The Citizen - 2-22-24

Unopposed

Perfect storm

School board candidates navigate troubled waters

Legislator says rates will go up for taxpayers

Page 2

Page 7

February 22, 2024

Charlotters remember Louise McCarren

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Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg

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Selectboard candidates talk issues, reelection in Hinesburg

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LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

More than 50 residents tuned into a special Charlotte Selectboard meeting held Tuesday night to remember the life of beloved resident and selectboard member Louise McCarren — a champion of municipal and state government, “a force of nature,” and the best mac and cheese maker the town has ever seen.

McCarren died late last week, just months after her husband, Ed Amidon.

Although McCarren dedicated much of her adult life to Charlotte’s volunteer community, her illustrious career as a public defender and her other many positions in government and the private sector made her an unstoppable force throughout most of her life.

McCarren was also the first woman to chair the Vermont Public Service Board.

“She was one of the leading ladies that kind of broke through that glass ceiling,” Jim Faulkner, selectboard chair and friend of McCarren for over 10 years, said.

“There’s no question about that, and she was a wonderful person in the process of doing it and well respected.”

See MCCARREN on page 12

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Barring a write-in campaign, it seems apparent that the Hinesburg Selectboard will remain the same following Town Meeting Day on March 5.

Members Maggie Gordon and Paul Lamberson are each seeking second terms to the five-member selectboard. They’re the only ones running for their two seats.

Together, they have more than 65 years of living in Hinesburg between them. And they’re both running for reelection because, they say, they want to continue contributing and helping in any way they can as the town faces several issues — affordability being on the top of the list.

“There is no end to what there is to learn about running a town,” Gordon said. “I just love all the folks I get to meet, and I love being a part of this community. I have been for many years, and it feels good to be able to support it in whatever ways I can.”

Lamberson was first elected to the selectboard last year. It was a bit of a surprise candidacy — he See HINESBURG on page 10

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School board candidates hope to guide district through turmoil COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

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Perhaps no issue has caused as much turbulence in the brief history of the consolidated Champlain Valley School District as the current budget dilemma facing the school board and administration.

The loss of federal COVID19 funds has put pressure on the district to retain critical support positions, the absence of state funding is forcing the district to spend millions on aging building and infrastructure upgrades, and — the cherry on top — a new state education formula, passed in 2022, has left the district with decreased pupil weights and decreased funding as a result.

New developments in the Statehouse in the past three weeks have only complicated that. Now, candidates running for Town Meeting Day elections for the district’s five member towns — Shelburne, Hinesburg, Charlotte, Williston and St. George — will be faced with the tremendous financial challenges present for the district.

In Williston, newcomer Sarah Showalter-Feuillette is running unopposed to represent Williston, while incumbent Brendan McMahon is running for reelection.

The two candidates running for election and reelection from Charlotte and Shelburne are both running unopposed, and they’ve both seen the development of Act 127 from opposite vantage points.

Meghan Metzler, the current vice chair on the school board and a member of the finance committee, has spent the better part of two years learning the ins and outs of Act 127, and has been a part of devising a way to “land the plane in a spot that’s comfortable for everyone, so that we don’t fall of the fiscal cliff.”

From Charlotte, she’s running unopposed for reelection to her second term.

In an interview, she said she decided to run for reelection to finish that work of guiding the plane, and says she has the right skillset to do it. She is a certified public accountatnt “and I bring a lot of that that perspective to the board.”

“Education finance is a top priority for me and one of the reasons why I’ve decided to stay on the board and figure out how we implement that throughout CVSD,” she said. “I really believe in the work that this district is doing.”

The district had been preparing for Act 127’s implementation for the past two years but that work has been tossed out the window

Meghan Metzler

Kate Webb

in a matter of weeks, as the Legislature, in the 11th hour, moved to rework the education formula.

Act 127 and its current iteration — which allowed a 5 percent tax rate cap for all districts in the state — remains the law as of press deadline. But a new law being fast-tracked through Statehouse committees would replace the 5 percent cap with a one-cent tax rate discount for every percent decrease loss in the district’s taxing capacity since Act 127’s implementation.

The new law would only apply to districts, like Champlain Valley, that are negatively affected by Act 127’s new pupil weighting.

“Once Act 127 was passed, we, including the finance committee, made that a board priority. The district had a five-year strategy that we were starting to implement.

Everything that’s happened in the past few weeks has really upended it in many ways,” Metzler said.

“We thought we had a five-year cap, we thought we had all these other things, and that has been upended.”

For Metzler, the new formula, if passed into law, will “have to become the new priority.”

“We are going to have to look at everything,” she said. “Everything’s on the table about how we educate our students.”

Meanwhile, Kate Webb is running for election from Shelburne. After spending 14 years as the state representative for the Chittenden-5-1 legislative district, she has seen the flip side of Act 127 — the process of moving it into law, a process which she feels was implemented far too quickly without taking a harder look at the consequences.

“We went quickly to implementation without looking at some of the unintended consequences,” Webb said. “We’re living with the unintended consequences now.”

Webb says she’s running for election to the school board to address those consequences. “I feel like I kind of owe it to the district,” she said.

On top of her time in the Legislature, Webb also has 25 years of experience working in the schools that now make up the Champlain Valley School District.

She worked as a special education case manager and speech language pathologist, primarily in Williston, with stops in Charlotte and Shelburne, until her retirement in 2013.

“I thought that perhaps my four years chairing the education committee in the Vermont House, as well as my 25 years working in the district might be helpful as we navigate some of these challenges,” she said.

If the fast-tracked law, titled H.850, gets passed into law, the district would likely end up having a higher tax rate than the original 18 percent that was first proposed.

But officials say it remains difficult to pinpoint what the exact tax rate would be because, if H.850 passes and school districts are allowed re-warn their budgets, district officials won’t know what the final yield will be.

According to Metzler, the finance committee has recommended staying the course with a Town Meeting Day vote, and keeping the current budget as is, but that will have to be approved by the school board at their meeting Tuesday night held after press deadline.

For Webb, the question for the district is what sort of effects their financial decisions will have on students’ education.

“What is the impact of reducing support for children? What are the long-term implications of that? What are some of the shortterm implications of our funding challenges? How can we address those funding challenges over the next five years, which needs to happen and really needs to happen at the level of the state,” Webb said. “I would hope that I would be working with, and be in contact with, some of my colleagues in the state to help answer some of those questions.”

