Norwich Town Meeting results for 2022

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With the exception of the Police and Public Safety Study article, which was defeated, all other articles on the Norwich Town Warning received voter approval. In the only contested race for office, incumbent Roger Arnold bested Pam Smith for the three year Selectboard seat. The Town posted the results this afternoon here. Also of note, funding for the Norwich Fair fireworks passed by 90 votes. In comparison, the measure passed by over 300 votes last year. Some vote tallies on Continue reading Norwich Town Meeting results for 2022→

Unpacking the new Town Manager’s contract

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We have a new Town Manager. With that comes a new contract. The employment agreement with newly appointed Town Manager Roderick Francis differs in several significant respects from the initial contract with former Town Manager Herb Durfee. I will highlight some of those and other terms that caught my eye, below. Notably, the contract length is five years. No other Town Manager in Norwich has survived that long. Either the Selectboard is highly confident or it lacked bargaining power. Also, Continue reading Unpacking the new Town Manager’s contract→

On slush funds and Article 7 – Vote NO

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Posted this on the listserv on Wednesday. Thought I would also post it here. Norwich has had a slush fund for years. It’s called the undesignated fund. VOTER approval is needed to spend that money. Under Article 7, the Selectboard is given control of up to $800,000 of that cash, limited by only an extremely broad purpose statement. Sadly, this shift in control from Voters to the Selectboard is not explicitly mentioned in the Board’s video presentation on Article 7. Continue reading On slush funds and Article 7 – Vote NO→

‘Preferred siting’ for solar is back on Selectboard agenda

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The Selectboard will hear a presentation from Town Manager (and Director of Planning) Roderick Francis on the topic of preferred siting for solar projects at its meeting on February 23. It is agenda item #7. However, no materials on that item are in the Selectboard packet released on Friday for the meeting. Preferred site status for solar panel farms sparked outcry at the February 9 Selectboard meeting. Several neighbors near the proposed 8-acre Upper Loveland Road project are asking the Continue reading ‘Preferred siting’ for solar is back on Selectboard agenda→

Truth-in-advertising? Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7

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Maybe I am a fussbudget. Nonetheless, I do not understand why the Selectboard can’t be more forthcoming in its Town Meeting slide presentation. Specifically, I am referring to the slides for the Town budget and for Article 7. Voters deserve transparency. A presentation is scheduled for February 14 and again, at the pre-Town Meeting. Budget Above is Slide number 5 from Selectboard’s presentation. I am not sure this statement – “maintaining current services while accounting for the coming year’s high Continue reading Truth-in-advertising? Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7→

FYI: Site video and plans of the proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm

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A video of the proposed solar panel farm location was posted on YouTube by Ameridane Press on February 9. It is available below and here. To give that video more context, below is a portion of the Act 250 Site Plan. It was submitted to the PUC by Norwich Technologies in the CPG proceeding for the proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm. However, I believe the map dates back to the permit for the cell tower over ten years ago. Continue reading FYI: Site video and plans of the proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm→

Rod Francis named as Town Manager

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The Selectboard selected Roderick Francis as the next Town Manager for Norwich, at the Board’s meeting on February 9. Mr. Francis is currently the Director of Planning for the Town as well as its Interim Town Manager. The vote was 4-1, with Selectboard member Marcia Calloway voting no. The other Selectboard members indicated they were very happy with the selection. Contract terms were not disclosed. [END]

A group of residents asks the Selectboard to rescind preferred site status granted to proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm

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A group of six residents is asking the Selectboard to rescind the preferred site status the Town granted to a proposed Upper Loveland Road solar panel farm in August. The neighbors say the project violates the Town Plan. In addition, they complain the Selectboard made no specific effort to notify property owners abutting the site. The matter is not an agenda item. The letter dated February 3 (“Letter”) is in the Selectboard packet for the February 9 meeting, at page Continue reading A group of residents asks the Selectboard to rescind preferred site status granted to proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm→

Questions for the Selectboard for its Saturday Town Meeting Informational Meeting

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The Selectboard will be holding two bonus information sessions on the municipal issues related to Town Meeting. These are Zoom only meetings. Scheduled dates are:  Feb 5th, 2022 at 11AM and Feb 14th, 2022 at 6:30 PM. I don’t know what it says for the state of romance in Norwich that the Selectboard scheduled a meeting for Valentine’s Day evening. Kudos to the Selectboard for scheduling these extra sessions! Here are some questions I hope are addressed at the first Continue reading Questions for the Selectboard for its Saturday Town Meeting Informational Meeting→

Town Meeting Article 7: Does a budget surplus belong to the voters or the Selectboard?

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Posted this on the listserv. Thought I would include it here as well. Last year the Town’s annual budget had a surplus of approximately $300,000. Should voters decide how that money is spent or should the Selectboard? How about past surpluses and future budget surpluses? Today the total accumulated surplus is about $850,000. And, specific voter approval is needed to spend that money. However, if Article 7 is approved, control of that money (and future surpluses) goes to the Selectboard. Continue reading Town Meeting Article 7: Does a budget surplus belong to the voters or the Selectboard?→