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Statehouse update: Kingsbury Pond permit timeline, Chapter 90 allocations and local grant wins
Summary
A statehouse contact updated the Select Board on Kingsbury Pond permitting and outlined proposed Chapter 90 road funding and other grants, including a $218,500 municipal fiber award for Norfolk and an anticipated 30-day public comment period on any DEP draft permit.
A statehouse representative who addressed the Norfolk Select Board on June 15 summarized recent developments on Kingsbury Pond and statewide infrastructure funding that could affect the town.
The speaker, identified in the meeting as Marcus, said DEP and Franklin held a recent follow-up and that Franklin agreed to submit a new operational plan by June 27. Marcus said the Department of Environmental Protection will prepare a draft permit based on the additional materials; when the draft is issued there will be a 30-day public comment period and a 21-day window to appeal the final permit once it is issued. He and board members said the town will assemble a working group to collect information for the comment period.
On transportation funding, Marcus summarized language in House Bill 5375 that would add $300 million for municipal road and bridge improvements in fiscal 2027: $200 million distributed via the existing weighted formula (local road mileage 58.33%, population 20.83%, employment 20.83%) and $100 million distributed based on road mileage only. He estimated Norfolk's apportionment at $657,134.78 under the bill's proposed breakdown but noted that the figure came from the standard formula and should be confirmed.
Marcus also highlighted a municipal fiber grant award to Norfolk for $218,500 to add redundancy between municipally owned facilities and close critical network gaps. He noted an $80 million statewide snow-and-ice relief pool but said the town's specific share of that funding had not yet been confirmed.
On other budget support, Marcus said he secured $15,000 toward Parks & Recreation storage needs and reported that Senator Rausch helped secure $40,000 for senior center improvements. Board members agreed to provide letters of support for grant applications and to coordinate with the senator and other legislative offices.
Marcus urged residents to monitor the DEP comment period and said the town would publicize opportunities to submit testimony during the draft-permit comment window.
