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(12/09/21 11:00am)
Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray, who assumed office in January, announced a run for Congress to succeed Peter Welch (D-Vt) last week. Welch, currently Vermont’s sole member in the House of Representatives, is running for the Senate in the 2022 elections, aiming to replace retiring incumbent Patrick Leahy.
(12/02/21 10:57am)
Take a “Midd Night Stroll” through downtown Middlebury on Dec. 2, 9 and 16 from 5–8 p.m., for an evening of extended shopping and events with promotions, prizes and new pop-ups. After cancellations last year due to concerns about the potential spread of Covid-19, many local businesses and organizations are excited for the return of this annual tradition.
(09/16/21 9:59am)
After a two-year hiatus, Senator Bernie Sanders returned to the annual Labor Day Rally on Middlebury’s Town Green last Monday, Sept. 6. The event also included speeches from Congressman Peter Welch, Bill McKibben, Dr. Deborah Richter, Iris Hsiang, and Jubilee McGill. The speakers highlighted the current challenges that Vermont faces, from labor shortages to rising healthcare costs.
Middlebury was the final stop on Monday for Sanders, who also held meetings in Springfield, Newport, St. Johnsbury, and Brattleboro earlier in the weekend.
“I didn’t know there were this many people in Middlebury,” Sanders joked as he took the stage.
Sanders spoke to a large crowd of community members, touching on climate change, Covid-19, housing issues, and childcare and education costs. The senator accordingly emphasized the current Democratic legislative agenda, as the party looks to pass a $3.5 trillion spending plan with razor-thin majorities in Congress.
“We have issue after issue after issue,” Sanders said. “We must look these problems in the eyes, and not only can we solve them, [but] we can move this country and our world to a much better place.”
Sanders spoke first on the American Rescue Plan, which was passed in March to address economic fallout from Covid-19. Sanders discussed the resulting decline in poverty and other points of progress, emphasizing the persistence of small businesses like those that line Middlebury’s downtown.
Sanders also addressed current work in Congress, including moving forward with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) and other initiatives supported by President Biden.
Some of the other speakers at the rally addressed one of the issues closely tied to Sanders platform: climate change.
Bill McKibben, a distinguished scholar at Middlebury College, then praised Sen. Sanders and credited his 2016 presidential bid for awakening a progressive reckoning in the country.
Iris Hsiang, a youth member of Vermont’s climate council and high school student, delivered a speech that stressed the intersectionality within climate change issues and the need to combat those challenges individually in order to combat climate change as a whole.
(05/17/21 3:33am)
Middlebury College will require all students, faculty and staff on campus this fall to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, except for those who provide an approved medical or religious exemption, according to an email from members of the Senior Leadership Group sent to the Middlebury community on Thursday. “Fully vaccinated” means that two weeks have passed since the final dose of the vaccine. College officials said that CDC and state guidance as well as high availability of vaccines in the U.S. factored into their decision.
The college previously announced that those living on campus this summer, such as Language Schools students, must be fully vaccinated by June 10, two weeks before programs begin. In addition, faculty and staff returning to in-person work this fall must now be vaccinated by August 16. Some departments may adopt more flexible work arrangements after experimenting last year.
Once they are vaccinated, students must upload a photo of their vaccination record to their student health portal. Faculty and staff will provide proof of vaccination in a yet-to-be-announced format.
The college’s policy for this fall is largely consistent with NESCAC and peer institutions. Bowdoin is requiring both students and college employees to be vaccinated, while Amherst, Williams, Tufts and Swarthmore have so far only announced a requirement for students. In Vermont, Bennington will require student vaccination, while the University of Vermont has yet to announce its intentions.
“It is increasingly clear that Middlebury’s path to resuming more in-person instruction, events, and on-campus work is dependent on increasing the number of people who are vaccinated,” the email said. “We have much to look forward to, and we are excited about the prospect of returning to life at Middlebury in many of the ways we all miss, while continuing to keep our community safe.”
Individuals age 12 and older are eligible for Covid-19 vaccination in the state of Vermont and can schedule a vaccination appointment through the Vermont Department of Health, CVS, Kinney Drugs or Walgreens.
(05/06/21 9:58am)
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2023 and transition fully to renewable, carbon-free energy sources by 2030, according to an announcement released last month. CEO Rebecca Towne cited member enthusiasm and statewide climate goals as the company’s main motivations for the change.
With 32,000 members, VEC is the state’s largest consumer-owned energy distributor in Vermont, serving seventy-five communities and eight counties. The company was established in 1938 and is based in Johnson, Vt..
Currently, around 75% of power distributed by VEC is already produced carbon-free. In the next two years, VEC will seek to phase out the remaining quarter of its energy produced from fossil fuels – mainly, natural gas.
The final decision to achieve carbon neutrality was largely unanimous among board members, according to VEC Energy Services Planner Jake Brown.
“Every few years we do member surveys, and our members had begun to express some interest in us developing a cleaner power supply,” Brown told The Campus. “It became clear that there was a pretty significant number of members who felt that was an important objective.”
VEC’s Board of Directors reached a similar conclusion at around the same time and enlisted the company’s employees to brainstorm creative ways to reach the goal.
“The question is: how are you going to get to 100 percent?” Brown said.
Brown indicated that VEC is exploring opportunities to replace power currently generated by natural gas with clean energy supplies across New England, including wind power from New York or Maine and hydropower from the Connecticut River. While details of the future remain uncertain, Brown is confident that VEC will reach its goals.
“The board made the commitment, and now it's up to the power supply people to figure it out,” Brown said. “We kind of have a rough road map of where to go.”
VEC, which serves many lower-income and rural communities across the state, is working to combat any potential price increases as a result of the shift. According to Brown, price changes will largely be negligible for consumers.
“Forty percent of our residential members are on fixed incomes,” Brown said. “We serve a lot of relatively low-income Vermonters … The board was really careful to analyze the impact.”
Assistant Professor of Economics Akhil Rao predicts a positive economic outcome from the transition to clean energy in the long term. The shift will require an initial investment but will ultimately result in lower day-to-day energy costs for consumers.
“Carbon free sources of energy like solar and wind generate electricity at very low average costs,” he explained. “Combined with the appropriate storage, they will prove the cheaper sources in the long run.”
Another factor to consider in a long-term cost-benefit analysis is the improvement in public health, according to Rao.
“The averted health impacts can be a really big deal,” Rao said. “Avoiding the health impacts of the emissions will save people money on health-related costs.”
Brown noted that VEC’s goals are ahead of Vermont’s goals. State officials are aiming for 90% use of renewable energy across the state by 2050, a change which would involve increasing the use of electric vehicles by Vermonters and installing more efficient heating systems, among other initiatives. One of the co-op’s stated motivations for its project is to help make progress toward the state’s goal.
“We’re trying to lay the groundwork for that transition,” Brown said.
“People should have low-cost, clean energy in their lives, and that's something that everybody deserves,” Brown said, articulating his hope that “everyone gets a crack at cleaner and more efficient energy and power supply in their life.”
