27 minute read
The Planning Commission
This article was submitted by the Champlain Valley School Board
1. HOW VOTING FOR OUR SCHOOLS WORKS
On or before Tuesday, March 3, voters will be asked to approve one budget for all public schooling in the Champlain Valley School District (CVSD). The district includes the towns of Charlotte, St. George, Williston, Shelburne and Hinesburg. Voted ballots will be brought to a central location (CVU high school) and co-mingled (all town ballots mixed together) prior to being counted by representatives from each town’s Board of Civil Authority. 2. WHY THE BUDGET IS INCREASING
The proposed budget is increasing by 4.4 percent this year. It covers salary increases, a 13.2 percent increase in the cost of health insurance and increases in the cost of goods and services at the rate of inflation. The budget also reflects higher special education costs, which are partially offset by state revenues. More specific information about the budget can be found at www.cvsdvt. org/budget. 3. WITHIN THE BUDGET, CVSD IS STRENGTHENING PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS
CVSD is focused on improving early literacy outcomes, increasing STEM opportunities and supporting students who come to school with social-emotional struggles. School counselor and administrator roles are being restored at CVU to best meet the
needs of, and support, all students. 4. RISING PROPERTY VALUES ARE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO INCREASING TAX RATES
Property tax rates are based not on the budget increase but on the increase in the “net cost per equalized pupil.” CVSD is fortunate to have a slightly increasing equalized student count, which, when coupled with the board’s conservative fiscal plan, lowers the community’s tax exposure to 3.2 percent. Changes in the state funding calculation lower this even more, to a 1 cent increase on the equalized tax rate. Offsetting this good news is a two-cent decline in the consolidation incentive our district receives.
The largest impact on local tax rates is the CLA (Common Level of Appraisal), which is the adjustment the state makes to assessed property values so they reflect current market values. Property values in our community are continuing to rise, and the adjustment is applied to the tax rate. 5. OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT ARTICLES ON THE BALLOT
There are several procedural votes that are taken at the CVSD Board of Directors’ Annual Meeting. This is held on Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. in CVU room 160, and all are welcome.
On Tuesday, March 3, besides the budget, the board is asking for approval to apply $725,000 of the fund balance — the district’s financial reserves — as revenue to lower the tax rate. There will also be an article for voters to consider the purchase of three new school buses. With the help of a state grant, two of these buses will be among the first electric school buses in Vermont. And finally, the board is asking for support for a $6 million capital construction bond. We have a website set up to provide information about the proposed bond. This can be accessed via the school district’s website: www.cvsdvt.org.
For more information, visit www.cvsdvt. org/budget or email cvsdboard@cvsdvt.org, and remember, you can vote early!
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Essex Players present ‘Drinking Habits’
The Essex Community Players begin performances of “Drinking Habits” beginning Feb. 28 at Essex Memorial Hall, 5 Towers Rd., in Essex. Performances continue Feb. 29, March 6-7 and March 13-14 with 7:30 p.m. start times. Matinees (2 p.m.) are scheduled for March 1, 8 and 15.
Ben Certa of Williston will make his stage debut as “George” — the good-natured groundskeeper for the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing convent. Certa dipped his toe into the theater world by running light/sound boards after watching his father working light and sound and his step-mother on stage with Essex Community Players. This will be Certa’s first role on stage. The play description: “The nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent out of the red when two reporters go undercover as a nun and priest to expose these partners in wine. Wine and secrets are inevitably spilled as the plot twists to a blessed end.”
For tickets, visit www.essexplayers.com.
Observer courtesy photo Williston’s Ben Certa, as ‘George.’
Shelburne Players present ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’ The Shelburne Players are ready to take on one of Neil Simon’s most popular comedies, “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.” The play focuses on Sid Caesar-like Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953, and his staff, including Simon’s alter-ego Lucas Brickman, who maintains a running commentary on the writing, fighting and wacky antics that take place in the writers’ room.
Actors include Bob Bolyard of Burlington, Alex Chang of Shelburne, Clem Turmel and Stephen Moore of Milton, Craig Bailey of Shelburne, Jay Caton from South Hero, Jeff Barker of Burlington, David Belvedere of Winooski and Rachel Feldman of Middlesex. The play will be directed by Adam Cunningham.
