Municipal Newsletter from the Town of Essex

April 2024

"Pileated woodpecker" photo courtesy: Bob Leuang

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Boards, Committees, & Commissions

Recruitment for upcoming expiring seats

To encourage community members with diverse backgrounds, experience, opinions, and ideas, the Selectboard advertises seats that have expiring terms. Volunteers who have expiring terms may apply for reappointment. All applicants are interviewed by the Selectboard.

With a few exceptions, most terms begin on July 1, with interviews taking place during the months of April, May and June.

Public involvement in appointed advisory bodies is an important and valued part of local government, providing necessary input to make decisions that shape the quality of life for Essex residents. Bring new ideas to the table and represent all of the diverse segments of your community. Meet new people and find your common goals.

Are you busy with work, kids, and life and it's difficult to attend meetings?

Hybrid Meetings

Committee meetings are conveniently held both in person and virtually on Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

Stipend Program

The Town of Essex offers volunteers a stipend ($50 per meeting) to assist with indirect expenses such as child care, food, and transportation. Learn more.

What interests you?

Cemetery Commission

Provide guidance for a well-maintained setting for the interment and commemoration of the deceased and for the comfort and inspiration of the bereaved and the public. Provide compassionate and efficient service in a manner that respects human dignity.

Conservation and Trails Committee

Inventory and study the natural, historic, educational, cultural, scientific, architectural, and archaeological resources of the town in which the public has an interest. Preserve, develop and maintain a multi-use trail, sidewalk, and greenway system that will link residential neighborhoods to natural areas, schools, parks, businesses, recreational facilities, community centers, and neighboring towns.

Economic Development Commission

Be a part of the EDC that serves as an advisory resource to relevant staff departments, town commissions and committees, and the Selectboard concerning an understanding of the state of the existing business community and its contribution to the vitality of the future of Essex; an appreciation for the impact of emerging issues, trends, and state or municipal policies on both current and prospective business development; and the importance of nurturing proactive programs, policies and procedures that position Essex as a preferred municipality in the State in which to do business.

Energy Committee

Provide leadership, advocacy, and outreach in the areas of conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.

Essex Free Library Board of Trustees

Guide the library through policy-making and planning. Receive and encourage public input on ways to improve library service.

Housing Commission

Help to ensure that any resident (or aspiring resident) has access to a home that is affordable; a desirable type and size for their household; located with easy access to basic needs, sufficient quality to ensure health, safety, and enjoyment of its residents; meets special needs including senior care, ADA-accessibility, recovery housing, and housing for people who are homeless; and made available regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, pregnancy, disability, or status of citizenship, family, and military service.

Planning Commission

Prepare, maintain, and amend the municipal plan, zoning regulations and subdivision regulation; undertake reviews under these regulations; participate in the review of applications under Act 250; and conduct studies and make recommendations on design, energy conservation, historic and scenic preservation, land development and redevelopment, natural resource protection, and transportation.

Police Community Advisory Board

Represent the diverse community in facilitating a positive, trusting, and effective relationship with the Essex Police Department. Advocate for the systemically marginalized, disenfranchised and oppressed members of the community by providing honest and open feedback and serving as a conduit between law enforcement and the community that supports the police in continuously meeting the highest standards of engagement, professional service, and protection.

Zoning Board of Adjustment

Hear appeals of decisions rendered by the Zoning Administrator, review conditional use and variance requests, as well as unspecified uses of property.

Essex Representatives

Represent the Town of Essex as a member of one of these boards:

• Chittenden Solid Waste District
• Tree Farm Management Group
• Town Meeting TV Board of Trustees (Alternate)
• Green Mountain Transit (Alternate)

Selectboard Reorganizes

Setting the schedule and starting off with strategic planning

The Selectboard held its annual reorganizational meeting on April 1st. Tracey Delphia was voted in as the new Chairperson. Andy Watts is the Vice Chair, and Kendall Chamberlin continues as the Clerk.

The board members reviewed and approved policies as is typically done during this first official meeting of the reorganized board and considered and approved amendments to the Town's Tax Sale Policy.

For the past few years, the Selectboard has held an annual strategic planning work session in the spring to discuss the status of current projects and the Selectboard's priorities for the coming year and beyond. During the session the Selectboard will review the projected work plans for municipal departments and boards, commissions, and committees to inform discussions as they shape the priorities and goals for the Town.

The Selectboard set the date for a special meeting on May 8th to begin this work. View the work plan from last year's session.

