Comment: Two important items missing from the Selectboard packet

I am going to whine. Two important items are missing from the Selectboard packet for the meeting on Wednesday evening, December 4th.

1. Proposed budget for FYE 2021. Budget discussions kick off on Wednesday, with a presentation by the DPW, followed by "Board Discussion/Possible Action".  No budget numbers are in the Selectboard packet or on the Town's website. The Selectboard had the budget proposal two weeks ago, but the public does not.
2. Town Manager's written report for November. I thought a written report of the Town Manager's activities for the prior month was "expected" at the first Selectboard meeting of the following month. The last report I located was for August, 2019, buried in the Selectboard packet for September 11.  My modest review indicates that since March, written reports were also not in the Selectboard packets for March 13, June 12 or July 10. (My count is six months of nine.) The last Town Manager report on the Town's website is for July 2016. Not a typo ... over three years ago. The public should not be in the dark.

I am disappointed, even though the omissions are very likely oversights due to the press of other business. Yes, the website and packet materials are primarily the responsibility of the the Town Manager. But the Selectboard is the boss. If the website is out of date, if materials do not make it to the packet, or if reports are not being written, that's a shortcoming of the Selectboard as well.
==================
Posted on HereCast on: 12.04.2019.

Agenda item #7c: Resolution for municipal authority to regulate retail pot sales

On tap for the Selectboard meeting on Wednesday is a resolution sponsored by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) regarding municipal authority over retail cannabis sales. The Selectboard agenda and packet were released Monday afternoon because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Coming to Vermont?

I'm not sure this is a end-of-the-meeting, rubber stamp type resolution. My quick turn through the internet says the resolution has stirred Board debate at least at Selectboard meetings in Barre, Chester, and Springfield, the occurred before Thanksgiving. The website Vermontijuana labels the VLCT as an anti-cannabis lobbying group.

The retail sale of pot presents a unique situation for Norwich as it is adjacent to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where cannabis is not legal. In addition, the Village Business area includes the Marion Cross School, grades pre-K to 6th.

Legislation to permit the retail sale of marijuana is expected to be proposed in Montpelier in January. The anticipated bill would allow "local municipalities to ban sales by a vote of those present at an annual or special meeting but not by an ordinance," according to the story in the Chester Telegraph. "The bill allows for local cannabis control commissions to handle permitting and local regulations and a 2 percent local option tax collected on sales."

In contrast, the VLCT resolution allows towns to "opt-in" and calls for a 5 percent local tax, with 70% of revenues being retained by the host community of the retail establishment. Towns would also apparently need to opt-in for farmers to grow marijuana ("cultivate, process, manufacture, or sell cannabis"). The remaining 30% goes to other municipalities, "hosting growing or manufacturing marijuana businesses," says the Time Argus report of the VLCT presentation to the Barre Board, although the proportions of the split are not stated. The implications is that is if a town is not a host, it gets nothing.

The Selectboard in Springfield modified the resolution. According to the Eagle Times report:

The Springfield Selectboard objected, however, to two parts of the VLCT provision. In the board’s amended version, the resolution changes the “opt-in” for municipalities to an “opt-out” and removes the language which would distribute 30% of the collected tax revenues to municipalities that don’t host commercial cannabis.

==================
Originally posted on HereCast on:12.02.2019.

Without Inquiry, Selectboard Approves Use Of 'Designated' Funds For Non-designated Purpose

When can designated funds be used for non-designated purposes? To my consternation, no public official gave the question much thought, at least publicly at the [Norwich, VT] Selectboard meeting on November 20, as seen on CATV.  I was hoping for somewhat better oversight of taxpayer money.

Police Chief Frank at Norwich Selectboard meeting on November 20. Source: CATV screen shot.

At the meeting, Police Chief Jennifer Frank made a compelling case for the Police Department to purchase new computers for the station and for the four police cruisers, without waiting for the next budget cycle.