Performance dates are March 27, 28, 29 and April 2,3 and 4 at Shelburne Town Center. To reserve tickets and for more information, visitwww.shelburneplayers.com. Solar - Weatherization - Construction Heat Pumps
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PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #15 Williston,VT 05495 POSTAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985 Town drawn into opiate lawsuit The Town of Williston has been pulled into a lawsuit against opiate drug companies seeking compensation for the public cost of addressing opiate addiction, and it has until Nov. 22 to opt out. Town administrators received notice of the lawsuit in September and brought the opt-out question to the selectboard last week. The board tabled the question until next Tuesday’s meeting, seeking an opinion from town attorney Bob Fletcher in the interim. “I’m struggling with the idea that we have been automatically included in it,” board member Joy Limoge said. “That’s not sitting well with me.” “That’s the nature of class action,” board member Ted Kenney responded. “You get notice (that says) you can opt out, but if you don’t, your silence is consent.” One downside of staying in the lawsuit, Kenney said, is that the town would lose its right to pursue its own litigation against opioid companies. The Town of Bennington recently became the first town in Vermont to independently sue opioid companies. A Texas law firm that represents Bennington — the Cicala Law Firm — had a booth at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) annual conference last week in Killington, and managing partner Joanne Cicala spoke to town and city administrators in an attempt to recruit municipalities to join Bennington. Last Tuesday, Williston’s selectboard seemed averse to that idea. The class action lawsuit names 13 defen dants, including manufacturers like Purdue Pharma and retail outlets like Rite-Aid, Walgreens and Wal-Mart. It was set up by a federal judge in Ohio “to unify cities and counties into a single negotiating entity to maximize their bargaining power and to provide finality to opioids litigation for any settling defendant,” according to the notice Williston received. This is the first time the federal law allow ing class action suits has been used to create a class of municipalities, according to the 8 million pills purchased in Williston during height of saturation By Jason Starr Observer staff see OPIATE page 2 A choice of chowders
www.willistonobserver.com Published by Williston Publishing & Promotions Phone: (802) 872-9000 • Fax: (802) 872-0151 Get your tickets now! A great gift idea! Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 TWO SESSIONS: 12 - 4 p.m. & 6 - 10 p.m. Beer, Cider, Wine, Spirits • Music • Games Food Truck Fare - ALL INDOORS! Champlain Valley Exposition EXPO North Building, Essex Jct., VT www.winterbrewfestvt.com DOUBLETREE BY HILTON, SOUTH BURLINGTON Observer photos by Al Frey Sponsors, contestants, volunteers and residents gathered Sunday for the 9th Annual Williston Chowder Challenge on the village green. The event supports the Williston Community Food Shelf and the Williston Police Association. One hundred seventy five pounds of food were collected for the food shelf. ABOVE: Chelsea Shepard, left, Truly Shepard, center, and Robbie Bromley pose between spoonfuls. RIGHT: Residents convene for taste testing. For results of the Chowder Challenge, see page 3.
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League of Women Voters: 100 years strong
By Sue Racanelli
On Feb. 14, the League of Women Voters celebrated 100 years of empowering voters and defending democracy. The League in Vermont joined more than 700 other leagues to celebrate this historic milestone and reflect on its history of advocacy, action and accomplishment. A century ago, women were on the verge of getting the vote as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul campaigned separately for ratification of the 19th Amendment. In 1920, six months prior to passage of the amendment, Catt founded the League of Women Voters as a mighty political experiment to instruct women on political issues. Although Vermont had not ratified the 19th Amendment and would not do so until February 1921, suffragists organized a chapter “so that Vermont women may be prepared to use to their best advantage the ballot so recently won …”
From the beginning, the League became a voice of reason, renowned for fact-based, nonpartisan information. It had a bold agenda, adopting 69 items for study, including child welfare, education, home and high prices, women in gainful occupation, public health and morals and independent citizenship for married women. Formative leader Eleanor Roosevelt helped establish its policy agenda, and, as vice president of legislative affairs, lobbied for reforms. Our first legislative victory, in 1921, secured a landmark $1 million in federal funding to reduce infant mortality rates.
Following World War II, the League launched an unprecedented nationwide campaign to establish the United Nations (UN) and ensure U.S. participation, working for Americans to understand the vital importance of the UN. We were the first non-governmental organization to be officially recognized by the UN and, to this day, maintain official observer status. The League endorsed the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, NATO, Marshall Plan, economic aid to less-developed countries, arms control and normalizing relations with China.
During the 1950s, the League courageously spoke out against Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s anticommunist propaganda, carrying a two-year community education program to protect citizens’ rights and individual liberties from his unconstitutional investigative powers.
