{"id":3748,"date":"2024-10-29T16:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T20:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/?p=3748"},"modified":"2024-10-29T21:04:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T01:04:13","slug":"norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/","title":{"rendered":"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Without public discussion or explanation, the Norwich Selectboard voted 3-2 to weaken a key provision of Town Manager Brennan Duffy\u2019s contract. The change eliminates the \u2018deadline\u2019 for him to move to the Upper Valley, thereby cementing as permanent policy his working remotely two days a week. The vote took place on October 23, although an executive session occurred two weeks prior, in connection with the Town Manager\u2019s annual evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, this decision is a reminder of Mr. Duffy\u2019s hiring as permanent town manager in September 2023, which occurred based on an undisclosed \u201cemergency,\u201d without public notice or open search process, possibly in violation of the Town\u2019s own policies on hiring<\/a>. The amendment marks the second time in just over a year that the Norwich Selectboard has made a major decision about our town manager position behind closed doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contract Amendment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The original contract prioritized, though did not require, that Mr. Duffy move \u201chis home to the Upper Valley region\u201d from Rutland. The September 2023 agreement included up to $10,000 in relocation assistance, conditioned on Mr. Duffy relocating within 18 months. In addition, the Selectboard \u201cexpected\u201d him to work from Tracy Hall five days a week, but reduced that requirement to three days until the earlier of his relocation or 18 months. The 18-month period would have expired in March 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amendment eliminates the 18-month deadline for both the relocation expenses and a three-day physical presence. As a result, the Selectboard no longer has any leverage regarding Mr. Duffy\u2019s relocation (and he has less incentive to move) to the Upper Valley. The Board also essentially blesses his working remotely two days a week, as the new normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Several questions come to mind. What circumstances changed since September 2023 when all parties agreed to these terms? Why now – five months before the deadline? Why did the Board make this concession without receiving anything in return? Most troubling, if this is such a good idea, why won\u2019t the majority explain their reasoning? Or the two voting against, their opposition? These are questions Norwich residents deserve to have answered. Instead, they are left to speculate about a significant change, as with the \u201cemergency\u201d hiring of Town Manager Duffy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive session discussions don’t prevent the Selectboard from offering a rationale for its decision. Some might argue that personnel matters require discretion. However, this is more than a private personnel matter. It’s a policy matter regarding the fundamental terms of the town manager’s engagement with the community. Specifically, whether he lives in the Upper Valley and whether he is in the office five days a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At one time, the Selectboard decided it wanted a town manager integrated in the community he serves, rather than commuting from more than an hour (and a region or two) away. It also believed the Town\u2019s interest required the town manager\u2019s full-time physical presence in Tracy Hall. The Selectboard made those matters a priority in the original contract. Now, they no longer are. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* * *<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Original contract provision regarding remote work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Amended contract provision regarding remote work. The Town Manager’s option to work remotely no longer expires after 18 months.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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

Thanks for reading. Comments to this post are welcomed, below or by email. Contact me at norwichobserver[at]gmail.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Without public discussion or explanation, the Norwich Selectboard voted 3-2 to weaken a key provision of Town Manager Brennan Duffy\u2019s contract. The change eliminates the \u2018deadline\u2019 for him to move to the Upper Valley, thereby cementing as permanent policy his working remotely two days a week. The vote took place on October 23, although an executive session occurred two weeks prior, in connection with the Town Manager\u2019s annual evaluation. For some, this decision is a reminder of Mr. Duffy\u2019s hiring Continue reading Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,49],"tags":[42],"class_list":["post-3748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tm-contract","category-transparency","tag-norwich-vt"],"yoast_head":"\nNorwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager's Residency 'Deadline' - Norwich Observer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager's Residency 'Deadline' - Norwich Observer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Without public discussion or explanation, the Norwich Selectboard voted 3-2 to weaken a key provision of Town Manager Brennan Duffy\u2019s contract. The change eliminates the \u2018deadline\u2019 for him to move to the Upper Valley, thereby cementing as permanent policy his working remotely two days a week. The vote took place on October 23, although an executive session occurred two weeks prior, in connection with the Town Manager\u2019s annual evaluation. For some, this decision is a reminder of Mr. Duffy\u2019s hiring Continue reading Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’→\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Norwich Observer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-29T20:00:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-30T01:04:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"CTK\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"CTK\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"CTK\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7c777bca932c48863421eb322d49c18d\"},\"headline\":\"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-29T20:00:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-30T01:04:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":554,\"commentCount\":2,\"keywords\":[\"Norwich VT\"],\"articleSection\":[\"TM Contract\",\"Transparency\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/\",\"name\":\"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager's Residency 'Deadline' - Norwich Observer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-29T20:00:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-30T01:04:13+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7c777bca932c48863421eb322d49c18d\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/29\\\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Norwich Observer\",\"description\":\"Occasional news and commentary about local government in Norwich, VT\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7c777bca932c48863421eb322d49c18d\",\"name\":\"CTK\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/wp-content\\\/litespeed\\\/avatar\\\/11840c9a170ac22dbf5bc0397622f4e4.jpg?ver=1775522310\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/wp-content\\\/litespeed\\\/avatar\\\/11840c9a170ac22dbf5bc0397622f4e4.jpg?ver=1775522310\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/wp-content\\\/litespeed\\\/avatar\\\/11840c9a170ac22dbf5bc0397622f4e4.jpg?ver=1775522310\",\"caption\":\"CTK\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/norwichobserver.com\\\/index.php\\\/author\\\/ctk\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager's Residency 'Deadline' - Norwich Observer","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager's Residency 'Deadline' - Norwich Observer","og_description":"Without public discussion or explanation, the Norwich Selectboard voted 3-2 to weaken a key provision of Town Manager Brennan Duffy\u2019s contract. The change eliminates the \u2018deadline\u2019 for him to move to the Upper Valley, thereby cementing as permanent policy his working remotely two days a week. The vote took place on October 23, although an executive session occurred two weeks prior, in connection with the Town Manager\u2019s annual evaluation. For some, this decision is a reminder of Mr. Duffy\u2019s hiring Continue reading Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’→","og_url":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/","og_site_name":"Norwich Observer","article_published_time":"2024-10-29T20:00:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-10-30T01:04:13+00:00","author":"CTK","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"CTK","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/"},"author":{"name":"CTK","@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7c777bca932c48863421eb322d49c18d"},"headline":"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’","datePublished":"2024-10-29T20:00:44+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-30T01:04:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/"},"wordCount":554,"commentCount":2,"keywords":["Norwich VT"],"articleSection":["TM Contract","Transparency"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/","url":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/","name":"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager's Residency 'Deadline' - Norwich Observer","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-10-29T20:00:44+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-30T01:04:13+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7c777bca932c48863421eb322d49c18d"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/norwich-selectboard-scraps-town-managers-residency-deadline\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Norwich Selectboard Scraps Town Manager’s Residency ‘Deadline’"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/","name":"Norwich Observer","description":"Occasional news and commentary about local government in Norwich, VT","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7c777bca932c48863421eb322d49c18d","name":"CTK","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/11840c9a170ac22dbf5bc0397622f4e4.jpg?ver=1775522310","url":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/11840c9a170ac22dbf5bc0397622f4e4.jpg?ver=1775522310","contentUrl":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/11840c9a170ac22dbf5bc0397622f4e4.jpg?ver=1775522310","caption":"CTK"},"url":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/author\/ctk\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3748"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3759,"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3748\/revisions\/3759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}