The Citizen - 1-23-25

Page 1


Charlotte planners, regional leaders talk Act 250 reform bill

The Charlotte Planning Commission and the Chittenden County regional planners met last week to discuss Act 181, a new law that takes initial steps to reform and modernize Act 250, Vermont’s half-century-old land use law.

The new law recognizes that much of Vermont has shifted since 1970, when Act 250 was passed. As the state grapples with an acute housing shortage and attracting or retaining young families, Act 181 is meant to update how the state handles planning.

“Really, that’s just moving us a little bit into the future of how we can do this better, and with an eye on promoting more diverse housing options,” Darren Schibler, senior planner with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission said. “Using the infrastructure that already exists in

our communities more efficiently and maybe exploring where some might be warranted in the future at a regional and statewide level.”

The law’s main goal, Schibler explained, is meant to concentrate development in urban centers while also increasing protection on important natural resources. And as Vermont’s regional planning commissions draft a new future statewide land use map, the Chittenden County commission has been making its rounds to local municipalities to explain what this new law could mean for local review boards and planning commissions.

The main topic of discussion centers on the map the regional commission is drafting that will guide where new developments may be able to be exempt from state review.

See BILL on page 13

Hinesburg sends budget to voters for Town Meeting Day

The Hinesburg Selectboard approved its budget for the coming fiscal year without much fanfare at a meeting on Jan. 15.

The board voted 4-1 to adopt the budget, with selectboard member Dennis Place voting against.

While the town has not yet

received the county tax assessment following a reappraisal process, officials expect a property tax increase of $48 on every $100,000 of assessed value. The total budget currently stands at $5.48 million,

SIP, SAVOR, REPEAT COFFEE DRINKS

less than a 1-percent increase from the previous year. However, the adopted budget relies on a 7.5-percent increase in tax revenue. According to the summary distributed before

the Jan. 8 public hearing on the budget, this is due to a decrease in non-tax revenue sources for

See BUDGET on page 16

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
A female Northern Cardinal grabs a quick bite to eat from a well-stocked bird feeder.
Fast food
LIBERTY DARR

Local Taekwondo students receive black belt ranks

On Dec.14, advanced students from all four Taekwondo KICKS schools run by Master Kellie Thomas participated in an eighthour maintenance and promotional testing.

This is an event where current black belt holders go through a maintenance performance to demonstrate that they are keeping up with their training, and where

others are promoted to either high red belt — which is the level just before entering Black Belt Boot Camp, and a preparation for testing for their first-degree black belt rank, which will occur in June — or various degrees of black belt.

Many people are unaware of the fact that there are different levels of black belt. In Inter-

national Taekwondo, there are 10 degrees. However, the 10th degree is theoretical because according to Gen Choi, founder of Taekwondo, 10th would represent perfection, and no one is perfect. The 10th degree ideal remains to remind students that you are never done learning, improving or trying to be “better.”

Master Kellie Thomas is a

7th-degree black belt. Statistics show that for every 100 students who start any form of martial art, only 10 students earn first-degree black belt and only one student earns second Degree. It takes an average of 3-4 years at KICKS to earn a first-degree black belt, training every week, all year.

Advancing to higher degrees takes many years —to go from

Roofing Solutions

first to second, it takes two years, from second to third, it takes three years, and so on. Students have to stay focused and self-motivated to achieve these higher levels. At KICKS, the age range for black belt ranks is from age 7 — they start at age 3 and are trained continuously — to 72 years.

Regardless of age, all students are expected to know and perform all the material and participate in the 8-hour long evaluation.

The following students from the Hinesburg location earned belt levels.

• First degree: Abe Tobin, 9; Bennett Main, 9; Jason Fitzsimmons, 35; and Maya Manikian, 9.

• Third degree: Colin Hart, 14; Grace Murray, 18; and Molly Hart, 12.

• High red: Jeremiah Hayden, 9.

Charlotte Selectboard member Frank Tenney abstained from voting during the board’s recent adoption of a town declaration of inclusion. A story last week stated Tenney voted against the measure.

COURTESY PHOTO
Above: Maya Manikian 1st degree and Jeremiah Hayden, High Red
Right: Grace Murray 3rd degree; Bennett Main 1st Degree; Abe Tobin 1st Degree and Jason Fitzsimmons 1st degree

Vermont to return $1.3 million of unclaimed property to its residents

This holiday season, thousands of Vermonters could find a surprise gift in their mailbox — money they didn’t even know was theirs.

Through the newly launched MoneyBack program, the state plans to return nearly $1.3 million in unclaimed property to more than 5,000 residents, using tax department data to verify their identities and addresses.

Unclaimed property refers to financial assets — such as forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, unused gift cards and other financial property — that have been turned over to the state for safekeeping until claimed by their rightful owner.

“Any

Vermonters eligible for the MoneyBack program can expect payouts ranging from $100 to $500. The state plans to notify recipients with a letter providing the exact amount they’re set to receive. Just a few days after receiving the letter, a check for the unclaimed property will arrive in the mail.

“As Vermonters face an affordability crisis, the MoneyBack Program is putting hardearned money back into Vermonters’ pockets this holiday season,” state Treasurer Mike Pieciak said in a Wednesday press release.

letters with an incorrect address will be returned, and the money will remain in unclaimed property for

the owner to claim.”

“While the MoneyBack program focuses on reuniting Vermonters with financial assets, the broader unclaimed property database includes a variety of items,” David Kunin, a spokesperson for the treasurer’s office, said in an email. “Occasionally, the treasurer’s office comes across more unique cases, such as family heirlooms or items from safe deposit boxes.”

Residents who want to check if they have unclaimed property can visit missingmoney.com.

The new program builds on a 2023 pilot program by Vermont’s tax department and the treasurer’s office that returned $75,000 to more than 300 Vermonters with mailed checks ranging from $200 to $225.

“During the pilot program, we used certified mail so we could closely track the accuracy of the addresses verified by the Tax Department and had a 99 percent delivery rate,” Kunin wrote. Any letters with an incorrect address will be returned, and the money will remain in unclaimed property for the owner to claim, he said.

Pieciak plans to continue to launch other proactive ways to return unclaimed property to state residents, according to the press release.

Student Milestones

Several Charlotte and Hinesburg students received academic honors for the fall semester. Their colleges sent the news along to the newspaper.

Isaac Bergeron of Hinesburg was named to Husson University’s President’s List for the Spring 2024 semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. Bergeron is studying toward a degree in BS Sport Management.

Skylar Avery Francis of Hinesburg, a sophomore majoring in biology, was named to the dean’s list for the Fall 2024 semester at Clarkson University.

Ann Marie Dufault of Hinesburg, a freshman majoring in psychology, was named a Presidential Scholar for the Fall 2024 semester at Clarkson University.

Mercedes Murphy of Charlotte was named to the dean’s list at Middle Tennessee State University.

The following students were named to the Dean’s List at Saint Michael’s College for the Fall 2024 semester: Oliver A. Beerworth of Charlotte and Hinesburg students Faida L. Achinda, Desmond L. Carrico, Annalise B. Daggett and Brady D. Lasher.

