The Other Paper - 12-21-23

Place to call home

Ironwoman

Affordable apartments come online in city

South Burlington teacher competes on Big Island

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Pizza Hut proposal finds new hearing neers, who is working with property owner Gary Bourne.

The project, if it is green lit, A revised development plan would replace old buildings on for the abandoned Pizza Hut lot the corner of Swift Street and in South Burlington is now being Shelburne Road with a Chase reviewed by the city’s devel- Bank, a commercial building opment review board, even as with three apartment units, and a an environmental court hearing three-story, 27-unit multi-family building. challenging the The lots, once previous plan’s The proposal has home to a Pizza rejection moves Hut and a Shell foward. also since been gas station, have The new been shuttered plan takes steps reconfigured since at least to correct a 2011, and are disagreement over to include 10 masked in graffithe number of affordable rental ti and overgrown so-called inclushrubbery. sionary units in units and 20 market “Right now, the project. South that property, as Burlington’s inclurate rental units. it stands, is ...” sionary zoning Desautels started law requires that new housing developments to say.

“Hideous,” Dawn Philibert, include affordable units totaling 15 percent of the overall number the chair of the city’s developof units, to keep a mix of both ment review board, cut in, before affordable and market-rate apart- asking why the property owner has not yet “demolished the ments.

“We’re here today to talk buildings that are such eyesores?”

“At one point we were actuabout a project that is similar to ones that you’ve seen in the ally blocked by Act 250 for quite past, and it includes many of the a period of time,” Bourne said same elements that you’ve seen during the meeting. “They’ve before,” said Jennifer Desautels, an engineer and project manager See PIZZA HUT on page 12 with Trudell Consulting Engi-

VOLUME 47, NO. 51

High water

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY MIKE DEAN

Heavy rain on Monday afternoon closed Van Sicklen Road at Muddy Brook, causing motorists to detour. South Burlington dodged most of the serious flooding that hit Vermont again on Monday.

Chittenden sheriffs seek body camera replacement MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

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

That was one of the messag-

es provided to taxpayers during a preliminary Chittenden County budget hearing hosted last week by county officials.

The preliminary estimated tax rate for the coming year is 0.004 cents per $1,000 of property value, according to assistant

judges Connie Cain Ramsey and Suzanne Brown. There is not much change in the current rate of 0.00378, county clerk Anne Williams said.

Brown noted that Chittenden’s tax rate, which is a fraction of a penny, is among the lowest. She

said Orange County assesses its towns at 2.2 cents per $1,000.

Final work on the budget will wrap up in January after the judges have time to review some additional equipment requests from the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department, including state-man-

dated training and continued funding for body cameras.

The judges have indicated they are inclined to no longer fund the $11,000 annual lease for See BUDGET on page 12

Page 2 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

Fitzgerald to run for 1-year term on council Former school board member first to announce for city’s council seat COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

COURTESY PHOTOS

About 160 people turned out for the Rotary Club’s annual ugly sweater run in South Burlington,

Ugly sweater run brings out South Burlington community The 2023 South Burlington Rotary Ugly Sweater Fun Run and Walk is in the books.

There were 160 participants in this annual fun-filled community event, bringing together families, couples and friends of all ages and an abundance of smiles.

The weather was comfortable, for a December day, and the rain held out until the run was over.

Activities included the run, of course, food, the ever-popular photo booth, face painting and, most important, the judging for the “ugliest” sweaters. This year’s judges included Jessie Baker, city manager, and Helen Riehle, chair of the city council.

As this event is a fund raiser, it is important to note that contributions from the proceeds will go

to the South Burlington Academic Boosters, Champlain Housing

Trust and the South Burlington Rotary charities.

Elizabeth Fitzgerald, who officially filed petitions this week to run for a one-year term on the city council, hopes to use her 15-plus years of experience on the school board to bridge the needs of both the city and the school district if elected in March.

Fitzgerald is the first to announce a candidacy for one of the city’s three seats up this March. She will be vying for the seat first vacated by Tyler Barnes in October. Both city council chair Helen Riehle’s and city councilor Meaghan Emery’s terms also expire in March.

The city in November appointed Larry Kupferman, the former vice chair of the city’s natural resources and conservation committee and chair of the Housing Trust Fund Committee, to temporarily fill Barnes’ seat.

Ten candidates sought appointments to the vacated seat — Fitzgerald included — but councilors ultimately chose Kupferman because he said he would not be running for the remainder of the term in March.

Fitzgerald formerly served on the South Burlington School Board and, more recently, worked on the city’s charter committee as it worked to examine possible changes to city and school government. In an editorial, she said she hopes to use her track record to bridge the divide between the council and the school board, which this year has seen growing cooperation in establishing school zones and hiring traffic guards in the city’s downtown.

“That’s one of my interests in

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the city council assignment, to really bridge the needs that cross the community, and that are of interest to both the schools and the city,” she said.

Fitzgerald was interviewed by The Other Paper on her candidacy and position on issues facing the city and school district.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Other Paper: The school district is facing a lot of challenges, be it the new pupil weighting formula or the school’s infrastructure needs. What role does the council have in working with the school board as it addresses these challenges? Does it have a role in dealing with these financial realities?

Elizabeth Fitzgerald: In terms of the funding of it, I think there’s two unique funding formulas for the various departments covered by each of those that you talked about. But I do think that intersect is becoming a little more evident with the development we’re seeing, and the fact that development is likely to become more concentrated in certain areas.

One of the things South Burlington has always valued is a community school, or a neighborhood school. On one hand, you could argue those neighborhoods are becoming more and more discreet and walkable to school. But given the investments that have had to be made with the bonds on the zero-energy modules for instance, that is also taking up See FITZGERALD on page 9 Presented by:

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The Other Paper • December 21, 2023 • Page 3

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PHOTO BY CARLY BERLIN/VTDIGGER AND VERMONT PUBLIC

Brandywine Lofts in South Burlington on Kennedy Drive.

