Shelburne News - 2-29-24

Local

School district keeps budget vote on town meeting ballot

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

School board members with the Champlain Valley School District last week voted to keep a budget vote on the March 5 ballot, declining to take advantage of a new state law allowing districts to push the vote back to rework their budgets amid the current state education chaos.

Districts throughout the state were given the option late last week to postpone their budgets to rework and re-warn them to mesh with H.850, the newest state education finance law that was signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott last week.

The controversial law repeals a key provision that administration officials and school board members in the Champlain Valley had been working with for the better part of three years. When Vermont’s most recent education formula, Act 127, passed in 2022, it allowed for a 5 percent tax rate cap for districts statewide.

Meant to soften the blow for districts that found themselves disadvantaged under the new law — like Champlain Valley — the 5 percent tax cap allowed for a 10 percent per-pupil spending limit, meaning that whether the Cham-

Good moon rising

In Shelburne

Town Meeting Day primer

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Melting snow and signs of spring in the air can only mean one thing for Vermonters: Town Meeting Day is here.

The pandemic may have altered the annual meeting for the last four years, but Shelburne is bringing back some of the beloved traditions in an effort to keep the unique spirit of Town Meeting Day alive.

This year, town officials bring back the annual town dinner that happens just before the official commencement of Town Meeting Day. On Monday, March 4, at 5:30 p.m. at Shelburne Community School, Cucina Antica will be catering with lasagna, salad and cookies, followed by an update from Shelburne’s representatives Jessica Brumsted, Kate Lalley and senators Thomas Chittenden and Ginny Lyons. There will also be table displays from some of the town’s committees, boards and commissions.

The cost for dinner is $10 per person, $5 for children under 12 years, and costs are capped at $25 a family.

Town meeting will begin across the hall in the school gym starting at 7:30 p.m. where a vote on

See TOWN MEETING DAY on page 16

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A walker enjoys the stunning architecture, some new snow and a gibbous moon at Shelburne Farms.

Shelburne Pediatrics closes after 35 years

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

For many families in Shelburne and surrounding areas over the last 35 years, stepping into Jeanne Kellner’s pediatric office felt a little bit like coming home.

Set on the second story of an old farmhouse, the office is bright and quaint with cozy carpets, making the waiting area a perfect place for kids visiting for their yearly checkup to break out a new coloring book or toy set that Kellner keeps stocked in the corner.

But come March 15, Kellner is hanging up her lab coat and retiring — a bittersweet move, she said through a few tears.

“It’s been a very emotional past couple of weeks. It’s very sad to say goodbye to our babies, patients and my teens,” she said.

Kellner moved to Vermont in 1987 from Illinois, where she received her education, and has been a faithful resident of the Chittenden County area ever since. Upon her arrival, she began her practice with Charlotte Family Health Center for two years before stepping out on her own venture in 1989 in the same building she’s at today.

me. I opened with only like two charts,” she said, noting that the move was natural for her since she came from a long line of entrepreneurs. “My parents had their own business. I grew up in a family that had their own business. So, I kind of had that mindset.”

Still focused on a smaller clientele, it’s not rare for patients that she saw when they were children and teens to bring their little ones in for checkups now.

Almost everything about Kellner’s practice feels personal, including the famous bearthemed writing pad that she breaks out when hand-writing notes to her clients about what vegetables they should eat, or how many times a day to take cold medicine for a stuffy nose.

“That’s really what pediatricians are all about, I think, keeping people healthy and helping people have healthy habits. That’s why I love pediatrics because you start out with a bit of a clean slate.”

— Jeanne Kellner

It takes a special kind of spirit to be a pediatrician, she said, especially during tantrums and screaming matches when the patient spots the vaccine cart — although, no vaccine is administered without a character-themed Band-Aid to perk up ever teary-eyed child.

and nurturing nature make not-sofun visits less intimidating.

“I think it attracts a certain personality because it seems like other pediatricians are fun too,” she said.

“I opened here, and I had probably four patients that followed

The office, rather than cold and bleak, resembles a comfortable space with loads of natural light and a scenic view from the window. And, of course, the comfort of Kellner’s soft voice

Pediatrics was her last rotation during medical school, and she started to get worried since she wasn’t feeling particularly called to any sort of medical practice yet.

“But I got to pediatrics, and I liked the kids and I just like the energy around kids,” she said. “They’re honest and always tell you what they think.”

While most of her spare time is spent attending conferences and looking to grow her knowledge within the field, she said that her heart has always been in a holistic approach to medicine, which is exactly the reason she loves working with kids so much.

“That’s really what pediatricians are all about, I think, keeping people healthy and helping people have healthy habits. That’s why I love pediatrics because you start out with a bit of a clean slate. I feel like parents and adults would do more for their kids than they

would for themselves,” adding that a lot of her focus now has been on nutrition and studying food science. “Food is medicine.”

Her staff has remained relatively small throughout the years with one office manager, Paula Mathewson, and one nurse practitioner one day a week.

Mathewson, who’s the friendly face that checks families in for their appointments, explained that throughout the past three months since notifications have been sent to patients about the impending closure, families call to say things like, “‘But you were one of the first people that held our baby,’ or the 9-year-old patient who heard the news of the closing from his parents and said, ‘But, I’ve been going there my whole life.’”

For now, Kellner plans to use retirement to travel and see her own family, master more recipes, and maybe even join another book club. But the families she has served over the years will remain close to her heart forever.

“I feel like my practice is my little family,” she said, a few more tears filling her eyes. “I truly hold them on my shoulders.”

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Dr. Jeanne Kellner sits in her exam room holding her famous “bear pad.”

Gardener’s Supply proposes expansion in Shelburne

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Gardener’s Supply, a company that provides environmentally friendly gardening products from its headquarters in Burlington, is set to expand its facilities with a seasonal nursery and retail site at 2545 Shelburne Road — the former location of the old Sirloin Saloon.

David Marshall, the engineer with the project, presented to the town’s development review board last week plans for five buildings totaling 6,432 square feet— including a greenhouse, nursery, point of sale building, and retail space — that would be reminiscent of their classic retail facilities at their other locations in Williston and Burlington.

“The nursery would operate from early May, late April for the heart of the season through fall,” Marshall said. “They would like to stay open for Christmas tree sales and seasonal activities like that. But by the middle of December, they would be pretty much closing up shop in regard to the operations.”

Pat Pearsall, the retail operations manager for Gardener’s Supply, explained that although this location will be much smaller than the company’s other sites, it will still provide fan favorites like potted plants and other limited gardening supplies like soil, fertilizer, seeds and a few other natural adjacencies.

“This particular operation is not going to be a year-round operation,” Pearsall said. “Most of the business we will do will be outside so the building is going to be small, mostly for our employees. Most of the space outside is going to be potted plants on the ground or on benches. So pretty

movable.”

This property sat vacant since the Sirloin Saloon closed in 2008 until a food truck owned and operated by Morgan Brook Farm opened seasonally just last year. It’s set to return this summer.

Pearsall said Gardener’s Supply is excited to work with the food truck to create a unique experience for people looking to get food, but still having access to their open garden area.

The plan, which is set to mimic a more complex garden roadside stand, is also a new concept for the company as they look toward expansion options different than just their traditional retail stores.

“This is also a concept for us: Does this work? Is this something we can do somewhere else?” Pearsall said.

The site will have 50 parking spaces, but the project will also

include a pedestrian walkway from Route 7 into the site with bicycle parking provided near the main entrance.

Keeping in line with the company’s dedication to environmentally friendly resources, the small 72 square-foot point-ofsale building is made entirely out of recycled water bottles and has solar-power capability, although since business hours are set to run from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. it’s not anticipated to use much electricity.

“It’s shaped like a container, and we did brand it with our mission statement and our logo,” said Pearsall.

Although there was some voiced concern around the anticipated influx of traffic, the approval was granted by the review board last week, and the team is set to open its doors in just two months.