Invest in community

CRIME & COURTS

Hinesburg Police Blotter

Total reported: 21

Alarm responses: 3

Traffic stops: 3

Suspicious person investigations: 3

Jan. 14 at 6:41 p.m., police investigate a noise complaint on Jourdan Street.

Jan. 14 at 6:55 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity on Pond Road. Two individuals were cited for cannabis possession by a person under 21 years of age.

Jan. 15 at 12:35 p.m., police investigated a report of illegal dumping on North Road.

Jan. 15 at 4:25 p.m., an officer responded to a report of shoplifting at Lantman’s Market

Jan. 16 at 7:24 a.m., officers responded to a report of an unresponsive female at a residence on Pond Brook Road.

Shelley Henson, 62 of Hinesburg, was pronounced dead at the scene. A death investigation followed.

Jan. 16 at 3:54 p.m., an officer assisted State Troopers with a crash on Route 116 in St. George.

Jan. 16 at 5:12 p.m., police investigated a 911 hangup on Hillview Terrace.

Jan. 17 at 11:23 a.m., police investigated a report of threatening behavior on Farmall Drive.

Jan. 18 at 7:00 a.m., officers worked with State Troopers to investigate a report of a missing juvenile Hinesburg resident.

Jan. 18 at 6:06 p.m., police investigated an alarm activation on Buck Hill East.

Jan. 18 at 6:12 p.m., police investigated n alarm activation on Fredric Way.

Jan. 18 at 6:50 p.m., officers responded to a two-car motor vehicle crash on Silver Street. One of the vehicles fled the scene prior to police arrival.

Jan. 19 at 7:07 a.m., police investigated a report of property damage on Hidden Pasture Road.

Jan. 19 at 5:01 p.m., police investigated an alarm activation at Champlain Valley Union High School.

Jan. 20 at 11:51 a.m., police assisted a citizen with a lockout.

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

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) 238-4980

Advertising Director

Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com (802) 734-2928

Editor Tommy Gardner tommy@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101 x25

Staff Writers

Aaron Calvin

Liberty Darr

Patrick Bilow Briana Brady

Production/Design

Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com

Kristen Braley kristen@stowereporter.com

General Manager Katerina Werth katerina@stowereporter.com

Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101

Advertising submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. advertising@thecitizenvt.com classifieds@thecitizenvt.com

Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. news@thecitizenvt.com

Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. news@thecitizenvt.com

Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 985-3091

Police chief’s departure creates complications for co-op model

Over the last two years, the inter-municipal policing agreement between Hinesburg and Richmond has served as a test case for regional partnerships among municipalities — something the state signed on to study on a broader scale with the legislation passed last year.

However, in the last few weeks and months, confusion over the agreement has highlighted difficulties in pursuing that goal.

According to Anthony Cambridge, the Hinesburg police chief who will soon be Richmond’s new chief, the two-town contract was created as a potential precursor to a police union district, which would function as a separate entity from the municipalities, similar to school districts.

“We had talked about it sort of extensively, and both towns wanted to explore it, but they had said that they wanted to see how it went for a little while with me as chief of both departments, to see if the towns could work it out,” Cambridge said.

Whether the towns can work it

out now remains to be seen.

Two weeks ago, Cambridge tendered his resignation with Hinesburg to be hired by Richmond, effectively canceling that contract.

Last week, after Cambridge addressed the Hinesburg Selectboard about his resignation, town manager Todd Odit announced that Cambridge had also begun the process of transferring another one of Hinesburg’s officers to Richmond.

According to Cambridge, this had been part of the plan. Weeks prior to his resignation, Richmond town officials had announced they planned to redirect their budget toward hiring their own police officers, leaving Hinesburg, which the town had been paying for police services, with a $166,000 revenue loss.

“The issue was, once Hinesburg is not receiving that funding, then one or two, or possibly even more positions would have gone away. So, the idea was, so those officers wouldn’t lose their job, (to) slide them over to Richmond,” Cambridge said.

However, in crafting their town

budget, Hinesburg officials only planned to reduce the police staff by one officer — the position they had added to help manage coverage in Hinesburg. According to Odit, another officer leaving Hinesburg would leave the department understaffed.

Although the towns’ police forces have been functioning as a single entity, the selectboards have moved toward a model in which each municipality would provide for four of their own officers with a shared chief as the primary cooperative expense. Accordingly, their budgets, and budget processes, have also remained separate.

“What happens in Richmond, Hinesburg — the town manager, the selectboard, people of Hinesburg aren’t aware of a lot of things that are going on. And it’s the same for Richmond. They’re not aware. So, it can be challenging,” Cambridge said.

While members of both boards have said they’re interested in renewing a contract, Cambridge’s resignation also made it apparent

Hinesburg home still standing after firefighters beat back blaze

The Hinesburg Fire Department was called to a house fire off Coyote Ridge Road last Thursday night, Jan. 16. Although the fire was originally reported as a chimney fire, chief Prescott Nadeau said that the department quickly realized that, even if the fire had begun in the chimney, based on the occupant’s reporting that smoke had begun to fill the building, it had spread to the structure of the house.

No one was injured in the fire, though the home is not livable at this time. According to Nadeau, although the fire department typically coordinates with the American Red Cross to provide overnight housing, the homeowners were able to find shelter through their community.

“They were very fortunate. (They) had some relationships with folks and then were

POLICE

continued from page 4

how quickly an inter-municipal agreement like the one between Richmond and Hinesburg can dissolve.

“It’s pretty clear that it’s a contractual relationship that is voluntary and severable by either party under specific circumstances. You know, either party decides not to do it anymore,” Bard Hill, a Richmond selectboard member said. “So, I think we fall into that, because that’s the only option available in the near-term. I think it is still plausible to talk about a more formal regionalized structure, which would then get into a different kind of municipal governance.”

The regionalized structure Hill referenced could take the form of a regional police union district. That is Cambridge’s favored long-term solution for the difficulty of managing an inter-municipal agreement. A police district might answer to a board of representatives from each member town but wouldn’t be beholden to the budget processes of the municipalities.

able to at least get a few hours of sleep before we had them come back to the scene with the fire investigator,” he said.

While they won’t be able to stay in their home as it is, Nadeau said that it is still standing, a feat surprising for a structure fire in a rural district where there aren’t pressurized water sources like fire hydrants.

“In this case, a number of factors aligned perfectly. The home is not only standing, but with some solid work, it will be livable again,” he said. “You have a standing building with, you know, significant damage on the interior, but that is just a component of how much fire there was.”

Factors that contributed to the department’s ability to put out the fire were the level of cooperation from the homeowner, who called back with updates and warned the department about the icy roads, and the level of mutual aid they received from nearby fire departments.

In his conversation with the Hinesburg selectboard about his resignation, Cambridge emphasized that he believed that the success of the partnership was due to a level of autonomy he’s had as chief.

“What makes it successful is me treating it sort of as one police department and doing what I see fit,” he said. “I hope some of that stays.”

However, a regionalized police force may not be a panacea or an easy process.