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The Citizen • February 22, 2024 • Page 3

Hinesburg Police Blotter: Feb. 13-18 Total incidents: 57 Arrests: 5 Feb. 13 at 9:53 a.m., an officer assisted a motorist whose vehicle had broken down on Route 116.

Feb. 13 at 6:21 p.m., officers responded to a report of suspicious activity on Richmond Road.

Feb. 14 at 6:47 a.m., an officer responded to a single car motor vehicle crash on CVU Road.

Feb. 14 at 10:18 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity on Ballard’s Corner Road.

Feb. 15 at 8:07 a.m., officers assisted the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department with serving an eviction notice on Hillview Terrace. During that process, Justin Perkins, 39, of Hinesburg, was arrested on a warrant and charged with violation of conditions of release.

Feb. 15 at 11:18 a.m., police investigated vandalism to a property on North Road.

Feb. 15 at 5:07 p.m., officers assisted Shelburne Police Department with executing a search warrant on a residence on Hillview Terrace.

Feb. 15 at 7:50 p.m., officers responded to the report of suspicious activity on Hillview Terrace. Justin Perkins, 39, of Hinesburg, was arrested for criminal trespass and violation of conditions of release. Jessica Cross, 36, of Hinesburg, was cited for criminal trespass.

Sabina Parent, 48 of Hinesburg, was cited for criminal trespass.

Feb. 15 at 9:15 p.m., police investigated a noise complaint on Pond Brook Road.

Feb. 16 at 12:18 a.m., officers responded to Commerce Street for an intoxicated male involved in a dispute.

Feb. 16 at 9:53 a.m., an officer responded to a single-car crash on Pond Road.

Feb. 16 at 1:15 p.m., an officer responded to a two-car crash in the parking lot of Lantman’s Market.

Feb. 16 at 3:35 p.m., an officer responded to a two-car crash on Walts Way. Feb. 16 at 3:52 p.m., an officer responded to a single-car crash on Sherman Hollow Road.

Feb. 16 at 5:15 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity reported on Hillview Terrace.

Feb. 16 at 6:06 p.m., an officer investigated the report of a loose pup on Elderberry Lane.

Feb. 16 at 6:15 p.m., officers located a stolen car out of Franklin County on Hillview Terrace. Justin Perkins, 39, of Hinesburg, was arrested for criminal trespass, operation without owner’s consent, receiving stolen property, violation of conditions of release and false reports to law enforcement officers.

Feb. 17 at 4:35 p.m., police investigated a report of erratic operation by a motor vehicle on Route 116.

Feb. 18 at 9:34 a.m., officers responded See BLOTTER on page 11

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Page 4 • February 22, 2024 • The Citizen

OPINION Bill offers accountability, ensures wiser spending As policymakers, we need to know how well this system is working. Are Vermonters Rep. Jessica Brumsted getting the results they expect and deserve? How do we hold the Every year, the Legislature Legislature and our state governconvenes for five months at the ment accountable while giving Statehouse in Montpelier. Our our hard-working state employees committees take detailed testithe tools and resources they need? mony, debate and revise bills and The Legislature has bring them to the floor many oversight tools. for a vote.

First, all new adminDuring any given istrative rules, which session, perhaps 100 lay out exactly how bills win final House a program or policy and Senate passage and is going to work, are are signed into law by developed by a public the governor. These process and reviewed range from tiny techniby a joint House-Sencal corrections — updatate committee before ing an errant phrase in Rep. Jessica Brumsted implementation.

Vermont statute — to Second, we request the “Big Bill,” which and review many studappropriates more than $8 billion in state spending for the ies, reports and updates. Finally, public testimony — asking hard coming fiscal year. questions and getting honest Once a bill becomes law, in many ways, the Legislature passes answers — is the heart of our the baton to the executive branch. daily committee work.

But it’s an imperfect system, Across dozens of state agencies and one the Legislature continualand partner organizations, the ly seeks to improve. statutes are enacted, the rules and Act 53, signed into law in June regulations are written, the poli2023, established a Joint Commitcies and programs are developed, tee on Government Accountabiland the dollars are spent.

From the House

The Citizen Serving the community of Charlotte & Hinesburg A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC thecitizenvt.com Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com (802) 985-3091 x12

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ity. In December, our final report offered a series of common-sense recommendations that will allow legislators and the public to keep closer track of what happens after a law is passed. The House and Senate are working together to enact those recommendations in 2024.

The bill (H.702) would establish a more systematic approach to government accountability, reducing the Legislature’s reliance on institutional knowledge, individual legislators and individ-

ual committees.

Several of the report recommendations focus on process.

We need to set up checklists and timelines to ensure all key legislative reports and deadlines are met and are easily accessible to the Legislature and the public.

We need to ensure that committee members (and staff) formally review past legislation, legislative reports and relevant data before enacting new legislation. We need a more systematic way to review the previous year’s budget

data — across multiple committees — and historical budget data, too. Have the funds been spent as intended? If not, why not?

We’re also interested in requiring a performance note for all legislation that’s a priority or costs more than a threshold dollar amount. This document would include a clear statement of legislative intent, overall goals and anticipated change; data that See BRUMSTED on page 6

Evans announces bid for re-election Political Notebook Rep. Chea Waters Evans I’m almost halfway through my second year in my first term as state representative from Charlotte and part of Hinesburg. My district is officially called Chittenden-5, but unofficially, it’s just called home.

I’ve learned so much already, and I hope I’ve done a few things to improve our lives and our communities, and I’d love the opportunity to continue.

This is my official announcement that I’m running again this year. I know things are challenging right now — yes, the property taxes, I know, it’s awful — for many people and my hope is that I can keep trying to ease some burdens on the people in Charlotte and Hinesburg but also on all Vermonters.

I’m delighted to run into you all at the grocery store, a cocktail party, the lacrosse field and even the orthodontist’s office, and know that you feel comfortable enough to tell me how you feel about

issues or to ask me questions about the many topics that are of concern to you and your families.

I truly do love it, although my kids get impatient with my constant chatting, which has always been an issue but is now Olympic level. I am also so grateful that you trusted me with this important job. I’m going to continue to work as hard as I can to keep that trust, or earn it, or earn it back, as the case may be.

