Wolcott Keeps Fulltime Sheriff, Cuts Busing to PA

by Amy Kolb Noyes

WOLCOTT – Voters in Wolcott added nearly $45,000 to the proposed $922,256 town budget in order to keep fulltime road patrol through the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, but stopped short of infusing $32,000 into the school budget to keep a bus for secondary students attending Peoples Academy.

The Select board had proposed cutting the road patrol budget to $80,000 for coverage from 4 p.m. until 8 a.m., and relying on default daytime coverage by the Vermont State Police. Instead, voters opted for the continuity, and presumed reliability, of a single law enforcement outfit.

During the school district portion of the meeting, Robert Harris introduced a motion to add $32,000 to the $3,619,988 K-12 school budget. That would have covered the cost of two secondary busses. Currently, Wolcott provides one bus for secondary students attending Peoples Academy. School Board Chair Belinda Clegg explained that bus is full and a second bus might be needed, if busing were provided next year. Instead, the school board decided to cut the PA bus from the budget, citing an increased budget due to a large number of secondary students moving into town for which Wolcott will have to pay tuition. Clegg said busing is the only discretionary item in the secondary school budget for Wolcott.

Clegg further explained parents of Lamoille Union Middle and High School students have complained of the inequity of the town sending a bus to PA but not to LUHS. Other receiving schools, including Craftsbury Academy, Hazen Union and Stowe, all provide busing for Wolcott students. School Director Amy Davidson said the Wolcott School Board approached the Morristown School Board to see if it might provide busing to PA, but was not well received. She added she is hopeful Morristown will find it worthwhile to bus in Wolcott students once the impact of not having a bus is realized.

In the end, the amendment was voted down 79 to 57 and the school budget passed as presented by a show of hands.

Also during the school district meeting, voters authorized the school board to expend up to $50,000 from the Building Escrow Account to cover unexpected tuition bill-back charges. The Morristown School District back-billed Wolcott for expenses above its stated Peoples Academy middle and high school tuition cost for the last school year.

Clegg was re-elected to her three-year school director term. Trevor Putvain beat out Marquis Houle for a two-year school board term, 77 to 38. In town elections, there were three crowded races for Select board. In the first runoff Ryan Bjerke, with 75 votes, earned a two-year term by beating out Kurt Billings (20), Curtis Archer (18) and Mark Drew (17). In the second race for a two-year term, it took three rounds of voting for one candidate to win a majority. In the end, Mark Drew beat our Kurt Billings; Curtis Archer, who was dropped as the lowest vote-getter after the second round of voting; and Lucien Gravel, who removed himself from the running after the second round of voting. Gravel, Billings and Archer faced off again for the three-year Select board term. Again there was no clear winner in the first round of voting, and Archer dropped out of the running. The second round of votes gave a clear victory to Billings, 77 to 33 over Gravel.

The tightest race of the day was for Lister, where Jamie Archer challenged Tom Martin. The first round of voting had Martin up by one, 58 to 57, but because two ballots were cast for an undeclared candidate, Martin did not win a majority. In the second round of voting, 116 ballots were cast, but only 113 voters had checked in and out on the checklist, so that round of voting was thrown out. In the third round, Archer won 56 to 53.

Rounding out the elections, Bob Bovat was re-elected Constable; Amy Noyes was re-elected Auditor; Bradley Allen was re-elected Town Agent to Deed Real Estate, Town Agent to Prosecute and Defend Suits and Cemetery Commissioner; Linda Shaw was elected Library Trustee and John Randall Pratt was re-elected Grand Juror.

One appropriation was turned down out of $16,267 in requests from organizations. Voters chose not to fund a $500 request from Teen Challenge, Vermont because it is a faith-based organization. All other articles passed including $3,000 to start a reserve fund for general town building maintenance and doubling the veterans’ exemption on property tax appraisals from $10,000 to $20,000.

