Garden path
Marathon Sue
Hinesburg tour returns in mid-July
‘Don’t let age limit you,’ says Shelburne racer
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July 3, 2024
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg
Charlotte fire, rescue service is grappling with staff shortages LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
In the midst of a “serious” staffing shortage at the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, its president, John Snow, warned town officials and residents that temporary service cuts should be expected in the coming month as the department works to
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Mealtime
regain stability. Snow said the service came into a “perfect storm” as it entered the summer months. The number of per diem staff — many of whom are college-aged — has dwindled, staff are taking vacations, and the service has lost another full-timer. See CVFRS on page 9
Charlotte selectboard proposes cuts for staffers LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Town employees should expect to pay significantly more for their health insurance packages this year, according to a Charlotte Selectboard subcommittee tasked with employee health benefits and compensation. “There’s going to be a change, and change is really hard and difficult. We’re talking about people’s health care, their ability to care for themselves and their families, but fundamentally, to get the savings, we are going to need to make a shift in the shared burden,” board member Lewis Mudge said at a selectboard meeting last week. Initial proposals recommend
that town staffers who currently contribute 10 percent of their health insurance premium costs now contribute 25 percent, according to a memo written by Mudge and board member Kelly Devine. The proposal also recommends limiting the 11 available Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for employees to two or three — the Bronze Select and Silver Select — both of which are currently used most by town employees. “This adjustment will help distribute the financial responsibility more evenly between the town and its employees while still providing valuable health care PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA LAZAR
See HEALTH INSURANCE on page 13
A swallowtail enjoys a meal of strawflowers in a Charlotte garden.
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill presents
CELEBRATION OF SUMMER TOMATOES Wednesday July 10 th 5-9pm The Beer Garden
Live Music • Tomato-Inspired Food & Drink Specials
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