It’s been a true honor to represent you all, and I’d much appreciate your support again this biennium.

The Citizen • February 22, 2024 • Page 5

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Page 6 • February 22, 2024 • The Citizen

Stepping up

Letters to the Editor Stop trying children as adults in court

COURTESY PHOTOS

Students from Williston Central School and Hinesburg Community School joined over 160 youth Vermonters in The Annual OVX/VKAT (Our Voices Exposed/Vermont Kids Against Tobacco) Youth Statehouse Rally in Montpelier on Feb. 13. The event provides youth from around the state a platform to educate and inform key decision-makers and fellow Vermonters about tobacco and nicotine-related issues, as seen and experienced firsthand. Specifically, their call to action was in support of S.18 — Vermont’s bill to ban flavored tobacco products. Students shared their stories on the Statehouse steps, spoke to legislators caucusing on the floor, and generally had an unmissable presence in the Statehouse all morning, supported by Champlain Valley School District’s Connecting Youth mentoring program.

To the Editor: In Vermont, children can be charged as adults. In fact, minors as young as 14 must be prosecuted in criminal court if they are accused of committing one of the egregious offenses current legislation designates as “The Big 12.”

Violent crimes cause devastating grief and warrant serious consequences. The inclination to demand harsh punishment in their wake is defensible, but punitive interpretations of justice give me pause, especially when they impact minors.

I am a middle school teacher, so I spend my days surrounded by adolescents; they are not adults. I care deeply about my students, and I know they struggle with self-regulation. Contemporary psychologists maintain that “risk taking peaks during adolescence … at a time when a still immature cognitive control system is not yet strong enough to consistently restrain potentially hazardous impulses.”

If adults make decisions aided by a mature cognitive control system and young people cannot, are they equally responsible for their choices?

For years, public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson has been calling attention to problematic contradictions in the legal system. We do not allow children to smoke, drink, vote or drive without

restrictions because of their well-recognized lack of maturity and judgment. So why are we treating them like full grown adults in courtrooms?

Our culture has conditioned us to act with a sense of urgency, especially when the stakes are high. Social issues are bearing down on our state and serious crimes are being committed too frequently. We fear a society bereft of accountability.

We don’t have to prosecute children as adults to hold them accountable. The family division of Vermont Superior Court exists for a reason. It ought to maintain exclusive jurisdiction over delinquency proceedings involving individuals who have not yet reached the age of 18.

This would afford juvenile offenders private proceedings and a better chance at rehabilitation. It would not excuse them from consequences.

I do not believe Vermont will be safer if we continue to subject children to adult criminal hearings and sentences.

Furthermore, I feel morally obligated to suggest that continuing this practice will disproportionately harm some of the most disenfranchised, vulnerable members of the population.

If any of the concerns raised in this piece resonate with you, I encourage you to express your perspective to your local legislators.

Cara Gallagher Hinesburg

BRUMSTED continued from page 4

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needs to be collected to measure results; and an estimate of anticipated savings, return on investment or quantifiable benefit resulting from adoption of the legislation.

On top of this, we would like to provide training for all members of the General Assembly on the importance of government accountability, how to use data to inform decisions and measure outcomes, and how to embed this work into all legislation. We also hope to establish a dedicated Joint Government Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Among other duties, the committee would investigate cases of significant oversight failure — like juvenile justice or the EB-5 scandal — and make recommendations about how the state could avoid such serious problems in the future.

By way of example: In 2023, the Legislature passed Act 76, a landmark bill that invests significant additional funding into Vermont’s long-struggling child care system. The act takes effect in stages, with the first investments in July and September 2023, more funds rolling out to providers this month, and expanded financial assistance for families in April and October 2024.

The new law tasks Building Bright Futures, the state’s early childhood public-private partnership and official legislative and administrative early childhood adviser, with tracking outcomes of Act 76.

In just the first few months, 202 new child care slots opened across four

programs alone — a sample size of what’s happening across the state. In the five programs surveyed, all five are increasing compensation for early childhood educators.

In the months and years to come, Building Bright Futures will continue to track hard, quantifiable data — the result of accountability measures that were built into Act 76 and will be used to inform future child care policy in the Legislature.

While this kind of data-gathering and check-back is hardly new to the Legislature, we’re interested in making sure it’s embedded into all our work — every day, every committee and in every important bill. We need to systematically review past legislation and ensure it’s working the way Vermonters need it to work. We need to use that information to generate new ideas.

We need to infuse oversight and accountability into our citizen’s Legislature, so we can say with assurance that the laws we pass in the Statehouse are being rolled out effectively by the executive branch, that your tax dollars are being spent wisely and that your state government is working — for you.

Rep. Jessica Brumsted of Shelburne is vice chair of the House Committee on Human Services and co-chaired the Summer Government Accountability Committee. The committee’s final report was delivered to the Legislature on Dec. 13, 2023, and is posted at legislature. vermont.gov.

The Citizen • February 22, 2024 • Page 7

Property taxes are going up, and here’s what I know confusing and egregious this year because we know they’re going to increase but we don’t Rep. Chea Waters Evans know by how much.

First, an important note: We By the time you’re reading recently lost two pillars of our this, there will have been several community, and it’s days of legislation, a heartbreak for their and H.850, which gets families and a true loss rid of the 5 percent for all of us, not just on cap and offers instead a personal level, but as a cents discount to a town. school districts, will Peter Trono called be working its way through the Senate. me to task several Our discount will be times over various 17 cents per dollar issues, and was always on every $100,000 kind, respectful, curious and fun to talk to. I Rep. Chea Waters Evans of property value, based on the 17 valued his opinion and will keep it in the back percent disadvantage of my mind always as I move we received when new pupil forward as a legislator. weights were configured.

Louise McCarren was funny But we don’t know yet what and warm, and her intellect and our percentage will be. At this wisdom were evident even when point, there will also have been she was being her quirky self. I a school board meeting and will miss her and our talks very a Champlain Valley School much; she was generous with her District community forum. It’s possible that the school district advice, and I felt lucky to be a will rework and then rewarn the recipient. We were so lucky to have her looking out for us, as budget so we can vote on it in she always did for so many.

