Occasional news and commentary about local government in Norwich, VT
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]
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
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
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
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
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
By my count, Norwich has had five permanent Town Managers since the first Town Manager was hired in 2002. None lasted five years. According to a recent Valley News article by Tim Camerato, “Norwich has a contentious history with past town managers.” Is it time for Norwich to look in the mirror? The five Town Managers in chronological order are: Dennis Pavlicek (resigned) Stephen J. Soares (?resigned to be police chief in Windsor?), Peter Webster (contract not renewed), Neil Fulton Continue reading Why can’t Norwich be happy with its Town Manager?
At its meeting on September 8, the Selectboard heard a presentation from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) on how it plans to conduct the search for a new Town Manager. Not yet publicly discussed by the Selectboard is the role the community will play in the process. That may occur at the Board meeting on September 22. The Selectboard should proactively involve the public. The Town Manager is often the sole point of contact between members of Continue reading What role for residents in Town Manager search?
The Selectboard will not pursue another employment agreement with Town Manager Herb Durfee. As a result, Mr. Durfee’s role as the Town Manager for Norwich will end at the end of August, when his current contract expires. The decision was made at the Selectboard meeting last night, July 28. The video of that meeting is here, with the discussion beginning at about 1:49:25. (Thanks DW.) The vote was unanimous with Mary Layton abstaining. After the vote, Selectboard Chair Roger Arnold Continue reading Norwich Town Manager won’t get new contract
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?