Shelburne News - 12-21-23

Sustainability

Canary in a coal mine

Shelburne students explore ideal community

Red spruce makes a rebound in Vermont forests

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Page 11

Volume 52 Number 51

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December 21, 2023

Police, committees rally together to help neighbors in need

Menorah lighting

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

As the cold weather arrives and the holiday season rounds the corner, some committees and departments in Shelburne are working in unique ways to ensure that help is available for those who need it.

Based on a list published by the Department for Children and Families every day, there is

PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN

Shelburne turns out for Chabad Vermont’s menorah lighting on the Shelburne town green Dec. 11.

little to no availability in any of the hotels throughout Chittenden County for people experiencing homelessness.

By the end of last month, there were more than 900 people in Chittenden County that agencies were working with to find housing, and 83 of them children.

With Shelburne’s proximiSee NEIGHBORS on page 12

Shelburne budget increases $3 million LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Shelburne’s budget this year sees an increased focus on two areas: investment in town employees and properly funding the town’s capital plan.

“I would like to propose that we think about the budget in terms of theming,” said board member Cate Cross, noting that for years the town has been underpaying its staff. “This year we focus on, for lack of a better term, a people theme where we are actually getting market value for our employees.”

Total current expenditures sit at just under $13 million, a nearly $3 million increase over last year’s approved $10.6 million budget. With that, the current tax rate is estimated at $0.5119, a 4.75 percent increase from the current rate of $0.4945.

For the owner of a $400,000 home, taxes would go up approx-

imately $70.

Of the current proposal, more than $600,000 would go to increase the town’s payroll to bring salaries up to competitive market standards. One of the major issues, town manager Matt Lawless said, was the ability for the town to retain and recruit employees for jobs like police officers and truck drivers. The town also plans to add a project manager to focus on grants to bring in new funds to the town.

Town wide, the cost of health care benefits increased about 12 percent, and total compensation is proposed to increase by 10 percent.

“To get these wages even to the middle of the market is a heavy lift for us,” Lawless said. “Where you see 10 plus percent changes in many of the departments, that’s partially a salary increase.

See BUDGET on page 9

Page 2 • December 21, 2023 • Shelburne News

COURTESY PHOTOS

A program at Shelburne Community School helps kids solve problems, address sustainability.

Shelburne students explore pathways to sustainability ALEX STRAND COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Students at Shelburne Community School had a big problem: The campus chicken coop was heated by a long electrical cord that would get unplugged to mow the lawn.

That’s when a group of industrious middle-schoolers stepped in. They proposed a solar-powered heater to keep their feathered friends — not only at the school but also those living in coops at the students’ homes — safe from the cold.

This was one of the projects created in recent years through the Cultivating Pathways to Sustainability initiative at Shelburne Community School. The program connects Vermont schools to coordinators at Shelburne Farms and Up for Learning, a national organization that helps educators increase student engagement and to teach the future generation about sustainability and climate change.

The program runs the entire school year, during which students conceive projects to address poverty, pollution and other problems in their own communities. A couple of

years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, about 300 Shelburne Community School students in 7th and 8th grades tackled the challenge of “fast fashion,” which refers to the manufacturing of low-cost, often disposable clothing usually made overseas.

“The goal really is for the students to really get a deep sense of what’s happening in their community before they try to make any change,” Jen Cirillo, who for 20 years has been the director of professional learning at the Institute for Sustainable Schools at Shelburne Farms, working with educators to build climate-related lessons into curricula, said. “They’re building relationships with community partners … trying to learn about what are the needs of the community.”

The program focuses on the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals such as reducing poverty, addressing gender inequality or developing affordable and clean energy.

Faced with the daunting problem of climate change, the program seeks to create a space for students to take action and give feedback to instructors. The 18 students at Shelburne school volunteered to take on leadership roles and help instruct their peers.

The students have shared feedback that speaks to their sense of empowerment in the program, according to Cirillo.

“This is the first time that I feel like my voice was really listened to,” she said, recounting their comments. “This is the first time that I felt like I could contribute to the improvement of my community in a meaningful way.”

Following a program-wide kickoff at the start of the school year, each school follows a curriculum specific to its students, with core learning subjects in common, based off the previous 17 sustainable development goals.

“I would say that Cultivating Pathways to Sustainability is really rooted in proj-

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ect-based learning and is rooted in youthadult partnership,” said Katie Ingraham, program director at Up for Learning, which is based in Waterbury and works with schools across the country. “We create cross-generational relationships that have shared power, shared responsibility and shared decision making.”

Pathways to Sustainability ends with a virtual “retreat” for students in the program nationwide to recognize their hard work in their own communities. For the middle-schoolers, the coordinators said, the See SUSTAINABILITY on page 10

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Shelburne News • December 21, 2023 • Page 3

Longtime service

PHOTO BY JULIET JACQUES

Nicholas Mellish joined Shelburne Rescue the summer of 1998 and immediately began serving the community on Sunday runs. His original crew included founding members Lynn Carlson and George Nichols and he has carried forward their legacy to today as he retires from service. Mellish not only served with Shelburne Rescue, but was also a South Burlington Fire Department volunteer for a number of years in the early 1980s, and is a longterm employee of the Red Cross. Throughout his time at Shelburne Rescue he raised a family, trained countless squad members in emergency vehicle operations, was a driver and driver trainer, and also oversaw the maintenance of the facility for many years, committing not just to the operations of the squad but also the squad itself. Above, Shelburne Rescue chief Jacob Leopold with retiring member Nick Mellish.

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Open space fund proposed to triple LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Shelburne residents may be asked on Town Meeting Day to approve a ballot item that would triple the amount set aside for the town’s open space fund.

Members of the Natural Resources and Conservation Commission approved in November a request to the selectboard that would ask residents to approve a penny on the tax rate to be set aside for land acquisition. The total would equal around $170,000 for the open space fund.

Typically, voters are asked to approve a $50,000 stipend at March Town Meeting.

The model would follow neighboring cities like South Burlington and Burlington, which have established conservation and park improvement funds funded by one penny on the tax rate. But Shelburne’s commission has already said its money would be exclusively used to maintain open space.

As the cost of land increases and as Shelburne residents express greater commitment to preserving open space, commission members say voters overwhelming support its annual $50,000 appropriation with nearly 75 percent support.

Last year, the $50,000 ballot item passed 1,077 to 351.

“On Town Meeting Day, it was usually among the highest positive votes on the ballot and clearly the townspeople showed that natural resources protection is among

their highest hopes for the future capital expenditures, this is someof Shelburne, both because of thing that consistently the commuclimate change and the quality of nity has said, ‘We want more open life we enjoy in town,” commis- space, we want more paths, we sion chair Gail Albert said. want more parks,’ things like that.