April, but that’s up to the school board. I strongly encourage the Now, property taxes. school board to take a crack I had a community conversation hour at the library on at reconfiguring the budget so Monday. These are usually we can save some money and pretty affable gatherings with a avoid a budget failure and all the few folks in the room who care complications that go along with about a specific cause or want that. to know more about a particuThere are layers of fixes in lar bill. I wasn’t surprised that the works. Some are Band-Aids Monday was all about property that will help in the short-term, taxes, and that people are angry like the cents discount and whatand frustrated. You should be. ever quick-fix revenue streams There are a lot of things the Legislature can come up wrong with how this is going with in this session and in 2025. down. First and foremost, the fact that it took most legislators by surprise is upsetting. I do my homework, I keep up with my emails, I communicate regularly with my colleagues about what’s happening around here, and I was still caught off-guard.

I think it has to do partially with people truly not anticipating this perfect storm of catastrophic financial situations that all caught up with us at the same time. At the risk of getting myself into a little hot water, I also believe it involves a lack of communication from and between the governor and General Assembly leadership.

Our property taxes are going up. It’s inevitable. That’s about as much as I know right now, though, because we don’t know the tax rate yet and won’t until it’s set by the state after all the school budget figures come in.

This is business as usual, but unfortunately seems especially

From the House

Longer-term fixes are critical, however. This can look like school consolidation in more rural districts or cutting staff and programs from our schools across the state or creating a statewide school district to remove many administrative and operating costs. It’s hard to know where this all will lead or what the solutions will be, but I do know it’s going to take a combination of remedies, some faster than others.

I want to be clear about a few things: first, I hear all of you. I get it. I’m not saying in any way that you shouldn’t feel upset about the situation; it’s stressful and upsetting. I truly don’t want your taxes to go up this much. I don’t want my own taxes to go up this much, either. I also don’t hear people in Montpelier who think this isn’t a big deal, or who think we’re just going to have to deal with it. We are going through all the options.

I also want to stress the importance of our schools.

Public schools are the backbone of our community. Many years ago, we made a collective decision as Vermonters to support educating all children across the state as best we can to help them all thrive.

If you have questions or concerns: 917-887-8231 to call or text; cevans@leg.state.vt.us if you’d like to email.

Chea Waters Evans, a Democrat, represents Charlotte and Hinesburg in the Chittenden-5 House district.

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Page 8 • February 22, 2024 • The Citizen

COMMUNITY Community Notes Pulitzer finalist speaks at Shelburne library March 1 Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Time’s bestselling author Daniel Mason will speak at the town hall at the Pierson Library on Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m., to discuss his novel “North Woods.”

Elizabeth Bluemle will join him in conversation and copies of his books will be available for sale.

Pie for Breakfast: It’s that time of year again The Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary club will host Pie for Breakfast on Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m.-noon.

The annual all you can eat event will once again be held at Shelburne Community School.

Do some winter birding at Ethan Allen Homestead Join the members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society for some winter birding in the fields and forests of the Winooski River

Va-et-Vient

floodplain at the Ethan Allen Homestead on Saturday, Feb. 24, 8-10 a.m.

Starting out from the parking area near the museum, the group will head out on surrounding trails in search of a variety of avian species. The outing will cover less than two miles over mostly flat terrain. Participants should dress for whatever conditions the day brings. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants.

To register, go to bit.ly/4bK7foI.

Winona Smith Scholarship opportunities now open The League of Women Voters of Vermont Education Fund is now accepting applications for its Winona Smith Scholarship program.

Created in 1998 to honor the legacy of league leader Winona Smith, the scholarship is awarded annually to local high school seniors who embody the characteristics and qualities Smith displayed

COURTESY PHOTO

Community Concerts at First, 39 Main St., Essex Junction, presents Va-et-Vient, an all-female Addison County trio that celebrates the many colors found in music from several French cultures on Sunday, March 10, 3-5 p.m. These musicians will take you through the centuries from France to Québec and New Orleans with lively dance numbers, touching love songs, kickin’ Cajun and Créole tunes, and rollicking Québecois favorites. The group includes Carol Reed (voice, guitar and mandolin), Suzanne Germain (voice and percussion), and Lausanne Allen (voice, fiddles, flute, penny whistles, harmonica and mandolins). Suggested donation is $20. More at fccej.org.

of civic participation and community service.

Three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, scholastic achievement and are highly recommended by their teacher.

Applications, due on May 1, can be completed online at lwvofvt. org. Students need to submit two 500-word essays, one concerning voting rights and the other on the impact of a recent civic, national or world event. A letter of recom-

mendation from a teacher is also required (bit.ly/lwvteacherrec).

The scholarship can be applied toward education in an accredSee COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

It’s Summer Summer Camp Camps Sign-Up 2024 GUIDE Time!

Promote your program in our Summer Camps guide for targeted exposure to a local audience of kids and parents as they make plans for the upcoming summer season. This advertising section is a go-to guide for summer camp and recreation seekers, making it the ideal place to outline your offerings and secure more early enrollments.

Publication Dates: March 7, April 4 Deadlines: February 29, March 28 Contact: Stowe Reporter/News & Citizen at 802-253-2101, Shelburne News/The Citizen at 802-985-3091 or The Other Paper at 802-864-6670 for information or to advertise your camp (ask about multi-paper, half-price color and Burlington Area Newspaper Group deals).

To learn more or reserve your space, talk to us today!

STOWE REPORTER NEWS&CITIZEN

The Citizen • February 22, 2024 • Page 9

COMMUNITY NOTES continued from page 8 ited vocational-technical or trade school and two- or four-year college or university.

Scholarship recipients will be announced June 1.

Last year, Winona Smith scholarships were awarded to students from Thetford Academy, and Windsor, Otter Valley Union and Middlebury Union high schools.

Questions can be directed to Becky Miller, lwvofvt.edfund@gmail.com.

Grab and go meal in Shelburne, March 12 Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are teaming up to provide a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, March 12.

Meals will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon and are available for anyone 60 or older. Suggested donation is $5.

The menu is beef round, boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots in beef stock, wheat roll and butter, leprechaun cake with frosting and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107.

Deadline to order is Wednesday, March 6. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

If you haven’t yet filled out a congregate meal registration form, bring a completed registration form with you or send one to: Age Well; 875 Roosevelt Highway, Ste. 210, Colchester VT 05446. Forms will be available at meal pick up.

Learn about restaurant tickets to dine at participating restaurants at agewellvt.org.

