Funding City Meadow Discussed at Inlands Wetlands Agency

By Susan MacEachron

Construction of a pool house and tennis pavilion and restoration plans for City Meadow were the two issues discussed at the Inland Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) meeting on Feb. 5.

Kevin Costello, an associate with Renee Byers Landscape Architect described the plans to build a tennis pavilion, a pool and pool house at 220 Mountain Road. Bryan Muller, an engineer from Muller Engineering, said there would be no disturbance of wetlands and the new septic system for the pool house bathroom had been approved by Torrington Area Health District.  Muller described the plans for erosion control during the construction.  He said the steep slope below the proposed tennis pavilion is not very stable and will be reinforced.  Muller also mentioned plans to add a thin layer of gravel fill, approximately 80 yards, on the forest road to repair some of the wash out from recent rainstorms.

Hartley Mead, wetlands chair, asked Muller to indicate on the plans where the electric line for the pool house and tennis pavilion would be laid, and to send the revised plan to Wetlands Enforcement Officer Michael Halloran.  Wetlands approved the plans.

First Selectman Matt Riiska, along with Molly Ackerly, former chair of the City Meadow Committee, discussed plans to restore City Meadow.  As Riiska and Ackerly had described at the January Wetlands meeting, the project includes mowing the phragmites and applying five different herbicides recommended by Native Habitat Restoration, LLC. They emphasized the need to dredge the forebay, essential maintenance that has been neglected.  

A discussion ensued about funding for City Meadow, which was created with a $500,000 grant and $250,000 from private donations. Ackerly said she did not think the next phase of City Meadow could be privately funded.  She said that if the town wanted a park in the center of town it would need to be town funded.  Riiska said at some point the town would have to absorb the cost of routine maintenance.  He also mentioned that the new group formed to guide City Meadow restoration would be undertaking a fund-raising effort.

A member of the Wetlands agency asked if the Conservation Commission had had a chance to weigh in on the proposed plans.  Ackerly noted that Elisabeth Borden is on the Conservation Commission and is a part of the group that has formed to think through the next phase.  Riiska added that he and Ackerly have been meeting with members of the Conservation Commission, Nash Pradhan and John Anderson.  Riiska said that Anderson was working with Michael Nadeau, a land care consultant, who is overseeing the proposed project.

Board of Finance Sets Budget Review Schedule

By Avice Meehan

The Board of Finance (BoF) will meet on March 13 with First Selectman Matt Riiska to review the proposed 2024-25 budget for the town and on April 9 with the Board of Education to review the budget for the Botelle School and Region 7. 

The schedule was set at a twice-postponed meeting held February 22 at Town Hall. Michael Sconyers, BoF chair, said the schedule would give School Superintendent Mary Beth Iacobelli some additional time. The annual town meeting to approve the final budget and other matters will be held May 13.

Riiska reported that the overall town budget is on target, but that Norfolk continues to face a projected deficit related to the unexpected $567,000 in expenses associated with flood damage in late 2023. He said town departments have been asked to hold back on all but “absolutely necessary” expenses and noted that the Department of Public Works has only enough sand on hand for “three events.”

“Keep your fingers crossed that we don’t need any more salt,” he said.

Riiska outlined potential challenges the town will face in the upcoming year, including an increase of roughly 13 percent in the per-ton cost to dispose of solid waste. Norfolk currently pays $115 a ton and generates about 800 tons a year through the transfer station. Next year, the cost will go to $131 a ton. Riiska said he is looking at options, including a “pay to throw” system under which residents would be charged based on the amount of waste they generate.

On the positive side, Riiska told the BoF that the Planning and Zoning Commission is making progress in its review of the proposed new firehouse and may make final decisions at its March meeting. The town’s preliminary application for a $2.5 million grant from the state’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection was to be filed on Feb. 23. He also reported that two individuals are willing to commit at least $500,000 to jump start a capital campaign for the project.