Who’s running for Selectboard?

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Three seats are up for election this year on the Norwich Selectboard. Two of the races are contested.

For the three-year seat, two current Selectboard members are running against each other. Marcia Calloway and Rob Gere are candidates for that position.

Pam Smith is running unopposed for the two year seat. Ms. Smith is currently one of the Listers for the Town.

The third Selectboard position up for election is to fill the remaining term of Claudette Brochu, who resigned in the summer.That term has one year remaining. Aaron Lamperti and Priscilla Vincent are the candidates for that spot. In late July, 2022, the Selectboard appointed Mr. Lamperti to fill that seat until Town Meeting.

Candidate Questionnaire

The Norwich Observer asked the Selectboard candidates to respond to five questions regarding their candidacy. Responses should be published here, starting this weekend, if all goes according to plan.

The questions are as follows.

  1. Background and qualifications. For those who do not know you, please provide some info about yourself. Also, what prior experience and skills do you have that make you a good candidate for the Selectboard position?
  2. Priorities. Other than hiring a Town Manager, what are the top three issues that you think the Selectboard should address in the next 12 months?
  3. Toxic community problem. When the Selectboard publicly announced the separation agreement with former town manager Roderick Francis, the Board issued a statement that said in part, according to the October 24, 2022 minutes: “Rod has acted honorably and professionally during his tenure despite a personal cost resulting from what the Selectboard respectfully finds has been an unwarranted level of negative public sentiment and scrutiny on the part of some.” Further, the November 9, 2022 meeting minutes state that: “SB members also expressed concern about Norwich’s toxic community problem.” Finally, a news story published by the Valley News on November 23, 2022 reported that the resignation letter of Planning and Zoning Coordinator Aaron DeNamur attributed his departure to “a very abusive and outspoken group of residents.”

What do you make of the above statements by our town officials? Does Norwich have a “toxic community problem”? What steps can the Selectboard and Town Manager take to improve the real or perceived atmosphere and to ensure that all parties feel heard and understood.

  1. Police. Article 11 of the Town Meeting Warning is an advisory article. It asks voters to indicate whether they want to add another full-time officer to the Norwich Police Department. Some proponents of the article say that an additional officer is necessary to provide Norwich with 24/7 in-person coverage. Are you in favor of adding another full-time officer, to bring the police officer staff to five, including the police chief. Why or why not?
  2. Elected Listers/Town Clerk. Article 12 asks voters to replace the elected board of Listers with “a professionally qualified assessor hired by the Town.” Also, in the wake of the pending retirement of the Town Clerk, article 15 asks voters to authorize the appointment of the Town Clerk by the Selectboard. Currently, the Town Clerk is elected by voters. Do you support passage of either article or both? Why or why not?

Selectboard Candidates Forum

Don’t forget the Selectboard Candidates Forum sponsored by the Norwich Women’s Club on February 16 at 7 PM at the Marion Cross School.

5 Replies to “Who’s running for Selectboard?”

  1. Regarding Article 12, one of the authors, Steve Flanders just placed his home on the market for sale. There is a paucity of appraisers/assessors to hire and that cost isn’t even in the Town budget. Some people signed the petition twice and some current SB members signed or participated in gathering signatures in the “resident/voters” petition. Seems they haven’t thought through this idea of eliminating the listers.

    https://vtdigger.org/2023/02/02/facing-a-crisis-house-panel-considers-transforming-property-value-reappraisal-system/amp/

  2. Regarding Article #13
    With inevitable tax increases in Norwich placing a burden on the public it is morally unconscionable that the Norwich Farm Foundation
    should be granted a tax exemption.

  3. Demo,
    I thought the fourth officer would enable the chief to schedule 20/7 coverage. I have been told that we have never had 24/7 even under Doug Robinson who had to do the same juggling act. The hours of 3-7 would likely go uncovered by our own dept.

    I think the question to ask the candidates it that, knowing we have the funds in reserve to pay for a 5th member of the police department, if the voters express support, will the SB member vote to approve the hiring of a new officer?

  4. Charlotte,

    I never said 24/7 coverage was what we had, however if the voters approve the hiring of a 5th officer we would be closer to that than the 20/7 coverage we have had prior to the vacancies.

  5. chris, shame on me
    I had not read your post for a while and thought t was Demos. Demo just called me to make sure people know that he agrees with me and has always known that we did not expect 24/7 coverage. He was on the committee that studied policing extensively in 2007. Doug robinson wanted 4 officers but was allowed only 3. He was ultimately provided with support from 2 part time officers who did not require the same benefits as another (4TH) full time officer. Demo wants people to k now he was not trying to mislead or exaggerate and that he has been very aware of all the police discussions over the years. I knew that and was much too quick in my response to your post!!