In Vermont, hyper-local control has been historically prized, and Todd Odit said creating a police union district would remove some of that control.

Now, residents vote on the police budget as a part of their budget approval process, but with a regional police force a member town might only have one or two seats on a district board.

“If that entity has the authority to tax the towns, then the voters in the town might not have as much of a direct say,” Odit said.

COURTESY PHOTOS
Hinesburg firefighters take a breather after responding to a Jan. 16 fire off Coyote Ridge.

OPINION

Point taken: Vermonters value local control

From the House

Rep. Chea Waters Evans

It was only a few months, but it seems like forever. I’m back and ready to represent.

First of all, thank you for re-electing me as your state representative. I know no one ran against me, but I still appreciate the support, and please know I don’t take it for granted — these aren’t easy times, and I know it’s

a privilege and an honor to serve my community in this way.

We started back in the Statehouse last week, and I’m still in seat No. 2 on the House floor, and still on the Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee.

I’m pleased to share that I was appointed ranking member of my committee for this biennium. We have a nice bi-partisan mix at the top of the table, with a Democrat as chair and a Repub-

lican as vice-chair, which will be helpful in maintaining a moderate balance as we address some delicate issues. One of our first orders of business is resolving an issue in Bennington where a small number of voters were sent the wrong ballots. The Legislature has constitutional authority to decide what happens with this election, and it’s really interesting and also really serious. It’s also just the nerdy kind of stuff I like to work on.

We all belong to the high anxiety society

is often recommended to people with anxiety. Unfortunately, turns out you don’t just keep the journal, you have to write in it.

I’d like to have less anxiety. Well, that and a trip to the moon. Wait a minute. Who am I kidding? There is no way I’d go to the moon. Do you know how anxious that would make me?

It takes an inordinate amount of time to worry. Doesn’t matter whether it’s feeling anxious about small things like the longevity of front teeth or catastrophic things like a six-miles-in-diameter asteroid hitting the earth again. Granted that happened 65 million years ago, but still, it’s on my mind.

Even if I had oodles of time for anxiety, don’t forget the secondary job that comes with it — all the tasks one should practice to lower their stress levels, like diaphragmatic breathing, calming imagery and muscle relaxation. Doesn’t anxiety know that I’m already busy spinning multiple plates of responsibility? Now I’m supposed to add selfhelp to the list? What happened to just regular help?

I’m not against DIY betterment. Believe me, I’m a self-help worrier…I mean, warrior. I’ve tried it all. At first, meditating went really well. I was best buds with Deepak Chopra until I learned he spends four hours meditating — each day. Plus, he does yoga morning and night, takes 10,000 steps daily and, wait for it, has written more than 95 books. I know self-help isn’t a competitive sport, but really Deepak, can you dial it back a notch?

Keeping a gratitude journal

Truth is, I have much to be grateful for, from the air I breathe to the food on my plate. And that’s not even including the abundance of love from family and friends. My gratitude lists are fantastic. I got so good at being grateful, I appreciated the hair growing out of my husband’s ear.

I know, it’s not a competition, but take that Deepak!

But here’s the thing: I’d write in that blasted gratitude journal every night and still felt anxious the next day. It did not lower my stress level. It just gave me another job to do.

That’s the thing about selfhelp; it’s just another way to feel bad about the things we’re not doing that we should be doing because we’re so busy doing all the other things we also should be doing. My apologies if my logic is difficult to follow. If perhaps your body doesn’t know the feeling of anxiety, check your pulse. After all, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports 83 percent of employees have work-related stress. The American Psychological Association says more than three quarters of adults report symptoms of stress. And that was in 2022. Last year, the APA reported 77 percent of adults worry about the future of our nation and 73 percent worry about the economy. Listen, no one I know is stress-free — hang on, do I need new friends?

I will not list reasons for feeling anxious; just watch the

In more important matters for Charlotters and Hinesburgers: Last week, I was watching football at my friends’ house, and I said, “Did you hear the good news? Property taxes are going down a few percent this year.” To which my friend said, “Yeah, but they’re still higher than they were.” Point taken.

costs would be paid for on a more community-based level, with school districts voting separately for any amounts above that base level.

news. But be careful about the commercials. They use anxiety to get us to buy stuff like security blankets, meditation apps, a blanket that puts out fires, wi-fi security cameras, weighted blankets. I notice blankets are a big deal, which makes me worry I do not have enough of them.

For me, an evening glass of wine soothes my brow and lowers my shoulders. Somehow, it makes room for clearer thinking along with taking the time to just “be” outside of all the “to-dos,” But then the Surgeon General comes in with an advisory saying alcohol raises the risk of cancer.

As if I didn’t have enough to worry about. Previously, moderate drinking was okay. We were even told it could be good for you. At my age, that’s like moving the finish line while I’m pouring my Cabernet.

To help us, author and sociologist Martha Beck wrote a book titled “Beyond Anxiety,” noting, “We live in an epidemic of anxiety.” So why then did she subtitle her book, “Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose.” Gee, Martha, thanks for raising the stakes. Now I have to find my purpose AND get rid of my fear, dread and uneasiness.

What I really need is a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for anxiety. Something that would lift away built-up worries, remove fretfulness from nooks and crannies — you know, just clean stubborn stress away. It doesn’t even have to do a perfect job. I’m okay with a stain of worry. I can tolerate that. I’m just looking for a little less anxiety.

Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning columnist and playwright. Visit carolevf.com.

As I write this, we don’t know what Gov. Scott’s big education reform plan is. I’m hoping it’s a good one. He was planning to let us know on Wednesday what he proposes as a good solution for education finance reform and creating a sustainable and affordable system that will pay for students’ needs and also not break the backs of taxpayers.

I have some questions for all of you, and please let me know if you see me around town or feel free to send an email or text or give me a call.

What do you think about a foundation formula for school funding? In this model, school districts across the state would receive equivalent amounts of money, and any supplemental

The main pro: it will be less expensive for taxpayers. The main con: It might go against our initial Act 60 sentiment, which is to provide equal education opportunities for all Vermont students.

How do you feel about local control? We have a strong tradition in this state of maintaining local control over most aspects of our civic lives. We are one of a small handful of states that have individual school district budgets and teacher contracts, and we are one of maybe two states that don’t have a substantial county system of government. We go straight from local control to state control, without a stop in between. The main pro: We get to decide what we want as a town. The main con: It can be expensive.

Letters to the Editor

Political flags should not be on pole with U.S. flag

To the Editor:

As a one-time Champlain Valley Union director when my children were at CVU, and as a veteran who served my country, I was surprised about flags flying at CVU (“CVU gives students more say in what flags fly at schools,” Jan. 9, 2025).

I suggest that the directors and the administrators review the history of the use of flags and rewrite a clear process for what flags can fly at CVU and why. Let me suggest, from my own history:

• A flag is just a piece of cloth. Anyone can produce a flag.

• The flags we have at government sites represent our sovereign nation and our state of Vermont.

• We ask our citizens to pledge allegiance to the flag of the U.S.A. and the republic for which it stands.

