Attribution: Nattria CATontheARK, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
At Town Meeting in 2020, voters soundly defeated ballot Article 6 to spend $11,000 on two flashing pedestrian crossing signs, known as RRFBs or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. Given that defeat, I was surprised that the Selectboard was not more inquisitive about the line item in the Town Manager’s proposed budget to purchase a variable message sign. The cost is $25,000.
Not much detail was provided. Here is the transcript from the YouTube video of the Selectboard meeting of November 12, starting at about the 32:28 mark:
[POLICE CHIEF] Going down that list a little bit into community policing, you’ll see a pretty big bump in the speed sign line. That’s not to put a ton of speed signs up around, but it was the block that made the most sense to put this in….
We have been for a number of years talking about variable message signs like Hartford has and like smaller versions of what you see on the interstate. Matter of fact, Brie was talking with me about Halloween and we were having a serious discussion about coming to you all and wanting to close Main Street next year. It just feels like we’ve tempted fate too long and we should just take that extra safety measure. And then the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and then the Labor Day run and then the CHaD Heroes run and all these things that we have that impact Main Street and our roadways throughout. The Christmas pageant that’ll be coming up in a month or so.
To be able to put a variable message board out to tell people a couple days in advance, ‘Hey, Main Street’s going to be closed this time to this time and here’s your detours.’
[SELECTBOARD CHAIR] Would that be the same scale that Hanover has, something similar to that? Like a larger sign or not so much?
[POLICE CHIEF] It’ll be a smaller—it won’t be the sign you see on the interstate. Those, if you actually get up close to them, are gigantic, but they have what’s called a Mini Metro. And they actually have them small enough that you can put in the back of your car. We’re not going that small, but we’re going to go probably one of the smaller trailer-mounted ones that we can move around and deploy.
So there’s funding in there for one of those and maybe we can find — Brennan and I have talked about, you know, a possibility of an article for surplus when we get to that point. Maybe instead of doing it here in an operational budget, we do it as a separate article to eat up some surplus and say, ‘Hey, these things are useful and we’d like to try.’
The Selectboard asked no further questions about the proposal. For every new budget item, I think the Board should always ask whether this is a “want” or a “need.” Also, specific questions about the message sign might include: Have residents complained about notice of road closures? How often would the town use it? What are its useful life and maintenance costs?
The Selectboard will make decisions about the full budget in December. The Board is likely to include this item in the operating budget rather than as a separate warrant article. Residents vote at Town Meeting. .
Contact the Selectboard or comment at a meeting if you have questions or concerns about this proposal. And comment below.
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Thanks for reading! Contact me at norwichobserver[at]gmail.com
Norwich should STOP spending money on
wants. We do NOT need to spend $25,000
on this. I would vote no.
Chris, also there was an article in VTDigger
regarding Northfield. It suggested the Chief Romei become the new police chief in Northfield. Have you seen this article?
Thanks for the tip. The VTDigger article says:
However, Morse confirmed former police chief Helfant, who earlier this year surrendered his law enforcement certification, has recommended the town hire Norwich Police Chief Matthew Romei, who was formerly the Capitol Police chief.
https://vtdigger.org/2025/11/12/wary-of-northfields-murky-politics-berlin-police-chief-seeks-compensation-to-cover-policing-gap/
I’m wondering how many electronic messaging signs the Police Dept proposes would be purchased with this appropriation. I recall a conversation in a SB meeting a few years ago where the SB was told that this type of sign would cost approximately $5,500. Surely, the price hasn’t increased more than 4X for one sign. The obvious questions are: “How many signs will be purchased?” “Where will these signs be deployed?”
The indication at the meeting was ONE sign.
Norwich does NOT need to spend $25K for an electronic sign!
Vote NO!
We also did NOT need to spend $6K on strip spikes.
This equipment is a want not a need.
It is just adding to the town budget and taking money out of our pockets.
Posted town signs outside of Tracy Hall or on the fence by the town green are very visible – and can be posted for 2 weeks in advance of an event.
Trying to drive and read an electric sign is dangerous because it takes your eyes off the road because of the flashing words changing. They work on the highway because there is a long distance to read them and they are not in a pedestrian town.
Closing a road for a small portion of a run on a holiday morning is not a big deal for cars to do a small detour around downtown or having a pedestrian only time for trick or treating.
I have not heard of anyone complaining that Main Street was closed without notice for events. Are Hartford and Hanover comparable to Norwich?