Category Archives: Climate Change

From ARPA to Zoning Director: Important matters facing the Selectboard

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As the Norwich Selectboard begins its new term following Town Meeting, here are some matters under consideration by the Board. Overall, addressing these issues will require careful consideration by our officials. \ If I missed something or erred, feel free to comment below or to contact me. * * * Thanks for reading. Contact the Norwich Observer at norwichobserver [at] gmail.com.

Article 36 Task Force lists potential action items, invites public input

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The Article 36 Task Force is winnowing its list of potential action items as it prepares to make recommendations to the Selectboard in December. From a list of nearly 50 items, the Task Force preliminarily narrowed the list to 13 items at its October 28 meeting. However, the list remains a work-in-progress. The Task Force plans to hold three drafting sessions as it further develops the list and report. The first meeting is at 7 PM on November 4, at Continue reading Article 36 Task Force lists potential action items, invites public input→

Vermont: a less risky place to weather climate change

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Of the 10 lowest risk counties in the United States to live as the climate warms, seven are in Vermont. One is the Upper Valley’s Orange County. However, nowhere will escape climate change unscathed. Here’s the blurb from the Quartz Daily Brief of September 7, 2021. One in three Americans experienced a weather disaster this summer, and things aren’t getting less extreme from here. So where is a future climate migrant to go?A recent study assessed six factors—heat, wet bulb Continue reading Vermont: a less risky place to weather climate change→

Is it a good idea to have the Town Manager select four members to the Article 36 Task Force?

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The Selectboard gave a first reading approval to the Article 36 Task Force proposed by Selectboard Vice Chair Roger Arnold at its last meeting. Overall, a task force is a good idea. However, one aspect of the proposal troubles me. The Town Manager selects four members to the nine member Task Force. That novel approach seems to lack transparency. Public participation is also lost. To be accurate, the Town Manager “recommends” each person. Then, the Selectboard does the appointing. But, Continue reading Is it a good idea to have the Town Manager select four members to the Article 36 Task Force?→

What to do with an extra $30,000?

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At Town Meeting last year, voters approved a special monetary Article, authorizing the spending of $30,669.51 for a Regional Energy Coordinator. That sum was raised through taxes, but never spent. The money was not spent because TRORC dumped Norwich from the project in July and the Selectboard did not do anything to reverse that decision. I keep hoping there will be a public discussion of what to do with the unspent $30,000. Minutes from the last Selectboard meeting are silent Continue reading What to do with an extra $30,000?→

Green Fleet Working Group: Public not invited

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The Norwich Selectboard created a Green Fleet Working Group in September. Not much, if anything, has been publicized about this group since. As it turns out, the Working Group won’t commit to compliance with the Open Meeting Law. Nor will the public at large have representation on this group. That is the word from Town Manager Herb Durfee who is leading the group. What is it about “working groups” that causes officials to conclude that such groups are magically exempt Continue reading Green Fleet Working Group: Public not invited→

Budget proposal “not for the faint of heart” says Norwich Town Manager

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Give Town Manager Herb Durfee credit. His big budget proposal, calling for a 20% increase in spending, won’t sit well with taxpayers struggling during the pandemic. But, it will force the Selectboard to address long-term infrastructure issues and make decisions about them. That Selectboard discussion is long overdue. In his email transmitting the budget to the Selectboard Town Manager Durfee said the draft budget is “not for the faint of heart.” Further he emphasized, the budget is “not the ‘Town Continue reading Budget proposal “not for the faint of heart” says Norwich Town Manager→

Selectboard mailbag for October 28

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Here’s some Selectboard correspondence I found interesting in the Selectboard packet for the meeting on October 28. Road salt Why are we buying road salt from Chile in South America, asks resident Doug Wilberding. The Town’s share of CO2 emissions from the transport boat, “equates to more emissions than the 45 tons emitted annually at Tracy Hall.” Mr. Wilberding wants the Town to be more proactive about reducing its carbon footprint. “Initiating policy either through Articles or Resolutions is meaningless Continue reading Selectboard mailbag for October 28→

ICYMI: MOCO hot chocolate wins award, Sweetland Farm pledges ’90 in 10′, and Dan & Whit’s is a JAG Ambassador

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A brief roundup of news and information regarding Norwich, Vermont that may have escaped your attention. MOCO Norwich-based MOCO –  My Organic Coco won a sofi Award from the Specialty Food Association in the New Product category for 2020. The sofi (“specialty outstanding food innovation”) Awards were announced in late August. MOCO’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate was one of 148 winners across 39 product categories selected from nearly 2,000 entries. “We’re so honored to win a New Product Award, and it Continue reading ICYMI: MOCO hot chocolate wins award, Sweetland Farm pledges ’90 in 10′, and Dan & Whit’s is a JAG Ambassador→