• Every country has a flag.

They are on poles along their borders and ocean ports so that when they let you in, you are expected to respect the laws of that nation.

• The ocean is not sovereign, but all boats carry a flag of the country of origin so it can be seen from afar.

• There is no change of flag on the White House when Biden leaves and Trump arrives. No donkey flag is replaced by an elephant flag. One American flag flies for all.

• Political parties and Black Lives Matter and pride groups are non-profits. They use buttons, tee shirts, advertisements, signs and hats. They may use flags, but they are not the American flag. Our students should have many opportunities to fly flags for recognizing student groups, but not on the flagpole of the flag we pledge our allegiance to.

Carole Vasta Folley
In Musing
Carole Vasta Folley
Rep. Chea Waters Evans
See FROM THE HOUSE on page 7

Governor outlines proposal for creating more housing

During the first days of his fifth term in office, Gov. Phil Scott has emphasized a familiar priority: creating more housing across Vermont. At a Tuesday press conference at the Statehouse, members of his administration outlined how they want lawmakers to do that.

They began by underscoring just how sluggish homebuilding across the state has become, pointing to a new set of legislatively-mandated “housing targets” unveiled by administration officials on Monday alongside a map to track them. If Vermont wants to ease homelessness, grow its workforce, fill its schools and encourage more people to move here, the state will need over 41,000 additional homes by the end of the decade, and over 172,000 by 2050, according to the analysis.

“Right now, we’re only building about a quarter of what we need to meet our targets,” Scott said. “Which is why it’s important we focus on housing this legislative session — especially in areas like appeals and Act 250 regulation to make it faster, easier and less expensive to build here.”

Administration officials want to make it harder for opponents

to block new housing projects, particularly in areas where local and state land-use rules have sought to encourage more housing growth. Reforming the appeals process was a priority for the Republican governor’s administration last legislative session, but few of its recommendations made it to the finish line.

This year, the administration will push to raise the standards for when a neighbor of a proposed housing development can challenge it in court, said Alex Farrell, Scott’s housing commissioner.

mapping process gets underway to determine Act 250’s reach in the future.

Those near-term exemptions have already shown signs of success, prompting developers to move forward with projects they said they wouldn’t otherwise have pursued. The carve-outs are mainly tied to state-designated downtowns and villages, Farrell said, and administration officials

that replaces our farmland,” Scott said. “What we’re asking for is to make it easier and faster to develop in the places where it makes sense, where there’s existing infrastructure, or the ability to add to what’s already there.”

Officials also want to create more opportunities for smaller towns to build that infrastructure.

“Right now, we’re only building about a quarter of what we need to meet our targets.”
— Gov. Phil Scott

“Unless you can demonstrate that the project is out of line with the local and state land-use regulations, it’s going to be really hard to bring an appeal, unless, then, you can demonstrate some really undue harm,” Farrell said of the administration’s proposal, which he said is modeled off a law from Washington state.

The Scott administration also wants to make changes to a major housing and land-use reform law passed last year. That law took aim at Act 250, Vermont’s statewide development review program, and made temporary carve-outs for some new housing projects while a yearslong

FROM THE HOUSE

continued from page 6

What do you think about the proposed Charlotte town charter? Its purpose is to override a law that was passed last year to allow municipalities to approve land use regulations without a town vote. I’m fully supportive of using the democratic process to represent the will of the voters, although to be honest, as I’ve said in public meetings, I don’t think the Legislature as a whole is going to be too excited to roll back laws we just passed less than a year ago.

Pros: It would bring back local control across the board. Cons: It would make it more difficult for planning and zoning committees to do their work.

What do you think about the Affordable Heat Act? There’s no specific legislation that would take the study to

the next level, but the reports are pretty clear that this might not be the best option for Vermonters. I’m conflicted.

Pros: I recognize the need to fight climate change — we shelled out a lot of money for a flooded private road in my neighborhood last year. Cons: The system we proposed might be too expensive for too little impact for Vermonters.

These are issues coming up really soon, and I’d love to get your input before I have to vote or advocate for our community.

I can be reached at cevans@leg.state.vt.us or 917-887-8231. Or you can find me in the grocery store.

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

want to expand them to areas served by water and wastewater infrastructure, to give more housing projects a chance to bypass Act 250.

Scott has long cited the added cost, time, and risk the Act 250 process adds to new housing projects. He said his goal is not to tear down the law, which is heralded by some environmentalists.

“I want to be clear, we’re not asking to get rid of Act 250 and land use regulation altogether, because I think we all agree we don’t want houses to litter our mountainsides or development

They proposed creating a new financing program called “Strategic Projects for Advancing Rural Communities,” which would function like a smaller-scale tax increment financing program. The new program would allow municipalities and developers to borrow funding for infrastructure upgrades needed to build a new housing project against its future value, said Lindsay Kurrle, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

The administration’s housing policy priorities largely mirror the platform of Let’s Build Homes, a new coalition that launched last week to lobby for loosening barriers to building housing for people at all income levels.

But legislative support for the proposed package — which officials said will be introduced as a

bill in the coming days — is so far unclear. Last January, when the Scott administration unveiled its housing omnibus bill, a tripartisan group of backers joined the governor to voice their support. Yet on Tuesday, no legislators took the podium alongside Scott.

Asked if the administration has legislative buy-in for the package, Scott said, “there will be a number of people, I think, that will be interested in this.” Despite last year’s long list of sponsors, the 2024 bill was never taken up in a committee, he noted.

“This is our initiative, and we’ll be able to point to that and hopefully find some support along the way,” Scott said.

Rep. Marc Mihaly, D-Calais, who chairs the House Committee on General and Housing, said in a brief interview that his committee plans to “carefully consider” the administration’s bill.

“It’s really, actually, I think, a good thing that he stepped up and is proposing something concrete,” Mihaly said. “So in the next weeks, we’ll be dealing with it piece by piece.”

This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.

WEDNESDAY

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Hinesburg School offers new mentor program

Everybody Wins! Vermont is celebrating National Mentoring Month by opening a new program at the Hinesburg Community School.

Just before winter break the program kicked off with a book giveaway at the school, children in kindergarten through fourth grade were invited to choose a brand-new book to keep. Janet Gray, program coordinator from Everybody Wins said, “I am so excited to bring this fantastic program to Hinesburg. All kids benefit from connections with adults, all adults benefit from connections within their community, and everyone benefits from sharing a good book.”

Now in its 25th year, Everybody Wins! Vermont has partnered with 21 schools in Vermont and New Hampshire since 2000 to pair over 600 community members annually with children. Pairs meet one day a week over lunch and recess to read books, play games, and build connections.

“Everybody Wins! mentors don’t teach children to read; that’s the school’s expertise. Mentors share their love of reading, language, and books with children,” executive director Beth Wallace said.

Mentors and students often stay together for several years, as long as the child is enrolled. At Hinesburg, pairs can seamlessly transition to Connecting Youth Mentoring when the children enter 5th grade.