In 1952, the League joined NBC and Life Magazine in sponsoring
the first-ever televised presidential debate and hosted three debates from 1976 to 1984 before withdrawing sponsorship in 1988 over demands by the two political parties for unprecedented control to transform format and content. The League made it clear it had no intention of moderating debates devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. A top priority through the 1970s and early 1980s was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and organizing the National Business Council for ERA to bring business leaders into the fight for ratification. The ERA failed; however, Virginia’s recent ratification has us focused on removing the congressional deadline so the amendment can be enacted.
The League holds fast to the belief that our nation is at its strongest when citizens are engaged with our democracy. We secured passage of the National Voter Registration (Motor Voter) Act and were in the forefront to strengthen the Voting Rights Act amendments of 1975, 1982 and 2006. We passed both the Help America Vote Act and the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act, which closed significant loopholes in campaign finance see RACANELLI page 7
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The League’s Making Democracy Work program concentrates on our core mission: 1) voting rights — expanding voter access and fighting voter suppression and redistricting, and 2) elections — money in politics, voter education, increasing voter registration and turnout.
The Vermont League has a vigorous program of registering new citizens at naturalization ceremonies, assisting more than 500 new citizens last year. We conduct voter registration drives in high schools and prisons, hold candidate forums and host successful public programs. We led the effort for same-day voter registration and establishment of the State Ethics Commission, which counts a League member in its makeup. The League supports education, employment, fair housing, basic human needs, health care reform, humane immigration policies, environment, gun safety and census participation. We backed creation of regional planning commissions and the Act 250 land use and development program, and championed robust environmental laws for clean water and clean air, being active in the fight to curb acid rain when Sen. Robert Stafford was chair of the Senate Health and Environment Committee.
We favored more equitable funding for education, informed the public of inequities for students and taxpayers and lobbied for changes on how state funding was provided to schools.
While the League’s programs and priorities have evolved to meet changing times, a 1919 League pamphlet describing its fundamental functions still holds true with remarkable accuracy: “The organization has three purposes — to foster education in citizenship, to promote forums and public discussion of civic reforms and to support needed legislation.”
In the words of our founder, Carrie Chapman Catt: “There will never be a true democracy until every responsible ... adult in it, without regard to race, sex, color or creed, has his or her own ... voice in government.”
Sue Racanelli is president of the League of Women Voters of Vermont.
Observing Lent Observed 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays), Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent in Christianity. This period represents Christ’s time in the wilderness, where he fasted and faced temptation.
Oftentimes, during this period, different groups of Christians cease to use certain comforts or make a similar resolution to give something up or do something special for the period of Lent.
This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 26. The Williston Federated Church will hold a brief Ash Wednesday worship service beginning at 6:45 p.m. For those who may not be able to attend this service, Pastor Paul Eyer will be available to administer “Ashes on the Go” from 5:30–6:30 p.m. Look for signs to the sanctuary on Williston Road.
All are welcome.
Carol Bouchard Williston
Helping first-time homeowners It’s no secret that, like many northeastern states, Vermont facesdifficult demographic challenges. In a state with an aging population, we’ll need more younger workers in the coming years to have a healthy tax base and toprovide the services many older Vermonters rely upon. There is no silver bullet that will fundamentally shift our demographic trends. However, there are tools to help bend the curve, and using them to address affordability barriers facing younger Vermonters makes good sense.
An area we’ve made some progress in this regard is in the cost of first-time homeownership. In 2015, when I chaired the Vermont Senate’s Finance Committee, my committee members and Iworked with the House and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) to establish a down payment assistance program to help young families buy their first homes. The program provides up to $5,000 for down payment or closing costs in the form of a no interest loan, with no payments due. The money is repaid when the home is refinancedor sold. Thanks to the great work of VHFA, the program has now helped1,197 households purchase their first homes. The program has resulted in home purchases in 174 different towns in every county in Vermont. In Williston, 10 young families have benefited from this housing affordability initiative, while 227 other young families have used it to buy their first homes elsewherein Chittenden County. We know young people face economic pressure in the form of student loan debt and high housing costs. The down payment assistance initiative is an example of the progress we can make when we bring concrete strategies to the affordability challenges facing younger Vermonters. Tim Ashe Vermont Senate president Chittenden County Senator
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WILLISTON: BUSINESS HUB OF VERMONT A trove of tiny treasures opens at Blair Park
By Jason Starr Observer staff
Lisa Golding started Boho Baby as an online retailer three years ago, accepting and selling a certain bohemian style of consignment clothing for children.
Though she did not set out to operate a walkin store, she is now into her third location, having cultivated a parent’s intuition for a feel-good shopping experience, especially as it relates to searching for second-hand clothing treasures with young children in tow.
