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JANUARY 23, 2025
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
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Town retracts interest in former state police barracks BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Town of Williston will no longer pursue the acquisition of the former Vermont State Police barracks property near the Exit 12 interchange of Interstate 89, the selectboard decided Tuesday. The State of Vermont has been preparing to put the 3-acre site up
for sale since the police’s 2023 move into a new headquarters about a half mile south on Route 2A. In a visit to the Legislature last year, Town Manager Erik Wells requested that Williston be granted a right of first refusal on any sale of the building. He expressed the town’s interest in the potential of constructing a community center there, or helping to develop
affordable housing. Legislators asked Wells to submit a formal letter of intent by the end of this month. But the site has since fallen out of favor with an architect and local committee working on plans for a Williston community center in the Taft Corners area, primarily due to its limited acreage; a community center would need about 10 acres
Board sets budget ask; includes 3 new positions
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Williston Selectboard approved a $15.9 million budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year Tuesday that would increase spending by 5.9 percent over the current year — adding three new full-time positions to town staff — and increase property taxes by roughly 10 percent. Two of the new staff members are slated for the police department — a new patrol officer and a new social worker. The third is a human resources director in the town manager’s office. The HR position was backed out of the current year’s budget after voters rejected the town’s initial proposal last March. The new proposal will be up for voter consideration at Town Meeting Day this March; early voting will begin in mid-February. “What these three positions will mean for service delivery to our town is huge,” selectboard member Greta D’Agostino said. “In terms of bang for your buck, this goes far.” The approval came on a 4-0 vote with board member Mike Isham absent.
“What these three positions will mean for service delivery to our town is huge.” Greta D’Agostino Williston Selectboard
The new social worker would assist the police and fire departments on calls involving mental health and substance abuse, and take a “proactive approach to working with community members in need,” Town Manager Erik Wells described in a budget memo to the board. It would also help offenders involved in restorative justice programs through the Williston Community Justice Center and augment the current crew of regional social service outreach personnel under the direction of the Howard Center. The position is designed “to aid in the overall well-being of the community,” Wells explained. The new officer position would
of land, Wells said. Regarding the affordable housing possibility, the town has been unable to find a developer to partner with. “Staff does not see value in the town acquiring the property without either of those potential uses having a clear pathway ahead,” Wells wrote in a memo to the board. “It’s disappointing we couldn’t
mark the beginning of an up-staffing of the department following a 2023 consultant report that called for an increase in the Williston police force from 15 to 20 patrol officers. The new positions contribute to a proposed 11.5 percent increase in police department spending and a 29 percent increase in spending in the town manager’s office. Increases in salaries and benefits across all departments account for the majority of the budget’s roughly $900,000 (5.9 percent) spending increase over the current fiscal year. “Some people will consider that (increase) high, but I think this really is a strong budget that reflects what I believe the community is asking us to do,” board member Jeanne Jensen said. Police, fire and emergency medical response make up about 50 percent of the town’s annual budget. Property taxes fund about 54 percent of the budget (local sales tax revenue funds about 26 percent, and user fees and miscellaneous revenue fund the remainder). The budget proposal would
find a partner to develop it for us, but I would not be interested in moving forward without a partner to manage the housing for us,” board member Jeanne Jensen echoed. “Let’s hope it ends up being some kind of housing,” she added. The state is currently using the former barracks as a temporary shelter for unhoused families.
Wildcats lose by a whisker
Williston Central School’s Quinn Rogers, above, looks to drive against Essex’s Jayden Mignot during the Wildcats’ 33-40 loss last Thursday in Williston. Glodi Bikule, right, gets into the paint for a bucket. More photos on Page 16. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
see BUDGET page 3
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