The expense is not the issue, but rather the funding source. The Police Chief sought, and the Selectboard okayed, funding for the purchase from the remaining balance in the "Communication Study Designated Fund", about $16,000. Not a peep from any Selectboard member, Treasurer, or Town Manager about whether this was an appropriate use of that Designated Fund.
Residents may recall that the Communication Study Designated Fund was established to study options for building the emergency communication tower. After the tower was built, a balance of over $28,000 remained in Communication Study Fund.  At Town Meeting in 2018, voters approved using the balance in that fund to pay down bond debt regarding the tower.

Excerpt from Minutes of the Annual Meeting, March 5, 2018 Town of Norwich, Vermont, 2018 Norwich Town Report at I-6.

I wish a town official had asked these three questions at the November 20 Selectboard meeting, even if just to keep the public informed.

1. Isn't voter approval required to use 'designated' funds for non-designated purposes? The Selectboard thought so in 2018. Then, the Board asked voters for approval to use the Communication Study Designated Fund to pay bond debt. See Article 10 above. Three Selectboard members as well as the current Town Manager held office at the time the Article was placed on the ballot. Prior practice in Norwich is to the same effect. Voter approval was sought at Town Meeting in 2009 to move money from the Fire Training Facility Designated Fund to the Tracy Hall Designated Fund. See 2009 Town Report at I-5 (Minutes of Annual Meeting). I don't know the answer to this question but past practice indicates voter approval is the preferred course. I also don't know if the Selectboard even considered the issue before approving the Police Chief's request.
2. Why not use money in designated funds earmarked for the police department? The Town has at least three designated funds set aside for police department expenditures. According to information in the Selectboard packet for that meeting, they are (and the balances in each): Police Cruiser ($80,754), Police Special Equipment ($12,385), and Police Station ($10,630). No Selectboard member asked why those designated funds were not being used to fund these police department purchases.
3. Isn't the money in the Communication Study Fund already spoken for? As noted in Article 10, voters approved the speeding of "any remaining" funds in the Communication Study Designated Fund to "reduce" Communication Tower Bond debt. Apparently, that debt has not yet been retired. A preliminary iteration of next year's proposed budget has $30,738 allocated for "DEBT SERVICE ON TOWER BOND". If the debt is outstanding, it would seem the voter mandate is not satisfied.

Questions 1 and 3 go to the legitimacy of the Selectboard approval. Perhaps the Board will address the topics at its next meeting, before releasing the funds.

======================
Originally posted on HereCast on November 24, 2019.

Norwich, VT Declares Climate Emergency

Source: https://www.theclimatemobilization.org/blog/nyc-declares-climate-emergency

The Town of Norwich, Vermont declared a climate emergency at the Selectboard meeting on October 9. In addition, the resolution adopted (see below) commits the Town to working towards a Just Transition. The Selectboard action was unanimous, as seen on CATV.

Norwich is the second municipality in Vermont to declare a climate emergency according to data at the The Climate Mobilization website. Burlington was the first, passing a resolution in late September reports VTDigger.  As of October 14, no municipality in New Hampshire is listed by Climate Mobilization as having declared a climate emergency. The site counts 44 local governments in the United States as so acting.

Page 17 of Selectboard packet. http://norwich.vt.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SelectboardPacket9Oct2019.pdf

==================
Originally posted on HereCast on: 10.14.2019. 

Thank You, Norwich Selectboard

Norwich Selectboard meeting 1/23/19. Source: CATV screen shot.

If you see a Norwich Selectboard member, shake her or his hand and thank the Selectboard member for the hard work on the budget.  Even if you disagree with the final product.  †

This was no ordinary budget year. The Selectboard rolled up its sleeves, donned a green eyeshade, sharpened its pencils, and got down to work

It wasn't all peaches and cream. To quote John Pepper's blog, there were "moments of tension and WTF-ness." That is to be expected. 

I don't agree with every decision made.  That is to be expected too. 

Board members came to the meetings prepared and with thoughtful points of view. Discussions were not driven by the Town Manager or one or two members of the Selectboard. That was my impression, from watching the various meetings on CATV.  

I appreciate the diligent effort. Thank you, Norwich Selectboard.

=============

†  If you want to contribute as a Selectboard member, there is still time to run for one of the two Selectboard seats up for election this year. Deadline is Monday. See Information for Candidates for Local Office.