(04/15/21 9:59am)
Vergennes Laundry, a gourmet bakery, coffee shop and restaurant, reopened its doors in January, with a new owner, atmosphere and a philosophy that centers community-building.
Nadia Dole, a chef and business owner, bought the business in September 2020 and moved to Vergennes. Dole also owns a film and photography school and, before the pandemic, hosted workshops in secluded locations across the world — including in Morocco and Italy — and cooked for its participants.
Dole grew up in Montreal and credits the city’s foodie culture and her parents for her passion for cooking. “Both my parents cook, so they would fight who would cook dinner,” Dole said. “We had that kind of household.”
The original Vergennes Laundry opened 10 years ago when Julianne Jones and Didier Murat repurposed a former laundromat at 247 Main St. in Vergennes. Dole said she has always loved the original establishment, and wrote several pieces and editorials about the restaurant when it was run by the original owners.
Dole first became interested in buying the business back in 2018, but it was sold to another chef. The second owner put a new spin on the business, according to the restaurant’s website, but it was ultimately put on the market again.
When the pandemic’s disruption of her traveling workshops coincided with a second opportunity to buy Vergennes Laundry, Dole knew she could not miss it.
The opening of the revitalized business — which occurred in January — was designed with pandemic restrictions in mind. The current menu is all takeout and includes wood-fired baked goods, espresso drinks and other snacks.
Although the pandemic has limited the scope of the restaurant’s operations, Dole sees certain positives in the situation, including a more relaxed launching. “The plus side is that [Covid-19] has allowed a soft opening . . . We’ve been able to be slow and steady and work out all the wrinkles,” she said.
Takeout was never a part of Dole’s original vision. “That's probably been the most difficult thing. My food doesn't translate well to takeout,” she said.
Dole, who also owns a farm in Putney, Vt., says that her strength is in farm-to-table cooking. Her recipes often use vegetables as a foundation, and follow a minimalist, “less is more” perspective. Dole hopes to expand her offerings as soon as conditions allow.
Because of its reduced capacity, Vergennes Laundry currently has three employees. “We’ve also had a very tight team, so we don’t have many employees. The team is incredible,” Dole said. However, this number is set to triple in the coming months in anticipation of expanded offerings.
In the long term, Dole looks forward to indoor seating and a larger menu. Outdoor seating and dinners are set to start in June.
“We can't wait for when it's safe to take it inside and have that atmosphere that comes with people sitting at the tables and that chatter and the clinking of glasses and the people watching,” said Dole.
Being an accessible place in the community is a big part of the appeal for Dole. Although not fully prepared, she opened the restaurant informally during the week of Christmas after realizing that many people were unable to travel to see family.
“This community has been completely embracing and kind,” Dole said.
(04/08/21 10:00am)
State health officials have ramped up efforts to prioritize the vaccination of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities, which are disproportionately affected by Covid-19. In addition to higher rates of infection and hospitalization from Covid-19, BIPOC vaccine rates are lagging behind Gov. Scott’s intended rates, leading officials to pursue new strategies.
Prioritizing BIPOC Vermonters
All BIPOC Vermonters over the age of 16 became eligible to register for vaccination on April 1, regardless of pre-existing eligibility. Previously, only BIPOC individuals eligible by age, occupation or health condition could schedule appointments for themselves and members of their household.
BIPOC individuals were prioritized because of disproportionate hospitalization rates and underperforming vaccination rates, according to State Health Commissioner Mark Levine.
BIPOC Vermonters account for 8% of all Covid-19 cases in the state, despite composing only 6.8% of the state population, according to the VT Dept. of Health.
In addition, the health department’s vaccine dashboard (as of April 6) shows that people of color are not being vaccinated at a proportional rate to white Vermonters — 26.3% of BIPOC Vermonters have received at least one dose of the vaccine, as compared to 49.1% of white Vermonters.
Still — as more Vermonters become eligible — these rates are still an improvement from March 20, when 12.7% of the Black population statewide have received one dose compared to 29.9% of White residents. [
Gov. Phil Scott also stated on March 30 that college students are not eligible to make appointments unless they intend to remain in Vermont for the summer. The news came as a surprise to BIPOC students, since many had already made appointments or received a first dose. And many white students who had BIPOC housemates also made appointments in the weeks leading up to the announcement.
The college released an update on April 1 advising all students with existing appointments or a first dose to keep their appointments. They also noted that Vermont students identifying as BIPOC — and their housemates — were eligible for the vaccine, and could obtain a special code from Miguel Fernández or Naomi Neff to schedule an appointment.
In addition to placing BIPOC Vermonters ahead in the eligibility sequence, Vermont health officials are also hoping to improve the accessibility of the Covid-19 vaccines through translation services, community outreach and targeted clinics for BIPOC communities across the state.
Currently, BIPOC Vermonters can make an appointment at a community vaccination site, a pharmacy or a BIPOC-community focused clinic.
Discontent in the Community
Despite Vermont’s efforts, many community leaders have criticized its initial vaccination strategy, which identified priority groups by age instead of occupation.
Vermont’s decision to not put essential workers in an early category excluded many Vermonters of color who are at risk of getting the virus, Anne Sosin said in a VTDigger article. Sosin is the program director for the Center for Global Health Equity at Dartmouth College.
However, the state defended its decision to vaccinate by age, citing that the majority of Covid-19 related deaths have affected patients over 65, informing an age-based system.
The Brattleboro area BIPOC Health Justice Committee also wrote to the vaccine advisory panel to raise concerns about the racial disparity in vaccine rates. The committee suggested prioritizing particularly vulnerable groups with a disproportionate number of people of color, such as migrant workers, food-insecure Vermonters and essential workers, as well as teachers given the high infection rate of coronavirus among children of color.
The committee’s letter sparked debate about how Vermont should recognize equity issues, according to state Sen. Kesha Ram; however, the panel advised the state to administer the vaccine equally to people of color within each age group rather than putting a demographic in a higher category altogether.
Steffen Gillom, president of the Windham County NAACP, told VTDigger that there needs to be a greater effort by the Vermont Department of Health to ensure equity in access to information for limited English proficiency residents on their website and in public communications.
“The state should consider if it’s presenting public health information through the lens of Whiteness,” he said. “For anyone participating, ask yourself, ‘Am I framing it through the view of white people? Am I talking to Black and Brown Vermonters?’”
Health care officials reported that members of communities of color, particularly Black communities, are reluctant to get the vaccine given the centuries-long history of discrimination and mistreatment against them within the medical community.
President of the Rutland area NAACP Mia Schultz told VTDigger that “longstanding ‘issues of trust’” have contributed to vaccine hesitancy among people of color. Schultz’s 93-year-old grandmother has said she’s not sure about getting the vaccine. “That comes from a real place,” Schultz said. “This has to be approached with cultural humility.”
(04/01/21 10:00am)
All Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) who are permanent Vermont residents over the age of 16 will become eligible for Covid-19 vaccination on Thursday, Apr. 1, Gov. Scott announced today. Any BIPOC individual eligible for the vaccine can also sign up members of their household. The news comes as state officials attempt to combat the slower vaccination rates for BIPOC communities nationwide.
