Woodstock residents are not being permitted to read the investigative report they are paying for concerning management concerns within the village PD.
Duffy blocks public release of report about Woodstock Police Chief
A Colchester community reflects on its first year as a village
It’s been a year since the Westbury mobile home park in Colchester became the Village of Westbury, the first village established in Vermont in nearly a century.
School Board to principals: Recite Pledge of Allegiance every day
The Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District Board (SVUESD) voted shortly before Christmas to have the Pledge of Allegiance recited every day.
Jesse: What we need from a new Essex-Westford school superintendent
They will have to focus on student academic achievement by setting specific measurable goals and focusing district resources on meeting those goals.
ST J pays disputed $25K reward to cop shooting informant
After offering a reward leading to arrest, the selectboard learned the FBI recommends offering rewards leading to the conviction of the apprehended suspect.
‘No confidence’ vote for police chief prompts hire of private detective
According to the contract with the town, the investigator has been asked to investigate employee concerns based on town policies and procedures.
Girls in Montpelier sexually harrassed by street people
As with many of Vermont’s urban centers, Montpelier is struggling with problems caused by street people.
Woodstock petitioners want answers on why Chief Swanson remains on leave
Citizens question how Municipal Manager Eric Duffy has handled the paid administrative leave he ordered for Police Chief Joseph Swanson in October.
Winooski officials eye old National Guard armory for new housing site
Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner emphasized three goals city leaders are looking at: affordability, multi-bedroom units and putting units up for sale.
Truth & Reconciliation Commission wants paid consultants
In the last legislative session, lawmakers approved a $1.1 million budget for the Commission.
Stormwater build at South Burlington schools needs Act 250 permit
South Burlington School District’s middle and high schools have had to play the waiting game for their planned stormwater project.
Bradley: Is Burlington gun ban above the Law?
By banning guns in bars Burlington has broken State law, namely 24 VSA 2295, better known as the “pre-emption statute.”
‘Missing middle’ housing needed in Newport
Strong support voiced for the draft Master Plan, despite many remaining questions.
Burlington Council bans guns in bars
If the city voters approve this initiative in March, Vermont’s new ‘purple’ legislature, with more Republican representation in both the House and Senate, will ultimately decide along with the governor if this will become law.
ACLU suing Northeast Kingdom sheriff for records of him talking with ICE
“Colby said he would likely call immigration authorities after a traffic stop if he thought the people in the car were undocumented….Colby estimated his department had relayed about 20 cases to immigration authorities in the last year, not a particularly high figure in his mind,” the news story said.
Montpelier bike path safety concern grows as harrassment increases
“What I’ve heard and documented are fairly consistent experiences of girls, aged 11–16, being sexually harassed by men gathered on the bike path. In several cases, girls have been followed and pursued.”
State mulls expanding county government
Does Vermont need a thicker layer of county government between state and municipal?
Woodstock police chief on leave after fracas involving his husband
The highly decorated police chief, a Woodstock native, is on leave after an automotive incident involving his husband, a local lawyer.
Town Meeting petition to ban geoengineering
The Town Meeting resolution would prohibit the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.”
Montpelier gets grant to elevate flood-stricken buildings
A homeowner living in her kitchen with unfinished walls since the devastating 2023 flood is first in line to get local/state funding to elevate her home.
Brattleboro introduces ordinances “to establish boundaries on acceptable community conduct”
The town elders of Brattleboro want to change the “unacceptable conduct” and a “notorious atmosphere” that accompanies illicit drug use and homelessness.
Encampment dwellers refuse to relocate
A tent encampment has been growing in Montpelier. City officials are asking, not forcing, people to move out following some disturbing incidents.
Tiny town takes out $1 million line of credit to pay for flood damage
“We probably haven’t done something on this scale since the 1938 Hurricane. And there was no FEMA,” a town official said.
Oxbow HS to limit public use of fields
“OHS has recently experienced multiple instances of field vandalism that require significant attention.”
Flood mitigation option: remove a covered bridge
An historic Vermont covered bridge could be swept away not by flooding, but by flood mitigation efforts.
Frustration and exhaustion shared at public meeting with Burlington Police
BPD and the public met at City Hall on Thursday afternoon to share information and solutions regarding how to curb increased crimes in The Queen City.