Published on HereCast on 01.26.19

UPDATE: Verizon Wireless Proposed Cell Antenna For Norwich Green

Although no final action was taken at its October 25 meeting, the Selectboard did not object to the Verizon Wireless proposal to place a cell antenna on the Norwich Green, near the Marion Cross School. No public comments, for or against, the antenna were made. In response to questions by Board members, the Verizon Wireless representative said, based on the meeting video at CATV8, that the improved service will be very localized, no trees would need trimming for the installation, and a ‘minimal’ payment to the Town was likely. No information was provided about the proposed or ‘going rate’ of payment.

As a legal matter, the Selectboard is being asked to grant an easement to use Town land for the pole and antenna. It is NOT obligated to grant the easement, but Verizon Wireless does not need DRB approval and residents are barred from participating in the perfunctory  PUC certificate of public good approval process. The November 8 Selectboard meeting is likely the last opportunity for the public and the Town to weigh in on the antenna.

To editorialize briefly, this is a cookie-cutter installation for Verizon Wireless. Whether the cookie fits here, Verizon Wireless has not made that case except to say that service will improve for a limited area. To be fair, hundreds, if not thousands of these small cell antenna are in operation in the United States and Verizon Wireless has received about a dozen approved from the Vermont PUC in 2017. However, based on the feedback I received, the concerns of residents include noise from the equipment and RF emissions affecting children who play on the Green during recess. The State has no design criteria for adding antenna up to 10 feet in height which the statute calls a “de minimis modification”. Also unknown is whether this is a one-off proposal or whether VTel and AT&T may someday want to place antenna on the Green, on that pole or different poles.

Verizon Wireless, Local Control and State Law

On Sunday, I posted about the Verizon Wireless proposal to place a cell antenna on the Norwich Green and wondered why aesthetics and the Town’s zoning regulations were not part of the presentation by the carrier. It turns out that our zoning regulations do not strictly apply as the State has supplanted local control with its certificate of public good (CPG) law that places a streamlined approval process in the hands of the PUC.
However, that is not the end of the discussion. The CPG law does not change landowners rights. If Norwich owns the land, the Selectboard can decline to let Verizon Wireless use the land [for any reason or no reason] or negotiate terms in the best interests of the Town. Of course, the company can say no too, leaving cell coverage spotty, or find a more agreeable landowner to site the antenna.
I do not see the Verizon Wireless request as routine and think the Selectboard should get input from the Historical Society and the Planning Commission. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Perhaps. But, I would want to know a little more about the look and noise level of the unit before granting for ‘free’ a broad easement in perpetuity [or even for 5 years].
=====================================
LINK: Title 30 V.S.A. § 248a, Certificate of public good for communications facilities:  http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/30/005/00248a
PHOTO:  Verizon Wireless small cell short antenna atop a telephone pole, from 2015 Block Island Times story

Selectboard Should Reconsider Takeover Of Fire District Sidewalks

Last Selectboard meeting, the Board authorized the Town Manager “to approach the Prudential Committee with the idea of acquiring the Fire District sidewalks, [in “as is” condition].” Although seen as non-binding, the action backs the Selectboard into a corner when the Fire District gladly and quickly accepts the Town taking over this liability. The matter is again on the Selectboard agenda for October 11 and I hope it gets fuller discussion. Here are some things the Selectboard should consider that were not raised the first time through.

• The Norwich Fire District is a separate and independent municipal entity, with its own tax base. In Vermont, Fire Districts provide a variety of public services, including sidewalks. Our Norwich forefathers created this special entity to provide sidewalks and water to the homes and businesses in that area. By taking over the sidewalks, and the repair and maintenance costs, the Town is making a “gift” to another municipality. The decision to reverse that history and incur ongoing liability should not be taken lightly.  I admit that the Town has been taking over sidewalks on a piecemeal basis for several years but that does not make it right.

•  The Fire District’s sidewalks need over $25,000 in repairs (excluding labor), according to information provided to the Selectboard in the packet for the July 29, 2015 meeting by then Town Manager Neil Fulton. At that 2015 meeting, the Selectboard took the Town Manager’s recommendation and did not accept the proposal that the Town take the sidewalks “as is”.  I don't know what finally happened afterwards. However, the 2017 Selectboard did not have any information about the 2015 Selectboard consideration of the issue.

