PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Cemetery commissioner accosts grieving family
Town to address ‘serious’ situation
When Matthew Gervia held his mother’s ashes for the last time, he imagined that day of mourning would go much differently than what actually happened at the Shelburne Village Cemetery.
Gervia said cemetery commission chair Stuart Morrow invasively and aggressively confronted his family over burial costs as they stood over their mother’s burial site.
In June, as the family listened to Father Dwight Baker of St. Catherine of Siena give the blessing over Beatrice Gervia’s remains, Morrow interrupted the ceremony and accosted family members, demanding payment for opening the grave.
The family had already paid the fee at the town offices earlier that week.
“All of a sudden, this guy, out of nowhere, comes out and just says, ‘Hold up, hold up.’ I’m standing
there holding my mom,” Gervia said. “Despite my explanation that I had paid $350 at the town office and could retrieve the receipt from my truck, I kindly and emotionally asked him to just give us a moment to finish, and I would get him anything he needed. He refused to allow the blessing to continue.”
After Morrow repeatedly insisted on immediate proof of payment, Gervia set the box with his mother’s ashes on the ground to retrieve the receipt. Morrow proceeded to then question the receipt, Gervia said.
“I hope this never happens to another family ever again,” Gervia said.
His sister, Judy Harrell, said she wondered if the incident would end in a physical altercation. Her brother even warned her to be aware when she went to build a flower bed around her mother’s grave a few
Shelburne primary candidates talk top state issues
issues before residents head to the polls Aug. 13.
With the primary election just around the corner, Shelburne’s Democratic candidates for Chittenden-7, representing part of Shelburne and St. George, offered a few last-minute remarks regarding some of the state’s most pressing
Michael Ashooh, a professor of philosophy at the University of Vermont, is hinging his campaign on his credentials with the town of Shelburne in his over 12 years of public service, six of those on the selectboard and three as its chair.
“In that time, I’ve helped lead
initiatives to rewrite our zoning bylaws, hire a new town manager, and implement a local option tax,” he said.
Shawn Sweeney, who has been a member of the town’s planning commission for just under two years, is hoping that his expertise as a local business owner with Sweeney DesignBuild will win him a
spot back in Montpelier, where he also grew up.
“At my company on a day-today basis, I’m a problem solver. When issues arise, we put a team together to talk it through and implement those solutions as best as we can. I hope to do that in Montpelier,” he said.
The two spoke at a community
forum moderated by Town Meeting TV last week to offer their sometimes-differing perspectives on how to tackle some of the state’s biggest issues like education funding reform, taxation, housing and the state’s addiction crisis.
See CANDIDATES on page 10
Shelburne volunteer firefighters Mark Healey and Ted Fisher present a fire safety workshop and demonstration for little kids and their parents and caregivers at Pierson Library. See story and more photos, page 2.
Fire tools
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Safety experts, law enforcement officials hold child safety seat check
MIKE DONOGHUE
CORRESPONDENT
The Northern Vermont Law Enforcement Group is rolling out reminders that new child passenger safety measures went into effect July 1.
Law enforcement, health and medical professionals offered comments during a press conference held in conjunction with a free Child Passenger Safety Seat Check at the Shelburne Fire Station on U.S. 7 on Saturday.
Lt. Allen Fortin of the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department said it is essential for all people transporting children to be aware of the latest updates made by the Legislature to help protect young passengers.
Fortin, who is the highway safety coordinator for Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans counties, said officials are trying to spread the word about the new important provisions of the law.
He said advocates of the law are not as much interested in enforcement of the new law, which can include fines, as they are in educating the public about what it says and the best practices.
Among the law’s highlights:
• All children aged 2 years and up must be properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing child seat with a harness.
• A child in a rear-facing child seat must never ride in front of an active airbag.
• A child under 5 years old must be properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing or forward-facing car seat with a harness.
• A child under 8 years old who is not properly secured in a harnessed car seat must be properly secured in a booster seat.
• A child under age 13 must, if practical, ride in the back seat.
Violations of the law are considered a civil offense and are punishable by a fine up to $100.
Nationally certified technicians from the sheriff’s office, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, Shelburne Police, Waterbury Ambulance and other volunteers inspected seats for about four hours on Saturday, Shelburne police Cpl. Jon Marcoux said.
Deputy Sheriff Paul McManus found one car seat that failed inspection, Fortin said. It was destroyed and a replacement was offered.
Car seats have expiration dates
due to both the heat and the cold they face in their lifetime, Fortin said.
Seats also need proper installation and fit, while parents and caregivers need to know the best practices, he said.
Dr. Becca Bell, the immediate past president of the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said there had been a big gap between what the national group recommended and the requirements of the state law.
She said the Legislature has now closed that gap. She said the Vermont law is still just the minimum and stronger precautions can always be taken.
Bell said some parents move children through the four safety levels or phases too quickly: rear facing car seats, followed by forward facing with a harness, moving on to a booster seat until eventually kids are big enough for seatbelt.
She said parents need to check
the sticker on the car seat before changing.
Instead of moving too quickly, it is better to wait for the child to outgrow the phase either by weight or size, according to Bell, who works at the University of Vermont Medical Center in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Maureen Johnson, a child safety technician at the medical center, said she sees parents with newborns. She said rear facing seats are important for new babies and toddlers, especially because of their large heads and less developed neck muscles.
Stephanie Busch, the injury prevention manager at the Vermont Health Department, said about half of children’s safety seats are improperly installed.
There are ongoing efforts to ensure that all residents of Vermont have access to child safety seat checkpoints in their local areas.
Busch said in the first half of the year almost 900 car seat inspections had been conducted by volunteers. She said inspections are conducted by over 255 certified car seat technicians that can be found at about 76 sites.
She said 289 car seats have been distributed for those needing a proper seat.
Busch, who has responded to her share of serious accidents as an advanced Emergency Medical Technician, said the seats are critical to ensure child safety. She said it was important for adults to lead the way by wearing their own safety belts.