COURTESY PHOTO

Gardener’s Supply’s Williston location features a sizeable retail space, but the proposed garden center in Shelburne will focus mostly on growing things.

CRIME & COURTS

Shelburne Police Blotter: Feb. 19-25

Total reported incidents: 50

Traffic stops: 16

Warnings: 16

Medical emergencies: 17

Mental health incidents: 2

Suspicious incidents: 5

Domestic incidents: 1

Directed patrols: 12

Agency assists: 3

Citizen assists: 3

Welfare check: 1

Motor vehicle complaints: 1

Automobile incidents: 1

Car crash: 1

Animal problem: 1

Noise disturbance: 2

Theft: 4

Trespassing: 2

Alarms: 4

False alarms: 1

Pending investigations: 3

911 Hang-up calls: 1

Feb. 19 at 6:18 a.m., a pedestrian was reportedly struck by a vehicle on Lakeview Drive near Shelburne Road. The patient was transported to the hospital, and police say they are in stable condition.

Feb. 19 at 1:47 p.m., a retail theft was reported at Shelburne Market. Officers located the individual and issued them a trespass notice.

Feb. 20 at 5:11 p.m., a retail theft

was reported at Tractor Supply. The case is under investigation.

Feb. 21 at 8:12 a.m., a caller told police someone was illegally dumping trash on Turtle Lane. Police are investigating.

Feb. 21 at 1:34 p.m., officers responded to reported verbal dispute between two truck drivers at Fiddlehead brewery. Police assisted in mediating the dispute.

Feb. 22 at 8:42 a.m., a caller told police that an individual was soliciting his business at Wake Robin and refused to leave the property when asked by security. Police issued the individual a trespass notice.

Feb. 22 at 11:20 a.m., police asked a Toad Lane resident to keep the noise down after neighbors complained.

Feb. 24 at 4:46 p.m., police are investigating a retail theft that occurred at Kinney Drugs.

Feb. 25 at 11:18 a.m., another retail theft was reported at Kinney Drugs and officers are investigating.

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

Shelburne News

Officer who disparaged migrant worker, quits Shelburne board

AUDITI GUHA VTDIGGER

A police officer resigned from the Vermont Criminal Justice Council and the Bristol Police Department Feb. 7, after saying “you’re fucking here illegally” as a migrant worker testified before the council that morning.

Michael Major, who represented the Vermont Police Association on the 24-member council, interrupted the migrant worker, who was speaking in support of a revised fair and impartial policing policy.

Major, a member of the Shelburne Development Review Board since 2019, resigned from that position on Feb. 9 in an email exchange with town manager Matt Lawless.

“I believe the conduct is as unbecoming of an official with the Town of Shelburne, as it is an officer of those other two bodies,” Lawless wrote.

His resignation was announced at the board’s Feb. 21 meeting where chair Mark Sammut thanked Major for his service to the town.

“I would like to thank him for his service for the last few years and wish him the best of luck,” said Sammut. “We’re famous for kind of not acknowledging people’s participation on the board and they kind of just fade in the background. So, I’d like to avoid that.”

County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Daniel Gamelin told VTDigger. Major, who previously worked in the department but left in 2018 after making an unsuccessful bid for sheriff, was re-hired by Gamelin in February 2023.

Later Wednesday, the criminal justice council issued a written statement condemning Major’s remarks, saying “the impact of his words was devastating.”

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The migrant worker, who identified himself as Eduardo, spoke about the urgency of approving the policy, which immigrant rights advocates have long pushed for. The council had planned to vote on it Wednesday but postponed the decision due to new concerns raised by the Vermont Association of Chiefs of Police.

“To many of you, waiting a long time might feel normal, but for us it’s very different. You know this plays into our everyday lives, the reality of dealing with the police is different (for us),” Eduardo said through a translator. He

Vermont State Police Blotter

Feb. 20, 4:07 p.m., Tami Kloss, 56, of Cornwall, was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, after a traffic stop on Spear Street in Shelburne.

added that migrant workers, many of whom are undocumented, are often reluctant to go to the doctor when they are sick, for instance, because they fear being reported to immigration authorities.

A speaker appearing at the meeting remotely with their camera turned off then interrupted, saying, “You’re fucking here illegally, and you’re worried about being safe. Oh yeah.”

Bill Sorrell, the governor-appointed chair of the council, intervened to say, “Who’s ever stating that opinion, it’s not welcome, and wait your turn and don’t interrupt please.”

After participants asked for the person to be identified, Major named himself and apologized for his remark. He also claimed that he had not been addressing Eduardo.

“It wasn’t directed towards the discussion. I was having a discussion with my daughter. I apologize … extremely,” he said. “And it should not be reflected on the person that was talking at the time.”

After council members spoke up to criticize the comments — and question his explanation — Major apologized again and announced his resignation from the council. Later that day, he resigned from his part-time patrol officer position with the Bristol Police Department, according to Police Chief Bruce Nason.

“Mike called me earlier today, I have accepted his resignation,” Nason said in an email.

“Major’s comments do not reflect the views of the Bristol Police Department or the officers that seek to make the Bristol Community safe and welcoming to all.”

Major was hired by the Bristol department in March 2020.

He remains employed as a parttime deputy with the Chittenden

“The Council wishes to reiterate that Mr. Major’s words are not representative of the Council nor of law enforcement in the State of Vermont,” it said in the statement.

After Major made his remarks and before he announced his resignation, several council members interjected to express their dismay. Erin Jacobsen, who represents the Office of the Attorney General on the council, was the first to do so.

“I feel just really discouraged, disturbed, saddened by that comment, Mike Major,” Jacobsen said, calling herself “outraged” and saying she did not find his explanation credible. “Those kinds of comments have no place in this kind of forum. It’s especially damaging when we are here discussing a fair and impartial policing policy. The point of view that you just raised calls into question community trust of law enforcement.”

Another council member, Karim Chapman from the Life Intervention Team, said, “This feels like racial profiling.” Identifying himself as “a Black man in America feeling the fear of being pulled over,” Chapman continued, “this really hits home for me.”

Later, Major spoke up again.

“I just wanted to apologize again to the council,” he said. “And I’ve heard everything the council has said, and I will be resigning my position with the council effective immediately. I cannot apologize enough that it was not directed at the speaker or any member on the council, and I just wanted to apologize again. And sorry.”

To that, Sorrell responded, “All right. Well, perhaps this has all been a teaching moment for any number of council members and others.”

Major’s remarks continued to hang over the council’s gathering.

Liberty Darr contributed to this story, first published by VTDigger on Feb. 7.

Michael Major

OPINION

Legislature to take look at long-term strategies on rising education costs

From the House

Rep. Jessica Brumsted

We’re halfway through the 2024 legislative session. Our work for the second year of this legislative biennium officially began on Jan. 3. We’ve worked diligently on some significant legislation in these first two months, and this report provides a few highlights. Meanwhile, work on our key priorities will continue in the House and in collaboration with the Senate as we debate bills and consider investments prior to an anticipated May adjournment.

Budget

internet access to all corners of the state. Flood damage was less severe than it might have been due to previous investments. Families across the state are signing up to access new child care subsidies, the result of last year’s historic legislation.

As we grapple with this year’s budget challenges, we’re working hard to put dollars behind our priorities. The House budget will make sound investments to enhance the stability and effectiveness of state government, while making sure we fund strategic priorities like flood recovery, housing, public safety and climate resilience. Our goal is to create a budget that meets the needs of Vermonters, at a cost they can afford. We are taking care to make sure Vermont is a place all people can thrive, not just the select few.

Environment

In the first half of the session, the appropriations committee prepares the 2024 budget adjustment — a “true up” of the current state budget that reflects actual revenues and new cost pressures midway through the fiscal year. The committee also takes testimony from all state agencies and develops the fiscal year 2025 state budget.