As of March 30, 30% of white Vermonters of all ages had received at least one dose of the vaccine. In contrast, only 13.6% of Vermont’s non-white residents had received a dose. Of all non-Hispanic white residents 16 and up, 33.7% had received a dose compared to the 21.0% of BIPOC Vermonters in the same age range.
BIPOC Vermonters have also been disproportionately affected by Covid-19. A December 2020 Vermont Department of Health report found that “BIPOC Vermonters with Covid-19 have significantly higher hospitalization and chronic disease rates,” a trend that is present in other states. At the end of last year, BIPOC residents represented 6% of the state’s population but 18% of Covid-19 cases.
The Vermont Health Department has cooperated with non-profits to sustain BIPOC-focused clinics. The Windham County NAACP leads vaccination clinics in Brattleboro, Bennington and Rutland and a Burlington clinic is operated by Racial Justice Alliance and the Vermont Professionals of Color Network.
Mark Levine, Vermont’s health commissioner, explained in a press conference that vaccination rates continue to lag for BIPOC Vermonters despite the work of targeted, community-based clinics.
“Data that I have shared reveals the almost twofold risk BIPOC face for being hospitalized,” he said. “Now that all Vermont residents who are the highest risk of death from Covid have been vaccinated, we can put focus on preventing the other most serious risk of the virus: hospitalization.”
For Levine, both under-vaccination and higher hospitalization rates necessitate further action. “It is unacceptable that this disparity remains for this population placed at higher risk,” he said.
Some BIPOC students at the college were able to make vaccine appointments before the policy was even announced, which has lent to the spread of confusion about eligibility throughout the student body. Call center workers repeatedly signed up BIPOC students and confirmed eligibility based on racial identity. Now, the students are left unsure whether or not they can — or should — show up to their appointments.
Additionally, out-of-state students – even BIPOC students – are not eligible to receive the vaccine in Vermont at any point in the current timeline, according to comments from Gov. Scott’s at a March 30 press briefing.
In an email to Middlebury students on March 31, the college advised students not to cancel appointments and shared that the college has a plan to facilitate vaccination on campus if doses become available. In addition, the college noted that they have been working closely with Vermont government and health officials throughout the pandemic.
The email also reminded students that they can seek approval to travel to their home state for vaccinations if it is within driving distance.
All Vermonters over the age of 16 are expected to become eligible on April 19, regardless of race or health conditions.
(03/04/21 10:59am)
All articles were approved at Middlebury’s Town Meeting on March 2nd, including a provision allowing retail cannabis stores in Middlebury and a victory for Middlebury Residential Director Esther Thomas. The articles were approved by Australian ballot instead of by the typical voice-vote due to the rising prevalence of Covid-19.
“My fellow Middlebury residents spoke loud and clear at the polls today, welcoming the downtown economic development boost and public safety benefits that regulated cannabis retailers will bring to our town,” High Bailiff David Silberman said.
Silberman was a leader in the Vote Yes Movement, which advocated for Middlebury to opt-in to retail cannabis stores as part of Vermont’s Act 164. The measure, Article 3 on the ballot, was approved 951–546.
The ballot also included a vote to ratify Ripton's decision to withdraw from the Addison Central School District (ACSD) to create its own independent school district. This measure passed in all six ACSD towns — including Middlebury — meaning that the withdrawal will now be considered by the State Board of Education.
Ripton resident Amy McGlashan, who serves as a director at the Middlebury Center for Careers & Internships, was a leading voice against Ripton’s departure from the ACSD. While disappointed, McGlashan was largely expecting the outcome.
“I was hopeful but not optimistic,” she said. “I certainly hope for [Ripton’s] success, but remain highly skeptical that an independent Ripton district will best meet the educational needs of our disadvantaged and most vulnerable students.”
Thomas prevailed over Andy Hooper for the contested selectboard seat 812–633, meaning she will serve on the selectboard for at least the next year. Incumbents ran unopposed for the remaining seats, which included two additional selectboard seats won by Lindsey Fuentes-George and Farhad Khan.
The remaining items on the ballot, including the budget and tax collection days, were also approved by wide margins.
(12/03/20 11:00am)
High-risk Vermonters could receive a Covid-19 vaccination as soon as early December, State Commissioner of Health Mark Levine announced last week. Multiple pharmaceutical companies have applied for emergency approval from the FDA, accelerating the usual regulatory process.
Drug company Pfizer’s vaccine is scheduled to be reviewed by the FDA on Dec. 10, after which a potential rollout could be nearly instantaneous. Levine has said that Vermont could receive about 20,000 doses of an approved vaccine in the first wave.
The federal government plans to allocate the vaccine on a prorated basis, based on population size. Vermont, with just over 620,000 inhabitants, is the second-least-populated state.
Chris Finley, director of Vermont’s immunization program in the Department of Health, stressed the safety and integrity of the trial process despite the shorter timeline. Pfizer’s vaccine, reportedly 95% effective, was tested among 44,000 people.
“Although vaccine development has been fast, the steps to ensure safety have not been skipped,” Finley told The Campus. “I strongly encourage everyone to get the vaccine when available.”
High levels of vaccination would be necessary to reach herd or community immunity, which officials say is necessary to combat the virus.
Only a small number of Vermonters are expected to be vaccinated before the end of the year. “Due to limited amounts, initially the vaccine will only be made available to those at highest risk,” said Finley.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended Tuesday that healthcare workers as well as nursing home employees and residents be the first vaccinated. By Friday, Dec. 4, states must inform the federal government of their prioritized populations in preparation for vaccine delivery.
State health officials are uncertain when most college students will be able to be vaccinated, although Finley estimates it won’t be until “the middle to the end” of Spring 2021.
“Social distancing efforts will be key to containing Covid-19 on college campuses in the next semester,” said Finley.
In the fall 2020 semester, Middlebury had five positive student cases of Covid-19. The University of Vermont had 102 positive student cases, including those living off campus.
As pandemic fatigue rises and cases surge across the country, many are hopeful for the prospect of a vaccine in the near future.
“I have an immunocompromised family member, so a Covid-19 vaccine would definitely put my family more at ease,” said Victoria Andrews ’23.
“I don’t think it would necessarily change any precautions we would take in the near future, but it would definitely take away some of the stress of contracting Covid,” she added.
Andrews acknowledged the longer timeline for college-aged individuals, explaining that she expects little change in the immediate future for peers. “Spread could [still] occur at colleges because large numbers of unvaccinated students could be living and interacting with each other.”
Experts like Chris Finley stress sustained precautions even with a vaccine on the horizon. “If you’re in a group where vaccines may not be available to you for three to four months, stay the course with social distancing and masking.”
Andrews remains optimistic. “In the distant future, I hope the vaccine will allow many of the current guidelines to be relaxed and for the return of some sense of normalcy,” she said.
(11/12/20 10:59am)
Elections across the state of Vermont last Tuesday largely returned incumbents to state offices as candidates and the electorate both responded to pandemic challenges. In a record-breaking election turnout, Vermont voters cast roughly 44,000 more votes this year compared to 2016.
