News from the Town of Essex | |
|
Future Municipal Complex Land purchase
The Town has executed a purchase and sale agreement to acquire 80 & 90 Upper Main St. in Essex for a future municipal complex. The Town now has until mid-November 2023 to do its due diligence in investigating the site before moving ahead with a purchase. The purchase price would be $3 million, to be paid with the Town’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.
| | |
Continued Efforts to Correct Local Option Tax Collection | |
In July 2022, businesses in the City of Essex Junction and the Town of Essex were sent letters from the Vermont Department of Taxes requesting that they update their business location as either the City or the Town because of the new 1 percent Local Option Tax (LOT) adopted by the City. | |
|
|
The LOT went into effect in October 2022 and the Town and City put together information for businesses and residents to understand the new boundaries of the two separate municipalities, how to request refunds of LOT charged in error, and how to make corrections with the Vermont Tax Department. Town officials reached out to smaller Essex businesses and larger corporations to identify companies who were collecting the taxes in error. It was discovered that many retail establishments utilize point of sale systems that are programmed by national firms that rely on five and not nine-digit zip codes. The Town furthered the outreach to encourage the larger chain stores to reprogram their registers on the first day of the tax.
Read the full article...
| |
Police Community Advisory Board
Essex Town and the City of Essex Junction approve the creation of a new board to partner with Essex Police
| |
Since 2020, the Town of Essex and the Essex Police Department (EPD) have been working with the Essex Building Equity Solidarity and Trust (BEST) group to study methods and policies that foster the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Many of these initiatives have been or continue to be implemented by the EPD. The BEST group focused on the formation of a Community Advisory Board that will partner with the police department to facilitate a positive, trusting, and effective relationship between the community and the department. | |
|
|
Board Structure & Requirements
The Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a committee with equal representation from the Town of Essex and the City of Essex Junction. The CAB is intended to include 3 residents from the Town of Essex and three residents from the City of Essex Junction. Individuals selected to serve on the CAB will be asked to commit to a 2- or 3-year term to allow for continuity.
- Must be a resident of the Town of Essex or the City of Essex Junction.
- Must be 16 years of age or older
- Interested in public safety
- Be a good communicator
- Support the mission, vision and goals of the CAB
- Be able to attend the majority of meetings (at least 80%)
| | |
|
Congratulations, Corporal Wehman and K9-Nova
The Vermont Police K9 Association has chosen Essex Police Department's Corporal Bryon Wehman and K9 Nova to receive the Co-Patrol Team of the Year and the Lifesaving Award.
| | |
Recruitment for Boards & Committees Continues
It's not too late to apply!
| |
|
In the interest of furthering efforts for public engagement and inclusivity, and to encourage community members with diverse backgrounds, experience, opinions, and ideas, the Selectboard advertises seats that have expiring terms. All applicants for upcoming expiring seats will be interviewed by the Selectboard.
Advertising seats, rather than automatically reappointing, provides a higher level of transparency and accountability, with the hope to invite more members of the community to participate in local government.
| |
|
Selectboard Strategic Planning Session - May 8th | |
|
The Selectboard has scheduled a special meeting on Monday, May 8 starting at 6:00 pm. The top agenda topics include:
- Review and discuss departmental annual work plans for fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024
- Discussion about Selectboard's desired goals and projects for fiscal year 2024
- Public comment about Selectboard's fiscal year 2024 work plan
Department heads were asked to put together annual work plans for municipal departments and indicate two categories: regular work that happens every day/week/month/year; and special projects planned for FY23 and FY24. Special projects include priority rankings of high, medium, and low.
The work plans are being provided to the Selectboard to demonstrate what staff does on a regular basis throughout the year, and to inform the Selectboard and public about what special projects are already on the horizon for FY24 and the remainder of FY23.
Staff representatives to boards, commissions, and committees have also submitted basic work plans for the coming year.
The work plans are intended to help the Selectboard have an informed discussion about the board's own goals and priorities for the coming year, particularly in regard to staff capacity to take on new projects, and in case any prioritized projects need to be shifted or postponed.
View the meeting agenda...
| |
|
The Town of Essex Selectboard will hold a public meeting to discuss proposed changes in water and sewer rates and capital plan. The meeting will be held at the Town Offices, 81 Main Street, with an option to join remotely via Zoom:
Monday May 15, 2023, 6:35 PM at the Town Offices at 81 Main St., Essex Junction; online via Zoom; or by telephone by calling toll free (888)788-0099 and enter Zoom meeting ID: 98785691140#, passcode: 032060.
Water rates are proposed to increase by 4.74%, from $5.90 per 1,000 gallons to $6.18 per 1,000 gallons. The yearly minimum public water charge is proposed to remain at $190 per year. Water initiation fees for new customers are proposed to remain at $5.90 per 1,000 gallons.
Sewer rates are proposed to increase 6.28%, from $10.27 per 1,000 gallons to $10.91 per 1,000 gallons. Sewer initiation fees for new customers are proposed to remain at $10.60/gpd.
Interim or final billing requests shall continue to be charged a fee of $35 for the service.
The proposed water and sewer budget and rate methodology is available at www.essexvt.org.