Busch said child passenger safety resources and a list of upcoming inspections can be found at beseatsmart.org.
“We want to make sure Vermonters understand the state’s new CPS laws. We also want to ensure that all children who are under eight years of age are riding in a properly installed safety seat that is appropriate for their age and size,” Fortin said.
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Nationally certified technicians from the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles and other volunteers inspected more than 10 car seats in a four-hour event at the Shelburne Fire Department on Aug. 3, checking seats for proper fit and installation and educating parents on current best practices.
Crossfit kids
Kids can join Crossfit 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 environment. Registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 30.
Session dates are Thursdays, Sept. 5 to Oct. 3, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Fee is $95 per session, for grades five to eight, led by Nick Mead and Shelburne Field House staff. Visit our website at shelburnevt.org/160/ parks-recreation for online registration and complete details on all programs and special events.
Public investment in child care is WORKING.
THANK YOU LAWMAKERS FOR IMPROVING SCHOOL READINESS, GETTING PARENTS BACK TO WORK, AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES STRONGER!
LEARN MORE ABOUT ACT 76 AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE:
PAID FOR BY LET’S GROW KIDS
PHOTO BY TOM WADSWORTH
A juvenile barred owl stops by the backyard of Tom Wadsworth on Deer Run Drive in Shelburne.
Shelburne Parks & Rec News
Shelburne Police Blotter: July 29 – Aug. 4
Total reported incidents: 80
Traffic stops: 8
Warnings: 8
Tickets: 0
Arrests: 1
Medical emergencies: 22
Mental health incidents: 2
Suspicious incidents: 9
Directed patrols: 5
Citizen assists: 11
Motor vehicle complaints: 1
Car crash: 2
Animal problem: 3
Noise disturbance: 0
Unlawful Mischief: 0
Theft: 12
Harassment: 0
Vandalism: 0
Property damage: 0
Fraud: 0
Alarms: 14
Pending investigations: 11 911 Hang-up calls: 0
July 29 at 9:10 a.m., someone reported a retail theft at Walgreens. The officer located the individual and issued a trespass notice.
July 29 at 1:37 p.m., someone reported a theft of items from their residence on Shelburne Road. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 6:53 a.m., someone reported a theft of items from their motor vehicle on Tracy Lane. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 10:31 a.m., a property owner on Shelburne Road
requested a trespass order be issued against an individual who refused to leave their property. The officer determined the individual needs to be properly evicted.
July 30 at 10:35 a.m., someone reported a theft of items from their motor vehicle on Tracy Lane. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 10:37 a.m., someone reported a theft of items from their motor vehicle on Stokes Lane. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 10:39 a.m., someone reported a theft of items from their motor vehicle on Fletcher Lane. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 10:41 a.m., someone reported a theft of items from their motor vehicle on Tracy Lane. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 10:46 a.m., someone reported a theft of items from their motor vehicle on Fletcher Lane. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 10:53 a.m., someone reported a theft of items from their motor vehicle on Fletcher Lane. The case is under investigation.
July 30 at 2:02 p.m., someone reported being threatened
See BLOTTER on page 9
Shelburne News
Serving the community of Shelburne A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC shelburnenews.com
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Editor/Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com
Here’s the lowdown on voting in Shelburne
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
With election day just around the corner, here is everything you need to know about voting in Shelburne. Early voting is Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the town clerk’s office and polls will be open Aug. 13 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Shelburne’s local house race for Chittenden-7, representing part of Shelburne and St. George, has the only contested primary race, with Democrats Michael Ashooh and Shawn Sweeney, both of Shelburne, vying for the seat vacated by Jessica Brumsted.
Democratic incumbent Kate Lalley of Shelburne is the only candidate for Chittenden-6.
Vying for three Senate seats in the Chittenden Southeast district are Democratic incumbents Thomas Chittenden of South Burlington, Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Shelburne and Virginia “Ginny” Lyons of Williston, and Louis Meyers of South Burlington.
Running as the lone Republican candidate is Bruce Roy of Williston.
Statewide races
Statewide and Congressional elections don’t have much in the
way of primary races, although there will be some competition for the top two statewide seats.
Gov. Phil Scott is running unopposed in the Republican primary, although there are two Democrats vying for their party’s nomination to unseat the popular incumbent — Esther Charlestin, a small business owner from Middlebury who is co-chair of the Vermont Commission on Women; and Peter Duval, a sailing instructor who lives in Underhill.
Also running unopposed for governor is Progressive candidate Marielle Blais of Brandon.
There are also primary contests in the race for lieutenant governor.
In the Democratic primary, incumbent David Zuckerman of Hinesburg will square off against Thomas Renner, the current deputy mayor of Winooski.
The Republican primary features a recent convert to the party in John Rodgers, a farmer and mason from Glover who served as a Democrat for 16 years in the Legislature, first in the House and then in the Senate. He is up against fellow Republican Gregory Thayer of Rutland City.
Running unopposed for lieutenant governor is Progressive Zorah Hightower of Burlington.
In other statewide races, everyone is running unopposed in
the primary and will advance right to Nov. 5.
• For attorney general: Democratic incumbent Charity Clark of Williston; Republican candidate H. Brooke Paige of Washington; Progressive candidate Elijah Bergman of Danby.
• Auditor of Accounts: Democratic incumbent Doug Hoffer of Burlington; Republican Paige; Progressive Linda Gravell of Waterbury.
• Secretary of State: Democratic incumbent Sarah Copeland Hanzas of Bradford; Republican Paige.
• Treasurer: Democratic incumbent Mike Pieciak of Winooski; Republican Joshua Bechhoefer of Cornwall; Progressive Tim Maciel of Brattleboro. Congressional hopefuls are also running unopposed in the primary, waiting for November for a contest. They are:
• U.S. House: Democratic incumbent Becca Balint of Brattleboro; Republican Mark Coester of Westminster.
