{"id":3141,"date":"2022-09-25T16:35:54","date_gmt":"2022-09-25T20:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/?p=3141"},"modified":"2022-09-25T16:41:48","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T20:41:48","slug":"is-the-selectboard-being-upfront-with-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/25\/is-the-selectboard-being-upfront-with-residents\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the Selectboard being upfront with residents?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Source: Downshiftology with Lisa Byran<\/a>,How to make an omelette<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maybe there a good explanation. Maybe, I am wrong. But it seems the recently published Selectboard Statement<\/a> presents facts that are at odds with those reported by the Town’s consultant, HR Matters. Disquieting, to my little mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I highlight two here. Further below, I provide the competing text. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First is the suggestion by the Selectboard, in the first line of the Statement, that the Town’s workplace issues are “like everywhere else.” In contrast, HR Happens indicate<\/a>s those issues relate to a “change in management style and substance.” In hiring a new Town Manager, the Selectboard is entitled to opt for the more hands-on style of Town Manager Roderick Francis. But don’t obfuscate the situation. Voters deserve an explanation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, the Selectboard Statement indicates no “report or presentation has been offered to the Board to date” by HR Happens. But, the HR Happens invoice<\/a> says, at page 4, the consultant emailed an “interim report” to the Selectboard. And it updated Selectboard Chair Roger Arnold. So, is the Statement playing word games? Or, is the invoice, paid in full, inaccurate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\/T: S.R. and his Public Records Act request for uncovering these documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employee discontent: Related to pandemic\/structural problems or new TM?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

What the Selectboard told residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Town of Norwich, like everywhere else, is dealing with uncertainty and change after two years of making things work in the context of a pandemic and its aftermath. We have experienced turnover in nearly all our departments, particularly in the Public Works and the Police Departments. Staff have taken on increased workloads and have handled multiple jobs. Management has begun the work of addressing longstanding structural problems.<\/p>Norwich Selectboard Statement, September 14, 2022<\/a>, paragraph 1.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What HR Matters said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This proposal follows our conversation earlier this week regarding the Town of Norwich’s need for human resources support. We discussed the following:
…
\u2022 With the change in [Town Managers], came a different style of performance management and a more “hands on” approach to correct a general lack of accountability and other personnel issues that hadn’t been addressed satisfactorily by the previous Town Manager. There has also been significant turnover in the Department of Public Works.
\u2022 The change in management style and substance resulted in push back at the department leadership level as well as with some staff and several complaints have been made to the Selectboard regarding the behavior and overall treatment of staff and leadership by the Town Manager, including that some employees “do not feel safe.”
\u2022 While the complaints are serious in nature, legal counsel has advised they do not rise to the level of legal compliance issues and there is a need for an outside party to assist the Town with some conflict resolution and mediation between individuals and with groups of employees.<\/p>HR Happens :letter to Selectboard members Arnold and brochu, April 22, 2022<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Did HR Happens provide a report to the Selectboard? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

What the Selectboard told residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Town hired Mark Heyman of HR Happens to interview staff and to provide the Town Manager with recommendations and informed analysis on how to strengthen and improve the Town\u2019s ability to recruit and retain employees. No report or presentation has been offered to the Board to date<\/p>Norwich Selectboard Statement, September 14, 2022<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What the invoice from HR Happens says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

HR Happens Invoice<\/a>, at page 4, describing work performed on June 13 and 15, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* * *<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some music to close …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n