September 21, 2022 - Meeting Summary and Next Steps


To all Stand Up for Norwich Supporters,

Thank you all for participating in our gathering on Monday, both in person and virtually. We also would like to thank those of you who sent in comments and invited others to join. As we review everyone’s comments, a few categories of ideas and concerns emerge. We, of course, have both an immediate concern with regards to public safety and services this winter, and a need to organize a support for a new Selectboard come election time.

We propose organizing seven working groups and a coordination group, to better focus on the wide range of ideas and actions that everyone proposed. We have listed the groups below along with the related comments. Please let us know if you are interested in participating in any of these groups and we will help organize the initial meetings.

Each of these groups should plan to meet on whatever schedule is necessary and are open to anyone who wants to participate, as much as they choose to or are able to. These groups, once organized, should advertise when, where, and how they meet (with online options), accept comments before each meeting, and share a summary after each meeting. Groups may also form subgroups for particular activities, following the same guidelines. Each group will select one representative (for a term or rotating) to join a monthly organizing group meeting and to report back activities to all SUFN members.

Proposed Working Groups:

Social - organizing opportunities for group members to get together and arrange for group actions (e.g. coordinated SB attendance).

  • Ask for a Q&A session of the SB (do we need a warrant to mandate Q&A sessions?)

  • Regular, rotating presence at SB meetings voicing our concerns and reporting back.

  • Meet with town management to voice our concerns.

  • Social Committee / Events (bring Norwich together!).

  • Community outreach / Get-Out-The-Vote in March.

  • Coordinated activities, picketing Town Hall.

Transparency - research what is required and recommended for transparent government. Uncover what information is being withheld by our town management.

  • Who was on the committee to find the police chief?

  • Ways to impact town management: Can we communicate our concerns in scheduled meetings?

  • Who on the SB can help us influence town operations?

  • What is the toxic nature that has been reported and how do we understand what’s going on in Tracy Hall?

  • How do we promote Competency, Transparency, Accountability.

  • How do we end the gag orders on employees?

  • Who did the HR consultant talk to and what was the report?

  • Is the Town trying to hide something by having its attorneys hire an independent investigator?

  • What are the current and contractual expectations of the Town Manager?

  • What is the town policy for second jobs?

  • Are town employees working full time on our town?

Recruitment - find others in the community who are interested in joining SUFN. Figure out what is currently being done to recruit employees and what else we can do.

  • Document why employees have left.

  • Change perception of Norwich as an unwelcoming place to work.

  • It should be a privilege to work and be part of this community.

  • Are employees being micromanaged and bullied?

  • How do we retain the people we have (e.g. Officer Ingraham).

  • What do we say to the press and media about town employees who left?

  • How do we change the perception about turning things around in town?

  • Where are we advertising for employment for town services?

  • Help with candidate recruitment and selection.

Education - gather, disseminate, and maintain information about how the town operates, when and where the SB and town committees meet.

  • Where does decision making authority lie in the town (SB vs TM).

  • Share basic information about how to engage with the town.

  • Share information about upcoming meetings and report out about meeting activities.

  • Build knowledge to help those who choose to run for town offices.

  • How to attend the Selectboard meetings, and a few points on how to effectively participate.

Legal - understanding towns exposure and liabilities based on existing actions.

  • Research and understand what is the potential legal and financial exposure to the Town as a result of the alleged management harassment and toxic culture in Town Hall.

  • Have certain members of the Selectboard appropriately fulfilled their fiduciary duties to the Town?

  • Should we amend the town charter to allow voters to recall SB members?

  • Understand the potential illegal actions currently taken by town (containment of hazardous material, mismanagement of funds, misappropriation of funds, unapproved road work).

  • Have certain members of the Selectboard willfully ignored the voter-approved Town Plan in the approval of permits?

  • What are the policies and requirements for town employees availability in office and working remotely?

  • Are we paying our providers and contractors as required?

  • Are town employee gag orders legal?

Support - resources for people in town. Welcome to Norwich for people new to town. Where to find, how to get, help generally and in emergencies.

  • How do people in town learn more about Norwich?

  • What’s the best way to get engaged in town?

  • What are the available community support services?

  • Can we get help with emergency plowing?

  • Create a phone tree for urgent issues.

  • Flesh out “Stand Up for Norwich” Platform.

Planning - how is the Town spending our money, where we want to invest as a town, what it should cost, future activities of this group

  • Review yearly financials and audit.

  • Review monthly expenses and whether financial procedures are being followed.

  • Review yearly budget.

  • End of November to get 30 signatures by January.

Please click on this and let us know which group(s) you’d be able to join:

https://forms.gle/vtDkiS7VxH8nD34z7

Coordination - a representative from each group to support and coordinate the group activities.


Next Steps:

  • Monthly meetings to be held on the first Monday of every month (location TBD).

    • Next Meetings:

      • October 3rd

      • November 7th

      • December 5th

      • January 2nd

      • February 6th

      • Monday, March 1st (6 days before election day)

    • Groups to update Stand Up for Norwich members on their findings.

  • Important Dates

    • Tuesday, November 8, 2022 - Vermont General Election Day

    • Thursday, January 19, 2023 - (Not less than 47 days before town meeting) Last day to file petitions with town clerk signed by at least 5 percent of the voters for articles to be included in town meeting warning.

    • Tuesday, March 7, 2023 - Town Meeting Day. A meeting of the legal voters of each town shall be held annually on the first Tuesday in March, unless the town charter changes the date or the voters have voted to begin on one of the 3 days preceding that Tuesday.