Community News

State Representative Maria Horn gave an energetic summary of actions taken in the recent session of the General Assembly and fielded questions from local residents during a Legislative Forum arranged by the Democratic Town Committee Monday night, June 22. 

Questions from the audience touched on such diverse issues as invasive lady beetles, litter, school budgets, energy and food costs, but the room really came alive when the topic of speeding was introduced.

Norfolk residents frequently complain about speeders both on rural roads and Route 44 but the state has done little to slow traffic. Horn said the State Police refused to enforce speeding violations after the legislature passed a police accountability act in 2020. 

“They felt targeted and were pretty mad,” she said. Little changes since then have begun to repair the relationship, but some communities now resort to speed cameras and traffic-calming devices.

Horn, co-chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, is running for election to a fifth term in the House. She enthusiastically reported that in her last two terms Connecticut has passed balanced budgets with bipartisan support, that state residents have enjoyed a large tax cut, that a historic investment has been made in free childcare,and that the state has increased funding for education while working to reduce property taxes.

She recounted volatile revenues—money generated by income sources that experience unpredictable swings—now flow into a “rainy day fund” to buffer against economic deficits. This fund has allowed Connecticut to respond to cuts at the federal level. 

Horn said when the reserve fund is full, excess revenues are used to pay down unfunded liabilities in the state’s pension programs, erasing more than $10 billion in pension debt since 2020.

The General Assembly also passed no-excuse absentee ballot legislation this year, making voting more accessible. She predicted that once it is in place, onerous early voting regulations can be adjusted.

She noted that legislators removed the requirement that state vaccine standards be linked to those set by the federal CDC, ensuring that Connecticut pharmacists can continue to administer vaccines that will be covered by insurance for recipients. 

As for immigration, Horn reported that lawmakers decreed that ICE agents cannot make civil immigration arrests without a judicial warrant and strictly limited the situations in which agents can wear masks. 

She lauded Connecticut lawmakers, saying that the Connecticut House is “a place of persuasion that makes it a place where I want to work.”

Normal hours of operation at Tobey Pond are 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week, but beach administrator Josh DeCerbo has explained that these hours are weather and staff permitting.

“We cannot legally open the beach if fewer than two lifeguards are available at any time to be on the beach,” he explained. “This can, and does, happen from time to time.”

Changes in schedules are routinely reported on Facebook and he advises that residents check there to see if there are any closures.  ]

DeCerbo said he actively communicates with the beach staff on days when there is a difficult weather forecast and about events that take place there. “We especially want to prevent issues relating to trespassing or use of the beach by the public outside of our normal operating hours whenever possible,” he said.

Residents should inquire about using the facilities in advance of any planned activities by messaging DeCerbo on Facebook.

Beach-goers are required to respect the lifeguards and obey their instructions at all times. Those who do not will not be allowed on the beach.

For information about permits to use the town beach, click here. 

The Northwest Resource Recovery Authority successfully met its July 1 deadline to assume operation of the Torrington municipal solid waste (MSW) transfer station. At present, the station will be operated by Interstate Waste Services and will receive MSW from seven Northwest Connecticut communities.

“The facility is up and running as it always did,” said First Selectman Henry Tirrell. “It is open five days a week to allow haulers to bring in materials.” He added that communities who are not members of the NRRA can also contract to transport MSW there. 

“It is our hope that all communities will join the NRRA, even if they send their waste elsewhere,” said Tirrell. “The NRRA wants to do more than just run the transfer station. In the future there is a lot more that can be done concerning recycling. If we all work together we can make it happen.”

The state transferred the property to the NRRA on June 30, and the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services handed over administration of the site to the local authority. 

A standing-room-only crowd filled one of the two communal carports at Haystack Woods Monday to celebrate completion of an affordable housing project that speaker after speaker described as a model for the rest of the state.

“It literally does take a village to do this work,” declared Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “This is a model for others and what we ought to aspire to. …The Governor and I often hear, ‘It can’t be done.’ Norfolk just showed it can make difficult stuff happen.” 

The “difficult stuff” was the construction of 10 stand-alone houses in a closely clustered community on what was once an abandoned gravel pit. The Foundation for Norfolk Living (FNL) has been working on creation of the site since 2018, battling its way through state and local regulations and arranging for funding.

Slightly less than half of the 39-acre site was developed and the remainder has been put in permanent conservation in collaboration with the Norfolk Land Trust.

Kate Briggs Johnson, president of the NFL and one of the architects who designed the houses, repeatedly urged attendees to enjoy the doughnuts served as refreshments. 

“Do you know what a doughnut and these houses have in common?” she asked, holding up one hand with her middle finger touching her thumb. “Zero!” 

The “Net Zero” structures will produce all the energy their occupants need. She said she believes it to be the first such affordable housing project in the state and pointed out such novel solutions as carport roofs created from solar panels that will provide all the electricity needed by the homes.

“Why Net Zero affordable homes?” she asked. “Because energy costs are so volatile. One of our new homeowners was paying $800 a month for energy last year. Next year it will be zero.”

At present, seven of the buildings are spoken for and candidates for the remaining three-bedroom structures are being assessed. Three homes were sold to households earning less than 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) and the remaining houses are targeted for families with less than 80 Percent AMI.

Jordan Seibert, program coordinator at the Norfolk Hub, is one of the new owners. “This was something I was not sure could happen,” she told the audience. “Without this, I would not have been able to own a home of my own at a young age in a town that I love.”