During the pandemic, Vermont received an enormous amount of federal money. That funding is now spent or obligated, and the House is making sure every last federal dollar is used effectively to create a more resilient Vermont. We are also coming to grips with new cost pressures and needs.

Vermont’s renewable energy standard, a policy passed in 2015, put Vermont’s electric utilities on the path to cleaner electricity from renewable sources like hydro, solar and wind. Since then, the state has committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels, joining the global call to action to reduce carbon emissions and protect our future.

Now, with historic federal funding available for clean energy, Vermont is set to make major progress over the next decade.

As a state, how can we provide a highquality education while controlling costs?

The entire budgeting process is shaped by three realities. First, we do not have pandemic federal funds. Second, we’re still trying to help our neighbors in flood-stricken communities. Third, the committee’s review of proposed state agency budgets reveals underfunded and fragile organizations in need of critical support.

This translates to workforce shortages, agencies that can’t provide the services Vermonters need, upward pressure on wages for state workers and IT systems so outdated they make it hard for employees to do their jobs. In several cases, we’re leaving tens of millions of federal dollars on the table because we have not invested in core systems that would make us eligible to access those dollars.

Despite the challenges, we’re celebrating significant success stories. For example, Vermont is on track to push high-speed

H.289 reflects a remarkable collaboration among Vermont’s electric utilities and environmental groups to bring more renewable energy into the grid faster. The updated renewable energy standard raises electric utility requirements for renewable energy to 100 percent by 2030 for most utilities, with a longer timeframe (2035) for smaller, rural utilities. The bill doubles the amount of new renewable energy built in the state, bringing on good-paying clean energy jobs and better protection from rising fossil fuel energy prices.

To make sure all Vermonters have access to the benefits of renewable energy, the bill also includes a study on current and needed programs for affordable housing developments and customers with lower incomes.

Education

Finally, the unprecedented 2024 school budget increases prompted the House

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Rep. Jessica Brumsted

Lawmakers must fix equalized student formula

Guest Perspective

Matt Wormser

In 2022 Vermont passed Act 127, with the laudable intent of continuing the state’s commitment to providing a quality education to Vermont kids regardless of zip code. Based upon the impact to school spending and tax rates, the results have been a budgetary disaster.

Education taxes for most Champlain Valley School District communities, where I live, will be up as much as 26 percent, for a proposed budget that is up over 10 percent. A similar story is playing out statewide.

I consider myself an advocate for public education, having volunteered for years at our local parent-teacher association, and served on the school board. I have two kids who spent their K-12 years at Champlain Valley district schools and were very well served there. But I am also passionate about ensuring that Vermont is an affordable place to live for my kids when they hopefully return to Vermont, and with a relatively high cost of living, and among the highest overall tax burdens nationally, there is a finite ability for us to raise additional revenues.

At this point, dollars we spend on education are ones we can’t invest in affordable housing, expanded drug treatment, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, climate mitigation or any of a host of other critical priorities. While there is never an absolute either-or tradeoff in public investments, the budget balancing math is ultimately fixed.

The question is what the right amount of school spending is. Based upon U.S. Department of Education data for the 2020-2021 school year, we’re second only to New York among states in per-pupil spending, are roughly 22 percent higher than New Hampshire and Maine, and 50 percent higher than the national average. I am happy to see us investing in our kids, but at this point we are clearly not underinvesting relative to other states.

Are Vermont students achieving significantly higher results for that investment? Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress, our fourth-grade reading, and math scores are now statistically identical to the national average, though we happily fare better at the eighth-grade level.

What’s wrong with Act 127?

First, the Legislature, in effect, created a strong incen-

tive for local school boards to increase budgets statewide by 10 percent, by ensuring that whether a district increased spending by between 5 percent and 10 percent there would be no penalty for overspending. School boards responded to that incentive and warned their budgets accordingly.

The Senate has now approved H.850, which backs out that incentive, but with the months of planning that have gone into budgets on the part of local boards, many districts, Champlain Valley School District included, are proceeding with their initial budgets.

Second, the updated equalized pupil formula in Act 127 used to determine appropriate spending levels does not take statewide cost of living differences into account, simply assuming instead that it costs more to educate students in rural areas, in small schools, and in districts with a relatively high proportion of English language learners or high poverty rates.

The problem is that in Chittenden County, where a high percentage of Vermont students live, the median house costs two to three times more than in rural parts of the state. Housing costs in turn drive up the cost of everything from child care to the cost of a Friday night pizza and that means we need to pay staff more than in other parts of the state for the same standard of living. Unfortunately, it is primarily those higher-cost districts that are penalized the most by Act 127.

Where do we go now?

We need to correct the equalized student formula. If equalized students are going to remain as a driver in Vermont education funding, it needs to accurately reflect the cost of living within a district. The 17 percent cut in student weightings that Act 127 brought to our district will directly hurt our students, and in no way reflects the cost of educating our students relative to lower cost areas of the state.

• School consolidation: While earlier education reform efforts consolidated school districts at the administrative level, much more work needs to be done to drive further administrative efficiencies, and yes, school consolidation as well.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Vermont had over 102,000 students in the year 2000. We were down to 83,000 students last year and are projected to continue to lose roughly 1 percent of students per year into the future. There have been no corresponding efforts at school

consolidation to right size for a smaller school-aged population, and that needs to change.

Smaller schools are far more expensive to run on a per-pupil basis, and Act 127 expands incentives to avoid necessary consolidation decisions. Those incentives need to be removed. Roughly a quarter of Vermont’s 290-or so public schools have entire grades averaging 15 students or fewer, limiting educational resources for the affected kids, and driving up costs for the system as a whole.

• Administrative efficiencies: Vermont’s population is roughly that of a mid-sized U.S. city, and we need to look to where we can drive administrative efficiencies. Our school administration costs per pupil are the highest among states, and driving more administrative

Housing costs drive up the cost of everything from child care to the cost of a Friday night pizza and that means we need to pay staff more than in other parts of the state for the same standard of living. Unfortunately, it is primarily those higher-cost districts that are penalized the most by Act 127.

functions to larger entities can help reduce this. This could mean having the state department of education take on a larger role in special education, human resources, curriculum development, transportation or any of a host of high dollar services normally managed at either the school or district level.

• Facilities investments: Ironically, despite relatively high overall education spending, we’re among the bottom among states in investing in school facilities. Most states provide cost-sharing funds for school construction and renovation; Vermont does not. Statewide school construction aid could be tied to consolidation efforts, with construction aid only going to schools above a certain class-size threshold.

• Re-link local decision-making to local tax rates: A revised education formula could set a baseline per-pupil spending level; for example, the New England per pupil average, and have the education fund ensure funding to that level. If communities want to invest beyond that their tax rates would rise in direct proportion to that. One of my frustrations as a school board member was that local spending decisions were so indirectly linked to ultimate tax rates, which is a problem Act 127 has made substantially worse.

So, what do we do this year?

The Legislature has indicated that education funding, and yes spending levels, is a top priority, and that additional legislation is under discussion. That unfortunately is little comfort to voters heading to the voting booths in the near term to decide on school budgets. It is clear that a major reassessment of how we fund education is in order, with a necessary focus on reducing overall system costs. We likewise need a critical focus on ensuring we’re achieving the results our kids deserve from those investments, and how we achieve a balance between education and other essential needs for the state into the future.

Matt Wormser is a member of the Shelburne Selectboard.

Senator focuses on housing, kids code

From the Senate

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

homeownership through changes to Act 250, municipal zoning and critical state investments.

Children truly are our future, and it is our duty to invest in them and support their health and well-being. I felt strongly about meeting the needs of children before, but it hits closer to home now that I am the mother of a 10-month-old who lights up our lives.

