Author Archives: CTK

A Proposed Town Budget Without Real Numbers

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The Selectboard began review of the Town Manager’s proposed budget last Wednesday and will continue this Wednesday. Although the budget process is arduous and tedious, the Town budget is probably the most important policy document the Selectboard reviews each year. In reviewing this year’s budget materials, I noticed something troubling: there is no information about what we actually spent last year. I don’t know how the Selectboard can intelligently participate in the planned presentations from Department Heads without knowing how much the Continue reading A Proposed Town Budget Without Real Numbers→

Town budget includes funding for electronic message sign

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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 Continue reading Town budget includes funding for electronic message sign→

Grange Kitchen Design Process Offers Lessons for Tracy Hall Renovation

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Sometimes great examples of effective project design happen right in our backyard. The Norwich Grange’s kitchen renovation process offers lessons for Town officials to consider as they ponder early steps in renovating Tracy Hall. Here’s how the Norwich Community Collaborative described the process, in a recent mailing: The Norwich Grange Kitchen committee has been working over the past year to bring the vision of the Community Kitchen to life. The committee has been working to assist with design and development Continue reading Grange Kitchen Design Process Offers Lessons for Tracy Hall Renovation→

Hidden Good News: FY 25 Closes With Nearly $1 Million ‘Surplus’

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Officials buried the lede in presenting Norwich’s unaudited financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Missing headline: The Town has nearly $1 million more in surplus money than expected. The Town Manager’s August report overlooked this significant good news, and the Selectboard failed to highlight it in their review. By the numbers. The numbers are clear. Our town ended the fiscal year with approximately $972,000 more on hand than projected when the property tax rate was set Continue reading Hidden Good News: FY 25 Closes With Nearly $1 Million ‘Surplus’→

Selectboard strips Finance Committee of independent role

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Four years ago, in January 2021, members of Norwich’s Finance Committee resigned en masse, stating that their work felt “pointless” due to the Selectboard’s disinterest in their input. Since that time, the Selectboard has not addressed the underlying issues that prompted this exodus. Nor has the Town had a Finance Committee since then, because residents were uninterested in serving That changed recently when three well-qualified residents volunteered to serve. Their appointment at the March 26 Selectboard meeting established a quorum, Continue reading Selectboard strips Finance Committee of independent role→

Podcast: Norwich Selectboard Budget Debate

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Google’s NotebookLM has an Audio Overview tool that will generate a “deep dive” podcast from your specified sources. I gave it my recent post A Divided Norwich Selectboard Grapples with Budget Oversight Responsibilities. The resulting output is below. Click on play to listen. Note that this audio overview is not a comprehensive or objective view of a topic, but simply a reflection of my blog post. Also, inaccuracies and audio glitches can (and did) occur. Nevertheless, I found it interesting Continue reading Podcast: Norwich Selectboard Budget Debate→

A Divided Norwich Selectboard Grapples with Budget Oversight Responsibilities

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How closely should the Selectboard examine the budget proposed by the Town Manager? That question dominated a contentious 100-minute discussion at last week’s Norwich Selectboard meeting that ended in a split 3-2 vote to advance a $6.7 million budget to voters at March Town Meeting. The proposed spending plan, which would increase property taxes by 24%, exposed deep divisions about the board’s oversight responsibilities. Selectboard members Arnold, Calloway and Layton voted in favor of the FY 26 budget while Smith Continue reading A Divided Norwich Selectboard Grapples with Budget Oversight Responsibilities→

Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’

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Without public discussion or explanation, the Norwich Selectboard voted 3-2 to weaken a key provision of Town Manager Brennan Duffy’s contract. The change eliminates the ‘deadline’ for him to move to the Upper Valley, thereby cementing as permanent policy his working remotely two days a week. The vote took place on October 23, although an executive session occurred two weeks prior, in connection with the Town Manager’s annual evaluation. For some, this decision is a reminder of Mr. Duffy’s hiring Continue reading Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’→

Norwich’s Planning Commission Ponders Upzoning Options

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Everybody knows housing in the Upper Valley is pricey and scarce. To address these issues, the Norwich, Vermont Planning Commission is looking into making targeted changes to its zoning regulations. The options under consideration are to allow higher-density housing, like accessory dwelling units and multi-family homes, in certain areas. This “upzoning” approach could create more housing without significantly altering the character of existing neighborhoods. Discussions are in the early stages, but Commission members broadly agree on many key concepts. However, Continue reading Norwich’s Planning Commission Ponders Upzoning Options→

Surging Home Values Aren’t Causing Vermont’s School Tax Spike—Spending Is

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Why Vermont’s Rising Home Values Don’t Automatically Raise Your School Tax Bill A common misconception among some homeowners and public officials is that surging home values in Vermont are a significant contributor to the increase in school property taxes. But while education finance is a complex topic, rapidly increasing home values are not the direct cause of the double-digit percentage increase in your school tax bill. Instead, spending on education is the main factor driving changes in your taxes. If Continue reading Surging Home Values Aren’t Causing Vermont’s School Tax Spike—Spending Is→