Eye on Town Government

by Ruth Melville

The Board of Selectman approved five appointees to the Farmers Market Committee at the March 3 meeting. They are Marie-Christine Perry, Jennie Rackliffe, Richard Tomaselli, George Vinick and Chad Achenbach. First Selectman Matt Riiska said that he had spoken with the market manager, Lisa Auclair, and that the committee is working on a plan for reopening the market safely this summer, probably in mid to late June. 

In his selectman’s report, Riiska said that work was proceeding on the town budget. The state has informed the town that the ECS (Education Cost Sharing) grant for the school will not be much different from last year and won’t change for about another five years.

The cost per ton for solid waste removal will go up from $91 per ton this year to $105 next year. The selectman discussed whether the town should consider raising transfer fees or adopt a pay-as-you-go policy. Riiska, who is on the Recycling Committee at the Northwest Hills Council of Governments, said he would try to find out how other towns pay for their waste disposal.

Riiksa said that the Firehouse Committee is in the process of choosing an an architectural firm for the replacement of the firehouse. An RFQ (request for quotation) was published in the Waterbury Republican, and nine firms responded, which the committee will narrow down to three or four to interview. Interviews are planned for April at the earliest.

There followed a preliminary discussion of when and how to reopen Town Hall. All town meetings will remain on Zoom at least until June. The start of summer sees a lot of business at Town Hall, with, in normal years, people coming in to get Tobey permits, dog licenses or Transfer Station permits. The possibility was raised of moving the permitting process outdoors under a tent. All agreed that protecting the people who work in Town Hall is paramount.

In other business, Riiska reported that the community bus is being used almost every day, and the town is looking for a third driver. Riiska would like town residents to remember that they can also use the Northwest Transit District’s dial-a-ride service, to which the town contributes.

In closing, Riiska noted that the Norfolk portion of the Regional 7 budget will go down this year, since the town has fewer students attending the school, and that the proposed budget for Botelle School is up only .06 percent. Another budget review meeting is planned for later in March.