The Citizen - 4-18-24

School budget passes on second try

COREY

Voters in the Champlain Valley Tuesday approved by 1,400 votes the school district’s second go at a school budget for next year. The $101.8 million budget passed 4,3582,947 by residents throughout member towns in the district, including Hinesburg, Shelburne, Charlotte and Williston. It brings a sigh of relief for administrators, school board members, teachers, faculty and students throughout the district’s five schools. Faced with a third go at passing a budget, cuts could have been steep, and officials estimated they would have had to

A stir over tree planting at recent Charlotte Selectboard meetings has left the town without a tree warden and two deputy tree wardens as all three resigned last week from their positions.

What began as an effort to plant trees along State Park Road has turned into a chaotic debacle over process, contracts and how exactly the funds used to plant trees should be doled out.

Typically, money used for trees planted on public lands comes from the Rutter Tree Fund,

which was set up in 2006 and now contains $32,000, $20,000 of which has come from a voter-approved spending for ash tree removal.

In November, a group spearheading the tree planting initiative asked the selectboard to approve up to $10,000 from the tree fund

to buy and plant nearly 50 trees along State Park Road.

After getting approval from the selectboard, Mark Dillenbeck, the town’s former appointed tree warden, entered a contract with the private property owner, Joshua Golek, since the trees were being planted on his property.

But when complaints began circulating in town about how the trees might obstruct views, the selectboard started to explore the process under which tree planting decisions are made — especially

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Ethics panel: no violation against Sen. Ram Hinsdale

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

An ethics complaint filed in February against Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale citing her husband’s work in real estate was dismissed by a five-member committee last week.

The committee, the Senate Panel on Ethics, operates in near secrecy, and members of the committee were unable to discuss the complaint. They found there was no conflict between Ram Hinsdale’s work on legislation and her husband’s work. Jacob Hinsdale operates Hinsdale Properties, which has a sizable portfolio of rental properties in Burlington and elsewhere.

Because the committee did not find probable cause that an ethical violation occurred, the chair of the panel, Sen. Brian Campion, wrote, the “report is closed and shall remain confidential.”

The 14 Vermont residents who signed on to the complaint say that Ram Hinsdale’s work crafting Act 47, or the HOME Act, directly benefits her and her husband financially. The law passed last year mandates that duplexes be permitted in lots with water and sewer service that are zoned as single-family.

Through this legislation, Ram Hinsdale “was advocating for what was really in the best interest of her family,” said John Bossange, one of the complainants who has pushed back against efforts to develop housing.

Her role on the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs should be scrutinized, he said.

“They have a vast array of holdings, and this is what they do. They break up homes, divide them like all those single-family homes on Loomis and Pearl streets

in Burlington, and they’re making a ton of money,” he said. “For us, that’s a clear violation of a code of ethics and that’s why we filed a complaint.”

Ram Hinsdale, in an interview, pushed back against their assertions, and said the Senate ethics panel declined to investigate further “because we all have ties to our communities — our civic organizations, schools, pensions, churches.”

“You could find a conflict of interest and try to exploit that with every single member of the Legislature,” she said.

But questions about the committee’s practice of confidentiality have run into concerns over whether there is enough transparency in the process of reviewing complaints and determining whether they merit investigation.

“We need to take this process seriously and give it its due time,” Ram Hinsdale said. “But if we made it a spectacle, if it was some kind of process where anyone could drag someone’s name through the mud in an open hearing, it would be used against us all the time.”

Meeting in secret

The 14 complainants — Bossange and Rosanne Greco in South Burlington, Bill Stuono and Wolfer Schneider in Charlotte, and several others in towns like Plainfield, South Hero and Winooski, for example — believe Ram Hinsdale has “a legal requirement and professional responsibility” to “address her conflicts of interest by removing herself from the Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee immediately.”

In an email exchange with Bossange prior to the complaints filing, Ram Hinsdale wrote that “someone would have to be both

mean spirited and quite poorly read to conclude a major conflict in my work” and said that “what you do for work, who you are married to, what kind of pension you receive, etc. would preclude everyone who serves.”

The group first submitted its complaint to the State Ethics Commission on Feb. 13, alleging Ram Hinsdale violated Vermont Senator Rule 71 that states “no Senator shall be permitted to vote upon any question in which he or she is directly or immediately interested.”

But after several weeks, the group on March 27 issued a press release calling attention to the complaint. Bossange shared the release, as well as correspondence with Ram Hinsdale and other documents, to several media outlets.

The complaint was forwarded to the Senate Ethics Committee on March 15 — both chambers of the Statehouse have their own panels for their members — and prior to the panel’s decision, senators said

they could not discuss the complaint or even confirm its existence.

“Ethics committee meetings are confidential so there is not a whole lot that I can share,” Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky said.

Sen. Randy Brockman, meanwhile, said that “members of the Senate Ethics Committee are constrained by Senate Rules from commenting on the committee’s activities.”

The panel’s chair, Brian Campion, did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Vermont’s framework over governmental ethics concerns is relatively new and is “actually quite behind,” Christina Sivret, executive director of the Vermont State Ethics Commission, said.

That commission, which functions independent of the Statehouse, was created after a report by the Center for Public Integrity ranked Vermont very low in its accountability processes. The state later created a code of ethics for Senate and House members in 2022.

The Senate Government Operations Committee is currently looking into legislation that would create a code of ethics for municipalities and expand the commission’s jurisdiction over municipalities.

The private nature of the process for reviewing complaints, officials say, is to protect the people submitting complaints — people who may have been sexually harassed, for example. But concerns have been raised over whether the existence of a complaint can be confirmed at all.

“The procedure says it’s all confidential so probably most of the senators would tell you they can’t speak about it because of the procedure,” John Bloomer, secretary of the Senate, said. “I don’t know whether that’s good, bad or indifferent. I mean, I’m just being honest with you on that.”

Currently, a complaint is only made public if the investigating committee opens an investigation after a preliminary review, or if the complainant goes public.

Bloomer says there is nothing barring complainants from going public or going to the press, and the state’s ethics commission puts out a yearly summary of how many complaints they’ve received, as well as how many inquiries to file a complaint they’ve received. None of those are tagged to individual senators, however.

“The idea is not to keep the public from knowing,” Bloomer said, “it’s to make sure that if those who are complaining don’t want it to be made public, it’s not made public by the panel or by the senators who are accused — as a weaponization if nothing else.”

That the existence of the complaints themselves are not made publicly available is of concern, Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, said.

“A more reasonable way forward would be for the commission to make public the existence of the complaint so, at the very least, we all know that a complaint has been filed against a particular legislator,” he said.

But, he noted, that keeping details of a complaint hidden until an investigation is determined necessary might be warranted “in that you don’t want members of the public to be filing meritless complaints against their legislators and abusing the process, which would certainly occur if all the details were revealed.”

Behind the legislation

In crafting Act 47, Ram Hinsdale said her goal was to facilitate infill development, and turn underutilized housing into more

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FILE PHOTO BY GORDON MILLER

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

HINSDALE

continued from page 2

efficient spaces that are more affordable for people.

Vacancy rates are stubbornly low and housing prices remain high. Part of the reason for this, experts have said, is the lack of supply in housing units.

“(The complainants) complain about cutting a single-family home into a duplex, or a quadruplex, but 70 percent of Vermonters live in a household of two people or less,” Ram Hinsdale said. “So, the best way to limit development and green space is actually to start looking at underutilized homes.”