She said in the early 2000s So, we’re saying, ‘Hey, you want the rate for conservation was it let us dedicate it,’” selectboard built directly into member Matt the budget and it Wormser said.

“Townspeople enabled savings G e n e r a l l y, for conservation to Albert said, the showed that natural grow significantfund is used to ly, but as selectleverage fundresources protection boards changed, ing from private the commission’s third-paris among their annual request ty organizabecame a ballot tions like Lake highest hopes for the C h a m p l a i n item instead of a budget line.

Land Trust future of Shelburne, “We would when a piece of go to the board land becomes both because of with a request available for every year and the purchase. climate change and selectboard would The advangenerally approve tage is that the quality of life we a smaller amount once the board to go on the approves a enjoy in town.” ballot,” she said. purchase, the During the is avail— Gail Albert money town’s monthsable immediatelong community ly, as opposed building exercise this year known to waiting for voters to approve a as Shelburne Forward Together, bond issue. residents narrowed down a few The selectboard has not yet key problem areas in town where decided whether to put the questhey would like to see improve- tion before voters. ment. One of those items —in “I do think an independent addition to affordable housing and revenue source would be appropribike and pedestrian infrastruc- ate at least to put that to the voters ture — was the protection of open and see if people in town are really space. ready to put their money where “In the same way that we set their mouth is so to speak,” board aside (the local option tax) for chair Mike Ashooh said.

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Page 4 • December 21, 2023 • Shelburne News

CRIME & COURTS Shelburne Police Blotter: Dec. 11 - 17 Total reported incidents: 68 Traffic stops: 3 Warnings: 3 Medical emergencies: 22 Mental health incidents: 1 Suspicious incidents: 6 Citizen assists: 1 Motor vehicle complaints: 5 Automobile incidents: 2 Car crash: 7 Animal problem: 2 Theft: 6 Fraud: 3 Assault: 1 Alarms: 3 False alarms: 7 Pending investigations: 6 Dec. 11 at 1:36 a.m., Shelburne police issued tickets for cars parked on Shelburne Road in violation of the town’s winter parking ban.

Dec. 11 at 12:29 p.m., a fraud was reported to police and is under investigation.

Dec. 11 at 11:09 p.m., a caller reported an assault that occurred several years ago. The case is under investigation.

Dec. 12 at 4:33 p.m., an animal bite was reported to police from Shelburne Road.

Dec. 12 at 6:24 p.m., a one-car collision with injuries was

reported on Spear Street and Morse Drive. The patient was transported to the hospital.

Dec. 13 at 1:05 p.m., a fraud was reported to police from Kinney Drugs and is under investigation.

Dec. 13 at 1:20 p.m., a one-car crash with no injuries was reported on Bostwick Road and Wake Robin Drive.

Dec. 14 at 4:28 a.m., a Brentwood Drive resident told police a disorderly man was outside of his residence. Police were dispatched but the man had left the scene before they arrived.

Dec. 14 at 7:32 a.m., a two-car crash was reported on Shelburne Road with no injuries.

Dec. 14 at 12:21 p.m., a fraud was reported from Penny Lane.

Dec. 15 at 11:24 a.m., a two-car crash with no injuries was reported on Falls and Shelburne roads.

Dec. 15 at 4:09 p.m., fluids were leaking onto Shelburne Road after another two-car crash. No injuries were reported.

Dec. 15 at 10:54 p.m., police responded to a verbal dispute at See BLOTTER on page 5

Shelburne News

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PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Rep. Martin Lalonde, D-South Burlington, left, and Rep. Mike McCarthy, D-St. Albans, right, chair and vice-chair repectively of the House Special Committee on Impeachment Inquiry, listen as Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore testifies before the committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Dec. 11, 2023.

Vermont sheriffs call on one of their own, Franklin County’s John Grismore, to resign TIFFANY TAN AND SHAUN ROBINSON VTDIGGER

The Vermont Sheriffs’ Association has called on Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore to resign immediately due to the revocation of his police certification over a violation of the state’s use-of-force policy.

“Sheriff Grismore must put Franklin County’s needs first and the need of the state of Vermont’s first before his own and step down immediately,” the association’s president, Windham County Sheriff Mark Anderson, said at a press conference last week at the Statehouse. “It’s time to look for new leadership to rebuild public confidence and move Franklin County forward.”

Several hours later, in another Statehouse room, Grismore testified for the first time before the House committee investigating whether he should be impeached — and was adamant that he has no plans to step down.

“So, elected officials from other counties have a better read on the ways and means of Franklin County than the residents themselves? I don’t agree with that,” he told lawmakers. “I’m not concerned with what people outside of Franklin County are worried about, or what they have

for opinions, or what they think they’re entitled to.”

The sheriffs’ call for their colleague’s resignation came days after the Vermont Criminal Justice Council voted to permanently revoke Grismore’s law enforcement certification. The council found that he violated the state’s use-of-force policy when he kicked a detained man in August 2022, while second-in-command of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

The decertification is expected to go into effect in the coming week.

In addition to his decertification and the ongoing inquiry into whether he should be impeached by the Legislature, Grismore faces an assault charge stemming from the kicks and an investigation by Vermont State Police and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office into allegations he mishandled finances while working in the sheriff’s department.

Anderson said that seven of Vermont’s 14 sheriffs met for their annual winter conference, where they voted to call for Grismore’s resignation. The sheriffs in attendance represented the counties of Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Orleans, Washington, Windham and Windsor, according to Anderson.

“The public perception of Grismore’s actions have negatively

impacted confidence in the department that resulted in a lack of confidence in law enforcement all across Vermont,” Anderson said at the press conference. He was flanked by five other sheriffs, with another participating in the event by video link.

The revocation of Grismore’s police certification does not remove him from the office to which he was elected in November 2022, since Vermont sheriffs are not required to be certified law enforcement officers.

But in addition to administering their departments, sheriffs usually take on policing responsibilities. So, there will be “impairing factors” resulting from the loss of Grismore’s certification, Anderson said.

Robert Kaplan, an attorney representing Grismore, said last week that the revocation of the sheriff’s police certification would have a “chilling effect” on law enforcement in Vermont. When asked for a response to the remark, Anderson — a member of the state criminal justice council — said law enforcement officers who abide by their training and the policies should have nothing to fear.

“When people make mistakes, See GRISMORE on page 13

Shelburne News • December 21, 2023 • Page 5

Williston asks other towns to help fund justice center COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Williston is asking Hinesburg and Richmond for help in funding the Williston Community Justice Center, a regional group that provides restorative services to resolve civil disputes in local communities that is expected to see its workload climb as its state funding potentially drops.

In a memo to the two towns, Williston Town Manager Erik Wells asked if they could provide a fiscal year 2025 budget allocation for the justice center. Since its inception, the center has been primarily funded through grants from the Vermont Department of Corrections, with some funds provided by the town of Williston, the grantee.

