By Clark Judge
(October 25, 2023) — When Nancy Gorski took over as Killingworth’s First Selectwoman in 2021, numerous items demanded her attention. Deer Lake was one. PFAS was another. So were affordable housing and capital improvements. Nevertheless, she insisted that she was “ready for this” and pledged to address each challenge. Now, two years later, she’s ready for retirement – stepping down, along with Killingworth’s entire Board of Selectmen, after the November election. So, what happened during her tenure? Plenty. We sat down to hear what she had to say about it:
Q: You’re not running for a second term. Why?
GORSKI: “I came out of retirement to take this job. After two years, I realize that life is short and meant to be lived. So it’s time for me to go back to retirement and spend time with my husband and my family.”
Q: Was that a tough decision?
GORSKI: “It was, and I’ll tell you why: It was bittersweet for me. In two years, you can get a lot of things started, but you can’t get a lot of things finished. For instance, we’re still not quite there with the PFAS solutions that are required. But who am I kidding? That’s going to be way longer than a second, third or fourth term. At least I felt good about continuing to push that rock uphill. But I also wanted to do more for the Town Hall staff and wasn’t able to see that through because of time limits. The other challenge is that our Road Foreman (Walt Adametz) is leaving. He retires in January, and it’s going to take time to make decisions about moving forward with Public Works. For a new administration that will be very, very challenging.”
Q: When you started as First Selectwoman two years ago, you said that you were “ready for this” and “ready to go forward.” Do you feel that you accomplished what you set out to do?
GORSKI: “Absolutely. First of all, we got the back of Town Hall sided. That was something that was important to me. For far too long, we had birds living in the side of the Registrar of Voters’ office. So we got that done. When I think about my larger accomplishments, obviously there’s Deer Lake and there’s putting together a fair rent commission.”
Q: I was going to address the fair rent commission. You helped get that up and running, correct?
GORSKI: “I spent a lot of time bringing Beechwood into the Killingworth community. For far too long, I felt that it was ostracized; that it wasn’t part of the Killingworth community. It was unto itself. So going into Beechwood … understanding what was happening there … and understanding the concerns they have when some community took over … that was important to me. I developed a lot of bonds over there. One of the things I’m very happy about is bringing technology into Town Hall. We have hybrid meeting technology. We didn’t have that when I first got here. And there was a big push to get that in. But one of the big things I really enjoyed was: When you come in the first year and go through the budget, you’re sort of following along because you’re listening to what others tell you is needed. But in the second year — when I was able to contribute to the budget — you become owners of that line item. And you want to see it come to fruition. The (Town Hall) barn project was something that hadn’t even been on the capital plan. But the more I looked at the barn, the more it broke my heart. So we put $350,000 in the capital budget last year for it, and one of the best feelings I’ve had happened Monday night at one of our last Board of Selectmen’s meetings, I walked in with a quote for $322,000 to repair the exterior of the barn and to repair it ultimately for another capital investment so it can become a meeting space. And, sure as heck, they approved it. So I was like, “YES!” That was my going-away present. Shortly before the meeting was over I said, ‘For all of you who are here, take this as a gift. It’s going to take you a long time to get your feet underneath you, and, in the meantime, this barn would’ve continued on a downward spiral. So consider this a gift.’ “
Q: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
GORSKI: “I’m very happy that the charter revision is going to referendum. It’s not that I was on the commission, and I want to thank all the members of the commission. But navigating what is a very complicated process to get it across the finish line, with all sorts of state statutes … I’m happy that’s going on. But I feel my biggest accomplishment is what I’ve been doing to work with the engineers and remediate PFAS.”
Q: Is the PFAS situation the greatest challenge for the incoming administration?
GORSKI: I would say yes. So much so that U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney is planning to come to Town Hall Friday to talk one-on-one. Now, that could change. If there’s a House vote on a Speaker, Joe must go back to Washington.
Q: And your biggest disappointment? What piece of unfinished business did you leave behind?
GORSKI: “There are two things: 1) we didn’t get further faster with PFAS, and 2), that I wasn’t able to manage some personnel matters within this building that I was hoping to address before leaving – such as leaving them with having to manage the Department of Public Works. I wish I could have done it sooner.”