Nearly 100 new apartments come online in city, majority at affordable rates CARLY BERLIN VTDIGGER

A pair of mixed-income apartment buildings are bringing nearly 100 new housing units to South Burlington, the majority at affordable rates.

The Brandywine and Farmstead Lofts, developed by Summit Properties, will boast a combined 94 apartments off Kennedy Drive.

Three-quarters of the new apartments will have income-restrictions below market rate, and 20 of those will be dedicated to people exiting homelessness.

At an opening ceremony for the apartments, funders and local leaders noted the rarity of a new housing development of this scale — and the relative speed with which it came online. Initial conversations about the development began in 2021, and construction broke ground last fall.

“I’m so excited about the magnitude of what’s happening here today. This is incredible to open this many units, all on time and on budget,” said Maura Collins, executive director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, which provided some funding for the project. “I mean, this hasn’t been happening lately in my world.”

After around a year of construction, the Brandywine building opened last month and is now fully leased. The mirror-image Farmstead Lofts next door is slated to open in early 2024.

The new development opens its doors as Vermont faces an

acute housing shortage, and as rooms rent for $2,000 to $2,200 many residents struggle to find a month, utilities included, said homes they can afford. Mean- Tom Getz, CEO of Summit Propwhile, high interest rates and erties. One-bedrooms rent for construction costs have slowed around $1,800, while studios go the pace of development for some for about $1,500, he said. builders.

But many units will be priced The units will put a significant at lower rates. Some will be set dent in Chittenden County’s goals at rents affordable for households to build more making 60% of homes. In 2022, Area Median The Brandywine the county gained Income; some about 600 new at 50% of AMI, building opened homes and apartand some at 30 ments, 110 of percent.

The last month and is which are permamedian income nently affordfor a two-pernow fully leased. able, according son household The mirror-image to data collected in Chittenby the county’s den County is Farmstead Lofts next $90,900. regional planning commission.

Twenty units door is slated to Those tallies fell will have projfar short of a goal ect-based vouchopen in early 2024. set by local leaders through ers to build 1,000 the Burlington new units of housing — a quarter Housing Authority, meaning rent at affordable rates — annually for will be capped at 30-40 percent of five years. tenants’ household income.

The Brandywine and FarmDevelopment costs for the stead Lofts are located near a bus project totaled over $32 million, line and have underground park- or about $345,000 per unit, Getz ing and covered bike storage. The said. Funding came from federbuildings have all-electric heating al tax credits administered by and cooling and exceed Efficien- VHFA, federal grants allocatcy Vermont’s building standards ed to the Vermont Housing & for new multifamily construc- Conservation Board and the City tion, developers said. Supportive of South Burlington, as well as a services for tenants facing hous- block grant from the state. ing insecurity will be available onsite, through Ascend Housing This story, by Report for AmerAllies. ica corps member Carly Berlin, The buildings have two-bed- was produced through a partroom, one-bedroom, and studio nership between VTDigger and apartments. Market-rate two-bed- Vermont Public.

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Page 4 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

CRIME & COURTS South Burlington Police Blotter: Dec. 11-17 Total incidents: 237 Agency / public assists: 25 Directed patrol: 9 Traffic stop: 9 Accident: property damage: 11 Alarm: 14 Foot patrol: 20 Suspicious event: 10 Retail theft: 15 Motor vehicle complaint: 9 Welfare check: 10 911 hangup: 4 Trespass: 14 Domestic: 2 Disturbance: 12 Field contact: 4 Threats: 4 Accident: insurance purposes: 6 Leaving the scene: 4 Larceny: other: 3 Larceny from a vehicle: 3 Arrests: Nov. 30 at 9:30 a.m., Jared G. Forsythe, 22, no address provided, was arrested for

unlawful trespass on Dorset Street.

Dec. 7 at 8:23 a.m., Brian Charles Foy, 47, no address provided, was arrested for aggravated operation without consent and grand larceny on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 11 at 11:26 a.m., Emily S. Coburn, 55, of South Burlington, was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 11 at 12:05 p.m., Kalah M. Gharouni, 40, of Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

Dec. 13 at 10:26 a.m., Justin E. Sweeney, 43, of Ferrisburgh, was arrested for driving with a criminally suspended license on Dorset Street.

Dec. 13 1 1:21 p.m., Brian Charles PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

See BLOTTER on page 13

Vermont State Police Blotter Dec. 15 at 11 p.m., Edward Castron, 27, of Burlington, was arrested for driving under

the influence, first offense on Williston Road in South Burlington.

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

the

Staff Writers Aaron Calvin Corey McDonald Liberty Darr

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The public perception of Grismore’s actions have negatively

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

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

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

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

“When people make mistakes, See GRISMORE on page 13

The Other Paper • December 21, 2023 • Page 5

Police try to link suspect to killing of two in Eden MIKE DONOGHUE CONTRIBUTOR

the March gun case, could not be found by police. He was arrested a week later in Tennessee.

Authorities said Tuesday the double homicide case remains under investigation.

A Burlington man, who authorities say is a person of interest in the fatal shooting of two out-of-state men found in Lamoille County in October, is being held without bail Gun case for an unrelated federal drug and Defense lawyer David Sleigh firearms charge. wants the federal gun case against Theodore Bland, 28, formerly Bland dismissed for lack of speedy of Stowe, was charged with bran- trial, but if he loses that request, he dishing a shotgun outside a South wants an immediate trial.

Burlington convenience store “I think I can try the case today,” while using a controlled substance Sleigh said. While the federal on March 17, federal and state government has not turned over court records show. its investigative documents, Sleigh Police found a 12-gauge Moss- said in court he has the records burg shotgun loaded with five from the pending state prosecution shells when police stopped his for aggravated assault. car later that evening in Lamoille “Theo is ready to go,” he said.

County.