The center serves the towns of Williston, Richmond, Hinesburg, Huntington, Bolton and St. George, as well as parts of Shelburne, Charlotte, Jericho and Underhill — specifically for school referrals.

But in recent years, Wells said, “the future of the grant funding from the DOC has become uncertain, and in the forthcoming legislature session changes may occur for the future of the funding model.”

Cristalee McSweeney is the executive director for the center and is currently its only full-time employee. The center also has dozens of volunteers but has three part-time staffers that work an equivalent of one 40-hour-a-week position.

One former restorative justice specialist left in November 2022, and the center has been working with a temporary staff ever since, Wells said.

With the growing number of cases, and “the growing complexities of cases that we have,” McSweeney said it became “apparent that Williston couldn’t handle the full financial responsibility and that we really were looking for some extra financial contributions from the towns that do receive quite a bit of our services.”

“This is driven by community support. I have 65 volunteers who spend their time caring for their communities, wanting to be a part of their communities and be a part of the solution, which I think is just a beautiful thing,” she said. “But we need to have funding for staff so that everything we’re doing is sustainable, and we’re not experiencing staff burnout.”

There are 18 community justice centers in Vermont, and each county in the state has access

The Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department in South Burlington may be looking for a new home.

That was one of the messages provided to taxpayers during a preliminary Chittenden County budget hearing hosted last week by county officials.

The preliminary estimated tax rate for the coming year is 0.004 cents per $1,000 of property value, according to assistant judges Connie Cain Ramsey and Suzanne Brown. There is not much change in the current rate of 0.00378, county clerk Anne Williams said.

Brown noted that Chittenden’s tax rate, which is a fraction of a penny, is among the lowest. She said Orange County assesses its towns at 2.2 cents per $1,000.

Final work on the budget will

wrap up in January after the judges have time to review some additional equipment requests from the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department, including state-mandated training and continued funding for body cameras.

The judges have indicated they are inclined to no longer fund the $11,000 annual lease for the 14 cameras.

See JUSTICE CENTER on page 13

The preliminary budget is $1,167,261, compared to the current amount of $1,099,006. Funding for the county budget is built into the annual budget for the 19 taxing municipalities for Chittenden County.

See CAMERA on page 12

BLOTTER

continued from page 4 the North Star Motel.

Dec. 16 at 7:38 a.m., a caller reported his vehicle stolen from Edward Drive. A theft report was taken.

Dec. 16 at 1:25 p.m., a retail theft at Shelburne Supermarket was reported.

Dec. 16 at 10:10 a.m., a resident called police to bring their attention to their neighbor’s

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to one. Both Hinesburg and Richmond’s police departments — which are now both overseen by Hinesburg police chief Anthony Cambridge — have memorandum of understanding agreements with Williston’s justice center.

Hinesburg, town officials said, used to have its own community justice center that was grant funded, but that money stopped, so the town joined the regional entity.

“I do think the town does get a benefit out of it. We should contribute something. What that contribution is I don’t know,” Hinesburg town manager Todd Odit said at a selectboard meeting. “But over time this is going to grow. I think the state support is sober 2023.indd 27 going to decline and it’s going celebrate to become more on the communities to fund these.”

Instead of sending minor crimes to the court system, police departments and other law enforcement agencies like prosecutors — as well as agencies like school districts and the Department of Children and Families — can send referrals to a community justice center, where victims can meet with the person who committed a crime against them.

Chittenden Sheriffs seek body camera replacements MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season.

dog, who was barking constantly. An animal control officer was notified.

Dec. 17 at 9:07 a.m., a caller reported a theft of items from their car on Webster Road.

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

11/27/23 3:42 PM

Page 6 • December 21, 2023 • Shelburne News

OPINION

Vermont needs Act 46 for town government Guest Perspective Matt Wormser We’re well into budget season for selectboards around the state, including in Shelburne, where I serve as a board member. And so begins the annual balancing act of trying to disappoint as few

constituents as possible by not funding some essential needs, while keeping taxes as close as possible to the rate of inflation and thus not further burdening tight household budgets.

While pandemic-related funding has helped in recent years, each year the budget process gets a bit trickier — health insurance costs continue to outpace infla-

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tion, workforce shortages mean we need in administrative costs statewide, while to significantly increase salaries to attract broadening educational opportunities for and retain staff and inflation has otherwise most students. driven up the cost of other capital and We need an Act 46 for municipal operating expenditures. government in Vermont. In Shelburne, as Statewide, we have some of the oldest is the case with peer communities, there is infrastructure in the country, with a large a need for core human resources, finance, portion of the municipal workforce nearing information technology, legal and adminisretirement, and not enough workers in the trative support for individual departments, pipeline to replace them. but we often find we’re not large enough By most measures, to justify dedicated staff, Vermont’s state and local nor could we necessarSelectboards and taxes are among the highily find resources in the est in the nation. For that current hiring environvoters across the we do realize significant ment. The same service benefits — good schools, state would welcome gaps and efficiency needs relatively generous public that drove passage of Act services and a commit46 for schools exist with a broader discussion ment to quality of life that increasing urgency at the around how we drew many of us who were municipal level. not born here to the state.

What might a new can deliver higher With that said, those of us model look like? The who recognize the value simplest way might be quality and lower of a healthy public sector to encourage municipal need to be acutely focused service consolidation cost services to meet aligned with the school on the efficient delivery of those services — making district realignment from Vermonters’ needs. the best possible use of our Act 46. In Shelburne finite tax revenues. that would mean the My day job involves advising large towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, health care organizations as to how to St. George and Williston would look for reduce the administrative burden in opportunities to share services across delivering patient care. For the most part the five communities, building upon the this means better leveraging technology, coordination and consolidation that the implementing more efficient workflows school-related initiative drove. and creating economies of scale to ensure County-based services, a rare form that they can deliver both higher quality of government in New England but and lower cost in their operations. common elsewhere, might be preferable Currently there are too many examin more rural parts of the state and drive ples of where our very small state — our further gains in quality and cost. In some 650,000 residents is roughly the same as a instances, having common services being mid-sized U.S. city — is simply not able provided at the state level — for example to realize those goals of providing lower implementing a statewide IT platform to cost and higher quality services. Our 250 streamline municipal government operaor so municipalities are effectively a series tions and services — may well make the of very small organizations delivering most sense. more or less identical services to their As we prepare for the opening of the constituents, and yet there is precious little next legislative session, selectboards and coordination to enable us to achieve scale, voters across the state would welcome a efficiency and purchasing power. broader discussion around how we can In 2015, Vermont passed Act 46, deliver higher quality and lower cost designed to address escalating school costs services to meet Vermonters’ needs. and close service gaps primarily at small, Financially strapped Vermont households deserve nothing less. rural schools. This led to consolidation of 206 school districts prior to the act’s Matt Wormser is a member of the Shelpassage to the 50 or so we have today. It more importantly drove substantial savings burne Selectboard.