•  My understanding (although I could be wrong) is that the Town pays approximately $11,000 a year to the Fire District for fire hydrant rental.  I don't know how much a fire hydrant costs or if the Town should pay the “fire” district for hydrants.  However, if the Town is going to take over the liability of sidewalks, perhaps the Fire District should give the Town the hydrants too.

• One of assumptions underlying the takeover is that this benefits the Town. That, however, is not axiomatic. In facts, lots of people do not use the sidewalks. Indeed, history in Vermont suggests such costs should be borne by the residents of the Fire District, rather than the entire Town.

•  Another assumption is that the Fire District cannot afford the upkeep of the sidewalks. That assumption has never been analyzed, for example by seeing what tax hike within that municipality would support upkeep. Indeed, in this week’s Selectboard packet is a letter from a solar company offering to pay $75,000 to rent land of the Fire District.

At the end of the day, the Town taking over the sidewalks might be a win-win. That, however, has not been shown nor have all factors been discussed.

=======================================================================
A history of Fire Districts in Vermont is discussed at the website of the Colchester Fire District.

Hydrant rental is a line item in the budget for the Town’s Fire Department. The Town Report for FY 2015 lists the recipients of the payment as the Norwich Fire District. Town Report 2015 at I-98.

The pertinent materials from the July 29, 2015 Selectboard packet are available here

A few questions for the Selectboard and the Town Manager for Wednesday’s Special Meeting of the Selectboard.

A few questions for the Selectboard and the Town Manager for Wednesday’s Special Meeting of the Selectboard.

1. (Item #1) Cut to the chase.  Is the current Town Manager willing to sign an employment agreement similar to that signed by Peter Webster, but for one year (two or three years?) at his current compensation package?  If not, why not?

2.  (Item #3) Plan B. If the bond passes, is the Selectboard legally obligated to borrow the money?

3.  (Item #4) Fulton Memorandum.  Was Mr. Fulton’s memorandum an appropriate response to Ms. Layton’s “Public Vote of No Confidence” document?  

4.  (Item #5) Trust but verify.   Should the Town Manager provide more recent construction projects that he supervised to establish his qualifications as  project manager, because the projects he cites at page 6-8 of his resume are from the 1980’s?

5. (Item #5)  Let’s get special.   Should a special town meeting be considered to vote on the project manager issue? Is that a reason to delay the Special Town Meeting scheduled for next week?

Agenda for the Special Selectboard Meeting of Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 6:30 PM

1)    Funding to Seek Legal Advice (Discussion/Possible Action Item)
2)    Receive Petitions (Discussion/Possible Action Item)
3)    Consideration of Cancelling the Special Town Meeting Scheduled for May 12, 2015 (Discussion/Possible Action Item)
4)    Town Manager/Selectboard Relationship (Discussion/Possible Action Item)
5)    Project Management (Discussion/Possible Action Item)

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.

Norwich Selectboard Agenda -- June 26, 2013

Agenda for the Selectboard Meeting of Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 6:30 PM

(Times Are Approximate)

1)      Approval of Agenda (Action Item) 2 minutes

2)      Public Comments (Discussion) 10 minutes

3)      Town Manager’s Report (Discussion) 10 minutes

4)      Finance – Board to Sign Accounts Payable/Warrants (Action Item) 5 minutes

5)      7:00 pm – Facilities Planning Process – Bread Loaf (Discussion) 30 minutes

6)      7:30 pm – Meeting with Conservation Commission (Discussion) 15 minutes

7)      7:45 pm – Meeting with Milton Frye Nature Area Committee (Discussion) 15 minutes

8)      Reappointment of Linda Cook and Stephen Leinoff as Norwich Town Forest Fire Warden and Deputy Fire Warden, Respectively (Action Item) 5 minutes

9)      Selectboard Priorities and Calendar for 2013-14 (Discussion) 10 minutes

10)   Correspondence (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

a)    Letter from Elaine Warshell Re: Town Manager’s Refusal to Follow Vermont Law

b)    Letter from Demo Sofronas Re: Letter of Thanks

11)   Selectboard

a)    Approval of the Minutes of the 5/22/13 Meeting (Action Item) 5 minutes

b)    Review of Next Agenda (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 5 minutes

Next Regular Meeting – July 15, 2013 at 6:30 PM

To receive email notices of Selectboard meetings and hearings, agendas, minutes and other notices, send an email to manager-assistant@norwich.vt.us requesting to be placed on the Town Email List.