Q: PFAS, Deer Lake and affordable housing were hot-button issues when we spoke two years ago. Deer Lake has resolved itself. But what about PFAS and affordable housing? What should the next Board of Selectmen know about them?
GORSKI: “Affordable housing hasn’t gotten as much traction over the past two years because we simply don’t have the tracts of land to support it. Unless we come up with a different plan of conservation, we just don’t have the ability to bring in affordable housing. We’re all wells. We’re all septic tanks. We can’t even attract business here because they need city water; they need sewers if they’re going to be doing any manufacturing. I did hope to start an economic development commission, but not so much to grow the town. I didn’t want that. I wanted to have a commission that would control the growth if that was the case. Fortunately, the Route 81 corridor is doing its best on its own.
Q: We also addressed the speeding on Routes 81 and 148 two years ago. At that time, you mentioned the possibility of blinking traffic signs with posted limits. Yet that didn’t happen. Why? And is that a possibility for the future?
GORSKI: We do now have a speed ‘spy’ set up on 148.
Q: Are you talking about a blinking traffic sign?
GORSKI: Yes. So why wasn’t it done sooner? There’s more red tape. You have to go to the DOT to get permission. We did set up a Traffic Safety Commission. However, it was short lived. So we took that back to the Board of Selectmen. When the incoming administration comes in, they can decide how best to deal with that. I did start a dialogue with Madison to see if there were opportunities … not necessarily to have Madison police Killingworth because I’m very pleased with our resident state trooper … but perhaps to ala carte purchase some speed enforcement.”
Q: Are you talking about bodies or hardware?
GORSKI: “In terms of having Madison police officers on Green Hill Road, for example. The situation is absolutely awful. I was coming out of Beechwood last weekend, and it took me three minutes to make a left-hand turn … and the first car that passed was easily doing 75 miles an hour. I see it here every day. I was walking home one afternoon and listening to the kids (at Killingworth Elementary School) having a good time at recess. So I’m in a school zone, and a motorcyclist passes a car on the left, then cuts back in. I would love to see Madison help, and perhaps Clinton to take the south side of Killingworth.”
Q: Are you optimistic?
GORSKI: It was hard for me to do it, so I’m not optimistic. The incoming administration will have all they can do to get their feet under them — and that’s not a knock on them. There’s just not a lot of experience there.”
Q: Killingworth has had low taxes and very little borrowed money over the years. But now that we have big projects like RSD17 and the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company on the horizon, do you think those days are over?
GORSKI: “Those days are going to be a thing of the past based on what I see. With the Fire Company, we looked at the RFQ (Request For a Quote) and what they would like to do. So, perhaps, in Phase One, they prepare a site because (a new station) likely will not be here. The challenge you have when you’re building a new fire house is where do you put the trucks? So Phase One may be the design of a new building, and it may include only the Fire Company. Phase Two could include the Ambulance Association moving in with them. I know they don’t want to, but it may be what’s recommended. With Phase Three, there’s an extended garage to manage the eventual ladder truck we’re going to need.”
Q: When Cathy Iino retired in 2021 after 12 years in office, she said one of the factors that convinced her to leave was a political divide in local politics that made them “a much more aggressive team sport.” Has that changed? And, if so, how?
GORSKI: “When I first took over, it was very prevalent. But what I noticed is that, since then, people saw us starting to do things, and it became much easier. We allowed more public comment … we listened more … we tried to be pragmatic with our spending. I do think we got a lot accomplished in our two years together.”
Q: What did you learn about this job that you wish you had known?
GORSKI: “It’s a lot of night work.”
Q: How do you plan to spend your first day away from Town Hall?
GORSKI: “Getting ready for Thanksgiving. My last day is November 21st and Thanksgiving is November 23rd. So, where do you think I’m going to be?”
Q: What advice would you give the next Board of Selectmen?
GORSKI: “Be patient. And if you need to, give me a call.”
Q: What will you miss most?
GORSKI: “The people.”
Q: And what will you miss the least?
GORSKI: “The nights.”
Photo by Clark Judge
