Silent Rejection: Article 11 and the Selectboard’s Inaction

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At Town Meeting in March 2023, Norwich residents approved Article 11, advising the Town “to consider” the addition of a fifth full-time officer to the Norwich Police Department (NPD). However, the Selectboard has quietly rejected this vote by finalizing next year’s budget without allocating funds for the additional position and more importantly for this post, without any discussion of Article 11. The Board’s rejection of the voters wish to consider the issue, without any kind of explanation, prompts questions about Continue reading Silent Rejection: Article 11 and the Selectboard’s Inaction→

Public Input Matters: How to Spend a Once-in-a-Generation Surplus

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The Town of Norwich has $1.8 million in surplus cash, of which $1 million came from ARPA but since then washed of its restrictions.  On Wednesday, December 13th, the Selectboard will consider plans to use that money as follows, subject to voter approval at Town Meeting: Selectboard December 13 meeting packet at 17, 35 (Slide 15, 33) Based on the public information available, I am not confident this is a prudent use of this once-in-a-generation surplus. The capital plan is Continue reading Public Input Matters: How to Spend a Once-in-a-Generation Surplus→

Random Notes and Comments: 10-25 Selectboard meeting

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My collection of random comments, notes and thoughts after watching the video recording of the October 25 Norwich Selectboard meeting. Secrecy still shrouds appointment of TM In a prior post, I listed some of the superb questions a resident posed to the Selectboard about the ‘emergency’ appointment of a permanent town manager to a 3-year term. The Selectboard declined to respond to those questions, after asking that they be submitted in writing. Chair Marcia Calloway asked the Board if anyone Continue reading Random Notes and Comments: 10-25 Selectboard meeting→

Questions remain on the ’emergency’ hiring of a permanent Town Manager

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On September 27, the Norwich Selectboard appointed Brennan Duffy as the permanent Town Manager, after an 18 minute executive session. The vote was 3-2. The sudden hiring of the interim Town Manager for the permanent position came without warning. It was preceded by two emergency meetings to discuss the Interim Town Manager’s contract. Emergency meetings do not require public notice. To date, the only additional information explaining the Selectboard’s decision to forego its planned national search for a Town Manager Continue reading Questions remain on the ’emergency’ hiring of a permanent Town Manager→

Town of Norwich is flush with surplus cash

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Here’s a good problem to have. The Town of Norwich is flush with surplus cash. It has over $680,000 in accumulated budget surplus, in addition to the ARPA money and a fully funded emergency fund. Some numbers Plans for the accumulated surplus of $684,254? As budget season approaches, our public officials may want to consider an appropriate use for the surplus. Holding onto a cash surplus for no reason (hoarding?) does not strike me as sound policy. One option is to Continue reading Town of Norwich is flush with surplus cash→

Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning Commission resign

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The Norwich Planning Commission is experiencing significant upheaval in membership. The latest: Planning Commission Chair Jacqueline Allen and Vice Chair Brian Loeb have resigned “effective immediately,” that is May 18. That brings the turnover in membership to four on the seven member commission since Town Meeting. In March, two members did not seek reappointment when their terms expired The resignation letters are in the amended Selectboard packet for the Board’s meeting on May 24 at pages 13 and 14. Mr. Continue reading Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning Commission resign→

Court: Norwich violated Open Meeting Law

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In a recent decision, a Vermont Superior Court Judge ruled that two working groups of the Norwich Finance Committee violated the Open Meeting Law when they met in 2020. The Town asserted the groups were not subject to the Open Meeting Law because they were not “public bodies”. The Court disagreed, saying to “conclude otherwise would make a mockery of the Open Meeting Law.” Full disclosure: I am the plaintiff in the case, proceeding without the assistance of a lawyer. Continue reading Court: Norwich violated Open Meeting Law→

ALS Awareness Month: PBS documentary shows challenges faced by those living with ALS.

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May is ALS Awareness Month. A good way to gain insight into the challenges faced by those living with ALS is by watching “Matter of Mind: My ALS”. It’s a documentary airing on PBS that provides a glimpse into the daily struggles of families living with this neurodegenerative disease. From the PBS website: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular disease with an average survival time of 2-5 years from diagnosis. In this intimate exploration, three people with ALS, or Continue reading ALS Awareness Month: PBS documentary shows challenges faced by those living with ALS.→

Norwich Legislators in the General Assembly: VTDigger’s Summary of Their Ethics Disclosure Forms

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As part of its Full Disclosure series, VTDigger summarized the ethics disclosure forms of all legislators currently in office in the Vermont General Assembly. Below is the information regarding those serving Norwich. The full database, as well as an analysis of trends is in Full Disclosure: What lawmakers’ ethics forms reveal about their lives outside the Legislature by Erin Petenko published on VTDigger on April 20, 2023. House Legislator Employer (House Only) Boards or Service Roles Corporate Ownership James “Jim” Continue reading Norwich Legislators in the General Assembly: VTDigger’s Summary of Their Ethics Disclosure Forms→

Selectboard puts off discussion of adding fifth police officer until Fall

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The Norwich Selectboard has “decided” to delay consideration of adding a fifth police officer to the Norwich Police Department until budget season in the Fall. This decision was made at the Selectboard’s meeting on April 12th, where the topic was essentially tabled as part of the agenda setting process. My observations on the topic are at the end of this post, including a task force charge provided by ChatGPT. Background At Town Meeting 2023, voters approved Article 11, which advised Continue reading Selectboard puts off discussion of adding fifth police officer until Fall→