Consultant hired for 80 & 90 Upper Main Street

Mixed-use Planning Project

Following the purchase of 80/90 Upper Main Street in November 2023, the Selectboard was presented with the next steps and timeline for the future development of the parcels in January 2024. While it is anticipated that the 32-acre site will include municipal offices and a fire station, it still needs to be determined what other uses should be on the site, the timing of development, project costs and 

funding, utilities needed, and site layout. In order to determine these elements, an extensive planning process needs to occur. It is important to involve the public to make this a community-wide process and to gain the support for the development that Essex residents want to see at the center of their town. 

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was widely distributed on February 2, 2024 and the Selectboard approved the bid from Stantec and Weiman Lamphere Architects (WLA), with WLA receiving supporting services from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB). Stantec has a team of multiple planners, urban designers, and architects dedicated to this very important task of engaging the public in the development of the master plan for the whole site and conceptual design for the municipal facilities. 

There is no project like this in Vermont and Stantec has worked on similar mixed-use projects out of state. For example, Stantec worked on a development in Stafford County, VA, where a master plan was developed for a 30+ acre site owned by the county to create a downtown that was lacking in the area. The master plan included infrastructure changes, public gathering spaces, and mixed uses. 

This project also included the development of public-private partnerships. Stantec also helped the Concord, NH create a master plan for a large site with mixed uses, including open space amenities, residential and commercial uses. Their written response to the RFP included two examples of municipal structures recently designed, specifically a fire station and library complex. During their interview, they explained that they have architects that specialize in designing municipal facilities, 

including fire stations and libraries. Continue reading...

Town Meeting Articles Passed

Essex Town voters voted early or showed up at the polls on Town Meeting Day this year and passed all articles on the 2024 ballot.

MODERATOR - John Sonnick

SELECTBOARD - Tracey Delphia

Article I - PASSED

Shall the Town adopt a budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 as recommended by the Selectboard in the amount of $16,106,421?

Article II - PASSED

Shall the Town of Essex adopt the proposed 2024 Town Plan?

Article III - PASSED

Shall the voters require the Town Annual Report to list the location of commercial properties that received a municipal tax stabilization benefit within the report fiscal year, the amount of that benefit and property owners? (Advisory)

Article IV - PASSED

Shall the voters require the Town Annual Report to list the names, position titles, salaries and benefits of all town employees within the annual report fiscal year? (Advisory)

Champlain Water District Bond Vote Article I - PASSED

Town Showcase & Soup Night

Thank you

Thank you to all who volunteered and attended the Town Showcase & Soup Night! Special thanks to the Essex Middle School staff, volunteers from Essex boards and committees, Moderator John Sonnick, the Essex High School Student Government and advisor Barb Isham for showing up in big numbers and lending a hand with everything, Sophia Lu for singing the National Anthem, and the Boy Scouts and Cubs Scouts #635 for presenting the colors. Thank you to Green Meadows Catering for providing our delicious soups.

Artwork at the Town Office

A great idea from one of our employees takes shape

If you have visited the Town Offices at 81 Main Street in the past several months, you may have noticed some new artwork on the walls. That's because there have been some talented young artists providing us art for display and a determined Town employee who planned and put the project together.

After clearing her ideas with the Town Manager and Facilities Manager, Joanne Russell from the Town's Finance Department reached out to the Essex High School to see who she could connect with to bring some student artwork into the office. She was referred to Julian Bradshaw, Art Teacher at Essex High. Ms. Bradshaw told Joanne the art teachers meet a few times a year and she would put the word out that the Town Office was hoping to line the public areas of the office with some art pieces from Essex students. The response was positive.

Joanne took steps to coordinate with her new contacts at the schools and put together a monthly schedule to rotate artwork regularly. Art will be brought to our office and displayed by the respective art teacher from the school for that month. "We are very excited about the opportunities to display a large amount of artwork from the area schools. Next month is Essex High School - I can't wait!", said Joanne.

January - Essex High School Photography

February - Albert D Lawton

March - Fleming School

April - Essex High School

May - Essex High School

June- Essex Middle School

There are four areas where photography is on display. Take a walk on both levels of the office and have a look. Thank you, Joanne for putting this project together!

Town of Essex FY2025 Paving Program



The Town of Essex invites you to prepare a Bid for the Town of Essex, Vermont FY 2025 Paving Program. Bid packages are available at the Town Public Works Office, 5 Jericho Road, Essex Center.  Electronic copies are also available upon request.  Sealed bids will be received at the Town Public Works Office or mailed to the Town of Essex Public Works Department, 81 Main Street Essex Jct., VT 05452 until 10:00 A.M. on Friday, April 19, 2024.  Questions can be directed to the Town Public Works Office at (802) 878-1344.