That is why three of my biggest priorities this session are affordable housing, baby bonds and a Vermont Kids Code.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs, I am proud we recently passed a robust affordable housing bill, S.311, with a unanimous vote. It promotes multifamily housing and first-generation

It now has several more stops in the Legislature to balance housing and conservation interests, but I am also proud to have the support of Gov. Phil Scott for this tri-partisan legislation. We also must remember that reducing the property tax burden while maintaining quality education is best achieved by growing the grand list, and that means housing all Vermonters.

It has been a privilege to work with Vermont state treasurer Mike Pieciak on a financial tool that has real potential to close the wealth gap in this state and country. We have been working with national scholars and leaders who have crafted the social policy of baby bonds, which would invest $10,000 in all children born into Medicaid-eligible families. The money is deposited into an interest-bearing account that young people can access to pay for housing, education, training or a business to give them the best possible opportunity to build wealth early in life.

Finally, I am proud to be the lead sponsor on the Vermont Kids Code, as part of a national, bipartisan movement to regulate online platforms so that they protect children’s privacy and well-being. As a new mom, I expect everything from my daughter’s car seat to crib to learning materials to be making her healthier and safer, not harming her.

We currently cannot expect the same of social media platforms, even though they are far more regulated in the United Kingdom and European Union. This would give our kids the same digital protections here in Vermont.

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns. It is a privilege to serve you.

Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Democrat from Shelburne, serves the towns of South Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Milton, Burlington, St. George, Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, Winooski, Williston, Essex and Bolton in the Legislature.

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Affordable housing vital to state’s prosperity

To the Editor:

Vermont is facing an epidemic: a lack of affordable housing.

Families in this state, particularly low-income families and families of color, are struggling to make ends meet and are often living in substandard housing conditions.

This has led to a rise in houselessness, cost-burdens on families and out-migration from the state. All these things threaten the future of the state’s economy and well-being.

According to the Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak, the No. 1 reason that people are leaving the state is due to housing.

Our state has a lack of housing options available for young people who want to start their families

BRUMSTED

continued from page 5

Committee on Education to begin taking exhaustive testimony from educators, researchers, school boards and many others about the future of Vermont education. As a state, how can we provide a high-quality education while controlling costs?

The end of federal pandemic-era funding — coupled with increased student needs, rising health care expenses and employee contracts that reflect inflation — have all contributed to spiraling costs and tax rate increases not seen in recent history. Everyone agrees that now’s the time to look at longterm strategies to tackle either the cost of education, its complex

Letters to the Editor

and careers in the state. Habitat for Humanity estimates that there is currently a lack of over 7,500 units on the housing market for prospective buyers and renters.

For those looking to buy a home, the cost burden is often too high, and lower-income individuals are priced out. Without a stable, decent home, these families are missing out on opportunities to build wealth and contribute to the state’s economy.

Research has shown a correlation between homeownership and increased wealth, with each year of homeownership tending to be associated with an additional $9,500 in net wealth, on average, according to Habitat for Humanity.

Children of homeowners tend to transition to homeownership earlier, lengthening the period over which they can accumulate

wealth, and they have homeownership rates 25 percentage points higher than the rate of children of renters.

In recent months we have seen steps toward much-needed change in this state, such as the passage of the HOME Act last year. These laws make it easier for developers and nonprofit developers to build more housing with higher densities.

But we must do more. We need to make progress, so our state can be a place where its residents can afford a safe, decent place to live. This election season, vote with affordable housing in mind.

Ted Johnson Shelburne

Johnson serves on the board of directors of Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity and was its past president.

News from Pierson Library

Pulitzer Prize finalist visits

Author Daniel Mason will give a talk at 7 p.m. in town hall on Friday, March 1. As a Pulitzer Prize finalist, practicing physician and New York Times bestselling author, Mason brings unparalleled depth to his work.

His latest work, “North Woods,” was hailed as “multitudinous and magical” by Kirkus Reviews. Sharing the town hall stage with the Elizabeth Bluemle, this promises to be a conversation that you won’t want to miss. No advanced registration required.

Shelburne eclipse planning

funding formula, or both. It’s not yet clear what this deep dive into school finance and educational needs will yield, but the current trend is untenable and is hurting Vermonters’ ability to afford the state as a home.

Remember, on the fourth Monday of every month from 8-9 a.m., Shelburne representatives Jessica Brumsted and Kate Lalley, and senators Tom Chittenden, Virginia Lyons and Kesha Ram Hinsdale are at the Shelburne Pierson Library in the community room to listen to your concerns, answer questions and strategize together next steps for our state.

Please note that we have

decided to try having our meetings first thing in the morning rather than at the end of the day to hopefully accommodate more people who might be interested in stopping in to share their thoughts — and a cup of coffee at the beginning of their day! We will be there on March 25 and April 22. Hope to see you there. Please always feel free to reach out through our emails at jbrumsted@leg.state.vt.us and klalley@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. Jessica Brumsted, a Democrat, represents voters in St. George and Shelburne in the Chittenden 5-2 district.

Big things brewing in the sky this April and Shelburne’s in the path of totality. The final all-town eclipse planning meeting led by library director Michael Hibben and Shelburne community development coordinator Kit Luster takes place in town hall on Thursday, March 7. They’ll review all eclipse event details and answer questions. Everyone is welcome to attend and community lead-

ers and business owners and strongly encouraged to join.

Celtic Cats

Éire go Brách to ye Shelburne News reader. Saint Patrick’s Day is coming early to the library as it welcomes the Celtic Cats, The University of Vermont’s group of Irish and Scottish dancers for a tap and soft shoe céilí. Watch and learn about this folk tradition Saturday, March 2, 2 p.m., in town hall.

New film series

In honor of Women’s History Month, the library has curated a series of films screening. Truly an experience for the film connoisseur, the buttery scent of popcorn will fill the air as high-definition films by female-identifying or XX-chromosomal pair-having artists will appear on the big screen.

Featuring movies from 1940 to 2023, with works by Lulu Wang, Kelly Reichardt, Wanuri Kahiu, Dorthy Arzner and Greta Gerwig. Each film will be introduced and artsy discussions will follow. Check out the Pierson Library website for a full listing.

Rice Memorial High School students will perform three shows of the musical, “Into the Woods,” on March 15-17 at Christ the King School in Burlington. “Into the Woods” is an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. The story follows a baker and his wife who want to have a child but are thwarted by a witch’s curse. The two set off on a journey to reverse the curse and bump into fairytale legends, Cinderella and Jack. It’s a dynamic performance with singing, dancing and storytelling with over 35 students involved in the show. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m., Sunday’s show is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adult, $10 for seniors, $5 for students, and children under 11 get in free. Above, Rice Memorial High School junior Lili Diemer of Shelburne is one of the leads in the school’s upcoming musical production.

Egg My Yard supports UVM Children’s Hospital

The Zeta Pi community sorority, Vermont Chapter, is hosting an Egg My Yard fundraiser to benefit The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital.

Order candy-filled eggs to be delivered to your front yard the night before Easter. The cost for 12 eggs is $15; 24 eggs, $25; 48 eggs, $40; and 96 eggs, $50.

Orders are due Monday, March 18.

To order, email Amanda Zetapi at amanda. zetapi@gmail.com.

Lent 2024 schedule at Charlotte Congregational

The church is located on Church Hill Road. For more information, go to charlotteucc.org or call 802-425-3176.

Sunday, March 24: Palm and Passion Sunday, 10 a.m., livestreamed service with a dramatic retelling of the Passion of Jesus Christ. No fellowship time after service.

Monday to Friday, March 25-29: Stations of the Cross, daily 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Stations of the Cross will be set up in the sanctuary for all to use for viewing and prayer.

Thursday, March 28: Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m., rich and meaningful Service of Tenebrae in the vestry with music, candlelight readings and a reenactment of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ.

will preach (livestreamed). Worship service, 11 a.m. with Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen will preach.

Shelburne brings back town meeting town dinner

Shelburne is bringing back its town dinner for March Town Meeting.