In the presidential race, former Vice President Joe Biden carried Vermont with over 66% of the vote, 10 percentage points more than Hillary Clinton in 2016. Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, was easily re-elected over current Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman with about 69% of the vote.
Scott is one of several Republican governors who openly refused to support President Trump’s re-election and has notably said he crossed party lines to vote for now President-elect Biden, making him the only incumbent GOP governor to publicly vote for the Democratic candidate.
Democrat Molly Gray was elected Lieutenant Governor and will replace Zuckerman come January. In Congress, Democrat Peter Welch easily won re-election as Vermont’s sole delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.
There were no U.S. Senate elections in Vermont this election cycle. It is uncertain whether Patrick Leahy, who has served in office since 1975, will run in 2022. Leahy is the most senior member of the Senate by time in office.
Middlebury College student Asa Skinder ’22.5 was elected High Bailiff of Washington County after becoming the Democratic nominee from write-in votes. Skinder spent much of Election Day outside polling places reaching out to undecided voters. He noted, however, that many Vermonters voted by mail this year.
For Skinder, defeating an incumbent is a sign that people want change. “The voters of Washington County want real oversight of their law enforcement agencies and are ready to consider how these institutions might be reimagined to better serve all members of the community,” Skinder said.
In Addison County, incumbent Democrats Ruth Hardy and Christopher Bray were re-elected by significant margins to the Vermont Senate.
“My number one priority is to continue our work to keep our state as safe as possible during the pandemic and reacting to the impact of a pandemic on systems and people, across our state,” Hardy said.
In the county's state House elections, the only current legislator not to win election was Peter Reed, an independent appointed by Governor Scott in January 2020 after former state representative Ben Jickling stepped down. Democrat Larry Satcowitz, endorsed by Bernie Sanders, is to take his place.
Dave Silberman won his race for high bailiff in Addison County with 2,584 votes. Republican opponent Ron Holmes — who first ran against and lost to Silberman in a Democratic primary — finished with 1,029 votes, while independent Michael Robert Elmore tallied 435.
This year has brought a host of new challenges and complexities to the election cycle as the nation continues to deal with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Vermont’s Secretary of State office expanded mail-in voting like many states. All active registered voters were automatically sent a ballot without needing to request one. Additionally, in-person voting was available with new safety guidelines to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
Despite the challenges that the pandemic posed to both campaigning and voting, Vermont saw record turnout in electing its next generation of lawmakers and leaders.
See all election night results here.
Editor’s Note: Ruth Hardy is married to Middlebury College Professor of Film and Media Culture Jason Mittell, who is the Campus’s academic advisor.
(10/29/20 9:53am)
Asa Skinder ’22.5 is on some Vermonters’ ballots as the Democratic nominee for high bailiff of Washington County. The position, which has existed since Vermont’s statehood, is largely a ceremonial office unique to the state of Vermont.
Each of Vermont’s 14 counties has a high bailiff, whose job is to conduct oversight over the sheriff. The high bailiff’s only responsibility is the rare action of arresting or replacing the county sheriff.
Skinder, as a college student with no ties to law enforcement, believes he could fill this role in a way that his opponent simply cannot.
Skinder secured the Democratic nomination in August after receiving 100 write-in votes. What initially began as a spur-of-the-moment decision eventually evolved into a larger project to send a message on the current state of law enforcement and the conflicts of interest associated with it.
“I noticed there was nobody running on the Democratic ticket for high bailiff so I wrote myself in,” said Skinder. After doing more research, Skinder took more interest in the office in the context of recent national conversations regarding police and law enforcement. To make it on the general election ballot, Skinder reached out to people in his community and formed his message.
“It was a lot of talking to people I know — a lot of friends, family and informal campaigning,” Skinder said. On primary election day, Skinder took the day off from work and stood near polls, talking to people as they walked in. After persuading enough voters to write him in, he became the nominee.
Should he be elected, Skinder doubts he’ll have much work to do. “High bailiffs rarely, if ever, do anything,” he commented. “It's really not uncommon for a high bailiff to do nothing for a decade or two.”
While rare, the high bailiff can exercise important responsibilities. In 2004, the Washington County Sheriff resigned in a plea deal after being tried for fraud. The county’s bailiff, Phillip Anthony, assumed the office until a replacement was named by then-Governor Jim Douglas ’72.
Washington County’s current high bailiff is Marc Poulin, who has been in office since 2012 and is a sheriff’s deputy. Skinder explained that it has become the norm for law enforcement officers to occupy the bailiff positions.
For Skinder, having high bailiffs on the Sheriff Department’s payroll is, fundamentally, a conflict of interest.
“Even though the position is mostly symbolic to me, it seems wrong that the person tasked with this minimal act of oversight, [as] a way the community holds a bit of power over law enforcement and local government, should be affiliated that way with their own department,” Skinder said. “A big part of my message is ending that conflict of interest.”
Skinder was largely driven by this year’s Black Lives Matter protests and emerging conversations around law enforcement.
“In the context of acts of police violence against African American people across the country and protesters in response to those killings, we need to look at the role of police more than ever right now,” he commented. “We’ve seen that [police] can’t really be held accountable to the people they're supposed to serve.”
Skinder argues that for any office overseeing law enforcement, the official needs to be “somebody who is willing to think critically about [police] and understands that the institutions of law enforcement are founded on centuries of racist policy and violence.”
(10/15/20 10:00am)
Vermont has become the first state to create a Covid-19 economic stimulus fund for residents previously unable to receive federal stimulus checks. Signed into law on Oct. 2 by Gov. Phil Scott, the program largely benefits undocumented immigrants and is projected to aid up to 5,000 Vermont residents.
The state approved $5 million to be distributed to those previously unable to receive federal aid, allocated in checks of $1,200 for adults and $500 for children.
Migrant Justice, a Burlington-based non-profit, proposed such a fund after undocumented families were excluded from early federal payments. “Today is a new day. Things are finally starting to change. Vermont is beginning to recognize us,” Migrant Justice tweeted in response to the news.
Up to 4,000 adults may benefit from the fund, as well as up to 1,000 children, as estimated by the Joint Fiscal Office of the Vermont General Assembly. Around 3,000 are thought to be undocumented immigrants, while others were unable to recieve federal benefits after filing taxes with an undocumented spouse.
The program is to be administered by the Agency of Administration, the Executive Director of Racial Equity and the Agency of Human Services.
Will Lambek, who works with Migrant Justice in Burlington, explained that the plan is largely the result of immigrant farm workers lobbying elected officials in Vermont. The workers, whom the state classified as “essential workers” during the early stages of the pandemic, were excluded from relief funds that benefited similar wage earners.
“Immigrant farm workers led a six-month campaign to push this proposal forward, ultimately convincing the Governor to include the idea in his budget proposal and the legislature to fully fund it,” Lambek said.
As the first state to enact such a program, Lambek is hopeful that Vermont will inspire other states to states to follow suit. “Vermont is sending a message that when we as a state respond to a crisis, the response must include everyone,” Lambek said.
