By Avice Meehan

A new method for valuing motor vehicles for tax purposes, a first look at the budget for fiscal 2025-26 and the challenges of dealing with multiple bridge projects were all on the agenda for the March 5 meeting of the Board of Selectmen. 

See related stories in this issue about meetings of the Board of Education, Board of Finance and Regional 7, along updates about the temporary bridge for Smith Road. 

The new valuation method, made possible by legislation recently signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont, will raise Norfolk’s Grand List by roughly $2 million, to $19.5 million, and be simpler to implement. It will go into effect for tax bills due July 1. 

First Selectman Matt Riiska, who made the proposal, said towns had formerly used the book value established by the National Association of Automobile Dealers (NADA). Based on his experience as a former member of the Board of Assessment Appeals, Riiska described it as “a very convoluted way to capture value.”

Going forward, values will be pegged to percentage of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). The legislation allows towns to set the beginning valuation for a new vehicle at 85 or 90 percent. Valuations decline from there to a minimum of $500 for cars that are more than 20 years old.

“This allows the towns additional revenue through the grand list and also allows for a more streamlined approach to assign value,” Riiska said. He recommended that Norfolk start at 90 percent of MSRP and Selectmen Henry Tirrell and Sandy Evans agreed.

Riiska provided an overview of a draft budget, noting that there would be many unknowns until he presented a more complete document to the Board of Finance at the April meeting. Despite all the changes that will occur in specific line items and departments, Riiska said the town has “basically a $9 million budget” including costs for Botelle Elementary School and Regional 7.

Regarding the Town Hall budget, Riiska put forward a recommended 2.5 percent pay increase for Town Hall staff and Department of Public Works Foreman Troy LeMere. After some discussion, the Selectmen agreed that this would be limited to employees who had been in their roles at least a year because new staff had been hired at regionally competitive rates. Unionized public works employees will receive a negotiated 4 percent raise.

The best use of funds for road maintenance and repair funds was also reviewed. Riiska was still getting contractor estimates for much of the work, but that Doolittle Road between the Pondtown Cemetery and Wheeler Road was a priority for the coming year and could cost upwards of $260,000. Other focus areas include the proposed replacement of sidewalks along Station Place, including in front of the Royal Arcanum, and repaving the area outside the Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance building. Town Hall itself also needs repairs, including exterior masonry repairs. The draft budget also included $40,000 to supplement private funding for continued work at City Meadow.

Riiska said the proposed new firehouse remains a major unknown. For planning purposes, he included first-year borrowing costs of $75,000 in the draft document, but those funds would only be expended if the firehouse was approved at a town meeting and the project went forward.

Norfolk’s many bridge projects are moving along, Riiska reported. The River Place Bridge, which was beset by engineering problems, should be complete by early May at the latest with paving expected to begin in mid-April. “They have been working through very challenging weather for the last three months,” Riiska said.

Intermittent issues have arisen with the major retaining wall project on Route 44, in part because motorists have attempted to jump the light in the middle of the night and gotten stuck in the middle of the single lane road. Riiska said he has a “pretty good rapport” with the project team but has had to remind them not to park Blackberry Street because it blocks the school bus.

In other business, the Selectmen voted to appoint Town Clerk Deborah Nelson to the Pension Committee following the resignation of Linda Perkins; Mark Burke to the Friends of the Meadow Committee, and Jenn Pfaltz as an alternate to the Website Committee. The town has a significant number of openings on major boards and committees, including vacancies for three alternates on the Planning & Zoning Commission.