Selectman’s Corner

By Matt Riiska

Last month I discussed all the projects about to start. Here we are a month later and Norfolk is a construction site again. Thank you for your patience. Mountain Road bridge is well under way with most of the old bridge gone and the new sewer and water lines are being installed. River Place bridge is underway, the replacement of almost 7,000 feet of waterline from Wangum Lake to Route 272 on Mountain Road is in process, and the Robertson Plaza/City Meadow project is moving along and is planned to be completed in June. 

The Board of Finance reviewed the budget for 2022/23 fiscal year during their meeting with the Board of Selectmen on April 19. Anticipating no major changes to the Selectmen’s proposed budget at the budget hearing on April 26, the 2022/23 fiscal year budget will increase our mil rate from its current 26.91 to 27.86, a 3.5 percent increase. Included in the budget are two capital expenses, a Ford F600 for plowing the village area and dirt roads and the conversion of the fire department tanker truck into a plow truck. The cost to convert the tanker truck into a plow truck is $120,000. Considering a new plow truck costs over $200,000 this is a good choice. The new tanker will be ready for service January 2023. We have included these two items in the 2022/23 budget in anticipation of an increase in our debt service in fiscal year 2023/24. The refurbishment of Maple Avenue, the construction of a new fire house and the installation of a new roof at Botelle School will require the town to borrow and the only way we can keep our debt service as low as we can is to make our capital purchases now. Also included in the 2022/23 budget are education budgets for Botelle School and Regional #7. The Regional budget will increase 1.97 percent this year. Norfolk’s share of this budget has increased by 6.43 percent. This is due to the number of students from Norfolk who attend Regional 7 in comparison to the other towns. The Botelle School budget is lower by 1.08 percent this year. The Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at Botelle School.

The town has been working on the development of a solar energy facility at the transfer station for several years. The Annual Town Meeting will include a vote to determine if the town will enter a contract with Lodestar Energy to install a five-megawatt solar facility. The facility will provide the town with approximately $35,000 – $40,000 in revenue and allow low to moderate income residents to eligible for a reduction in their electric bill. 

I apologize now for any inconvenience the projects will cause you this summer, but all are necessary, and all are long overdue.

Take care and stay healthy.