Alondra Carmona ’21, President of the Juntos student organization on campus, stressed the unique ways the pandemic has especially affected farmworker communities. “They are exposed every day and will continue to be exposed because they do not have the means to take time off,” Carmona said.
For Carmona, the state’s fund is a critical step in the right direction. “Having this stimulus check will mean that these farmworkers will be receiving the support they should have been given since the beginning of the pandemic,” she said.
Despite the major victory, Migrant Justice continues to press forward to address more underlying issues affecting immigrant farmworkers in the state. One current project is the Milk with Dignity program to reform Vermont’s dairy industry.
“We urge Hannaford supermarkets to take responsibility for the conditions behind its store-brand milk and join the Milk with Dignity program,” Lambek said.
The bill was more than welcome news for members of Juntos and other supporters of the migrant farmworker community. Carmona explained the importance of the development and urged continued support. “We are happy to hear this news and hope that the Middlebury community can also provide social and financial support for this vulnerable population.”
(09/17/20 9:59am)
Building on a strong period of growth, Vermont real estate agents are reporting unusually high consumer interest and record low availability as many rethink their living situations amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Green Mountain state, which has the lowest number of Covid-19 cases of any state, has experienced an influx in population since March, as evidenced by a 70% jump in mail forwarding to the state. Though the jump may be attributed to New Englanders temporarily relocating to second homes to work remotely, some are considering whether “pandemic migration” will combat Vermont’s recent workforce decline.
Roxanna Emilo, who runs Emilo Real Estate in Middlebury, has noticed a significant uptick in business since the Covid-19 pandemic took shape.
“It’s definitely increased sales in our area,” Emilo said, also identifying a growth in interest from outside Vermont. “I suspect our low rate of Covid here in Vermont is why so many out-of-staters are flocking to Vermont.” She also explained that college graduates are among some of the new customers this year, a demographic that has been targeted by state officials for years.
Nancy Foster, the principal broker at Champlain Valley Properties in Middlebury, estimates that over 50% of recent customers changed or accelerated their plans due to Covid-19. She explained that, as a consequence of Covid-19, “[people] have found they can work from home much better than they ever thought they could.” Many potential customers already have some connections to the state and are now thinking more seriously about purchasing a home, according to Foster.
After suspending normal business in March, the real estate profession has made significant changes to better serve clients during the pandemic. Since the start of a phased reopening, Foster has employed digital technologies to show homes, especially to the increasingly out-of-state customer base. “To compensate for it being a little more difficult to show property, we are doing a lot more videos of houses, taking a lot more photos, encouraging people to use the internet,” Foster said.
Foster added that she has also been using FaceTime to show customers from other states properties in a more interactive manner than traditional photos or videos.
While interest in Vermont real estate is reportedly especially high, available homes have been harder to come by this year.
“I’ve never seen an inventory this low,” Emilo said, explaining that it has been difficult to find homes for some types of buyers, although availability varies with price range. “There are just fewer properties on the market than there would be in a normal summer,” she said.
Foster attributed the low housing stock to additional effects of the pandemic. “There are a lot of people who are not excited about putting their house on the market who might have otherwise done it,” she said. “They don’t really want a bunch of strangers walking through their house, potentially coming with the virus.”
She also explained that moving is a complex process, and one that people are less likely to undertake in a pandemic. “Those who don't have to move are not putting their houses on the market,” she said.
Jeff Olson, broker of Addison County Real Estate in Middlebury, identified low interest rates as a major reason for low inventory, as people are buying quickly and keeping up with their mortgages. Olson also emphasized that prices have been rising.
“There's hardly nothing in the $200,000 to $300,000 range,” Olson said. “Particularly $300,000 and below is like a desert.” Vermont has been facing an affordable housing crisis for several years now.
While Vermont real estate has become a hot commodity, local real estate agents are not convinced that it will turn around the downtrend in Vermont’s population and workforce. Much of the interest is concerning second homes where professionals can work remotely for the foreseeable future, according to Olson.
“I’m definitely seeing more out-of-state business, but I’m seeing more people looking for a second home, but not necessarily looking to pull up stakes and move from Brooklyn,” Olson said. “The majority seem to be people looking for a place to escape to if they need to.”
For those who can secure a property, broadband access is often a necessity. “The people who are looking for second homes are also very interested in the internet capabilities of the house,” Olson said. He also noted that professionals were the main demographic of those looking for second homes.
Although the global pandemic has made the practice essential, working remotely from Vermont is not a novel concept. In 2018, Governor Phil Scott signed a bill to pay $10,000 dollars to those who move to Vermont and work for an out-of-state employer. As of January 2020, the Remote Worker Grant Program fully depleted its funds and ceased to accept applications.
Population decline, an issue in Vermont for years, affects many aspects of life. “Most counties in Vermont are losing population, and our schools are suffering,” Olson said, also mentioning the contentious debate over school consolidation.
Although some are hopeful that Covid-19 will spur Vermont growth in the right direction, Olson isn't personally seeing signs of lasting growth.
“It was my fondest hope when the market started coming back early in the summer and late spring,” Olson said. “I had hoped that there were whole families just pulling up stakes wherever they were in the city, like Boston or New York, and moving to Vermont. There is some of that, but not as much as I had hoped.”
Both Olson and Foster noted that many customers are buying second homes, and Vermont won’t be their official state of residence.
When asked about the attractive qualities of living in Vermont, Foster listed safety, space, and a high standard of living.
“A lot of people don't have the luxury, but if you do, it's a very attractive thing to offer,” she said. “It’s a quality of life you can’t get in large cities.”
Emilo expressed similar feelings. “Vermont is a beautiful place to live and raise a family or retire,” she said. “The fact that the Covid is low around here has been a plus.” For Olson, who grew up outside Chicago, Vermont offers incredible recreational opportunities in connected communities.
(04/30/20 10:02am)
Increased financial stress has put the future of three public Vermont colleges in question as the Covid-19 crisis continues to unfold. On April 17, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System Jeb Spaulding announced plans to close both the campuses of Northern Vermont University (NVU) and the Randolph campus of Vermont Technical College (VTC). Deemed financially necessary, with projections of high deficits and particularly low enrollment, the plan was to be effective in fall 2020. Spaulding withdrew the plan for immediate closure days later amid public backlash, and announced his resignation on Tuesday.
Under Spaulding’s original plan, liberal arts programs at Northern Vermont University would be moved to Castleton University. Technical programs at Vermont Tech would continue, albeit in different locations, while its main Randolph Center campus would close. The colleges’ administrations would also be restructured. The consolidations would result in over 500 employee reductions altogether. In the wake of Spaulding’s resignation, the fate of the colleges remains unclear.
Financial struggles
The April 17 press release from the Vermont State Colleges System explained that the Covid-19 crisis will exacerbate a long history of financial struggle within the system, and that these challenges demand a major reorganization. Projections estimate an operating deficit falling between $7–10 million this fiscal year; $5.6 million of that deficit will come from refunds issued to students following the shift to remote learning. For the 2021 fiscal year, Spaulding forecasts a deficit of nearly $12 million even with “substantial” budget cuts. Furthermore, residential campuses of VSC are expecting expected to see a 15–20% decline in enrollment if they remain open.