Initial 911 calls to South BurlInitially charged in state court ington Police on March 17 at for aggravated about 6:25 p.m. assault and reckrevealed that Police say Bland is less endangerBland ordered ment, police say two women a person of interest Bland is a person out of a car at of interest in the gunpoint at the in the killings of a killings of a pair of Simon’s Conve21-year-old men, nience Store at pair of 21-year-old Jahim Solomon of 974 Shelburne Pittsfield, Mass., Road. men, Jahim Solomon and Eric White of One of the Chicopee, Mass. women had gone of Pittsfield, Mass., in October in into the store to Eden. and Eric White of call Bland to ask The body of him to rescue Chicopee, Mass. in one of the men them from a man, was found just Walter Biggs, October in Eden. off Albany-Eden 58, of ColchesRoad and the ter, who reportsecond body was located about a edly was soliciting them for sex mile north, state police said. in exchange for crack cocaine, The two men were reported according to federal and state court missing by their families on Oct. records.

15 and phone records showed they However, that story did not had been to Burlington, Lowell, become known to police until Morristown and Stowe after arriv- Bland and the two women were ing in the state. stopped about 10:40 p.m. on Solomon died from multiple Vermont 100 and Gold Brook Road gunshot wounds to the head, while in Stowe. When Vermont state White died from a single shot to troopers stopped the trio in a gray the head, a medical examiner ruled. Volkswagen Jetta, police found the The day the bodies were found, loaded shotgun in the backseat, Oct. 24, the Bureau of Alcohol, South Burlington police said.

Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bland admitted he and the two got an arrest warrant in federal women had been smoking crack court against Bland concerning the cocaine before they were stopped South Burlington incident from in Stowe by police, South BurlingMarch. ton Det. Martin Maloney said in a Bland, who was ordered by court affidavit. a Vermont judge to observe a Bland, who also is known as 24-hour curfew at his home after Theodore Sterling Bland, was later denying the two state charges in brought back to South Burling-

ton where police found suspected fentanyl in his wallet, Maloney said.

South Burlington Police arrested Bland on charges of aggravated assault on Biggs, reckless endangerment for pointing the shotgun at three people, fentanyl trafficking, possession of a firearm during a felony and for having a loaded long gun inside a motor vehicle.

State’s Attorney Sarah George charged Bland with assault and reckless endangerment, records show.

Bland was released from state court on conditions that included a 24-hour curfew at his then Burlington apartment on Myrtle Street. He was arrested Oct. 30 on four criminal charges, including possession of more drugs and paraphernalia near Knoxville, Tenn., officials said.

The police learned a federal criminal complaint was issued in Vermont on Oct. 24 and there was a sealed arrest warrant, officials said.

As the double homicide case unfolded, law enforcement agencies decided to try to file the South Burlington gun case as a federal prosecution.

Sleigh, a veteran defense lawyer based in St. Johnsbury, asked Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle last week to dismiss the criminal complaint for violation of the Federal Speedy Trial Act. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Masterson said the motion to dismiss should be heard by Vermont’s Chief Federal Judge, Geoffrey W. Crawford, and asked for time to file a written response to Sleigh’s requests to dismiss.

Masterson noted that Bland was in violation of his conditions of release in the state gun case from Simon’s, and he was expected to be under a 24-hour curfew at his residence, she said.

“Bland willfully disregards conditions of release and presents a serious risk of flight,” she wrote in her detention motion.

Sleigh said his client, a lifelong Vermonter, should be released pending trial to live with his sister, a social worker, in Chittenden County.

“He went to their rescue,” Sleigh said about helping the two women at the Simon’s store. “It’s not Bonnie and Clyde,” he said.

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Page 6 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

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OPINION

Vermont needs Act 46 for town government precious little coordination to enable us to achieve scale, efficiency and purchasing power.

Matt Wormser In 2015, Vermont passed Act 46, designed to address escalating school We’re well into budget season for costs and close service gaps primarily at selectboards around the state, including small, rural schools. This led to consolin Shelburne, where I serve as a board idation of 206 school districts prior member. And so begins the annual to the act’s passage to the 50 or so we balancing act of trying to disappoint as have today. It more importantly drove few constituents as possible by not fundsubstantial savings in administrative costs ing some essential needs, while keeping statewide, while broadening educational taxes as close as possible to the rate of opportunities for most students. inflation and thus not further burdening We need an Act 46 for municipal tight household budgets. government in Vermont. In Shelburne, While pandemic-related funding has as is the case with peer helped in recent years, communities, there is each year the budget Selectboards and a need for core human process gets a bit trickier resources, finance, — health insurance costs voters across the information technology, continue to outpace inflation, workforce shortages state would welcome legal and administrative support for individual mean we need to signifidepartments, but we cantly increase salaries a broader discussion often find we’re not to attract and retain staff large enough to justiaround how we and inflation has otherfy dedicated staff, nor wise driven up the cost of can deliver higher could we necessarily other capital and operatfind resources in the ing expenditures. quality and lower current hiring environStatewide, we have ment. The same service some of the oldest infracost services to meet gaps and efficiency structure in the country, needs that drove passage with a large portion of Vermonter’s needs. of Act 46 for schools the municipal workforce exist with increasing nearing retirement, and urgency at the municipal level. not enough workers in the pipeline to What might a new model look like? replace them.

The simplest way might be to encourage By most measures, Vermont’s state municipal service consolidation aligned and local taxes are among the highest in with the school district realignment from the nation. For that we do realize signifiAct 46. In Shelburne that would mean the cant benefits — good schools, relatively towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelgenerous public services and a commitburne, St. George and Williston would ment to quality of life that drew many of look for opportunities to share services us who were not born here to the state.

With that said, those of us who recognize across the five communities, building upon the coordination and consolidation the value of a healthy public sector need that the school-related initiative drove. to be acutely focused on the efficient County-based services, a rare form delivery of those services — making the of government in New England but best possible use of our finite tax revecommon elsewhere, might be preferable nues. in more rural parts of the state and drive My day job involves advising large further gains in quality and cost. In some health care organizations as to how to instances, having common services being reduce the administrative burden in provided at the state level — for example delivering patient care. For the most part implementing a statewide IT platform to this means better leveraging technology, streamline municipal government operaimplementing more efficient workflows and creating economies of scale to ensure tions and services — may well make the most sense. that they can deliver both higher quality As we prepare for the opening of the and lower cost in their operations. next legislative session, selectboards and Currently there are too many examvoters across the state would welcome a ples of where our very small state — our broader discussion around how we can 650,000 residents is roughly the same deliver higher quality and lower cost as a mid-sized U.S. city — is simply not services to meet Vermonter’s needs. able to realize those goals of providing Financially strapped Vermont households lower cost and higher quality services. deserve nothing less.