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Shelburne News • December 21, 2023 • Page 7

Gov. Scott needs to get serious on affordability Guest Perspective

Rep. Erin Brady Rep. Rebecca Holcombe Rep. Monique Priestley Gov. Phil Scott recently described an average projected increase in education property taxes of almost 18 percent as “unacceptable” and asked school boards to control costs. We agree that people across the state are worried about affordability, from higher tax rates to out of control housing costs. School boards cannot control state level drivers of higher cost any more than they can solve the evils of poverty on their own.

The projected education property tax increases are driven by a projected 12 percent increase in school budgets statewide.

We hope to work with the governor to tackle state level drivers of that education spending.

As one superintendent told the Valley News, many of the factors behind growing school budgets are out of the control of boards, including skyrocketing health insurance costs, our housing crisis, and cost shifting from state to local budgets for a host of human services. We would add use of public-school budgets for what amounts to private benefits.

Here are a few ways Scott could meaningfully reduce property tax burdens: • Lead on health care reform.

Health care spending consistently grows faster than education spending. One in five dollars Vermonters spend is spent on health care. School districts face a 16 percent increase in health care premiums this year — an increase twice the rate of inflation. These increases occur year after year and Vermont increases outstrip national increases, burdening employers and individuals across the state — not just school districts. Sadly, 40 percent of insured Vermonters under age 65 (much of the workforce) are underinsured, meaning their health care costs exceed what their incomes can bear.

Schools cannot fix the health care crisis. The governor can join the Legislature in working on the sustainability of health care spending, a process the Legislature began with Act 167.

• Focus resources on development of workforce housing.

Housing shortages drive up housing costs, locking seniors in homes they struggle to afford and locking young families out of the housing market. That means fewer kids in schools, higher costs per pupil and skyrocketing tax rates.

In a vicious cycle, higher tax rates make it even less likely families will move in.

Scott should lead on developing municipal infrastructure that supports smart development including municipal wastewater systems in the least affordable communities, conditional on development of climate-friendly affordable housing. This would lower the cost of housing development and make higher density possible — where it makes sense.

In turn, this development refills schools, builds the tax base, lowers per pupil tax rates and addresses the workforce crisis.

• Fund state agencies so school districts don’t have to pay for state cuts. The mental health crisis doesn’t go away when the governor cuts state budgets, as he effectively proposes this year by capping the state mental health department’s budget at 3 percent growth — a number half the rate of inflation. Cutting state resources for mental health services displaces these costs onto already strained schools — the payers of last resort.

Adequately funding state mental health services both keeps people healthy and reduces education property taxes.

• Address unfunded school infrastructure liabilities. The administration is aggressively

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testing school classrooms for PCBs, without realistic state investment in mitigation and without a coherent plan for what to do when PCBs are found. This is closing classrooms across the state and forcing school districts to fix these classrooms on their own, driving higher education spending.

They have spent millions of dollars on loud filters that fill hallways, and yet recorded PCB levels are sometimes higher after so-called “mitigation” spending.

Districts already face hundreds of millions of dollars of deferred investments in failing infrastructure. This problem screams for state leadership. The House took a first step by passing H.486.

The governor must get behind this bill and comprehensive approach.

• Confront uncontrolled, poorly regulated private school vouchers. Private school vouchers drive up tax rates for everyone to pay for private benefits for the few. Prior to 1991, the academies were public schools in statute, and they were held to the same rules as public schools.

Now, out of all taxpayer-funded private schools in Vermont, only Thetford Academy and The Sharon Academy commit to open enrollment and the higher quality standards the Vermont State

Board of Education applies to public schools.

While public schools are asked to hold the line, Vermont sends public school dollars to elite prep schools in other states and other countries, driving up the per pupil cost in Vermont schools. Public money is for public education, not private benefit. Any voucher to a school that doesn’t serve a public purpose makes everyone pay more so a handful of people can have taxpayer-funded benefits that most children cannot access.

Enough is enough. We are all worried about affordability.

If the governor is serious about affordability, he’ll step up on health care reform. He’ll respond strategically to the housing crisis. He’ll adequately fund state agencies, so that public schools don’t pick up the bill for state cuts. And he’ll ensure the public education fund is used to provide excellent, equitable and accessible public education for all children.

Rep. Erin Brady of Williston is a public school teacher. Rep. Rebecca Holcombe, Windsor-Orange 2, is a former Vermont secretary of education; and Rep. Monique Priestley, Orange-2, is clerk of the tri-partisan Rural Caucus.

Buying and shopping locally helps independent businesses, which in turn helps all of us shape our community’s distinct flavor, personality and character.

Page 8 • December 21, 2023 • Shelburne News

COMMUNITY Community Notes Lasagna on the menu at January Age Well meal Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are teaming up to provide a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, Jan. 9 The meal will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon and are available for anyone 60 or older. Suggested donation is $5.

The menu is baked cheese lasagna rollettes with marinara and beef, spinach, biscuit, pineapple chunks and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, Jan. 3. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

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

Learn about restaurant tickets

Light show

to dine at participating restaurants at agewellvt.org.

Age Well, church host Frosty Funfair Luncheon St. Catherine of Siena and Age Well are teaming up to offer a Frosty Funfair Luncheon on Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne.

The check-in time is 11:30 a.m. and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation.

The menu features roast pork with sauce, diced cabbage, sliced carrots, home fries, dinner roll, apple cake and milk.

There will also be a 50/50 raffle and door prizes.

Register by Wednesday, Jan. 10. Contact Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, at 802-662-5283 or email kbatres@agewellvt.org.

Tickets are also available at the Age Well Office, 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210; Colchester.

Restaurant tickets will be available for distribution for a suggested $5 donation.

REPAIRS APPRAISALS

Ring Sizing • Cleaning • Stone Tightening • Rhodium Plating

Performed by Our Graduate Gemologists

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Shelburne lit the town tree on Dec. 1.

Shelburne Parks & Rec News Holiday office hours 91 MAIN STREET, STOWE ~ 802.253.3033 ~ STOWE@FERROJEWELERS.COM @FERRO_JEWELERS_STOWE ~ FACEBOOK.COM/FERRO.JEWELERS WWW.FERROJEWELERS.COM

ShelburneNews.com Get the News of Shelburne 24/7

Shelburne Recreation will be closed from 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 22, through Monday, Dec. 25.

All facility rental requests must be confirmed by noon on Friday, Dec. 22, for the holiday weekend.

Crossfit kids Kids can join us right after school to improve general conditioning including a focus on core, strength, agility, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. Based on the principle of movement

mechanics, consistency, form and then intensity, this program pushes for quality movement throughout childhood.

Consistent mechanics translates to higher sports performance and fewer sports injuries for kids.