• U.S. Senator: Incumbent Bernie Sanders of Burlington, running on the Democratic ticket; Republican Gerald Malloy of Weathersfield.
— Tommy Gardner contributed to this reporting
Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101
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Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 985-3091
O’Brien project furthers goals of Shelburne Town Plan
Guest Perspective
Andrew Everett
As both a current Shelburne Selectboard member and a member of the planning commission that rewrote the town plan in 2019, I wanted to share how I see the proposed O’Brien Brothers project fitting with the plan’s vision, goals and objectives enough to warrant further negotiation.
Historically, town plans have been updated every five years, but state statute now allows up to eight years between revisions. While a new plan is not coming this year, 2024 offers us a good opportunity to reflect on things, especially given a housing crisis that has seen Chittenden County single-family median home prices rise by 49 percent since 2020.
The 2019 plan explicitly states that we should “at least once every five years review and if necessary, update the town’s sewer allocation process, including allocation rates, planned life span, and service boundaries.” So we are at a good point to do exactly that, as recommended in the plan.
The plan does contain a recommended action noted by opponents of this project, which says we should “Continue the Town’s policy of not extending sewer lines beyond the boundaries of the current sewer service area.”
With sewer lines already on the O’Brien Brothers property, we are not extending our current sewer lines into new properties.
Even if sewer lines were not already on this property, we would be hard-pressed to find another parcel so close to the town center that can offer dense, affordable, walkable housing, while also furthering the town’s clearly identified goals of increased housing, path connectivity and open space preservation. This parcel abuts both town-defined growth areas and forms a logical geographical extension of the growth areas.
So much of the 2019 town plan speaks to future land use based on the principles of placemaking, which is defined as “the process of creating quality places where people want to live, work, play and learn” and are “accessible and interconnected,” and to promote development that occurs at a human scale and is pedestrian oriented with a mix of land uses
and functions and social opportunity.
The current O’Brien Brothers plan is pedestrian-oriented, easily accessible to the village center and will connect parts of town on Spear Street currently cut off from safe and easy bike or pedestrian access to the village. As a town, we can — and should — require this new development looks as much as possible like an extension of the Shelburne Falls neighborhood, which already contains the compact well-integrated density contemplated by the plan.
The alternative outcome I hope to avoid is the O’Brien Brothers not partnering with the town and building large, expensive homes out of reach to ordinary buyers on scattered 5-acre lots.
Instead, the town has a unique opportunity to collaborate with the developers to ensure the 2019 plan’s vision of “compact patterns of building design with a range of housing opportunities and choices to accommodate more diversity in age and income ranges” results from the project. This outcome would fit the plan’s vision of a future Shelburne and achieves many of its explicit goals, objec-
tives or recommendations:
• Pursuing new development in compact, walkable patterns.
• Housing should be sited to reserve spaces for neighborhood residents and children to gather and play.
• Protect natural resources by pursuing smart or compact development policies that reduce auto dependency, enhance water quality and promote public health for residents of all ages.
• The scale, density and overall pattern of development in the historic village is a defining characteristic of the town and its setting. New growth, especially that which is adjacent to the village, should echo historic
village precedents for scale, lot organization and building form types.
• Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place and compact patterns of building design with a range of housing opportunities and choices to accommodate more diversity in age and income ranges.
• Pursue bicycle and pedestrian paths that connect residential neighborhoods to each other, transit stops, the village and other attractions.
• Look for and pursue opportunities to provide further connections for non-motorized travel between Spear Street and Shelburne Road.
Letters to the Editor
Board seeks to maximize benefits to community
To the Editor: I wanted to send out some information on the progress on the O’Brien Brothers petition to extend the Shelburne sewer service area.
At a selectboard meeting on July 23, we released the prede-
velopment agreement that the selectboard negotiated with the project proponents. We answered questions and clarified the terms of the agreement, but tried to avoid debating the merits of the proposal until we could hold public meetings to discuss our individual perspectives for considering the agreement and listen to community feedback
• Continue to pursue construction of bicycle-pedestrian bridges over the LaPlatte River and complete the path network linking the village area and the residential neighborhoods north of Webster and along Irish Hill roads.
This proposed project furthers the three highest goals of the Shelburne Forward together effort, while also aligning with the vision of future development laid out in the 2019 Town Plan. For that reason, it is worth continued negotiation to deliver a new neighborhood that benefits the entire town.
Andrew Everett is a member of the Shelburne Selectboard.
on it. The meetings have been scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18, from 2-4 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 7-9 p.m. The first meeting will be held in the town office meeting room and the meeting in September will be
See LETTERS on page 6
REPAIRS
APPRAISALS
at the Old Town Hall. Both will have online viewing and participation options.
The selectboard will present information at these meetings that many in the community have requested, including a legal briefing from town’s lawyers, a wastewater capacity analysis, Champlain Valley School District analysis on the impact on schools and additional data we drew from in considering this petition.
Members of the selectboard will also share their thoughts about this proposal, to hear concerns from the community, to gather feedback and to answer questions.
enthusiastic support for Mike Ashooh as state representative for the Chittenden-7 District. Through my work building walk and bike friendly communities, I have had interactions with him in his role on the Shelburne Selectboard. His leadership abilities and governance experience are impressive and are the reasons I am supporting him in this election.
town through some significant developments.
Ashooh spearheaded the local option tax, resolved the police union contract and the selection of a new chief, initiated the town personnel audit that resulted in the selection of Shelburne’s new town manager and updated employee compensation and began the revamping of Shelburne’s zoning ordinance.
He has accomplished all this (and more) with grace and humility. He is thoughtful and always willing to listen, traits that are more important than ever in our elected officials.
Development is a highly contentious issue wherever it occurs. The willingness of the selectboard to negotiate with the project proponents on extending sewer coverage stems from its understanding of the legal issues and a desire to use what leverage it has to shape future development for the benefit of the town.