“They develop friendships, they read books, they play games, all in the interests of literacy and community. The program is low lift and high reward for volunteers,” Wallace said. “Last year, a busy executive told me, ‘When I started, I wasn’t sure how I was going to make space in my schedule. Now it’s my favorite day of the week, one I would never miss.’”

Any child in grades 2-4 can apply or be nominated for the program. More information, email hinesburg@everybodywinsvermont.org

Youth Mentoring group matches kids with adults

January marks National Mentoring Month, and Champlain Valley School District is celebrating 25 years of Connecting Youth’s mentoring program. The program, founded in 2000, has paired thousands of mentors with local students, providing support

during pivotal moments in their lives.

“Mentoring is a cornerstone of prevention. Beyond the enjoyment it brings, the weekly connection between adult volunteers and students offers a vital opportunity for support,” Tony Moulton, director of wellness and prevention, said. “These interactions help students regulate emotions, feel safe and seen, practice effective communication, make good choices and benefit from the guidance of well-trained, compassionate mentors.”

This year, CY Mentoring serves 184 students in grades 5-12 across the Champlain Valley School District. According to Mentor National, one in three young people will grow up without a trusted mentor to turn to for support outside of their immediate family; CY Mentoring exists to foster meaningful relationships and help close that gap.

“There’s reciprocity in healthy mentoring relationships where both mentor and mentee develop a shared sense of purpose and respect,” Rebecca Martell, CY Mentor Coordinator at Williston Central School, said.

Connecting Youth was founded by a group of volunteer parents from Charlotte and has evolved to be CVSD’s district-wide prevention coalition dedicated to promoting safe and healthy environments for youth while supporting families and caregivers.

Studies consistently show that youth with mentors are more likely to graduate, pursue higher education, and become active, engaged citizens in their communities. These relationships have proven to be invaluable, offering stability, confidence, and opportunities to young people who often face barriers to success.

“Becoming a mentor is not only rewarding but also a lot of fun, “Ivy Enoch, Hinesburg Community School mentor and CY Mentoring alumni, said. “It’s a chance to inspire and connect with young people in our community. It’s an honor to be a positive, supportive adult in a 7th grader’s life, and I appreciate the hour it affords me to step away from (work) to see the world through her eyes.”

For more information about mentoring opportunities, contact a CVSD Mentor Coordinator:

• Hinesburg Community School, Livy Bulger, lbulger@cvsdvt.org / 802-482-6248

• Charlotte Central School, Kate Rooney, krooney@

Hunters took slightly fewer deer last year than average

The final number of deer taken in Vermont’s 2024 hunting seasons will not be available for a few more weeks, but the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says the final tally will be a little over 17,200 deer.  Those deer will provide approximately 3.4 million servings of local venison. The buck harvest will be a little over 9,200, which will be down from 2023 and the previous three-year average of 9,533. The final antlerless deer harvest will be around 8,000, which will be up from the previous three-year average of 7,188. The primary goal of Vermont’s deer management strategy is to keep the deer herd stable, healthy and in balance with available habitat. “Maintaining an appropriate number of deer on the landscape ensures deer and the habitats that support them remain in good condition and productive,” Nick Fortin, the Fish and Wildlife department’s deer project leader, said. The 2024 White-tailed Deer Harvest Report with final numbers will be on the department website in early March.

cvsdvt.org / 802-425-6682

• Shelburne Community School, Alice Brown, abrown@ cvsdvt.org / 802-734-9845

• Williston Central School, Becky Martell, rmartell@cvsdvt.org / 802-871-6046

• Champlain Valley Union, Alison Duback, aduback@cvsdvt. org / 802-482-8921

UVM presents annual Discover Engineering Day

A free day-long event hosted by Vermont 4-H and the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences will expose young people to different engineering fields and career opportunities.

Discover Engineering Day is Feb. 22 from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on the UVM campus.

Students in grades 5-12 are invited to participate to learn about engineering, build skills through hands-on workshops and network with college students, professors and industry professionals.

The deadline to register is Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. To register and for more information, go.uvm. edu/2025.

The event kicks off with

an engineering scavenger hunt involving interactive exhibits that showcase various types of engineering and career pathways.

Afternoon workshops will focus on a range of topics including Python programming, robotics, bridge design, cartilage construction, lift and force and renewable energy, among others.

The annual Discover Engineering Day is sponsored by the Lola and George Aiken Fund as part of National Engineering Week, Feb. 16-22.

Shelburne Museum camp registration is next week

Shelburne Museum’s summer camp registration begins next week. The camps offer children ages 4-15 carefully crafted camp programs that are a playground for budding artists, offering a mix of inspiration and self-discovery.

Advance registration for museum members opens at noon Tuesday, Jan. 28 and closes 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31.

General Registration opens at noon on Jan. 31.

For more information, contact Sara Wolfson, School and Youth Programs Educator, at education@

shelburnemuseum.org or 802-9850922.

Salt week addresses ‘forever pollutant’ road salt Salt prematurely ages roads and bridges and degrades freshwater lakes, streams and drinking water. Just a teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water.

Lake Champlain Sea Grant and UVM Extension are partnering with organizations across the country to elevate the conversations around winter salt pollution and reduction solutions during Winter Salt Week, Jan. 27-31. More information, wintersaltweek.org.

There will be a free interactive webinar for business owners and managers in the Lake Champlain basin on Jan. 27 from noon-1 p.m., with information on the impacts of salting on the environment and practical tips to reduce salt use on business properties while maintaining public safety.

To register, go.uvm.edu/businesssaltwebinar2025.

COURTESY PHOTO

Frost Quakes: The groans of Old Man Winter

The Outside Story

As the winter sun set on Feb. 3, 2023, the Caribou, Maine branch of the National Weather Service was flooded with reports of seismic activity.

James Sinko, the office’s hydrology program manager, recounted Mainers calling in from across the state’s Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Washington counties to describe homes and buildings trembling and deep rumbles emanating from beneath their feet. The previous two months had been warm and rainy, and a fast-moving cold front that day led to temperatures “15-30 degrees below zero, falling at rates of 2-3 degrees every 30 minutes in some locations,” Sinko recalled.

These conditions set the stage for a series of frost quakes, a rare phenomenon some meteorologists and hydrologists also refer to as “cryoseisms.” Unlike earthquakes, which are caused by shifting tectonic plates, frost quakes arise when specific meteorological and hydrological factors coincide.

These unusual seismic events occur when a rapid drop in air temperatures dramatically decreases the temperature of waterlogged soil, typically after rain or a thaw.

“Water in the soil freezes and expands more rapidly than the soil particles can adjust. This causes a sudden rupture of the ice in the soil, generally in the coldest part of the night,” Henry Berry, senior geologist at the Maine Geological Society, said. “The release of pressure can cause effects simi-

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 8

Also, for those interested in learning how salt impacts waterways and trying their hand at being a scientist, Lake Champlain Sea Grant and UVM Extension will host two learning tables on Jan. 28.

The first will be held at the Aiken Center Solarium, 81 Carrigan Dr., Burlington, from 12 to 1 p.m. The second will be at the Burlington Beer Company, 180 Flynn Ave., Burlington, from 4-6 p.m.

