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Chester.... Best Small Town in VT

12/12/2019

Small towns all across the nation are becoming popular travel destinations for their fine dining, artisan shops, and small town charm. Researchers have found that people living in smaller towns are happier than those living in more urban areas. Insider traveled state by state to find small towns bustling with activity for both locals and visitors, then compiled a list of the best small town in each state. Chester is ranked number one in Vermont for its historic attractions and appealing colonial style according to the article. Search the article The best small town in every state and find your next travel destination.

Chester Seeks Town Health Officer

12/10/2019

The Town of Chester is searching to fill the position of Town Health Officer. The primary roles of a Town Health Officer include:

Investigating when information is received about a condition that may be a public health hazard.
Enforcing the provisions of Title 18 and the rules and permits issued by the Health Department.
Preventing, removing or destroying any public health hazard, or mitigating any significant public health risk in accordance with provisions of Title 18.
Taking necessary steps, in consultation with the Health Department, to enforce all orders issued pursuant to 18 V.S.A. Ch. 3.

The full text of Chapter 3 of Title 18 is available online at legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/18/003.
Please submit a Resume and Letter of Interest no later than 3:00 p.m. on December 30, 2019 to the Chester Town Manager’s Office, 556 Elm Street, P.O. Box 370, Chester, Vt, 05143.

CAFC Thanks the Community

12/2/2019

The Chester-Andover Family Center would like to acknowledge and thank the community for helping us meet our goal to provide Turkeys for our Food Shelf recipients. We distributed over 100 turkeys and other food needed to put a bountiful meal on many Thanksgiving tables. The generosity of local businesses and citizens was overwhelming and gives us much to be thankful for. The CAFC Board and our many volunteers work every day to meet our mission to “make a difference in our community by providing resources for financial assistance, nutritional food, affordable clothing and household goods.” We could not do this without our many donors and supporters. Thank you.

Stephanie Mahoney, CAFC Board President
Carla Rumrill, CAFC Board Member and Food Shelf Manager

Town of Chester Employment Opportunity

11/21/2019

TRUCK DRIVER/EQUIPMENT OPERATOR/LABORER

The Town of Chester has a full time employment opportunity available in its Public Works Department. This job is specific to the position of Truck Driver/Equipment Operator/Laborer and includes work involving heavy equipment operation, dump truck operation and snow plowing. In addition, this position performs a variety of unskilled and semi-skilled maintenance work, and operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance and replacement of town roads and storm drain facilities and systems.

A CDL is required for all applicants. Two years of experience is preferred.

Please submit Employment Application and Resume to the Chester Town Manager’s Office, 556 Elm Street, P.O. Box 370, Chester, Vt, 05143 no later than 3:00 p.m. on December 13, 2019.

CAFC Kicks off Annual Appeal

11/20/2019

The Chester-Andover Family Center, as a 501c3 Charitable Non-Profit Organization, relies on donations from local citizens, friends from “away” and businesses to fund our community based social programs. Our Food Shelf serves over one hundred families a month, providing nutritious, supplemental food. Our financial assistance program provides heating assistance and help with paying bills for necessities of daily living such as rent, electricity or car repair.

Open Elective Offices for 2020

11/20/2019

The following Elective Offices are open for 2020:

Town Moderator – one-year term
Town Clerk – three-year term
Town Treasurer – three-year term
Selectmen – two – one-year terms
one - three-year term
Town Grand Juror – one-year term
Agent to Defend Suits – one-year term
Trustee of Public Funds – one - three-year term
Trustees of the Whiting Library – two - three-year terms
GMUSD Director – two – three-year terms

Petition forms for the above positions are available at the Town Clerk’s Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have any questions you can call the Town Clerk’s Office at 875-2173. Petitions must have 25 – 30 signatures and they are due back in the Town Clerk’s Office by January 27, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Petitions to have an article on the town meeting warning must have 120 – 130 signatures and are due back in the Town Clerk’s Office by January 16, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

2020 U. S. Census Roll-out and Hiring Begins!

11/12/2019

Article I Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires that every ten years there must be an 'enumeration' of persons in the United States, commonly referred to as "The Census." For the next ten years, the numbers produced in this effort will help determine how more than 675 billion dollars will be distributed to states and localities annually through more than 65 federal programs. These programs include special education funding, school lunch programs, meals on wheels, fuel assistance, Medicare, housing rehabilitation, community economic development and revitalization block grants, early childhood education, cooperative extension offices, and more.

Town Manager Search

11/8/2019

The Town of Chester, Vermont, seeks an engaging, collaborative, and experienced town manager. Chester is a charming and vibrant New England community located in southern Vermont near several ski areas, including Okemo, Bromley, Killington and Stratton. The town has a thriving tourist economy as well as a strong tradition of community engagement.

The town manager reports to the town’s five-member selectboard and is responsible for the town’s daily operations. The manager directly supervises approximately 25 full- and 85 part-time/seasonal employees, administers a budget of $3 million, and oversees all financial, public works, public safety, personnel, economic development, recreation, and community relations matters for the town.