Interfaith Projects grant applications now available The spring deadline for Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg Interfaith Projects grant applications is Friday, March 15.

Since SCHIP began making grants, many nonprofits have used their awarded funds to continue their mission to improve the lives of their neighbors and strengthen their communities. Grants range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

In addition to the standard grant process — up to $3,000 — the group has added a major grant category, to fund the necessary seed money to be used for future self-sustaining projects. Grants funded in this category can range up to $15,000.

Applicants must be a 501c(3) or submit the application through such an organization; serve residents of Shelburne, Charlotte or Hinesburg; and the funds cannot be used for annual operating budgets or permanent staffing.

Major grants also require a detailed business plan. For an application, go to schipstreasure.org.

Shelburne church hosts blood drive in March Make a “paws-itive impact” and give the lifesaving gift of blood at the Shelburne

Student Milestones Sophia Kehr of Charlotte was named to Hartwick College’s fall 2023 dean’s list.

Kehr, who is pursuing a major in psychology.

Cole Boffa of Charlotte has been named to the dean’s list at James Madison University for the fall 2023 semester. Boffa is majoring in industrial design.

Seton Hall University announced Olivia St. Peter of Hinesburg has qualified for the fall 2023 dean’s list.

Hailey Palmer of Charlotte has been named to the University of Delaware dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

Elizabeth Breen of Charlotte was named to College of the Holy Cross’ fall 2023 dean’s list.

Zachary J. Santos of Charlotte received dean’s list honors for the fall 2023 semester at Fairfield University.

The following students at the Community College of Vermont were named to the fall 2023 student honors list: Charlotte, Marissa Green and Malcolm Ziter; and Hinesburg, Emily Heywood, Hannah Terrien and Caitlin Vamvas.

Madison Kittell of Hinesburg was named to the fall 2023 president’s list at Community College of Vermont.

The following students at the Community College of Vermont were named to the fall 2023 dean’s list: Charlotte, Charles Sprigg; and Hinesburg, Eliza Stearns.

The following Vermont State University students were named to the fall 2023 president’s list: Charlotte, James Anair and Wesley Simard; and Hinesburg, Isabelle Hopkins.

The following Vermont State University students from Charlotte were named to the fall 2023 dean’s list: Jacob Russell and Janet Smith.

Mary Titus of Hinesburg graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Castleton University in May. Caitlin Vamvas of Hinesburg was named to the summer 2023 student honors list at Community College of Vermont.

Madeline Baker and Samantha Haviland, both of Hinesburg, were named to the fall 2023 president’s list at Southern New Hampshire University.

Max Opton of Hinesburg, a junior at Montana State University, made the dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester. He’s majoring in environmental science.

Ethan Provost of Hinesburg was named to president’s list at Plymouth State University for the fall 2023 semester. Provost is an exercise and sport physiology major.

Jakob Holm of Charlotte made the fall 2023 dean’s list at the University of Wisconsin-Madion. He’s in the College of Agricultural and Life Science.

Skylar Avery Francis of Hinesburg has been named to Clarkson University’s dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

Graham Coates-Farley of Hinesburg has been named a presidential scholar at Clarkson University for the fall 2023 semester.

Deona Proulx of Hinesburg has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s fall 2023 dean’s list.

community blood drive sponsored by St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

Much like pets provide comfort and support, so does the Red Cross in our community.

Get a $10 e-gift card to a pet supply merchant of choice when you come to give blood in March. Plus, donors will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 gift card to use as a treat for themselves or a trusted companion. There will be five lucky winners nationally.

The drive will be held Tuesday, March 19, from noon-5 p.m. in the church parish hall, 72 Church St., Shelburne.

Appointments are strongly recommended as walk-ins cannot always be accommodated. To give, call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Contact Laureen Mathon with questions at lmathon104@gmail.com.

Be a pest detector; free training offered Early detection of the emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid and other invasive

forest pests will help minimize economic and ecological damage to Vermont’s forests.

The Vermont Urban and Community Forestry program is offering a free, selfpaced, four-week online course for outdoor enthusiasts, trail managers and others who spend time in the woods who are interested in becoming a Vermont forest pest first detector. The course runs from March 16 to April 13, although participants will have access to class materials until year’s end.

The deadline to register is March 13.

Course details and a link to registration can be found at vtcommunityforestry.org/pests.

Participants will learn how to identify and report invasive forest pests, determine management strategies and explore actions in their communities and on local trails.

The course will cover several different pests including hemlock wooly adelgid, Asian long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, jumping worms and oak wilt.

In addition to the eight self-study modules, three live Zoom sessions with See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 10

Page 10 • February 22, 2024 • The Citizen

Perfect perch

Paul Lamberson

Maggie Gordon

HINESBURG

continued from page 1 ended up filing petitions to run after learning that no one had stepped up to run to fill in for former selectboard member and current state House Rep. Phil Pouech.

But Lamberson, who previously served as a school board member and trustee on the Carpenter Carse Library, said he has learned much during his year on the selectboard and wants to continue that work.

“We’re so lucky to have a really skilled town manager and assistant town manager, great employees, great town staff, and certainly the colleagues on the board made it easy to step into the role,” he said.

“I definitely learned some things and want to contribute based on what I’ve learned.”

Both selectboard members say affordability, and balancing the costs of running the town against tax revenue, is of the highest importance.

Lamberson said he thinks Hinesburg “absolutely has an affordability crisis. One way to try to help deal with that is through more housing” he said, and to grow the tax base and town grand list.

“When I think of the good fortune that my wife and I had of buying in Hinesburg in 1995 — we would never be able to do that today,” he said. “It breaks my heart that there are countless people who can’t move into Hinesburg right now who by every means and every reason should be moving into Hinesburg and raising their families in this great community.”

Inflation, and a surging housing market in the post-pandemic years, have added immense pressure onto small towns that are reliant on the property tax. Hinesburg over the past several years has worked to keep its expenses level funded and to keep its tax rate as low as it can be amid this pressure.

“That’s the big question right?

Is how do we how do we maintain a sufficient level of services while keeping costs in check, and that’s really hard to do,” she said. “You see the costs for one plow truck or one police car and it’s pretty hefty.”

One way the town has looked to keep costs down is by sharing the cost of services. It has a

contract with Richmond Rescue to provide EMS services and has since the spring of last year had a contract to provide police services to the beleaguered Richmond police department.