“We know that salting roads, parking lots, sidewalks and other surfaces during winter is impacting our waterways and the environment,” Kristine Stepenuck, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, said. “To protect our freshwater for future generations, we need to act now to reduce our use of salt.”

lar to those of true earthquakes, especially explosive noises and high-frequency shaking.”

Frost quakes tend to affect small areas and are more common in certain landscapes than others. They are “generally very localized events,” explained Berry. “In one study where (detection) instruments were set up near each other, cryoseisms were felt and heard in several houses, but not in nearby houses only a few hundred feet away.”

Frost quakes are more likely in open areas, rather than wooded ones, as nighttime temperatures in fields and meadows, which lack the vegetative cover that can trap heat, tend to dip lower than in forests.

While powerful earthquakes can generate catastrophe, frost quakes generally leave behind little evidence of their occurrence.

Louise Fode, warning coordination meteorologist at National Weather Service in Caribou, said that although her office receives reports of frost quakes once or twice a winter, the reports have never included accounts of frost quake-related damage.

Berry noted that most frost quakes are so subtle that they fail to register on conventional detection instruments. However, he said that when frost quakes are more powerful, “long cracks in the ground or in pavement have been found, where the frozen ground snapped.” Sinko added that frost quakes “can sometimes alter underground drainage passages.”

Still, even when conditions seem ripe for frost quakes, they remain rare.

“Cryoseisms require a particular set of conditions, which don’t

Annual ag conference explores crop practices

Field crop growers looking to enhance their operations using cover crops and no-till practices will benefit from attending the No-Till and Cover Crop Conference on Feb. 13, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with registration open at 8 am.

The annual conference features speakers from several states and Canada who will present information on a range of topics to help farmers build resiliency into their cropping systems.

Speakers include Rafiq Islam, Ohio State University, who will explain the impact no-till practices and cover crops have on

happen every year,” Berry said. But, he added, “when the conditions are right, they can come in a bunch,” as Sinko witnessed in northern Maine in February 2023.

Climate change is making New England winters milder, but rising temperatures may not mean fewer frost quakes. Snowpack insulates soil, keeping it warmer than the air. With “little to no snow on the ground,” as happens more often in a warmer world, soil temperatures crash, according to Sinko.

Without a snow barrier, water in the soil is more likely to freeze quickly when air temperatures

drop. Inconsistent snowpack over the winter months could thus lead to more frost quakes. And even amid a pattern of higher temperatures, winter in the Northeast will still feature spells of frigid weather.

“Frost quakes occur during sudden cold events, which can still happen in a warming climate,” Sinko said.

Fode concurred: “Even with warming winters, it will be quite a while before we have winters with no rapid freezing events, so I would anticipate we’ll continue to get reports of frost quakes.”

If a spate of warm and wet

days gives way to a harsh cold spell this season, pay close attention to the ground beneath your feet — you may bear witness to a rare seismic phenomenon.

Colby Galliher is a writer who calls the woods, meadows, and rivers of New England home. To learn more about his work, visit colbygalliher.com. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: nhcf.org.

REPAIRS

soil health, crop productivity and food quality. Odette Ménard, a Quebec soil and water conservation expert, will discuss soil health and compaction, while John Wallace, Pennsylvania State University, will cover weed control in no-till and cover crops. Several University of Vermont Extension researchers will speak, including Juan Alvez, Joshua Faulkner and Shawn Lucas on UVM soil and water research; Heather Darby and Steve Dwinell from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets on current research on neonics; and UVM Extension’s Jeff Sanders and Scott Magnan on precision agricultural management. Fee: $75 or $50 for students. More information, go.uvm. edu/2025ntcc.

Museum exhibit remembers ‘lost’ northern ski hills

Before gondolas, parabolic skis and slope-side condos, skiers in Vermont found their fix on farmland hills with rope tows powered by old truck engines.

After World War II – when the 10th Mountain Division returned home as celebrities, casting a spell of ski mania throughout the nation and particularly New England, where many of them were from – everybody wanted to ski, and hundreds of rope tow operations emerged in Vermont.

Nearly all of them are gone now, their traces hidden beneath new forests and buildings, but a new exhibit at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum is seeking to bring memories of them back to life.

“Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas” opened at the museum last month. The main attraction is an eight-foot-tall map of Vermont that identifies nearly 200 lost ski areas throughout the state.

The rest of the exhibit spans the entire first floor of the museum and features era-specific ski gear, historic photos and vast information about the lost ski areas, sectioned off by region.

Nestled in the Green Mountains, these towns became hubs for skiing in Vermont, but the exhibit also reveals a smaller ski scene in Chittenden County, where towns like Charlotte, Hinesburg, South Burlington, Williston and Winooski all had ski areas that are gone today.

Research for the exhibit began over 20 years ago when Meredith Scott, a curator and former director for the museum, began traveling the state seeking information on lost ski areas she’d heard about. This led her to county fairs, town archives and countless interviews with locals who remember skiing at the early resorts of Vermont.

Poppy Gall, curator of “Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas” and co-chair of the museum’s board, picked up the research two years ago and began shaping information the museum already had for display.

The museum has since discovered nine additional resorts. The current exhibit includes the top half of Vermont, culminating two decades of research conducted by the museum.

“I think when people visit the exhibit, they are mostly amazed by the sheer number of resorts there used to be,” Gall said. “I tell them that Vermonters have always been skiing crazy. It’s just the industry that changed around them.”

Many Vermonters, equipped with wooden planks for skis and strong forearms, learned to ski at these hills. Someone would fire up the tow in the morning and families could ski all day.

“They were community centers, really,” said Gall. “It’s like the community swimming pool in the summer, you know, they had the rope tow in the winter. Parents dropped their kids off in the morning or after school. There were some adults around to kind of supervise, and the kids just skied all day.”

Seven resorts popped up in Chittenden County after World War II, including three in Charlotte, one in Hinesburg, one in

COURTESY PHOTO / GORDON MILLER
Above: A historic photo depicts North Country ski hill in Hyde Park, operating recently enough to make it to the color photo era.
Below: Part two, the current exhibit, includes the top half of Vermont, culminating two decades of research conducted by the museum.

Redhawks beat Wolves after clinch three-pointer

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ basketball

St. Johnsbury 54, Champlain Valley 45: Champlain Valley lost at home to St. Johnsbury on Wednesday, its second loss in three games.

Zoey McNabb had 16 points to pace the Redhawks, who fall

to 6-2. Rose Bunting added five rebounds.

Boys’ basketball

Champlain Valley 42, South Burlington 38: Champlain Valley broke through for a big win over South Burlington on Friday.

Owen Scott hit a three-pointer with under two minutes remaining in the game to put the Redhawks up 38-35 and CVU did not look

back to get the win.

Scott finished with 11 points, while Luke Allen had seven points and nine rebounds. Tyler Simons added 8 points and Adrian Paliling chipped in with seven points.

CVU moved to 6-4 with the win.