Vote YES on November 5th!

9/18/2019

Vote YES on November 5th for a new Emergency Services Building for Fire, Police, and Ambulance services,
and a completely renovated Town Garage

The New Emergency Services Building

It will be a modern, efficient building that will house all three emergency services under one roof; Fire, Police, and Ambulance

A new EMS Building has been needed for years due to overcrowding at current Town Highway garage and Town Hall
It will serve Chester residents for generations to come

Renovating the Town Highway Garage

The existing Town Garage is overcrowded; it currently houses Fire, Ambulance, and Public Works; you can see all the equipment that must be kept outside and in all types of weather. This is not a good way to maintain these valuable items
The existing Town Garage has been cited by State building officials as being deficient and in need of upgrading to the latest building codes; it needs major renovation, or the state could move to close it
Renovating the existing Town Garage will add decades to its life and can be done for a fraction of what a new structure would cost

There will be two Public Meetings on this topic; one on September 25th and another on October 23rd
These meetings will start at 6:30 PM and be held at Town Hall
There will also be an informational meeting on November 4th at 6:00 pm; a day before the bond vote

Open House at the Chester Andover Family Center

9/6/2019

On Wednesday, September 18, from 5-7 PM, the Chester Andover Family Center invites the community to join us for an Open House event. While you may have stopped into the Thrift Shop or Food Shelf to drop off donations or shop, have you ever wondered how these programs work to serve the community? While you may have heard that we provide Financial Assistance to help struggling families make ends meet, have you ever wondered about how that program works and how it is connected to our Thrift Shop and Food Shelf?

END OF THE SESSION MESSAGE FROM MONTPELIER

9/6/2019

By Representative Tom Bock
of Andover, Baltimore, Chester, and North Springfield

By the closing of the 2019 session in mid-May, the House and Senate legislators had passed 93 bills, only two of which were vetoed by Governor Scott. The rest became law on July 1, 2019 ,including the FY2020 $6.1 billion budget.

Reasons to Visit Chester

8/21/2019

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

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

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

8/21/2019

There will be a household hazardous waste collection on WEDNESDAY, September 18 at the Springfield Transfer Station, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. for residents of Andover, Athens, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Grafton, Ludlow, Plymouth, Reading, Rockingham, Springfield, Weathersfield, West Windsor, and Windsor. Sponsored by the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District and the host town. Call 674-9235 for more information or visit www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org for a list of what to bring and what not to bring.

Message From Montpelier

8/21/2019

Representative Tom Bock of Andover, Baltimore, Chester, and North Springfield

We are now well into the 2nd half of the 2019 legislative session. Since January over 500 bills have been introduced. The 2 week “crossover” period when bills need to pass out of committee and onto the Floor in order to be considered for passage in the remaining weeks of the session, has come and gone. Of the 500 bills introduced this session, most never made it out of committee. But this is the first year of a 2-year biennium, so bills that do not make crossover can still be considered next year.

Chester Town Plan Revisions

8/9/2019

Four chapters of the Chester Town Plan are being amended to meet a variety of requirements from the Town of Chester and the State of Vermont. The amendments are working their way through the adoption process. As of May, 2019 they are being reviewed one chapter at a time during Select Board meetings. The chapters being amended include:

View the Select Board agendas for notice of further actions in this process.

Vermont Historical Society's New Publication

8/9/2019

The Pictorial History of Chester, Andover, Weston, & Londonderry is a 6X9” softbound with 142 pages containing 280 high-quality vintage photographs. Drawing on the Society’s large original glass plate negative collection as well as those from other local archives and personal collections, Society President Ron Patch has compiled a selection that will please and educate all those who are interested in local history. Scanning, design and layout has been accomplished by Society member Tom Hildreth, who, along with Patch feels they have successfully captured the sights, activities, and spirit of this area as experienced a century ago.

AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING AREA LOCATIONS for $20/Ea.:

BELLOWS FALLS-Lisai’s Market
CHESTER- Chester Hardware; Erskine’s Feed Store; Framery of Vermont; Lisai’s Market; Stone House Antique Center.
LONDONDERRY- Mike and Tammy’s; and the Garden Market.
WESTON-Weston Market Place.

AVAILABLE THROUGH USPS FOR $25 Ea.:

Mail check to:
Chester Historical Society
PO Box 118
Chester, Vermont 05143

Alternatives Presentation Meeting 8/29/19

8/9/2019

An Alternatives Presentation Meeting for the project listed below will be held on Thursday, August 29th, 2019 beginning at 6:30 PM at the NewsBank Conference Center, located at 352 Main Street, in Chester, VT.

Bridge Replacement Project:
- Chester BO 1442(39) – Town Highway 18, Bridge 62 over Williams River

The recommended alternative includes removal of Bridge 62, 72, and 28 and replacement with a new bridge off-alignment. The intent of the meeting is to provide an overview of the project to Town Officials, local residents and businesses, emergency services and other interested parties. There will be a review of the existing site conditions, proposed work, and overall schedule followed by a question and answer period. Representatives from both VTrans and the Town of Chester will be available at the meeting to address public concerns about the project.