Waterville Approves Budgets Quickly

by Mickey Smith

It only took 45 minutes for the voters in Waterville to elect officers and approve their $264,357 town budget; and after a fifteen-minute coffee and doughnut break, it took about the same amount of time to approve the school budget of $1,292,410 and elect a new board member.

The town budget took a large jump because the decision was made last June to add $11,000 to the budget for the renovation work on the Town Hall. Incumbent Jay Marsh was re-elected to the Select board.

In the school meeting, Becky Pemberthy won a tight race over Karl Fandrich, who was running for the first time. Pemberthy, a former member of the elementary board, was elected to replace Beth Lafountain, 31-25.

About 60 people attended the meeting and Town Clerk Nancy LaRose said that was a fairly normal crowd for the meeting.

VEC to Buy Local Wind Power

by Amy Kolb Noyes

JOHNSON – Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. (VEC) will be purchasing half the wind power generated at the wind farm being constructed in Sheffield. Last week VEC announced it reached agreement with First Wind on behalf of its subsidiary, Vermont Wind, LLC, to buy 50 percent of the power and the renewable energy certificates (RECs) from the 40 megawatt Sheffield Wind project for the next 20 years.

“Our Co-op members have given VEC a clear message that we need to ensure that we can secure stable, long-term contracts along with carbon-free, low emission and local generation,” said Dave Hallquist, CEO. “This contract to purchase power from a local wind project meets all the requirements.” Hallquist added, “VEC is impressed with the work that First Wind has done in putting together this highly important source of renewable energy.”

VEC is a member-owned not-for-profit cooperative, and Vermont’s third largest electric utility. It serves approximately 34,000 members in rural Vermont, including about half of Lamoille County. First Wind is an independent North American wind energy company, based in Newton, MA. First Wind focuses exclusively on the development, ownership and operation of wind energy projects.

“We’re excited to be able to deliver clean renewable power made in Vermont to the citizens of Vermont – including the Northeast Kingdom,” said First Wind Vice President for Northeast Development, Matt Kearns. “Combined with our agreement with Burlington Electric, we’ve reached agreements to sell 90 percent of the power from the Sheffield project to local utilities. At a time of economic uncertainty, we’re working with these utilities to provide a stably priced source of power. This is an important step forward for the project.”

The project was granted a Certificate of Public Good by Vermont’s Public Service Board in 2007. The Vermont Supreme Court affirmed the PSB’s decision earlier this month.

“We are pleased that the Court has decided to affirm the VPSB’s decision to allow the permitting of the Sheffield Wind Project,” a First Wind spokesperson stated of the decision. “First Wind will continue to move forward with the project in accordance with the Certificate of Public Good granted for the project. We believe this project has the potential to bring significant economic and environmental benefits to the State and we look forward to continuing to work with the Town of Sheffield and the surrounding region to bring clean, wind energy to the people of Vermont.”

Stowe Voters Hang on to Rotary Barn

by Amy Kolb Noyes

STOWE – Town Meeting voters in Stowe opted not to sell, salvage or otherwise dispose of the 1839 building that was built as the Second Congregational Church, but has more recently been known as the Rotary Barn. The building was displaced several years ago and has since been sitting on wheels near Jackson Arena.

That was the only article voted down in Stowe on Tuesday. Also from the floor of the meeting, voters approved a $9,355,964 town budget, $656,140 in capital projects and $60,032 in appropriations to community service organizations. Town Clerk Alison Kaiser reported 251 of the town’s 3,819 registered voters, a six percent turnout, participated in Town Meeting.

Eight hundred fifty-three voters, or a 22% turnout, cast Australian ballots on Tuesday. Those voters passed a $9,557,225 school budget 470 votes to 379. All of the candidates on Stowe’s ballot ran unopposed. They include incumbent Moderator Leighton Detora; incumbent Selectmen Francis “Paco” Aumand (2-year term) and Norman Williams (3-year term); incumbent School Director Don
Post (3-year term); new School Director Terrence Dwyer (2-year term); incumbent Lister Ellen Thorndike; incumbent Auditor Joyce Lawrence and incumbent Constable Leigh Tabor, Sr.