Gymnastics

Team scores: Champlain Valley 132.1, Burr and Burton

124.8, Harwood 75.2

Champlain Valley came out on top in a meet with Burr and Burton and Harwood on Saturday in high school gymnastics.

It was a team effort for the Redhawks, who earned the win despite not placing a gymnast in the top three in the all-around competition.

McKena Lesage led the way for CVU, coming in first in the floor exercise and third in the beam.

Warner Babic was second in the vault, Leah Fortin came in third in the vault and Dasha Gaina was third in the floor.

Boys’ icce

hockey

Champlain Valley 6, Colchester 2: The Champlain Valley boys’ ice hockey team won its second game in a row, beating Colchester on Saturday.

Six different players found the

back of the net for the Redhawks, who moved to 3-6 with the win. Brady Jones, Hays Arnoldy, Eric Weinburg, Sawyer Wellman, Jameson Yandow and Kian Ruid each had a goal for CVU.

Ethan Whitcomb added two assists and Jess McCray made 12 saves in goal for CVU.

Champlain Valley also got a win on Wednesday, beating Milton 5-4 in overtime.

Zavier Barnes scored the game winner in overtime, his second of the game. Whitcomb also tallied twice, and Wellman had a goal and three assists.

Girls’ ice hockey

Kingdom Blades 4, Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield 1: The Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield coop girls’ hockey team lost its fourth in a row, falling to the Kingdom Blades on Saturday, 4-1.

South Burlington and the rest near Williston.

While researching resorts in Charlotte, Gall stumbled upon a group of locals who drink coffee together once a week at the Old Brick Store.

“They’d all been living in Charlotte since the ‘70s and were such a wealth of information,” said Gall.

The conversations even led to a new lost resort in Charlotte, Barber Hill, the only remnant of which is a concrete block where an old car was set up to power the resort’s rope tow.

Most of the rope tows in Chittenden County were similarly cobbled together using old

car parts — engines as a power source, wheels to guide the rope and a pile of old metal nearby in case anything broke.

The Hinesburg Ski Association, a rope tow that ran from the mid-60s to the early ‘70s, was powered by a brute of an engine. It ran so hot that the hood of the car was always open and there were cans of oil on standby to cool it down. The car doubled as a warming hut.

Ropes were also essential.

Mickey Cochran, founder of the nearby Cochran’s Ski Area, which began as a rope tow, became renowned for this ability to fix ropes by splicing threads. He repaired countless ropes through-

out the state and helped keep smaller tows running.

“They didn’t think too hard about these machines,” said Gall. “The thinking was, ‘just get them up the hill.’”

Eventually, the hills started closing as insurance rates increased and the state began policing the safety of rope tows. The persistent development of I-89 also closed a few operations, including one in South Burlington.

Still, the memories remain.

“What I love most about this project is all the different stories people have about the lost resorts,” said Gall. “They’re treasures and I’m glad to see those stories live on.”

Sign up for our Friday EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Headlines and news sent directly to your inbox every Friday at 10 a.m.

Sign in and add

COURTESY PHOTO
Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum curator Poppy Gall and longtime skier Larry Heath.

GET CONNECTED

JOIN OUR GROUP OF DEDICATED READERS

Our focus is on community: Real news that residents, homeowners and visitors depend on. From local government and politics to arts, entertainment, food and drink, sports and real estate, Vermont Community Newspaper Group provides comprehensive coverage of everything going on in the diverse neighborhoods that make up our north-central Vermont market.

1. JOIN THE ONLINE COMMUNITY/CREATE AN ACCOUNT. vtcng.com/users/signup

2. SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER. vtcng.com/users/admin/mailinglist

3. EXTEND YOUR PRINT SUBSCRIPTION WITH FREE ONLINE ACCESS; OR, PURCHASE AN ONLINE-ONLY SUBSCRIPTION. vtcng.com/users/admin/service/purchase

OWN A LOCAL BUSINESS AND WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADVERTISING ONLINE?

Reach 105,000+ monthly visitors with the area’s most popular website group. We offer year-long and campaign-style advertising options, weekly e-newsletters, Local & Social and more.

• VTCNG.com

• StoweReporter.com Stowe / Lamoille County

• StoweToday.com Stowe / Lamoille County / Chittenden County

• NewsandCitizen.com Lamoille County / Caledonia County

• ShelburneNews.com Shelburne / Chittenden County

• TheCitizenVT.com Charlotte / Hinesburg / Chittenden County

• OtherPaperSBVT.com South Burlington / Chittenden County

253-2101

or ADS@ stowereporter.com

“We really have to connect this planning process, this land use process, with our housing targets and get specific about what it means to say that we’re going to concentrate growth in these areas planned for growth and to keep that compact settlement pattern,” Schibler said.

In some ways, the new law could place more authority in the hands of local leaders, with the hope of streamlining the Act 250 review process, which has historically slowed down the development process for newer, larger construction. Act 181, which was vetoed by Governor Phil Scott and overridden by the Legislature, is just one bill the Legislature has passed in recent years that focuses on addressing the housing shortage.

The new system simplifies the different categories of designation an area in a municipality could have — such as downtown centers, village centers, planned growth areas and rural areas — into just two: centers and neighborhoods.

Act 181 will also set new housing targets for the region.

While the future land use map is in its draft form, as interim Act 250 exemptions have been pushed out until 2027, town selectboards will eventually have the option to either fully or partially opt out of having Act 250 review for developments in those centers and neighborhoods.

“It’s making sure that if munic-

ipal regulations are in place that adequately regulate development, that that’s how that is done,” Schibler said. “And it puts the power in the hands of the community and not creating this duplicative process that isn’t necessarily connected to your local priorities through Act 250, letting it be more locally driven if that’s what you want.”

For Charlotte, that is most likely to be areas located within its two village centers, as seen in a draft of the map presented to the planning commission last week.

“A lot of this doesn’t actually fit us,” planning commissioner Bill Stuono said. “One thing I’ve argued is that when it comes to

smart growth because of our close proximity to Shelburne village and Hinesburg village, Charlotte really is a good example of smart growth. We’re just the rural portion of smart growth.”

Smart growth describes an approach to planning and development that prioritizes compact built environments while minimizing sprawl, something that other local leaders in Charlotte have said the town has not planned effectively for.

According to statistics from the town’s former planner, Larry Lewack, 96 percent of all development in town since 2000 has taken place in rural areas of town as opposed to those village centers.

Will hold a public hearing at Town Hall, 159 Ferry Rd., Charlotte, VT on the following application during its regular meeting of Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

7:05 PM DRB-25-03-BA Thurgate-Sterling Homes – Request for a boundary adjustment of 1,640 SF at 131 Higbee Rd and adjacent lot.

The town is currently undergoing an extensive land-use project that looks to shift those regulations in its two villages to allow more development opportunities.

The regional commission plans to have the future land-use map and housing targets for each municipality prepared for formal approval by this summer. Schibler said the regional planning commission is likely to make a stop at a Charlotte Selectboard meeting in the coming months.

Hiring

We are expanding!

Recruiter/Workforce Builder

Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs)!

We are expanding!

