SUFN Planning Group - October 24, 2022 7:30pm

Attendees:

  • Manu Tessone

  • Stuart Richards

  • Pam Smith

  • Ernie Ciccotelli

  • Charlotte MetCalf

  • Rick Kenny

  • Jaci Allen

  • Stephen Gorman

  • Mary Gorman

  • Fran Degasta

  • Judy Pond

  • Folger Tuggle

  • Jaan Laaspere

  • Sara LeBlanc

  • Jeff Swenson

Meeting Notes

  1. Jeff Swenson outlined focus of the Planning working group:

    • Review yearly financials and audit

    • Review monthly expenses and whether financial procedures are being followed

    • Review yearly budget

  2. Mary Gorman informed us that the Selectboard had voted tonight to separate from Town Manager, Rod Francis

  3. Jeff Swenson described the publicly available finance documents:

  4. Pam Smith

    • gave the timeline for Budget Process

      • Sept 1st – Standard Forms distributed to Dept Heads

      • Oct 1st – Forms returned to Town Manager with commentary on deviations

      • Nov 1st – Consolidated form submitted to Selectboard

      • Jan 19th – Finalized Budget in Town Report

    • Expressed concern about completion of budget with departure of Town Manager and Finance Director. Department heads have not budget forms or direction about the budget. Can interim finance director (Joyce Hasbrouck from Robert Half) complete?

    • Group decided that we should offer during the Selectboard meeting this week to assist with budget process (decided against this the following day, when additional announcement was made about the Town Manager)

    • People willing to help (Pam Smith, Jeff Swenson and Cheryl Lindberg)

  5. Other long-term planning issues (perhaps better discussed in separate working groups):

    • Stuart Richards and Ernie Ciccotelli raised the question of switching from Town Manager form of government to a Charter Town

      • This was the previous Norwich form of government. We had a part-time town administrator and the selectboard members work directly with department heads

      • Norwich has voted twice by large majorities to have a TM form of government. Having a TM means that the SB has much less responsibility and authority. The SB sets policy and the TM implements policy along with hiring and firing all Town employees

      • Norwich has had a high turnover of Town Managers with none lasting >3 years

      • A change would require vote by residents and state approval

      • Allows for recall of selectboard members

      • Jeff Swenson suggested that the group should compile a list of pros/cons of such a change

      • UVM VT Institute for Government: Reforming Local Government by Charter https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Center-for-Rural-Studies/VIG%20Guides/VIG-charter-2020.pdf

    • Stuart Richards suggested a separate working group to evaluate a change in Norwich classification to a Rural Town

      • Advantages are for the citizens to vote on Zoning laws and Town Plan, rather than having the Selectboard having approval

      • This would mean that instead of having 5 individuals approve these important documents, the whole Town would get a chance to weigh in

    • Manu Tessone questioned if the Marion Cross septic project would have an impact on the current year budget and Stuart Richards described the history of the septic issues. He said that Jeff Goodrich of Pathways Consulting the company is working on proposed solutions.

    • Stuart Richards and Ernie Ciccotelli described the increase in taxes and housing costs during their long time in Norwich. They described their attempts to create affordable housing.

    • Pam Smith raised the concern that the property valuation reappraisal is behind budget