Spirited Debate by Morristown Passes Budgets

by Mickey Smith

Starting at 9:18, Moderator Dave Polow took to the podium and ran through a number of announcements, as did Town Clerk Mary Ann Wilson. They were followed by state Representatives Shap Smith and Peter Peltz in addressing the crowd that sprinkled the many seats set out in PA’s Copley Gym. Speaker of the House Smith ended by entreating the crowd “to keep their eye on the good things” in this hard time. He said he believes as a result of these times we will have a better Vermont 20 years from now.

Next, Selectboard Chair Shaun Bryer gave an address about community service predicated on the example of Richard “Dick” Sargent, to whom this year’s Town Report was dedicated. He expanded on the famous quotation of President Kennedy and asked all who volunteered for their communities to make a show of hands. He then asked those who had not raised their hands to consider what they might do…

At this time in the meeting as the school board took the platform and Chair Judy Geer began a budget overview, only about 175 voters were checked in.

It took voters until about 3 p.m., but in the end the residents of Morristown approved a town budget of $4,693,201... an increase of $4,250 from what the selectboard had proposed going into the meeting. Also passing was the $12,246,400 school budget, 453-284 by an Australian ballot vote.

Two attempts were made to cut the town budget, Alex Garven (who ran the Fourth of July committee last year) suggested fundraising and the desire to cut back on afternoon activities for the festivities would mean they could cut the town's donation to the committee by $4,000.

There was concern that, without a replacement lined up for Garven, the money should remain in the budget to give the new committee the opportunity to form the event as they would want.

The other attempt was proposed by Cathy Voyer, who suggested in light of hard economic times, the town should not give an annual 3% raise to town employees. This also failed.

The only money cut from the budget was $750 to support Teen Challenge... a faith-based substance abuse program in Johnson. The concern over this program was because it was faith-based and the decision was made that it was not appropriate for the town to be given to a religiously-based organization.

After a day of attempts at whittling and trimming the budget, there was a request to add money to the Lamoille Food Share appropriation. The local food shelf had requested $1,000, nevertheless, voters decided, due to increased need at the food shelf, to raise that amount to $6,000.

Town Clerk Mary Ann Wilson said this passed unanimously and offered a warm feeling on which to end the meeting.

The town portion of the meeting was held second in order this year in the annual rotation with the school portion. This year was the first year the school budget was able to be discussed at the meeting. Because the meeting was held second last year, only a handful of people stayed around for that opportunity.

This year, though, the annual School District Meeting was scheduled first and Moderator David Polow said there was a lot more discussion about the budget.

According to the entrance checklist, 218 people attended the meeting (about 6% of the registered voters). The Austalian ballot items turned out 769 voters (about 22%).

In the Australian ballot races, David Yacovone defeated challenger Michael “Min” Cote 396-358 for a three-year term. Brian Kellogg was unopposed in his re-election bid for two-year selectman, as were Judy Geer and Peter Jones, who were retained on the school board.

Spirited Debate by Morristown Passes Budgets

by Mickey Smith

At this time in the meeting as the school board took the platform and Chair Judy Geer began a budget overview, only about 175 voters were checked in.

There was concern that, without a replacement lined up for Garven, the money should remain in the budget to give the new committee the opportunity to form the event as they would want.

The other attempt was proposed by Cathy Voyer, who suggested in light of hard economic times, the town should not give an annual 3% raise to town employees. This also failed.

Town Clerk Mary Ann Wilson said this passed unanimously and offered a warm feeling on which to end the meeting.

This year, though, the annual School District Meeting was scheduled first and Moderator David Polow said there was a lot more discussion about the budget.

According to the entrance checklist, 218 people attended the meeting (about 6% of the registered voters). The Austalian ballot items turned out 769 voters (about 22%).