We are also aware of the acute housing shortage in Chittenden County and its impact on all parts of civic life, and a recognition that growth to meet this need, whether in Shelburne or elsewhere, will invariably have impacts on our town and region. We hope to discuss these and additional considerations during the meetings.
If we proceed with granting this petition by signing this agreement, then any proposed development would still be subject to the development review board process together with design review, Act 250 review, and various state level and town level reviews. This provides ample opportunities for the public to weigh in, shape the outcome and mitigate concerns about future development to the extent possible.
We know this has been difficult and contentious for many. It is not easy for the selectboard either. We all love Shelburne the way it is but recognize that change is coming to our community and region whether we welcome it or not. The selectboard’s simple intent in pursuing the agreement is to shape any development in town in a way we believe to maximize the overall benefits to the community.
Matt Wormser Vice-chair Shelburne Selectboard
Ashooh committed to finding solutions
To the Editor:
I am writing to express my
I value that Ashooh is open-minded, actively seeks input and includes diverse perspectives, yet respectfully asks difficult questions to get to the heart of matters. I also like that he is committed to finding solutions, even bold ones, and taking action on seemingly intractable problems. He motivates us to help ourselves, knowing that the more people involved in addressing the challenging issues we face, the more likely we are to find innovative strategies that move us toward a better future.
Most important, Ashooh consistently demonstrates integrity, a deep understanding of complex governance issues and the ability to make decisions that benefit the oft-elusive common good.
For years, Shelburne has been slow to act on plans to address many pressing concerns. It’s been refreshing to have Ashooh’s “let’s get it done” attitude in the selectboard’s chair position. He has been a stalwart Shelburne citizen who has worked tirelessly for the welfare of the community for many years. I am excited about what he will be able to accomplish in the Legislature.
Susan Grasso Shelburne
Ashooh would serve Shelburne, state well
To the Editor:
I’m a Shelburne ex-pat. Last year, my husband and I downsized to a condominium in Burlington for health reasons.
I miss Shelburne — the Farms, farmers market, the museum. But the thing I miss most is the town hall. Shelburne is blessed to have so many fine and talented people who volunteer for government roles to help Shelburne be the best that it can be. There is no finer example of that spirit than the work and service of Mike Ashooh.
I had the good fortune of serving with him on the Shelburne Selectboard. He was always completely prepared for, and thoughtful about, the issues at hand. He quickly rose to a leadership role and guided the
I am pleased Ashooh is running for Shelburne’s Chittenden-7 seat in the Legislature. He will bring his thoughtful leadership skills to Montpelier and Shelburne will certainly benefit from that.
Mary Kehoe Burlington
Why we support
Shawn Sweeney
To the Editor:
The biggest regret we have as Shelburne residents of Chittenden 6 is that we can’t vote for Shawn Sweeney for state representative.
We have known Sweeney for over 30 years, as a friend, a coach for our son and as the contractor who oversaw multiple renovations to our home.
In all three roles he proved to be a great listener, a solid team builder and most important, respectful of everyone around him.
He will be a great representative for Chittenden 7. We are jealous.
Hank and Natalie Harder Shelburne
Mike Ashooh has my vote
To the Editor:
Mike Ashooh is running for the Chittenden-7 district in the Vermont House of Representatives. The district covers Shelburne and St George.
Ashooh has chaired the Shelburne Selectboard these past several years in an effective and fair manner. He exercises good judgment and acts with civility, encouraging the same from community members.
Chairing the selectboard is a hot seat. We Shelburnites have many opinions on so many issues that come before the board. Ashooh is focused. He
does his homework and is very knowledgeable on the issues. He does not come to these issues with an agenda or preconceived positions.
Shelburne is a very desirable place to live. It’s crucial to balance the needs of preserving pastoral spaces while maintaining a quality and affordable infrastructure, along with the demand and the need for increased affordable housing. He listens to all sides of an issue in his pursuit of the best outcomes for Shelburne.
I support him in his pursuit of this state-level position. His approach to public service will be a very positive addition to the Vermont House.
Albert Shelburne
Vote for Ashooh to represent Shelburne
To the Editor:
I was excited to learn of Mike Ashooh’s decision to seek election to the Vermont House of Representatives.
I have been so impressed with his service on Shelburne’s Selectboard, both as member and in recent years as its chair. I have attended many of the board meetings and have had the opportunity to watch how he has managed a wide variety of complex and sometimes emotion-laden issues.
Whether it is the need for more affordable housing, significant budgetary challenges, town staffing needs, tax policy, climate crisis, among many others, it seems the vast range of issues that he has had to address on the board provides him with a solid foundation for service in Montpelier.
I have found the camaraderie on the board to be refreshing. I attribute that, at least in part, to Ashooh’s leadership style. Never self-important, he is able to encourage and listen to other’s points of view. He can make decisions and articulate well the thinking behind those decisions. He has managed to maintain a sense of humor and to bring a measure of balance and respect for the many voices he must factor into his decision-making. Last, it has occurred to me that Ashooh’s day job as philosophy professor at the University of Vermont has served us well. In his teaching, critical and ethical thinking is a centerpiece. I have found him to demonstrate those perspectives in his service to the town.
As I have thought about Mike’s candidacy, all the above are traits I believe would serve his constituents well in Montpelier.
Tom Zenaty Shelburne
Want
to
change sewer
area? Amend town plan
To the Editor: Former Shelburne Selectboard member Ann Dutton recently spoke to the current selectboard about the importance of the town plan, calling it “our bible.” Others have asked questions about the
town plan and its relevance in the upcoming O’Brien development decision. The response we seem to hear goes something like this: “Yes, the town plan is a great document, but...”
And following that we will hear that it is “just an aspirational document” and is not a “regulating document” so the town bylaws and ordinances must take precedence. In truth, this is mostly backwards.
Under Vermont law the town plan serves as the legal foundation for all municipal bylaws. All bylaws must conform with the plan. So, the goals and policies in the town plan really do serve as our bible and not just in an aspirational sense, but also in a legal sense.
