Some miscellaneous and/or random observations after watching the CATV video of the Selectboard meeting of May 13 2020. Draft meeting minutes are here.
- Will ballots be mailed to all voters for the August re-vote on Article 8? “Don’t count on it,” says my Magic 8-Ball. The Selectboard seemingly passed on that opportunity by taking no action on correspondence from the Vermont Secretary of State. It’s at page 20, in the packet. The letter indicates that, for 2020, the Selectboard may opt to “proactively mail a ballot for a local election to every … ‘active’ voter.” However, the Selectboard accepted the letter into correspondence without comment. Also, the matter did not come up in end-of-the-meeting agenda discussions.
- Woody Adams Forest Conservation Project hearing. Craig Layne from the Conservation Commission made a presentation to the Selectboard about acquiring 186 acres of land known as the Woody Adams Tract. The land is between the Norwich Town Forest and the Gile Tract. According to materials in the Selectboard packet, the acquisition will protect “a larger section of contiguous forest by connecting together two other adjacent town-owned forest parcels on the Gile ridgeline, including the highest peak in Norwich.” The presentation begins at 8:30 of the video. Notably, no direct expenditure of tax dollars is involved.
- PC reduced to 7 seats. The Selectboard reduced the number of seats on the Planning Commission from nine to seven, despite having four applicants for the two vacant positions. The PC Chair pitched the change as as a way to make the Planning Commission more efficient and effective. Here’s what I don’t understand. The seven-member commission in Norwich has not been a model of efficiency. Zoning regulations are from 2009. The PC let the Town Plan expire in 2016. (A big deal!) The 2018 Town Plan was rejected by the regional planning commission. (Another big deal!) Are those misses entirely the fault of the Planning Director who retired in 2018? In contrast, the nine-member commission completely rewrote the Town Plan in about a year’s time. That plan received prompt approval from the regional planning commission last month. Is my contrast oversimplistic? Probably. But, the success of the nine-member commission deserves praise and consideration.
- Regional Energy Coordinator. The Selectboard made appointments to the Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator Committee. However, I have a different issue. It might be wonkish. Please indulge. At Town Meeting, voters approved Article 9. It appropriates $30,000 for “a Regional Energy Coordinator position serving 7 municipalities.” Only six of seven towns approved the article. Does the Selectboard intend to move forward with this appropriation, even though the position does not mirror what voters approved?
- Budget watch I: Expensive traffic light. The box culvert on Route 132 near Bowen Hill Road is deteriorating. It could become a serious safety issue, limiting traffic to one lane. To control traffic, a temporary traffic light may be necessary at a cost of $31,000 for six months. The Town Manager said that we might need that light for up to year. Ouch, on the budget. Also, a headache for motorists, when we get back to normal. Note, however, the need for the light is undetermined. Stay tuned.
- Budget watch II: Discretionary spending for sidewalk study approved. This was a head-scratcher, for me. The Selectboard authorized the Town Manager to hire an engineering firm to perform a scoping study for a new sidewalk along Beaver Meadow Road. The expense strikes me as a discretionary expense that the Town could possibly delay. Certainly, these are uncertain economic times. Yes, a VTrans grant will cover 80% of the cost. But, why commit now to spending money on work that doesn’t need to occur, and most likely won’t occur, for months.
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