Norwich Selectboard Agenda -- June 12, 2013

Agenda for the Selectboard Meeting of Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 6:30 PM

(Times Are Approximate)

1)      6:30 pm – Final Public Hearing on Town of Norwich Subdivision Regulations Amendments (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

2)      Approval of Agenda (Action Item) 2 minutes

3)      Public Comments (Discussion) 10 minutes

4)      Town Manager’s Report (Discussion) 10 minutes

5)      Finance – Board to Sign Accounts Payable/Warrants (Action Item) 5 minutes

6)      Appointment of Cheryl Lindberg to the Finance Committee (Discussion/Action Item) 5 minutes

7)      Appointment of Nate Stearns to the Capital Facilities Planning and Budgeting Committee (Discussion/Action Item) 5 minutes

8)      Request to Expend $3,625 from the Police Special Equipment Designated Fund to Purchase a Digital Car Camera Transfer System (Discussion/Action Item) 5 minutes

9)      Selectboard Response to §248a Application for Certificate of Public Good for Radio Communications Tower (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

10)   Approval of Bond Package for July Bond Sale (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

11)   Street Vendor Ordinance (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

12)   Strategic Plan Development (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

13)   Selectboard Goals and Objectives for 2013-14 (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

14)   Review of Appointment of Selectboard Members to Selectboard Committees (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 5 minutes

15)   Correspondence (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

a)    Letter from Elaine Warshell Re: Town Manager’s Refusal to Follow Vermont Law

b)    Letter from Anne Garrigue Re: Norwich Public Library’s Use of Transfer Station

16)   Selectboard

a)    Approval of the Minutes of the 5/8/13 Meeting (Action Item) 5 minutes

b)    Review of Next Agenda (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 5 minutes

Next Regular Meeting – June 26, 2013 at 6:30 PM

To receive email notices of Selectboard meetings and hearings, agendas, minutes and other notices, send an email to manager-assistant@norwich.vt.us requesting to be placed on the Town Email List.

Norwich Selectboard Agenda - May 22, 2013

Agenda for the Selectboard Meeting of Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 6:30 PM

(Times Are Approximate)

1)      6:30 pm – Public Hearing on Town of Norwich Subdivision Regulations Amendments (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 30 minutes

2)      Approval of Agenda (Action Item) 2 minutes

3)      Public Comments (Discussion) 10 minutes

4)      Town Manager’s Report (Discussion) 5 minutes

5)      Finance – Board to Sign Accounts Payable/Warrants (Action Item) 5 minutes

6)      Selectboard Response to §248a Application for Certificate of Public Good for Radio Communications Tower (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

7)      Finance Committee (Discussion) 10 minutes

8)      Town Records Preservation and Conservation (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

9)      Transfer Station Sticker Policy (Discussion) 10 minutes

10)   Reappoint Sharon Racusin to the Advance Transit Board of Directors (Discussion/Action Item) 5 minutes

11)   Selectboard FY14 Goals (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

12)   Selectboard

a)    Approval of the Minutes of the 4/24/13 Meeting (Action Item) 5 minutes

b)    Review of Next Agenda (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 5 minutes

Next Regular Meeting – June 12, 2013 at 6:30 PM

To receive email notices of Selectboard meetings and hearings, agendas, minutes and other notices, send an email to manager-assistant@norwich.vt.us requesting to be placed on the Town Email List.

Weekly Roundup - Norwich News, for week ending May 11, 2013

Bread Loaf Is Architect For Proposed Fire/Police Station

The nascent plan to build a new fire/police/public works facility in Norwich, Vermont took a major step forward on Wednesday May 8th when the Selectboard approved the choice of Bread Loaf Corporation as the Town's architect for the project at an approximate cost of $25,000.  The next step is site selection followed by design of three options.  Public forums are expected for the Fall.