On Monday, March 4, at 5:30 p.m. at Shelburne Community School, Cucina Antica will cater a town dinner with lasagna, salad and cookies. Dinner will be followed by an update from Shelburne’s Statehouse representatives.

There will be table displays from some local committees, boards and commissions so stop by and learn what they are doing. The cost for dinner is $10, $5 for people under 12 years old and a $25 cap per family.

Town meeting will be held in the Shelburne Community School gym starting at 7:30 p.m. for consideration of one floor vote, discussion of ballot items and local school board representatives will be on hand. The meeting then recesses until Tuesday morning when the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the town center gym. The town clerk’s office will close at 2 p.m., the day before all elections.

Tour galaxy with Symphonic Winds

In anticipation of the solar eclipse on April 8, the Vermont Symphonic Winds, conducted by music director Lisa Jablow, will present “Preclipse,” a complete performance of “The Planets” by English composer Gustav Holst.

Thursday and Friday, March 28-29: Easter vigil, the sanctuary will be open to all while the vigil is held from 8 p.m. on Maundy Thursday until 3 p.m. on Good Friday, when tradition says that Jesus was taken down from the cross. Sign-up in the sanctuary or email Kim at: charlotteucc@gmavt.net.

Saturday, March 30: noon Easter egg hunt for families in the community, hosted by youth group.

Sunday, March 31: Easter services. Sunrise service, 6:15 a.m., on the front lawn of the church. All who wish to hike to the clearing at the top of the hill behind the church are welcome to do that before or after the service. Rev. Hadley Bunting will lead. Worship service, 9 a.m., Rev. Susan Cooke Kittredge

The concert will take place on Wednesday, March 13, at 7 p.m., at the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester. Vermont Symphonic Winds will be joined by Bella Voce under the direction of Dawn Willis.

Each of the seven movements in the work paints a vivid musical portrait of a planet: in concert order Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Interestingly, Earth is not represented because Holst created the work from an astrological perspective. Since the Earth

Admission at the door is $15, and $10 for seniors and children. Cash and Venmo only.

COURTESY PHOTO

Deborah Bergh

Debby Bergh was a gift to those who knew her. For her children, she nourished deeply felt unconditional love, friendship, support and guidance, adventure and travel, love of nature and sports, and she gracefully modeled being a lifelong learner and devoted volunteer.

Colleagues share that she listened thoughtfully, offered wise counsel, provided important direction, was inclusive in her process, exemplified being of service, and “had a wry smile and great eye contact.”

To friends and extended family, she was a connector, a mentor, an avid walking partner, a literary enthusiast and book club buddy, lover of live music and dance, a fierce advocate for reproductive rights and an engaged Vermont citizen.

Deborah “Debby” Bergh of Shelburne died on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. She is profoundly missed.

Born in 1940 to Josephine Schlotman Mitchell and W. Ledyard Mitchell, Jr., and cherished by her grandmother Stella Schlotman, Debby graduated from Smith College and moved to Cambridge, Mass., where she met Peter Bergh.

Their marriage in 1964 took them first to Denmark and then to Vermont in 1966, where Debby devoted her early married years to her children, community service and life at their home, Mud Hollow. She embraced Vermont life: bird-a-thons, cookie concoctions, Thanksgiving feasts, gardening, tennis groups, keeping track of the endless critters around the house and tirelessly shuttling kids and friends around Chittenden County.

After raising her children, Debby returned to work, establishing herself as a highly respected and valued consultant and coach. As she put it, she found her purpose: “to help individuals and organizations define and create their futures.”

She brought her curiosity, commitment and focus to numerous critical and highly regarded board leadership positions as well, serving Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Wake Robin in Shelburne, the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Audubon Vermont, the Visiting Nurse Association, and many others.

She continues to be adored by her daughter, Allison Bergh, her son, Graham Bergh and his partner, Elizabeth Bowers, and her grandson, Tabor Bergh.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Sara Bass and Richard

Mitchell.

She is also survived by her siblings, Mary Mitchell and Trip Mitchell and his wife, Veda Travis; Dick’s wife, Maureen Hayes-Mitchell; nieces and nephews, Gay von Henneberg Gillies and her husband, David, Antea Middleton and her husband, Andrew, Sara Lee and her husband, Brenton McQueen, Patrick Randak and his wife, Anna, John Randak and his partner, Sue Gritzner, Susan Randak, Zach Mitchell and Eli Mitchell; great-nephews and nieces, Merrick Gilles and his fiancé, Manya Gordon, Sophia Gilles, Ford and West Middleton, Eris Randak and Mesa and Max Gritzner-Randak.

There will be a memorial at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Audubon Vermont or Wake Robin Residents Association would be appreciated.

Stephen Joseph Garcia

Stephen Joseph Garcia, born on April 21, 1948, in Maine, died peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, while in the care of Vermont’s McClure Miller Respite House. He was surrounded by all his closest loved ones.

Stephen was a fun-loving, hard-working man who was tough but had a huge heart. He was gregarious, caring, generous and playful, often found trying to make people laugh and have a good time. He was a crowd-pleaser and could throw a barbecue together with ease, greatly enjoying gathering people up to hang around to share a delicious meal and spend time together.

The man simply loved having fun. He was a star athlete from childhood.

Stephen was a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating multiple different businesses and restaurants throughout the Lake George, N.Y., area. The restaurant business is not for the faint hearted, but it seemed to

come naturally for him. He was a trend-setter and a great entertainer, well-known for his skills and knowledge in the field. He truly loved to cook.

After retiring from the restaurant business in 1997, he lived full-time in Shelburne, where he held a variety of jobs as he neared official retirement. He was an avid golfer and spent as much time on the course as he could.

Steve is survived by his loving partner, Karen Polihronakis; daughters, Danyan Garcia and

Kyla Garcia; stepdaughters, Misty Castaneda (Julio Castaneda) and Maxi Polihronakis; and his grandchildren, Matteo, 7, and Seamus (“SJ”), who was born Jan. 8 and got to meet his grandfather at four days old.

He is also survived by his siblings, Michael Garcia, Joe Garcia and Terry Murray.

Whether he is taking a siesta, or throwing a great fiesta, he is in our hearts and minds forever.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Stephen’s memory to

Shelburne Farms shelburnefarms. org/support-marshalls-woods. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared at bit.ly/ rememberingsj.

Christine Hebert

Christine Elizabeth Auer Hebert, 96, died peacefully on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center, surrounded by her beloved family, after a severe fall at her home on Feb. 14.

Christine was born May 24, 1927, daughter of Charles K. Auer Sr. and Maria Eda Benoit Auer of Burlington. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1945. Christine was very active in music, playing in the high school band as well as chorus and glee club.

At 10, Christine began her career as a devoted church organist playing, mainly for Catholic churches around the Burlington area, as well as many other

Deborah Bergh

Stephen Joseph Garcia

Christine Hebert

Girls’ basketball looks to repeat last year’s championship

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ basketball

Division I Quarterfinals

Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m.

TBA at No. 1 Champlain Valley (19-1)

The Champlain Valley girls’ basketball team is set to defend its Division I state title. The Redhawks have earned the top seed in the playoffs and a firstround bye in the tournament.

The team will take on the winner of No. 9 Brattleboro vs. No. 9 Mount Mansfield in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Hinesburg. The Redhawks faced Brattleboro once — a 50-28 win — and beat Mount Mansfield twice, including a 58-27 win in the final game of the regular season.

CVU, which has won eight games in a row since losing its only regular season game to St. Johnsbury, is looking to advance to the program’s 21st semifinal with a win over its opponent.

A rematch with St. Johnsbury would occur in the D-I final if both teams advance through the brackets, pitting the teams against each other once again in the state championship game.

Girls’ hockey

Division I Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m.