That contract has drawn in quite a bit of revenue for the town and is expected to bring in $240,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2025.

Gordon says she thinks that agreement is “absolutely” a good thing, and if two towns successfully merge the two departments into one, it will “result in cost savings for both towns.”

“We’re at the very, very beginning” of that process, she said.

“But that is certainly a positive direction.”

Lamberson also says he’s a fan of the agreement for sharing police services, but added that “there’s always a concern of having police officers patrolling communities they don’t know or live in.”

“With any police department, their local scenarios on the ground, house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, it really helps if the officers know some back stories before they’re called in an emergency, especially with the with this era of substance use and abuse and mental health issues,” he said. “I want to make sure that those local relationships stay in place, regardless of who we partner with.”

To try and combat rising expenses, the town is hoping that new development in the village will bring in tax revenue and help shoulder the burden of paying for water and wastewater services.

More than 400 housing units are queued up for the area of town.

New development will certainly help in terms of increasing the number of folks who support the water and wastewater district, Gordon said. “But new development — it also comes with its costs, and I’m not convinced that new development will pay for itself.

There will be additional services, and that adds to the costs.”

“I think we need to be careful about just assuming that that new property taxes and new community members will help spread that cost because development always

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A northern cardinal poses for the camera.

comes with costs,” she said. “It rarely pays for itself.”

Concerns have also mounted over flooding potential in the village area. One development, Hinesburg Center II, is currently in limbo with the state’s Act 250 commission over these concerns.

Lamberson said he’s glad that that development is “getting a fresh set of eyes around stormwater management.”

“I think we’re in such a new

reality as far as our severity of our storms,” he said. “If they can make it work, I’ll be right there supporting it. But I’m really glad it’s getting close scrutiny, because I’m not too sure that the assumptions that were used in the past are still current for today.”

Both candidates, in interviews with The Citizen, made a point to acknowledge the town’s employees. Amid workforce shortages in the public and private sectors,

the fact that Hinesburg has such a committed workforce says that “Hinesburg has got something figured out.”

“If you drive town by town hall any night of the week, you’re going to see the lights on there, and Hinesburg residents are meeting, and committees are meeting.

They’re the ones that do the, the bulk of the work,” Gordon said.

“That’s where the real work goes on.”

“3...2...1...Blast Off! Recyclable Rockets,” “Lift and Force: Paper-Plane Olympics; Biomimicry: Where Nature Inspires Invention,”; “Robo Dance Off: Robots Groove; Slime Defenders: The Power of Antibodies,” and “Digestive Power and Medicine Coating: Exploring Engineering and Anatomy.”

To register, go to go.uvm.edu/ stem6.

host Charlie Nardozzi, a nationally recognized writer, speaker and TV and radio personality.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens has been ranked as one of the best public gardens in the US. featuring diverse natural ecosystems, dramatic topography and innovative plantings. Some of the themed gardens include a Five-Senses Garden, children’s garden, rhododendron garden, a woodland meditation garden, kitchen garden and butterfly house.

The bus leaves from Burlington with stops for pick-up in Montpelier and White River Junction.

There will be a stop at the Moffatt-Ladd House in Portsmouth, N.H. On return, a stop at the 30-acre Bedrock Gardens in Lee, N.H., the private garden of sculptor and horticulturist Jill Nooney and her husband, Bob Munger.

To find out more information go to vermontfgcv.com.

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 9

professionals will delve into some topics in depth including beech leaf disease and forest health and methods to treat ash trees on trails for the emerald ash borer.

Showcase explores range of STEM topics STEM Showcase 6.0, presented by University of Vermont STEM Ambassadors, offers a fun, hands-on learning opportunity for students in grades three to nine interested in exploring science, technology and engineering.

The March 23 event will be held on the UVM campus in Burlington from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Although free, registration is required as space is limited. Registrations will be accepted until March 20, or until the showcase is filled.

Students may sign up for two workshops, which include

Federated Garden Clubs host trip to Maine garden In the quest to offer scholarships to college students and place a Blue Star Memorial Marker in the northwest part of Vermont, Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont is hosting a Coastal Main Botanical Garden adventure on June 24-26.

Take a two-day coach trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine, with

The Citizen • February 22, 2024 • Page 11

SPORTS Maple Sugar Bowl announces rosters

COURTESY PHOTO

An early photo of Kevin LePage of Shelburne from the Thunder Road Milk Bowl.

Vermont Sports Hall of Fame announces 2024 inductees Champions of racetracks and Nordic trails, record-setters in football and the links, top scorers from hoops, ice hockey and soccer, an award-winning broadcaster, the hall’s first lacrosse player and three legendary high school coaches make up the 12 newest inductees of the 2024 Vermont Sports Hall of Fame.

The inductees are record-setting football and track athlete, David Ball of Barre and Orange; five-time Vermont Men’s Amateur golf champion Shawn Baker of Brattleboro; state and national champion Nordic skier Andrew Johnson of Greensboro, a two-time Olympian; high school and collegiate ice hockey standout

Jim Larkin of Wallingford, also a member of the U.S. Junior National Team; auto racing champion Kevin Lepage of Shelburne, who competed at NASCAR’s highest level; a women’s soccer star who was all-state in high school and all-region in college, Kristi (Lefebvre) Huizenga of Colchester; Division I women’s lacrosse All-American Alyssa Trudel of Shoreham; Dr. Kim Silloway of St. Johnsbury, a hoops star in the state and then in the Atlantic Coast Conference; and legendary high school coaches Gail Jette of Middlebury, Donald Maley Sr. of Burlington and Brattleboro’s Andy Natowich.

Award-winning sports broad-

casting veteran George Commo of Burlington is this year’s Mal Boright Media Inductee.

The class will be formally inducted at the 2024 Vermont Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Celebration at the Delta Marriott Burlington Hotel on Williston Road in South Burlington on Saturday, April 27. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and the induction ceremony follows dinner at 6:30 p.m.

More information can be found at vermontsportshall.com.

Proceeds from the event go to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. Past dinners and other fundraisers have raised over $33,000 to support the group’s work statewide.

The stage is set for the 71st Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

The two Shrine teams representing the finest high school football talent of New Hampshire and Vermont have been announced and include several players from Champlain Valley Union High School.