Our 250 or so municipalities are effectively a series of very small organizations Matt Wormser is a member of the delivering more or less identical services Shelburne Selectboard. to their constituents, and yet there is

Guest Perspective

The Other Paper • December 21, 2023 • Page 7

Gov. Scott needs to get serious on affordability Guest Perspective

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

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

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

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

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

Health care spending consistently grows faster than education spending. One in five dollars Vermonters spend is spent on health care. School districts face a 16 percent increase in health care premiums this year

— an increase twice the rate of inflation. These increases occur year after year and Vermont increases outstrip national increases, burdening employers and individuals across the state — not just school districts. Sadly, 40 percent of insured Vermonters under age 65 (much of the workforce) are underinsured, meaning their health care costs exceed what their incomes can bear.

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

• Focus resources on development of workforce housing.

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

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

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

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

• Fund state agencies so school districts don’t have to pay for state cuts. The mental health crisis doesn’t go away when

the governor cuts state budgets, as he effectively proposes this year by capping the state mental health department’s budget at 3 percent growth — a number half the rate of inflation. Cutting state resources for mental health services displaces these costs onto already strained schools — the payers of last resort.

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

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

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

Districts already face hundreds of millions of dollars of deferred investments in failing infrastructure. This problem screams for state leadership. The House took a first step by passing H.486. The governor must get behind this bill and comprehensive approach.

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

Now, out of all taxpayer-fund-

ed private schools in Vermont, only Thetford Academy and The Sharon Academy commit to open enrollment and the higher quality standards the Vermont State Board of Education applies to public schools.

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

Enough is enough. We are

all worried about affordability.

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

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

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Page 8 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

Eastern Mountain Sports reopens in South Burlington

Flying high

JONAH FRANGIOSA COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

who oversees the Vermont store as well as two locations in New Hampshire.

“We’ve been humbled by how Melanie Racette wound her way between clothing racks hold- much we’ve been embraced by ing winter jackets in the Eastern the community,” Sielicki, who has Mountain Sports store in South worked for EMS for 18 years, said.

EMS’s return Burlington, seekcomes as the ing gifts for her The new store took city is working children. to develop the The Willisover the abandoned Dorset Street ton resident was corridor as an buying recreationPier 1 space, flanked urban hub and al gear at the REI retail draw for store closer to

by Trader Joe’s and everything from home until Eastgroceries to ern Mountain Healthy Living grocery artwork. Now Sports returned to dubbed South the Dorset Street stores on Garden Burlington City commercial corriCenter, the area dor late last year, Street. encompasses she said. city hall and “I’ve been shopping here more often now that library and ongoing development they’re back,” Racette said of East- of housing. The sporting goods ern Mountain Sports, which closed store adds to the cluster of shops — a previous store in the city in 2017 including Target and Kohl’s stores and reopened in a different spot in at University Mall across the street November 2022. “We like quality — that creates “critical mass,” goods, and that’s what they carry.” allowing multiple stores to benefit Now, a year into its resurrection from the traffic each generates.

“We welcome the number of in South Burlington, the store is geared up for the holiday shopping customers that (Eastern Mountain season and seeing a resurgence of Sports) has brought to the area and customers, according to Peter Siel- how it contributes to our econoicki, the retailer’s area manager, my,” Ilona Blanchard, the city’s

PHOTO BY MIKE DEAN

An F-35 takes off from Burlington International Airport in South Burlington.

community development director, said.

The new store took over the abandoned Pier 1 space, flanked

by Trader Joe’s and Healthy Living grocery stores on Garden Street. It moved about a quarter mile from the previous store location in a plaza anchored by Barnes & Noble booksellers.

“There’s no negative with having a Trader Joe’s next to you,” Sielicki laughed.

The return of the retailer filled a five-year void for new recreational equipment in South Burlington’s shopping district since the company departed, Blanchard said. The nearby Blue Mall does have a Play It Again Sports consignment store

Check Locally First Chances are what you need is available through local online ordering and curbside pickup or delivery. Our entire community is depending on your support.

for sporting goods.

“As a brand, they’ve been appreciated by many shoppers of our community,” Blanchard said.

“When they closed there was definitely some concern. People had strong associations with the brand.”

Eastern Mountain Sports was previously owned by Eastern Outfitters, a Connecticut-based company that also owned outdoor apparel chain Bob’s Stores. Eastern Outfitters filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and shuttered nearly 50 stores under both banners, citing pressures from online competition.

Along with the previous South Burlington store, EMS had closed locations in Rutland and Manchester, as well.

Customers like Racette gravitated to competing retailers such as REI, in the big-box area of Williston off Route 2A, and Outdoor Gear Exchange in downtown Burlington, now with a second location in Essex.

In May 2022, Eastern Mountain Sports was acquired by GoDigital Media Group, a privately held conglomerate that focuses on combining media and technology and specializes in music distribution, while also operating the retail chains. The new owner pledged to grow its retail footprint by

20 percent.

That includes the resurrection of the South Burlington store. The Vermont market is “highly strategic” due to its strong customer base, according to Doug Reinart, chief operating officer and Americas leader for GoDigital, who responded to questions via email.

“These customers have remained loyal fans of the brand since our previous presence in the area several years ago,” Reinart wrote.

The South Burlington location has seen a steady level of business throughout the year, with an uptick in sales when college students returned to the area at the beginning of this school year, according to Sielicki. The winter season also is crucial for outdoor gear retailers in Vermont, fueling sales both because of the holidays and the demand for skiing and snowboarding gear.

