Recent Foundational Work
For the past few years, the Town of Essex Selectboard and the Village of Essex Junction Board of Trustees have explored a potential merger of the governance of the two municipalities under a single charter. A Governance Subcommittee of the two boards reviewed governance models and organized focus groups and surveys with residents to help create merger plans. Here is an infographic describing this process and the original timeline.
Qualitative Survey - July 2019 Focus Groups - August 2019 Quantitative Survey - Sept/Oct 2019 Video Summary of Quantitative Survey
Here are the GOVERNANCE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS based on all the public input.
Qualitative Survey - July 2019 Focus Groups - August 2019 Quantitative Survey - Sept/Oct 2019 Video Summary of Quantitative Survey
Here are the GOVERNANCE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS based on all the public input.
Charter Change
The March 3, 2020 ballot included a question that was posed by a voter-backed petition, asking if the Town charter should be changed to create a six-member Selectboard with three members elected from the Village of Essex Junction and three from outside the Village. Voters passed the proposed change, 4,032 - 2,614. The charter change was sent to the Vermont Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Legislature for consideration. Read the letter from leadership of House Government Operations relating to the proposed Essex charter change.
The March 3, 2020 ballot included a question that was posed by a voter-backed petition, asking if the Town charter should be changed to create a six-member Selectboard with three members elected from the Village of Essex Junction and three from outside the Village. Voters passed the proposed change, 4,032 - 2,614. The charter change was sent to the Vermont Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Legislature for consideration. Read the letter from leadership of House Government Operations relating to the proposed Essex charter change.
Cost of Current Services - Separation Analysis - 2020
"How are the budgets of the Town and Village currently funded? Which portion is paid for by Village taxpayers and which portion is paid for by Town Outside the Village taxpayers? Can we see a side-by-side comparison by department? What would it cost if the Village were to separate from the Town?" Find answers to your questions: Presentation - Cost of Current Services and Separation Analysis
More Foundational Work
- Heart and Soul of Essex - 2012-2014 - Identified Thoughtful Growth and Local Economy as core community values that need attention
- An Examination of a Shared Service Delivery Model for the Village of Essex Junction - Town of Essex, VT - 2014
- Essex Governance Group Final Report - 2015
- Public Works Consolidation Memorandum of Agreement and Amendment - 2015, 2018
- Thoughtful Growth in Action Report - 2016 - Preferred approaches to coordinating planning governance structures