This summer’s classic is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 3, in Dave Wolk Stadium at Vermont State University in Castleton, with kickoff at 11:30 a.m.

More than 200 graduating high school seniors from both states were nominated by their head coaches. In each state, screening committees led by the Shrine head coaches selected their respective teams.

Twenty-five schools are represented on the New Hampshire team and 21 on the Vermont team.

Players from Champlain Valley

include Oliver Cheer, 6 foot, 175 pounds, quarterback, Williston; Jacob Bose, 6 foot, 185 pounds, running back/linebacker, Williston; Connor Simons, 6 foot, 290 pounds, offensive line/defensive back, Shelburne; Brian Rutherford, 6 foot, 185 pounds, wide receiver, Williston; and William Kearney, 6-foot, 1 inch, 245 pounds, defensive lineman/offensive line, Shelburne.

The two teams will meet with coaches in March to review game plans. Both teams will report to Castleton University July 28 to begin formal practice.

The Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl is played for the benefit of the Shriners Children’s facilities and has raised millions of dollars.

This twin-state game is sponsored by the two Shrine Centers of Vermont, Cairo (Rutland) and Mt. Sinai (Montpelier).

BLOTTER continued from page 3 to a medical emergency on Burritt Road. A death investigation resulted. Bridget Thompson, 55, of Hinesburg, was pronounced dead at the scene of suspected natural causes.

Feb. 18 at 2:24 p.m., found property was turned into the police department. The owner was later located.

Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m., officers responded to a single-car crash on Charlotte Road.

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Say you saw it in The Citizen!

Page 12 • February 22, 2024 • The Citizen

WARNING TOWN OF CHARLOTTE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING 2024 The legal voters of the Town of Charlotte are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Charlotte Town Hall, located at 159 Ferry Road in said Town, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 to vote by Australian ballot to begin at seven o’clock in the forenoon (7:00 A.M.) and to close at seven o’clock in the afternoon (7:00 P.M.).

The legal voters of the Town of Charlotte are further notified and warned that a public informational hearing to explain and discuss the Australian ballot articles set forth below will be held on Monday, February 26, 2024, at the Charlotte Town Hall, located at 159 Ferry Road in the Town, beginning at six thirty o’clock in the afternoon (6:30 P.M.). The public may attend the informational hearing in person or on Zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84047650499?pwd=bDVMOXhFUEJrUzZvNTlVZmdmc1I2dz09 FILE PHOTO

Meeting ID: 840 4765 0499 Passcode: 798972

Louise McCarren

ARTICLES TO BE VOTED BY AUSTRALIAN BALLOT

MCCARREN continued from page 1

Article 1: Shall the voters authorize the payment of property taxes, with the payment due on or before Friday, November 15, 2024, and to have payments made to the Town Treasurer as provided in 32 VSA § 4773(b)?

Article 2: Shall the voters approve total fund expenditures, as set forth in the Selectboard’s budget, of $3,252,147 for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, of which an anticipated sum of $1,540,380 will be raised by property taxes and an anticipated sum of $1,711,767 will be raised by non-tax revenues?

Article 3: Will the voters of the Town approve an allocation of $989,087 to Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services, Inc. for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, to be raised by property taxes?

Article 4: To elect Town Officials.

Article 5: To elect Champlain Valley School District Officials.

Article 6: Shall the voters authorize the Town to submit to the General Assembly of the State of Vermont a proposal to adopt a municipal charter which contains the following sections: Section 1: Corporate Existence Section 2: General Provisions Section 3: Town Manager/Road Commissioner Section 4: Separability Section 5: Amendment Section 6: Effective Date The official copy of the Charter proposal, in its entirety, is on file and available for public inspection at the Charlotte Town Clerk’s Office, 159 Ferry Road in said Town, during regular office hours, MondayFriday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Copies thereof are available to members of the public upon request.

Article 7: Shall the voters authorize the Town to issue general obligation bonds or notes in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars and 00/100 ($365,000.00) to purchase a new ambulance to be financed over a period not to exceed 10 years?

Dated this ___ day of January, 2024 at Charlotte, Vermont.

Town of Charlotte Selectboard

After working as a lawyer, she ran a New England energy project that focused on helping low-income people deal with fuel costs. McCarren later worked for Chittenden Bank, returned to private practice, ran for lieutenant governor in 1990, and even found the time to teach a business law class for the University of Vermont MBA program.

“I will just say that when you read back on her resume and think of the time when she grew up, especially as a woman, she really did accomplish many, many amazing things,” board member Kelly Devine said.

Although her intelligence and experience made her an irreplaceable asset to town government, residents remember her most for the almost unbelievable stories she had about her adventurous life.

The chair of the development review board, Charlie Russell, who’s been a resident of Charlotte since 1995, remembered one humorous encounter with McCarren a few years ago when he was walking the neighborhood sporting a Bernie Sanders shirt. McCarren told him about an encounter she had with Sanders during election night for the mayoral race of 1981.

“It was a very close race and (Sanders) ran against the Democratic machine and was worried that something funny might go on after the polls closed, and so he came down to Charlotte to Ed’s (McCarren’s husband) house after the polls closed that night to get the vote certified. And guess what Louise did. She cooked him popovers,” he said, as the town hall erupted in laughter. “I think she could get credit for supplying the new very successful mayor of Burlington with his first meal.”

Other residents, like Peter Joslin, a former planning commission member, remembered McCarren for her quick wit and ability to find humor in any situation, like the time he was on the hunt for some

help removing a nest of red squirrels from his yard.

McCarren offered him a few traps she had lying around and sent him an email saying, “I will be here in the morning. I’ll put the traps on the porch. Release them in the yard of someone you don’t like.”

On top of spending her time volunteering with Charlotte’s senior center, food shelf and on the selectboard, McCarren had a special spot in her heart for the kids of Charlotte. Selectboard member Lewis Mudge explained that to his kids, McCarren was known as the “animal cracker lady.”

“My wife traveled a lot and Louise always made sure that boxes of animal crackers were dropped at our house whenever my wife was away,” he said. “They kind of got used to seeing her car and saying, “Louise is here!’”

Rep. Chea Waters Evans said that while she began this week working on a House resolution to honor McCarren, she remembered an interaction her own kids had with her a few years ago.