The push to relax zoning regulations has been met with stiff resistance from those — like the complainants — concerned with the environmental impact of unchecked development.

The complainants, in their press release, cite the recent conversion of a single-family home in Charlotte in fall 2023 into a quadraplex as “a specific and relevant example of the Hinsdale family making a profit from what Act 47 now allows the family to do.”

Bossange said the ethics committee’s decision “missed the mark.” Perception and appearance of a conflict of interest, or the optics of it all, should be critical to the process.

“If Sen. Ram Hinsdale understood what this major conflict of interest would eventu-

ally do to her reputation and the reputations of her colleagues along with the public’s perception of the full senate, she would have wisely requested another assignment, recuse herself from the committee during these discussions, or follow the guidance given by the Vermont State Ethics Commission to clear her name,” Bossange wrote in a perspective for this week’s newspaper. “It’s now understood why she did not, and that dark shadow will follow her political career.” (See related, page 7)

Hinsdale says she has kept “a very open discussion with my community about the housing work I do. I try to keep that separate from my husband’s line of work, but we share a last name. People have still elected me knowing that.”

State legislators and officials have faced these sorts of criticisms previously, she said.

Gov. Phil Scott in 2017 owned a construction company that regularly bid on state transportation contract but sold a part of his stake in the company, while other legislators have recused themselves from certain votes to avoid appearances of a conflict when their partners’ work intersects with legislation.

But, in a citizen legislature, “if everyone did that, there would be no one left to vote,” Hinsdale said. “If everything was investigated because there’s the appearance of a conflict, we wouldn’t be able to function.”

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A cedar waxwing munches on last year’s crop of crabapples.

Total incidents: 43

April 9 at 1:08 p.m., police investigated illegal burning on Route 116.

April 9 at 1:35 p.m., an officer assisted Hinesburg Fire with a medical emergency on Hollow Road.

April 10 at 7:18 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity on Hollow Road.

April 11 at 6:08 p.m., officers investigated a report of suspicious circumstances on Route 116.

April 11 at 7:13 p.m., a parking issue was investigated on Route 116.

April 12 at 10:31 p.m., an officer assisted another agency with a death notification.

April 12 at 10:50 p.m., an officer assisted with a traffic hazard on Silver Street.

April 13 at 2:12 p.m., a loose pup was turned into police. The

owner was later located.

April 13 at 5:35 p.m., the theft of property at Kelley’s Field was reported and investigated.

April 14 at 11:05 a.m., police investigated a report of vandalism on Hillview Terrace.

April 14 at 11:15 a.m., officers responded to North Road for a report of suspicious activity.

April 14 at 11:20 a.m., officers went to Hillview Terrace for reported suspicious activity.

April 14 at 12:17 p.m., an alarm activated at CVU.

April 14 at 6:02 p.m., an alarm activated on Commerce Street.

April 15 at 2:12 p.m., an officer assisted with a medical emergency at Hawk Lane.

Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

After a two-year wait, the Hinesburg Fire Department took delivery of its new engine truck. The mini pumper replaces former Engine 3, which was permanently taken out of service 18 months ago due to mechanical failure. The department will use this truck in tight access locations and for first-response during poor weather conditions. The new truck has a 1,250-gallon-per-minute pump, a 300-gallon water tank and carries a wide compliment of equipment and hoses. Members will be mounting equipment and performing driver and pump training over the next few weeks before it is placed in service.

OPINION

Here’s why I resigned as Charlotte’s tree warden?

Guest Perspective

Mark Dillenbeck

On April 10 I resigned my position as the volunteer town tree warden for the town of Charlotte. Deputy tree wardens Susan Smith and Alexa Lewis also tendered their resignations. I took this step with resolve, but also with sadness because I enjoyed many aspects of the job.

An important revelation to me about the tree warden assignment is that it is not so much about the trees as it is about the interesting and wonderful people in this great little town. I especially will miss working with former deputy tree wardens and other members of the tree stewardship team: Robin Coleburn, Vince Crockenberg and Brett Towle. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know many of you.

I am resigning because work with the current selectboard has become arduous and unproductive. The selectboard seems to be more interested in creating barriers than in facilitating volunteer work. Communication has been poor. Important tree-warden-related items appear on the selectboard meeting agenda, and I have not been informed. This has felt disrespectful.

There has also been bumbling. Selectboard chair Jim Faulkner took it upon himself, without consulting me, to send to the town attorney an outdated legal agreement used when landowners accept trees purchased through the Rutter Tree Fund. If he had consulted with me, I would have provided a recent version of the agreement, and we would not have wasted the town attorney’s time working on an obsolete document.

There is a need to develop a revised version of the tree-planting agreements. It was unnecessary, however, to repeatedly and publicly complain that the current

agreement somehow would put taxpayers on the hook for future care of the trees. Great pains were made to include language to prevent that possibility.

In the 17-year history of this type of agreement, no taxpayer funds have been involved. Arguing about things such as whether volunteers should be allowed to help maintain town-planted trees or if we can indicate that we “may lend watering tubs” bordered on ridiculous.

A shared and documented understanding regarding the operation of the Rutter Tree Fund is also needed. It is troubling to me that selectboard members seem to be signaling that they want it to operate in a manner and for purposes other than what was originally intended.

The difficult dynamic with the selectboard came to a head with the tree stewardship team’s most recent project, the planned tree plantings along State Park Road. We did due diligence, informing the selectboard, road commissioner, trails committee, the person who cultivates the landowner’s field and others about our plans. Could we have done more? In retrospect, yes. That is one lesson learned from this episode.

The facts are these. We apprised members of the selectboard of the project and they approved disbursement of funds for that purpose. There was criticism of aspects of the legal agreement signed by me and the landowner, but the selectboard chair told us that he would not require us to submit a revised agreement to the landowner.

We placed the order for the tree planting both at State Park Road and the town garage and proceeded with the planning. Holes were dug, stakes and other materials ordered, and 40 volunteers recruited. The planting event was coordinated with other groups involved in the Charlotte

Earth Month activities.

At the 11th hour, however, the selectboard chair sent the State Park Road agreement to the town attorney, who declared it invalid because I was not authorized to sign agreements on the town’s behalf per the recently revised state tree warden statutes. The selectboard asked for the State Park Road planting to be postponed. This was problematic due to the fragile state of the perishable bareroot trees and the challenges of coordinating volunteers.

Other solutions were available, a legal agreement was not required, and we could have gone

ahead without it. Alternatively, the selectboard could have acted on the landowner’s willingness to sign a revised agreement. We could have drafted a simple memorandum of understanding in the interim. Ultimately, the decision to plant trees on private property outside of the rights-ofway should be up to the landowner, not the selectboard.

I was presented with the option to proceed with the planting against the wishes of the selectboard. I chose not to do this. Before trees went into the ground, the selectboard said there would need to be public hearings,

a revised tree planting agreement template and agreed-upon rules for administering the Rutter Tree Fund. Given my previous experience with the selectboard, it seemed too difficult an uphill climb.

I am committed to helping Charlotte find and orient a new, well-qualified tree warden. As deputy tree warden, I benefited from Larry Hamilton’s mentorship. I would like to pass that wisdom along. I remain an engaged Charlotte citizen, grateful to live in a town where people care, even if we sometimes disagree.

Homelessness grows; system is broken

Guest Perspective

Ross Connelly

A quick look at the Internet provides ample evidence a lot of people in Vermont and around the country don’t have a place to live or enough food to eat. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports about 653,000 Americans experienced homelessness in January 2023. That’s a 12.1 percent increase from the same report in 2022.