No. 7 Champlain Valley/ Mount Mansfield (3-14-2) at No. 2 Kingdom Blades (16-2-1)

While the results in the win column may not be what the Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield co-op girls’ hockey team hoped for this season, the hardworking group has earned a reputation for not giving up.

SPORTS

CVU-MMU will take that pesky attitude into a D-I quarterfinal matchup with the No. 2 seed Kingdom Blades — another one of the state’s girls hockey co-ops — on Tuesday after press deadline. The CougarHawks lost the two regular season matchups with the Blades, 3-1 and 4-2.

Sophie Brien and Eva Mazur will lead the way offensively for CVU-MMU, while Ella Gilbert will look to backstop the team in goal.

If the team pulls off the upset, it will advance to the semifinals to face the winner of the game between No. 3 Burlington-Colchester and No. 6 Essex.

Boys’ hockey

Division I Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 4:15 p.m.

No. 8 Champlain Valley (6-123) at No. 1 South Burlington (18-2)

The ice team their offense in the playdowns Saturday and hoped to carry that momentum into the quarterfinals on Tuesday after deadline.

CVU beat Essex 5-2 in the playdowns, getting goals from five different skaters. Alex Zuchowski led the way with a goal and two assists while Nick Menard and Calvin Malaney each added a goal and an assist.

The Redhawks now take on top-seed South Burlington, which beat them in both regular season matchups, 3-1 and 3-2. After dropping the last six games of the regular season, CVU is hoping to peak at the right time as the team heads into the quarterfinals.

If they beat the Wolves, CVU would take on the winner of No. 4 Brattleboro and No. 5 Mount Mansfield in the semifinals.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

CVU’s Ollie Cheer makes a basket during the overtime period as the Redhawks’ battle out a 50-48 win over the BFA St. Albans Bobwhites on Feb. 24 in Hinesburg.

OBITUARIES

continued from page 9

denominations. She retired as St. Mark Catholic Church organist in 2022 at the age of 94.

Christine also worked at the telephone company in Burlington as a switchboard operator and later at the Chittenden Bank, retiring at age 62 in 1989.

Christine and her brother, Charles A. Auer, partnered to successfully run the Auer Family Boathouse at the mouth of the Winooski River in Burlington.

Christine leaves her beloved husband of 74 years, Kenneth A. Hebert Sr.; as well as her three children, daughter, Kathleen Hebert of Worcester, Mass., daughter, Karen A. Fay and husband, Patrick of Jericho, and son, Kenneth A. Hebert Jr. and wife, Kate from Holyoke Mass.; grandsons, Nicholaus Fay and wife, Emmi of Hinesburg, Bennett Fay and wife, Melissa of Colchester, and Thomas Hebert;

Boys’ basketball

CVU loses to Seahorses in quarterfinal matchup

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

There is a reason behind the old adage “it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season.”

That was a lesson the Champlain Valley boys’ basketball team learned the hard way on Monday in the Division I quarterfinals at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gym.

After beating No. 6 Burlington by double digits twice in the regular season, the second-seeded Redhawks found themselves in a very different game in the playoffs.

Burlington came out on top in a back-and-forth game, beating the defending champs 59-56 to advance to the D-I finals and, once again, proving how hard it is to beat a team three times in a season.

“They got healthy certainly, there were three guys that were out in the first matchup and two in the second matchup,” said CVU coach Mike Osbourne of the difference with the Burlington squad this go around. “Just having them whole, it gave them the depth that they needed. Their full complement of guards was just that much more disruptive defensively.”

The topsy-turvy game saw the Seahorses pull away for good with about two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Burlington’s Ngang Ateny hit a layup to break a 49-49 tie. The senior then took a pass from Pascal Munezero in the corner and hit a three-pointer to give the Seahorses a 54-49 lead.

“(Ateny) played well and he’s been our anchor kind of all year,” Burlington coach BJ Robertson said. “He plays the post on

defense, then he plays out on the wing on offense. He’s very versatile in his game and he’s a coach’s dream because he does exactly what we want him to do.”

The Redhawks desperately tried to mount the comeback, with Ollie Cheer and Kyle Eaton hitting big shots to keep the game close. But Burlington’s Sawyer Judkins, a first-year, went 5-for-6 from the free throw line to clinch the game.

Burlington will now face No. 1 Rice on Thursday at 8 p.m. at UVM’s Patrick Gym in the championship game.

“Proud isn’t a strong enough word for what I feel about these eight seniors,” Osbourne said. “I can’t ask for more in terms of effort, in terms of attitude, in terms of leadership.”

CVU started out the game well, capitalizing on some early turnovers to score in transition and settled into a 20-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

But the Seahorses found their rhythm in the second frame, ending the half on a 8-0 run to take a 32-30 lead into the locker room. Ateny was again key, hitting a three-pointer, finding Khamis Ali on a breakaway and then scoring on a layup in the final three possessions of the half for Burlington.

“We knew the Burlington ball pressure was going to be disruptive,” Osbourne said. “It clearly was. We were looking to kind of spread around the ball-handling responsibilities some and initially I thought it looked OK.”

The two teams came out in the second half and Burlington tried to pull away early. But the Redhawks started attacking the basket and got to the free throw line. CVU

went 6-for-9 from the foul line in the third quarter to enter the final frame trailing by one.

“We wanted to put pressure on the rim all night long. It’s kind of been our MO all year long,” Osbourne said. “We’ve been able to go out all year long and shoot a lot more free throws than our opponents typically. We wanted to get the ball to the post.”

CVU kept pushing early in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 49 behind more solid shooting from the free throw line. But Ateny went to work with around two minutes to go and the Redhawks could not find the answer.

Eaton finished the game with 22 points to lead all scorers, while Tucker Tharpe added 12 points, including an 8-for-10 performance from the free throw line.

“It’s been so much darn fun to be around for the last four years,” Osbourne said of his senior class, including Eaton and Tharpe. “Phenomenal leaders and phenomenal guys and I miss them already.”

It was the fifth year in a row that Champlain Valley advanced to the D-I semifinals, including capturing the program’s first state championship last season, and it has cemented itself as one of the state’s top D-I programs. It is a level they hope to return to next season with the returning players.

“It’s not easy to get here and it’s certainly not easy to advance on from here,” Osbourne said. “I think the mindset of the rest of the group is the expectation is to get back here and give ourselves a chance.”

CVU finished the season with an 18-4 record.

granddaughters, Erin Hebert from Worcester, Mass., and Rebecca Chalifoux and husband, Timothy Chalifoux of Hinesburg; three great-grandchildren, Devon Fay, and Yvette and Ellery Chalifoux; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Charles K. Auer Sr. and Maria Eda Benoit Auer; and her brother, Charles A. Auer.

Christine was extremely well loved, and everyone who has ever met her, will surely miss her.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, from 10-11 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church, Burlington. Interment will immediately follow at New Mount Calvary Cemetery in Burlington.

Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences please visit readyfuneral.com.

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PHOTO BY AL FREY

The CVU student section and the Redhawk bench cheer on their team as they take the lead in extra time during their 50-48 overtime win over the BFA St. Albans Bobwhites Friday night in Hinesburg.

Gov. Phil Scott signs law repealing cap on tax increases

ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDIGGER

Gov. Phil Scott on Feb. 22 signed into law H.850, a bill that repeals a controversial property tax cap and allows school boards to push back budget votes to lower education spending and, in turn, property taxes.

“The changes made in this bill are a necessary step as Vermonters face a projected 20 percent increase in property tax bills, and in some communities, it could be even

higher,” Scott wrote in a letter to lawmakers. “But to be clear, this bill does not solve our property tax problem. These changes will only reduce rates if school boards adjust their budgets accordingly and local voters support those changes.”