Research also indicates that exercise is beneficial to cognitive function, which means a consistent training program will have a positive impact on a child’s academic achievement. Participants of any fitness ability are welcome to join as workouts are adjusted to the individual fitness level in a non-competitive envi-

ronment. Sign up for one or both sessions.

Session A dates: Jan. 4 to Jan. 25; registration deadline Friday, Dec. 29. Session B dates: Feb. 1 to Feb. 22; registration deadline Friday, Jan. 26.

Sessions are held on Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Fee is $80 per session, for grades five to eight, led by Nick Mead and Shelburne Field House staff.

See the complete listing of programs and special events at shelburnevt.org/160/parks-recreation.

Shelburne News • December 21, 2023 • Page 9

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A December rainstorm brought flooding to much of the state Monday and caused fast-flowing water to fill the LaPlatte River and surrounding areas in Shelburne. As of Monday night, the river at Shelburne Falls had peaked above 6 feet, the highest it has been since 2019.

BUDGET

continued from page 1 We didn’t do layoffs and furloughs here (during the pandemic) but we didn’t add a lot of staff and we kept the raises to a bare minimum, below inflation, and really fell behind on cost of living and competitiveness. So, the board and I really worry about being able to recruit well.”

The three areas expected to see the biggest jumps are the police department, with an increase of nearly $404,000, Shelburne Rescue at $365,000, and the library, which is projected to go up $131,000 in the current working draft of the 2024 budget.

Although rescue sees the second largest increase in expenditures, Lawless explained that the department is nearly self-funded. Increased insurance billing has increased nearly 80 percent over last year.

A Hickock and Boardman staff analysis conducted last year found that the library, among other departments, was compensating staff at a comparatively low rate.

“We often run with unsafe staffing levels for a public building and the wages are so low that my full-time staff could go to any of our peer libraries — Charlotte, South Burlington — and in some cases make more as a starting librarian than they can make here after working 15 years,” library director Michael Hibbons said.

The demand for public safety is increasing, according to police chief Mike Thomas, and he says the department needs to add a detective to deal with the regional increase in both serious and nuisance crimes.

Nearly half of the proposed increase would go to salaries and overtime. Lawless said while the department was back to 24/7 coverage and 12 full-time officers in May, over the last couple of months that number has dropped to eight full-timers.

Some selectboard members said they

would like to be provided some key performance indicators about what the department is hoping to achieve with an 18 percent increase.

“I feel like we’ve been working pretty hard to get the police funding up to a level where we can attract candidates and granted the environment is very difficult still, but I just want to know, what are our targets here? What are we trying to achieve?” questioned Mike Ashooh, the board’s chair.

Lawless is also working to implement an ambitious five-year capital plan that was originally proposed to add nearly $10 million to the budget over the next five years. Since last week’s meetings, he said, with assistance from the town’s finance committee, he’s worked to slow down that plan, cutting some costs that previously sent the budget just over $13 million.

“We took a hard look at our capital plan and shifted a couple of projects later because we just can’t build four of these projects at the same time,” he said.

On the revenue side, the 1 percent local options tax that was voted on last Town Meeting Day took effect in July, and the estimated revenue for fiscal year 2025 is $1,008,000.

“The town’s annual investment in the capital improvement plan is $1,877,000.

Shelburne’s local option tax is supporting a strong capital plan, from bike paths to fire engines,” Lawless said. Without the tax, the proposed tax rate would jump about six cents, or a tax bill $238 higher for the owner of a $400,000 home, he wrote in a memo to the selectboard.

The town held another budget meeting on Dec. 19 after The Shelburne News went to press and a public hearing has been warned for Jan. 9 on the budget and town’s draft capital improvement plan.

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Page 10 • December 21, 2023 • Shelburne News

Basketballers win, hockey loss in CVU season openers LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ basketball Champlain Valley 55, Rutland 46: Champlain Valley outscored Rutland 17-10 in the fourth quarter to win Saturday, Dec. 16, in the second game of the North-South Classic.

Tucker Tharpe had 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Redhawks, who moved to 2-0.

Jack St. Peter chipped in with 14 points, while Kyle Eaton added 13 points.

CVU went 19-for-22 from the free throw line to help clinch the win.

Girls’ basketball

COURTESY PHOTO

In a Pathways excercise, Shelburne students identify their “ideal community.”

SUSTAINABILITY

continued from page 2

program blurs the sharp divide between their classrooms and their communities, while they learn about global topics crucial to their futures.

“I’m hoping that they have a sense of collective agency,” Cirillo said, and realize they’re “not just alone.”

Instead, she continued, they can say to themselves, “In this

group and my school and as a group of young people, we could really make a difference.”

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

Champlain Valley 47, Rutland 43: The girls opened the season with their second win at the annual North-South Classic, beating Rutland on Saturday.

Elise Berger had 15 points to

Girls’ hockey Kingdom Blades 3, Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield 1: The Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield girls co-op hockey team fell in its opening game of the season, losing to the Kingdom Blades on Saturday.

Sophie Brien had a goal for the CougarHawks (0-1), while Mackenzie Rivard added the assist. Ella Gilbert stopped 29 shots in the loss.

Boys’ hockey Colchester 4, Champlain Valley 3: The boys’ team fell in the consolation game in the Beech Classic on Thursday, Dec. 14

Nic Menard tallied twice for the Redhawks, while Brady Jones added a goal. Jameson Yandow, Trevin Keefe, Henry Bruneau and Ted Connery each had an assist for CVU. The Redhawks also fell to Rice, 9-3, in the opening game of the tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Travis Stroh had two goals and Brady Jones added a goal. Tommy Barnes made 54 saves in a losing effort.

Gymnastics The Champlain Valley gymnastics team beat Middlebury in a head-to-head matchup on Wednesday.

Warner Babic was first in the vault and the bars, while Ruby Opton came in first in the beam and Cadence Haggerty was top in the floor exercise.

Opton, who was also second in the bars and floor, came in first in the all-around.

CVU Nordic skiers, girls’ hockey to build off last year’s momentum LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ hockey

Coach: Matthew Bunting Last season: 12-7-1, lost in the Division I semifinals This season: 0-1 Key returnees: Kerribeth Aldrich, junior, forward; Sophie Brien, junior, forward; Miles Brien, junior, defense; Clark Clark, junior, defense; Ella Gilbert, sophomore, goalie; Mackenzie Rivard, junior, forward; and Megan Rivard, junior, forward.

Prekindergarten Lottery is now open for 2024-2025!

Key newcomer: Eva Mazur, Subs Needed PrekindergartenDaily Lottery is now open for 2024-2025! first year, forward; and Cadence The CVSD Early Education is now accepting applications for Hourly rateProgram of $18.00 per hour.

Tessier, first year, defense. a randomProgram prekindergarten lottery drawing applications for the 2024-25 for school The CVSD Early Education is now accepting a random Outlook: The Champlain year.

