On December 22 the Selectboard will likely take the next steps towards spending over $50,000 on consultants to examine whether the Norwich Police Department needs reforming or reimagining. Is this money well spent? I don’t know. But, I do have questions.
To put this $50,000 amount in context, Norwich has $40,000 in its Climate Emergency, and about $46,000 in the Affordable Housing designated funds. The estimate to complete the Phase II engineering study for the Beaver Meadow Road sidewalk extension is around $21,000 for the Norwich 20% share but the State pays the 80% only if the sidewalk is built.
In addition, when the PD is fully staffed, it consists of 4 full time officers, including the chief, and 3 part-time officers. My understanding is that the objective is to one officer on duty 24/7, not including the chief. The staff also includes an Administrative Assistant and 3 crossing guards.
Questions (in no particular order)
Why isn’t a committee of residents the first step?
Norwich has a number of educated and civic-minded residents that are interested in police department issues. Maybe that committee should be formed first and put to work, before a consultant is hired.
Notably, in 2007, the Norwich Police Services Committee gathered and analyzed data and citizen input over a six-month period. It published a report recommending a series of corrective actions to the Selectboard. Further, in 2009, the Committee issued a progress report finding “that the report’s stated objectives have largely been accomplished.”
The work of the committee was seemingly done without consultants. See pages 2-3, Appendices A and B. Is that an option worth considering? Does first hiring a consultant put the cart before the horse?
What are other Vermont towns doing?
Social justice, community well-being, and police conduct is on the forefront of many people’s minds. Let’s not reinvent the wheel. How are other cities and towns in Vermont approaching these issues? Perhaps Vital Communities or TRORC can offer insights.
What are the Town’s priorities?
An expenditure of $50,000 is not chump change. What is the opportunity cost of that expenditure? What other project is the Town foregoing to pay for the consultant? Or will it be an add-on to the taxpayer tab? Should we contribute more to the Affordable Housing designated fund or build the BMR sidewalk? I’ve said it before and I will say it again: Norwich needs a capital plan. A long range plan is the responsibility of our elected officials.
Is this a solution looking for a problem?
I admit I don’t get out much. I wonder, nevertheless, whether a $50,000 consultant is necessary to solve any problems associated with the Norwich Police Department. First, the Norwich Police Department is small, smaller than any other project these consultants mention in their bid documents. See page 82-86 of 12/22 SB packet. Are these consultants right for the job? Second, does our small size limit the Town’s ability to reconfigure staff roles? Third, is whether residents want 24/7 coverage a $50,000 question? Finally, are there systemic problems here in Norwich regarding the police treatment of the public or historically marginalized groups?
I am mindful that a consultant might best be able to answer those questions. However, I would think a committee of residents might be less expensive and its findings get greater public support.
How long is it prudent to go without a permanent Police Chief?
Norwich has been without a permanent police chief since March. The consultants under consideration see their work taking four to six months, from the time they start. Moreover, my understanding is that the Town did not plan to look for a new police chief until the Selectboard digested the report of the consultants. If one assumes a three month search for the chief, it might be until Fall 2022 before a new chief takes office.
First of all, consultants have to market themselves before they develop any sort of duty to whomever they are marketing themselves to. So they will say what they need to say in order to get the job. Yes, they will use true facts, but facts are easy to spin when you are selling something. Consultants are not the first people to look to for answers, particularly to the question of whether one should hire a consultant.
Second, this looks like another spasm of “professionalizing” the Town’s staff. This professionalizing stuff is merely a way for a town’s residents to substitute throwing money at “professionals’ in order to avoid any of the responsibilities and any of the heavy lifting necessary to plan and maintain a town. the trend toward professionalizing a town’s staff and operations is a hallmark of a town that is becoming a temporary place to stay in order to take advantage of some limited opportunity before leaving to do the same thing in another location. It is not the hallmark of a town people want to stay in and call home to its.
Hiring consultants in this manner is merely what a town’s residents who have too much money do, to the detriment of those residents who do not have much.
Norwich must set up appropriate committees to determine what the police department must do and be, and then turn to consultants with particularized questions. That is the proper and fair way a town should operate.
As they say on SNL, “we need more cowbell”. Norwich has committee itis. A committee for the committee for the sub committee for the task force. Multiple issues with the committee “think” process. (1) it’s the usual suspects (2) several have biases and conflicts (3) little gets achieved except wonky policy dreams (ex: affordable housing – they’ve only just pivoted to donated land and scattered site which was not even their idea). (3) SB members on committees. For a small town, with the highest household incomes in Vermont and high levels of education, it is amazing how little gets achieved.
Long term basic planning and proper governing can get this done. Ex: try adding 10% annually to the BM sidewalk through budgeting and work to get it done. NEC – when a private solar company posts on facebook thanking an NEC member and another lobbies for a tax cap on commercial solar fields, do we have conflicts? They haven’t even researched B100 bio fuel and Middlebury, Burlington and Montpelier examples of fleet changes. Instead they have their own ideas without research.
So committees are great, if they’re fresh faces and achievements are made. As for policing, maybe people should look at Burlington and what happened there? Or we can just spend more money.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/burlington-vermont-defunded-police-force-s-happened-rcna8409
Chris, I don’t know what we would do without you keeping us informed. I have passed the news on to others, and since some have asked whom to write to, I am including the email address of the selectboard here so people can easily share their thoughts with them.
selectboard@norwich.vt.us