By Avice Meehan

Stickers for the Norfolk transfer station and Tobey Pond will remain the same for the 2026-27 fiscal year that begins July 1, but the Board of Selectmen approved a $1 increase in the fee for disposing of small tires at their April 1 regular meeting.

The Selectmen agreed to revisit the price of transfer station stickers, which now cost $100 for the first vehicle, if the costs to the town change materially in the next few months. Tobey Pond stickers currently cost $85 for a year with a reduced fee of $60 for residents over the age of 65.

The meeting came ahead of the April 6 special town meeting (see story, this page) at at which residents were asked to consider joining the Northwest Regional Recovery Authority (NRRA), a new entity being formed to manage waste and recycling for communities currently using the Torrington transfer station. Management of the transfer station is up in the air since the decision by the state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to back out of an arrangement to manage it through July 27.

The question of what to charge for regular tires was the subject of considerable discussion. The current charge is $5, a net loss to the town. Board members were concerned that if the price was set too high residents might choose to discard tires along the road rather than pay for disposal. The matter of contractors who provide trash disposal services in Norfolk was also an area of concern, with Selectman Sandy Evans questioning whether the individual homeowners paid for stickers.

First Selectman Henry Tirrell reported that construction of the town’s new firehouse resumed on March 23. Preparation is underway for the pouring of the foundation and footings. He also noted that construction of the new bridge on Mountain Road would begin on April 6. Detour signs are in place.
Tirrell submitted testimony on April 1 to the Joint General Services Committee of the General Assembly, joining other leaders from Northwest Connecticut to advocate on behalf of the NRRA as the future owner of the Torrington transfer station, as specified in Senate Bill 521. “We are trying to figure out whether the state will give us some more support. The clock is ticking,” said Tirrell, noting that Norfolk and other communities have also received offers from USA Waste & Recycling. USA made a $3.25 million offer to buy the Torrington transfer station, a move that was stymied by last-minute legislation.

Tirrell said that public ownership and management of the transfer station might be beneficial to taxpayers over the long term. He noted that other regions in the state have been successful in doing so, but that it would take time. The Northwest Council of Governments is currently seeking a consultant to advise the 13 towns that rely on the Torrington facility.

In other business, Tirrell reported some progress in the projects to replace the washed-out bridges at Smith Road and Old Goshen Road. A submission to the Inland Wetlands Agency is planned for later in April. The Selectmen also approved several appointments: Grant Mudge, to fill a vacancy on the Cemetery Committee; Marie Christine Perry, to fill a vacancy on the Recreation Committee for a term expiring in July 2030; and Jessica Listorti, as an alternate on the committee for a term expiring in July 2031. At the March 9 meeting, the board also approved alternate registrars of vital statistics at the request of the town clerk. These were: Robert Palmer of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home and Brian Kenny of the Kenny Funeral Home.