This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our schoolprekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2024-25 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity basedValley classrooms which run 10 hours per week. Our school-based Valley-Mount Mansfield co-op Champlain School District is seeking flexible and reliable to enroll in one of ourprekindergarten school-based classrooms which run 10 hours per week. Our schoolclassrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education team enters a new season with a substitute teachers.

Choose assignments based on your schedule, based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate new coach and will look to find its preferred location for within theindistrict and when itcurriculum works for you! provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments all children in an inclusive environments all children an inclusive setting.

Ourfor Prekindergarten Lottery now open for 2024-2025! footing as the season gets underis based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS). setting. OurExperience curriculum isinis based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS). educational settings preferred but not required. way.

Our follow the CVSD school Children will 3 or older by y Education Program is now accepting applications forChildren acalendar. random Our programs follow theprograms CVSD school calendar. who will who be age 802-383-1234 or by stop by our office toare submit your be age 3 school or older September 1, 2024, not eligible for interest. lottery drawing Call for2024, the 2024-25 year.

This lottery iswho for an opportunity September 1, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of kindergarten, and run live in the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Applications are available at the CVSD Central Office 5420 of our school-based classrooms which 10 hours per week.

Our schoolCharlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, andareWilliston to at enter the lottery.

Shelburne, St. George, and Williston eligible to are entereligible the lottery. rgarten classrooms areselected 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that Shelburne Rd Suite 300 Shelburne VT 05482.

Families who are for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their sed, access developmentally appropriate environments for all children anthe inclusive child in a CVSD program access their Act 166infor publicly funded their Act 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds school-based program. riculum is based on the Vermont Earlyfunds Learning prekindergarten for the Standards school-based (VELS). program.

CVSD is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, All applications must be received by(BIPOC), Februaryimmigrants, 5, 2024, andwomen, are located on the CVSD Early and People of Color and All applications must be received February 5, 2024, are LGBTQ+ ollowEducation the CVSDwebsite school calendar.

Children who will bebyage 3 oror older byand at: https://tinyurl.com/CVSDEarlyEd using this QR code. the CVSDencouraged Earlylive Education areonstrongly apply.at: https://tinyurl.

024, who are notcandidates eligible located for kindergarten, and in thetowebsite communities of

Paper applications are available upon request. com/CVSDEarlyEd or using QR code. sburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston arethis eligible to enter the lottery. e selected for the lottery Paper and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program applications are available upon request.

For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program. about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact For additional information, questions about our program, Director or any

pace the Redhawks offense, scoring 12 of the team’s 18 points in fourth quarter. Merrill Jacobs chipped in with 12 points.

Zoey McNabb added eight points and three steals for CVU (2-0).

Bunting has a solid returning roster to lean on as the group works in new players. The CougarHawks will be especially strong on offense, with four returning juniors helping to create the lines.

“Our priorities for the season are building a strong, positive team atmosphere that allows individuals to perform at their best,” Bunting said.

Up next: Wednesday, Dec. 20, against Essex, 7:30 p.m.

Nordic skiing Coach: Sarah Strack Last season for the girls: third in the D-I state championship; Boys: third in championship.

Key returnees for the girls: Stella Laird, junior; Lilyanna Mittelstadt, sophomore, Kate Silverman, sophomore; Annelise Wood, junior; Betty Buehler, senior; Charlotte Crum, sopho-

more; Senja Erickson, sophomore; Annika Johnson, sophomore; Ella O’Neil, sophomore; Kate Sayre, sophomore; and Julia Shrier, senior. Boys: Luke Buehler, sophomore; Owen Deale, senior; Anders Johnson, senior; and William Wallace, sophomore.

Key newcomers for the girls: too early to tell. Boys: Eli Quickel, junior.

Outlook: The Champlain Valley Nordic teams will rely on a roster filled with returning players to compete for the D-I state title.

The top finisher in the D-I freestyle and classic races for CVU — Stella Laird —- will be one of the team’s anchors.

The Redhawks are ready to get on snow and build momentum in the early season races. “Our priorities for the season are building a strong, positive team atmosphere that allows individuals to perform at their best,” coach Strack said.

Be sure to visit our advertisers and tell them: “I saw your name in the Shelburne News.”

Shelburne News • December 21, 2023 • Page 11

Canary in a coal mine: red spruce rebounds hemlock and fir — have flat needles with rounded tips.

Prior to European colonization, our Ethan Tapper three native spruces accounted for around Red spruce (Picea rubens) is one of three 15 percent of all the trees in northern species of spruce trees native to Vermont. New England and New York; in ChittenWhile the other two species — white spruce den County it was a more minor compo(Picea glauca) and black spruce (Picea mari- nent of our forests, about 2 percent of the ana) — are common in the northeastern part trees. While white pine was the tree species of our state, in Chittenden County if we’re targeted in first waves of European timber exploitation in the 1600s talking about spruce, we and 1700s, by the end almost certainly mean red The species was one of the 18th century the spruce. majority of the white While red spruce is of the “canaries in pine timber in the region the most common spruce had been exhausted. It the coal mine” that in Vermont, it is the least was soon discovered that widespread of our three helped scientists red spruce, while smallnative spruces, with a er in stature than white range limited to northern unearth and pine, produced similarly New England and eaststrong, light, straightern Canada, as well as understand the grained lumber, perfect small island populations for many different uses. at higher elevations in the pervasive impacts of In New England, Appalachians. The ranges logging of red spruce of white spruce and black acid rain began in earnest in the spruce, by contrast, extend early 1800s, targeting the across northern New England, the northern lake states and most of Canada, all the way largest and most valuable trees. Around to Alaska. In general, spruces are extremely 1870, it was discovered that wood fiber hearty and rugged trees, capable of surviv- could be used to make paper — previously, paper was made from cloth rags — a discoving where few others can.

In northern New England, northeastern ery that incited much more widespread and Vermont, and higher elevations in Chitten- intensive logging of spruce throughout its den County, red spruce — and balsam fir range. Technological advances and market — is an important component of spruce- demand drove the cutting of smaller and fir forest, a common boreal forest type. At smaller trees, until spruce trees of virtually lower elevations in Chittenden County, I any size were being cut for pulp.

The aggressive logging of spruce in the usually see red spruce scattered throughout warmer, dryer forests — particularly on late 1800s and early 1900s, and the massive south-facing slopes — and in and around forest fires that sometimes followed, led to red spruce being virtually extirpated from wetlands.

Red spruce bark is purple black, broken- many parts of its range, especially at lower up into roundish chips. Their trunks are elevations.