The research shows Vermont has the second highest rate of homelessness among states, with 50.9 people per 10,000 people. From 2018 to 2023, homelessness in Vermont increased from 20.6 per 10,000 people to 50.9, the biggest increase in any state. The official poverty rate, according to the U.S. Census, in 2022, was 11.5 percent, with 37.9 million people in poverty.

How easy it is to forget real people make up those numbers. People who live in small towns and the state’s cities but don’t have their own apartment or home, don’t have enough money to put needed food on the table.

Homelessness and going hungry exist all over Vermont.

Filmmaker Bess O’Brien gives people — who are homeless and don’t have enough food to eat — their voice in her new film, “Just Getting By.” The people speak powerfully as they recount their lives living in motels, in emergency shelters, couch surfing, staying with friends and relatives, sleeping in their cars, in tents and on the street.

The people are Vermonters, and their stories are compelling. They are our neighbors, invisible and seen, in all our communities and beyond. They comprise the data policymakers study but too often forget that, yes, those numbers are real people.

They are people who work hard, often holding two or three jobs, but jobs that come with a paycheck too small to pay the rent — if a place can even be found. The money people earn doesn’t add up to what it costs to also buy the groceries, fix the car, clothe the kids ...

It is too easy to blame homeless people for not having a place to live, for not working hard

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April 19-20

enough to live “like we do.” Too easy to worry they are dangerous. Too easy to blame them for making us feel uncomfortable.

Feeling uncomfortable and in danger need to be turned around. Better to feel uncomfortable and in danger living in a society that accepts homelessness and going hungry as normal. That says a lot about us.

The people who spoke with O’Brien had courage to share their experiences with her, and with us. They dispel the stereotypes and the easy-out of blaming the victim. What they impart is important for all of us to hear, for all of us to consider, for all of us to not ignore.

A system that tells people to make do until more houses and apartments are built is a broken system. Contact legislators and let them know the tax structure is unfair and needs to be changed. All people need a secure place to live that is affordable, now. Refusing to change needs to be uncomfortable.

Ross Connelly was former owner and publisher of the Hardwick Gazette.

Lyons offers thoughts on controlling education spending

From the Senate

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Recent town meeting votes against school budget proposals were not a just a wakeup call about property taxes. It was a reminder that the school funding system needs major repair.

While districts and voters are making changes to next year’s budgets, the Legislature is working to avoid catastrophic increases in property taxes related to school funding. The loss of federal pandemic funds that sustained education funding, increases in health care costs and overall inflation have placed a burden on local school boards.

Societal changes place more and more stress on kids, teachers, administrators and staff.

Student mental health concerns increased dramatically during the pandemic. I wrote a law for schools, community members, teachers, counselors, social service organizations and others to access grant funding.

The grants provide funding outside of school budgets to support kids’ mental health. That law was recognized as a national model by the National Afterschool Program.

sources other than the education fund as another way to provide such relief.

School funding is a complex byzantine labyrinth that perplexes many school board members, legislators and community members alike. How can a school board connect local spending with statewide or local property tax determinations when the funding formula is so dense? How can equitable outcomes result when students in some districts have access to more resources than others?

determining school funding taxes.

My work to reduce health care costs includes efforts to lower prescription drug prices and reduce the administrative burden of prior authorization on providers. I am working to improve social supports for kids in schools without adding cost to school budgets.

In Charlotte

The social service support grants and Vermont’s Afterschool Program can help reduce stress on teachers and students alike. They offer a way to respond to everyday behavioral and societal challenges that affect school culture. These social service supports in schools do not use education fund dollars and offer an example of providing local property tax relief. Others have suggested that school meals be paid for with

Selectboard ‘insists

Guest Perspective

Alexis Lewis

On April 9, the Charlotte Selectboard killed the tree planting event scheduled for Saturday, April 13, as part of the town’s Earth Month celebration. Their decision came two days before the 50 trees were delivered by truck, and four days prior to the event. As a result, 40 volunteers were told not to come, and the tree warden and two deputy tree wardens resigned.

As deputy tree warden and the project’s leader, I resigned, not because townspeople had differing opinions about planting sites, but rather because of the missteps of the current selectboard.

on

Some ask if money equates with improved student outcomes. There is at least one proposal before the Legislature that begins to untangle the web and improve transparency. A simple description of that proposal is that schools receive base level funding or payment per pupil. If schools decide to spend more, local property taxes could be added.

Other states rely on different school funding formulas. It can help to review those programs. As that evaluation goes ahead, we should not lose sight of including income levels when

People on lower or fixed incomes could become harmed or leave Vermont without that consideration. One example to accommodate those on fixed incomes is New York’s STAR Program, which offers property tax relief to senior residents. Could a similar program simplify the education funding formula?

The Legislature is considering how to improve transparency, cost and equitable access to public education.

Vermont schools are the heart of our communities.

Vermont’s population is small compared to many city school districts across the country. We could develop regional districts based on cost of living. Regional administrative districts might increase purchasing power or provide teacher contracts consistent with each region’s economy, while maintaining local decision making. The Legislature is considering how to improve transpar-

protecting the town

his fellow board members to “understand this Rutter Tree Fund, there’s not a penny in there that is taxpayers’ money; it’s all donation.” Faulkner then acknowledged that the town was missing any paperwork or information on this fund that was in its custody but said. “We’re working on that now.”

Over four months later, there was still no progress, and despite the advice of the town attorney to get together with the primary donors and work it out, the board never contacted donors.

As deputy tree warden and the project’s leader, I resigned ... because of the missteps of the current selectboard.

On April 9, the board voiced concerns that planting plans did not get discussed in an open forum. While not required, the plan was discussed at the warned Nov. 30 meeting and was on the agenda.

At its April 9 meeting, the board referred to the Rutter Tree Fund as “taxpayer money” and “community money.”

Last November selectboard chair Jim Faulkner wanted

Faulkner referred to planting on State Park Road, the garage and the village loop trails when he asked for approval of the $10,000 disbursement from the Rutter funds in the board’s custody.

Last November, the chair informed the board the tree planting agreement was in place for State Park Road and that it was acceptable although not perfect; last week he referred to the contract as “null and void,” “not valid” and “not legal according to the attorneys.”

For background, the agreement used for State Park Road was based on a template created by the previous tree warden, Larry Hamilton, and reviewed by the town attorney. It was modified for State Park Road, adding additional protections for the town. Traditionally, the property owner and tree warden signed the contracts. Likewise, the recent contract was signed by both parties.

The legal issue arose with the passage of Act 171 in 2020, which inserted the local legislative body into the process when a tree warden enters into an agreement with a landowner.

To make the contract valid, the selectboard could have, at its April 9 meeting, authorized the tree warden to sign or simply co-sign the agreement, but chose not to.

Why did the selectboard go into executive session at its April 9 meeting, making a motion “that

ency, cost and equitable access to public education. Vermont schools are the heart of our communities. Preserving local engagement and family participation in local school districts is critical to preserve Vermont values in public education. It could be time for a structured statewide public engagement about the future of schools, best practices, funding, student outcomes, local control, state oversight, responsibility and accountability. Your voice is important to this process. Please stay connected.

Ginny Lyons, a Democrat from Williston, represents South Burlington, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and several other towns in the Chittenden-Southeast Senate district.

from

its townspeople’

discussion of the contract for the deemed invalid contract between Josh Golek (property owner) … and the town of Charlotte would significantly disadvantage either the town of Charlotte or Mr. Golek were it to be discussed in an open meeting.” How could open discussion affect a contract that they deemed invalid, and why was a private conversation needed when the contract and issues were discussed in open meeting before and after the executive session.

