Author Archives: CTK

Should the Selectboard be more forthcoming about the renewal of the Town Manager’s contract?

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Other than the Selectboard, the Town Manager is the most powerful position in Norwich town government. By statute, the manager has “general supervision of the affairs of the town.” The employment agreement with Town Manager Herb Durfee expires in about 40 days. Yet, with so little time left, the Selectboard won’t tell the public what its plans are. Why? Would it put the Town in an adverse position for the Selectboard to tell the public that it is in the Continue reading Should the Selectboard be more forthcoming about the renewal of the Town Manager’s contract?→

Bad news for walkers on Beaver Meadow Road. Town says traffic calming measures are not feasible

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Town staff has concluded that most traffic calming measures for Beaver Meadow Road are not feasible at this time. That news is in the Town Manager’s report in the packet for the June 14, 2021 Selectboard meeting, beginning at page 30. It is likely a disappointment for residents along that stretch of Beaver Meadow Road, who have lobbied for a sidewalk since 2019. The earliest a sidewalk could probably be in place, by my guesstimate, is late 2023, assuming voters Continue reading Bad news for walkers on Beaver Meadow Road. Town says traffic calming measures are not feasible→

Total homestead property tax rate to rise by 3.25% in Norwich

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The Norwich Selectboard finalized the property tax rate on Tuesday. The total rate for homestead property will rise 3.25% compared to last year, from $2.3591 to $2.4358. For non residential property, the total rate goes from $2.2696 to $2.3589, about a 3.9% increase. Those numbers are from the Selectboard packet for the July 6, 2021 meeting. See chart below. At that meeting, Selectboard Chair Roger Arnold “thanked the Listers, Town Manager, and school personnel for their work on the tax Continue reading Total homestead property tax rate to rise by 3.25% in Norwich→

Selectboard silent on renewing Town Manager’s contract

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The employment agreement between the Town of Norwich and Town Manager Herb Durfee expires at the end of August. What are the Selectboard’s plans? Unknown. I made two attempts to contact Selectboard Chair Roger Arnold by email on this topic on June 7 and on June 10. No response. Here is what I asked in part: I understand Herb’s employment agreement with the Town expires at the end of August. Hoping you might share something about the process going forward. Continue reading Selectboard silent on renewing Town Manager’s contract→

MLB celebrates its inaugural Lou Gehrig Day

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Today, June 2, is Lou Gehrig Day across Major League Baseball. The day will honor his legacy on the field and raises awareness about ALS throughout the world. As a person living with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s famous Luckiest Man speech is a source of strength and inspiration. “So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for.” Why June 2? That is the day in 1925 Gehrig Continue reading MLB celebrates its inaugural Lou Gehrig Day→

ICYMI: Windsor Police Chief Frank, Caleb Zuckerman, Stave Puzzles, Tyler’s AirPods

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A brief roundup of news and information regarding Norwich, Vermont that may have escaped your attention. Windsor Police Chief Frank on community policing “This is an opportunity for a cultural change and to reexamine what we’ve been doing. And I am so excited to be a part of that.” That is what new Police Chief Jennifer Frank recently told the Windsor Selectboard according to an article by Eagle Times reporter Patrick Adrian. (H/T C.M.) In Windsor’s new police chief shares Continue reading ICYMI: Windsor Police Chief Frank, Caleb Zuckerman, Stave Puzzles, Tyler’s AirPods→

Hartford: No interest in a Norwich sewer connection

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The Town of Hartford says it is not interested in Norwich joining the Hartford sewer system. That news is a setback to the Norwich School District. It was seriously looking at a hookup to the Hartford sewer system as a possible solution to the Marion Cross School septic problem. The news may also be a setback for further economic development in Norwich.The 2020 Town Plan cites the absence of wastewater infrastructure as a limit to growth in in the Village Continue reading Hartford: No interest in a Norwich sewer connection→

MCS student targeted by hateful slur

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The following appeared as a letter to the editor in the Valley News on Sunday. (H/T DF.) Targeted by a hateful slur, and no help from the grown-ups I am 12 years old, a sixth grader at Marion Cross Elementary School, and an out lesbian to my family, friends and the students in my grade. Recently I was outside Dan & Whit’s with my brother, buying ice cream. In front of us in line were two people from my school. They Continue reading MCS student targeted by hateful slur→

DRB says “highly unlikely” that Norwich sign regulations are valid under First Amendment

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In April, the Norwich Development Review Board (DRB) denied an appeal from the determination by the Zoning Administrator regarding the Black Lives Banner on Main Street. The ZA had concluded that the BLM banner is exempt from the Town’s sign regulations.* However, perhaps a more far-reaching aspect of this decision is the conclusion by the DRB that it is “highly unlikely” that the content-based aspects of the Norwich sign regulations are constitutional under the freedom of speech provisions of the Continue reading DRB says “highly unlikely” that Norwich sign regulations are valid under First Amendment→

Planning Commission recommends that Town study sewer options

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The Norwich Planning Commission is recommending to the Selectboard that the Town fund a study to examine sewer options for the Town. The resolution passed at the Commission’s meeting last week. The vote was unanimous, with one abstention according to the draft meeting minutes. At the time of this post, the video of the meeting is not yet available on the Town’s YouTube channel. Town efforts to connect with the Hartford sewer system may be at cross-purposes with the School Continue reading Planning Commission recommends that Town study sewer options→