Significant financial issues were a major concern even before the Covid-19 crisis introduced further complications. A white paper released by the chancellor’s office in August 2019 outlined challenges such as the level of state funding and demographic shifts. The report cites data that Vermont ranks 49th in the country in state funding for full-time students. State appropriations have also declined significantly as a revenue source since 1980, according to data provided in the report. In fall 2018, VSC requested $25 million in additional funds on top of annual appropriation. The state legislature ended up providing an additional $2.5 million.
The report also focuses on shifting demographics as a major challenge to small New England colleges. The number of Vermont high school graduates has decreased by 25% in the past 10 years. Births in Vermont have been in steady decline, and 2015 saw the lowest birth rate since the start of the Civil War. The report indicates that demographic trends are unlikely to change soon.
These demographic trends translate into declining enrollment, a key contributor to the colleges’ financial struggles. In the past five years, enrollments have declined at every VSC college except Castleton. There were 540 empty beds in the VSC system for the 2018–2019 academic year, which represents a 20% vacancy rate. In addition to demographics, the report cites competition from online education providers like Southern New Hampshire University, exacerbating declining enrollment.
Public backlash
The chancellor’s plan was met with a surge of mobilization and public backlash in the days following the announcement. Protests are taking place online across New England due to Covid-19 restrictions, though some protesters are also demonstrating offline.
A Facebook group protesting the closure, started by Ben Luce, a professor of Physics at NVU-Lyndon, has since grown to more than 10,000 members. “Most of the effort is focused on contacting legislators and the Governor, and raising public awareness as well,” Luce explained in an email.
Since the state has already downsized its programs, state funding is the obvious solution for Luce. At the least, Luce would look for the legislature to appropriate an increase of $25 million in funding. “Such an investment would pay itself back many times over,” he wrote. Luce believes that the legislature is not meeting state law which requires public colleges to be funded “in whole or substantial part” by the state. Currently, only about 17% of VSC’s revenue comes from the state.
Patrick Wickstrom, a student at NVU-Lyndon, formed an online petition protesting his school’s closure, which has garnered nearly 50,000 signatures. A member of the men’s tennis team and residential life at NVU, Wickstrom explained that closure would be “simply devastating'' to faculty, staff and students. “A lot of people are connected to this school and the institution, and were very disheartened to see this even remotely be a proposal,” he commented.
Wickstrom was concerned about the uncertainty of the chancellor’s proposal. Wickstrom, who is double-majoring in Climate Change Science and Atmospheric Science, does not know whether his program could continue at Castleton. “I know a lot of students personally in my program who would have transferred schools or put a hold on college,” Wickstrom said.
A perfect storm
State Senator Ruth Hardy (D-Addison), a resident of East Middlebury who has worked in education and serves on the Education Committee, agreed that state funding for higher education is a major issue. Since taking office in 2019, Hardy has pushed for scholarship funding to increase enrollment at Vermont’s public colleges.
Hardy notes that Vermont has a particularly strong K-12 education system, but is not doing enough when it comes to its colleges. “We have one of the highest high school graduation rates in the country, but we do not do a very good job of getting those high school graduates to go to college,” she said.
Covid-19, she explained, has put the chancellor in a difficult position. “For institutions like the state's colleges, which were already vulnerable and already sort of deterring, the Covid crisis is just absolutely devastating.” Hardy concludes that demographic challenges, insufficient appropriations and the Covid-19 situation amounted to a “perfect storm.”
However, Hardy feels that higher education issues in the state have been prevalent for many years, noting the closure of four private Vermont colleges in 2019 and 2020. “I feel like we need to have a broader conversation about higher education in Vermont in general,” said Hardy. She hopes to help public and private institutions towards a more sustainable future.
Hardy and others stress the value of the state colleges in rural and economically challenged regions of Vermont. Caledonia County, where NVU’s Lyndon campus is located, sits at 12 out of Vermont’s 14 counties for per capita income.
“The colleges provide a higher education opportunity for those who wouldn't otherwise have it, and they are also economic drivers for the region,” said Hardy. According to her, Vermont State Colleges educate many lower-income and first-generation students.
Luce agreed that keeping the State College System intact would boost Vermont’s economy after the Covid-19 outbreak subsides.
“The truth is that our state colleges are actually fantastically efficient institutions that provide enormous and direct economic benefit to our state,” he said. “Energizing [state colleges] going forward would be an enormously effective way to both keep young people in our state and help with the recovery from this terrible pandemic.”
Luce explained that the colleges both produce a multitude of jobs and foster students who will later work in the community. Wickstrom said that Burke Mountain relies upon Lyndon students for its winter operations.
“I don't know what better investment that the state has,” Wickstrom said of the state college system. Wickstrom cites a statistic that the two NVU campuses bring $113 million per year in economic outlook, a high “return on investment” from state appropriations.
Looking ahead
Although the original closure plan has been shelved, an aggressive response continues. Wickstrom is planning to work with a larger group to present before the VSC Board of Trustees. Luce plans to continue to advocate for NVU and the other colleges, but acknowledges that damage has already been done. “The proposal has already severely damaged our prospects for enrollment next year,” he said. Many colleges, including financially stable institutions, are already predicting lower enrollments because of Covid-19.
The VSC Board of Trustees originally planned to meet in a special meeting on April 27. This meeting was canceled, and the Board will meet at a later date to discuss the decisions ahead.
Editor’s note: Ruth Hardy is married to Middlebury College Professor of Film and Media Culture Jason Mittell, who is the Campus’s academic advisor. All questions may be directed to campus@middlebury.edu.
(02/13/20 11:00am)
Middlebury College is developing a new five megawatt solar farm south of campus in an effort to reach 100% renewable energy usage. The solar installation, which will cost between 8 and $9 million, is being built in collaboration with Encore Renewables, a Burlington-based energy services company, and is expected to be completed during summer of 2020.
Encore representatives forecasted the solar project to meet 30% of the college’s electrical usage in a presentation to Middlebury’s Selectboard last November. Currently, about 50% of the college’s electricity — 22 million kilowatt-hours annually — is generated from fully renewable sources (as opposed to fossil fuels).
Some residents have praised the project, but it has not come without its critics, most of whom take issue with the proposed location. The finalized site is a field located 1,000 feet off South Street Extension, which the college chose after deeming several other sites unfit for the size and complexity of the project.
The Middlebury Planning Commission, in collaboration with Middlebury College, proposed the current site off of South St. Extension during an informational meeting on Oct. 24, inciting objections from attendees. A number of town citizens also showed up to a selectboard meeting on Oct. 29 to express concern regarding the finalized location. The Middlebury Planning Commission, in collaboration with Middlebury College, approved the current site off of South St. Extension on October 24. Dec. 5. On Dec. 10, resident Leslie Kameny presented a petition signed by 93 people in the surrounding community to the selectboard hoping the decision to endorse the project would be reconsidered.