Over the past two decades the town has planted dozens of trees on private property with a simple tree-planting agreement outlining the cooperation of the town and the landowner. I am unaware of any property owner coming back to the town with maintenance demands for the trees. Given the cooperation of the community, property owners and town, why does the selectboard treat property owners as enemies that the town needs to be protected from.

Four months have passed since they talked about creating a tree-planting agreement, four months since the board approved the disbursement of Rutter funds for the “purchasing, planting, watering of trees” on State Park

Road, the garage and the trails., and four months since the board chair said they were working on the accounting and administration of the Rutter fund.

Six months of logistics, 40 volunteers, 50 trees — all wiped out just two days before the truck delivered the trees. Our selectboard insists on protecting the town from its townspeople. They decreed that no trees should be planted Saturday, and no town water could be used to water any of the trees. Better the trees die in service to the taxpayers than risk some town residents defying their agreement and demanding maintenance of a tree planted along the town’s trails or roadsides.

The volunteers who signed up to help plant trees represented almost every volunteer committee, commission and nonprofit in town. Charlotte runs on its volunteer efforts. I am extremely grateful for their support and cooperation. The benefit to our community and to our budget is huge. I’m saddened that this seems not to be the perspective of the current selectboard.

Alexa Lewis, who lives in Charlotte, was deputy tree warden for the town.

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Senate ethics committee misses mark on conflict complaint

Guest Perspective

John Bossange

On Feb. 13, 14 Vermonters filed a conflict-of-interest complaint with the Vermont Senate Ethics Committee accusing Sen. Ram Hinsdale, chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs, of advancing and promoting the financial interest of her family’s vast real estate holdings by helping craft and approve language in a bill she sponsored that will benefit her family’s fortune.

The complaints alleged that Hinsdale violated Vermont Senate Rule 71, Permanent Rules of the Senate, which states that “no Senator shall be permitted to vote

Wildlife bill gives politicians too much power

To the Editor:

Under political pressure from animal rights groups, in coordination with a national organization, Senate bill S.258 was passed and is now in the Vermont House. This bill would remove the authority for rulemaking from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board and transfer it to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This moves rulemaking authority from a democratic forum to technocrats. Worse yet, the Agency of Natural Resources, being part of the administration, is subject to powerful influence by whomever the sitting governor may be at the time — either personal or partisan influence.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board was created when the Legislature, after some disastrous decisions concerning the deer herd, decided it did not have the expertise, experience or firsthand knowledge for setting hunting and fishing rules and regulations, so it created a separate citizen-populated board to handle the task. This was a very important step for bringing decision-making closer to rule by citizens, the essence of democratic government. The board has done an outstanding job with what they were tasked to do.

Years ago, the Water Resources Board underwent this same transformation, to the detriment of Vermonters, in the decisions made since then. Recently there was a demonstration of the role of the governor in proposed rules on wake boats against the wishes of almost all feedback from Vermonters.

All this has come about due to the political pressure from

upon any question in which he or she is directly or immediately interested.”

I was the lead contact representing the Vermonters who signed the complaint.

Surprisingly, the Senate Committee on Ethics, chaired by Sen. Brian Campion, conducted a preliminary review and did not find probable cause that an ethical violation occurred. There was no investigation.

The committee’s short letter was written in careful lawyerly prose, which comes across, as short and precise, but for a proud Vermonter like me, as cold and terse, with no acknowledgement of citizen involvement or concern for the reputation of the Vermont Senate.

Interestingly, the language in

Letters to the Editor

animal rights groups whose goals, for the most part, would be to end all hunting and trapping, notwithstanding their claims to the contrary. Those goals are what keeps those organizations alive.

Their strategy is to do anything that would weaken the influence of hunters and trappers on rulemaking. This would be like putting right-to-lifers on the board of Planned Parenthood.

Please oppose it.

Ray Gonda South Burlington

More new taxes won’t solve housing issue

To the Editor:

In his recent guest perspective

Dorset Rep. Michael Rice lays bare the essential fault of current legislation by supermajority. Money.

Titled “Vermont must invest to end housing crisis,” this secondyear legislator tries to make a wordy case for, once more, raising new taxes on Vermonters — without a single mention in of how this new money is to be used, let alone how more taxes, including new real estate taxes, could possibly be expected to help solve the housing issue.

The current housing shortage in Vermont has nothing whatever to do with a need for additional public money, and everything to do with removing the multitude of obstacles — exclusionary zoning, redundant permitting, excessive restrictions, irresponsible bureaucracy, institutionalized delays, fees and widespread legalized public/ private extortion — now suppressing the private sector from providing homes that are afford-

the Vermont State Ethics Commission is much broader and more expansive in defining a conflict of Interest when compared to the language used by the Senate committee. The complainants chose both the form and language from the State Ethics Commission because it uses the statement “the appearance of” a conflict of interest, and not just a direct conflict or interest.

We applied their standard, using the ethics commission document that asks: “Would a reasonable, average person with knowledge of all relevant facts think you have a conflict of interest?” The answer is an obvious yes. Perception and appearance are critical, so we filed the complaint. That meant little to the Senate committee. They used their own

conflict of interest document to excuse Hinsdale from any violation. When you read through the rules of the Senate committee document, it is easy to see where the “excuses” and escape hatches are for Hinsdale and others to continue to advance personal interests through legislative actions.

I can imagine there are some legislators who are landlords and may make additional, secondary income. However, there are few in Chittenden County, and probably the entire state, who make their living as the Hinsdales do. Hinsdale’s husband Jacob manages their dozens and dozens of properties for his mother, Irene Hinsdale. With the passage of Act 47, the skids are well greased for more profitmaking as defined in the conflict-of-interest document.

able, or at least homes that free up others that are affordable in our time-tested American tradition.

Instead, the typical legislative default is simply to throw more money into unaccountable public entities that further exacerbate the burden on the few remaining private sector housing developers willing to try. Can anyone explain what the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board actually does?

Rice’s naïve sales pitch is yet another lesson in what results from years of legislation by an unaccountable supermajority.

Leonard Duffy Hinesburg

Act 127 overdue, and good law

To the Editor: Vermont stands as a beacon of community values. Yet, beneath this facade, the education system has harbored inequities for decades that undermine these very principles. Enter Act 127, a legislative commitment to Vermont’s constitutional guarantee for equity, opportunity and fairness for every child in the state.

For decades, Vermont’s education funding system, while well-intentioned, has inadvertently perpetuated inequities across diverse landscapes. Rural, impoverished and diverse districts have borne the brunt of this outdated model, struggling to provide the same level of education as their more affluent counterparts. This isn’t just a funding issue; it’s a matter of the constitutional

cover. More specifically, the senator and her family are misusing the important goals of more affordable apartments, more core density and less suburban sprawl, as their cover to grow their family fortune.

As the conflict-of-interest complaint requested, Vermont Senate Pro Tempore Philip Baruth should never have allowed Hinsdale to serve as the chair of the economic development, housing and general affairs committee. Hinsdale should have been reassigned to another committee.

The bigger picture here is that developers, real estate agents and lending institutions will build anywhere, build anything and charge anything to reap the financial benefits from the housing crisis. Additionally, the Hinsdales will continue to subdivide older single-family homes and traditional duplexes built decades ago for families and where families could live today. Those could be more affordable homes and duplexes and they are now mostly smaller student rental units benefiting the Hinsdale empire.

