Police Chief Keeling resigns. A few questions come to mind, about policing in Norwich, efforts to retain Town employees and more.

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It’s official. Police Chief Simon Keeling and another full-time officer have left the Norwich Police Department. If you think the Norwich Police Department should be defunded, you are pleased. We are at less than 50% of budgeted staffing levels, by my count. I have questions. No answers. Police Are residents safe? Town Manager Francis says: “With the assistance of county and state agencies Norwich residents will continue to have adequate public safety response.” It would seem that “adequacy” is in Continue reading Police Chief Keeling resigns. A few questions come to mind, about policing in Norwich, efforts to retain Town employees and more.→

House Rep Briglin won’t seek reelection

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State Representative Tim Briglin, one of two State Reps representing Norwich, Sharon, Strafford, and Thetford in Montpelier, will not seek reelection when his term expires at year-end. He made the announcement in a May 12 listserv post. See below for text. Mr. Briglin was first elected to the General Assembly in 2014. He is the Chair of the House Energy and Technology Committee, holding that position since 2019. He also serves on the Joint Fiscal Committee. According to a May Continue reading House Rep Briglin won’t seek reelection→

Norwich DEI Group disbands

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The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group (DEI Group) put together by then Town Manager Herb Durfee is no more. The group first met in September 2020 and disbanded in May 2021. This is dated news. But it is new to me and probably the general public, because the DEI Group met without public notice. I recently learned about its dissolution in a litigation document filed by the Town of Norwich in my Open Meeting Law suit. Further, the discovery document Continue reading Norwich DEI Group disbands→

Town to hire an HR professional to “investigate complaints”

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What is up with the work environment provided by Norwich town government to its employees? In addition to problems at the DPW garage, other personnel issues have apparently attracted the interest of the Selectboard. I say ‘apparently’ because the Selectboard is saying little, after an executive session lasting more than an hour on April 13. The problem is serious enough that the Selectboard plans to hire “an HR professional to investigate complaints” and “to assist the town in building a Continue reading Town to hire an HR professional to “investigate complaints”→

Boston Globe: Dan & Whit’s, ‘king among Vermont country stores’

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Boston Globe: Vermont has lost over 100 country stores. But in some small towns, there is hope yet, by Hanna Krueger: Country stores are as quintessential to the Vermont countryside as bodegas are to the streets of Queens.To the passing tourist, they may appear as mere souvenir shops where you can stock up on maple syrup and a Bernie Sanders mug before heading south. But to the locals, they are as crucial as a watering hole in the African Sahara. Continue reading Boston Globe: Dan & Whit’s, ‘king among Vermont country stores’→

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→