Author Archives: CTK

SURPRISE: Norwich has a permanent Police Chief

Posted on by

Interim Police Chief Simon Keeling is now the permanent Police Chief for the Town of Norwich. That is surprising news. Not because of the person selected but because of the timing of the decision. Rewind to the April 28 Selectboard meeting. After hearing public comment over the course of two meetings, the Selectboard voted against immediately hiring a police chief. “Motion failed (yes – Layton, Calloway; no – Brochu, Gere, Arnold)” say the draft meeting minutes. [Aside: why are minutes Continue reading SURPRISE: Norwich has a permanent Police Chief→

Does Norwich ‘need’ an Assistant Zoning Administrator?

Posted on by

At the outset, I appreciate the efforts of the Selectboard and staff for their work on the budget. They are working long hours. Thank you Claudette, Fielding, Marcia, Mary, Miranda, Rob, Rod and Roger. The Selectboard plans on finalizing its budget at its January 5 meeting. The goal of this budget cycle is to maintain the status quo – no changes from last year other than to cover increases in employee compensation and supplies. This approach makes sense as Norwich Continue reading Does Norwich ‘need’ an Assistant Zoning Administrator?→

Who’s running for School Board and Selectboard?

Posted on by

ELECTION 2022 Two School Board and two Selectboard seats are up for election at Town Meeting this year. With the filing deadline less than a month away, I thought I would check with the incumbents to see if they had made any decisions. School Board member Lily Trajman has said she is running to retain her School Board seat. Dr. Trajman was appointed by the Norwich School Board on November 3 to fill the vacancy on the Board due to Continue reading Who’s running for School Board and Selectboard?→

$50,000 for a police study?

Posted on by

On December 22 the Selectboard will likely take the next steps towards spending over $50,000 on consultants to examine whether the Norwich Police Department needs reforming or reimagining. Is this money well spent? I don’t know. But, I do have questions. To put this $50,000 amount in context, Norwich has $40,000 in its Climate Emergency, and about $46,000 in the Affordable Housing designated funds. The estimate to complete the Phase II engineering study for the Beaver Meadow Road sidewalk extension Continue reading $50,000 for a police study?→

Norwich Farm Foundation makes deal to purchase farm, a win for Norwich Farm Creamery

Posted on by

The Norwich Farm Foundation (NFF) has come to an agreement with Vermont State Colleges to purchase the six-acre Norwich Farm property on Turnpike Road. The news appears as a pop-up on the NFF website. Closing is projected for spring/summer 2022 but depends on a fundraising campaign. The site houses the Norwich Farm Creamery which is in litigation with its landlord, the Vermont Technical College. In contrast, the NFF plans to collaborate with the Creamery. “We’re thrilled to let you know Continue reading Norwich Farm Foundation makes deal to purchase farm, a win for Norwich Farm Creamery→

UPDATE: Legislative Apportionment Board opts for single member House and Senate districts, rejecting Norwich BCA recommendation on House

Posted on by

By a 4-3 vote, the Vermont Legislative Apportionment Board (LAB) opted to recommend single-member House and Senate districts across the State. If approved by the General Assembly (and that is a big ‘if’), most of the Town of Norwich would lose all incumbents currently representing its population in the Legislature. As explained by Lola Duffort, a reporter for VTDigger, in a recent article: The General Assembly must redraw its boundaries every 10 years, after the new U.S. census is published, Continue reading UPDATE: Legislative Apportionment Board opts for single member House and Senate districts, rejecting Norwich BCA recommendation on House→

UPDATE: Norwich Selectboard chooses Candidate #31 as finalist for Town Manager position

Posted on by

Looks like Candidate #31 may be the next Town Manager of Norwich, subject to background checks and contract negotiations. By unanimous vote at its meeting on December 10, the Selectboard agreed “to go forward with the candidacy of Candidate #31, subject to a full background check.” The Selectboard has not publicly disclosed the identity of #31. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns will conduct the background check. That investigation is the first half of the sixth and final step Continue reading UPDATE: Norwich Selectboard chooses Candidate #31 as finalist for Town Manager position→

UPDATE: Town Manager search

Posted on by

A brief update on the search for a new Town Manager for Norwich. Both the Selectboard and the Town Manager Screening Committee have plans to meet on Friday, December 3 to interview the finalists for the Town Manager position. The Selectboard might extend an offer of employment that night. Details of the meeting are not known. As of Thursday at 6 p.m, I did not see an agenda or meeting notice on the listserv or on the Town’s website. That Continue reading UPDATE: Town Manager search→

Proposed Police Department budget includes body cams, two replacement vehicles. Police incidents increase by 20%.

Posted on by

The 2023 fiscal year budget for the Norwich Police Department increases by over 7% under the proposal put forth by Acting Police Chief Simon Keeling and Interim Town Manager Rod Francis. The proposal includes body cameras for the police officers and replacement of two 2013 police cruisers. Except for the body cams, the goal of the budget proposal is to maintain the same level of service. Wages and benefits comprises about 75% of the budget. But that line decreases by Continue reading Proposed Police Department budget includes body cams, two replacement vehicles. Police incidents increase by 20%.→

UPDATE: Norwich opposes House redistricting proposal, as do Sharon, Strafford and Thetford

Posted on by

The Norwich Board of Civil Authority (BCA) is against the House redistricting proposal put forth by the Legislative Apportionment Board (LAB). The Norwich BCA submitted a formal response to the LAB last week. The BCA’s for Sharon, Strafford and Thetford are also against the change from a four town district. As noted in a prior post, Norwich, Sharon, Strafford and Thetford currently comprise the Windsor-Orange 2 district. It has two representatives in the Vermont House of Representatives. Seeking to create Continue reading UPDATE: Norwich opposes House redistricting proposal, as do Sharon, Strafford and Thetford→