Chopping them up into expensive apartments and smaller rooms will continue to deny a family looking to buy a place to live.

Hinsdale and her family are a part of a select group of landlords, developers, real estate agents, bankers and lending institutions that are making millions using the housing crisis as their

Further, if Sen. Hinsdale understood what this major conflict of interest would eventually do to her reputation and the reputations of her colleagues, along with the public’s perception of the full Senate, she would have wisely requested another assignment, recuse herself from the committee during these discussions, or follow the guidance given by the Vermont State Ethics Commission to clear her name.

It’s now understood why she did not, and that dark shadow will follow her political career. That same shadow will continue to darken and stain the reputation of Senate’s ethics committee, as well as the many honest, hard-working legislators who continue to serve all Vermonters.

The foxes cannot be guarding the henhouse. Senators will be very reluctant to turn on one of their own colleagues. An independent group of citizens and professionals like the panel serving on the Vermont State Ethics Commission needs to oversee the actions of all elected representatives.

John Bossange lives in South Burlington.

Make outdoor spaces work

BONNIE KIRN DONAHUE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT EXTENSION

As warmer weather approaches, it is a great time to consider how you use the outdoor spaces in your life. Whether you rent or own, use public land or private, there are things that you can think about to help make these outdoor spaces work better for you.

Ideally, the landscape you have would match your needs, lifestyle, time and resources.

If you have a small space, like an entry porch or balcony, think about what you like to do in that space, and try to reflect that in your design.

Would adding a chair make the area feel more welcoming? A chair would have the dual purpose of something that you could sit on when the weather is nice, while also providing a focal point. Having two chairs invites conversation and offers a place to gather.

For spaces that are too small to have a full garden, consider adding a pot or container to your outdoor space. One or more containers can be used to grow or hold different arrangements depending on the season.

In summer, they could hold annuals that support pollinators like sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) or zinnias (Zinnia spp.). In the winter, they could hold evergreen boughs or willow branches. Depending on the sun exposure, your planting container could also be used for growing food like tomatoes, peppers, ground cherries or herbs.

For larger spaces, take an objective look at your landscape and determine what you have the time and energy to accomplish. Perhaps not every garden bed needs to be weeded and mulched perfectly.

Once you decide which areas mean the most to you, you can prioritize those, and

See

Vermont Coverts launch bear ambassador program

Vermont has 16 new bear ambassadors thanks to Vermont Coverts: Woodlands for Wildlife, a conservation organization that educates landowners and others about sound forest management and wildlife stewardship. The ambassadors will address human-bear conflicts and promote strategies for coexistence in their communities.

end up in human territory like our yards, problems can occur.

“Vermont Coverts recognizes the importance of community outreach promoting coexistence between humans and bears. If neighbors share about taking in bird feeders, securing garbage, and taking other bear aware measures we can help reduce nuisance bear issues,” Lisa Sausville, executive director of Vermont Coverts, said.

Partnering with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the bears ambassador course is tailored to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of bear biology, behavior and strategies for mitigating conflicts. Through a combination of interactive sessions and expert-led discussions, participants gained valuable insights into bear ecology, habitat management and community engagement.

Seeing a black bear in its natural surroundings is exciting. But when bears

The curriculum emphasizes practical strategies for reducing human-bear conflicts while promoting safe and sustainable coexistence. Participants learned how to effectively communicate within their communities about implementing proactive measures to mitigate conflicts.

To learn more about living with bears visit vtfishandwildlife.com and vermontcoverts.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

Vermont’s new bear ambassadors, the result of a partnership between Vermont Coverts: Woodlands for Wildlife and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

For spaces that are too small to have a full garden, consider adding a pot or container with colorful flowers or vegetables

OUTDOOR SPACES

continued from page 8

manage the other areas less intensively. Getting comfortable with the presence of weeds can be a really freeing experience.

Related to this, if you have a large lawn that you spend hours mowing every week, it might be a good opportunity to think about how much you actually use. Areas that are not used for walking, playing sports or other activities can be transitioned to gardens or meadow.

Meadows are just as beautiful and require far less maintenance. They can be mowed one time every one to three years to keep woody

LETTERS

continued from page 7

guarantee Vermont makes to its children about the value of their education.

Act 127, informed by comprehensive research and community advocacy, introduces a more equitable approach to school funding. By revising the weighting factors that determine financial allocations, it ensures that additional resources are directed where they’re most needed, to the students facing the greatest challenges and to the schools that serve as their lifelines.

Some may question the timing

plants from establishing. Meadows also provide important habitat for insects and food for pollinators.

If your access to the outdoors is a public landscape, like a park or community garden, there are numerous gardens across the state to enjoy. Look for respite at these gardens or even consider getting involved with one.

The University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener program, local garden clubs and community non-profits are great ways to get involved. More information on becoming a master

gardener and general gardening information can be found at uvm. edu/extension/mastergardener.

Before the growing season gets going, take the opportunity to think about what you really need and want out of your outdoor spaces. Small additions or simplifying your approach just might give you more time to enjoy your time outdoors.

or specifics of Act 127, especially in a period marked by financial uncertainty and social challenges. However, it is precisely during such times that our commitment to equity and justice must be strongest. Act 127 isn’t just a piece of legislation; it’s a declaration of our collective values, a testament to a belief in the transformative power of education.

As we navigate the implementation of Act 127, the Coalition for Vermont Student Equity calls upon educators, policymakers and community members to engage

with this process actively. This isn’t a time for complacency but for vigorous advocacy and thoughtful dialogue. We must work together to ensure that the promise of Act 127 becomes a reality for every student in Vermont. Addressing these issues is integral to the overall goal of educational equity.

Marc B. Schauber Dover Executive director Coalition for Vermont

COURTESY PHOTO

to your outdoor space.

Bonnie Kirn Donahue is a UVM Extension Master Gardener and landscape architect from central Vermont.

Champlain Valley spring sports’ teams get seasons underway

LAUREN READ

CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ lacrosse

Coach: Brian Loughlin

Last season: 12-3, lost in the D-I semifinals

This season: 1-0

Key returnees: Peter Gilliam, attack, senior; Peyton Anderson, defense, senior; Trevor Stumpff, long stick midfielder, junior; Jacob Bose, midfielder, senior; Ray Hagios, face-offs, junior.

Key newcomers: Matias Williams, attack, junior; Luke Buehler, midfielder, sophomore; George Taylor, defense, junior; William Kearney, goalie, senior

Outlook: Last season, the boys saw their nine-year D-I title run come to an end in the semifinals but the Redhawks return 15 seniors from that squad as they look to return to the top. CVU also welcomes new coach Brian Loughlin to steer the program back to the final.

“We are well-conditioned, and the guys have been working hard to make sure their stick skills are dialed in,” Loughlin said. “While winning is important, the most important thing is becoming the best version of ourselves over the course of the season.”

CVU has experienced players at most positions.

Up next: Thursday, April 18, against Middlebury

Baseball

Coach: Nicky Elderton

Last season: Division I state champions

Key returnees: Aaron LaRose, pitcher, senior; Calvin Steele, catcher, senior; Cole Cudney, first base, senior; Declan Cummings, third base, senior; Elise Berger, pitcher, senior; Mitchell Niarchos, second base, senior; Russell Willoughby, shortstop, senior; Stephen Rickert, pitcher, senior; Travis Stroh, outfield, senior.