“This is a great time of year for our business,” Reinart wrote. “We expect this to be another healthy season for EMS.” Jonah Frangiosa is a reporter with the Community News Service, a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.

Community Notes Education center hosts community meal

VTCNG

WHY GO LOCAL?

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

The Other Paper • Shelburne News • The Citizen • Stowe Reporter • News & Citizen

On Saturday, Dec. 23, at 8 a.m., please join Trinity Educational Center for a South Burlington community breakfast at University Mall.

The menu will feature waffles, toast, scramble eggs, hashbrowns, beef and turkey sausages, fruit, hot

chocolate, juice and milk.

Please respond ASAP as limited slots are available due to capacity constraints. Deadline is Dec. 21, at 5 p.m.

Email Travia Childs at dr.travia.c@gmail or call 802-777-8080 for additional information. Please call or email if you are interested in volunteering and or donating food items.

The Other Paper • December 21, 2023 • Page 9

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land in the middle of city center and incurring on recreational fields and is likely not a permanent long-term solution. I think the more city and school can interface on long term planning, that to me will be a benefit to our community and to our taxpayer.

OP: You were on the city’s charter committee when they interviewed various experts and got into the nitty gritty about how South Burlington’s government could be structured. The big debate to come out of that has been wards versus at-large elections, the number of councilors, and then tied to that is this issue of campaign finance, and how does the city make government representation more equitable and accessible for people. Do you have thoughts on that?

EF: I am still part of the charter committee. If I’m elected to the council, I will have to resign that position. But even prior to my appointment to the city charter committee, I was very active supporting expansion of the school board representation and worked with several of my former colleagues over the past 15 years to advocate for that.

I do support the council also expanding — that came up in the city charter recommendations to some degree. There was a more neutral position that came out of the charter committee on wards. And I don’t have a strong position except that I feel we need to hear from our community members more on that.

My experience has largely been working in an at-large capacity on the school board. We have school facilities in really four different areas, and I can say that even working in an at-large capacity over that time period I served on the board, we were able to effectively address more neighborhood concerns at least as represented by different school facilities — whether it was noise at Chamberlain, or whether it was expansion at Orchard and Rick Marcotte, or whether it was PCBs and dealing with hazardous materials at the high school.

Those were all unique facility issues — what I characterized as neighborhood issues — that we were able to effectively address.

OP: There’s a debate in the city between conservation and open space versus the need for housing in a city that many view as a commercial center of the county and state. There’s a lot of new housing in city center but other areas of the city have been zoned differently, prioritizing the former.

Where do you fall in that debate? And how do you balance those two goals that the city has?

EF: That is the multi-million-dollar question. I have to say I don’t have a firm stance in either one of those camps.

I am excited about the opportunity, if I’m elected to council, to support the climate resiliency initiatives that are going on as a result of the comprehensive city plan.

I think the community’s response to the budget, which incorporates a significant uptick in vestments associated with the

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transportation and government operations part of that plan will be a good barometer to how far the community is along with supporting those.

On the development side, I kind of go back to, and I feel like this is a good example where I know I listened to debate at one of the last city council meetings about it, was sort of the number of people that work in South Burlington. My sense with that is that that information alone didn’t really characterize the people that might choose to live in South Burlington if it were more affordable.

I think about the development supporting University of Vermont employees and grad students or Medical Center employees, and then grad students from UVM. Look at the number of employees the school district has, which is over 500. I couldn’t tell you right now, how many live in South Burlington and then how many would choose to live closer to where they work, which would support climate resiliency efforts. But they might not be able to be here just due to affordability or access right now. So, I feel like there’s more information needed. I also feel like there will always be a balance needed when you have what I think has been characterized, unfairly as diametrically opposed ideas.

We don’t believe they are. It’s really a case of sort of listening, of timing, and really understanding the stakeholders who are going to fund these initiatives to and their capacity to do that.”

OP: The term you’re running for is only for a year. Obviously, you have to win this first. But say you do that, would you plan on running again, this time next year for a two- or three-year term?

EF: I am not ruling it out for sure. One of the things I valued, and I felt like was kind of a hallmark of my experience on the school board, was that continuity of service and institutional memory. So, I’m definitely not planning on one year, but it’s an opportunity to really see whether the experience I feel can bridge city and school would really be effective in that regard. And if the community supports it, I absolutely am open to that.

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Page 10 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

SPORTS

SB coaches gauge upcoming season LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ basketball

chipped in with 10 points.

South Burlington moved to 0-1.

Coach: Sol Bayer-Pacht Last season: 11-9, lost in the Division I quarterfinals This season: 2-1 Key returnees: Tyler Bergmans, forward, senior; Andre Bouffard, guard, senior; Khalil Quebec-Hill, forward, senior; Deng Aguek, guard, junior; Simon Russell, forward, junior; and Jack Lafayette, guard, sophomore.

Kew newcomers: Will Goyette, guard, junior; Paul Comba, guard, sophomore; and Oliver Avdibegovic, forward, sophomore.

Outlook: The boys are looking forward to the season, with a large group of returning players that give coach Bayer-Pracht lots of options for tactics and lineups.

“This team can really shoot, which is always fun and defensively they have the potential to become a very disruptive group,” the coach said. “If we can take care of the ball and create for each other they are a tough team to play against.”

The early season will see the Wolves working in a couple of new young players into the roster, but the group is hoping to peak at the exact right time for a deep playoff run.

Up next: Tuesday, Dec. 19, at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

Gymnastics

Girls’ basketball

The South Burlington gymnastics beat Burr and Burton, 116.50 to 72.45, on Saturday at the Green Mountain Training Center.

Ella Maynard won the all-around competition for South Burlington.

Coach: Ryan Navin Last season: 5-14, lost in the D-I playdowns This season: 0-1 Key returnees: Tori Griffin, junior; Abby Duffy, senior; Jayne Kitt, senior; and Bridget Simone, senior.

Key newcomers: Too early to tell.

Outlook: South Burlington will feature a small group this season, with nine players on the team and most of the roster made up of juniors and seniors. While the bulk of the group has varsity experience, the Wolves have some new players to work into the roster as the season progresses.

