Tesla saga
Reverend says
Years-long case about stolen cars comes to end
Treat all sides humanely in recent terror attack
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South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
the OCTOBER 19, 2023
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School Board will now fill vacant seat
Pacesetter
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
The South Burlington School Board last week walked back a decision to not fill the vacant seat on the board following the resignation of Bryan Companion. The board is now seeking applications for the position. The vacant seat will be filled with an interim member who will hold the position for four months from Nov. 15 until Town Meeting Day when voters decide who will serve out the remaining year of Companion’s term. Current board members Kate Bailey, Laura Williams, Alex McHenry and Chelsea Tillinghast will fill the position at the Nov. 1. school board meeting following a two-week application window.
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Board members will discuss the candidates in executive session then return to open session to announce a decision. At the Oct. 4 meeting, McHenry was the only board member in favor of filling the seat immediately with two other members, Williams and Tillinghast, voting to wait until Town Meeting Day. Bailey abstained from that vote. Tillinghast and Williams said the public would be better served if the board focused its time on training and maintaining momentum as it enters the busy budget season. “It just doesn’t seem like a logical time to devote to getting someone up to speed,” said Williams. See SCHOOL BOARD on page 13
City backs resident group in Higher Ground litigation COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
The city of South Burlington has appealed the state environmental court’s decision allowing for Higher Ground’s relocation to the Vermont Supreme Court, throwing its support behind a group of 140 residents near the area who say the venue will negatively affect their quality of life. The city’s appeal is a significant backing of the Citizens for Responsible Zoning Group, which earlier this month appealed its litigation to the Supreme Court after a superior court ruling allowing the project to move forward. South Burlington was an inter-
ested party in the initial appeal. The city attorney filed a notice of appeal to the state’s highest court less than a week after the citizen group’s appeal “at the request of the city council in the support of our residents,” the city said in a statement. “No other action has been taken at this time.” A spokesperson for Burton and Higher Ground did not respond to a request for comment. Plans to move the music venue from its Williston Road location in South Burlington to warehouse space in Burlington have been in the works for more than See HIGHER GROUND on page 13
PHOTO BY AL FREY
South Burlington’s Paige Poirier finishes second in the large school girls’ race at the NVAC Cross Country Run at Missisquoi Valley Union on Friday afternoon. See sports roundup, page 12.