Roundabout Sign Mystery Provokes Questions

A sign on the Main Street roundabout disappeared about as quickly as it went up shortly before Memorial Day, leading many residents asking why. The sign honored Christopher Bixby, a 37-year-old Norfolk man who died January 14, 2009 after going into the frigid Charles River not far from Norfolk Arena.

Last year, a Norfolk resident who requested ano­nymity bought the naming rights for the Main Street roundabout during an auction sponsored by the Nor­folk Community League, a nonprofit organization in town that supports local activities. The Norfolk Board of Selectmen, which controls the town’s streets, sidewalks, and roundabouts, approved the request by the Norfolk Community League to allow the roundabout to be named for someone for one year. The auction winner chose Bixby, who was the owner of B&B Aluminum Products in Franklin and the son of a former Norfolk firefighter. Bixby, who left a wife and three children, was well-liked among business own­ers who dealt with him and considered his work top-notch. According to witnesses, the sign on the roundabout went up shortly before the start of Memorial Day week­end. It drew so much protest that town officials had the sign removed within a day of its appearance, according to witnesses.

Critics protested the size of the sign, the idea of naming the roundabout after anybody, and the timing, which some said took attention away from veterans on Memorial Day weekend.

Some also pointed to the manner of Bixby’s death, suggesting it’s inappropriate to name a prominent item in town for him.

Authorities have never released the manner of death of Bixby, but many in Norfolk have concluded he com­mitted suicide.

A spokesman for the Norfolk District Attorney’s of­fice this week said police ruled out foul play but would not comment on whether Bixby committed suicide.

The family doesn’t think he committed suicide, but rather suffered from a blood sugar imbalance that led to uncharacteristic behavior shortly before his death.

The sign conflict caught Norfolk selectmen un­awares. Board members said they weren’t informed that the sign was going up late last week and that they didn’t see the sign before it appeared. Selectman Jim Lehan said he was on Cape Cod when he started getting email messages about the sign from town residents. “The focus of the emails seemed to be a concern about the timing and the perceived conflictwith Memo­rial Day. The timing was unfortunate and unintentional and we agreed to remove it for the time being,” Lehan said in an email message to The Norfolk Boomerang. Lehan said lack of communication caused much of the consternation. “Unfortunately most people were unaware of the history of the sign and with the unfortunate timing of its placement I can understand the concern. That said, I still support the intent of this effort and would like to see the sign returned. Recognizing a Norfolk resident who had given much to the community is in my view what communities should do, I wish we could acknowl­edge

every Norfolk family who has given of their time and talents to make Norfolk such a wonderful place to live. I know there will be people who disagree, but since this issue has had full disclosure, the feedback I have received has been overwhelmingly supportive. The Bix­by

family has been put in a very unfortunate situation, one they do not deserve and … I would hope that we would all be respectful of their tragic loss.” Town Administrator Jack Hathaway acknowledged the timing of placing the sign could have been better. “This controversy was unintentionally created by the Town, for which I am truly sorry,” Hathaway said in a written statement.

Selectman Rob Garrity, board chairman, said offer­ing naming rights to the roundabout was well-inten­tioned but didn’t work. “I think it was a nice idea, and done with the best of intentions. I think a little more community notice could have made it work better, and I think it was a one-off. I don’t think we’ll be auctioning off naming rights to something else,” Garrity said in an interview.

Selectman Jim Tomaszewski noted that the Board of Selectmen approved auctioning off naming rights to the Main Street roundabout before he was elected to the board in May 2009, but that he supports the idea.

“I would have voted to [do] it,” Tomaszewski said. “I think Chris was a worthy person, and the person who won the auction had the right to name whomever.” “I feel bad for Mrs. Bixby, because this controversy I’m sure brings up a lot of memories,” Tomaszewski said. An attempt to reach Bixby’s widow late this week was unsuccessful.

Tomaszewski said he expects a sign honoring Bixby will go onto the Main Street roundabout at some point, but that he wants the board to see the sign beforehand. “I believe the selectmen should discuss the timing of when it goes back into place and the appropriate size,” Tomaszewski said.