Community News

The Board of Education got its first look at a proposed $2,658,868 budget for 2026-2027 when Superintendent Kevin Chase reviewed it with them Tuesday night. The board is expected to act on the budget next Wednesday before its formal presentation to the Board of Finance on March 10.

The budget reflects a 4.47 percent increase, or $113,665, over current spending to educate an anticipated student body of 58 children, three more than current enrollment. 

The funds will pay for special education services for 11 students, curriculum materials and resources, building maintenance, and contractual agreements with faculty and staff. Non-negotiable contractual increases total $119,643—up $48,440 for teachers, $3,000 for teacher substitutes, $7,000 for legal fees, $8,242 for utilities and $2,800 for professional services.

These increases are offset by a $2,800 reduction for textbook and workbooks, a $2,250 reduction for the hours worked by the office clerk and a $15,000 reduction in special education transportation costs, for a total of $32,627.

New items are a half-time intervention paraeducator to support students at $5,471, development for staff at $4,000, new shelving for the library at $1,746 and new progress reports/student data support at $3,541, for a total of $14,758.

Even though the 2026-2027 budget is higher than the current budget, thus meeting the state’s Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR), it will not settle the town’s current dispute with the state Board of Education. The MBR requires school districts to spend as much or more than the previous year’s budget. Special education costs dropped for the current year in Norfolk, resulting in a $58,000 reduction in spending. This violated the MBR, according to the state Board of Education.

“That’s a separate issue,” said Case, who is still seeking a meeting with state officials. “We wouldn’t repay that until next year.”

It will be next week before the town crew has cleared away the more than 14 inches of snow that blanketed Norfolk on Monday, First Selectman Henry Tirrell predicts. “It’s an absurd amount of snow,” he said. “It will be a while before we have cleared all the sidewalks and sight lines.”

Monday’s storm was “very intense,” he said. “The town crew was out 24 hours straight. They would come in and take a break, but with a storm like that, if you don’t move it, it gets to the point where it almost impossible to handle.”

With the crew barely recovered from that, more 2 inches of snow hit on Wednesday, forcing school to close or be delayed for the third day in a row. 

Asked if he is facing a deficit in the amount budgeted for overtime work, he said he will have a better idea next week. Because storms have consistently swept through the region on weekends and holidays this winter, the overtime line item is being stretched. “With snow removal, what else are you going to do?” he said. “It’s been a horrible winter.”

Statewide, towns and cities are facing salt shortages and are working to conserve its use on snowy roads. “It’s been a constant struggle coordinating salt deliveries,” said Tirrell. “The last couple of deliveries have been untreated salt, which is not as effective with the equipment we have.”

Treated salt is standard rock salt coated with liquid agents to improve melting efficiency, reduce corrosion of trucks and enhance adhesion to road surfaces. It acts faster and works at lower temperatures. 

The Norfolk crew has been stretching its untreated salt by mixing it with sand.

Salt exists at regional distribution hubs but getting it to towns has been challenged by a lack of truck drivers and equipment and supply chain bottlenecks when ports are shut down due to icy conditions.

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the site plan modification presented by Michael Halloran on behalf of George Auclair during its February 10th meeting. 

Auclair, owner of George’s Garage, received permission to add a second 50-foot-by-80-foot storage building on a narrow strip of land across Route 44 from his garage. He also can provide outside parking for 10 vehicles and has one parking spot for an oversize vehicle.

The P&Z placed conditions on the approval, stipulating that the parcel be screened from Route 44 by trees and that no vehicles be serviced there other than Auclair’s fleet.

Screenings for the Region 7 Shared Services Integrated Preschool Program (SSIPP) are coming up on March 19 and 20.

SSIPP is  a special education program for children ages 3 to 5 from Norfolk, Colebrook, Barkhamsted and New Hartford who are assessed as needing additional social or educational help to prepare them for school. Remaining spaces are opened to families who want to enroll their kids as peer models.

Parents who are interested in having their child qualify to attend the preschool program as a role model must submit their child’s name for a screening. Screenings will be offered on March 19 and 20. 

The cost for role model peers is $650 per month for the full-day program for four-year-olds, and $275 per month for the half-day program for three-year-olds. Three-year-olds will meet Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. The four-year-olds meet Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

For additional information or to schedule a screening, contact Hallee Martinez or Daniela Belanger at Shared Services by phone or email: 860-379-8583 or 860-307-9170; hmartinez@sharedservicesct.com or dbelanger@sharedservicesct.com.

SSIPP is located at Barkhamsted School and follows the Barkhamsted School calendar.

The Economic Development Commission is planning new programming to support local businesses and wants your input. They invite you to take a few minutes to share your needs and interests. Responses are confidential, and there are no right or wrong answers.

Your feedback will help shape future resources and programs, and the commission will share an anonymous summary of what they learn.

Click here to take the survey.

The Board of Finance learned at its Tuesday night meeting that Botelle School will have to add an extra $53,800 to its 2027-2028 budget. School Superintendent Kevin Case told board members that the state Board of Education has not accepted the reason behind this year’s school budget being less than that approved in 2024-2025.

Under the state’s minimum budget requirement regulation, schools cannot budget less than in previous years. This year, the school’s budget was about $53,800 less because special education expenses decreased.

