SAU 70 policy on transgender privacy is challenged by some Ray School parents; no concerns raised by Marion Cross School parents

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A group of parents with children at the Ray School, the public elementary school in Hanover NH, are challenging a SAU 70 policy that protects a child’s gender identity from the child’s parents. The news story by Peter D’Auria appeared in VTDigger on January 26. Marion Cross School, the Norwich VT public elementary school, is also part of School Administrative Unit 70. MCS has the same policy in place. In contrast, however, Norwich parents have not complained about and several Continue reading SAU 70 policy on transgender privacy is challenged by some Ray School parents; no concerns raised by Marion Cross School parents→

UPDATE: School Board and Selectboard candidates; Town Manager search

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Who’s running for School Board and Selectboard? Both School Board and both Selectboard incumbents up for election are asking voters to return them to office at Town Meeting in March. Three will face no formal opposition. Here is the line up as provided to me by Town Clerk Bonnie Munday. For Norwich School Board, Garrett Palm is running unopposed for a second term for a two-year seat. Lily Trajman is also running unopposed for the three-year seat that the School Continue reading UPDATE: School Board and Selectboard candidates; Town Manager search→

Update on Town Manager search: #31 gets an offer

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A brief update on the Town Manager search. Draft meeting minutes from the special Selectboard meeting on Friday report that the Selectboard extended “an offer of employment as Town Manager to Candidate #31 contingent upon contract negotiations. Motion passed (4 yes, Calloway no).” [END]

SURPRISE: Norwich has a permanent Police Chief

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Interim Police Chief Simon Keeling is now the permanent Police Chief for the Town of Norwich. That is surprising news. Not because of the person selected but because of the timing of the decision. Rewind to the April 28 Selectboard meeting. After hearing public comment over the course of two meetings, the Selectboard voted against immediately hiring a police chief. “Motion failed (yes – Layton, Calloway; no – Brochu, Gere, Arnold)” say the draft meeting minutes. [Aside: why are minutes Continue reading SURPRISE: Norwich has a permanent Police Chief→

Does Norwich ‘need’ an Assistant Zoning Administrator?

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At the outset, I appreciate the efforts of the Selectboard and staff for their work on the budget. They are working long hours. Thank you Claudette, Fielding, Marcia, Mary, Miranda, Rob, Rod and Roger. The Selectboard plans on finalizing its budget at its January 5 meeting. The goal of this budget cycle is to maintain the status quo – no changes from last year other than to cover increases in employee compensation and supplies. This approach makes sense as Norwich Continue reading Does Norwich ‘need’ an Assistant Zoning Administrator?→

Who’s running for School Board and Selectboard?

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ELECTION 2022 Two School Board and two Selectboard seats are up for election at Town Meeting this year. With the filing deadline less than a month away, I thought I would check with the incumbents to see if they had made any decisions. School Board member Lily Trajman has said she is running to retain her School Board seat. Dr. Trajman was appointed by the Norwich School Board on November 3 to fill the vacancy on the Board due to Continue reading Who’s running for School Board and Selectboard?→

$50,000 for a police study?

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On December 22 the Selectboard will likely take the next steps towards spending over $50,000 on consultants to examine whether the Norwich Police Department needs reforming or reimagining. Is this money well spent? I don’t know. But, I do have questions. To put this $50,000 amount in context, Norwich has $40,000 in its Climate Emergency, and about $46,000 in the Affordable Housing designated funds. The estimate to complete the Phase II engineering study for the Beaver Meadow Road sidewalk extension Continue reading $50,000 for a police study?→

Norwich Farm Foundation makes deal to purchase farm, a win for Norwich Farm Creamery

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The Norwich Farm Foundation (NFF) has come to an agreement with Vermont State Colleges to purchase the six-acre Norwich Farm property on Turnpike Road. The news appears as a pop-up on the NFF website. Closing is projected for spring/summer 2022 but depends on a fundraising campaign. The site houses the Norwich Farm Creamery which is in litigation with its landlord, the Vermont Technical College. In contrast, the NFF plans to collaborate with the Creamery. “We’re thrilled to let you know Continue reading Norwich Farm Foundation makes deal to purchase farm, a win for Norwich Farm Creamery→

UPDATE: Legislative Apportionment Board opts for single member House and Senate districts, rejecting Norwich BCA recommendation on House

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By a 4-3 vote, the Vermont Legislative Apportionment Board (LAB) opted to recommend single-member House and Senate districts across the State. If approved by the General Assembly (and that is a big ‘if’), most of the Town of Norwich would lose all incumbents currently representing its population in the Legislature. As explained by Lola Duffort, a reporter for VTDigger, in a recent article: The General Assembly must redraw its boundaries every 10 years, after the new U.S. census is published, Continue reading UPDATE: Legislative Apportionment Board opts for single member House and Senate districts, rejecting Norwich BCA recommendation on House→

UPDATE: Norwich Selectboard chooses Candidate #31 as finalist for Town Manager position

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Looks like Candidate #31 may be the next Town Manager of Norwich, subject to background checks and contract negotiations. By unanimous vote at its meeting on December 10, the Selectboard agreed “to go forward with the candidacy of Candidate #31, subject to a full background check.” The Selectboard has not publicly disclosed the identity of #31. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns will conduct the background check. That investigation is the first half of the sixth and final step Continue reading UPDATE: Norwich Selectboard chooses Candidate #31 as finalist for Town Manager position→