We have a new Town Manager. With that comes a new contract. The employment agreement with newly appointed Town Manager Roderick Francis differs in several significant respects from the initial contract with former Town Manager Herb Durfee. I will highlight some of those and other terms that caught my eye, below.
Notably, the contract length is five years. No other Town Manager in Norwich has survived that long. Either the Selectboard is highly confident or it lacked bargaining power. Also, there was an issue raised about the status of his PhD degree, which status was sufficiently significant to make its resolution a contract term.
As is typical in my experience, Selectboard Chair Roger Arnold declined (more specifically, ignored) my request for comment about the differences with the two contracts.
Length of contract
The contract length is five years. The initial term in the Durfee contract was three years. No Town Manager in Norwich has lasted five years. Moreover, the contract for the new town manager in Hartford and in Thetford each had three-year term, according to the Valley News. Both new officials started work in 2021 and relocated to the Upper Valley.
I wish the best for Mr. Francis in his position. However, the Selectboard is taking a risk. In Vermont, a Town Manager can only be dismissed for just cause.
Compensation
Mr. Francis will start at Grade 24, Step D. That is a base salary of $95,608.11. Mr. Durfee, who had prior experience as a town manager, started at Grade 24, Step A.
In addition, the Selectboard has discretion to pay Mr. Francis a bonus based on “satisfactory performance” of his duties
Goals and performance
The Board and Town Manager shall meet once a year to develop “goals and performance objectives” The Board meets with the Town Manager in January and July to discuss his performance.
Cell phone
Mr. Francis does not receive a cell phone from the Town. Instead, he receives a stipend of $40 per month. I believe this is the opposite of what the Town plans to do with department heads, which is to provide each with a company cell phone.
The data on his phone is treated as his private property, except for information “transmitted in the course of his duties.” This limitation seemingly violates the Public Records Act with respect to work product created by him as Town Manager, but not transmitted.
Residency
There is no residency requirement on the Town Manager. Under the Town’s union contract, police officers must reside within 30 minutes of the Public Safety Building and DPW Operators must reside within 60 minutes of the Town Garage unless an exception is granted by the Town Manager.
PhD degree status
I am at a loss to explain the backstory for the provision set forth below. My request for a copy of the resume was ignored. Opacity on this issue is grist for the ugly rumor mill.
Chris,
I think you are providing a very valuable service to the residents of Norwich.
I enjoy reading your insightful articles very much.
Keep it up.
Keith Moran
An Australian “PhD” is the equivalent of a U.S. masters degree but only when you defend your 1996 thesis on Victorian age meatpacking in campertown Australia. Monash University apparently has no record of a degree being awarded. As they say, “back in my day” lying on an employment application was grounds for dismissal. Guess the “background” check from the zoning role didn’t go very deep.
A Town Manager can be terminated for cause if what is cause for termination is defined in the contract. In our previous TM contracts cause was never defined, so the only way a TM could be terminated was by refusing to renew the contract. The Select Board has been advised numerous times to make sure that the TM contracts incorporate a clause defining cause for termination. Does this new contract include such a clause?
Chris:
Thanks for posting this information. I see NO reason to offer the new TM a 5 year contract. A 3 year contract is fine. I would like the SB state publicly and plainly why the change from 3 to 5 years.
Also, good point on the TM’s cell phone use.
Having worked with Mr. Francis, I hasten to assure you of my respect for his abilities. At the same time, I think it both fair and wise, for the candidate and the Town, that clarification and answers to the concerns and questions posed thus far are provided immediately.