Selectboard Meeting Summaries for Jan 11 and 13, 2023


What you need to know


  • Roger Arnold stated that “the board would benefit from not having the advice of voters.” (click here for video). Giving the voters a say on funding the police “would put the board in a ‘bind,’ it would be ‘hurtful’ to our community if the board doesn’t follow what the community wants.” Aaron Lamperti and Mary Layton also do not want the voters to have a say (click here for video).

  • Lamperti reminded the public that voters select their representatives, and it’s the board's job then to decide on the budget (click here for video). SUFN would agree with his position, except that neither Arnold, Gere and Layton openly discussed their plans to defund our police department when they ran. Lamperti was appointed by Arnold, Gere and Layton, not elected by the voters.

  • SUFN is not afraid to hear what our neighbors have to say about policing. If our position is in the minority, then we will accept that outcome. As opposed to Arnold, Lamperti, Layton and Gere, we do not believe in imposing minoritarian views on the majority. We respect our neighbors.

  • On Friday, 1/13, the Board approved a budget that does not include funding for 20/7 policing. They cut funding for Giles Mountain, paving and permanent town manager search.


Summary Notes


As expected, the major topic on Wednesday 1/11 was staffing of the Norwich Police Department. The Selectboard went into executive session for two hours at the beginning of the meeting. This time the Police Chief and Interim Town Manager were invited, though the Selectboard did not make a statement after the executive session. The board did confirm that the Interim Town Manager does not have the authority to hire without SB approval, per his contract.


The topic of police staffing resurfaced at the end of the meeting. The Selectboard opened the discussion to potential warrant articles and several members of the public asked whether the Selectboard would consider adding articles asking the public whether they want to fund a fifth police officer. Marcia clarified that there are two possible articles, one that is up to the voters is whether to allocate funds to the police department. The other article, which would be an advisory article, recommending that the town staff five officers. Norwich has voted on both types of articles regarding police staffing and funding in the past. This was hotly debated.


Mary believes the will of the board is to build back the department and is not willing to write an article for a fifth officer. Roger’s position is that the board would “benefit from not having the advice of the voters.” He questioned the “efficacy of a town wide vote” on the question of a fifth officer. Since it’s not in the authority of the voters to decide the staffing of the police, an additional 5th officer should be a conversation for a subsequent year by a new Selectboard. Aaron agreed that it’s the responsibility of the Selectboard to fund the positions in the town and it’s the voters who determine who is on the Selectboard. The voters should determine who is on the board and let them do the work.


The majority on the board wants to push back the question of 20/7 police coverage to next year’s budget, despite the outcry of support for adequate funding to cover safety during this budget year. Rob Gere did not weigh in. Demo asked the board to consider what the town has been asking for months and act unanimously and leave a legacy for Norwich.


The other item that resulted in some debate was the Land Management Council request to allocate $4k out of a $16k reserve fund to create a forestry plan for the lands owned by the Fire District, including Ballard and Parcel Five. The board seemed unclear on what the request actually was or who from Selectboard is assigned to the council, as required by the agreement with the Fire District. Mary suggested that the board should be discussing whether to conserve land owned by the Fire District. Aaron noted that the Selectboard doesn’t have its ducks in a row and the board decided they needed to research this with the help of the Clerk. Charlotte noted that an updated forestry plan may be required by Vermont State law. Back in June of 2022, Treasurer Cheryl Lindberg reminded the SB about reviewing the Land Management Council contract. The board last approved $1k from the fund unanimously in January of 2021 and last appointed a member of the public to the LMC for a three year term in March of 2019.


Warrant Articles

  • The Selectboard plans to set a later date for the first tax payment to accommodate getting updated income sensitive allocations from the state in time to send to mortgage lenders. This was an issue in August when for the first time the town did not reimburse overpayments, causing some residents to unnecessarily incur higher monthly mortgage payments for six months.

  • The Selectboard must ask the voters to establish a designated fund to accept American Rescue Plan Act monies. It was noted that the Selectboard has yet to engage the public on a discussion of how to spend this money though Roger and Aaron have previously suggested spending it on renovating Tracy Hall.

  • Aaron suggested issuing a bond to fund the tennis courts rather than allocating money in the coming tax year. Bonnie asked whether the board knew where we stand with regards to outstanding bonds.


Upcoming Meetings

The next two meetings are both special meetings.

  • Wednesday 1/18, in person, at the community safety building.

    • Bonnie, the town clerk with speak

    • The voters need candidates for a town moderator

    • Status on the town manager search plan

    • An emergency work plan for tracy hall

    • Revisit the land management council request for funding