by Susan MacEachron

The Board of Finance meeting on Feb. 9 was devoted to a preliminary review of the Norfolk town budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and to the discussion of three near-term capital projects.

The town budget has three components: the town, Botelle School and the payment to Regional 7 school district. In the current year budget, 46 percent is dedicated to town operations. Botelle (32 percent) and Regional 7 (22 percent) together make up the remaining 54 percent of the total town budget. This Board of Finance meeting focused on town operations and government. The Botelle budget will be discussed at a subsequent meeting.

First Selectman Matt Riiska provided explanations for all major line items of the town operating budget. The single largest expense for town operations is the Public Works Department, which includes the Transfer Station and the equipment, materials and labor for maintaining town roads. The current year expense for public works is $1.5 million, which is 43 percent of the town’s overall operating expense. Riiska proposed an increase to $1.7 million, highlighting issues caused by deferred maintenance on equipment and the terrible condition of North Colebrook Road. He noted the work on North Colebrook Road would be similar to the improvements to Grantville Road accomplished last year.

Riiska described the three near-term capital projects: the River Place and Mountain Road bridge replacements and the Botelle oil tank replacement. 

Planning for the River Place bridge project has been ongoing for several years, and while the town has to put up the initial funds, the state will reimburse 80 percent of the cost. Riiska expects the engineering work will be complete by the end of the summer and hopes to be able to solicit bids in the fall. The town previously set aside $283,000 for the engineering. The first phase of work on the bridge is estimated to cost $770,000 and the second phase $848,000. Two phases are required in order to provide access for the residents during reconstruction.

The Mountain Road bridge replacement should qualify for the Connecticut Department of Transportation small bridge project and is estimated to cost $660,000. If the DOT approves the town’s request, it would provide 50 percent of the funding. Riiska expects to hear soon if the state will provide funding for this project.

The Botelle oil tank replacement is under the auspices of the School Construction Authority, and of the estimated $160,000 expense the authority would reimburse 33 percent.

Riiska said he has discussed a short-term line of credit with National Iron Bank to cover the initial outlay of funds the town will be required to spend prior to any reimbursement from state agencies for these three projects. Norfolk’s current expense for funding previous projects, including repayment of principal and interest, on the Botelle windows and doors, EMS building, fire truck and mini excavator is approximately $256,000 per year. Riiska anticipates that as these previous projects are paid off over the next several years the funding of the three new projects could potentially result in a reduction in annual debt service. 

Michael Sconyers, chair of the Board of Finance, asked Riiska to provide an overview of other projects on the horizon. Riiska listed the need for a new firehouse, estimates range from $3 to $5 million; reconstruction of Maple Avenue, $2 million; new plow truck, $165,000; new roof for Botelle, $1.2 million; purchase of a roller for road work, $30,000. Riiska noted that the firehouse and Maple Avenue projects have been under consideration for many years. 

Sconyers said that each member of the committee had received a copy of the detailed report provided by the Fiber Optics Committee and a special meeting will be scheduled to allow time for members of the committee to present their report and address questions from the Board of Finance.