The bylaws are the direct regulating documents, but they must, by law, be in conformance with the town plan. What if the bylaws are not in conformance? Then they can be challenged in the courts. The Vermont Supreme Court decision in the Green Peak Estates case established the primacy of the adopted plan if the language is clear.
So, what language do we see in our town plan? Here are some relevant excerpts:
• This plan is a statement of policies of, by, and for the people of Shelburne. It was developed following extensive input from residents and property owners.
• It should be noted that, because of statutory changes enacted in 2004, Vermont’s planning law now requires that local land use regulations be in conformance with local plans.
• Consistent with previous plans, define the town’s growth area as the area that is currently designated to be served by the municipal sewer system under the Town’s Sewer Allocation Ordinance.
• Growth Area 2 shall absorb most of the town’s future growth, and most anticipated residential growth.
• The area outside of Shelburne’s growth area is designated as the rural area. It is the town’s policy to discourage development in the rural area in favor of development in the growth area.
• Continue the town’s policy of not extending sewer lines beyond the boundaries of the current sewer service area.
We need to follow the town plan. If a new direction is desired, it must come only after the town plan is amended.
Rowland Davis Shelburne
Development’s design far from desirable
To the Editor:
The renderings in the Aug. 1 edition, unfortunately, look like industrial, office buildings. They will blend in nicely with the car dealerships on Route 7. (“Settlement agreement reached for controversial development in Shelburne,” Aug. 1, 2024)
While I am a fan of well-designed modern residential buildings, these aren’t them, in my opinion. I sincerely hope they reconsider their designs.
Sherry Bigalow
Shelburne
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Kenneth
Shelburne Methodist open on Shelburne Day
The Shelburne United Methodist Church will hold an open house during Shelburne Day, Saturday, Aug. 17.
As part of Shelburne Day and the farmers market on Aug. 17, tour the interior of Shelburne United Methodist Church across from the Parade Ground. If you have never been inside this historic landmark in the village, this is your opportunity to view its Tiffany-designed stained-glass windows, listen to the pipe organ and walk through this beautiful building.
The church will be open from 10 a.m. to noon to step inside to explore.
Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center
The Age Well meal pickup for Wednesday, Aug. 14, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center. The meal features roast turkey with sauce, potatoes with ranch dressing, mixed vegetables, dinner roll, date and raisin cookie and milk.
You must pre-register by the prior Monday at 802-425-6345 or meals@charlotteseniorcentervt. org. The suggested donation is $5. Check the website for last-minute cancellations at bit.ly/3FfyLMb.
Sign up now for Shelburne grab and go 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, Aug. 13.
Meals will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon and are available for anyone 60 or older. Suggested donation is $5.
The menu roast turkey with gravy, potatoes with ranch dressing, mixed vegetables, dinner roll, date raisin cookie and milk.
To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, Aug. 7. Learn more at agewellvt.org.
Shelburne church, Age
well host July luncheon
Age Well is offering a luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the St Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne. Entertainment will be provided by Gerry Ortego on guitar.
The menu is barbecue chicken sandwich on a roll, potato salad, broccoli salad with Italian dressing, watermelon, pumpkin chip cookie and milk.
You must register by Wednesday, Aug. 14, to Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, 802-6625283 or email kbatres@agewellvt. org. Tickets are also available at the Age Well Office, 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester. Check-in time is 11:30 a.m. and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation.
Get involved in community, join the Junior League
Are you interested in volunteering and socializing with other women? Then sign up to attend a Junior League of Champlain Valley information and learn how. Upcoming sessions will be held on Thursday, Aug. 15, 5:30-7 p.m., at Burlington Bay Market and Café; Tuesday, Aug. 20, 5:30-7 p.m., at Shelburne Vineyards; and Sunday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Skinny Pancake.
The Junior League is an organization of women whose mission is to advance leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training.
To register, go to champlainvalley.jl.org. For information, email info@jlcv.org.
Ferrisburgh
firefighters hold chicken barbecue
The Ferrisburgh Fire Department holds a take-out chicken barbecue on Saturday, Aug. 17, 4:30 p.m., 3909 Route 7.
Come meet local firefighters. Meals are $15.
Volunteer drivers needed for the blind
The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has an immediate need for volunteer drivers to help get blind and visually impaired people where they need to go.
Volunteer drivers fill the void when family or friends are unavailable to help, or when public transportation is simply not a viable option. The association provides the personalized transportation services for free.
COURTESY PHOTO
Pocock Rocks Music Festival and Street Fair is Bristol’s annual celebration of local musicians, artisans, crafters, food producers and beverage makers. The event returns Saturday, Aug. 17, 3-8 p.m., and it’s free. Come dance, eat, shop and play on Bristol’s Main Street for the day and catch the lineup of musical acts: The Barncasters, BodenBender, Organized Dead, Tom Bisson & The Rustics, Soulstice and Jeremy Mendicino.
Pocock Rocks
Shelburne student represents Vermont at Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation
Zoe Jenkins-Mui, Shelburne was one of 100 high school seniors selected to attend American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation July 20-27 in Washington, D.C. The weeklong program, founded in 1947, has provided civic education to thousands of students, teaching them about how the federal government works.
Jenkins-Mui is one of two participants who will represent Vermont as a “senator” at Girls
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If you like to drive and help others while doing so, be a part of a team of inspirational volunteers. Volunteer drivers work as needed and are free to accept or reject any trip to suit their own schedules.
Drivers receive mileage reimbursement for the trips. If you can help or would like more information, call Vicki Vest at 800-6395861, ext. 243, or email vvest@ vabvi.org.
Shelburne Town Hall hosts contra dance
Qwill Duvall will call to the sounds of Aaron Marcus and Frank Heyburn at a contra dance in Shelburne’s town hall, 5374 Shelburne Road, on Friday, Aug. 23, 6:45-10 p.m.