The 1960s found remaining populaalmost always arrow-straight, tufted with dense, olive-green foliage. Spruce needles tions of red spruce in steep decline. The are short and slightly curved, with unmis- species was one of the “canaries in the takably pointy tips. They are the only coni- coal mine” that helped scientists like Dr. fer with needles that are angular in cross Hubert “Hub” Vogelmann at the Universisection, which allows you easily roll them ty of Vermont unearth and understand the between your fingers. By contrast, our pervasive impacts of acid rain on trees and other common short-needled conifers — forests in our region. Vogelmann’s research

Into the Woods

COURTESY PHOTO

Red spruce is the only conifer with needles that are angular in cross section.

connected the decline of spruce and other tree species to air pollution, which contributed to important revisions to the Clean Air Act in 1990.

Recent research has shown that spruce is recovering in Vermont, even spreading into lower-elevation forests. Besides benefitting from reductions in acid deposition because of the Clean Air Act, it is suspected that red spruce is also recolonizing its historic range, spreading back into forests in which it was once common but from which it was lost as a result of logging and land clearing centuries ago.

While I don’t get a lot of opportunities

to manage for red spruce in Chittenden County, I do promote it in the forests that I manage whenever I get a chance. To support red spruce, the most important things we can do are to retain seed-bearing trees and to release established spruce regeneration — finding areas of young spruce trees and cutting the trees overtopping them.

Ethan Tapper is the Chittenden County Forester for the Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation. See what he’s been up to, check out his YouTube channel, sign up for his eNews and read articles he’s written at linktr.ee/chittendencountyforester.

U.S. Forest Service offers tips for snowmobile safety With additional snow expected in coming weeks, the U.S. Forest Service is encouraging riders to put safety first.

According to Green Mountain National Forest officials, snowmobilers should heed all gates and signs and stay off roads and trails that are closed.

Along with snowmobile clubs in Vermont, forest service employees have been clearing trees and other debris from trails, but snowmobilers should exercise caution early in the season as some trees may be weak due to snow accumulation and downed tree hazards are likely.

Weather permitting, snowmobile use is allowed on designated trails within the

Green Mountain National Forest for four months beginning Dec. 16 and ending on Monday, April 15.

“Patrols are aimed at enforcing rules and regulations, monitoring trail conditions and providing visitor information,” John Sinclair, forest supervisor for the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes national forests, said.

Forest officials work closely with state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers to make sure that users of the trail system are respectful, responsible, law abiding and safe.

The Green Mountain National Forest

and VAST maintain more than 470 miles of National Forest System trails that are part of the larger statewide snowmobile network. VAST is one of several snowmobile associations in the United States that has a cooperative partnership agreement with the U.S. Forest Service.

“All of these trails allow mixed uses, so people are snowshoeing, hiking and cross-country skiing, as well as using snowmobiles. Snowmobilers should travel responsibly and yield to other users,” Sinclair said.

The maximum speed is 35 mph on state and federal land.

Forest service employees is also warn-

ing the public about the dangers of riding, hiking and skiing on frozen water bodies; being mindful of fallen trees and other hazards; maintaining control of their snowmobile at all times; keeping to the right; wearing helmets; and staying on designated trails.

Snowmobiles must be legally registered, and riders must be insured and purchase a VAST trails maintenance assessment decal.

Officials also encourage winter trail users to pack a flashlight, cellphone, food and extra warm clothing in case of an emergency.

For trail conditions and closures go to vtvast.org.

Page 12 • December 21, 2023 • Shelburne News

NEIGHBORS

continued from page 1 ty to Burlington and five hotels committee, said.

There have been two instancon the Route 7 corridor in town participating in Vermont’s Gener- es where the program has been al Assistance motel voucher used, Flore said. Since funding program, homelessness has been is so limited, the program is used a regular topic of discussion — only as a last-resort option. Both and sometimes contention — at instances happened on nights selectboard meetings in recent during harsh winter weather.

The first time a young man years.

While officers with the Shel- who was in Shelburne through a burne Police Department stay job share program missed his ride busy with round-the-clock calls, and had nowhere else to go.

“All the shelters were full at they also spend a lot of time talking with people and assessing that point ... and we needed to get any needs they may have, Shel- this kid into at least some housburne police Sgt. Josh Flore said. ing for the night until he could “I think the homelessness that talk to economic services the next day,” said Flore. is occurring, and “What ended up the food inse“I think the happening was curity that is the hotel put him occurring, we homelessness that up and I think he at the Shelburne went to work for Police Departis occurring, and them the next ment underday.” stand that it’s an the food insecurity The second epidemic level. instance involved Because it’s in that is occurring, a person from our own area, the southern part we try to help,” we at the Shelburne of the state who he said. could not pay For officers, Police Department to continue her understanding commute further the resourcunderstand that it’s than Shelburne. es available is “She was a the first step an epidemic level. young woman but sometimes with some mental finding help, Because it’s in our health issues and especially after while we were hours, can be own area, we try to talking to her, we limited.

Flore help.” realized the only explained that place that we a lot of emergency hotlines — Sgt. Josh Flore could bring her, again because of in the state are not staffed at night, shelters fill lack of housing, was into downup and other housing alternatives town Burlington, but in talking to her for a length of time we realcan be scarce.

“The biggest thing is that ized this is a situation where if when we’re talking with people we drop her off downtown, our roadside, which is more the norm feeling was that she was going to for us, really working hard with have a very, very hard time navithem to try to figure out housing gating Burlington,” he said.

In addition to its partnership for the night or at least getting them somewhere where they’re with the social services commitnot sitting out in the middle of tee, police also get support from nowhere with no protection from the volunteers at the Shelburne inclement weather. We’ll try to Food Shelf.

“We’ve given the police get them to where they feel safe department our business card that and comfortable,” he said.

Flore, who is also a member has information about the food of the town’s diversity, equity shelf, how to reach us or call and inclusion committee, said a for emergency food delivery,” unique partnership with the social Pam Brangan, chair of the food services committee came into shelf and the Shelburne Housing being last year as needs intensi- Committee, said. fied.

Brangan said that because Through the social services the food shelf has seen such an community fund, which is allo- increase in need in recent years, it cated $2,000 each year during built a tiny free pantry near town budget season, the committees offices for when the food shelf set up a reimbursement program is closed. Now the team is in the that allows officers, in extreme process of building another one circumstances, to put up an indi- just north of town. vidual at risk in a hotel for the “We are only open six times night. a month and the need has just “I’ve been called at 11 p.m. increased quite a bit over the past at night from Josh Flore saying, couple of years,” she said. “A ‘These people need food,’”’ Sean lot of the folks that are reaching Moran, chair of the social services out to us with needs are staying

Fire training

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

The Shelburne Fire Department trains on roof ventilation techniques recently.

in the motels along Route 7 and we thought that it would be good to have one in the northern part of town where there are quite a few motels and many of the folks that are staying don’t have a car or aren’t sure about using the bus system to come into the village.”

Flore said the partnerships, to some degree, formed out of every day conversations with neighbors.