Welcome, Shawn McNamara

The Town of Essex is proud to announce the hiring of Shawn McNamara as the new Buildings Manager, replacing Tom Yandow who resigned in February.

Shawn brings with him extensive experience in Buildings and Facilities Maintenance and most recently served as the Facilities Director for Central Caledonia Supervisory Union. 

Shawn started his new role on March 25th.

Explore Essex is back for 2024!

How will your business be involved?

Take full advantage of this annual fall festival event promoting all that is exceptional about Essex! Sign up to sponsor, host an activity, or participate as a vendor during Community Day.

Essex Free Library

Vermont Astronomical Society - How a solar eclipse happens

Saturday, April 6th, 10am, at Memorial Hall

Presented by Scott Turnbull, member of the Vermont Astronomical Society. In anticipation of the Total Solar Eclipse coming to our skies on April 8th, this informational presentation will explain how a solar eclipse happens. More importantly, methods to safely view an eclipse will be described. A video of a previous total solar eclipse will be presented so that you will know what to expect on the big day. 250 pairs of eclipse glasses will be distributed to participants at the end of the program.

Note: the previously announced viewing event on April 8th will not be taking place due to office closures.

Parks & Recreation

Highlighted Events

Police Community Advisory Board

Meetings are open to the public

A message from the PCAB

Written by Gwendolyn Evans, PCAB member

February 2024

Sadly, I’ve been uninformed and disconnected from our Essex Town Community goings on, in spite of having lived here for 30 years. During the last 2 years, I sought out volunteer opportunities within our area. I was appointed to the newly formed Police Community Advisory Board in August of 2023. I applied for this volunteer position, not really knowing what I was getting into. I have some time to give and this seemed like a good place to put my energy.  

I’m now learning so much about what is going on within our community. It’s been important to become more educated about our Essex Police Department, their policies, procedures and the challenges they face. I’m gaining some understanding of the pressures EPD faces to comply with state and Federal rules, as they address the various crimes that arise. I also have a sense of the more prevalent crimes that are occurring in our community.

This education has expanded my perspective to recognize that these issues are much more complicated than we ever hear about in the news media. I’m impressed by our Board’s ability to listen to each other, and to invite more comments from Police representatives and community members. This has strengthened my belief that organizations like our EPD cannot fix all of our challenges alone. We as community citizens must get involved too.

Our board is made up of diverse citizens from the Town and City of Essex, Chief Hoague and Anthony Jackson Miller, Community Affairs and Public Information Officer, also sit with our board as well as advisors from Essex Best. We have been charged with the mission to support and advise the EPD and our community. I think of our role as a bridge between community and the EPD. Our meetings are open to the public and we would like to have the public attend to share stories, concerns and questions regarding policing and safety in our city and town.

Economic Development Commission

A visit to Browns River Maple

Ken Signorello and Rebecca Robinson stand with Essex residents and owners of Browns River Maple, John Bourbon and Ken Lemire ahead of Maple Sugar Open House Weekend.

Photo courtesy: Ken Signorello

• Per Diem Fire Fighter/EMT
• Volunteer Paid on Call Fire Fighter and/or EMS
• Park Patrol Essex Vermont
• Police Officer

Essex Culvert Projects - VTrans- Get the latest updates on our website.

Water & Sewer bills - due April 15th. Pay your bill by:

• Mail your payment (please include the stub),
• pay in person at the town office,
• drop it in the drop box located to the left of the town office door until midnight Apr. 15 (no cash, please), or
• pay online (a convenience fee will be added).

Postmarks are accepted as evidence of a timely payment. Payments received after April 15 will be charged an 8% penalty.

Mark your Calendar

Apr. 8- Town Offices closing at 12 noon, Essex Free Library closing at 1 pm

Apr. 9 - Conservation & Trails Committee Meeting

Apr. 10 - Energy Committee Meeting

Apr. 11 - Planning Commission Meeting

Apr. 15 - Water & Sewer bills due

Apr. 15 - Selectboard Meeting

Apr. 16 - Police Community Advisory Board Meeting

Apr. 18 - Economic Development Commission Meeting

Apr. 24 - Charter Review Committee Meeting

Apr. 25 - Planning Commission Meeting

May 1 - Housing Commission Meeting

May 2 - Economic Development Commission Meeting

May 2 - 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.

Total Solar Eclipse

The Town Offices at 81 Main Street will remain open until 12 noon on Monday, April 8th. Essex Free Library will remain open until 1:00 pm. Due to the closings, the library's viewing event will not take place.  

Essex Police will be updating traffic issues in real time to Waze and Google maps.

Enjoy, stay alert in traffic, and stay safe.