“They are a connected and hard-working group,” said Navin.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

South Burlington’s Jack Lafayette pushes the ball up the floor as Montpelier’s Clayton Foster hurries to defend during the Wolves’ 68-51 win over the Solons on Dec. 8 in South Burlington.

Girls’ hockey, basketball teams get off to good start LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

ulian, Reese Gordon and Kylie Burke each scored.

Girls’ hockey

Boys’ hockey

South Burlington 8, Stowe 3: The South Burlington girls ice hockey team beat Stowe at the Dr. Butsch Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Sabrina Brunet had three goals and an assist for the Wolves, while Hadia Ahmed and Ava Hershberg each tallied twice and added an assist. Lucie McCarney added a goal, Jordan Larose had three assists while Sawyer Bailey had two.

Taylor Tobrocke made 16 saves.

South Burlington moved to 2-1.

The Wolves fell to U-32, 7-1, on Wednesday, Dec. 13, in the opening game of the tournament.

Brunet had four goals for South Burlington, while Rose DiGi-

Rice 3, South Burlington 2: South Burlington fell to Rice, 3-2, in the championship game of the Beech Classic on Thursday, Dec. 14.

Lucas Van Mullen and Will Bradley each scored a goal for the Wolves, who moved to 2-1 with the loss.

Nick Kelly, Henry Poquette and Jules Butler each had an assist, while James Chagnon made 37 saves.

Girls’ basketball Spaulding 39, South Burlington 32: South Burlington’s comeback bid fell short in a loss to Spaulding on Saturday.

Tori Griffin had 17 points for the Wolves, while Abby Tuffy

Boys’ basketball South Burlington 61, Burr and Burton 40: The boys used a 17-9 run in the second quarter to pull away for a win over Burr and Burton on Friday, Dec. 15.

Tyler Bergmans had 20 points and 10 rebounds for South Burlington, while Deng Aguek and Paul Comba each added 12 points for the Wolves.

The Wolves moved to 2-1.

“Our goals are to stay healthy over the long winter season and compete on a nightly basis.”

Tori Griffin and Abby Duffy will help lead the way, along with seniors Jayne Kitt and Bridget Simone.

Up next: Thursday, Dec. 21, against Colchester, 7 p.m.

Boys’ ice hockey Coach: Sean Jones Last season: 10-5-4, lost in the D-I semifinals This season: 2-1 Key returnees: Nick Kelly, senior, forward; WIll Bradley, senior, forward; Jules Butler, senior, forward; Lucas Van Mullen, junior, defense; Drew Daugherty, junior, defense; Finn McCarney, senior, defense; James Chagnon, senior, goalie; and James Bradley, senior, goalie.

Key newcomers: Too early to tell.

Outlook: The boys’ team started off a season with high expectations on Saturday, beating Burlington 8-2. The Wolves have a deep roster that will be led by seniors in all positions, including a senior duo in net — James Bradley and James Chagnon — that have split time for three years.

Kelly, Bradley and Butler are just one line for a team that runs three lines deep. The Wolves also return a core of five defenders to set a tone on the backend.

“With a large number of returning players, we will hope to play with pace and use our depth as an advantage,” coach Jones said.

Up next: Wednesday, Dec. 20, against Milton, 7:40 p.m.

Girls’ ice hockey Coach: Courtney Barrett Last season: 10-5-4, lost in the D-I semifinals This season: 2-1 Key returnees: Sabrina Brunet, forward, senior; Kiley Burke, defense, senior; and Taylor Tobrocke, goalie, senior.

Key newcomer: Grace Landerman, defense, first-year.

Outlook: The girls are looking to take a step forward after last year’s semifinal exit. The See PREVIEW on page 11

The Other Paper • December 21, 2023 • Page 11

COURTESY PHOTOS

South Burlington teacher Kristen Courcelle competes in the Ironman in Hawai’i in October.

Ironman teacher visits Gertrude Chamberlin School fifth graders Kristen Courcelle, a South Burlington teacher and recent Ironman competitor, visited the fifth grade at Chamberlin School.

Courcelle competed in the Ironman competition at Lake Placid this summer where she qualified for the world championships in Kona on the Big Island of Hawai’i.

She traveled to Kona in October where she completed a 2.4-mile

swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon.

During her visit to Chamberlin, Courcelle showed many pictures of Hawai’i and talked about the competition itself, including how she prepared her gear and her nutrition for the big day. She also talked to students about the importance of setting goals and taking steps to meet them.

She shared that her goal of making it to the world championships was 10 years in the marking and she reminded students to never give up on their goals.

In the thank you letters to Courcelle, it was clear she inspired the fifth graders. Some revealed their own goals they were working toward, and a few said they might like to try an Ironman someday.

Boys, too early to tell.

Outlook: There is a lot of youth on both the South Burlington alpine ski teams although a large first-year class on the girls’ side leaves the Wolves with most of the unknowns. Senior Penelope Harm will hold a key leadership position as the team starts the season.

For the boys, senior Jay Eagle will likely pace a group of returning skiers, all with one more year of experience under their skis.

“Four of the six athletes that represented the team at the state championships last season were underclassmen. I’m beyond excited to see what they’ll be able to accomplish this time around with an extra year of experience under their belts,” Rothman said.

Up next: Monday, Dec. 18, at Mad River Glen

ninth in the championship.

Key returnees for the girls: Paige Poirier, senior; and Maggie Clark, senior. Boys: Will Schaefer, junior; and Austin Simone, senior.

Key newcomer for the girls: Dahnbea Sullivan, first year.

Boys: Dan Jackson, sophomore.

Outlook: A large group of newcomers have buoyed the South Burlington Nordic ski teams as they look to improve on last year’s top 10 finishes in the state championship meet. With a repaired groomer, the Wolves now pray for snow so that they can get outside and get as much time on skis as possible.

“These newcomers have enthusiastically jumped in to our first couple weeks of both skiing and off-snow training,” coach Matt Powers said. “Buoyed by them and guided by our veteran juniors and seniors, we anticipate another year of growth for the team.”