Please direct questions to Public Works Director Aaron Martin or Water Quality Director Annie Costandi at 802-878-1344 or [email protected] and [email protected].
| |
Joint Meeting of Selectboard and Planning Commission
Land Use Education & Training Collaborative Presentation
| |
|
The Essex Planning Commission and Selectboard recently met to attend a special meeting presentation on Municipal Planning in Vermont. Taylor Newton of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) presented a Welcome Packet and Overview of Roles and Responsibilities in Municipal Land Use. The presentation was produced by the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Affairs, as part of the Land Use Education & Training Collaborative. A highlight of some of the topics included:
- The responsibility for local land use decisions can be divided into two functions:
- planning (policy-making or "legislative function") and
- regulation (development review or "quasi-judicial function").
- If a town has a Development Review Board (DRB), then the Planning Commission (PC) is only involved in planning. In towns with a Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) the Planning Commission is involved in reviewing development applications. Essex currently has a PC/ZBA structure, but voted at Town Meeting to move to a PC/DRB structure by January 1, 2025.
- The Planning Commission and Selectboard are "statutory parties" to all Act 250 applications.
- Planning Commission meetings are open to the public at all times with two exceptions. The first is when a commission, acting in its quasi-judicial capacity, elects to go into a deliberative session to consider evidence presented during a public hearing on a permit application. The second exception to the open meeting law is when a board elects to go into executive session to discuss a specific matter, such as personnel issues.
- Roles and responsibilities are delineated both by statute and by function. There are three primary functions:
- Legislative
- Quasi-judicial
- Administrative
To view the recorded meeting, visit the Town Meeting TV YouTube Channel
| | |
|
Green Up Day - May 6
Get out into your community on Saturday, May 6 to clean up your neighborhood roads and waterways. As a volunteer, you make a huge difference in our environment.
| | |
Parks & Recreation
Highlighted Events
| |
|
|
Soccer Sparks
Soccer Sparks offers age-appropriate soccer classes for kids ages 2 to 9 in a low-pressure, high-skill learning environment. The Soccer Sparks approach utilizes fun and games so that children develop a passion for soccer without the stress of competitive play. Taught by USSF Nationally Certified coaches, Soccer Sparks' “all-ball” training techniques help kids meet their maximum potential while emphasizing fair play and enjoyment of the sport.
| | | |
|
|
Guided Yoga Hikes
Join Roam and Om on a Guided Yoga Hike through Indian Brook Park. We will follow the rolling forested white trail (approximately 2 miles) and get our muscles moving and heart pumping. We then roll out our yoga mats and indulge in a yoga class that's good for the soul while enjoying the tranquility and peace of this precious natural environment. The yoga class is approximately 1 hour in length. We create a welcoming atmosphere that is appropriate for all levels. Roam and Om provides the mats and carrying straps and you are welcome to bring your own.
| | | |
- Parks Maintenance Technician
- Cemetery Sexton
- Police Officer
- Water/Sewer Operator
| |
|
Sidewalk Ramps - Contract work to replace non-compliant sidewalk ramps within the Mansfield Village neighborhood is currently underway. Work is expected to conclude in June.
Essex Free Library Page Program - Now seeking applicants until May 10th. Pages will need to be available for ten hours a week for two weeks during the summer. Responsibilities include assisting with library shelving, program preparation, and other tasks as needed. Students who have completed grades 8 and above may apply.
Essex Community Garden Tour - Seeking hosts! The tour is a collaborative effort between Essex Town and Essex Junction gardeners and The Friends of the Essex Free Library. For more details or to be considered as a host, contact Jan Ferris. The tour will be held July 22.
Missing Middle Housing Photo Contest - The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development is teaming up with AARP Vermont and Vermont Natural Resources Council to launch a photo contest to raise awareness of this “missing middle housing,” which includes backyard cottages, attached and detached in-law apartments, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and more.
| |
|
May 6 - Green Up Day
May 8 - Selectboard Meeting - Strategic Planning
May 9 - Conservation & Trails Committee Meeting
May 11 - Planning Commission meeting
May 13 - Indian Brook Park Spring Clean Up
May 15 - Selectboard Meeting & Public Hearing
May 18 - Economic Development Commission Group Work Session
May 20 - Bad weather date for Indian Brook Park Spring Clean Up
May 25 - Planning Commission Meeting
May 29 - Offices Closed - Memorial Day
June 1 - Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting
Be sure to look online for cancelations. When offices are closed, a drop box for payments is located outside the entrance door at the Town Offices at 81 Main Street, Essex Junction. Many services are available online at www.essexvt.org.
| |
National Asian, Asian-American, Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The Vermont Office of Racial Equity is partnering again with the Vermont Human Rights Commission announcing a 1-month series celebrating National Asian, Asian-American, Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Once a week this month, you can share in interviews, media, and other resources diving deep into Asian, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, and Desi experience.
| |
Vermont Inclusion Week
In 2021, Governor Phil Scott issued a proclamation designating the second week of May as Inclusion Week in Vermont. The Governor also established a Proclamation of Inclusion, which makes clear the State of Vermont condemns discrimination in all forms, and welcomes all people who want to live, work and visit Vermont. Both proclamations acknowledge the work of many in state and local government and by community groups across the state, while recognizing there is more work to do to consistently address racism and systemic inequities.
| | | | |