Key newcomers: Andrew Nunziata, outfield, first year; Daniel Tuiqere, catcher, junior; Henry Bushey, outfield, junior; John Deyo, outfield, junior; Lander Magoon, first base, junior; Michael Dunbar, outfield, senior; Noah Musgrave, outfield, junior; Orion Yates, first base, first year; Riley

McDade, shortstop, sophomore; Riley O’Brien, outfield, junior.

Outlook: After capturing the championship last season, Champlain Valley has a retooled roster ready for another go at the title. The Redhawks return a lot of impact players from last year’s team but will need to replace some of the top pitching they got from Stephen Rickert and Chris Robinson.

“This is a special group with a lot of great leaders,” second-year coach Nicky Elderton said. “Pitching and defense will hopefully be big strengths for us throughout the year. We are continuing to improve on the offensive and defensive sides of the game every day.”

CVU will also add a bevy of newcomers to an already stacked squad, making them a strong contender this season.

Opener: Tuesday, April 23, against Mount Abraham, 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Coach: Rahn Fleming

Last season: 4-12, lost in the D-I playdowns

Key returnees: Mackenzie Yandow, pitcher, junior; Morgan Gallup, pitcher, junior; Autumn Francis, infield, senior; Amber Reagan, infield, junior; Baylee Yandow, infield/outfield, junior; Hannah Blanchard, infield, junior; Kiera Kavanagh, infield, junior; Hannah Shepardson, pitcher/ infield/outfield, junior; Alex Wemple, infield/outfield, junior; Nina Zimakas, infield, senior; Morgan Gallup, infield, junior; Lilly Caputo, outfield, senior.

Key newcomers: Hannah Blanchard, pitcher, sophomore; Drew Farmer, catcher, junior; Abby Usher, catcher, junior; Addie Niebur, center, junior; Tegan Scruggs, infield, first year; Cordelia Thomas, outfield, sophomore.

Outlook: CVU will look to turn the corner this season with a new coach and a deep roster. The Redhawks will have a few options on the mound this season, as well as depth in the infield to bolster the defense.

“I’ve been very impressed with our speed and lateral mobility,” first-year coach Rahn Fleming said. “We’re also fortunate to have strong, stable leadership from our seniors.”

CVU lacrosse teams win one, lose one

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ lacrosse

South Burlington 9, Champlain Valley 5: Champlain Valley took an early lead but could not hold off South Burlington in a loss Saturday, April 13, to open the season.

Stella Dooley posted a hat trick for the Redhawks (0-1), while Bibi Frechette and Carly Strobeck each added a goal.

That leadership will come in handy as the team is very young, with only three seniors. CVU hopes to see this young group improve as the season progresses and the team gets more varsity experience.

Opener: Tuesday, April 23, against Mount Abraham, 4:30 p.m.

Girls’ lacrosse

Coach: Tucker Pierson

Last season: 13-2, lost in the D-I state championship

This season: 0-1

Clare Stackpole-McGrath and Margan Keach combined for four saves in goal.

Rachel Kelley scored four for the Wolves, including her 100th career goal.

Boys’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 18, South Burlington 9: Champlain Valley doubled up the South Burlington offensive output to open the season with a win Friday, April 12.

Peter Gilliam had five goals

Key returnees: Stella Dooley, midfield, senior; Clare Stackpole-McGrath, goalie, senior; Kate Boehmcke, defense, senior; Emerson Rice, midfield, senior; Bibi Frechette, midfield, junior; Rose Bunting, defense, junior

Key newcomers: Too soon to tell

Outlook: Girls’ lacrosse came close to capturing the first D-I title in program history but fell just short. The team returns a solid core of last year’s roster but will have to integrate a slate of new players to

and one assist, while Matias Williams added a hat trick. Jacob Bose chipped in two goals and an assist.

CVU opens the season at 1-0.

Boys’ tennis

Middlebury 6, Champlain Valley 1: Nolan Sandage got the lone win as Champlain Valley fell to Middlebury in boys’ tennis on Friday.

Sandage won his singles match 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 (10-4) in the third-set tiebreaker.

build off last year’s success.

“Even though we are returning a lot of players, this feels like a very new team and that is exciting,” coach Tucker Pierson said. “We are a team filled with good players, so it will be fun to see how they play together and how they come together as a team.”

CVU will build from the back, with returning goalie Clare Stackpole-McGrath anchoring

PHOTO BY AL FREY

The CVU girls’ lacrosse team lost to the Wolves Saturday 9-5.

Green Mountain Bike Club offers intro rides

Are you tired of riding alone on the same bike paths and roads but worried you don’t have the skills for a group ride? The Green Mountain Bicycle Club will offer introductory group rides on select Saturdays in May and June.

Experienced riders will explain the rules of the road and teach novice cyclists how to ride safely in a group.

Rides start at 10 a.m. at the Wheeler lot at Veterans Memorial Park in South Burlington and will travel between 12 and 20 miles. Nobody will be left behind. There will be at least two ride leaders who will teach group dynamics, including signaling and passing, as well as learning to respect (and

PREVIEW continued from page 10

the defense and a strong returning midfield looking to set the tone.

Up next: Wednesday, April 17, at Middlebury

Boys’ tennis

Coach: Frank Babbott

Last season: 7-6-1, lost in the D-I quarterfinals

This season: 0-1

Key returnees: Oscar Anderson, junior; Ziggy Babbott, junior; Jacob Graham, junior; Silas Cohen, junior; Nolan Sandage, junior; Kyle Krieger, junior; Ben Fina, sophomore; Dash Tota, sophomore.

Key newcomers: Nik Blasius, senior; Henry Frost, senior; Charlie Jennings, senior; Luke Sampson, senior; River Enser, first-year; Sawyer Lake, first-year.

Outlook: The Champlain Valley boys tennis team has a mix of returning and new players as it gets ready for a league that coach Frank Babbott expects to be competitive across the board. The Redhawks have a strong core of junior players who will provide the team’s starters at the beginning of the season.

“I expect CVU will improve as the season moves forward, and as usual we hope for decent weather,” Babbott said.

Up next: Monday, April 15, at Essex

Girls’ tennis

Coach: David Lisle

Last season: 11-3, lost in the D-I finals

Key returnees: Cassie Bastress, singles, senior; Tabitha Bastress, singles, senior; Anna Dauerman, singles, sophomore; Addie Maurer, singles/doubles, senior; Ariel Toohey, doubles, junior

be respected by) cars. The pace will be determined by the ability of new riders. Cyclists must wear helmets and have bikes in good working condition. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Cyclists should sign up in advance and sign a waiver at bit. ly/3VPMCSI.

The rides will take place on May 4 and 18 and June 8 and 22.

Contact ride leaders for more information: May 4, John Bertelsen, 802-864-0101; May 18 and June 8, Dawn Fragola, 802-238-8752; and June 22, Holly Creeks, 802-233-901.

To learn more about the club, visit thegmbc.com.

Muddy Onion

Key newcomers: Too soon to tell

Outlook: After advancing all the way the D-I semifinals last season, the girls return eight seniors from that runner-up squad. The Redhawks do have a new coach — David Lisle — but invite back longtime coach Amy deGroot as an assistant to help with the transition.

“What I love about this team is how quickly they have come together to embrace each other,” Lisle said. “This is the camaraderie that makes for an excellent season.”

Anna Dauerman went all the way to the semifinals in the individual tournament last year and will look to lead the way in singles again.