Boho Baby evolved from its online beginnings when customers began coming to what Golding originally intended to be just a storage space at Fort Ethan Allen.
“I was like, ‘oh people are coming here, and this is now a store.’ It just evolved that way because people like to find fun things,” Golding said. “It was a little hidden gem in the Fort.” Honoring the momentum of the business, she soon opened shop in a cozy space at the Lang Barn in Essex, next to Wildflower Studio — a play space that also caters to parents of young children. She knew she had found a niche as a mission-driven consignment boutique focused on conscious consumerism when the flow of dropped-off clothing began to overwhelm the Essex space.
“It got to a point where I had consignment just wrapped around the store,” she said. “On the floor I had bins and boxes and bags, because there was just nowhere else to put it. It was out of complete and utter necessity that we moved.” Boho Baby found its new home in January on Blair Park Road in Williston next to Ski The East and a UPS store.
It’s about three times the size of the Essex location, with ample room for storing consignments and even a play space for toddlers. The location, near the busy crossroads of routes 2 and 2A, offers significantly more visibility.
“More items have been coming in, and we’ve been definitely getting more traffic,” said Golding. “And we have a whole back storage area. It’s exactly what we needed.”
The store sells clothing for consignment with a 60-40 split of sales — with 40 percent going to the consigner and 60 percent to the store. Boho Baby comes to a town that already has a second-hand children’s clothing store, a Once Upon a Child franchise at the Taft Corners Shopping Center, as well as the general second-hand store, Goodwill. All three are within a mile of each other.
A mother of two, Golding says Boho items have a down-to-earth style, with a minimum of text (“Daddy’s little princess,” and the like) on clothing items. Also, in addition to the play space, the store caters to parents’ needs with a nursing station and a diaper changing table. “When I started the idea for Boho Baby, I was frustrated by the quality and just having to dig to find what I was looking for,” she said. “I wanted to fill that space of quality stuff, and from an aesthetic standpoint, have a nicer environment where everything is clean and in good condition, and cute. And there was just an overwhelming (response). People started bringing me everything I was looking for.”
Observer photo by Jason Starr Lisa Golding moved her three-year-old business, Boho Baby, to Williston in January.
& the When
Realtor Elise Polli joins VBRA board
Polli Properties founder Elise Polli of Williston was sworn in as an associate member of the Vermont Builders & Remodelers Association (VBRA) Board of Directors on Jan. 30. VBRA is a non-profit founded in 1957 with a mission “to promote, enhance and maintain a positive business and economic environment conducive to the construction of new housing and renovation of existing housing.”
Polli will bring extensive real estate experience to the board.
Optimism rebounds in business survey Davis and Hodgdon Associates CPAs and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce recently released their annual economic outlook survey, including answers from 140 Vermont business owners.
The survey showed that attitudes about the Vermont economy have not shifted drastically over the last 12 months; business owners remain less pessimistic than in 2016, with 26 percent of business owners saying the economy is in decline, compaired to 54 percent in 2016. Regarding the national economy, optimism has rebounded since a dip in 2018 with 42 percent of respondents saying that the national economy has improved, compared to 32 percent a year ago.
According to the survey, the top three issues facing Vermont businesses are finding qualified employees (69 percent), health insurance costs (55 percent) and Vermont taxes (37 percent). These are the same issues that business owners have identified in the previous nine surveys dating back to January 2012.
Workers’ comp rates decrease Vermont businesses will see a double-digit rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2020, Gov. Phil Scott announced earlier this month. The new rates, approved by the Department of Financial Regulation, become effective April 1.
This is the fourth straight year of rate decreases. Vermont employers will pay an average of 30 percent less in workers’ compensation premiums compared to 2016.
“The cost of coverage is clearly moving in the right direction and is the result of a continued commitment to workplace safety by employers and a continued focus on this market by our department,” said Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak.
Rate changes vary by industry and classification, however, several Vermont industries with historically high rates will see significant relief. Vermont’s logging industry will see rate reductions between 16-20 percent, the skiing industry will see rate reductions between 10-14 percent, the dairy farming industry will see rate relief between 8-12 percent and craft brewers will experience a reduction of 7 percent.
Vermont Business Roundtable president to retire
Lisa Ventriss
The Vermont Business Roundtable has announced that Lisa Ventriss, president since 2002, will retire at the end of the year.
