Reporter THE ESSEX
April 27, 2017 • The Essex Reporter • 1
April 27, 2017
Vol. 37, No. 17
Prsrt Std ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 266 Burlington, VT 05401 Postal Patron-Residential
Repaving projects engulf 5 Corners By COLIN FLANDERS
PHOTO BY TERI FERREIRA
Essex sophomore Jamie Morin unleashes a monster homerun against Missisquoi last week. The Hornets fell 10-8 but responded with a win over Rutland last Saturday. See more photos on page 11.
Going, going, GONE
Repaving projects will be hitting four legs of the Five Corners this summer. After repaving Maple Street last year, the Vermont Agency of Transportation now plans to repave sections of Pearl, Lincoln, Main and Park streets. Meanwhile, the village trustees planned to award a contract for the Pearl Street missing link project at their meeting Tuesday night. Josh Hulett, the VTrans engineer overseeing the project, said his contractor, Frank W. Whitcomb Construction, will start on Route 2A next week and complete the daytime portions of work first. The Route 2A schedule is as follows: • Lincoln Place to 200 feet past North Street — 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Mill Street to the first set of railroad tracks — 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Winooski River Bridge to Mill Street — 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. See pAViNG, page 4
Unified district: Patience is key By COLIN FLANDERS Essex Westford School District’s new transportation model will require a dose of patience as it takes form next school year. That was the message from various district representatives who spoke during the community discussion at Essex High School last week, where about 60 attendees had a first look at plans for the new model that will bus Westford’s high school students and some in Essex Jct. for the first time. “As this new system comes online, we're going to have to be patient and understanding,” EWSD board member Brendan Kinney said. “Because our goal, of course, it to provide the safest, most efficient and cost effective transportation system we can.” Serving as a broad overview of the status quo and the district’s plans for the expansion, the meeting didn’t shed light on perhaps the most important part: route designs. Those must be drafted and road tested by the second week in August, Kinney said. The transportation companies and a consultant will draft potential routes before incoming superintendent Beth Cobb finalizes the details. Some were concerned this deadline gives parents little time to figure out their plans. Noting this, Westford School Board chairman Mark Drapa asked the unified district to focus on communication. “Give the system enough time and enough notice, across municipal, law enforcement, family, schools — the entire living breathing organism of each of these towns as they change,” Drapa urged. “Make sure we inform all of them along the way, so on day one, nobody's left surprised.” Some parents asked for a predictable and See TrANSpOrTATiON, page 3
Gov. Phil Scott addresses Essex Rotarians last Wednesday, April 19 at The Essex Resort and Spa.
PHOTO BY KAYLEE SULLIVAN
Gov. talks economic development at Rotary By KAYLEE SULLIVAN Essex Rotarians engaged in a lively discussion with Gov. Phil Scott last week at the club’s weekly meeting, largely focused on economic development both specific to Essex and
statewide. Each year, the Rotary invites the governor to speak, president Sharon Dettenrieder said. The Colchester-Milton Rotary also attends. “We’re interested in his points of view about
economic development [for Essex] and especially retaining young people,” Dettenrieder added. Scott relied heavily on the two topics throughout his half-hour speech. His three main talking points were affordability, growing
the economy and helping those in need. If a proposal doesn’t align with one of those goals, it’s not worthwhile, he told the crowd. In his 119th event since taking office, Scott said talking with grassroots See SCOTT, page 3
Essex Police to attend recruitment event
By COLIN FLANDERS
Police agencies around Chittenden County, including Essex, will gather for a joint recruiting event for the first time ever this Friday. The all-day event at South Burlington Middle School will allow participants to take the entrance exam and fitness test, speak with agency representatives and possibly even interview on-site.
It’s an effort to address the county’s version of a national trend — a lack of qualified law enforcement candidates — that’s resulted in some local agencies holding vacancies for years. Essex Cpt. George Murtie believes a negative perception of law enforcement in recent years is to blame for the nationwide struggles, though he said Essex has mostly been immune. Still, the department has seen a decline
in qualified candidates, he said. Some applicants have failed the entrance exam, while others failed the polygraph test or were disqualified after a background check. That changed about two months ago, Murtie said, since which time EPD has received many applications, including a few qualified applicants. The department now hopes to be fully staffed later this year. Murtie said he’s also noticed more military veterans seeking a policing job.
“When people understand the difficulty of the police profession and the sacrifice that officers have to make to have a career, it seems like, in some respects, that is attractive to people who are service-minded,” Murtie said. “That is getting portrayed better in society or culture.” Essex already sent two would-be officers to the 104th Police Academy, which See pOliCE, page 4