In the wake of Jim Kenyon’s column in the Valley News Sunday, 3/27, “Norwich road crew hits rough patch and town paves over private eye probe,” I emailed Norwich’s town manager, Rod Francis, to ask a couple of questions. Here’s his response:

To: Rob Gurwitt, [email protected]

This is a response to questions asked by you via email on March 27, 2022. See my answers below.

Kenyon says outright that you and the Selectboard opted to hire Burgess Loss Prevention through McNeil Leddy as a way to “hide the paper trail.” There may be another explanation: If so, can you detail it?

The Town is responsible for complying with Federal law, its Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with DPW staff, and the town Sexual Harassment Policy and Personnel Policies. Beyond our legal and contractual obligations, we are committed to investigating complaints in the workplace as part of our role in providing a safe, respectful and supportive workplace.

To the extent possible the Town strives to keep these matters confidential to protect the complainants, the witnesses and the accused. This procedure also provides an arms-length relationship between management and the investigation. Complainants and witnesses are less willing to participate when it is expected that the process is entirely public. In the case under discussion here a recipient of personal and confidential information chose to share that with the press.

There was no effort to hide the paper trail. Legal counsel is familiar with the scope and procedures of an investigation such as this. It is customary for them to hire an investigator with expertise in the field and report the findings to management at the conclusion of the investigation.

And second, can you provide some context for the turmoil in the highway department? It sounds like a combination of stress from being short-handed, ill feelings between two factions on the crew, and dissatisfaction from at least one (and possibly three) departed workers with Chris Kaufman [the recently hired public works director].

Like all of us, Norwich DPW has worked through Covid for almost three years. Unlike some other workplaces this department has experienced sustained gaps in leadership over the past four years. Longstanding issues left unaddressed became more apparent as a consequence of the complaints made. Those crew members who left town employment over the past few months each made their own choice to move on. We wish them well in their future endeavors and thank them for their dedication and work for the town. I also want to acknowledge the support of our neighbors, Thetford and Hartford, during winter storms this past season.

The decision to hire Chris Kaufman was made with an awareness of the challenges the department faces. Chris has been crucial in developing and implementing an action plan to bring about long-needed improvements. Even in this tight labor market we have been able to recruit new Equipment Operators. Pat and Scott join Heather and Jon (our Working Foreman who joined us just after the holidays). We are working hard to build a cohesive, supportive and respectful workplace that rewards enthusiasm for training and learning on the job.