Up next: Monday, April 15, versus St. Johnsbury Track and field

Coaches: Dave Kogut and Jess LaPlante

Key returnees: Girls: Alice Kredell, junior; Estella Laird, junior; Audrey Neilson, sophomore; Lydia Donahue, sophomore; Charlotte Crum, sophomore; Annalise Wood, junior; Noe Jenni, junior; Harper Danforth, senior; Zora Ngu, senior; Kate Kogut, senior; Amelia Novak, senior; Mahoune Felix, senior; Zoe Mui, junior; Annaliesa Fry, junior; Izzy Gravina-Budis, sophomore; Lilyanna Mittelstadt, sophomore; Addison James, first year; Emmeline Brewer, first year.

Boys: Dan Knight, senior; Kody Guiterman, senior; Simon Hunt, senior; Anders Johnson, senior; Avery Rogers, junior; Dylan Elder, junior; Quintin Fortier, sophomore; AJ Sicard, sophomore.

Key newcomer: Girls: Elsa Klein, first year. Boys: Treson

It’s time to emerge from winter hibernation for a fully supported gravel grinder covering (almost) all the dirt road in Central Vermont has to offer. It’s not easy but it’s worth it. The Muddy Onion Spring Gravel Grinder, Saturday, April 27, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., offers three loops: Hibernator 20-mile loop; Classic 40-mile loop; and the Triple Bliss 58-mile loop. Meet at Onion River Outdoors, 89 Main St., Montpelier. More at onionriver.com.

McEnaney, first year; Ben Holoch, first year; Cole Hart, first year.

Outlook: The track and field team returns a lot of strong runners this season and on the girls’ side brings in a team that just captured the program’s indoor track and field state title. The Redhawks will look to bring that success outside this season, including state championship relay teams in the 4x400 and 4x800 races.

TREES continued from page 1

if they happen on private property — and who should control the distribution of Rutter Tree Fund money.

“The goal of this project was to begin an initiative to plant trees along the town trails to enhance them,” former deputy tree warden Alexa Lewis said. “This particular site was checked out of the map of the viewsheds in town that are supposed to be protected. It’s not one of those. It’s not in a scenic district. The property owner had a strong desire to delineate the public trails from his private property, so we had gone through all these steps.” (See Lewis’s perspective, page 6)

Although the selectboard approved the fund allocations in November, the board ultimately nixed the State Park Road tree planting at a meeting on April 9, just days before nearly 50 trees were set to be delivered and 40 volunteers were set to begin planting, saying that after attorney review, the tree planting contract with the private property owner

was considered “null and void.”

While there was discussion about the tree planting agreements in open session, the contract with the private property owner was discussed in secret.

“The reason this has been pushed forward is that we have a private group putting trees on private land, and we want to just to make sure the taxpayer would not be burdened by this in any way,” selectboard chair Jim Faulkner said. “We want to make sure that the taxpayer, as time goes on and the trees get bigger, that fertilization, mulching, trimming or whatever, that the town has no responsibility because these trees are being put on private land.”

For the boys, the team will look to improve as the season progresses and build off some strong individual performances.

Opener: Monday, April 15 at CVU

“That to me, and I’m speaking for myself, not for the board, is the crux of the matter,” Mudge said.

Just one day after that selectboard meeting Dillenbeck, Lewis and the other deputy tree warden, Susan Smith, all resigned.

“While we all love trees, people have different opinions as to where they’d be best suited.”

— Kelly Devine

Dillenbeck wrote in a letter, “I am resigning because work with the current selectboard has become arduous and unproductive. The selectboard seems to be more interested in creating barriers than in facilitating our volunteer work. Communication has been poor. Important tree warden-related items appear on the selectboard meeting agenda, and I have

Board member Lewis Mudge said that the entire problem boils down to an issue with process.

See TREES on page 12

COURTESY PHOTO

TREES continued from page 11

not been informed. This has felt disrespectful.” (See Dillenbeck’s perspective, page 5)

Lewis, in her statement to the newspaper, outlined that over the past two decades the town has planted dozens of trees on private property with a simple tree-planting agreement outlining the cooperation of the town and the landowner.

“I am unaware of any property owner coming back to the town with maintenance demands for the trees. Given the cooperation of the community, the property

CHARLOTTE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Will hold a public hearing at Town Hall, 159 Ferry Rd., Charlotte, VT on the following applications during its regular meeting of Wednesday, May 8, 2024:

7:05 PM 23-085-CU/SP/SD (FP) Maguire – Conditional Use/Site Plan/Final Plan review for 3-Lot Subdivision at 2760 Spear St.

7:30 PM 24-048-SPA TOC Garage – Site Plan Amendment to change landscape plan & extend gravel driveway at 3205 Greenbush Rd.

For more information, contact the Planning & Zoning Office at 802.425.3533 ext. 208, or by email at: pza@townofcharlotte.com.

Community Bankers

owners and the town, why does the selectboard treat property owners as enemies that the town needs to be protected from,” she wrote.

Although the town is now in the works of updating its tree planting agreement, the town’s website also outlines that roadside trees may be planted on private property, and even gives an outline of how the town should go about that.

“In these instances, the Tree Warden will consult with the property owner and enter into a tree agreement to share responsibility for planting and maintenance of the tree,” according to the town’s website.

According to Lewis, the agreement used for State Park Road was based on a template creat-

BUDGET continued from page 1

ed by the previous tree warden, Larry Hamilton, and reviewed by the town attorney. It was modified for State Park Road, adding additional protections for the town, she said.

But in a later phone call, Lewis further explained that legal issues arose with the passage of Act 171 in 2020, which inserted the local legislative body into the process when a tree warden enters into an agreement with a landowner.

“To make the contract valid, the selectboard could have, at its April 9 meeting, authorized the tree warden to sign or simply co-sign the agreement; but the board chose not to,” she wrote.

Nearly 20 of the trees were able to be planted at the town garage last week, but at a special meeting on Monday night, the

selectboard decided to plant the remaining trees at the Charlotte Wildlife Refuge as part of a reforestation project. The $3,000 cost will come from the $20,000 in the Rutter Tree Fund allocated by voters for ash-tree removal.

Lewis questioned if even that was legally allowed, since the board may need a vote of the taxpayers to authorize a change in the use of the funds.

Board member Kelly Devine said the board heard from multiple residents who feel they have not had the appropriate opportunity for public input on where trees go in town.

“While we all love trees, people have different opinions as to where they’d be best suited,” she said. “So, we hope to open up that opportunity going forward.”

Community Bankers

Community

Bankers

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

find more than $500,000 — likely in faculty and programs — to cut on top of the $4 million already stripped from the first budget.

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Community Bankers

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Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

“The Champlain Valley School District Board of Directors is deeply grateful to our community for coming together after several months of uncertainty to pass the 2024-2025 budget,” school board Chair Meghan Metzler said. “Thank you to everyone who came together to support our schools over the past several weeks. This approved budget allows the district to move forward and provide opportunities for growth and belonging to all of our students.”

Those rates may change, however, given the uncertainty with the state education fund’s overall yield formula.

But the rates are a decrease from projected hikes under the first budget, which was shot down by nearly 2,000 votes. Tax rate hikes with that budget were well over 18 percent for each of the member towns.

“We look forward to continuing the important strategic work ahead of us as we navigate expected statewide changes to the education system.”

— Meghan Metzler

Still, the implications of the passed budget are not exactly a net positive for the district. The budget calls for the reduction of 42 full-time positions, including seven central administration positions, 15 student support paraprofessional positions and three paraprofessional interventionist positions previously funded by federal grants.

