On my Soapbox: new Town Plan excludes community from solar siting decisions

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“Thanks for keeping it local,” is a Norwich mantra. Except … when it comes to the siting of solar panel farms. In that case, the Selectboard and Planning Commission think its okay to punt those decisions to the PUC. It is part of the new Town Plan, adopted by the Selectboard on Saturday, March 7. The old Town Plan, adopted less than two years ago, took a case by case approach to commercial solar projects. Many Vermont towns do the Continue reading On my Soapbox: new Town Plan excludes community from solar siting decisions→

Coronavirus Response: Dan and Whit’s offers pick up and delivery service

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As a response to the Coronavirus outbreak, Dan and Whit’s is dusting off a practice common in the 1950’s. It is offering pick-up and delivery services. The General Store made the announcement yesterday on the listserv. Dan Fraser’s post lays out the ground rules of what he terms a “work in progress.” The time has come (actually it once was) we are just re-establishing  the service that was once common in the 1950’s, due in part to limit exposure to germs Continue reading Coronavirus Response: Dan and Whit’s offers pick up and delivery service→

For the Record: Official Town Meeting Results On Selected Articles

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Below are the official 2020 Town Meeting results on selected articles. Complete results as published on the Town’s website are here. Noteworthy are the votes on Article 6 and 8. First, Article 6 failed by a wide margin. It asked to spend $11,000 to install flashing lights at two additional village crosswalks. Much controversy erupted before and after the installation of the first two. But, there was no talk on this Article 6 on the listserv. At pre-Town meeting, as Continue reading For the Record: Official Town Meeting Results On Selected Articles→

Article 8: I’m voting NO

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I posted the following on the listserv today. Call me old school but I think $2 million is a lot money. Building the Public Safety Building cost around $1.6 million. Before spending $2 million on geothermal, let’s take stock, assess capital wants and needs, and determine priorities. The public discussion of geothermal occurred in a vacuum, without any consideration of other capital costs the Town may face. That is not prudent, unless money is no object. The Town Manager is Continue reading Article 8: I’m voting NO→

Condition of Tracy Hall boilers do not justify ‘rush’ to geothermal

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Does the condition of the Tracy Hall heating boilers and ventilation system justify going geothermal immediately? Proponents of Article 8 on the Town Meeting ballot answer, yes. My analysis below says otherwise. Neither item requires an immediate fix. For that reason, the Selectboard erred in rushing to put this matter on the ballot. Before voting on a $2 million bond, the Town needs to develop a strategic plan for all capital spending. It makes little sense to commit to $3,000,000 Continue reading Condition of Tracy Hall boilers do not justify ‘rush’ to geothermal→

Q & A with Selectboard candidate Doug Wilberding

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Doug Wilberding is running against Robert Gere for the three-year seat on the Selectboard. Neither is the incumbent, Below are the responses of Mr. Wilberding to my five questions. 1. For those who do not know you, please provide some background about yourself and say why you want to be on the Selectboard. I was born and raised in Norwich with my 7 siblings.  I went to Saint Michael’s College for my Bachelor’s degree and NYU for my Master’s degree.  Continue reading Q & A with Selectboard candidate Doug Wilberding→

Q & A with Selectboard candidate Robert Gere

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Robert Gere is running against Doug Wilberding for the three-year seat on the Selectboard. Neither is the incumbent, Below are the responses of Mr. Gere to my five questions. 1. For those who do not know you, please provide some background about yourself and say why you want to be on the Selectboard.         My wife and I first moved to Norwich on December 31, 1975. 6 months later we were exiled to Cornish where we spent 2 years before Continue reading Q & A with Selectboard candidate Robert Gere→

Q & A with Selectboard candidate Claudette Brochu

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Incumbent Claudette Brochu is running unopposed for the two-year seat on the Selectboard. 1. For those who do not know you, please provide some background about yourself and say why you want to be on the Selectboard. I have lived in town since 1983. I am an Army vet and retired RN. I currently work part-time in the non-profit sector. I have been on the Selectboard for two years. My goals as a Selectboard member have been to control spending, Continue reading Q & A with Selectboard candidate Claudette Brochu→

Think Big Norwich: Why Not Community Geothermal?

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Perhaps,Town officials are not thinking big enough with their geothermal proposal for Tracy Hall on the ballot for Town Meeting. Imagine, instead, a community geothermal project, available to homes, churches, and businesses within a couple of blocks of Tracy Hall. Talk about a reduction in carbon footprint! West Union, Iowa It has been done before. The city of West Union, Iowa, with a population of about 2,500, completed such a project in 2014. (H/T Eva Rosenbloom!) The wells, “all underneath Continue reading Think Big Norwich: Why Not Community Geothermal?→

Selectboard Changes Course, Will Discuss Contract Extension With Town Manager

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At a meeting marked by emotion and tension, the Selectboard changed course and decided to enter into discussions with the Town Manager about extending his contract. The 3-2 vote came at the end of a special meeting held Monday. Selectboard Chair John Pepper changed his vote from the January 24 meeting to one of support. Not clear is whether discussion about an extension will result in a new contract. Along with Mr. Pepper, Roger Arnold and Mary Layton voted in Continue reading Selectboard Changes Course, Will Discuss Contract Extension With Town Manager→