WELCOME TO CHESTER

Yosemite Fire House

The Chester Historic Preservation Committee was formed in late 2016 for the purpose of addressing the value, condition, and present and future uses of Chester’s historic buildings. There are seven historic buildings owned by the Town of Chester that fall under the purview of the Chester Historic Preservation Committee or CHPC: Hearse House, Public Tomb, Academy Building/Central School, Whiting Library, Town Hall, Yosemite Fire House, and Jeffrey Barn on Route 103. The Committee has started a comprehensive check of each of the structures inside and out to see if additional improvements were necessary beyond those listed in the Condition Assessments already obtained for all but the Jeffrey Barn. Please see here to read the full report from the CHPC that was unintentionally left out of the 2018 Town Report- Chester Historic Preservation Committee

Yosemite Old Pumper on Flat Bed

Chester Historic Preservation Committee (CHPC) provides advice and support to the Town of Chester to preserve and renovate public historic structures and resources for their appropriate time period and uses. CHPC sources expert historical and architectural assessments to prioritize repairs and maintenance and to increase public access. By improving displays and stimulating interest and support, CHPC capitalizes on the valuable assets and important landmarks of Chester’s cultural, artistic, historic and architectural heritage. CHPC works with public and private entities to coordinate improvements and to pursue financial assistance for Chester’s historic preservation projects and programs.

Hearse House and Public Tomb

Jeffrey Barn

Interior of the Jeffrey Barn

Just visiting?
Take a look at Chester's pages for Dining, Lodging, and Shopping!

Chester is a quaint New England town with a population of 3,144, centrally located, and in close proximity to several ski areas including Okemo, Stratton, and Killington. Chester offers a community of great restaurants, comfortable B & Bs, and interesting shops, including authentic antique stores and lovely art galleries. Whether you are looking for a quiet respite, or just adventuring off the beaten path.... Here, you can enjoy a tranquil and charming atmosphere. Chester is also a wonderful place to live!

Pay by Credit/Debit Card Now Available

The Town of Chester has added the option to pay by credit/debit card. This option can be accessed at the Town Office, by clicking on the flag icon below, or calling the Town Office at 875-2173. Also, the Mobile App can be downloaded to your phone or tablet as a convenient way to keep track of an account. If you choose to download the Mobile App, please use number 37105 in the field provided to access the Town of Chester's account. There will be a $1 convenience fee applied to all charges under $33, and a 3% fee for anything over that amount.

For payments, click the icon here:

Click here to download the App:

Here's the Latest News:

At their May 16, 2018 Selectboard meeting, the Selectboard approved changes to the Chester Development Fund Policy. The new Policy allows for assistance to property owners located in the Village Center Designated Area with improvements to the properties. Property owners who live in the Village Center Designated Area may apply for either a mini loan, grant or a combination thereof for assistance in conducting a variety of improvements to their property. These can include, but are not limited to, façade improvements, painting or tree planting and maintenance. Grants will be considered for up to $500.00 each and loans are available for up to $1,000 each. Total funds available are limited and applications will be reviewed upon receipt. More information and the application is available at Town Hall or by downloading it here- Mini Grant Loan Application

The Primary Election will be held at the Town Hall (upstairs) on August 14, 2018 from 9am-7pm. You can request an absentee ballot by calling the Town Office at 875-2173. Please see here for sample ballots- Samples

On July 3, 2018, the Selectboard for the Town of Chester adopted an Ordinance for Regulating Outdoor Storage of Junk and Junk Vehicles. Said Ordinance will become effective on September 2, 2018, unless a duly signed petition is submitted pursuant to 24 V.S.A. §1973(b). To view a complete copy of the adopted Ordinance for Regulating Outdoor Storage of June and Junk Vehicles please see here- Salvage Yard Ordinance

The Town of Chester has a full time employment opportunity available in its Emergency Services Division. This job is specific to the position of Administrative Assistant. Minimum requirements are:

High School Diploma or equivalent
Minimum of an EMT License
Valid Driver’s License
Training experience preferred
CPR instructor certification can be obtained after hire

Ability to deal with the personnel and public in a positive manner
Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on July 13, 2018. Please submit Employment Application and Resume to the Chester Town Manager’s Office, 556 Elm Street, P.O. Box 370, Chester, VT, 05143.