The owner of the Agway Property (198 Church Street) as well as the owner of the Upper Valley Events Center, asked the Town to consider those sites. The land at 198 Church Street has long be rumored as the favorite. But the Town Manager said that there are "no top prospects" and that the "evaluation or site selection process has [not]started."  

According to its web site, Bread Loaf is a full-service planning, architecture, and construction firm headquartered in Middlebury, Vermont.

ECFiber Summer Expansion Plans Include Norwich 

“Before the fall, we’ll have people connected in Chelsea, Vershire, Thetford, Tunbridge, Royalton and Sharon, and a lot of the people in Stratford and almost all of Norwich,” said ECFiber Chairman Irv Thomae, who lives in Norwich, Vermont.

ECFiber Plans Summer Expansion

By Warren Johnston, Valley News Staff Writer

May 12, 2013 

ECFiber has connected 325 customers to high-speed fiber-optic broadband Internet service and is about to expand its network to more underserved customers this summer, the organization’s chairman said last week.

The Vermont nonprofit provider, which is delivering service to 23 municipalities in the Upper Valley and other parts of the state, also has just completed a round of funding and now has service from Barnard to Vershire. ECFiber also is moving quickly to provide fiber connections in parts of West Fairlee, Thetford, Stratford, Sharon and Norwich for customers who are not being served by commercial providers, said ECFiber Chairman Irv Thomae, who lives in Norwich.

“Before the fall, we’ll have people connected in Chelsea, Vershire, Thetford, Tunbridge, Royalton and Sharon, and a lot of the people in Stratford and almost all of Norwich,” he said.

The nonprofit has raised about $3.5 million through grants and investment loans from community members.

Although residents wanting service are not required to loan money to ECFiber, the tax-free notes promise a good return for investors, ranging from 5.3 percent to 7.65 percent, depending on the type of note.

Read the rest of the story. 

Norwich Inn Brewery Marks 20th Year With Belgian Stout

Current and former brew meisters of the Norwich Inn in Norwich, Vermont are collaborating on a Belgian Stout to celebrate the brewery's 20th anniversary.  The three are Tim Wilson, Patrick Dakin and its current brewer, Jeremy Hebert. 

On Tap: Three Men and a Stout

By Chris Fleisher, Valley News Staff Writer

May 8, 2013

The three men peered over the edge of a steel tank being filled with water, waiting for it to heat as though it were charcoals burning in a grill.

It was a moment of tedium during the beer brewing process that each had experienced countless times before. Over the past two decades, each had taken his turn standing in the brewhouse of the Norwich Inn, soaking grains in hot water with the intent of serving up fine ales to thirsty patrons.

But this time they were doing it together. The three of them — Tim Wilson, Patrick Dakin and Jeremy Hebert — had decided to collaborate on a singular beer to mark the brewery’s 20th year in existence.

“I just thought it’d be kind of fun,” said Hebert, the latest to hold the title of brewer at the Inn’s Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse. 

Read the rest of the story. 

More Graffiti

Graffiti and Vandalism Targets Norwich VT Police

WNTK News Blog

Posted on May 6, 2013 by ghedrington

For the past three years, Norwich Vermont has experienced sporadic out breaks of offensive graffiti. Although the language and symbols are racial epithets, they appear to be to be aimed only at the Norwich Police Department. One of the milder writings offers Free Meth for killing a NPD officer. The offensive writings appear on roads and bri.dges throughout the town, and it remains an ongoing and active investigation. Police Chief Douglas Robinson said that the graffiti is written in in orange or yellow paint and painted on the roads and bridges in Norwich. Chief Robinson asks for anyone with information on this active investigation to call 802-649-1460

LINKS: 

http://www.breadloaf.com/index.html

http://www.vnews.com/search/6147020-95/ecfiber-plans-summer-expansion

http://www.vnews.com/news/townbytown/norwich/5950750-95/on-tap-three-men-and-a-stout

http://wntk.com/wp_news/2013/05/06/graffiti-and-vandalism-targets-norwich-vt-police/

A subscription may be required for access to the Valley News stories. 

