Norwich
Meanwhile, several town employees want the temporary interim manager, Planning and Zoning Director Phil Dechert, to continue his responsibilities until a permanent replacement is found.
“This could facilitate the process of hiring a full-time replacement and smooth the transition process,” said a letter from Finance Director Roberta Robinson to the Selectboard.
Besides Robinson, the letter named five other town employees, including the police chief and public works director, who had indicated they wanted Dechert to remain interim manager.
Reached by phone Thursday, Dechert declined to say whether he’d agree to do so, provided he were asked.
“That’s hypothetical,” he said. “I’m doing it now and if things are going OK and I keep doing it fine. If for some reason I find I can’t keep doing it, we’ll go with that.”
The employees’ request was not addressed during Wednesday night’s Selectboard meeting, Dechert said, though the letter was in board members’ packets.
Also in the packet were proposals from VLCT and MRI, the recruiting firm, describing what services they could provide in the search for a permanent town manager. Dechert said board members decided to contact VLCT, which helped find Pete Webster, the town manager before Fulton.
The board hasn’t set a timeline for the long-term manager search, according to Dechert. On Wednesday, the board is scheduled to hold a special meeting with its architectural consultant, Montpelier’s Jay White, who is working on a new proposal for public safety facilities renovations.
Montpelier
Officials said they’re hoping adding the feature to the service between Washington, D.C., and St. Albans with stops in between will promote bike tourism in the state.
Capacity is limited, and riders with bicycles are required to make reservations and have tickets for their bikes. There’s an extra fee of $20 for adding a bike between Washington and New Haven, Conn., and $10 from New Haven north.
The Vermonter makes stops in White River Junction, Claremont, Springfield, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., and other locations enroute to Washington.
Amtrak officials said the two-year pilot project begins Sunday.
Manchester
N.H. Scholars on Wednesday will celebrate 5,300 graduates of the program in 2016 with an awards ceremony in Manchester. The graduates represent nearly every high school in the Granite State. N.H. Scholars officials say students in the program are urged to focus on course in physics, math, foreign language and engineering.
N.H. ScholarsDirector Scott Power says nearly 100 percent of the program’s graduates go on to college.
Wednesday’s ceremony at the Northeast Delta Dental Stadium will run from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Alstead, n.h.
Alstead Fire Chief Kim Kercewich said the fire that was first spotted at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday spread quickly because conditions have been so dry and windy.
WMUR-TV repored that hot spots still remained on Sunday, though the fire was considered to be under control. Firefighters from New Hampshire and Vermont battled the blaze.
Kercewich said the state fire marshal’s office will likely join the investigation.
The Alstead is about 15 miles from Stoddard, where a brush fire 10 days ago destroyed more than 190 acres. A Stoddard volunteer firefighter is charged with arson in connection with that fire.
— Staff and wire reports