Podcast: Norwich Selectboard Budget Debate

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

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

Post-Budget Realities: A List of Some Lingering Issues

As Town Meeting approaches, the Selectboard has approved a budget, crafted through the dedicated effort of Board members, the Town Manager, and staff. The adopted budget largely aligns with the Town Manager’s proposals. However, this post does not delve into the intricacies of the budget itself. Instead, it sheds light on issues that emerged during the budget process yet remain unresolved. It’s important to highlight these lingering concerns that warrant attention from the SB and TM, as well as the Continue reading Post-Budget Realities: A List of Some Lingering Issues

Silent Rejection: Article 11 and the Selectboard’s Inaction

At Town Meeting in March 2023, Norwich residents approved Article 11, advising the Town “to consider” the addition of a fifth full-time officer to the Norwich Police Department (NPD). However, the Selectboard has quietly rejected this vote by finalizing next year’s budget without allocating funds for the additional position and more importantly for this post, without any discussion of Article 11. The Board’s rejection of the voters wish to consider the issue, without any kind of explanation, prompts questions about Continue reading Silent Rejection: Article 11 and the Selectboard’s Inaction

Public Input Matters: How to Spend a Once-in-a-Generation Surplus

The Town of Norwich has $1.8 million in surplus cash, of which $1 million came from ARPA but since then washed of its restrictions.  On Wednesday, December 13th, the Selectboard will consider plans to use that money as follows, subject to voter approval at Town Meeting: Selectboard December 13 meeting packet at 17, 35 (Slide 15, 33) Based on the public information available, I am not confident this is a prudent use of this once-in-a-generation surplus. The capital plan is Continue reading Public Input Matters: How to Spend a Once-in-a-Generation Surplus

Random Notes and Comments: 10-25 Selectboard meeting

My collection of random comments, notes and thoughts after watching the video recording of the October 25 Norwich Selectboard meeting. Secrecy still shrouds appointment of TM In a prior post, I listed some of the superb questions a resident posed to the Selectboard about the ‘emergency’ appointment of a permanent town manager to a 3-year term. The Selectboard declined to respond to those questions, after asking that they be submitted in writing. Chair Marcia Calloway asked the Board if anyone Continue reading Random Notes and Comments: 10-25 Selectboard meeting

Town projects budget surplus of $250,000. No plans to use cash for property tax relief or employee retention bonuses.

The Town projects to have a budget surplus of $250,000 for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2022. At its June 22, 2022 meeting, the Selectboard passed on two suggestions for using that money. One was to pay bonuses to current employees. The other, returning money to taxpayers. The lack any real interest in either topic mystifies me. As detailed below, the Town is flush with cash. However, some Selectboard members noted concerns about future expenses. Apparently. Tracy Continue reading Town projects budget surplus of $250,000. No plans to use cash for property tax relief or employee retention bonuses.

Truth-in-advertising? Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7

Maybe I am a fussbudget. Nonetheless, I do not understand why the Selectboard can’t be more forthcoming in its Town Meeting slide presentation. Specifically, I am referring to the slides for the Town budget and for Article 7. Voters deserve transparency. A presentation is scheduled for February 14 and again, at the pre-Town Meeting. Budget Above is Slide number 5 from Selectboard’s presentation. I am not sure this statement – “maintaining current services while accounting for the coming year’s high Continue reading Truth-in-advertising? Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7

Questions for the Selectboard for its Saturday Town Meeting Informational Meeting

The Selectboard will be holding two bonus information sessions on the municipal issues related to Town Meeting. These are Zoom only meetings. Scheduled dates are:  Feb 5th, 2022 at 11AM and Feb 14th, 2022 at 6:30 PM. I don’t know what it says for the state of romance in Norwich that the Selectboard scheduled a meeting for Valentine’s Day evening. Kudos to the Selectboard for scheduling these extra sessions! Here are some questions I hope are addressed at the first Continue reading Questions for the Selectboard for its Saturday Town Meeting Informational Meeting