Norwich Selectboard Condemns Hate Speech

Related posts are here and here.


The Norwich Observer. Aggregating news and information about Norwich, Vermont with occasional commentary ... . 

Norwich Selectboard Agenda - May 8, 2013

Agenda for the Selectboard Meeting of Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 6:30 PM

(Times Are Approximate)

1)      Approval of Agenda (Action Item) 2 minutes

2)      Public Comments (Discussion) 10 minutes

3)      6:45 pm – Records Restoration Project (Discussion) 30 minutes

4)      Town Manager’s Report (Discussion) 5 minutes

5)      Finance – Board to Sign Accounts Payable/Warrants (Action Item) 5 minutes

6)      Reappoint James Dwinell to the Finance Committee (Discussion/Action Item) 5 minutes

7)      Committee Liaisons (Discussion) 10 minutes

8)      Solar Project (Discussion) 15 minutes

9)      Request to Expend up to $1,275 from the Fire Equipment Reserve Fund to Replace an AED (Discussion/Action Item) 5 minutes

10)   Approval of Purchase Order for a Consultant (Breadloaf) for Parts 3 and 4 of the Facilities Studies (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

11)   Approval of Purchase Order (Green Mountain Communications) for Tower and Site Work (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

12)   Patchen’s Point (Discussion) 5 minutes

13)   Correspondence (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

a)    Memo from TRORC Re: Enhanced Consultation

b)    Memo from TRORC Re: Scoping Document 2 Issued for TransCanada’s Wilder Dam Relicensing

c)     Memo from Murphy Sullivan Kronk Re: Application for a Certificate of Public Good

14)   Selectboard

a)    Approval of the Minutes of the 3/27/13 and 4/10/13 Meetings (Action Item) 5 minutes

b)    Between Meeting Communications (Discussion) 10 minutes

c)     Review of Next Agenda (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 5 minutes

d)    Personnel - Town Manager (Executive Session May be Required)

Next Regular Meeting – May 22, 2013 at 6:30 PM

To receive email notices of Selectboard meetings and hearings, agendas, minutes and other notices, send an email to manager-assistant@norwich.vt.usrequesting to be placed on the Town Email List.

Selectboard Agenda -- April 24, 2013 -- Norwich, VT

Agenda for the Selectboard Meeting of Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 6:30 PM

(Times Are Approximate)

1)      Approval of Agenda (Action Item) 2 minutes

2)      Public Comments (Discussion) 10 minutes

3)      Town Manager’s Report (Discussion) 5 minutes

4)      Finance – Board to Sign Accounts Payable/Warrants (Action Item) 5 minutes

5)      Town of Norwich Open Positions Interviews/Appointments (Action Item) 15 minutes

Applicants:

Craig Layne (Conservation Commission)

Norman Miller (Conservation Commission)

Frank Olmstead (Conservation Commission)

Bonnie Munday (Deputy Health Officer)

John Carroll (Development Review Board)

George Loveland (Development Review Board)

Stanley Teeter (Development Review Board)

Cheryl Herrmann (Historic Preservation Commission)

William Flynn (Planning Commission)

Nancy LaRowe (Planning Commission)

Jeffrey Lubell (Planning Commission)

6)      Town of Norwich Subdivision Regulations Amendments (Discussion/Action Item) 15 minutes

7)      Certificate of Public Good for Communications Tower Process (Discussion) 15 minutes

8)      Term of $275,000 General Obligation Bond (Discussion/Action Item) 10 minutes

9)      Correspondence (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 10 minutes

a)    Email from Kathy Cadow Parsonnet Re: Hate Crimes in Norwich

10)   Selectboard

a)    Approval of the Minutes of the 3/27/13 Meeting (Action Item) 5 minutes

b)    Between Meeting Communications (Discussion) 10 minutes

c)     FY13 Goals Status (Discussion) 10 minutes

d)    Review of Next Agenda (Discussion/Possible Action Item) 5 minutes

Next Regular Meeting – May 8, 2013 at 6:30 PM

To receive email notices of Selectboard meetings and hearings, agendas, minutes and other notices, send an email to manager-assistant@norwich.vt.us requesting to be placed on the Town Email List.