“A lot of these projects, they don’t necessarily always happen at the committee level,” he said. “They happen by people

and by relationships that are created through the committees and conversation outside of the committees. What ends up happening is you start to put ideas into each other’s minds and conversation occurs, and the next thing you know, it’s happening.”

ees, along with 23 vehicles.

The judges noted that the county incurred some unexpected expenses at the historic courthouse on Main Street, including the construction of a fence to protect employees and taxpayer-owned property.

Courthouse staff members say they’ve been in fear when coming to and from work because of a combination of homeless people, drug users and panhandlers.

Ramsey said in some cases people have been seen checking the door handles of parked cars at the courthouse to see if they are locked. One employee was afraid to get out of her car because of an altercation, she said.

Deputy sheriffs are now paid to be on hand when court employees arrive and leave work. The city has been unable to help.

Ramsey also said the city refused to allow the county to build a 6-foot fence and instead limited it to 3 feet. The judges paid $30,450 for the fence but hope the city will reimburse

the county.

Cain said the city of Burlington has asked the county to keep its parking lot open at night for those coming downtown. She noted that federal and state courthouses do not make their parking areas or garages available for parking after hours.

Cain said the county also had to spend an unbudgeted $30,000 when the city did work on the sewer on Main Street.

There was some discussion about body cameras, and Lt. Allen Fortin of the sheriff’s department, who oversees the program, noted that police agencies can avoid bogus liability claims when cameras are used. He said they will provide the county extra protection.

Gamelin said body cameras are now considered basic police equipment.

He also reported that he paid for 14 Tasers costing $58,000 but should have had the county taxpayers pick up the equipment cost.

CAMERA

continued from page 5 The final budget hearing is 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, at the courthouse on Main Street in Burlington.

Brown asked sheriff Dan Gamelin during the hearing about moving the department, and he said he would like to have more space and better security for department property, including vehicles.

Gamelin said the department has no interest in being in Burlington but would like to be in an adjoining community.

Brown asked the question as the judges noted the current office needed repairs due to salt damage on the east end of the metal building, which the county owns on Ethan Allen Drive at the back of Burlington International Airport.

Ramsey said the initial estimate was about $70,000, but it was later increased to $114,000.

“I’d be interested in a new building,” the sheriff said.

Gamelin, who was sworn in Feb. 1, said his department has 16 full-time and 11 part-time employ-

Shelburne News • December 21, 2023 • Page 13

GRISMORE

continued from page 4 they will usually acknowledge them,” he said. “When I’ve made a mistake, we reflect on it. We look for change. We apologize.

We mend fences. We’ve seen none of that.”

Anderson, along with Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux, also testified before the House committee investigating whether Grismore should be impeached.

Both sheriffs told lawmakers that once Grismore loses his police officer certification, he could have limited access — or none at all — to the most updated training on best practices in policing. That concerns them, they said: Not only could it make Grismore’s job more difficult on a daily basis, but it could also be a liability for his entire department.

In response to questions from the committee, Marcoux said he would have handled the situation in which Grismore kicked a shack-

led man differently — probably by not getting involved at all, he said, since there were two other deputies already in the room.

Had Marcoux acted as Grismore did, “I’d have been horribly humiliated” and then would “probably resign,” the longtime Lamoille sheriff testified.

Anderson said the Vermont Sheriffs’ Association had informed Grismore of the group’s decision to call for his resignation.

Grismore was elected three months after the county sheriff’s office released body camera footage of the incident. He was the only candidate for sheriff on the ballot, though two other men ran competing write-in campaigns.

Seated next to Kaplan at one end of a long table in a Statehouse committee room, Grismore derided the impeachment panel’s work over the course of nearly two hours of testimony, at one point calling it

“a disgrace to all of those who are a party to it.”

“I simply am the latest victim of the media outrage machine — coupled with the ambitions of opportunistic politicians and weak-willed leaders — to face the whipping block,” the sheriff testified. “The law enforcement leadership class has thrown me into a volcano hoping that the horror will be sustained by my sacrifice.”

Tim Doherty, an attorney who is advising the committee, repeatedly pressed Grismore for details related to Grismore’s compensation while working under former Franklin County Sheriff Roger Langevin. Doherty produced what he described as payroll records and copies of checks that Grismore and Langevin had signed off on or approved.

Grismore maintained that all financial records were ultimately approved by Langevin.

JUSTICE CENTER

continued from page 5

A person caught graffitiing a public building, for example, or someone caught shoplifting, may be referred to a community justice center.

From there, staff and volunteers from the community conduct an in-depth intake and try to learn what underlying factors may have contributed to the criminal act, be it socioeconomic or social struggles. After the intake, the person will be set up in a restorative circle or restorative panel in front of staff and community members, and oftentimes come face to face with the victims of the act.

“Our role is to help set them up for success and not to fail,” McSweeney said. “We want to make sure that the people that we’re bringing into the program, number one, have a willingness to accept responsibility, and a willingness to be held accountable, and a willingness to work with people who have been impacted by their behavior.”

While the Williston Commu-

nity Justice Center has seen 200 cases per year on average, according to McSweeney, that caseload is expected to grow following the Legislature’s passage of Act 11 in July, which clears the way for survivors of sexual and domestic violence to take their cases to justice centers rather than the court system.

“Our caseloads as you can imagine will grow exponentially,” McSweeney said. The job is already a lot of work that “falls to my shoulders, and with a growing caseload of direct referrals ... my phone rings 24 hours a day for needs for our communities.”

Wells said in his memo that grant funding for the center will continue for the 2025 fiscal year at least but the town is expecting a $20,000 drop in grant funding from the previous year to $123,000. Williston in fiscal year 2024 contributed $52,000 as well as in-kind services.

Wells said the bottom line for funding in 2025 will be $195,000.

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“After backing out of the anticipated grant award it leaves $72,000 in operating revenue required for the program.”

The thought, Wells said, was to use the population of their communities as a starting point for a possible cost-share program — a method used by Colchester to help fund the Essex Community Justice Center.

In that model, Richmond could potentially contribute $15,840 annually while Hinesburg would provide $18,000, based on a $100,000 total contribution.

In discussing the proposal, Hinesburg town officials indicated that they would prefer a model based on service usage.

“They do lots of things that sound great, but they’re not all happening in Hinesburg,” selectboard member Maggie Gordon said. “So, finding a means of figuring out a percentage of what we should pay needs to be based on services we’re actually receiving.”

The committee took testimony from Langevin earlier in the day, though nearly all of it was held in an executive session. The former sheriff appeared remotely via video.

The panel has conducted much of its work behind closed doors.

Its chair, Rep. Martin LaLonde,

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Shelburne News • December 21, 2023 • Page 15

Horoscope December 21, 2023

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Page 16 • December 21, 2023 • Shelburne News

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