“It has been one of my greatest professional privileges to serve as president of the roundtable and work together with such a distinguished and respected group of business and non-profit leaders from across the state and region,” Ventriss said. “After almost two decades as president, and at the beginning of a new decade, it is now time for the roundtable to bring in the next generation of leader.”
The roundtable’s board of directors is forming a search committee to select its next president.
“The board greatly appreciates Lisa’s many contributions
REI grant advances Lake Champlain Committee’s work
The REI Co-op store in Willistonhas donated a grant to the Lake Champlain Committee to allow the organization to purchase signage for the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail, update its website content and produce informational materials promoting the paddlers’ trail.
The grant also funds a touring kayak and related gear for Lake Champlain Committee outings. “This REI grant will help us
publicize the trail, re-sign locations and upgrade our equipment,” Lake Champlain Committee Executive Director Lori Fisher said. “We’re grateful for the support to advance our stewardship.”
REI’s Williston store, which opened last fall, will also be partnering with the organization on April Stools’ Day and aquatic invasive species assessments.
“REI believes access to healthy waterways is a right for all,” said
REI Williston marketing coordinator Laurie Singer. “Outdoor recreation and life on our planet would not be possible without waterway protection and the hard work of organizations like the Lake Champlain Committee. We look forward to working with them for many years to come as we tackle local and persisting problems and improve access.” — Article courtesy of Lake Champlain Committee
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Observer photos by Al Frey ABOVE: The 2020 state gymnastic champion CVU Redhawks celebrate their title in Essex on Saturday. BELOW LEFT: CVU’s Laurynn Bombardier competes in vault, an event she won at the state championship meet. BELOW RIGHT: All-around state champion Tali Giubardo, center, poses with CVU coaches Madison Bourdeau, left, and Ashley Bachand, right.
Champion continued from page 1
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OPTOMETRY WILLISTON
Style, Fashion, Function! won in 2018, the Hornets regained the title last season and this year CVU reclaimed the coveted trophy. Bombardier was first in the vault and the beam, while Hoar was third in the vault, fifth in the bars, fourth in the beam and sixth on the floor. Other top performances for CVU included a 1-2-3-4-5 sweep of the beam, with Bombardier (first), Miller-Bottoms (second), Giubardo (thid), Hoar (fourth) and Logan Claffy (fifth) helping the Redhawks to dominate the event.
Claffy also finished third on the floor exercise.
—Lauren Read
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SPORTS
Boys basketball bests Burlington
Observer photo by Al Frey Rowan Williams drives the lane during CVU’s Feb. 3 game against South Burlington.
Williston boys take rec hoops title
By Lauren Read Observer correspondent
The Champlain Valley boys basketball team opened up a 25-13 lead at halftime enroute to a 47-34 win over Burlington on Monday.
Tyler Morehouse led the Redhawks with 15 points, and Noah Allen added 11 points. CVU moved to 14-4 with the win.
Jensen Daly had nine points for the Seahorses, who fell to 7-11.
Champlain Valley also earned a win on Saturday, beating Burr and Burton behind a 33-point effort from Baker Angstmann. Agnstmann hit 11 three-pointers and scored 21 points in the third quarter to lift CVU to the 69-40 win. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Champlain Valley 37, St. Johnbsury 26: Champlain Valley faced a tough test on Monday night, but pulled out a win over St. Johnsbury.
Mekkena Boyd scored 11 points and
grabbed eight rebounds for the Redhawks, who moved to 16-0. Shelby Companion chipped in with nine points for CVU.
Champlain Valley used a 11-4 run in the third quarter to pull away.
Josie Choiniere tallied 15 points for the Hilltoppers, last year’s D-I state champs. The Redhawks also earned a win last Thursday, beating South Burlington 66-12. Catherine Gilwee scored 21 points that victory, while Boyd had 18 points and nine steals.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Champlain Valley 4, Woodstock 2: Sabina Brochu had a goal and an assist to lead Champlain Valley to a 4-2 win over Woodstock on Saturday.
Nicole Wright, Riley Erdman and Tess Everett each added a goal for the CougarHawks, who moved to 9-8. Grace Ferguson stopped 16 shots.
Ava Dodson made 18 saves in goal for Woodstock (6-11-1).
Observer courtesy photo Williston’s grade 5-6 boys recreation basketball team won the Champlain Valley Recreation Association Tournament last weekend in Burlington, with an undefeated Saturday. The boys are coached by Jamie Falkenbush. Williston also had another grade 5-6 team in the tournament, as well as a grade 5-6 girls team in a tournament in South Burlington. Williston played host to, and fielded a team in, the boys grade 7-8 tournament as well.
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