By Susan MacEachron

At the February 14 meeting of the Board of Finance (BoF), First Selectman Matt Riiska reported on the current year’s budget and the bridge reconstruction projects.  BoF Chair, Michael Sconyers described a virtual meeting with the Connecticut Department of Education.

Riiska said the lack of snow has been a boon to the town budget, with minimal plowing and little need for road salt. Riiska reported that the town is waiting for reimbursement of 50 per cent of the cost of the Mountain Road bridge.  The bridge reconstruction cost $1.4 million, and the town expects to receive $725,000 from state funds. Riiska said that the more complicated River Place bridge project will not be completed until the fall. The town has been reimbursed for about half of the $1.4 million spent to date. 

Sconyers briefly described a discussion with the state Department of Education regarding Ct. General State Statute 10-158a.  The statute allows two or more boards of education to establish cooperative arrangements to provide a range of school services, programs and activities.  Sconyers proposed a resolution requesting that the Norfolk Board of Education (BOE) contact the Colebrook BOE to explore cooperative arrangements between the two school districts.  The resolution was approved and Sconyers said he would send a letter to Ann DeCerbo, BOE chair and Botelle Superinendent Mary Beth Iacobelli.  

In a subsequent conversation, DeCerbo noted that Botelle and Colebrook cooperate on a variety of programs and are always exploring additional opportunities to work together.  She said it benefitted students from both small schools to have opportunities to form friendships before heading off to the larger school community at Northwestern Regional School District No.7.