“I was talking about Louise with my kids the other day and my youngest said, “Is that the lady who gave me $10 to shovel off the tennis courts because it was all snowy?’ I said, ‘Yes, it was.’”

“And he said, ‘You know, the best part of that is she didn’t really make me shovel,’” she said.

More than anything, residents remembered McCarren as a woman who understood on a deep level what it meant to champion the special community found in Charlotte. Faulkner said that a morning never went by where he didn’t receive a call from McCarren at 7 in the morning asking, “What can I do for you today? What do you need to have done?”

“Louise will be missed, and her strong welcoming support of others will be remembered for years to come,” Lane Morrison, who has known McCarren since 1970, said.

The Citizen • February 22, 2024 • Page 13

Bill would create superfund for natural disaster recovery over that time, and then ask the company to pay for a matching percentage.

So, if a company contributed Legislators are discussing a bill that would require large companies 10 percent of the total emissions to pay for environmental harm they calculated under the bill, it would caused by fossil fuel emissions. be asked to give the superfund an That money would make up what amount equaling 10 percent of the lawmakers are calling a climate costs to Vermont.

The fund would be managed superfund to help pay for natural by the Vermont Agency of Natudisaster recovery in Vermont.

It has become obvious to most ral Resources, which would use a Vermonters, said Sen. Kesha Ram federal Environmental Protection Hinsdale, one of the sponsors of the Agency tool to calculate emisbill, S.259, that fossil fuel compa- sions.

Vermont has nies continued suffered from to push for the “For just our program, 19 climate-reuse of their lated disasters energy prodwe’re looking at over since 2017, said ucts well after Miller, costing they knew the $10 million just to help Ve r m o n t e r s damage that it significantly. would cause to landowners.”

One examthe climate and ple is the catatried to bury — Bob Thompson, strophic floodthe research for ing Vermont as long as they state conservation engineer, faced last year, could. forcing resi“You make a U.S. Department of dents out of mess, you clean homes and it up,” Johanna Agriculture in Vermont their costing them Miller, energy and climate program director for thousands in damages.

“This is going to impact our the Vermont Natural Resources Council, said. “This is all about health, our tourism, our scenic ensuring that the largest fossil beauty, not to mention our homes fuel companies — who have long and overall economy,” Ram Hinsknown for decades the harm they dale said.

Those costs extend to recovery caused — are held accountable.”

The bill, which has 20 sponsors efforts by government groups.

“For just our program, we’re in the Senate Committee on Judiciary, would trigger an assessment looking at over $10 million just to of the greenhouse gas emissions help landowners,” Bob Thompson, of companies engaged in fossil state conservation engineer for the fuel extraction or refinement from U.S. Department of Agriculture in Jan. 1, 2000, to Dec, 31, 2019. Any Vermont, said.

The bill would put into effect companies whose products were responsible for the release of more a master plan for the use of the than 1 billion metric tons of green- superfund, legislative counsel house gasses during those years Michael O’Grady said in a judiciary committee meeting Feb. 8. would be handed a fine.

The fund would pay for infraTo figure out each payment demand, the state would look structure projects “designed to at how much a given company avoid, moderate, repair or adapt contributed to greenhouse gas to negative impacts caused by emissions during that 20-year climate change and to assist period. The state would also deter- communities, households and mine the total cost to Vermont businesses in preparing for future disrupfrom fossil fuel industry emissions climate-change-driven

directory To advertise in the service directory email: Advertising@thecitizenvt.com or call 985-3091

Supporters hope the superfund would help landowners pay for their own recovery as well as climate restoration.

Stephanie Brackin, a spokesperson for the Agency of Natural Resources, said the agency will be

monitoring the bill as it evolves.

The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.

State eyes South Burlington for new state juvenile center COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

South Burlington is on a shortlist of cities and towns being eyed by the state for a new juvenile treatment facility, although the proposed locations of the facility remain under wraps.

Chris Winters, the commissioner of the Department for Children and Families, recently told lawmakers that the state was eying properties in South Burlington and Vergennes to build a new facility. Department employees have had several meetings with South Burlington officials, city manager Jessie Baker said, to discuss their exploration of a site in South Burlington.

The facility would house youths in the state’s justice system who have shown destructive behavior or are a risk to themselves or others.

“To date, our conversations have focused on our municipal capacity — primarily public safety and infrastructure capacity — to support among our most vulnerable young neighbors in South Burlington,” Baker said. “(Police chief Shawn Burke) and I believe we have this capacity.”

The Department for Children and Families’ request for proposal for developers of a facility closed on Feb. 9.

Nya Pike, the communications and operations manager with the department, said that the respons-

es to the request for proposal are es in the treatment of youth in under consideration, but that the custody. department is “unable to release Following the facility’s closure, further information about the sites the state has struggled to find beds being considered until one has for children in the system. The been selected and we are under state had plans to open a juvenile contract.” boys detention center in Newbury, The state’s previous facility, but that project faltered after the the Woodside Juvenile Rehabili- town’s development review board tation Center in said the town Essex, opened didn’t have the The facility would in 1986 and resources — housed children such as such house youths in the ages 10 to 17 but as police, fire state’s justice system and ambulance closed in October 2020 because response — to who have shown of a dwindling meet the facilinumber of young ty’s needs. destructive behavior people receivThe Vermont ing services.

Agency of or are a risk to The facility was Human Services, also the target of which oversees themselves or others. the Department federal lawsuits that alleged staff for Children and there used restraints against chil- Families, appealed that decision dren being held at a facility and to Superior Court and, later, to used isolation techniques and the state’s Supreme Court, which excessive force. in December gave the project the The state ended up paying $4.5 green light. million to settle a lawsuit filed The Supreme Court ruling by seven youths who were previ- allows the state to build a faciliously held in the facility. They ty there, but, according to earlier had claimed that staff there used reporting, officials with the departexcessive force, cruel and unusu- ment have said they are continual punishment, and retaliation ing to explore other options and against those who reported abuse, are aiming to move away from a according to previous reporting. central facility to having multiple An earlier lawsuit, filed by options.

Disability Rights Vermont, chalFour potential sites would lenged the use of restraints at the provide 27 beds under a state plan. facility. The state, in an April 2020 The facilities would be run by settlement, agreed to make chang- private contractors.

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Page 14 • February 22, 2024 • The Citizen

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