Incumbents Upset in Johnson

by Mickey Smith

In races for both the Select board and school board, the incumbents were upset by challenges to their seats.

Doug Molde defeated Brad Reed for a three-year seat on the Selectboard, while Christopher Poshpeck defeated Casey Romero for a three-year term on the elementary school board. Franklin “Rocky” Hooper was re-elected unopposed to the Select board, as was Richard West III to the elementary school board. Diana Osborn was re-elected to serve as Johnson's representative on the Lamoille Union District school board.

Both the town's $1,765,315 budget (up 3.7 percent over last year) and the school's $3,521,879 (up 1.1% from last year) were passed.

The town did turn down a $500 request from Teen Challenge, a faith-based home for at risk youth, as well as a proposal to sell the former Talc Mill property.

The town portion of the meeting adjourned at about noon, and after a one-hour lunch break voters got back together to discuss the school portion of the meeting. The day was gaveled to a close shortly after 2 p.m. The crowd of 161 registered voters was fairly average judged by recent turnouts.

Hyde Park Voters Wanted New, Not Used!

By Amy Kolb Noyes

Voters in Hyde Park enjoyed ample parking, cushioned seats and improved acoustics this Town Meeting Day, as the annual meeting was relocated to the auditorium at Lamoille Union High School from the traditional location in the elementary school gym. With concession and information booths in the hall and childcare provided in a classroom, it was all business inside the auditorium.

Moderator Graham Govoni was elected to lead the meeting for his second year. The day started out with the annual School District Meeting where voters passed a $3,161,567.55 elementary school budget, up about 4% from the current budget, by a vote of 135 to 40, with one ballot spoiled. Voters expressed a desire to have more student test score information available prior to Town Meeting in the future.

Hyde Park elects several officers by Australian ballot. There were no surprises there on Tuesday as there were no contested races. There were three races where no candidates appeared on the ballot. Unfortunately, no write-in candidates drew the 21 votes needed to be elected. Therefore, the School Board will need to appoint two school directors, one for a one-year term and one for a two-year term. The selectboard will need to appoint a lister for a one-year term.

Those re-elected on Tuesday include Allen Cusson to his three-year selectboard term, Duncan Nash to his two-year selectboard seat, Kalee Roberts to a two-year school director’s term, John Eisenhardt to a two-year seat on the Lamoille Union High School District #18 Board of Directors, and Harold Bailey as the Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District Supervisor.

The entire slate of listers was up for election, Mike Quimby did not run for his expired term and Deanna Judkins and Chasity Fagnant had been appointed to fill out unexpired terms. Gary Anderson ran unopposed for a two-year lister term and Chasity Fagnant was elected to the three-year seat.

The second half of the meeting addressed town business, including election of the following officers: Collector of Delinquent Taxes, Marvin Locke; Town and Grand Jurors, Ed French and Jim Mahoney; Town Agent, Ed French; Cemetery Commissioner, Judith Lanphear; and Library Trustees, Connie Page and Sharon Anderson.

All articles passed as presented, with the exception of Article 8. That article requested $225,000, to be financed over five years, for the purchase of a used pumper truck for the Hyde Park Fire Department. The article was amended to allow up to $325,000 to purchase a new pumper truck, and was passed as amended.

Among the other items of business, Hyde Park voters approved returning to a four-installment system of property tax payments. In recent years Hyde Park had been collecting property taxes three times a year. In the coming year, taxes will be collected on or before August 17, 2009; November 16, 2009; February 15, 2010; and May 17, 2010.

Elmore Cuts Contingency Student Funds

ELMORE – About 100 Elmore voters and interested folks crowded into the Town Hall where 109 chairs had been set up.