$5,000 sign-on bonus

We Welcome LPNs and RNs Full and Part Time

We Welcome LPN’s and RN’s Full and Part Time

All Shifts

Vermont’s premier continuing care retirement community seeks a dedicated nursing professional with a strong desire to work within a community of seniors. Wake Robin provides high quality nursing care in a fast paced residential and long-term care environment, while maintaining a strong sense of “home”. Wake Robin offers an opportunity to build strong relationships with staff and residents in a dynamic community setting.

Wake Robin in Shelburne, VT wants to support you in your career growth while working with older adults! We offer scholarships and loan forgiveness programs as well as great benefits, a pristine working environment, work/life balance, and an opportunity to build strong relationships with staff and residents in a dynamic community setting. We are curently hiring for all shifts. Pay starts at $23.50 and increases with experience!

Vermont’s premier continuing care retirement community seeks a dedicated nursing professional with a strong desire to work within a community of seniors. Wake Robin provides high quality nursing care in a fast paced residential and long-term care environment, while maintaining a strong sense of “home”. Wake Robin offers an opportunity to build strong relationships with staff and residents in a dynamic community setting.

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

We continue to offer generous shift differentials; Evenings $2.50/hour, Nights $4.50/hour, and weekends $1.55

Our Recruiter/Workforce Builder is a key member of the HR team setting the standard of “community” as we find and welcome new staff to Wake Robin. While building strong recruiting partnership across the state, our recruiter cultivates new talent pools that support our high standards of care and our service-based mission. Qualified candidates will have expertise in traditional as well as innovative recruitment techniques, employment law, and a keen understanding of federal/state and non-profit resources designed to support employment. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and at least 2-years’ experience as a recruiter or in an HR related field preferred. Given the nature of this position, candidates must include a cover letter in order to be considered.

Apply online at wakerobin.com or call 802-861-1872 to learn more! Wake Robin is an E.O.E.

We continue to offer generous shift differentials; Evening’s $2.50/hour, Nights $4.50/hour, and weekends $1.55. Interested candidates please email a cover letter and resume to hr@wakerobin.com or complete an application online at www.wakerobin.com Wake Robin is an EOE.

https://www.wakerobin.com/contact-us/employment/

Interested candidates please email a cover letter and resume to hr@wakerobin.com or complete an application online at www. wakerobin.com. Wake Robin is an EOE.

Wake Robin is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Hinesburg Selectboard voted to adopt an updated Impact Fee Ordinance at their meeting on January 15, 2025. The purpose of this ordinance is to update fire impact fees to help maintain existing operations.

The full text of the Impact Fee Ordinance can be found on the Town website at www.hinesburg.org, which is updated regularly.

Questions or comments about the amended ordinance can be directed to Todd Odit, Town Manager via email at todit@hinesburg. org via phone at 802-482-4206 or via mail to 10632 Route 116, Hinesburg VT, 05461

Unless a petition is filed pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973, the amended ordinance will be effective as of March 17, 2025.

Explore Your Options

8th Grade Parent Night (or Morning!)

MORNING: Thursday, 2/6 from 8:15-9:15am EVENING: Tuesday, 2/11 from 5-6pm

Explore the Rice academic curriculum and see what sets Rice apart. You’ll have the chance to meet current students, take a tour, and ask questions in a no-pressure setting. RSVP using the QR code below. We look forward to meeting you!

Did you know?

About 40% of families qualify for financial aid!

802-862-6521x2246

bessette@rmhsvt.org rmhsvt.org

Invest in COMFORT

BUDGET

continued from page 1

recurring expenses. In response, the town manager and the selectboard have tried to find ways to restrain expenses.

“As much as possible, we’ve level funded everybody,” Merrily Lovell, selectboard chair, said at the public hearing.

Aside from the change in the police contract with Richmond, which is expected to result in $166,000 of revenue loss for Hinesburg (see related, page 4), there is an estimated decrease in leftover loan funds. According to the budget summary, this includes additional funds from the highway garage construction, the last of which were used this past year to make annual loan payments.

amounts to almost $45,000. The funds will go towards gravel, culvert replacement, the second phase of repaving Richmond Road, and continuing payments on upgrades to town machinery and vehicles.

“As much as possible, we’ve level funded everybody.”
— Merrily Lovell

Due to the flooding this past summer, the town is also budgeting to recoup $25,000 of its fund balance through tax revenue.

Adding to the potential tax burden for residents, a $4 million decrease to the assessed value of Vermont Gas-owned properties have impacted the town’s grand list, halting the modest growth the list has seen over the last four or five years.

“For next year, that means we’re going to be behind the ball some,” town manager Todd Odit said. “Depending on what development happens between now and Apr. 1, which isn’t very much, any anticipated growth in the grand list will be erased by that Vermont Gas reduction.”

In expenditures, the greatest increase comes from capital spending, driven by costs for the highway department, which

The selectboard has managed to settle on an operating budget which will decrease by $1,143 from the previous year. In most departments — with the caveat that the selectboard will need to renegotiate the police contract with Richmond now that Chief Cambridge is set to become a Richmond employee — the board has worked to balance increases in salaries and insurance costs with careful cuts or level spending.

To bring down spending, selectboard members will forgo most of their stipend and completely cut the board’s budget for professional services.

Other significant costs and cuts include $36,000 for well testing and treatment plant maintenance, a cut to land preservation and a reduction in tree planting, and salary costs for filling open positions with the highway department.

Also at last week’s meeting, the selectboard adopted a motion to put retail cannabis on the ballot for Town Meeting Day.

Board members expressed some reservations about how soon anyone would be able to obtain a state license to sell cannabis or rent retail space in Hinesburg, but ultimately decided to leave it up to the voters. Hinesburg plans to hold an informational meeting about its budget in February.

Howard Center adds new mobil unit to help battle substance use disorders

Looking like a cross between an RV and a box truck, Howard Center’s substance use services mobile unit hardly stands out, but for people who can’t get to a Howard Center location, the vehicle could be a literal life saver.

Howard Center recently introduced the new unit, and it is already busy keeping a regular schedule of visits to some of the more rural parts of northwestern Vermont, providing access to treatment for opioid use and other services to people who may not have transportation to brick-and-mortar offices.

The custom-built unit was purchased with grant funding from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“We see folks with all kinds of circumstances and backgrounds,” Andrew Decker, who leads the team staffing the unit, said. “Some people come to the van because they don’t have a car. Others don’t have a phone or a

steady place to stay so it’s hard for them to make appointments. If they know when we’ll be in town or see us when we visit, they just drop in and we’ll help them get what they need.”

Besides being mobile, another benefit of the van is that it doesn’t come with the medical office atmosphere that can be off-putting for so many.

“Some people are just not comfortable in that situation,” Jackie Bray, the program’s physician, said. “A visit to the van should feel like dropping in on friends.”

Van visitors enter an organized space where they can meet with a doctor in-person or through a telehealth call about getting a prescription to treat opioid use disorder, chat with someone about getting other services, or pick up safe use supplies.

The unit currently makes weekly stops at three locations in northwestern Vermont.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.