Makeover
Heavy hitting
Memorial Day
The Middlebury Opera Company has given a classic work a modern update. See Arts + Leisure.
The Mount Abe and MUHS softball teams broke out the lumber on Tuesday. See Page 1B.
Towns all over the county will honor the fallen on Monday. See how in a special section inside.
ADDISON COUNTY
Vol. 73 No. 21
INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont
Thursday, May 23, 2019
56 Pages
$1.00
Hoarding is about more than clutter Disorder affects many in county
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER TRENT Campbell, shown here on the job several years ago, has been recovering from a series of strokes. He is making steady progress in his effort to return to his home and his rightful spot behind a camera. A Gofundme campaign has been started on his behalf. Photo by Mark Bouvier
Where’s Trent? After strokes, Independent photographer is on the mend By JOHN FLOWERS COLCHESTER — For two decades, Addison Independent photographer Trent Campbell has captured the beauty, personality and excitement of Addison County’s people, places and things. He’s won so many statewide
and regional awards for his work that he keeps them stacked near his desk; the wall in his section of the production department is insufficient to display them all. And if there were an award for perseverance and courage in the face of adversity, Campbell and (See Trent, Page 11A)
By JOHN FLOWERS VERGENNES — Maureen used to be a social butterfly. She liked to entertain and visit with people. Until her possessions became so abundant that she closed her door and her life to all but her immediate family. Clutter became her constant companion. With it came depression. Her mom, who moved in with her a few months ago due to failing health, has added an abundance of clothing and other stuff to the handbags and knick-knacks that Maureen can’t resist and can’t find the strength to discard. “I really want to be free of this,” she said of the items she and her mom have amassed. Maureen wishes passersby would think more compassionately about the disheveled property she calls home. “There’s more to the story than what you see.” It’s a story touched by hoarding disorder, and one shared by as many as 2,000 other people in Addison County, according to Ellen Repstad, a clinical services coordinator with John Graham Housing & Services in Vergennes. Repstad provides in-home clinical support for acknowledged hoarders
PEOPLE WITH HOARDING disorder have a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, which can pile up through every room and even outside homes. The prevalence of hoarding has prompted creation of the Addison County Hoarding Task Force.
willing to accept help so they can keep their lodging. It’s a story with good and bad endings. The most extreme cases lead to dangerous, unsanitary and unsightly conditions that result in evictions and the condemnation of homes. The prevalence of hoarding has prompted local social service providers to establish an Addison
County Hoarding Task Force, through which officials are exploring new strategies to help people thin out the possessions that have been taking over their lives. “It’s a long, slow process,” Repstad said of the rehabilitation process for people who fall into the hoarding category. “It’s clinically similar to an eating disorder. It’s something they’ll always struggle
with, and you learn skills to maintain and address it. Those skills can be taught and learned. The behavior can be changed, but it takes time.” WHEN IT’S A PROBLEM Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions — regardless of their actual value — because of (See Hoarding, Page 10A)
College avoids employee layoffs City affordable housing Officials praise ‘workforce planning’ By CHRISTOPHER ROSS MIDDLEBURY — After nearly a year of evaluating its workforce in preparation for job cuts, Middlebury College told its employees on Tuesday that it achieved a balanced budget without issuing pink slips. “It is important to recognize the effort this took,” wrote President Laurie Patton in a campus-wide email. “This process has been both lengthy and challenging, and caused many in our community
significant uncertainty and discomfort. Thanks to your participation, the process was successful.” Last June Middlebury College, which is the largest employer in Addison County, launched a program called “Workforce Planning,” a comprehensive reevaluation of personnel and work processes. Among other things, the administration hoped this would lead to a 10 percent ($8 million) reduction in non-benefit employee
compensation costs by the end of the current fiscal year (June 30). VOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS On Tuesday, college officials announced the results of two employee buyout plans — a Faculty Retirement Incentive Plan (FRIP) and a staff Incentive Separation Plan (ISP). Of the 117 faculty who were eligible for the FRIP, 24 elected to participate. As a result, the college will achieve $4.6 million in annual savings, though over time some new faculty positions will need to be phased in.
Of the 77 staff members who were eligible for the ISP, 35 elected to participate. This number was slightly lower than hoped, college officials said, but it will result in an annual savings of $3.6 million. That number climbs to $6.1 million once the elimination of currently vacant positions is factored in. Altogether, through buyouts and attrition, 147 full-time-equivalent (FTE) positions were eliminated, 43 new FTE positions were created for next year and 100 existing positions will get pay adjustments. (See College, Page 3A)
project gets final funding By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The funding pieces have fallen into place for a planned 24-unit Vergennes affordable housing project on Armory Lane, and construction should begin in August, according to Elise Shanbacker, the executive director of the Addison County Community Trust (ACCT).
Bristol paving project details outlined; some options remain By CHRISTOPHER ROSS BRISTOL — The town of Bristol is bracing for a pair of construction projects that are expected to cause major disruptions downtown. Though project details, including scope and schedules, are subject to change, the Main Street lighting and sidewalk project will begin this fall. The downtown portion of Route 116 will get repaved next spring or summer. Representatives from the engineering firm DuBois & King, which is responsible for both projects, presented their plans and answered questions at a public information meeting on May 13. Roughly 20 residents attended that meeting. SIDEWALKS, LIGHTING The original scope of the Main Street lighting and sidewalk project called for replacing 14 lampposts between North/South Street to west and the National Bank of Middlebury and Hatch 31 to the east, replacing the brick paver areas with stamped concrete to match the intersection, and realigning the (See Bristol, Page 11A)
ACCT and Housing Vermont are cooperating on the project, called Vermont Community Housing, which in April and May received the final two funding awards it needed. One will be worth more than $4 million of equity from a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit from the Vermont (See Housing, Page 11A)
By the way The town of Lincoln will hold its 30th annual “Town Wide Yard Sale” this Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors are asked for a $15 donation to Weathervane United senior housing in order to have their individual yard sales included on a map for bargain hunters. The yard sales will be held at individual Lincoln homes, the lawn of the local library, and at the Weathervane United (See By the way, Page 12A)
Index Obituaries...............................6A Classifieds......................9B-10B Service Directory.............7B-8B Entertainment...... Arts + Leisure Community Calendar.......8A-9A Arts Calendar...... Arts + Leisure Sports...............................1B-3B
Raise their voices
MEMBERS OF THE Middlebury Union High School choir follow director Liz LeBeau as they sing a lovely concert of songs from Gershwin and other composers at the school auditorium Monday evening. The event included performances from the school string ensemble, jazz ensemble and concert band.
Photo by Jason Duquette-Hoffman