The selectboard met again to deliberate over the project on Dec. 17, voting 5–2 to approve the South St. Extension location. David Provost, the college’s executive vice president for administration and finance, explained in a Addison Independent article that the college is committed to collaborating with the town and would work with Green Mountain Power on an energy storage system to support nearby Porter Hospital. Excess solar energy generated would supply power to the hospital in emergency circumstances. The plan has been sent to the Vermont Public Utilities Commission for review.
Will Amidon, a geology professor who has been heavily involved in the logistics of the project, is among the site’s critics. “I very much support the solar array but I did oppose the location because I felt like it was located in a gorgeous scenic recreation corridor in a relatively undeveloped part of town,” he said last week. When asked about a better location, Amidon mentioned that he would have preferred a location west of Bicentennial Hall. The plans include a required vegetation screen to reduce the direct visual impact of the installation.
Encore employee Derrick Moretz explained that the company initially surveyed “under-utilized” locations like rooftops, parking lots and campus brownfields for the farm. Ultimately, selectboard members voted in favor of sites off South St. Extension since the former locations were deemed insufficient for the scale of the project and the quantity of energy that would be produced.
Other local residents approve of the plans surrounding the construction of the solar farm. Steve Maier, a Middlebury resident and chair of the Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County (CEAC), is generally supportive.
“I think the project will be a significant positive improvement to the aesthetic sense of the area involved,” Maier said. “I find renewable energy projects to be beautiful.”
Maier acknowledged the plan’s imperfections, but concluded that the pros outweigh the cons. “There may be small disruptions for nearby residents, but the benefits to the broader community are much more significant,” he said.
Several others have expressed frustration with a lack of openness from the project’s planners. Food Studies Professor and Middlebury resident Molly Anderson explained that there were limited opportunities for residents to discuss the solar farm’s plan.
“My biggest concerns are about transparency and lack of anything resembling deliberation,” Anderson wrote. “There was one selectboard meeting that allowed public input, but the decision had basically been made before that (and had gone to the Planning Commission already).”
Anderson also considered town-gown relations and potential opportunities, pointing out that the college could have framed the solar farm as a part of a wider strategy to contribute to a town energy plan.
Philosophy Professor and Middlebury Selectman Victor Nuovo, who voted against the project, argued that the decision should have been postponed and did not believe that the entire community had been able to adequately engage in the project. Another critic, Selectman Farhad Khan, expressed concern that the college has not properly responded to the worries of nearby residents.
This is a multi-part story on Middlebury College’s proposed solar array farm. Town meeting project minutes and meeting archives can be found at townofmiddlebury.org
(01/23/20 11:00am)
Vermont Gas Systems, the state’s sole provider of natural gas, announced a plan last year to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions from their operations by 2050. The company also unveiled plans to double energy efficiency savings, outlined strategies to reduce home and business emissions and promised to continue sustainable partnerships in communities around the state.
Vermont Gas is one of the state’s largest utility companies and serves about 50,000 customers in the residential and commercial sectors. Along with Green Mountain Power, Standard Solar and Northern New England Investment Company, Vermont Gas is owned by the Northern New England Energy Corporation (NNEEC), a subsidiary of Quebec-based company Énergir.
While the 2050 emissions goal was the headline announcement from a press release on Nov. 14 last year, Vermont Gas also provided details on additional elements of its strategy to “transform the company.” The company has announced a “cornerstone strategy” to double energy efficiency savings by 2025. This task will be put into motion with the help of a $20 million investment. Much of this budget is expected to go toward home weatherization, which will improve heating efficiency so that local energy usage can be reduced. The average homeowner will save about $200 per year after weatherization, according to the press release.
“VGS has been a strong partner in supporting Vermonters with low and fixed incomes and we know they’ll continue to be,” said Jan Demers, executive director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, in the VGS press release. “Weatherization is an important way to reduce costs for Vermonters. We appreciate this balanced approach to make steady environmental progress while pledging ongoing support for those who need it most.”
The plan also calls for an increased focus on renewable natural gas (RNG), which is produced by processing natural methane, derived from waste materials. By 2030, the company aims to have 20% of its retail customers using energy supplied by RNG, adding about 2% per year to steadily ramp up production. The gradual transition is also intended to keep costs low for consumers, according to the company.
Vermont Gas explicitly mentioned its partnership with Middlebury College and Wellesley, Mass-based Vanguard Renewables in its November press release. An anaerobic digester is currently in production at Goodrich Family Farm in Salisbury to produce RNG, which will flow into a Vermont Gas pipeline. The College announced that the digester, the first of its kind, will provide energy to heat about half of its Vermont campus upon completion. President Laurie Patton applauded the program as a major leap toward the College’s goal of using 100% renewable energy sources — one of the goals in the Energy 2028 plan.
“Another exciting aspect of the digester is how it further connects the College to the local community and Vermont,” said Laurie Patton in the press release. “The College’s interest in pursuing the facility also reflects our longstanding commitment to innovative environmental education and sustainability projects. Building on our carbon neutrality initiative, it will provide our students and faculty with new research and teaching opportunities.”
The final components of Vermont Gas’s plan for sustainability include district energy systems (DES) and a “Net Zero Home” pilot program. District energy systems are networks of underground pipes that provide thermal energy to heat buildings more efficiently. Vermont Gas has planned one such system in Middlebury and another in Burlington in partnership with the Burlington Electric Department.
Vermont Gas’s Net Zero Home pilot program is the final element of their long-term plan. It is a proposed incentive for residential customers to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint. The pilot is currently being co-developed with Burlington Electric and focuses on an “action plan” personalized to residential consumers. Such plans would include recommendations like weatherization, heat pump installation, renewable natural gas usage, electric vehicles and upgraded efficient equipment.
Reactions to Vermont Gas’s strategy and pledged commitment have been mixed. Peter Walke, deputy secretary of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, said that his agency welcomed the company’s announcement to reduce emissions, while the larger impact of the announcement is yet to be seen.
“We want to understand the details more so we can understand what it might mean for direct emissions and other related policy matters,” Walke said. He also explained the importance of sustainable practices not addressed by Vermont Gas. “Other Vermont fuel suppliers have begun to diversify their products and services, primarily by introducing bio fuels and wood pellets,” Walke said. “These are great steps that need to be brought to scale.”
In general, Walke expressed the need for “significant reductions in emissions across all sectors of the economy.”
Middlebury resident and community advisor to the Sunday Night Environmental Group (SNEG) Fran Putnam expressed concerns with Vermont Gas’s announcement. “One thing about [Vermont Gas’s] advertising that I particularly object to is selling themselves as a way to lower customers’ carbon footprint,'' said Putnam, who cited a New York Times article discussing the emissions of methane leaks at natural gas facilities. “In fact, some studies seem to show that because of the methane leaks from drilling and distilling as well as leaks along the pipelines, natural gas may have an even worse effect on the climate than oil.” On the utility company’s zero emission timeline, Putnam concluded that “2050 is far too late” and that 2030 would be a better projected date.