Opener: Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Sleepy Hollow

PREVIEW continued from page 10 Wolves bring back four returning defensemen and a goalkeeper.

“We are focusing this season on team play with our strengths,” Barrett said. “We did not lose many players last year, so our goal this season is to grow off of what we implemented last season looking for full team play.”

The team’s speed will be another asset this year, as the Wolves will look to get in on the forecheck.

Up next: Saturday, Dec. 23, at BFA-St. Albans, 5:30 p.m.

Alpine skiing Coach: Scott Rothman Last season: Fourth place in conference, seventh in the state championship.

Key returnees for the girls: Penelope Harm, senior. Boys: Jay Eagle, senior; Jackson Rothman, junior; Jesse Poor, junior, Rusell Rothman, junior; and Dylan Karpinski, sophomore Key newcomer for the girls: Leila Macias-Aunave, first year;

Nordic skiing Coach: Matt Powers Last season: Girls: seventh in the D-I state championship. Boys:

Page 12 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

FILE PHOTO

The former Pizza Hut in South Burlington has been shuttered for years.

PIZZA HUT

continued from page 1 now released the property, but the project wasn’t moving so we weren’t sure if it was going to go forward.”

A previous version of the project included a drive-through ATM at the bank, but that has since been removed from the proposal because it is not permitted under the current zoning regulations.

The proposal has also since been reconfigured to include 10 affordable rental units and 20 market rate rental units, “meeting the required inclusionary minimum for a 30-unit development on these parcels,”

development board documents say.

The new application is expected to continue into January.

Bourne, a co-owner of Bourne Petroleum who lives in Massachusetts has been working on redeveloping the property since 2020, when he first had architects meet with planning staff to “get a sense of direction,” he has said.

After his first proposal was denied, he appealed the decision to Vermont Environmental Court in August. The appeal remains active.

BUDGET

continued from page 1 the 14 cameras.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gamelin, who was sworn in Feb. 1, said his department has 16 full-time and 11 parttime employees, along with 23 vehicles.

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

Courthouse staff members say they’ve been in fear when coming to and from work

because of a combination of homeless people, drug users and panhandlers.

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

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

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

Cain said the city of Burlington has asked the county to keep its parking lot open at night for those coming downtown.

She noted that federal and state courthouses do not make their parking areas or garages available for parking after hours.

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

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

Gamelin said body cameras are now considered basic police equipment.

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

The Other Paper • December 21, 2023 • Page 13

GRISMORE

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

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

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

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

In response to questions from the committee, Marcoux said he would have handled the situation in which Grismore kicked a shackled man differently — prob-

ably by not getting involved at all, he said, since there were two other deputies already in the room.

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

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

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

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

BLOTTER

continued from page 4 Foy, 47, no address provided, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 14 at 8 p.m., police came to the aid of a 12-year-old juvenile in need of supervision on Farrell Street.

Dec. 15 a 1:37 a.m., Anna Bigitta Karhu, 25, of Burlington, was arrested on two outstanding in-state warrants on Dorset Street.

Dec. 15 at 10:22 a.m., Raymond David Benson, 35, of Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

Dec. 15 at 2:37 p.m., Kristen Yerry, 24, of Sheldon, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

Dec. 15 at 6:03 p.m., Autumn B. Welch, 33, of Colchester, was arrested for unlawful trespass on Dorset Street.

Dec. 15 at 11:14 p.m., Lesley T. Urban, 40, of Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant and resisting arrest at Kennedy Drive and Hinesburg Road.

Dec. 16 at 4:13 p.m. Alfred E. Gaudet III, 47, no address provided, was arrested on an in-state warrant and retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 17 at 12:30 a.m., Eric A. Smith, 40, of South Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

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Dec. 17 at 1:34 p.m., Tiffany A. Chadwick, 43, of Burlington, was arrested for disorderly conduct, domestic assault and larceny from a person on Dorset Street.

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

of those who are a party to it.”

“I simply am the latest victim of the media outrage machine — coupled with the ambitions of opportunistic politicians and Prekindergarten Lottery is now open for 2024-2025! weak-willed leaders — to face Subs Needed PrekindergartenDaily Lottery is now open for 2024-2025! the whipping block,” the sheriff The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for Hourly rate of $18.00 per hour. testified. “The law enforcement a randomProgram prekindergarten lottery drawing applications for the 2024-25 for school The CVSD Early Education is now accepting a random leadership class has thrown me year.drawing This lottery is for opportunity to enroll in oneThis of our school-is for an opportunity prekindergarten lottery for thean2024-25 school year. lottery basedValley classrooms which run 10 hours week. Our school-based into a volcano hoping that the Champlain School District is per seeking andweek. reliable to enroll in one of ourprekindergarten school-based classrooms which run 10flexible hours per Our schoolclassrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education horror will be sustained by my substitute teachers.

Choose assignments based on your schedule, based prekindergarten classrooms are 5play-based, STARs, developmentally licensed earlyappropriate education programs that programs that provide sacrifice.” preferred location for within theindistrict and when itcurriculum works for you! provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments all children in an inclusive environments all children an inclusive setting.

Ourfor Prekindergarten Lottery forLearning 2024-2025!

Tim Doherty, an attorney who OurExperience is based onnow the Vermont Early Standards (VELS). setting. curriculum isinis based onopen the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS). educational settings preferred but not required. is advising the committee, repeatOur follow the CVSD school Children will 3 or older by The CVSD Earlyfor Education Program is now accepting applications forChildren acalendar. random edly pressed Grismore details Our programs follow theprograms CVSD school calendar. who will who be age Call 802-383-1234 or by stop by our office toare submit your be age 3 school or older September 1, 2024, who not eligible for interest. prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2024-25 year.

This lottery is for an opportunity related to Grismore’s compensaSeptember 1, 2024, kindergarten, who are notand eligible forcommunities kindergarten, and live in the communities of live in the of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Applications are available at the CVSD Central Office 5420 to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which run 10 hours per week.