All are welcome, all dances are
Nation. Two delegates from each Girls State program are chosen after participating in a state-level program held across the country. At Girls Nation, senators will participate in mock sessions complete with caucuses and debating bills that range from personal to political interests.
Other activities will include a visit to Arlington National Cemetery where they will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a visit to
Capitol Hill to meet with real-life U.S. senators from their state, and a tour of D.C. monuments.
Jenkins-Mui, a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School, was active in many ways during her week at Green Mountain Girls State.
She also participates in many activities in her school and community, including debate, scholars bowl, track, rock climbing, student council and Celebrating Asian Culture Club.
BLOTTER
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taught, and no partner or experience is necessary. Bring a pair of clean, soft-soled shoes to dance in and a water bottle to keep you hydrated.
Masks welcome but optional. Please stay home if you have symptoms.
The cost is $12 for adults. Find out more at queencitycontras.com.
Vergennes Day returns
Vergennes Day, an annual celebration featuring over 60 vendors in the city park, returns Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The event includes live music on the bandstand, pancake breakfast, Lions Club chicken barbecue the Little City Road Race. For the kids, there is a bubble pit at the fire station and horse and wagon rides.
Enjoy merchant sales and more throughout the Little City. Later, dance the night away with The Hitmen.
For details, visit vergennesday. com.
It’s a girl!
Cathy and Jeffrey Phillips of Shelburne and Helayne and Jeffrey Kaplan of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., welcomed their granddaughter, June Eléa Kaplan Phillips, who was born on July 13, 2024, at 11:50 a.m. at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital in New York City. She weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. June joined her parents Marissa Kaplan and Aron Phillips at home in Brooklyn.
by another resident at the Wright House. Officers assisted in mediating the dispute.
ed stolen in Burlington, parked on Toad Lane.
STAY CONNECTED
August 1 at 7:09 p.m., someone reported a retail theft from Kinney Drugs. The case is under investigation.
August 3 at 4:11 a.m., police located a suspicious vehicle on Shelburne Road and transported Nathalie Trottier, 33, of Burlington, to the department of corrections. The vehicle was stolen from Burlington, police say.
August 3 at 2:15 p.m., someone reported strange acting fox on Harbor Road.
August 3 at 3:49 p.m., a 911 caller reported a missing person near Pine Haven Shores Road. A search of the area resulted in the individual being located and returned home.
Anywhere, Anytime
August 3 at 8:33 p.m., someone reported their vehicle stolen from Shelburne Shopping Park, which Burlington police had located the vehicle in Burlington. The case is under investigation.
August 4 at 6:06 a.m., someone reported a strange acting skunk around Hunters Way.
August 3 at 3:39 p.m., a 911 caller reported an erratic motorist on Falls Road near the Shelburne Shopping Park. Police found the vehicle, which had been report-
Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.
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COURTESY PHOTO
Zoe Jenkins-Mui
BURIAL FEES
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weeks later.
Harrell said she and her brother are still bothered by that day’s events, which has added unnecessary stress to the mourning process.
“When we think about putting my mom to rest, he’s in that, and this whole thing is in that, and I have to find, just like my sister has to find, a way to deal with that and not let it be part of that memory. No family should ever have to go through this. When you’re in the most vulnerable, painful time and someone is willing to do this right in the middle of it,” Gervia said as his voice trailed off.
The family has longstanding ties in Shelburne, and Gervia’s grandparents are buried at the same town cemetery.
Although the town typically accepts payment for burials by cash or check, when Gervia called the town offices to ask if he could pay by card, they allowed it. But the receipt added additional confusion for Morrow and further escalated the situation.
“So, the receipt we had just said ‘Miscellaneous, $350 paid,’” Gervia said. “They were kind of scrambling around to see how they were going to put it in the system.
CANDIDATES
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How will you approach education funding reform and property taxes for the coming fiscal year?
Sweeney: “I am a big believer in providing an excellent education to every child in Vermont. I don’t have all the answers, but I really enjoy, with my own business, forming groups of people much smarter than me that help me come to a creative solution, and I hope I can do that in Montpelier. Providing an excellent public education and keeping our communities an affordable place to live are not mutually exclusive.”
Ashooh: “It’s going to be a hard thing to fix without a lot of leadership from the top. I don’t know how I’m going to leverage that, but I’m going to work on creating some consensus. I recently learned at the Shelburne Historical Society that up until 1943, Shelburne had eight school districts. We had seven one-room schools and a big house school. I was fascinated by that. That’s the origin of our school funding problem. The fact is, nobody wants to admit it, but we have to consolidate. The only way we’re going to drive efficiency in the system is through consolidation.”
Do you support raising taxes on high earners and wealthy
I’m like, ‘Is this the first burial we’re doing? Do we normally do this?’”
Gervia notified town manager Matt Lawless, who said he quickly got to work to investigate the situation.
“I spoke with Mr. Gervia a couple of times and then met with Stuart Morrow and Father Dwight Baker,” Lawless said.
Although he deemed the investigation “legitimate and serious,” his authority over commissions in town is limited since volunteers are appointed by and report directly to the selectboard.
But in an email sent a month later to commission members, including Morrow, Lawless “strongly” recommended a “formal apology from the Cemetery Commission to the family,” and indicated that Morrow, “may also wish to resign in the face of conduct unbecoming of an official of the Town of Shelburne.”
Lawless attempted to join the commission’s meeting in July to discuss the matter but found that no meeting had occurred, even though there was no notice of cancellation. Also in his July email to commission members, he requested that they update outdated and missing
Vermonters?
Sweeney: “I do believe that the increased transfer tax on properties over $750,000 is a sound tax proposal. I think people making that kind of profit on a home or property here in Vermont is fair. However, we have to be careful with increasing corporate taxes, because it’s already expensive to do business here. I understand firsthand the challenges of running a business in Vermont with my own company. We just got the child care contribution tax, and it added about $350 to $400, per employee. As much as I believe in that program, we have to be thoughtful, with what we burden the companies with in Vermont.”
