Norwich School Board Elections: Only one of three incumbents plans to run

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Three of the five Norwich School Board seats are up for election this year. Only one incumbent is seeking reelection. School Board Chair Tom Candon is running for reelection. However, at the Board meeting on January 8, as seen on CATV, both Jim Mackall and Lauren Morando Rhim indicated they would not be running. Mr. Mackall is the Norwich Vice Chair, while Ms. Rhim is the Secretary. At the meeting, Mr. Mackall said he is “strongly encouraging members of the Continue reading Norwich School Board Elections: Only one of three incumbents plans to run→

Town Facilities Working Group Recommends $2 Million No-Bid Contract To Reduce Fossil Fuel Use By 15%

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At its first meeting of the year on January 8, the Norwich Selectboard will consider the recommendation of the Town Facilities Working Group that voters be asked to approve a bond of up to $2,054,569.38, in order to reduce by 15% the town government’s use of fossil fuels. The work, improvements to Tracy Hall, Public Safety Building and DPW Garage, would not be put out for competitive bid. The Town Facilities Working Group has been meeting without the public notice Continue reading Town Facilities Working Group Recommends $2 Million No-Bid Contract To Reduce Fossil Fuel Use By 15%→

Welcome to the new home of the Norwich Observer

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This is a continuation of my blog from the website HereCast, which went on hiatus on December 31. A few of my older posts are here. I may post others. I’ll be posting soon about what seems to me to be a $2 million no-bid contract proposal. Other topics: Town and school budgets are being finalized. Two Selectboard seats and three School Board seats are up for election. My pet peeve will be the missing Town Manager reports. Monthly reports Continue reading Welcome to the new home of the Norwich Observer→

HereCast Shuts Down

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HereCast, the website dedicated to content ‘by locals for locals’, went dark on December 31. This is big loss for residents of and visitors to the Upper Valley specifically and for hyperlocal coverage in rural communities in general. Previously known as the dailyUV, the site was very popular here, “reaching more than half of Upper Valley residents month-in, month-out,” said the HereCast website. “HereCast showed that — given the opportunity — people from all walks of life will step up Continue reading HereCast Shuts Down→

Norwich ‘Working Group’ Fails In Transparency

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A Working Group of public officials, formed in November by the Norwich Selectboard, is apparently not giving public notice of its meetings or posting meeting minutes. This failure seemingly violates Vermont’s Open Meeting Law. The group, known as the the Town Facilities Working Group, is to make recommendations to the Selectboard later this month regarding $4 million in improvements to Town buildings to reduce their carbon footprint. The ambitious goal is to have an Article on the ballot at Town Continue reading Norwich ‘Working Group’ Fails In Transparency→

Norwich Cyber Scam: Insurance To Cover Loss

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The Town of Norwich’s insurance policy will cover the direct loss suffered from the business email compromise (BEC) scam that saw nearly $250,000 stolen from the Town’s General Fund. Town Manager Herb Durfee made the public announcement at the Selectboard meeting on Wednesday, as seen on CATV, although the Selectboard knew a number of days earlier. The Town’s insurance is through the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which oversees the Property and Casualty Intermunicipal Fund or PACIF. Previously, PACIF Continue reading Norwich Cyber Scam: Insurance To Cover Loss→

Cyber Scam Report: Finance Director Made Payments Knowing They Violated Policy

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The Burgess Investigation Report, relating to the the business email compromise (BEC) scam that saw $250,000 stolen from the Town, says that Finance Director Donna Flies knew she was violating Town policy but believed she was acting on orders from her boss, Town Manager Herb Durfee. The report prepared by Burgess Loss Prevention Associate in Lebanon, NH was made public today, after the Selectboard unanimously voted at its regular meeting last night to release the complete report. In August, Finance Continue reading Cyber Scam Report: Finance Director Made Payments Knowing They Violated Policy→

‘Amateur hour’? Setting the Norwich property tax rate.

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Norwich property tax bills are out. The overall rate is lower. This post addresses the presentation/discussion at the Selectboard meeting on the setting of the Town tax rate. It seemed disorganized to me. “Amateur hour” suggested one Selectboard member.  At the last Selectboard meeting, the Board, by a 3-2 vote, set the municipal tax rate at about a half-cent less than that recommended by the Town Manager. Selectboard members Pepper, Brochu and Langhus voted in favor of the motion.  Selectboard members Arnold and Continue reading ‘Amateur hour’? Setting the Norwich property tax rate.→

Q & A With Daybreak’s Creator Rob Gurwitt

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The morning brief of Upper Valley news (and weather) provided by Daybreak is entrenched as part of my morning routine. Hard to believe that Daybreak first arrived on the scene less than six months ago.   The mastermind behind Daybreak is Rob Gurwitt, a Norwich resident for 20 years and a writer and journalist for most of his working life. He kindly agreed to respond to some questions about this project.   Tell me about Daybreak. What is Daybreak? Why did you start it? The idea is pretty simple: Continue reading Q & A With Daybreak’s Creator Rob Gurwitt→