Selectboard Meeting Notes for December 21, 2022, 6:30 pm


Selectboard Members:

  • Marcia Calloway, Chair. Elected; term expires March 2023.

  • Robert Gere. Elected; term expires March 2023.

  • Aaron Lamperti. Appointed by the Board; term expires March 2023.

  • Mary Layton, Vice-Chair. Elected; term expires March 2024.

  • Roger Arnold. Elected; term expires March 2025.


What You Need to Know


Budget Review

  • The third Pass of the budget is next Wednesday December 27, 2022

  • If you want to weigh in on the Selectboard's budget proposal to the voters, write a letter today or dial in and make a public comment on Wednesday.

  • Joyce, our interim finance director, presented her recommended budget based on the town department head asks and the board requests at the last meeting.

  • Bonnie Munday (Town Clerk), Pam Smith and Cheryl Lindberg (Listers), and Wade Cochrane (Police Chief) all commented that they had not seen the second pass budget before tonight and that it had mistakes in their proposed spending allocation.

  • The Selectboard collected questions to send to Joyce for a third pass on budget variations including a budget that only funds positions that were funded last year adjusted for healthcare, cost of living and step and grade increases.

  • There was some confusion among the Board, especially by Roger Arnold, about how the budget maps to the municipal tax rate. For clarification, the tax rate is computed by finding the fraction per $100 in home value and then dividing the total budget minus non-tax revenues and grants by that fraction. The number used in the budget calculations was $760m (total value of all non-exempt properties in Norwich), which is divided by 100 to get 7.6m. Dividing the proposed budget by 7.6m results in the cents paid per $100 in property value. This is offset by revenue and grants, so if we spend $5.5, the calculator results in a municipal tax rate of $0.72 per $100 in home value. The actual rate for last year was $0.59 after revenues and grants. The second pass budget showed an increase in $0.10 per $100 in value in expenses, not factoring in revenues and grants.


Discussion Topics

  • There was over $600k in deficit in the draft audit. By statue the town is not allowed to run a deficit. However, Cheryl Lindberg (Treasurer) was surprised the town had run a deficit. It is unclear at this stage if the numbers presented are correct.

  • Again the issue of using $500k in ARPA money came up. The Selectboard debated whether it was slated for use in renovating Tracy Hall or whether the public should have a say. To clarify, there has never been an official vote on how these funds are to be used and the public has not been given an opportunity to weigh in or vote on appropriating these funds.

  • Several members of the public spoke, largely about the need to provide adequate funding for the Police budget. We continue to hear broad consensus on the desire for having public safety and security, though there is disagreement on the best way to achieve it. We’ve also seen a lack of understanding in what is required to achieve safety coverage in town. The calculation is straightforward (e.g. 24x7 = 8760 hours a year, 2000 working hours per FTE year = 4.38 officers). Factoring in training, vacation, sick days, and on-call time, the math quickly adds up to 5 total officers, if we wanted that level of coverage. Further confusing the conversation is that, in the past, NPD has relied on overtime and part time help to fulfill the level of service that we’ve asked for.

  • There was also some back and forth about use of cameras and on camera expressions. It’s clear to us that we’ve long exceeded the ability to have productive Selectboard meetings solely on Zoom. The board has opted to continue to use Zoom until they are no longer allowed (January 15, 2023). The School Board has been meeting in person for quite some time. The Fire District meetings are held regularly at Tracy Hall. It’s unclear why the Selectboard still refuses to meet in person.


Required Disclosure Appointments under OML

  • The Selectboard has not provide any transparency as required by OML (1 V.S.A. § 313 a.3) regarding the candidates and discussion preceding the appointment of our interim Town Manager.

  • Finally, the Selectboard met for two and half hours in executive session with the new Town Manager to discuss appointment of an unspecified employee. There was no discussion or action taken following the executive session.