Claudio Veliz Architect, PLLC was commissioned in 2017 by the Town of Chester, Vermont to conduct a Feasibility Study to assist the Town in addressing the issues impacting possible new facility designs for the four Town services: EMS, Fire, Police and Public Works. After researching the pertinent items impacting the study, their recommendations can be found here:

Feasibility 1
Feasibility 2
Feasibility 3
Feasibility 4

Feasibility 5
Feasibility 6
Feasibility 7

The Zoning Audit for the Town of Chester has been completed. A specialist will be hired soon to review the study and assist in the redevelopment of the Zoning Bylaws. To view the Zoning Audit, please see here- 2018 Zoning Audit

The Town of Chester would like to extend an invitation to get involved in your community. The following volunteer positions are open for reappointment:

Agent to Defend Suits
Town Grand Juror

All interested parties should send a letter of interest to Town of Chester, P.O. Box 370, Chester, Vermont 05143, or contact the Chester Town Office at 875-2173.

On Saturday October 28 at 3 PM the Hearse House Museum in Chester, VT, opened to the public. The opening celebration took place at the white, clapboarded Hearse House, located at the entrance to Brookside Cemetery across from the Chester Village Green. Attendees had a chance to see Chester’s handsome horse-drawn hearse, its historic “house” that was saved from demolition and recently rehabilitated, and the new mini museum created inside that building which features information about the hearse, nearby Public Tomb, Brookside Cemetery, funeral customs of the times, and the renovation project itself. The Hearse House Museum will be open on a seasonal basis from this point on.

On March 21, 2017, the Vermont State Board of Education accepted the report and Articles of Agreement to form a Unified School District, which is to be called the Green Mountain Unified District. The Town of Chester held a vote on May 2, 2017 on the Articles that were presented. At the same time, the board members for the new board were also elected. The Town of Chester voted YES on this article. See here for the full results of this election: GMUD Results

The Town of Chester's latest efforts in building the Master Plan for the Village Center has been updated. Please explore the plan and everyone's efforts by clicking here:
Rediscovering Chester

AARP has rated Chester as one of the top ten places in the world for a fabulous fall vacation. View the full article here: Fabulous Fall Vacations for 2016

The Southern Vermont Watershed Alliance has released their 2018 Bi-Weekly River Report chart for the river conditions in the area. Please see here to view the updated chart- Bi-Weekly River Report

This spring, the small wooden building near the top of the Pinnacle sledding hill was restored and re-purposed into a community picnic pavilion. The original structure, built in 1972, was used as a warming hut for skiers and to house the motor that operated the ski tow rope. Situated within the Chester Disc Golf Course, the pavilion now includes two picnic tables and features a great view of Chester and the surrounding valley. The building renovation was made possible through a Recreation Facilities grant the Town received from the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services. The community is encouraged to make the short hike up the hill and check out this great new Town asset – the view alone is worth the trip.

The Chester Village Canopy Management Plan takes a close look at Chester's streets and the trees that line them. The Canopy Management Plan has identified trees along the streets that need to be removed or pruned, and has selected specific trees for planting in certain areas. Please click here for the full report of this plan: Chester Village Management Plan

Executive Assistant and Grants Administrator, Julie Hance, from the Town of Chester announced that the town has received a grant totaling $800,000. The project will be the first major project stemming from the Town's new Master Plan. This grant will be used to upgrade the sidewalk along Depot Street, beginning at Town Hall and ending at Bargefrede Road. The work will include widening the existing sidewalk and replacing it with concrete, installation of granite curbing and adding a grass strip with pedestrian scale lighting. This project will eliminate gaps in the sidewalk system, provide a pedestrian crossing at the railroad and re configure the intersection at Coach Road as well as the infamous "triangle". This project is expected to take a minimum of 2 years to complete and is not anticipated to start until summer, 2019. For additional information please contact Julie Hance at 875-2173 or julie.hance@chestervt.gov

The Town of Chester held the annual Town Meeting on Monday, March 5, 2018 and the annual election for the Town and the Town School District on March 6, 2018. If you would like to view the minutes from the meeting and know the results of this election please see here: Meeting Minutes and Results

In May 2017, the Vermont Legislature passed a bill that will change the laws pertaining to how people can obtain vital records, which include death and birth certificates. Act 46 was passed to help ensure the safety of Vermonter's information, and to help protect against identity theft. These changes will go into effect July 1, 2019. To see how these changes will affect you, please see here: New Vital Records Law

The 2018 Summer edition of the Town Newsletter has been released. Copies of the Newsletter can be found at various places around town. If you would like to receive the Newsletter by mail or have it emailed to you, please call the office at 875-2173, or send an email to amie.obrien@chestervt.gov. Please see here to view this edition: Newsletter

Alarm System Reviews has declared Chester, VT as number 4 on a list of the 15 safest places to live in Vermont. See the list here: 15 Safest Places to Live in Vermont-2016

The Chester Economic Development Committee has started a brochure website as a new way to promote Chester. Please view the site by clicking here: Meet Chester Vermont

Election Day voter registration law went into effect January 1, 2017. You may register to vote on Election Day at the polls and vote on that day. You may also register to vote at the Town Clerk's Office or online at mvp.sec.state.vt.us.