SNEG member and intended environmental studies major Victoria Andrews ‘23 explained that Vermont Gas’s plan is insufficient in addressing pressing environmental issues. “By 2050, half of the species on the planet could be extinct and climate change’s effects could be irreversible,” she said.
Andrews said that while Vermont Gas’s announcement is admirable, a “more aggressive” timeline is needed. When asked about additional sustainable solutions that corporations could pursue, she mentioned removing barriers to more renewable sources, implementing local environmental initiatives and incentivizing recycling and composting to reduce net carbon footprints. “Although these changes are small,” Andrews said, “I think basic routine shifts in the workplace can evolve to sweeping change and make business more environmentally friendly.”
After the company’s November press release, Vermont Gas’s President and CEO Don Rendall posted a New Year’s message for the company’s customers. “By 2030, we expect an annual reduction of over 187,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions as compared to our emissions today,” his message announced, adding that “we embrace this future, and we stand with our partners, old and new, in the fight against global climate change. Together, we believe, our future is bright.”
(11/14/19 11:00am)
This past weekend, members of the Middlebury community had the opportunity to express their hopes and concerns for downtown development during the Town’s “Planapalooza.” Over the course of four days, Planapalooza held several events to bring public input into the development of the new Middlebury Downtown Master Plan. “Planapalooza” is a distinct strategy of Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative (TPUDC), the firm leading the project.
TPUDC is the lead consultant working to develop the master plan with the Middlebury Planning Commission led by Town Planner Jennifer Murray. Brian Wright, principal and founder of the firm, said that Middlebury is receiving grants from the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Vermont Clean Water Initiative Fund.
The firm is employing charette, a style of planning characterized by intense periods of design and planning activity that stresses collaboration and conversation, to emphasize transparency and public participation. TPUDC has used this process in several other college towns including Lewiston, Maine and Manchester, N.H.
Planapalooza events included focus group sessions on Saturday morning, and a pin-up presentation Saturday evening. In addition to meetings, TPUDC held Open Studio hours in their temporary office on 51 Main St., encouraging community participation and input for this long-term project.
Emily Wright has been with the firm for 14 years and mentions how she specifically enjoys working with Vermont towns because it is wonderful to see people who “love and care for the surrounding nature.” On Saturday, Nov. 10, the planning group held a Sustainability and Resiliency meeting open to the public; one of the main topics discussed was how Middlebury should confront the current climate crisis.
Steve Maeir, a concerned citizen, said Middlebury needs a vision. “We need to set enforceable goals to meet the requirements of Paris climate accord and support a transition to an economy that is no longer based on fossil fuels,” he said. Maeir acknowledged, however, that this transition may put economic, political and social pressures on communities, and it may even “compromise certain aspects of business and ways of life.”
Maeir thinks the college is taking steps in the right direction with its Middlebury Energy2028 plan, the college’s commitment to transitioning to using only renewable energy to power and heat its central campus. The college should “continue to be more aggressive in its footprint” and keep setting examples for the entire town, he said.
Another focal point of the weekend was transportation and mobility. TPUDC’s data review found that 81% of downtown customers drive to the downtown area, which citizens acknowledged heightens parking concerns and highlights the need to improve transportation. Eli Madden, a Middlebury resident of 36 years, believes safe pedestrian and biking infrastructure is important for environmental safety reasons, but also for social justice and community development.
“Our most vulnerable community members often have to walk or ride bikes, not by choice, and often at busy, dark times of day,” he said, mentioning missed opportunities for modern infrastructure like a bike lane on the Cross Street Bridge, which was completed in 2010 and partially funded by the college. Madden also discussed inadequate sidewalk clearance and visibility. Several citizens mentioned poor snow plowing that endangered pedestrians and cyclists.
Madden believes that students at the college “have an opportunity here to help get some good results and make some real change.” He said that students, many of who have bikes, can pressure the town and college to adopt modern guidelines for all future projects, and can vote in selectboard elections.
Charlotte Tate, associate director at the Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs, has worked in Middlebury since 1992 and walks from the college to the Co-op four times a week. Tate echoed similar concerns to Madden, saying a “pedestrian friendly downtown” is necessary if the town wants to attract more students, families and residents shopping and eating locally.
Residents were divided as to what types of stores should comprise the downtown area. Catherine Nichols said the loss of Ben Franklin is felt by the community and that the general store was well-loved. According to focus group participants, having an affordable, successful shop like the general store downtown could be another way to increase student and resident traffic through the town.
In the public pin-up and review presentation on Saturday night, TPUDC recapped the concerns citizens expressed over the past few days and presented potential areas for improvement. Attendees were also part of a visual preference survey, where consultants presented pictures of houses and residents were asked if they liked a particular style in the context of Middlebury. Later in the evening, John Stover, the economic developer from Washington, DC hired by Wright, proposed possible solutions and plans of action to address these concerns.
As part of their process, TPUDC spoke with the owners of dozens of downtown stores like the Marquis Theater, and were surprised to hear that students rarely were their customers. In order to address this issue, Stover spoke with college representatives about the potential for students’ declining balance to be accepted at downtown stores or even finding a way to include restaurant meals in our meal plan. After speaking with both parties, Stover said both “Middlebury store owners and the college did not seem opposed to the idea.”
Amazon has had an impact on downtown businesses, as many students prefer to shop online out of convenience. As Amazon continues to dominate and grow e-commerce, downtown businesses have lost a large portion of their student customer base. One proposal mentioned in the Saturday night pin-up was to have college Amazon deliveries be sent directly to Amazon lockers in town instead, requiring students go downtown to pick up their Amazon packages.
When Becca Brownstein ’23 was asked what she thought about extending the swipe system to downtown restaurants, she said, “I definitely think that will encourage students to go into downtown more as budgeting is often a concern and declining balances make it easy to track spending on food.” Becca said Amazon Lockers could be an inconvenience for students, especially during winter months. However, she said that “if the circumstances of this shift are explained to students in the larger context” of supporting and growing local businesses, “then people would be more likely to be receptive of the idea.”
The firm is prioritizing housing density downtown, riverfront development and stormwater improvements in its plan. Community members applauded the firm’s intent to incorporate green infrastructure to better manage runoff for pedestrians and drivers. In terms of riverfront development, Wright saw Bakery Lane as a point of major potential with the possibility of developing a mixed-use area and a more scenic river walk.
Multiple longtime residents expressed their belief that Middlebury has a history of projecting its commitment to sustainability without following through on these ideals. The new plan, therefore, presents a new opportunity to prioritize sustainability in future developments.
Resident Leslie Caer Amadora agreed with the fact that Middlebury needs some structural and strategic renovations. However, she stressed the importance of maintaining the town’s character throughout this process by “creating an infrastructure that holds the webbing to connect and diversify our town.”
Following Planapalooza, community members will have more opportunities to voice their ideas. A closing presentation, previously scheduled for Monday, Nov. 11 will now take place on Friday, Nov. 15 due to snow. The firm’s data will be refined during the winter and a draft plan will be delivered in the spring, with a targeted delivery date of July 2020. More information on the creation of the Town Master Plan can be found at townofmiddlebury.org.