Ashooh: “I do believe in
minutes online, as required by law, and made them aware of new state statute surrounding the open meeting law that requires commissions and committees to record their meetings and store the recordings.
Although staff requested Morrow’s attendance several times at a summit of the town’s board chairs to discuss the changes in state law, Morrow did not attend.
Lawless strongly suggested a review of the commission’s policies surrounding burial payments, indicating there had been other incidents. He suggested adding a cemetery payment option to the town’s online payment tool, configuring a mobile payment tool like Venmo or PayPal, and regular website updates.
Following the email, Lawless said he received a call from commission member Ron Gagnon who assured that the commission would be taking action.
“I don’t know what that action is yet. I’m expecting to receive a letter from them soon. They may have a satisfactory response. If I don’t find their response sufficient, I’ll escalate it further,” Lawless said, adding that he made the selectboard aware of the situation.
Several emails sent to commis-
sioners, including Morrow, went unanswered by press deadline. Gervia and Harrell remain committed to receiving justice for their family and said they will work to ensure this never happens to anyone else. The ordeal left with them another thought, “If you have a mom and dad, just make sure you always give them a call. Because once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
progressive taxation. What’s been driving a lot of the affordability crisis in our state is the housing problem, and the people who are least advantaged are most harmed by our lack of housing. If we’re going to shift the balance a little bit, I favor progressive taxation. We need wealthier people to pay just a small percentage more than we need the poorest or the middle-income earners. But I don’t think that’s the solution. This has to be a long-term, well-thoughtout, 10-to-15-year strategy to very carefully and incrementally begin to shift our funding, partly by finding efficiencies in the system.”
Democrats in the House proposed spending an additional
$100 million per year for 10 years on publicly subsidized affordable housing. Would you support this level of public investment in housing?
Ashooh: “I did support that, and the reason is it was designed to really leverage federal grants and other kinds of state opportunities. That kind of money can be helpful in dealing with the housing problem. And one of the things I’ve learned on the selectboard is the benefit of long-term incremental thinking. If we don’t start investing in this now, it’s just going to get worse and worse over time. So, $100 million even in this difficult financial situation is money well invested, it will pay dividends down the road.”
Sweeney: “Housing, to me, is at the heart of the matter. When you talk about the future of Vermont, I do believe investing in housing is crucial. However, being on the planning commission in Shelburne, the way we describe certain housing is important. Affordable housing is different from workforce housing. I think really, there’s a group of houses that I think that we need to focus on, and that’s the missing middle housing, houses in that $300,000 to $500,000 range. I think that $100 million could really help offset the cost of building that kind of housing for people.”
The state is rolling back its pandemic-era emergency shelter capacity. How will you approach the need for emergency shelter?
Ashooh: The voucher program was a nice solution for the short term. For the long term, I think a well-funded, long-term process, like helping people like Champlain Housing Trust. In Shelburne, we had Harbor Place, which was a homeless shelter for a long time. I think the attitude was sort of deal with that as a problem. We’ve tried to embrace it and fold it into the community. I think that’s a much more effective solution.
Sweeney: “I would like to see us, maybe just short term, renegotiate some of those deals we have with the hotel owners. Looking back, that would have bought a lot of housing if we had thought about that a little bit early on. We need help from our delegation down in D.C., I don’t have (a solution) yet, but I’m willing to work toward figuring it out. We need federal funding to help smaller states like Vermont cope with the homeless population.”
231 people died from an overdose in Vermont in 2023 with 95
MATTHEW GERVIA Stuart Morrow, chair of the Shelburne Cemetery Commission, interupts a family burial.
Mike Ashooh
Shawn Sweeney
CANDIDATES
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percent of overdoses involving fentanyl. What must be done to prevent overdoses and promote addiction recovery?
Sweeney: “Legislation was just passed during the veto session in June that is going to fund a new overdose prevention site in Chittenden County that I feel is one of the parts that we need to follow through with to help people who are suffering from drug addiction. But for me, I do see it as a systemic failure of a bigger problem. I do think it has to do with mental health, supporting people in a better way with their mental health issues. I know that one of the mental health facilities was just closed down here in Burlington. I feel that that’s something that we should have supported, and we should have found some funding for.”
Ashooh: “Housing plays a huge role in this. The one predictor of mental health and addiction recovery are housing. If you house people, they do much better. But we need to also fund and support these clinics. Addiction overdose centers and needle programs have been shown to be effective ways to manage the public health related to this. I think people know Vermont is really sorely lacking in social services support. It’s very difficult to get people to go into addiction recovery treatment
programs because we don’t have enough staffing as well.”
Campaign Finance
These two candidates have also raised their fair share of funds to support their campaigning efforts over the last few months.
As of Aug. 1, the last filing deadline, Sweeney had raised roughly $9,300 toward his campaign, including a $5,000 Union Bank loan used to set up his campaign website. Other larger funds have come from family donations along with a $1,000 donation from Bissonnette Properties. To date, he has used roughly $4,242 for yard signs, media advertising, door hangers and maintaining his website.
As of Aug. 1, Ashooh’s campaign financing had not been submitted to the Secretary of State’s website, but he told The Shelburne News that he has raised roughly $4,000 in campaign funding so far, $2,000 of which has come from his personal coffers, and about $2,000 from roughly 25 donations. What has been reported is a $746.78 media expenditure for postcards.
He shared that he has spent roughly $550 on the voter access network as well to hire a consultant to aid in his campaigning. Roughly $1,500 has been spent in total on postcards and mailers, he said.
News from Pierson Library
Free Craftsbury Chamber Concerts passes
Shelburne residents can come to the Pierson Library and sign up for free passes to the Craftsbury Chamber Orchestra. Two passes are available per concert, one per person.
The concerts are on Wednesdays at Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester and Thursdays at the Hardwick Town House at 7:30 p.m. The series goes through Aug. 15. You must have a Pierson library card to sign up.