The Senate expedited passage of the bill, which it sent to the governor on Feb. 21. Lawmakers called the “time-sensitive” bill, H.850, a “Band-Aid” in addressing property taxes. But in a spirited floor session last week, many acknowledged the changes

WARNING ANNUAL TOWN MEETING TOWN OF SHELBURNE

The legal voters of the Town of Shelburne are herby notified and warned to meet at Shelburne Community School or via Zoom (details below) on Monday March 4, 2024 at 7:30 PM to hear about and act upon any items not involving voting by Australian Ballot; and to hold a public hearing on items to be voted on by Australian Ballot. The Meeting will then be adjourned and reconvened in the Shelburne Town Center gym on Tuesday March 5, 2024 to vote for Town Officers and to transact any business involving voting by Australian Ballot from the hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

To join Town Meeting Informational Hearing: Use link when event begins: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7564380144?pwd=UmlNUVZGNCtWUEFDMHlMSTFnL21yQT09&omn=85691926962

Meeting ID: 756 438 0144 Passcode: 1763

Dial by your location 929-205-6099 (New York) 669-900-6833 (Texas) 346-248-7799 (California)

Article 1: Shall the Town set the compensation to the paid to the Selectboard for Fiscal Year 2025 as proposed herein? [Note –proposed compensation is the same as in recent, prior years: Chair $1,500 and Members $1,200 each.]

Article 2: To transact any other business proper to come before said meeting.

BALLOT QUESTIONS – to be voted by Australian Ballot

Article 3: To elect all Town Offices as required by law.

Article 4: Shall the Town adopt the Selectboard’s proposed budget of $13,027,637 of which $8,775,102 is to be raised by real estate taxes?

Article 5: Shall general obligation bonds or notes of the Town of Shelburne in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($375,000), subject to reduction from available grants-in-aid and other financial resources, be issued for the purpose of purchasing and equipping an ambulance for Shelburne Rescue?

Article 6: Shall general obligation bonds or notes of the Town of Shelburne in an amount not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), subject to reduction from available grants-in-aid and other financial resources, be issued for the purpose of purchasing and equipping an engine tanker to replace an existing aging tanker for Shelburne Volunteer Fire Department?

Article 7: Shall the Town raise by taxes $100,000 for the purpose of obtaining options and/or acquiring land or rights in land to preserve natural resources and open space; any unspent of that amount to be put into the Open Space Fund?

Dated at Shelburne, Vermont as approved this 30th Day of January, 2024 by the Town of Shelburne Selectboard

/s/________________

Michael Ashooh, Chair /s/___________ /s/__________

Andrew Everett Cate Cross /s/___________ /s/_________

Luce Hillman Matt Wormser

wouldn’t be enough.

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, said the Legislature would need to come up with “groundbreaking” new ways to contain public education costs this year.

H.850 would repeal the 5 percent homestead tax rate increase cap created by Act 127 — Vermont’s most recent education funding law — and replace it with a tax discount system limited to districts that lost taxing capacity under the new pupil weighting system created by the law. The bill also would allow school districts to alter their budgets as lawmakers hope removing the property tax cap would spur school boards to remove spending, thus lowering property taxes.

School district leaders say the spending increases are needed to maintain the status quo due to inflation, rising staff health care costs and teacher salaries and the increased needs of Vermont’s children, an increasing number of whom are struggling with mental health challenges.

Compared to other U.S. states, Vermont ranks at or near the top in terms of public education spending per student and studentto-staff ratios.

Earlier this year, legislators grew concerned that Act 127’s tax increase cap was encouraging districts to add extra money to their budgets, calling it an “unintended consequence.”

Scott’s finger-pointing at lawmakers has become a repeated refrain as Vermonters face a projected average property tax increase of 20 percent, driven by a predicted 15 percent increase in education spending.

The law will also allow school districts to push back budget votes until April 15, as lawmakers hope removing the property tax cap will spur school boards to remove

SCHOOL BUDGET continued from page 1

plain Valley school district approved an $88.5 million budget, or a $105.8 million budget would have no difference in its $1.37 tax rate increase, and would cap the tax rate at 5 percent.

But lawmakers, as they began this year’s legislative session, chastised districts in the state that were utilizing the 10 percent spending limit and the 5 percent cap, drawing what they viewed as excessive funds from the state education fund. Vermont’s education system raises money from town property taxes directly into the state education fund, which then distributes money back to school districts.

H.850 now replaces the 5 percent cap with a discount system limited to districts that lost taxing capacity under the new pupil weighting system.

The Champlain Valley School District is among the most disadvantaged districts under the new weighting system, which seeks to even Vermont’s educational playing field between districts by giving more weight to low-income students, English language learners and students at rural schools.

The Champlain Valley district, which encompasses Shelburne, Charlotte, Hines-

spending. Many districts had planned to put budgets in front of voters on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, which this year is March 5.

It remains to be seen how much money districts might take out of their proposed budgets with H.850’s prompting. Lawmakers in both chambers have also signaled they will consider increasing revenue sources to the education fund, which would also reduce property taxes.

Future cost containment measures were actively discussed on Tuesday in the Senate Committee on Finance, as Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington, and Sen. Thomas Chittenden, D-Chittenden Southeast, mulled ideas like capping spending or increasing the staff-to-student ratio in schools.

Senators homed in on the complexity of Vermont’s education finance system, which some suggested required systemic reform in order to simplify.

Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, advocated for bringing back a tax commission that could study Vermont’s taxes as a whole, thinking about potential changes holistically rather than piecemeal.

He called Vermont’s current tax system “convoluted” and “difficult to understand,” noting that even senators struggle to explain the workings of education finance.

Like Brock, Sen. Russ Ingalls, R-Essex, the only vocal opponent to H.850, called for simplicity.

Act 127 “was really well thought out,” Ingalls said, yet the Legislature “failed so miserably” and “caused so much confusion” that it hadn’t anticipated.

“I can’t go home and tell everybody what we did, what we didn’t do,” Ingalls said, citing the opaqueness of the funding system. “I just think that we need to be better.”

burg, Williston and St. George, lost 17 percent of its weighted pupil share taxing capacity under the law. Only the Norwich School District lost more taxing capacity, according to data published by VTDigger. The North Bennington and Rutland school districts also lost 17 percent.

The Champlain Valley School Board declined to make changes to its $105.8 million budget, instead opting to let the voters decide whether they think the budget was appropriate.

“We do not have the ability as a board to push this budget on anyone. This is the opportunity for the voters to tell us what they think, and that feedback is crucial to us,” Meghan Metzler, the school board’s vice chair and member of its finance committee, said.

The budget, she said, “represents what we do have control over as a district” and continues programming and support services “that have served our students well.”

“There is nothing in this budget that we consider to be irresponsible or unneeded spending,” she said.

SCHOOL BUDGET

continued from page 12

Districts like Champlain Valley that were expecting only a 5 percent increase were in January walloped by the common level of appraisal figures, which added a 13 percent tax rate hike onto the projected 5 percent increase due simply to the housing market conditions in the state.

The common level of appraisal compares the assessed value of properties on a town or city’s grand list to actual property sale prices considered to represent their fair market value. It is used in the state’s education finance formula to determine district’s tax rates.

Because of these factors, much uncertainty remains in an unprecedented budget year for the Champlain Valley as well as districts across the state.

H.850’s new provision leaves the district worse off than it was under the 5 percent cap, but exactly how worse off is unknown. The district won’t know the exact tax rate it will have to set for residents until the state education fund’s yield is set, which, given the fact that many districts are now delaying their budgets, may not be set until May or at the end of the legislative session.

“There are still some unknowns in this process, so we cannot tell you with certainty what the final tax impact will be until the state sets the final yield number later this spring,” district Superintendent Rene Sanchez said. “However, we do know that this community supports our schools so that we can support our children. For that, we will always be grateful.”

A second option would have cut spending to $103.6 million but would have had no substantial impact on tax rates for the district’s member towns.

Gary Marckres, the district’s chief operating officer, said it’s impossible to know what the tax rate would be, but said their best guesses range anywhere from a 19 percent tax rate in Shelburne, to as much as a 30 percent tax rate in Hinesburg.

