NORWICH — Following difficulties in the spring establishing expectations of the town manager, the Norwich Selectboard completed his annual performance review and reached a consensus on how to move forward.
At the Wednesday selectboard meeting, member Matt Swett announced in a prepared statement that Town Manager Brennan Duffy “did a satisfactory job,” per a majority opinion of the five selectboard members.
The Norwich town manager’s primary responsibilities include financial oversight, managing the workforce and maintaining the day-to-day functioning of town business, said Swett, adding that feedback indicates Duffy has handled it adequately.
Areas for improvement, however, include communication and customer service, Swett said on behalf of the board.
At the end of the statement, the selectboard voted on giving Duffy a step-pay increase, bringing his wage to about $169,000. The motion passed, 3-2, with Griggs and Vice Chair Brendan Classon opposing.
Classon confirmed Thursday by email that the pay increase is about 7% from Duffy’s Fiscal Year 2026 wage of $158,000.
Duffy started as an interim town manager in 2022, after Rod Francis held the permanent position for about nine months, then departed following criticism over his management style and employee vacancies, the Valley News reported at the time.
In fall 2023, the selectboard gave Duffy a permanent position and signed a three-year contract with a minimum salary of $145,000. In 2025, the selectboard voted to extend Duffy’s contract an additional three years, and praised him for the stability he brought Norwich following Francis’ departure.
The contract calls on the selectboard to review Duffy’s performance annually within 14 days of the anniversary of his hiring, which is Sept. 27.
Starting in May, the town discussed goals and expectations of Duffy, such as having more information on hand at selectboard meetings, improving availability while working remotely and engaging better with residents.
But the town ran into an obstacle: it had not clearly outlined specifically what they want Duffy to do and had not given him a full year to reach those goals.
Now that the town has completed a performance evaluation based on the broader expectations of Duffy’s role, they’re preparing his next set of goals for the year ahead.
Selectboard members Griggs, Classon, Swett and Mary Layton provided individual memos outlining their desired goals for the town manager. The four members’ suggestions shared a common theme: stronger communication.
Layton asked that Duffy interact with the public on a biweekly basis at minimum, communicate a sense of support and pride for the community with assistance from a mentor and develop a better working relationship with elected officials.
Swett called on Duffy to improve human resources for town employees, and to assess and improve public infrastructure.
Classon’s memo mainly outlined Duffy’s duty to assist the selectboard and other town officials. He also asked that Duffy be present in town offices at least three days per week with an open-door policy, accept meeting requests from the public and attend two town-sponsored events this year. Duffy currently lives in Rutland.
Griggs asked that Duffy provide self-goals and metrics, share clear expectations of performance for employees, engage in ideas regarding Article 36 for fossil fuel reduction and focus on master planning for town buildings.
To help determine how to act on these ideas, Griggs suggested collating them into a list and getting feedback from the town manager.
Swett asked to be charged with working with Duffy to develop a draft document for everyone to agree upon. Griggs suggested two people take on that role, and Classon volunteered.
Per 24 V.S.A. § 1233, Classon noted the town manager must act at the selectboard’s direction and instruction, and he hopes Duffy does not push back on the suggestions presented to him.
“What we don’t want to have is a recapitulation of what happened back in April and May,” said Classon.
Layton said the best path forward is to have a positive mindset and “leave the baggage behind.”
Duffy, attending via Zoom, said some common goals he sees in the memos and has heard over the last few months are achievable for the next year.
“Expediting this is in everyone’s best interest, so that we don’t get drawn into a multi-meeting, month-long process as occurred in the spring,” said Duffy.
