their collection are outlined in the district’s local ordinances. Their taxes are separate from town taxes, and taxpayers often receive separate bills from each entity.

Riiska said Norfolk has about a half dozen properties currently not taxed that might be affected. “Some are large,” he said. “It will take an ordinance, and the state statutes require a lot of components. I have been talking to other towns, looking at how they handle it.” Ordinances require public hearings and town meeting votes before they can be enacted.

He said that neighboring Canaan, formed in 1902, nine years before the town’s fire department was formed, has a fire district that has nothing to do with fire protection. It is mostly concerned with town sewers, streetlights and sidewalks. 

“Ours would be for emergency services—fire and ambulance,” he said. “I have been meeting with the assessor. We would have to create a mill rate for everyone within the borders of the community because everyone uses emergency services.” 

The creation of a Fire District would transfer support of the emergency services to the new taxing entity and remove it from the municipal budget. There are several fire districts in Northwest Connecticut, including in Barkhamsted, Canaan, Litchfield, New Hartford (which recently reduced its number of districts from three to two) and Winchester.

—Kathryn Boughton

Still dismayed by bids coming in a million dollars higher than expected, the Fire House Building Committee is slated to meet Wednesday, August 13, to discuss alternate plans for the building it hopes to put up on Shepard Road.

An agenda and other meeting details will be posted here when available.

“Between now and then we will have the information that the architect and construction management team are compiling,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska. “Newfield Construction had to meet with all the low bidders to make sure they have bid correctly, and I have sent committee members an update on where we are and what is going on. They are aware of everything. We’re looking at alternatives. It’s not going to be easy, but we will make it happen.”

NOTE: Edited 8/11/25 to correct date.

—Kathryn Boughton

Town officials will close access to through traffic on Old Colony Road within the next three weeks. First Selectman Matt Riiska said the closure will be completed when the road foreman returns from vacation and signage is in hand.

Many motorists use the steep, narrow town road as a bypass rather than waiting in line for the lights to change on Route 44 on either end of a major DOT road project just west of town. The multi-year project is replacing a deteriorating retaining wall on the north side of the road, at the same time modestly increasing the width of the road. Work should be complete in September 2026.

Last year, the state closed the eastbound lane and installed temporary lights. The lights detain motorists by at least two minutes, and it often takes two or even three tries to make it through the narrow passage that locals call “the chute.” 

To avoid delay, motorists often detour over Old Colony between routes 272 and 44. This concerns residents, the crew at the town garage and construction workers at the new affordable housing complex. 

“People don’t slow down, and the visibility is not good,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska.  

Riiska said signage and barricades will be installed on the Route 44 end informing motorists that Old Colony is closed, as well as on the Route 272 end.

He noted that the state will soon be working on top of the ridge off Old Colony Road. “When they are not working there, they will put cones out to block the road to through traffic,” he said.

GPS is one reason that motorists are using Old Colony, according to Amy Hare, project manager for the DOT, explaining that Waze or Google Maps see the detour taken repeatedly and then incorporate it into their recommendations.

Hare tried to report the road was closed at the beginning of the project, but to no avail.

The Fire Department said it can work with the closures if the barricades can removed by hand in case of emergencies. “We may have to use Old Colony to respond to emergencies if the traffic at the light is super backed up,” wrote Fire Chief Brian Hutchins.

—Kathryn Boughton

The elegant edifice that Alice Eldridge gifted to the town as a gymnasium in 1892 is suffering the ravages of time. Although the building on Maple Avenue, now Norfolk’s Town Hall, is still distinguished by Victorian-era flourishes that make it unique among the region’s municipal buildings, its side staircase is badly deteriorated. 

First Selectman Matt Riiska hopes to repair it before he leaves office this November. “We will get work going on the stairs soon,” he promised this week. “We have a local mason who is willing to take on the job and he will work with the public works department to lift off the [heavier] stones.”

Because of its age, getting matching materials was an issue, but Riiska has an ace up his sleeve—when the state dismantled a bridge several years ago, it offered state municipalities the brownstone that was being removed. Riiska ended up with a treasure trove of the material stored at the town’s transfer station.

“Some of it was cut, but most of it is not,” he said, adding that he is working with the mason to figure out how to integrate it into the new staircase. 

He said the brick used in the stairs is no longer available except by special order. “It was Perth Amboy Roman brick, which is narrower and has little flecks of iron in it,” he explained. “It was popular at the turn of the 19th century, but not now. We don’t need enough of it to justify a special order so we will blend in the brick we have with the brownstone.”

Riiska noted that the town, with Yankee frugality, saves everything. “We have granite curbing, slate, whatever. Some people even try to buy it from us,” he said.

—Kathryn Boughton