Latest flood raises big questions in a little town
New flooding has made the town’s contracted, underway 2023 repair plan at least partly outdated.
Cabot Creamery outlet in Hardwick set for August opening
A success story for collaborations between municipalities and businesses coming together to spur economic development in Vermont’s small towns.
St. Albans clears out homeless camp after raft of complaints
Tent City, as the encampment was known, sat tucked in a patch of woods behind the downtown train station and Food City grocery store.
Cabot School’s future contemplated in forum
Most attendees said the school’s small size and project-based learning style gives students an edge over those from other schools.
All-electric police cruisers too costly, impractical, Montpelier PD explains
The weight of installed and loaded equipment limit the interior space of the car as well as will diminish the range, especially in the winter.
Worries mount over landfill plans
A special meeting of the Thetford Selectboard was held Monday evening about planning and public health concerns around the now-closed Post Mills landfill.
Roper: Who’s banning books now?
Burlington library won’t share women’s rights advocate Riley Gaines’ “Swimming Against the Current”
LaMarche: Decency in decay
Mayor Stanak is knowingly eliciting another eventual confrontation and dispersant of at least one if not many, encampments.
Essex School Board gets parents’ rights petition with more than 500 signatures
The organization Speak Vermont presented a petition to the Essex High School Board on Tuesday evening asserting parental rights in education policy.
Five school districts vote Yes on budgets
Each school district had already rejected school budgets at least twice this year in the face of estimated double-digit property tax increases.
“Yes” town voters changed their mind, rejected school budget
About 20 school districts still have no approved school budget, including one that said yes at Town Meeting and then reconsidered.
Newport tightens safety after second sludge spill in Clyde River
Jason Herman, the facility’s chief operator, confirmed that these incidents are becoming more frequent.
Speech therapist launches Stuttering Awareness Week
She began focusing on public awareness of differing speech patterns after a patient who stuttered died by suicide at age 12 in 2020.
Woodstock adopts short-term rental fees, rules
The ordinance standardizes STR rules and fees across the Village and Town, along with capping the number of units.
Newport wastewater plant dumps 100K gallons of untreated sludge
Untreated sludge overflows can pose risks to public health and aquatic life due to the high levels of bacteria, nutrients, and other pollutants present.
Winooski City worried about property tax hike from new Winooski bridge
The city is responsible for paying 5%, or $3.09 million (whichever is less) for project expenses.
No impeachment for Grismore
Grismore’s alleged offenses “don’t meet the high bar for impeachment,” but he really should resign anyway, House Speaker Jill Krowinski said.
Clark hired as superintendent for Randolph area schools
Michael J. Clark will be the permanent replacement for Superintendent Layne Millington, who stepped down after a few rocky incidents in recent years.
Charlotte residents remain split over sidewalks
Charlotte has debated the addition of sidewalks in its West Village for more than a decade.
Burlington cop, demoted for inaccurate timesheets, hired by Shelburne
Lieutenant Delgado was quietly demoted to corporal last year after an internal investigation showed he filed 25 timesheets that were inaccurate or untimely.
Amid parking woes, Stowe Mountain Resort consults state to temper traffic
Management last year rolled out parking fees, carpooling incentives and bus service improvements — but it may not be doing enough.
Warner: Hartford has an activist problem – now they know about it
If it’s hateful to warn a tiny Vermont town to take a closer look at the source of its sudden social problems and rising incompetence at the local government level then I plead guilty.
Warner: I’m running for Selectboard
Among the many issues connected to the board are complaints from former members of bigotry and racism while townsfolk have complained of incompetence and social justice activism from members violating the stated charter function.
Sheriff John Grismore tells his side of the “kick”
“It was a seating maneuver to put him back on the bench,” Grismore said on the radio Tuesday.
Gervais: Arlington selectboard needs a fresh voice
In Arlington, there has been much blame cast about following the issuing of property tax bills with a staggering increase in the town tax rate this past September.
Grismore impeachment unlikely, impeachment panel leaders say
The frustrated co-chair of the House impeachment investigation panel says Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore can’t be impeached under current Vermont law and Constitution.