A copy of the Scoping Report for this project may be seen at the office of the Town Clerk in Chester, VT or at the Structures Section of the Agency of Transportation’s office in Montpelier, VT. Electronic copies are also available online at: https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/vtrans/external/Projects/Structures/12J616

Regional Concerns Meeting 8/29/19

8/9/2019

A Regional Concerns Meeting for the projects listed below will be held on Thursday, August 29th, 2019 beginning at 6:30 PM at the NewsBank Conference Center, located at 352 Main Street, in Chester, VT.

Bridge Replacement Project:
- Chester BF 025-1(45) – VT Route 103, Bridge 14 over Williams River and The Green Mountain Railroad
Bridge Rehabilitation Project:
- Chester BF 025-1(46) – VT Route 103, Bridge 16 over Williams River

The selected alternatives include a deck replacement and a full bridge replacement with traffic maintained on temporary bridges during construction. The intent of the meeting is to provide an overview of these two projects to Town Officials, local residents and businesses, emergency services and other interested parties. There will be a review of the existing site conditions, proposed work, and overall schedule followed by a question and answer period. Representatives from both VTrans and the Town of Chester will be available at the meeting to address public concerns about the project.

A copy of the Scoping Reports for these projects may be seen at the office of the Town Clerk in Chester, VT or at the Structures Section of the Agency of Transportation’s office in Montpelier, VT. Electronic copies are also available online at:

https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/vtrans/external/Projects/Structures/12B580
https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/vtrans/external/Projects/Structures/16B002

2019 Town Newsletter Summer Edition

8/9/2019

The 2019 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

"Tiny Chester is Worth a Visit!"

8/9/2019

The Town of Chester was featured in an article in the Boston Globe on April 17, 2019. The article highlights the many reasons why people should visit Chester, like places to stay, places to eat, and things to do. Please see here to view the article- The word is out: Tiny Chester is worth a visit

Chester Development Fund Policy

8/9/2019

At their May 16, 2018 Select Board meeting, the Select Board 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 their properties. Property owners who live in this area may apply for either a mini loan, grant or combination thereof for assistance in conducting a variety of improvements to their property. These can include, but are not limited to, facade improvements, painting or tree planting and maintenance. Grants will be considered for up to $500.00 each and loans are available for up to $1,000.00 each. Total funds available are limited and applications will be reviewed upon receipt. More information and the application is available at the Town Hall or by downloading it here- Mini Grant Loan Application

Salvage Yard Ordinance

8/9/2019

On July 3, 2018, the Selectboard for the Town of Chester adopted an Ordinance for Regulating Outdoor Storage of Junk and Junk Vehicles. To view a complete copy of the adopted Ordinance for Regulating Outdoor Storage of June and Junk Vehicles please see here- Salvage Yard Ordinance

Feasibility Study Results

8/9/2019

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.

Feasibility 1
Feasibility 2
Feasibility 3
Feasibility 4

Feasibility 5
Feasibility 6
Feasibility 7

Unclaimed Property in Chester

8/9/2019

The State of Vermont Treasurer's Office Unclaimed Property Division holds unclaimed property from forgotten bank accounts, mutual funds, uncashed checks, contents of safe deposit boxes, and more. This property is waiting to be claimed by its rightful owners. The list of unclaimed property for Chester can be found here- Unclaimed Property. The Unclaimed Property Division can be contacted by calling (800) 642-6200, or by visiting www.vermonttreasurer.gov.

Town of Chester Receives Grant for $800,000

8/9/2019

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. The goals are to eliminate gaps in the sidewalk system, provide a pedestrian crossing at the railroad, and reconfigure the intersection at Coach Road as well as the infamous "triangle." These developments will be the first of the major projects stemming from the Town's new Master Plan. For additional information, please contact Julie Hance at 875-2173 or email julie.hance@chestervt.gov.

The Town of Chester's latest efforts in building the Master Plan for the Village Center can be viewed by clicking here: Rediscovering Chester

<<Previous

Chester.... Best Small Town in VT

Chester Seeks Town Health Officer

CAFC Thanks the Community

Town of Chester Employment Opportunity

CAFC Kicks off Annual Appeal

Open Elective Offices for 2020

2020 U. S. Census Roll-out and Hiring Begins!

Town Manager Search

Vote YES on November 5th!

Open House at the Chester Andover Family Center

END OF THE SESSION MESSAGE FROM MONTPELIER

Reasons to Visit Chester

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Message From Montpelier

Chester Town Plan Revisions

Vermont Historical Society's New Publication

Alternatives Presentation Meeting 8/29/19

Regional Concerns Meeting 8/29/19

2019 Town Newsletter Summer Edition

"Tiny Chester is Worth a Visit!"

Chester Development Fund Policy

Salvage Yard Ordinance

Feasibility Study Results

Unclaimed Property in Chester

Town of Chester Receives Grant for $800,000

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