At a meeting marked by emotion and tension, the Selectboard changed course and decided to enter into discussions with the Town Manager about extending his contract. The 3-2 vote came at the end of a special meeting held Monday. Selectboard Chair John Pepper changed his vote from the January 24 meeting to one of support. Not clear is whether discussion about an extension will result in a new contract.
Along with Mr. Pepper, Roger Arnold and Mary Layton voted in favor. Claudette Brochu and John Langhus voted against. I watched a recording of the 48 minute meeting on CATV.
Following several public comments in support of extending his contract, Town Manager Herb Durfee shared his thoughts with the Board.. Mr. Durfee voice cracked when he thanks residents for the unsolicited words of support.. He recognized there were needed areas of improvement, He invited a “six-person discussion” rather Board vs.Town Manager discussion, citing the book Nonviolent Communication recommended by Ms. Layton.
Then each Selectboard member spoke. My general sense was that all the Board supported the job performance evaluation of the Town Manager Several members mentioned the hours spent on the project.
The public is not privy to the report, as it is a personnel matter, but apparently the evaluation was less than stellar. Perhaps, the Town Manager provided a glimpse in the chart he included in the packet.
Even with Board solidarity on the evaluation, individual members of the Selectboard saw “different ways of moving forward” in the words of member Roger Arnold. Hence, the split vote on discussing an extension. Board member Brochu asked rhetorically what happens if the needed improvements do not happen.
The Chair was the last to speak. In an apparent reference to the August cyber scam and the current state of cyber security in place, Mr. Pepper expressed grave concerns for the “financial safety and security of the Town.” Nevertheless, he said he was willing to enter discussion regarding an extension. It is not clear that a new contract is a done deal. We will “see where we end up,” added Mr. Pepper.
Previously I had been a municipal attorney and I dealt on occasion with the prior long term manager. Those dealings were difficult.
Now retired, my few dealings with Mr. Durfee have been congenial
and intelligent. And I was stunned by a major computerized theft,
but I now understand that it was largely recovered with insurance.
My opinion is that his three year’s experience should be valuable to
Norwich.
Previously I had been a municipal attorney and I dealt on occasion with the prior long term Norwich manager. Those dealings were difficult.
I am now retired, my few dealings with Mr. Durfee have been congenial
and intelligent. And I was stunned by the major computerized theft,
but I now understand that it was largely recovered with insurance.
My opinion is that his three year’s experience should be valuable to
Norwich.