Tag Archives: Norwich VT

Sewer Working Group violates Open Meeting Law

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Whether Norwich constructs a sewer to service the Village and Route 5 South will certainly be a hot button topic, as it has been for years. However, I did not anticipate the first button pushed to be a dispute about the Vermont Open Meeting Law (OML). Sadly, the dispute was easily avoidable, because the Selectboard resolved the same OML question in December 2019. At the end of this post, I think out loud about who decides these public notice issues. Continue reading Sewer Working Group violates Open Meeting Law→

[Update] TRORC dumps Norwich from Regional Energy Coordinator project

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In the end, the Norwich Selectboard did not see the regional energy coordinator as an important project. That is my impression from the July 22 Selectboard meeting, as viewed on CATV. Dumped from the project by the Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC), the Board decided to accept the decision and “move on” from the episode. My original blog post on the topic is here. The decision to move on seems a disservice to Norwich voters who approved a specific Continue reading [Update] TRORC dumps Norwich from Regional Energy Coordinator project→

TRORC dumps Norwich from Regional Energy Coordinator project

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Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) has unilaterally dumped the Town of Norwich from the Regional Energy Coordinator pilot project. That decision is apparent from the series of emails in the Selectboard packet for the July 22 meeting, starting at page 153. Norwich’s sin: asking that the seven towns funding the project have a say in its administration. My imperfect understanding is that seven towns banded together to hire a regional energy coordinator as a one year pilot project. Voters Continue reading TRORC dumps Norwich from Regional Energy Coordinator project→

[Update] Think Big Norwich: Why Not Community Geothermal?

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One of the reasons I plan to vote against Article 8 is that the Town Facilities Working Group gave no consideration to a geothermal heating district. Unbeknownst to me, the Energy Committee backed the idea of a heating district for the Village in a 2010 report. That report, as well as a pilot project in Massachusetts, are the reasons for this update. Time to dust off that 2010 report and do some legwork! Back in February, I wrote a blog Continue reading [Update] Think Big Norwich: Why Not Community Geothermal?→

Article 8 – voting no, as a renovation project

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I posted the following on the listserv today regarding the re-vote on the Tracy Hall geothermal project. Thought I would share it here. Following the listserv post, I add below an additional, out-of-box thought about the Tracy Hall cupola. Listserv post Public officials tout the Tracy Hall geothermal project as a renovation project, primarily because approximately $1 million of the cost is dedicated to improving the ventilation system at Tracy Hall. However, viewed in that light, the project proposal strikes Continue reading Article 8 – voting no, as a renovation project→

Transparency? Selectboard approves no-bid contract, without public notice. Selectboard packet ‘revised’ after issuance.

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The Selectboard approved a no bid contract for an engineering study related to the replacement of the box culvert on Route 132. Fees paid to Stantec Engineering are not subject to competitive bids. The action, taken on June 10, was not on the agenda. That seems like a violation of the Vermont Open Meeting Law. No materials were in the original Selectboard packet. In addition, the Selectboard packet was “revised” after issuance to include information about the no-bid contract. As Continue reading Transparency? Selectboard approves no-bid contract, without public notice. Selectboard packet ‘revised’ after issuance.→

Selectboard condemns murder of George Floyd and structural racism. Doesn’t tell world. [Corrected]

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At its meeting on Wednesday, the Selectboard passed a resolution condemning the murder of George Floyd and structural racism. A copy of the resolution taken as a screenshot from the CATV video of the June 10, 2020 meeting is below. It is not a great copy. My computer skills are limited. The document may be easier to read on the CATV video at the 19 minute mark. I think it is a shame that the Town did not publicize the Continue reading Selectboard condemns murder of George Floyd and structural racism. Doesn’t tell world. [Corrected]→

Budget Watch: Does Norwich need a capital plan?

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The Town’s need for a capital plan was on display at the Selectboard meeting on May 27. The Town Manager reported that Norwich will likely need to borrow money to repair the box culvert on Route 132 and to replace an aging dump truck. These expenses are not covered by sufficient reserves in their respective designated funds. Ad hoc decisions by the Selectboard on the financing of significant expenditures is not a preferred approach. Financial experts suggest instead a capital Continue reading Budget Watch: Does Norwich need a capital plan?→

Family objects to solar panel farm in ‘front of our house’

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The relaxed solar siting rules in Norwich have possibly claimed its first casualty. A family whose home is across from the proposed 150 kW solar farm on Turnpike Road recently wrote to the Selectboard to complain. “[We] were shocked to discover the proposed site for this very large installation is directly across Turnpike Road from the front of our house.” In the past, the Selectboard had the power to step in and exercise some control over site selection on undeveloped Continue reading Family objects to solar panel farm in ‘front of our house’→

Selectboard says ‘no’ to agenda item on saving $450,000 on Tracy Hall geothermal project

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A proposal to save up to $450,000 on the Tracy Hall geothermal project will not get an airing by the Selectboard. Why? Not enough interest by Board members to place the item on the agenda. The facts as I understand them follow. At no cost to the Town, former Selectboard member Steve Flanders has been working with two consultants reviewing the project proposal by EEI. In a memorandum to the Selectboard, Mr. Flanders wrote: “Communication with two engineering experts in Continue reading Selectboard says ‘no’ to agenda item on saving $450,000 on Tracy Hall geothermal project→