Legal Bills, Tax Bills on Finance Agenda

By Susan MacEachron

The Board of Finance (BoF) received several updates from First Selectman Matt Riiska at the June 10 meeting about funding for the town’s new firehouse, the potential for higher legal costs related to a recent decision by the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) and the ongoing search for a solution to solid waste disposal and management of recycling. Riiska was also questioned about when the property tax notices would be mailed, with BoF members noting there was a delay compared to prior years.

Riiska reported that the town will incur unbudgeted legal fees because an appeal has been filed to overturn the recent P&Z decision allowing a modification to a 1996 special permit granted to the Manor House at 69 Maple Ave. The town has until July 15 to file its response to the litigation.

Riiska noted construction of a new firehouse was approved at a special town meeting on May 22 and bids are due July 2. The total cost is $9.3 million with the town authorized to borrow up to $3.8 million to supplement private fundraising and grants. Riiska said he has been in touch with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Jahanna Hayes to resubmit a request for federal funding that had been pulled from the budget earlier this year. The resubmission is for $1 million.

Riiska described the ongoing discussions regarding disposal of the town’s solid waste and recycling and his work with the Connecticut Council of Governments (COG) regarding alternatives. There are 11 Northwest Corner towns affected by the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) plant in Hartford. The town has two more years under the contract with MIRA. The MIRA Dissolution Authority (MIRA-DA), created in 2023, has been allocated $55 to $60 million to clean up site of the decommissioned plant.

Riiska said the towns who used the MIRA Hartford site, were lobbying to receive a portion of the remaining funds to buy transfer station in Torrington. MIRA-DA had accepted a $3.25 million offer for the site from USA Hauling & Recycling, but the transaction has since been put on hold by the state. USA Hauling has presented two proposals to the town and Riiska said he was exploring all options.

The River Place bridge replacement has been completed after significant delays. Riiska noted that he is working with NBT Bank to reconcile what has been borrowed and paid back from the first loan that was closed out. NBT insisted on opening a new loan at a higher interest rate due to the long delay in completing the project. The state will reimburse Norfolk for a significant portion of the expense, but there is a time lag before the funds are received, which is why the bank loan is required to pay construction costs.

In other business, Riiska was asked when the tax bills will be mailed. He said the tax collector had just returned from vacation and he assumed they would be in the mail shortly. BoF Chair Michael Sconyers said they would review the final budget numbers for the fiscal year ending June 30 at the July meeting