Understaffed Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. loses county seat contract to Windsor
The county sheriff’s budget hole got deeper when the selectboard of Chelsea, the county seat, contracted for police coverage with nearby Windsor County.
Warner: At Hartford selectboard, views exchanged over Drag Story Hour
Several Hartford residents chided Selectboard Member Lannie Collins for his statement made regarding Drag Queen Story Hour.
Green: Crime and Concerns in Morristown
Morristown held its second community Crime and Concerns meeting at the People’s Academy auditorium this past Monday night.
Keelan: Requirements to become a town treasurer: not much
Your local licensed barber has far greater required qualifications.
Burlington Police 2023 Report: 22% more incidents than last year, 43% more than 2021
Key takeaways include that serious incidents such as overdoses are up and the department is engaged in replenishing its staffing levels.
New mayor sees Newport as a ‘go to’, not ‘go through’ city
Addressing recent disruptions at City Council meetings, Sullivan praised the respectful majority of attendees and underscored the meetings’ purpose of conducting city business.
Colchester names new police chief
Hull worked his way up from patrol officer and earned a college degree in 2020 because it was required for Colchester’s next Chief of Police.
Carbon tax on big Burlington buildings begins Jan.1
This occurs while online pundits note that the Green Mountain State seems to be following closely California’s costly green energy policies.
Questions asked about Grismore’s private $20K pension fund
The biggest concern appeared to be the state ordering the sheriff’s department to repay the state money that had been put into a private retirement fund approved for Grismore by the previous sheriff.
Small town considers non-citizen voting
As already adopted in three of Vermont’s cities, a small rural town is considering allowing non-citizens to vote.
High interest rates punish towns seeking flood repair $$
Friendly interest rates in a high-interest loan market will help municipalities rebuild and plan for the next climate event, the state’s Bond Bank chair says.
Weed and ducks converge in Essex Jct. lawsuit pitting state against city
The situation around Struthers, his weed and his ducks has evolved into yelling matches, lawsuits, letters to legislators and an Essex Junction neighborhood on edge.
Grand Isle Town Attorney keeps silent about letter to Town Clerk & Treasurer
The town letter was sparked in part by a large load of crushed stone that was picked up on behalf of Boutin and delivered to her home on Adams Landing Road this summer, records show.
Foliage season brings crowds, tangled traffic, even after summer floods
A recent addition to the Waterbury Select Board agenda’s “parking lot” of topics to get to in the future is “leaf peeper traffic.”
Sheriff’s Department almost DOUBLES number of officers
One county sheriff has added staff and expanded services. How did Ryan Palmer do it?
Grand Isle issues Town Clerk/Treasurer letter to “cease and desist” from personal purchases
The letter, sent on behalf of the full selectboard, centers on a large load of crushed stone that was picked up on behalf of Boutin and delivered to her home on Adams Landing Road this summer.
Westford, Stowe voters reject spending, Berlin says yes and no
Voters yesterday rejected a wastewater project in Westford and a $39 million school project in Stowe.
Construction of I-89 walk-bike bridge in South Burlington set for 2024
The $14.5 million project, which would see a bridge for cyclists and pedestrians stretch over Interstate 89, has been in development for years now and aims to address one of the riskiest tracts of road in the state.
Burlington mayoral candidate Mulvaney-Stanak supports gender-altering drugs for minors and safe injection sites
Candidate also opposes investigation into the misconduct of Tyeastia Green, the city’s first director of Burlington’s Racism, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (REIB) Department.
Montpelier facing numerous financial challenges and choices
The accumulated financial challenges facing the city government and school district, challenges that could potentially increase Montpelier’s already high property taxes.
Roper: Why is the Vermont media ignoring the Curt Hier vs. Slate Valley School Board story?
Our most widely read/viewed news outlets are more concerned with protecting a politically powerful special interest than they are about informing the public.
Moretown Cemeteries Commission looks to pick up the pieces after hit-and-run damage
On Labor Day, a cemetary commissioner arrived at the Moretown Village Cemetery for her morning inspection to discover the normally well-kept space a total disaster.
Warner: Town of Hartford D.E.I. training is problematic (Part 3)
There are many findings that refute the claims in the training however they aren’t important because the goal is not protecting certain groups from injustice but creating new sources of privilege.
