7 questions for the Selectboard at its April 22 meeting

7 questions for the Selectboard at its April 22 meeting

1.  Digging deep into the Accounts Payable warrant, there are two invoices from law firms.   How come the Selectboard has no money available to hire a lawyer for advice?  Since we are pinching pennies, are these law firms subject of RFP’s or approval by the Selectboard?  [Agenda Item 4 -Accounts Payable]

2.  One more lawyer question. What are the “Union Matters” covered in the invoice from the law firm of McNeil Leddy?  

3.  There is always an agenda item for Capital Facilities.  Will this meeting include a discussion of hiring an independent project manager per the proposal of Selectboard member Mary Layton? [Agenda Item 7 - Capital Facilities]

4.  With respect to the Layton proposal, will the Selectboard get the Town Manager’s views in writing or are we left with his comments in the Valley News? He says he is in charge.  But the statute makes an exception for projects  “specially voted” under 24 V.S.A § 1236 (4).  What does that mean? 

5.  Agenda Item 9 (c) - “Employee Contract” is downright mysterious.   Turns out this is a discussion about the Town Manager’s contract.   Why not just say that?  (Note to Selectboard: talk to an employment lawyer in executive session before saying anything in public. Please, please.)  Of course there is a contract — it is year to year.  Would the Selectboard that hired Mr.  Fulton give him lifetime tenure as a Town Manager binding all future Selectboards in Norwich, in light of the Town’s history with Town Managers? 

6.  Flip flop?   Mr. Fulton says he has no contract but was happy with protections provided by the statute.  In the past Mr.  Fulton has said publicly he did not need a contract because he already lived in Norwich and was not moving from away.  Why the change in position in his email to Ms. Layton?  

7.  Agenda Item 8 (d): Memo from Neil Fulton. Is this the “measured” response we want from the Town Manager to a newly elected official? I thought it rude and non responsive.   Plus parts of the memo gloss over key facts.   More on that later.

No Confidence In Town Manager To Supervise Construction, says Selectboard Member Layton

Selectboard Member Mary Layton does not want the Town Manager to oversee the building of the Fire, Police and Public Works Facilities, if the bond for the project is approved at a special town meeting in May. Ms. Layton proposed that the Town hire a separate "Owners Project Manager".

In a statement, titled "Public Vote of No Confidence",  distributed at last night's Selectboard meeting,  Ms.  Layton said the March 2015 defeat of the Bond was a "referendum about lack of public trust in the Town Manager’s judgment and sensitivity to what the Town wants and needs." The Statement concludes that the Project "cannot go forward under the supervision of our current Town Manager."
Ms. Layton's Statement can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5p_pfaeTTstcGtEdWpNQ3Rwd0U/view?usp=sharing

Town Manager Fulton responded with his own memorandum indicating the Layton Statement contained "gross inaccuracies".  Mr. Fulton's memorandum can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5p_pfaeTTstTzJBTGtPWE1OU28/view?usp=sharing

In an interview with the Valley News, Mr.  Fulton indicated that by statute, the Town Manager is in charge of construction.  Even if the Selectboard hired a project manager to supervise the construction that person would be the Town Manager's employee.  “They make their policy; I get to implement it,” Fulton said, according to the Valley News article.  The article also indicates the Selectboard did not discuss "Layton and Fulton’s dueling memos on Wednesday night".

The Valley News article Norwich Tries to Shore Bond Support by Rob Wolfe is available online at:
http://www.vnews.com/news/townbytown/norwich/16526565-95/norwich-tries-to-shore-bond-support.

Town Of Norwich Pledges $5000 To Conserve Sample’s Woods And Rosemary Rieser Trail

The Selectboard pledged $5000 towards the acquisition of a Conservation Easement on the Rieser Property on Hobson Road in Norwich.  The vote took place at the April 8 Selectboard meeting, following a brief presentation by David Hubbard of the Norwich Conservation Commission.

The 11-acre site includes the historic Sample’s Jump, a ski jump site listed in New England Lost Ski Areas Project.  The trail will be named for Rosemary Rieser, an avid walker and devoted member of the Norwich community for more than 50 years.
The Upper Valley Land Trust and the Upper Valley Trails Alliance are leading the effort to raise the $50,000 needed to purchase the easement, with fundraising expected to be completed by the end of April.  This price is less than the fair market value of the land.  The money pledged by the Town of Norwich comes from the Town’s Conservation Trust Fund, which is funded by donations not taxes. 

For more information, see the brochure at the web site of the Upper Valley Land Trust at http://www.uvlt.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SamplesWoods_RieserTrail21.pdf or make a secure online contribution at: www.UVLT.org.

Norwich Fire Department Rescues Molly

Photo and caption from Selectboard packet for April 8, 2015 Selectboard meeting