Under the current budget up for a vote, Charlotte could face

anywhere from a 21 to 28 percent change from last year; Hinesburg could face a 23 to 30 percent change; and Shelburne could face a 19 to 26 percent change.

The second option would have lowered those ranges a bit, but double digits increases would remain: Charlotte residents would have faced a 16 to 23 percent change, Hinesburg residents 18 to 24 percent, and Shelburne residents 15 to 21 percent.

Board members mulled over the possibility of reworking the budget — including using a fund balance and cutting positions that were previously funded through federal grants — but noted that the district was unable to make any impact to the tax rate, school board member Brendan McMahon said, “without completely redoing how we deliver education to our children.”

Angela Arsenault, the chair of the school board, pushed for the board to trim as much as they could as a good faith gesture to taxpayers.

Calling it a “really terrible situation that we’re in,” Arsenault said that it was the school board’s

“responsibility to see what we can do to trim the budget.”

“I think that we have an opportunity to make trims before we have to make massive cuts and I would rather see us do that,” she said. “I do believe we could arrive at a different number that would still allow us to serve out students, our employees and try to help our taxpayers a bit.”

The school board ultimately voted to keep the March 5 budget, with only Arsenault voting no. Before the vote, Metzler noted that “even if we trim, the burden is still double digits.”

“They’re all numbers that are hard to stomach,” Arsenault said.

The move by the school board leaves the district and community holding their breath to see whether voters will approve the controversial budget.

At least one Hinesburg resident said they would not be voting for the budget. Bill Baker, a Hinesburg resident and former member of the Champlain Valley School District, said he would not be supporting the budget but not because of the district’s actions: “We got to tell the state we can’t

SHELBURNE

QUARTERLY WATER & SEWER PAYMENT

D ue Friday, March 15, 2024

Payments must be RECEIVED or POSTMARKED by MIDNIGHT, March 15, 2024.

Late payments are subject to penalty and interest.

Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, March 15, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Department cannot provide any information regarding accounts or receipts for payments.

If any questions please call 985-5120

Office hours for payment in person are Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Police Department is open 24/7

take it anymore,” he said.

Keith Roberts, a board member from Hinesburg, called the budget process “by far the most frustrating” he had seen on his years on the board.

“Our education finance system is broken,” he said. “My plea to our community is, no matter what we do ... there is a large tax increase on the table pretty much no matter what through no fault

of our own, through the fault of inflation and increased costs and because of our completely messed up statewide education financing system.

“Please don’t hold our schools, faculty and staff, and most importantly our students, hostage by voting down the budget because you’re angry about those things that are completely outside of our control,” he said.

TOWN OF SHELBURNE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

District, and the Stormwater Overlay District.

Zoom Information:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87310372549?pwd=M2p2TG1uaVNiU WJoTnlLWXhkRXZ3Zz09

Meeting ID: 873 1037 2549

Passcode: jHbk33

February 29th, 2024

SHELBURNE

3RD FY 23-24 PROPERTY TAX INSTALLMENT

D ue Wednesday, March 15, 2024

Payments must be POSTMARKED or RECEIVED in the TOWN OFFICES by MIDNIGHT, March 15, 2024. Late payments are subject to penalty and interest.

Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, March 15, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Department cannot provide any information regarding your tax account or receipts for payments.

If any questions please call 985-5120 Office hours for payment in person are Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

One cup of salt is enough for a driveway or sidewalk.

TOWN MEETING DAY continued from page 1

compensation for selectboard member will take place from the floor. Discussion on other ballot items, along with a presentation from Champlain Valley School District representatives will begin after the floor vote.

The polls will be open on Tuesday, March 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town Center Gym for Australian ballot voting. The town clerk’s office will close at 2 p.m. the day before elections.

Selectboard race

The Shelburne Selectboard has two open seats and barring any popular write-ins, the two uncontested candidates will join — or stay — on the board.

Matt Wormser, who is seeking reelection to the two-year seat, has been a familiar face on the selectboard for the past two years. He says the decision to run again comes mostly out of enjoyment working with fellow board members, and the dedicated town staff and townspeople who are all “working toward making Shelburne a better place to live.”

Chunka Mui, who will run for the threeyear seat vacated by board co-chair Cate Cross, may be a new face to the selectboard, but he has been an active member of the Shelburne equity and diversity committee.

School board race

Visit rethinkrunoff.org to learn more…

In another uncontested race, Shelburne resident Kate Webb is running for a threeyear seat on the Champlain Valley School Board.

After spending 14 years as the state representative for the Chittenden-5-1 legislative district, Webb says she’s running for the school board to address some of the consequences that have come from the adoption of a new education funding formula known as Act 127.

“I feel like I kind of owe it to the district,” she said.

On top of her time in the Legislature, Webb also has 25 years of experience working in the schools that now make up the Champlain Valley School District. She worked as a special education case manager and speech-language pathologist, primarily in Williston, with stops in Charlotte and Shelburne, until her retirement in 2013.

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

Town budget

Residents will also be asked to adopt the town’s 2025 budget with $13 million in spending, a roughly 21 percent increase over last year.

With a 2 percent increase in the grand list, residents can expect to see a 3.39 percent increase in taxes with an estimated municipal tax rate of 51 cents. That’s up from the town’s current tax rate — just shy of 50 cents.

Of the $13 million, $8.8 million will be raised by property taxes. Other spending will be paid for through a variety of other revenue streams like the projected $1 million the town is set to receive through the 1 percent local option tax approved by voters last Town Meeting Day. Without it, the tax rate would have been nearly 6 cents higher.

Shelburne’s budget this year sees an increased focus on two areas: investment in town employees and funding the town’s capi-

tal plan. Additionally, as the town continues to grow and increase services, public safety — police, fire and rescue — made up a large percentage of spending this year.

Of the $13 million, $5 million has been allocated to employee compensation as most departments saw a 10 percent increase to bring wages in line with the current employee marketplace. With a total health care benefit increase of 12 percent, an additional $1 million is allocated for employee benefits.

School budget

In an unprecedented school budget year with new legislation just passed around education funding, Shelburne residents can expect to see most of their tax bills allocated to school budgets this year.

The Champlain Valley School District unanimously approved $105 million in spending with a hefty property tax increase.

(See related story page 1)

The fiscal year 2025 budget marks a roughly $10 million increase in spending from the current year’s $96 million budget and reflects significant increases in contractually negotiated salaries and benefits, and a double-digit increase in health insurance premiums affecting many school districts, towns and businesses throughout the state.

This year’s budget, approved last March, estimated 7.5 percent more in spending than the previous fiscal year and was driven by similar factors, like salary increase obligations and health insurance costs.

Additionally, residents will be asked to approve a $3.5 million bond to complete previously approved infrastructure projects. The bond, if approved, would go toward financing a list of capital improvement projects throughout the district’s schools. Residents gave the green light for the projects in March 2022 when they approved $7.5 million bond. But local market pressures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have driven costs up and slowed down the shipment of goods and materials, district officials said.

Residents will also be asked to approve the current fund balance of $3.2 million to be allocated for future revenue costs.

The district is also seeking $395,000 for the purchasing of three new buses.

Additional Articles

Shelburne residents will also be asked to approve a $1 million bond for a new fire tanker to replace the fire department’s 30-year-old truck.

Chief Andrew Dickerson said that although the 1995 truck has served the department well, with escalating maintenance costs, the decision to replace the tank has been circulating since last budget season.

Additionally, residents will be asked to approve $100,000 for the town’s open space fund — double the amount usually voted on by residents. The board originally mulled a $173,000 request — or a penny for every tax dollar paid by residents — which would have been triple the historic allocation, but feared the sticker shock of such a large number would dissuade residents from voting in favor of it.

Also on the ballot is a $375,000 request for a new ambulance for Shelburne Rescue, which is currently in the process of switching to a paramedic-level service.