Town Meeting is Quick Vote
By Avice Meehan The more than 100 Norfolk residents who gathered in the Hall of Flags at Botelle Elementary School made quick work of four major items at the April 6 town meeting. Gaveled into order at 7 p.m. by Town Clerk Debbie Nelson, the meeting lasted all of 20 minutes once voters elected Richard […]
VIEW FROM THE GREEN
Building a Budget By Avice Meehan For the past month, Norfolk’s three selectmen have been meeting for two hours at time to hash out the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The special meetings—officially posted and open to the public—offer a window into the decisions large and small that shape the town’s spending priorities. The meetings […]
School Budget, Truck Replacements Occupy Finance Board
By Susan MacEachron and Avice Meehan The Board of Finance held two meetings in March. On March 10, members heard presentations from the Botelle School Board of Education (BOE), the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) and First Selectman Henry Tirrell. At a March 24 special meeting, Tirrell shared the draft town budget, sought BOF approval […]
Baffling Budget Move Needed
By Avice Meehan Norfolk voters will likely see an unusual item on the agenda for this year’s annual town meeting in May: A request to appropriate $58,366 for Botelle Elementary School for the current fiscal year. The action will ensure that Norfolk remains in compliance with a nearly 40-year-old state statute that sets out minimum […]
Regional Budget Vote Is May 4
The referendum on the Northwestern Regional School District No. 7 budget has been set for May 4 in Norfolk, Colebrook, Barkhamsted and New Hartford. If approved, the district budget would be $25.25 million for the 2026-27 school year, an increase of 1.74 percent over the current year. Norfolk’s assessment, based on the town’s anticipated enrollment, […]
Proposed Botelle Budget to See Modest Increase
By Avice Meehan The Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, March 4, to vote on a proposed $2.658 million budget for the next fiscal year. It would represent an increase of 4.47 percent or $113,665 over the budget for the current year. Superintendent Kevin Case presented the spending plan on Feb. […]
Eye on Town Government
Town Meeting Approves Higher Borrowing By Avice Meehan Voters at an Oct. 6 special town meeting unanimously approved higher borrowing limits to finance construction of Norfolk’s new fire house, but no formal action on the project will occur until after the new Board of Selectmen is sworn into office in mid-November. First Selectman Matt Riiska, […]
Public Hearing Held on Net Town Budget of $8.24 Million
Annual town meeting set for May 12 By Avice Meehan Norfolk residents will be asked to approve a net town budget of $8.24 million for education and general government services at the annual town meeting scheduled for May 12 at Botelle Elementary School. The proposed budget—after adjustments are made for state aid and other revenues—represents […]