“It was not hard to sell me on this project,” said Seila Mosquera-Bruno, commissioner of housing for the state. “It was really easy to say yes to providing support for the dream you had—and it’s paid off.” 

A new plumber should be selected by July 10 for construction of the new fire house. 

The first contract was awarded to low-bidder Performance Plumbing, which abruptly announced in late May that it had closed up shop, disrupting the construction schedule.

“Just the day before our meeting last Thursday, [project manager] Newfield Construction got confirmation that Travelers was going out to bid,” First Selectman Henry Tirrell reported. “We hope to have a new contractor by the end of the first week in July.”

As holder of the payment and performance bond, Travelers will be on the hook for any difference in the contract and for costs caused by the delay.

Tirrell said the snafu set back the completion date for the facility by two to four weeks. 

Newfield’s Brian Grant told the Fire House Committee that normally, when there is an issue, it is evident early on. “But the issue with the plumbers was out of the blue and was not like anything Newfield seen had seen before,” Tirrell reported. “The bottom just dropped out.”

There was discussion at the meeting about whether enough due diligence had been done on the plumbing bids. Pressed to bring the escalating cost of the fire house down to an amount acceptable to the town, the committee had selected the lowest bidder “because that’s where you save money,” Tirrell said. 

“Travelers basically insured their ability to follow through,” he concluded. “Should they have done more to look into this company for a $400,000 contract? It was a big company, and no one saw it coming.”

Norfolk is a rural community challenged by limited commercial real estate in its downtown. The Economic Development Commission, seeking ways to stimulate business in the center, is seeking community leaders, key decision makers, anchor institutions, merchants and property owners who want to play an active role in strengthening and energizing the downtown.

The Town will host a workshop, “Building Interest in Main Street,” at the Hub, 2 Station Place, on Wednesday, July 8, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The interactive workshop will explain why Main Streets matter, highlight the benefits of a managed Main Street approach, and engage community leaders in discussion on strengthening the downtown and exploring the next steps to be taken.

For more information, contact the selectmen’s office at 860-542-5829.

The big green slide located on the grounds of Botelle School is again in need of repairs. The 60-foot slide, a favorite with the town’s children, has been replaced once and will have been repaired twice since 2019.

The town crew did final landscaping around the slide only last April.

“The parts are in and we hope to have it repaired soon,” said First Selectman Henry Tirrell.  “It had developed cracks at the top, so the supplier is going to add extra support to the top piece and extra rings to the structure as it goes down to prevent more problems in the future.”

The original slide, which was in place for about 20 years, was vandalized by teenagers in 2019. Attempts were made to repair it, but it was soon discovered that the wooden supports were rotted and needed to be replaced as well.

Replacement became controversial in town, with some residents objecting to the $80,000 price tag. Money was eventually taken from ARPA funding and private donations, but it was not until 2023 that the slide was replaced and opened to young children. 

Almost immediately, the replacement failed due to cracked flanges and improper footings, rendering it unsafe. It lay abandoned as efforts were made to get the supplier, Creative Recreation, to make an adjustment. After long negotiations, the slide was restored at no cost to the town. Creative Recreation is responsible for the current repairs as well.

Tirrell attributed the current breakdown “more to improper design” than to inappropriate use of the structure. He predicted that after repair the slide will need regular maintenance.

America celebrates individuality and two events planned for the town’s 250th anniversary celebration of the nation’s birth on Friday July 3 will encourage just that. 

A pie-baking contest will be held at 5:00 p.m. that evening on the Village Green, offering culinary aficionados a chance to show off their baking skills, while a bike parade at 5:30 p.m. is an opportunity for kids of all ages to demonstrate the power of their imagination by decorating their bikes, scooters or wagons in a patriotic theme.

The bikes will be ridden in a community-wide parade through town. Participants should meet at Town Hall at 5:30 p.m., with the parade starting to roll at 5:45. Riders will travel together to the Norfolk Green to kick off the evening’s celebration. 

Everyone is welcome to participate. Registration is encouraged but not required. Click here to sign up. Bakers should register here.

Edited 6/25/26, to change “Bake Sale” to “Baking Contest.”

Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of tasks when Norfolk celebrates the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding on Friday, July 3, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

The community will enjoy a special Friday Night on the Green featuring a parade, live music, demonstrations, family-friendly activities, a pie baking contest, a community BBQ and an ice cream truck. 

The sponsors are looking for assistance with activities, setting up and cleaning up. The event is co-sponsored by The Norfolk Hub, Norfolk Historical Society and the Town of Norfolk. Click here to volunteer.

Botelle School sixth-graders Abigail Bennett, James Collado, Mason Russo and Nathaniel Schneider all advanced to middle school at Northwestern Regional School District #7 during graduation ceremonies held Tuesday.

All four students received awards reflecting their varying strengths. Abigail received the Scholarship Award; Mason, the Achievement Award; Nathaniel, the Michael J. Mulville Award, and James, the Barbara A. Mulville Award.

The Achievement Award is presented to a student who has shown improvement through hard work and determination, and the Scholarship Award recognizes academic excellence.

The Michael J. Mulville Award is given to a student who exemplifies outstanding citizenship, sportsmanship and character, while the Barbara A. Mulville Award goes to a student who exhibits outstanding responsibility, character and integrity.