At the outset, I appreciate the efforts of the Selectboard and staff for their work on the budget. They are working long hours. Thank you Claudette, Fielding, Marcia, Mary, Miranda, Rob, Rod and Roger.
The Selectboard plans on finalizing its budget at its January 5 meeting. The goal of this budget cycle is to maintain the status quo – no changes from last year other than to cover increases in employee compensation and supplies. This approach makes sense as Norwich is without a permanent town manager and the staff at the Finance Department is all new.
As a result, I wonder about the decision to add the position of assistant Zoning Administrator. One of the touchstones of any budget process is distinguishing between “wants” and “needs,” and to budget accordingly. Is an assistant Zoning Administrator a want or a need? I don’t know.
Assistant Zoning Administrator
The budget cost is about $30,000. Job description not defined. I have two problems with this proposal, none of which has to do with its actual merits.
First, we do not know if this is a “want” or a “need. ” The Selectboard asked no questions about that aspect of the budget at the December 15 Selectboard meeting. It was at the end of a very long meeting.
Selectboard Chair Arnold and Interim Town Manager Francis suggested the Selectboard had previously discussed the matter. To my knowledge, however, that was in the context of a short-term, stop-gap measure, not as an addition to permanent staff. With respect to the former, the Selectboard agreed to hire a temporary zoning administrator at its October 27 meeting. But that was to spell Planning Director Francis who is also serving as Interim Town Manager. The part-time position would last “until the position of Town Manager is permanently filled,” say the draft meeting minutes. Nevertheless, despite the approval, the Town did not advertise the position on its website.
Second, it seems sensible to wait until the permanent town manager is in place before adding to staff. Ad-hoc additions to staff is not a fiscally prudent practice. Once created, these positions never go away.
As proposed, the Director of Planning would appear to have more administrative staff support, by total hours, than the Town Manager. There is no doubt that the Planning Department can do a more thorough job with more staff. However, Norwich is not a hot bed of development. According to the Town Report issued in 2021: “Zoning permits were issued this year for six new single-family homes. Three approved subdivision applications resulted in three new lots.” Are members of the public, Planning Commission or DRB not getting their needs met?
Perhaps the Town should consider an assistant Town Manager, in addition to the Town Manager’s assistant? Or a full-time administrative assistant for the Planning Department, rather than adding another professional? There may be other options. I simply think the Town is better off letting the permanent town manager get first crack at the issue.
In addition, let’s us not forget about lost opportunity cost. Budget dollars are finite. Are we foregoing one or more $30,000 projects or a $300,000 project, over ten years, that the Town does not pursue because of this expense.
What do other Town’s do?
As proposed, the Norwich Planning Department would consist of a full-time planner, part-time zoning administrator and a part-time assistant.
What do other towns do? I took a look at four towns close in population to Norwich, per Wikipedia. These were Charlotte, Bristol, Shaftsbury and Windsor.
My unscientific and imperfect examination is based on the proposed budget for the year ending 2022, as listed in the Town Reports.
Charlotte
Charlotte apparently has a part-time planner and a part-time zoning administrator based on the salaries ($47,715 and 42,182) in the Town Report. Support staff listed is a $3000 per year “Minute Taker.” Total outlays for pay are $92,897. Charlotte and Norwich are affluent communities.
Bristol
The Zoning Administrator in Bristol is apparently part-time. Total salaries proposed in the Town Report for Planning and Zoning are $22,000.
Shaftsbury
Shaftsbury proposed to spend $11,557 on Zoning Administrator Wage in FY22
Windsor
According to the Windsor Town Report, the Town proposed spending $68,711 on Wages for Zoning & Planning
Norwich
Oddly, the Norwich Town Report issued in 2021 is not on the website, at least not with the others. However, based on materials in the January 5 Selectboard packet, the current budget includes $73,993 for the Planning Director, who also serves as Zoning Administrator. The Wage for the Office Assistant is $26,407. Total wages are $100,400. But for Charlotte, Norwich is a big spender when it comes to planning department wages compared to the other towns listed.
However, with the addition of the assistant Zoning Administrator position in FY 23, Norwich exceeds Charlotte’s planning wages by over $37,000 and by over 30%. Those are numbers that catch your eye. I admit my review is imperfect. But it is a data point.
Thank you Chris. This is very helpful and is how other departments in Norwich are evaluated….by comparing us to similar Town’s,.
More of the “let’s just throw money at the problem” mentality that has taken over this small, rural town. Apparently for a large proportion of the Town’s residents, cost is no object. Nor is the effect on those residents for whom cost is very much an object. Put bluntly, that is selfish and self-centered.
It’s self centered but what is more tragic is that residents aren’t aware or want to be aware. In short, they’re indifferent as they don’t attend SB meetings, read minutes or track what our “municipal policy” makers are doing. So sadly idiotic ideas are put forth and if they don’t require a ballot Article, the SB jams them through as no one is watching. I wonder how many even read these comments or this blog? And if they read the blog and comments, why they’re not outraged?