The district’s first budget hoped to keep some support staff that were previously paid for via federal pandemic funds — the district is seeing a rise in behavioral referrals among K-8 students — but those hopes were dashed after the Town Meeting Day vote.

Teachers and board members had rallied in recent weeks for a yes vote on the budget, arguing any further cuts to staff and programs would have been ruinous for the educational experience at their schools.

“All of these students came out to support their teachers and support their education, because if this next budget doesn’t pass, so many different opportunities and classes are going to be gone from CVU,” the student body co-president, Nikhal Blasius, told NBC5 on Monday.

While the budget’s passing brings some semblance of stability for the next school year, Vermont’s education funding system is due for a turbulent transition period as legislators debate whether and how to change the state’s funding mechanism for its public schools.

The Champlain Valley district was deeply disadvantaged under the most recent iteration of Act 127, which adjusted the statewide public weighting system, thus taking money and taxing capacity away from the district.

The school’s administration had prepared for this when the law passed in 2022 and had a five-year plan under the provisions of the new law. But legislators in February — in the 11th hour of budget season — pulled the rug out from underneath the district, forcing district officials to scramble and decide whether to revise their budget or keep with their original plan.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Nearly 15 teaching positions will be cut throughout the district, while several programs will see reductions in classes and support, including music, theater, French, Latin, business, library services and other programs.

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Tax rate hikes for residents, meanwhile, remain in the double digits. Charlotte residents will see

Joined by board members and other faculty, teachers in the weeks leading up to the second vote rallied and held signs outside of the district’s schools before and after their school days. Students at Champlain Valley Union High School, meanwhile, staged a full walkout Monday to support the budget.

The district kept their original budget up for a vote, and they were among more than a third of districts throughout the state whose first budget plans were voted down. It reflects a growing concern in the state around education spending, and the hikes in property tax rates needed to pay for it.

“We look forward to continuing the important strategic work ahead of us as we navigate expected statewide changes to the education system,” Metzler said.

Student Milestones

Christopher Provost of Hinesburg was named to the dean’s list at Endicott College for the fall semester.

Heloise Guyette of Charlotte was named to the Champlain College dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

Emaleigh Hunter of Hinesburg was named to the Champlain College dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

Brennan Murdock of Char-

COMMUNITY

STEM Fair

lotte was named to the Champlain College dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

Stuart Robinson of Charlotte was named to the Champlain College dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

Amelia Anair of Charlotte was named to the Champlain College president’s list for the fall 2023 semester. Anair is currently enrolled in the accounting program.

Community Notes

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, April 18, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center features beef with barbecue sauce, baked beans, broccoli florets, wheat bun with butter, pumpkin craisin cookie and milk.

You must pre-register by the prior Monday at 802-425-6345 or meals@charlotteseniorcentervt. org.

The suggested donation is $5. Check the website for last-minute cancellations at bit.ly/3FfyLMb.

The meal for Thursday, April

RABIES BAIT

25, features meatloaf with brown sauce, garlic home fries, green beans, pumpkin custard with cream and milk.

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United Church of Hinesburg plant sale returns

The week-long bait drop is a coopera tive effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

United Church of Hinesburg’s 2024 plant sale continues a 50-plus year tradition. The online sale of locally grown perennials and beautifully packaged homemade biscotti runs through Satur-

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 16

saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

On Saturday, March 30, nine students in grades six to eight represented Mater Christi School in Burlington at the 2024 Vermont Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fair at Norwich University. Six students were recognized with awards, including Ryan Schreiber of Shelburne, who won the Vermont STEM Fair Engineering Award and Vermont STEM Fair Silver Medal Award. Pictured is Mater Christi School science teacher, Mark Pendergrass, and the students who represented the school in the 2024 Vermont STEM Fair, from left Emery Nichols (Burlington), Wesley Price (Burlington), Asa Jorgenson (Burlington), Beatrice Robinson (South Burlington), and Campbell Clarke (Colchester). Back row, from left, Pendergrass, Thomas Moore (Essex Junction), Ella Botten (Williston), Adele Carta (Burlington) and Ryan Schreiber (Shelburne).

Outdoor Structures

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

Shelburne display lead a dors round from coffee creemees. from Shelburne SHELBURNE continued

802-343-4820

802-343-4820

www.pleasantvalleyvt.com

Ben Mason at (617) 283-6010

COURTESY PHOTO

ANSWERS FROM THIS ISSUE

Where’s Waldo?

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 13

day, April 20, with orders ready for pick up on Saturday, May 4.

An in-person sale of annuals and home-baked pies will be held the following Saturday, May 11, just in time for Mother’s Day.

Access the online store from the church website at ucofh.org. Place your order and pay with a credit or debit card. Shop early to ensure the best selection.

Contact the United Church of Hinesburg with any questions at 802-482-3352 or unitedchurch@gmavt.net.

Howard Center series address substance use

Howard Center’s Spring Community Education Series presents a free panel discussion, “Substance Use and Our Community,” with moderator Beth Holden, the center’s chief client services officer in the auditorium of dealer.com, 1 Howard St., Burlington, on Monday, May 2, 6:30-8 p.m.

this fraternity. Join Robert Grandchamp, historian and past Master of Mt. Mansfield Lodge #26 for a talk on how Masonry helped shape the early history of the Green Mountain State.

“Masonry in Early Vermont” will be held Sunday, April 21, 2 p.m. at the Homestead’s museum.

Admission is free but donations are accepted. Reach out to John A. Devino at jdevino1791@gmail.com or 802-8635403 for more information.

Green Up Day gears up in Charlotte

Charlotte Central School is the location for the 54th annual Green Up Day, on Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Green bags will be available starting Wednesday, April 27 at the Charlotte Library, Old Brick Store and Spear’s Corner Store. Sign up for a route on at charlottevtgreenupday.com through Friday, May. 3. Or get bags and find a route to clean up at the event on the 4th.

A panel discussion about substance use and how we can work together to create a safer, healthier community with Howard Center clinical staff: moderator

Beth Holden, MS, LCMHC, LADC, and panelists John Brooklyn, MD; Dan Hall, LADC; Heidi Melbostad, PhD, and others. Followed by Q&A.

Panelists include Howard Center clinical staff John Brooklyn, medical director of the Chittenden Clinic; Dan Hall, licensed alcohol and drug counselor and director of outpatient services; Heidi Melbostad, director of the Chittenden Clinic; and others.

A question-and-answer period will follow the discussion. Attend in-person or livestream the discussion. For information and to register, visit howardcenter. org or call 802-488-6912.

Ethan Allen Homestead explores Masonry in Vermont

Masonry has always been a presence in the Green Mountain State. From the first settlers to the present, Vermont Masons have made a difference in their communities.

Ira Allen, Thomas Chittenden and other Vermont founders were members of

Junior and Tyler Lewis will have trucks at the school for the trash that is collected, and Sustainable Charlotte will also hold its annual electronics recycling collection.

The day’s events are coordinated by Ken Spencer and Kim Findlay.

Champlain Valley Quilters hold quilt show

Champlain Valley Quilters holds its annual quilt show, “Seams like Spring,” with featured artist Karen Abrahamovich, Friday to Sunday, April 26-28. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday.

This judged competition, held at Holy Family Parish Hall, 30 Lincoln St., Essex Junction, features vendors, raffles a craft table and more. Admission is $8.

Learn more at cvqgvt.org.

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Warm temperatures and sunshine bring out a common garter snake on top of Mt. Philo this week.