The state Department of Education typically notifies the town and enters into a dialogue to bring the town into compliance, allowing for potential budget increases to avoid penalties. It may withhold Education Cost Sharon funds in the second fiscal year following the MBR violation.

“The consequence is that we need to add [that sum] to the 2027-2028 budget,” he said, “or we could be penalized twice what we receive in Education Cost Sharing grants. We get about $55,000, so that would be $100,000.”

He said the state school board has now responded to his request for a meeting, which he expects to take place this week.

He also reported that the elevator at Botelle School has been repaired at a cost of about $58,000. Funds for the repair will be found by using $45,000 from school’s non-lapsing fund and culling another $13,000 from other line items. 

He is also waiting to hear what the town might receive from the state’s District Repair and Improvement Project Program, which grants towns money for facility repairs and improvements, and may use some of that to offset the expense.

The Board of Finance also heard from First Selectman Henry Tirrell, who said he is looking at plow trucks. “Two of our trucks are almost 20 years old,” he said, “and are putting a strain on the maintenance line. A Freightliner truck that he got estimates for would cost “in excess of $270,000,” and other makes are expected to cost about the same. 

He suggested several ways of financing a new vehicle, including capital reserve funds or using some of the $600,000 remaining since the town retired its pension plan.

The Economic Development Commission set a timeframe for sending out its survey of local businesses during its meeting Thursday evening. The survey is designed to determine what businesspeople need and what they would like to see happen in Norfolk.

Members briefly discussed creating one master list of names and addresses for distributing the survey and how to best get business owners to respond to it. “This survey is essential to find out which direction we should be going,” said former co-chair Libby Borden. 

“If we do this with enthusiasm, we could have some feedback in a couple of weeks,” said member Cheryl Heller, a professional advisor whose firm, Commonwise, helps businesses develop strategies. 

Heller said that in neighboring Winsted/Winchester, the EDC is approaching businesses for private discussions about their needs and vision. Norfolk EDC members agreed that this is labor intensive and perhaps beyond the scope of current membership. For now, all agreed to focus on completing the current survey.  

Patriots fans may still be in shock over the team’s lackluster performance in the Super Bowl, but they can take some solace in knowing that the Pats came from behind to win Botelle School’s Souper Bowl competition.

The competition challenged staff, students and families to donate non-perishable food items for the Food Pantry by placing them in boxes representing each team. It was a close battle, with the Seahawks winning each day by just a few items, but Patriot fans surged in the final two days, delivering a wave of donations to clinch the victory. 

The final score was Patriots, 283; Seahawks, 208. In all, 491 items will be delivered to the Food Pantry to help families in need.

The Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department paused this week to honor Richard Byrne as he moved to veteran status after serving the department for 58 years. 

Byrne will not sever his relationship with the department, however. “He just won’t be putting on air packs, driving trucks and doing the day-to-day stuff,” said department spokesman Jon Barbagallo.

During the ceremony at the firehouse, Byrne was presented with an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly, sponsored by Senator Paul Honig and Representative Maria Horn, honoring his service to the fire department. 

Since Byrne joined the fire company in 1968, the department has been housed in two fire stations and is now preparing to move into a third. He has held every rank in the department except fire chief and helped write the department’s history, ensuring that the stories and people who have served since the department formed in 1902 are not forgotten. 

In addition to his 58 years with the fire department, for more than 25 years Byrne has been the town’s Emergency Management director and chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, roles he will continue.

The ninth annual Weekend in Norfolk winter celebration returns Saturday, February 21, and Sunday, February 22, bringing a packed schedule of art, music, history and outdoor adventure and activities for children.

Highlighting the event this year will be a the pop-up exhibition, “The Romance of Worth: The Eldridge Sisters and the Centennial,” at the Norfolk Historical Society, featuring two bespoke gowns made by the legendary 19th-century Parisian fashion house; musical performances at the Hub and the Norfolk Library, and a chance to enjoy watching the ancient sport of curling at the Norfolk Curling Club. 

There will be art everywhere. A pop-up art show by the Norfolk Artists & Friends at Wildwood 1880, will start the weekend with an early bird reception on Friday evening. Wildwood 1880 is also hosting a pop-up bakery and bookshop.

Visit Ruthann Olsson’s and Cheryl Heller’s studios or chat with artists Katie Atkinson and Jeremiah Bickford during special Meet the Artist sessions. Visitors can also tour the stunning stained glass windows at Battell Chapel, Church of Christ Congregational and Immaculate Conception Church, viewing masterpieces by renowned artisans such as Louis Comfort Tiffany, D. Maitland Armstrong and Franz Mayer of Munich.

Nature lovers can look forward to balmier days at the Norfolk Conservation Committee’s native wildflower seed giveaway, where they can pick up some seeds and learn how to transform their backyards into a pollinator’s paradise. 

On Sunday afternoon, the Hub transforms into a downtown haven for kids, offering children’s films, hot chocolate and freshly made popcorn. And, in the morning, up at Botelle Elementary School, there’s a blizzard of fun things for kids and their parents to do.

For a full lineup and details of events and activities, be sure to visit weekendinnorfolk.org. The next Weekend in Norfolk is coming up this summer on July 31, August 1 and August 2.