Heated Charlotte selectboard meeting sees Thompson Point camp dispute end, for now
“If we keep saying no” to these projects and developments, said one leaseholder, “we’re going to become known for that” as a town.
Warner: Hartford D.E.I. training is more than problematic (Part 2)
What you hear is the sound of Franz Kafka rolling over in his grave muttering “I tried to warn you”.
Warner: Town of Hartford DEI training is problematic
Rather than foster a less hostile environment and reduce conflict, this document looks like a recipe for creating hostile, harassing and conflict laden work places.
Social justice group gets COVID relief funds, no comments from select board
The Shelburne Equity & Diversity Committee has received a $10,000 grant that was originally intended as COVID response funds according to a shelburnevt.org post shared as a news tip recently with the VDC.
Wealthy Orange County town ponders hiring social worker
Residents of Thetford will hold a public forum tomorrow night to discuss hiring a town social worker.
Contrary Canaan bans homeless loitering
You are very welcome to visit Canaan – but not to loiter on public property.
Roper: When a school board member actually puts kids first
If the organization has been physically abusing children and defrauding the taxpayers I can see where they might be in fear of someone shining a light on their improprieties.
Franklin County State’s Attorney Lavoie resigns
In the midst of an impeachment investigation, Franklin County State’s Attorney John Lavoie has resigned.
Ellis: Montpelier’s reckoning – a proposal
We have the expertise and the determination to do this. Now we must face ourselves in the mirror and recognize that we must innovate our way out of this or slowly wither away.
New Northfield police chief exposed corrupt big-city prosecutor
A former Philadelphia detective who helped put the Philadelphia district attorney in federal prison for 5 years for bribery in 2017 has been named Northfield’s new police chief.
16-year-old voting in effect in Brattleboro
“One of the biggest selling points for me is the fact that teenagers do work and they do pay taxes,” said Daims. “And we are a country built on the foundation of ‘no taxation without representation.’”
Fairlee approves cannabis sales
By a narrow vote, the Orange County town of Fairlee (population 988) has approved retail cannabis sales.
Brattleboro declines rent-a-cop hire after ‘cockroach’ comment
Drug-plagued Brattleboro doesn’t have enough cops to provide adequate public safety. Efforts to hire private security ran have become SNAFU.
Hartford votes To fly Pride Flag At municipal building
The majority of selectboard members chose not to hear discussion, nor raise the issue publicly other than to make it the meeting’s last agenda item.
Newport mayor resigns after 75 days, citing hostility
The unhappy 75-day tenure of Newport’s mayor came to an end Monday night.
Signing contracts an issue with Brattleboro underage voting bill
The proposed Brattleboro charter change explicitly gives teenagers the right to do on behalf of the Town something state law otherwise prohibits them: the right to enter into contracts.
Lawmaker on ‘unbiased’ impeachment probe urged sheriff to drop out of race
One of the lawmakers charged with making an unbiased investigation of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore’s alleged offenses had previously urged him to drop out of the race.
Senate OKs 16-year-old voting, local office holding in Brattleboro
No more “oligarchy of older Vermonters,” one senator announced as the Senate voted 16-8 to allow teens to vote in local elections and hold local office in Brattleboro.
Town of Hartford struggles with identity politics
The Town of Hartford Select Board has adopted a new committee to assess the town for its racial and marginalized persons scorecard.
House launches impeachment investigation against Franklin County Sheriff, State’s Attorney
The House announces beginning of impeachment proceedings against two Franklin County elected officials.
Vermont towns ignore State on stormwater fees
The debate was sparked during discussions of S.115, a miscellaneous agriculture bill that began in the Senate before moving to the House.
Hinesburg confronts destruction of beaver dams by landowner
“All I do out back is knock it down and prevent the water from flooding everybody’s property,” Lyman said. However, the Town of Hinesburg has taken action.
Burlington voters will again consider who is allowed to vote on Town Meeting Day
If the provision passes, legal non-citizens would be able to vote in municipal elections.
Bennington public safety summit Monday
State and local Bennington leaders will gather for a first-of-a-kind public safety and health summit Monday, March 20.
Paid time off to vote for Town Meeting, other elections
Pros and cons of giving everyone two hours of paid time off on Town Meeting Day and primary and general elections.