Our schooltion while working under former Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, andareWilliston to at enter the lottery.

Shelburne, St. George, and Williston eligible to are entereligible the lottery. based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that Shelburne Rd Suite 300 Shelburne VT 05482. choose to enroll child Franklin County Sheriff Families Roger who are selected Families for whothe are lottery selected and for the lottery and choose their to enroll theirin a CVSD program provide play-based, access appropriate environments for all children anthe inclusive child in a CVSD program access their Act 166infor publicly funded publicly funded prekindergarten funds school-based program.

Langevin.

Doherty produceddevelopmentally what their Act 166 setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Earlyfunds Learning Standards (VELS). prekindergarten for the school-based program.

CVSD is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, he described as payroll records applications must be received by(BIPOC), Februaryimmigrants, 5, 2024, andwomen, are located on the CVSD Early and copies of checksfollow thatAll Grisand People of Color and All applications must be received February 5, 2024, are LGBTQ+ Our programs the CVSDwebsite school calendar.

Children who will bebyage 3 oror older byand Education at: https://tinyurl.com/CVSDEarlyEd using this QR code. more and Langevin had signed off located on the CVSD Early Education website at: https://tinyurl. candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

September 1, 2024, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of Paper applications are available upon request. com/CVSDEarlyEd or using QR code. on or approved.

Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston arethis eligible to enter the lottery.

Grismore maintained that all Families who are selected for the lottery Paper and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program areabout available upon request. or any concerns For additional information,applications questions our program, financialaccess records were their Act ultimately 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program. about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact For additional information, questions about our program, Director or any approved by Langevin. concerns aboutatyour child’s development, please visit ourEducation website of Early Education, Erin Gagne egagne@cvsdvt.org.

Our Early All applications must be received by February 5, 2024, and are located on the CVSD Early The committee took testimoor contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at egagne@ team for developmental screenings in the areas of or using this isQR ny fromEducation Langevinwebsite earlierat: inhttps://tinyurl.com/CVSDEarlyEd theis also available cvsdvt. Our Early Education team alsocode. communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development, Paper applications are available upon request. available for developmental screenings day, though nearly all of it was and cognition.

More information about an Early Multi-Tiered System of Supports is also in the areas of communication, socialheld in an executive session. The emotional development, motor skills, For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns available on the website under the Support Services tab. former sheriff appeared remotely adaptive and cognition.

More about your child’s development, please visit our development, website or contact Director via video. information about an Early Multi-Tiered of Early Gagne at egagne@cvsdvt.org.

Early Education System of SupportsOur is also available on the The panel hasEducation, conductedErin much team is also available for developmental screenings in the areas of website under the Support Services tab. of its work behind closed doors. communication, development, motor skills, adaptive development, Its chair, Rep. Martin social-emotional LaLonde, cognition. More about an Early Multi-Tiered System of Supports is also D-Southand Burlington, said information previavailable the website under the Support Services tab. ously that the on committee was planning to use another closed session Monday to discuss information related to Grismore’s $24 - $28 hourly DOQ alleged financial misconduct.

But after Grismore protested, the Full-time with a great Town Office team and excellent committee agreed to hold all his local government benefits, including colleagues who want you to testimony in the public eye. thrive. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and aim to hire, motivate, and retain a diverse workforce across all departments.

PROPOSED SOUTH BURLINGTON MUNICIPAL PLAN CITY COUNCIL SECOND PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday, January 2, 2024, 7:00 pm and Monday, January 8, 2024 at 6:30 pm PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the South Burlington City Council will hold a public hearing beginning on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM, and then continued on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 6:30 pm to consider the City’s Draft Municipal Plan (known as CityPlan 2024). Participation options: Tuesday, January 2, 2024: • In Person: City Hall Auditorium, 180 Market Street • Interactive Online: https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/ citycouncilmeeting01-02-2024 • Phone: (224) 501-3412; Access Code: 436-108-613 Monday, January 8, 2024: • In Person: City Hall Auditorium, 180 Market Street • Interactive Online: https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/ specialcitycouncilmeeting01-08-2023 • Phone: (872) 240-3212; Access Code: 839-876-141

SHELBURNE

Human Resources Coordinator

The Town of Shelburne team has grown to require an energetic, people-focused HR professional. Help all our staff achieve their best, and cultivate the spirit of public service in our town. This specialist will support all of our departments in the full suite of HR functions and special projects. The ideal candidate has related education and experience in human resources work, including recruiting, benefits administration, training, and problem solving.

We are excited to shape this position to the skills and interests of the right candidate.

Visit www.shelburnevt.org/jobs to see the full job description and application. To apply, email scannizzaro@shelburnevt.org.

Review of applications begins immediately.

The Purpose of this hearing is to consider the readoption of the City’s Municipal Plan pursuant to 24 VSA § 4381-4387. This draft Plan affects all areas within the City of South Burlington. A table of contents for the draft plan is as follows: Guiding Principles; Introduction; People & Population; Housing; Economy; Energy; Environment; Transportation; Community, History, & Culture; Recreation; Community Services; Water & Utilities; Land Use Plan; Appendix A & B Act 174 Enhanced Energy Plan Data and Assessment; Maps Copies of the proposed Plan are available for inspection at the Department of Planning & Zoning, City Hall, 3rd Floor, 180 Market Street South Burlington, between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday except holidays, and on the city website at www.southburlingtonvt.gov.

Helen Riehle, Chair December 21, 2023

This new position is a priority for the Shelburne Selectboard, to enhance all of the Town’s services.

Page 14 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

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The Other Paper • December 21, 2023 • Page 15

Horoscope December 21, 2023

ANSWERS FROM THIS ISSUE

Weekly Puzzles

Page 16 • December 21, 2023 • The Other Paper

Toying with the idea of stocking up on stuffers?

Harmonica Key Chain 6.99

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Trick Pencil 1.99 Glow Stars 2.99

Wooden Chess Board 19.99 Small Farty Putty Bucket 2.99

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