Essex Explorers

The Town of Essex held its first "Explore Essex" fall festival September 30 through October 2. Local businesses and organizations generously donated over $5,200 in prizes for the Giveaway Exploraganza. Area residents became official Essex explorers as they visited multiple ticket stops during the weekend for chances to win prizes. At the end, 126 winners were drawn!

Thank you to all who attended and to the generous support from The Essex Experience, Catamount Color, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Twincraft Skincare, Donald L. Hamlin Consulting Engineers, 101.3 The Wolf, and WCAX Channel 3. Watch for more about festival activities and additional photos in a future edition.

Essex Charter Review 

The Essex Charter Review Committee invites you to attend their upcoming meetings to share your ideas on amending the Town of Essex Charter. Meetings are now hybrid, meaning you may attend in person or online using Microsoft Teams. No time for a meeting? Submit your ideas online with our short form. We want to hear from you!

Upcoming meeting dates:
October 11
October 18
October 25
November 1
November 15
  
What are your ideas?

Hispanic Heritage Month Storytime

Calling all little ones! Let's sing along, read some picture books, learn about Latinos and Hispanic culture, and maybe dance a little! Storytime with Señora
Leo.

October 12 at 11:00 am
Essex Free Library
Sponsored by Voices for Inclusion Essex Westford and the Essex Free Library.

Essex Fire Department Open House - October 15

Saturday, October 15th
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
190 Sandhill Road, Essex, VT

Bring the entire family for a fun day exploring our station, apparatus, and tools. See live demos, enjoy free food, meet your neighbors, and the dedicated volunteers of your Essex Fire Department! Learn about fire safety, and how EFD responds to emergencies in our community. New this year, a 50/50 raffle!

Parking is limited on adjacent roads near our station at 190 Sandhill Road in Essex. We suggest parking at nearby Founders School or Sandhill Park and enjoying the short walk over.

Tag us with your photos during the event #EFDOpenHouse.
Thank you to our sponsors including: McKenzie Deli, Chapin Orchard, Hannaford Supermarkets, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Anytime Towing, and Costco. 

Follow the event on Facebook

Enchanted Walk - All Ages Welcome - October 22

Join Essex Parks and Recreation on an enchanted walk around Indian Brook with the "Little Old Lady Who Isn’t Afraid of Anything"! (by Linda Williams).

This staff-guided walk along the white trail will take you through the story in an interactive way as we go page-by-page and step-by-step around the reservoir. It’s a charming family-friendly walk through the woods in the crisp fall season, with refreshments at the end!

All ages welcome! Indian Brook Park
Saturday, October 22
4 pm, 4:30 pm, 5 pm, 5:30 pm, 6 pm, 6:30 pm
$5 / family

Sign up to be enchanted!

Thanksgiving Meals for Essex Seniors

The season of giving is upon us and we need your help!

The Essex Parks and Recreation Department is working with the Center for Technology Essex and EWSD Food Service to provide 100 meals to seniors in our community.

Seniors may purchase their own meal or community members may purchase a meal anonymously to be provided to a senior. Each meal costs $10 and includes a turkey dinner and dessert. Seniors (age 50+) may purchase their own and anyone may purchase one for a senior in need.

Purchase a meal for an Essex Senior

Notice of Public Hearing - October 17

The Selectboard is holding a second public hearing on October 17, 2022 at 6:35 pm. The purpose of the hearing is to consider final passage of Chapter 6.11, Public Nuisance, of the Municipal Ordinance.  You may join in person or online via Zoom. 

View the full notice and draft ordinance

Town Budget Day - November 4

The Town of Essex Selectboard has scheduled a "Budget Day" for Thursday, November 4th to begin at 8:00 am in the morning. A typical budget day consists of a comprehensive review of the draft budget by the Selectboard with administrative staff.

Budget Day is a part of the preparation for the budget hearing process, during which the public is invited to comment. The budget hearing process is tentatively scheduled to begin in December, which is earlier than in years past. 

View the calendar event

On the Ballot

Chittenden Solid Waste District Bond Vote

The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) issued a ballot question which encompasses all towns and cities in Chittenden County.

“Shall the Board of Commissioners of the Chittenden Solid Waste District be authorized to issue general obligation bonds or notes, in one or more series, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Twenty Two Million Dollars ($22,000,000) for the purpose of (i) funding capital improvements related to the planning, constructing, and equipping of a new materials recovery facility; (ii) funding a debt service reserve fund; and (iii) paying for associated costs of issuance; it being intended that the source of repayment shall be waste management fees and revenues collected by the District and, to the extent necessary, assessments to member municipalities in accordance with the District’s Charter?” 

To vote on this issue, you may request CSWD's ballot through Vermont's "My Voter Page";  by contacting the Town Clerk at the Town Offices at 81 Main St., by calling 802-879-0413, option 6; or by emailing at clerk@essex.org. The CSWD ballot will be available at all Chittenden County polling places on Election Day, November 8.

Learn more about this November ballot question

Check out Vermont's "My Voter Page"

Election Day - November 8

Vermont General Election day is November 8, 2022. In addition to early/absentee ballots, the legal voters of the Town of Essex may vote by Australian ballot at the Essex Middle School at 60 Founders Road from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. 

ARTICLE 1. Shall the Town of Essex enter into a communications union district to be known as the Chittenden County Communications Union District, under the provisions of 30 V.S.A. chapter 82 for the purposes of improving access to broadband services?

Early/absentee ballots must be returned to the Clerk's Office by Monday, November 7, 2022 or delivered directly to the polling place before the close of polls on November 8, 2022. When voting by mail, be sure to follow instructions enclosed.

Learn more about Article 1 - Communications Union District

Visit the Clerk's page for Voter Information

You may also email your questions to the Clerk at clerk@essex.org. 

Items of Note

FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET: Budget season is underway. Discover how the budget process works and how you can be involved.

ARPA UPDATES: Review the recent survey results and learn about the next steps. Provide your feedback - how do you think Essex ARPA funds should be used?

HOMESTEAD DECLARATION - DEADLINE OCT. 17: Reminding you that you still have time to file the 2022 Vermont Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit Claim.  

MUNICIPAL-WIDE REAPPRAISAL OF REAL PROPERTY 2023-2025: The Town of Essex has begun the initial steps in starting a municipal-wide reappraisal of all real property.

WATERLINE/HYDRANT FLUSHING NOTICE: Temporary discoloration of water during October. Allow your water to run for a few minutes to clear up. 

Employment Opportunities

Mark your calendar