Category Archives: Town Manager

Police Chief Keeling resigns. A few questions come to mind, about policing in Norwich, efforts to retain Town employees and more.

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It’s official. Police Chief Simon Keeling and another full-time officer have left the Norwich Police Department. If you think the Norwich Police Department should be defunded, you are pleased. We are at less than 50% of budgeted staffing levels, by my count. I have questions. No answers. Police Are residents safe? Town Manager Francis says: “With the assistance of county and state agencies Norwich residents will continue to have adequate public safety response.” It would seem that “adequacy” is in Continue reading Police Chief Keeling resigns. A few questions come to mind, about policing in Norwich, efforts to retain Town employees and more.→

Unpacking the new Town Manager’s contract

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We have a new Town Manager. With that comes a new contract. The employment agreement with newly appointed Town Manager Roderick Francis differs in several significant respects from the initial contract with former Town Manager Herb Durfee. I will highlight some of those and other terms that caught my eye, below. Notably, the contract length is five years. No other Town Manager in Norwich has survived that long. Either the Selectboard is highly confident or it lacked bargaining power. Also, Continue reading Unpacking the new Town Manager’s contract→

Rod Francis named as Town Manager

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The Selectboard selected Roderick Francis as the next Town Manager for Norwich, at the Board’s meeting on February 9. Mr. Francis is currently the Director of Planning for the Town as well as its Interim Town Manager. The vote was 4-1, with Selectboard member Marcia Calloway voting no. The other Selectboard members indicated they were very happy with the selection. Contract terms were not disclosed. [END]

UPDATE: School Board and Selectboard candidates; Town Manager search

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Who’s running for School Board and Selectboard? Both School Board and both Selectboard incumbents up for election are asking voters to return them to office at Town Meeting in March. Three will face no formal opposition. Here is the line up as provided to me by Town Clerk Bonnie Munday. For Norwich School Board, Garrett Palm is running unopposed for a second term for a two-year seat. Lily Trajman is also running unopposed for the three-year seat that the School Continue reading UPDATE: School Board and Selectboard candidates; Town Manager search→

Update on Town Manager search: #31 gets an offer

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A brief update on the Town Manager search. Draft meeting minutes from the special Selectboard meeting on Friday report that the Selectboard extended “an offer of employment as Town Manager to Candidate #31 contingent upon contract negotiations. Motion passed (4 yes, Calloway no).” [END]

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

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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

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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→

UPDATES: School Board vacancy, Town Manager search, Interim Town Manager support

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An update on topics that the Norwich Observer is following. School Board vacancy filled Lily Trajman was appointed by the Norwich School Board on November 3 to fill the vacancy on the Board due to the resignation of Kelley Hersey. She will serve until Town Meeting in March. The Board selected Dr. Trajman from a field of three candidates, each of whom made presentations to the Board. Dr. Trajman’s letter of interest to the School Board is available here. Her Continue reading UPDATES: School Board vacancy, Town Manager search, Interim Town Manager support→

Norwich Selectboard’s choice for interim town manager declines job

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The Norwich Selectboard’s choice for interim town manager will not be coming aboard, as that person accepted a different job offer. Selectboard Chair Roger Arnold made the announcement at the October 13 Selectboard meeting. No next steps were discussed. The Selectboard Chair made the offer sometime after the Board’s approval at a special meeting on September 14. However, at the October 13 meeting, Chair Arnold said the “candidate has accepted another position and is unfortunately no longer available to to Continue reading Norwich Selectboard’s choice for interim town manager declines job→

Selectboard charts course for Town Manager search

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At its meeting on September 29, the Selectboard charted a course for the Town Manager search process. The goal is to have a new Town Manager at her or his post by February 1, 2022. The Board approved the recruitment plan in the packet, according to the draft meeting minutes. A soft deadline for applications is October 29. First round interviews are scheduled for November 4 and 5. The final interview process occurs about 10-15 days later, involving two or Continue reading Selectboard charts course for Town Manager search→