Birds of Vermont Museum
Keeping the legacy of master woodcarver and Vermont naturalist Bob Spear alive, the Pierson will be joined by members of The Birds of Vermont Museum from Huntington Thursday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 p.m., as part of its Second Thursday Lecture Series.
The miraculous Birds of Vermont Museum and bird sanctuary lies at the precise interstice of art and natural history, showcasing 495 biologically accurate wood carvings of winged fellows and bypassing the ghoulish taxidermy of most natural history museums.
Learn about this treasure, the
Craig C. Murray
Craig Compton Murray died at his Shelburne home surrounded by family early in the morning of Friday, July 26, 2024, of complications from Parkinson’s disease.
He was born in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in 1938 and was the youngest son of Howard Lenford Murray and Catharine Cox Murray. Craig’s childhood was spent in Villanova, Pa., with summers in Chatham, Cape Cod.
He grew up loving golf and sailing, racing lightnings on Pleasant Bay and was club champion at Eastward Ho when he was 19 years old.
Craig attended college at Stanford University, first as a physics major and then he switched to humanities, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Craig married Betsy Hallett in 1960 and together they had two sons, Alec and Owen.
After finishing work on a doctorate in history at Columbia, Craig came to Vermont to teach at Middlebury College. Active in the anti-Vietnam war movement, Craig became the first executive director of the Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Craig was an unusually eclectic man, pursuing his passions and interests in theater and mind-body-integration work
history of Bob Spear, the relationship between art and the environment and perhaps even the poetics of the ornithological.
A spooky three-book tour
On Monday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m., come to a book tour of witches, murder and vampires with authors Eileen Charbonneau, Eileen O’Finlan Jane Wilan and The Flying Pig Bookstore. It’s all happening at historic town hall so don’t tarry on your path through the wild woods dear ones, and remember, a wolf is not always a wolf.
Books making their debt at this spooktacular author talk are “Spectral Evidence,” “Abide with Me” and “The Folklorist.”
Jam with other acoustic musicians
In case you haven’t got the good word yet, the third Thursday of every month is your time to roll on up to the library with your mandolins, banjos, fiddles, autoharps, guitars and zithers for an epic two-hour acoustic jam with other like-minded musicians.
The next one is Aug. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Obituary
throughout the 1970s. With friends he established a collective home in a large Victorian house in the Hill Section of Burlington, known as Magoo Place. Many talented musicians, healers, therapists, thespians and activists lived in the home, creating a culture of nurture and exploration.
Fascinated by innovations and as concerned environmentalist, Craig became involved in an entrepreneurial project to create a novel all-terrain vehicle called the “quadractor” that could more safely and efficiently mow or till on steep gradients and selectively harvest timber. For the last 20 years, Craig pursued the development of a rotary engine that was more power dense and efficient than the piston engine.
Although neither project was commercialized, Craig tirelessly and creatively pursued their
promise. In 1982 he met the love of his life, Beth Tanzman, and together they enjoyed a lifetime of travel, gardening, work, tennis and gatherings with family and friends.
The last years of Craig’s life were made immeasurably better by the wonderful physical and occupational therapy teams at the Fanny Allen outpatient rehabilitation center and the outstanding Push Back program of the Binter Center at the University of Vermont.
Craig was predeceased by his brothers, Don and Ken Murray, and half-brother, Mac Murray.
Craig is survived by his wife, Beth Tanzman; his children and their spouses, Alec and Johanna Murray and Owen Murray and Annapurna Ghosh; and two wonderful grandchildren, Simon and Nikolai Murray.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Craig’s honor may be made to the Frederick C. Binter Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, Binter Center, PD Pushback Registration Campaign (uvmhealth.org), 1 South Prospect St., Arnold Level 2 Burlington VT 05401, or Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne VT 05482.
A celebration of Craig’s life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, midday, at the All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne.
Craig C. Murray
VETERANS
Payments must be POSTMARKED or RECEIVED in the TOWN OFFICES by MIDNIGHT, August 15, 2024. Late payments are subject to penalty and interest. Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, August 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
SHELBURNE
Town of Shelburne Selectboard Notice of Special Meeting
from page 2
The Shelburne Selectboard will hold two special meetings. These are town hall type meetings to discuss the O’Brien Brothers Development Proposal. We will meet in small groups to understand the proposal. No action will be taken at these meetings. All residents are welcome.
The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.
Sunday, August 18 from 2 – 4 PM in Meeting Rooms 1 & 2 at Town Offices
Wednesday, September 4 from 7 – 9 PM in Old Town Hall
Both meetings will be recorded by Media Factory.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
ANTIQUES WANTED
ways fatal treatment 100 percent a person So far have tested those have According animals mal behavior, an animal it. People animals
Creating
O’Brien Brothers’ proposed neighborhood will honor the pillars of Shelburne Forward Together while having a net positive fi scal impact on the community.
Increased Revenue, Improved Infrastructure, A Sustainable Community
Using standard professional practices and statistical data, the Town of Shelburne independently analyzed the proposed neighborhood’s fiscal impact on the town and found the following:
A Net-Positive Impact on Town Revenue
An estimated 350 new housing units would produce a projected $1,183,697 in net new tax revenue (after all associated costs to the town have been accounted for), generated through an approximate 16% increase in Grand List value.
Significant One-Time Revenue
Zoning Permit fees, Certificates of Occupancy, and other one-time fees would add an estimated $2,478,535 in revenue to the town, which could be used for various town improvement projects and additional amenities.
Expansion of the Town’s Economic Vitality
New homes in a range of price points will help alleviate the town’s existing market imbalance while adding additional customers and employees for local businesses. The addition of approximately 136 school-aged children will help sustain the local school district and add to the community’s overall vibrancy.
Scan to read the full report prepared by the Town of Shelburne:
Or visit
obrienbrothersvt.com/fiscal-impact-report