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→

NRA infiltrates Norwich?

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Norwich Police Chief Jennifer Frank is hosting in April a school safety program and some residents are concerned. Why? The National Rifle Association (NRA) sponsors the four-day program. Though I’m no fan of the NRA’s lobbying efforts, I do trust that Chief Frank would only host worthwhile programs that are not political. Three residents raise the issue in an email that is part of Selectboard correspondence. See the packet for the February 12 Selectboard meeting, beginning at page 7. The Continue reading NRA infiltrates Norwich?→

Chart sheds light on Selectboard concerns regarding Town Manager’s job performance

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A chart prepared by the Town Manager Herb Durfee sheds light on Selectboard concerns regarding his job performance. By a 3-2 vote, in January, the Selectboard decided not to negotiate an extension to his contract that expires at the end of April. However, the Selectboard will meet Monday to further discuss that action. Town Manager Durfee will make a public presentation. As a personnel and contract matter, discussions occurred in executive session. No public discussion occurred prior to the 3-2 Continue reading Chart sheds light on Selectboard concerns regarding Town Manager’s job performance→

Selectboard to meet Monday to further discuss the Town Manager Durfee’s contract

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On Monday, February 10, the Selectboard will hold a special meeting to further discuss extending the current Town Manager’s contract. In January, by a 3-2 vote, the Selectboard decided not to renew the contract of Town Manager Herb Durfee, when it expires in April. Consequently, the Board would need to hire an interim Town Manager and begin the search for a new Town Manager. Mr. Durfee wishes to remain as Town Manager of Norwich. He will make a presentation to Continue reading Selectboard to meet Monday to further discuss the Town Manager Durfee’s contract→

Linda Cook is the Norwich 2020 Citizen of the Year!

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In a well deserved honor, Linda Cook is the Norwich Women’s Club 2020 Citizen of the Year. In an announcement on the listserv, Committee Chair Cheryl Herrmann added that the “’Stewards of Norwich’ are Ray and Anna Royce, Cheryl Lindberg, and Allison Colburn.” Ms. Cook, as well as the four Stewards, will be feted at this year’s Women’s Club Gala on Saturday, March 21. Ticket information is here. The announcement says about Linda Cook: It’s hard to believe there’s anyone Continue reading Linda Cook is the Norwich 2020 Citizen of the Year!→

Public Information Sessions On Tracy Hall Geothermal Proposal

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The Norwich Energy Committee is holding two information sessions in advance of Town meeting to discuss the $2 million bond article on the ballot for March 3. One session is: Sunday, 2/23, 2:00 pm at the Norwich Congregational Church. The other: Thursday, 2/27, 6:30 pm at the Norwich Public Library Also, discussion is likely at pre-Town meeting on March 2. On its website, the Energy Committee has set up a Town Facilities Energy Proposal: Information Hub. Lots of town-based information Continue reading Public Information Sessions On Tracy Hall Geothermal Proposal→

Norwich Selectboard and School Board candidates

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Two Selectboard seats and three School Board seats are up for election in 2020. Only one seat on the Selectboard is contested. Who’s running? The official list provided by Town Clerk Bonnie Munday: Selectboard Three year seat:  Robert Gere and Douglas Wilberding.  Two year seat: Claudette Brochu. There is a contest in the race for the Selectboard seat with a three-year term. Ms. Brochu, an incumbent, is unopposed.. School Board Dresden Norwich School Director – three year seat: Tom Candon. Continue reading Norwich Selectboard and School Board candidates→

Selectboard opts to not extend Town Manager’s contract

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Herb Durfee’s tenure as Norwich Town Manager may be drawing to a close. By a 2-3 vote at Friday’s special Selectboard meeting, a motion to discuss extending his contract failed. The Town Manager’s contract expires at the end of April. However, under that agreement, the deadline for the Town to offer Mr. Durfee a new contract is January 30. The Selectboard met several times in executive session since December 11 to discuss the topic. The draft meeting minutes released Sunday Continue reading Selectboard opts to not extend Town Manager’s contract→

TIL: Norwich, VT is carbon neutral, and then some

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Today I learned that our small town is carbon neutral. We could increase our population by a third and remain so. Here’s the quote from page 9 of the draft Town Plan approved by the Planning Commission: The mature trees on these forest lands perform critical ecosystem services including absorbing and sequestering carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas. Data gathered by the US Energy Information Administration tracks annual carbon dioxide emission by state, which shows that each Vermonter produces approximately Continue reading TIL: Norwich, VT is carbon neutral, and then some→

Are solar siting standards in the draft Town Plan too lax?

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Imagine Norwich clear cut of all trees and replaced by acres and acres of solar panel farms. Far fetched – yes. But, such a scenario is supported by the Renewable Energy Project Siting Standards at pages 28 and 29 in the Planning Commission’s draft of the Town Plan. I submitted a written public comment to the Planning Commission on this topic, which is at the end of this blog post. Here is my thinking in 6 sentences. Under the draft Continue reading Are solar siting standards in the draft Town Plan too lax?→