Led by last year’s moderator Jon Gailmor, (who was soon re-elected) announcements were made and Representatives Peter Peltz and Shap Smith spoke to their constituents. Peter kept his remarks quite short commenting on the pleasure of serving with Shap, who is now Speaker of the House. He also mentioned his work on the Education Committee and an important education task force working on new policies that should show up in law by the end of the biennium, though not likely this year. Speaker Smith discussed the state budgeting situation, his optimism for the future and advised the crowd, as he did earlier at the Morristown meeting, to focus on the good things that are happening. He also highlighted the importance of the recently passed bill in response to the Brooke Bennett tragedy of last year. That’s a “big deal,” he said, and called it the best law of its kind in the U.S. Shap also wanted voters to know that he is keeping the lines of communication open between the House and the administration and between both parties. He said the real Montpelier is not completely as it might appear by reading or watching the media. To paraphrase him, Smith said, all parties know they differ and must come to some agreement at the end of the day.

Jon Gailmor then went through the floor elections – all uncontested. Whit Hartt won the spot opened by Selectman Bob West who resigned earlier this winter. Bob Burley won the three-year term left by Michael Boudreau who also retired from the job. All other positions were filled by returning incumbents. No one was found to fill the position of Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Manager, as incumbent Marc Cote declined the job, his wife, Diane told the crowd. The election process was notable for its humor and every elected official was asked to give a brief biography or job description. Each drew a chuckle topped by re-elected Cemetery Commissioner James Morris, who seemed ready when he was asked, “how are things going at the cemetery? Quickly he quipped, “They’re dying to get in!”

Discussion next popped up on Article 7, the appropriations article for all the local agencies. Voter Peter Wright proposed increasing Meals On Wheels’ requested money from $250 to $750. However, MOW board member Alan Deuso explained Meals didn’t need more money than they had asked for. As that discussion tapered down, a motion was made to add $250 to Lamoille Community Food Share’s appropriation. After lengthy process-related discussion all the appropriations passed including $250 more for Food Share on a final show of hands of 43 Yes, 38 Nay.

Elmore voters approved all their articles, including increasing a property tax exemption from $10,000 to $40,000 for veterans, but cut their school budget by $50,000

through a motion made by Stuart Weppler. Town Clerk Sharon Draper and Elmore’s Warren Miller both said about a half hour of discussion on the school budget centered on a policy of budgeting for six “contingency students.” Voters learned that enough money for Elmore to cope with six students who might enter the system in any given year was budgeted. Apparently, in hard economic times, voters felt this was not the best way to go.

After breaking for lunch, the Elmore Town Meeting reconvened and ended at about two o’clock.

Eden Cuts LCPC and NCAL read

by Mickey Smith

The town and school budgets passed in Eden, but not before voters decided to turn down appropriations to the Lamoille County Planning Commission and North Country Animal League and pared the Select board budget. Voters questioned the practices and the services they receive from both LCPC and NCAL before eliminating the appropriations.

Eden re-elected Ricky Morin to the school board and Amy Fitzgerald defeated Shirley Mason, 54-13, for school director.

The town portion of the meeting ran until a little after 11 a.m. Along with passing a $661,750 town budget (down $27,018 from the proposed figure), the town also decided to increase the veterans' exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 of appraised property value.

The school portion of the meeting began at 1 p.m. and ran until about 3 p.m. During the course of that meeting, the school budget of $2,313,195 was approved and the voters agreed to a creating a reserve fund. They also approved an additional appropriation of $123,250 for funding roof repairs.

A crowd of about 120 people was considered average attendance for the meeting.

Cambridge Voters in Approving Mood

by Katherine Quimby Johnson

The 203 Cambridge voters who attended the traditional Tuesday Town Meeting had questions, but in the end all issues voted from the floor passed. These included transferring $75,000 from the Cambridge Elementary Fund balance into the Transportation Fund (the remaining $70,000 was included in the general school budget), a vote to exempt the Cambridge Historical Society from payment of property tax on the former Sweet property on Main Street in Jeffersonville, and the purchase of a town truck and excavator for a sum not to exceed $314,000, an amount amended from the sum printed in the Town Report.

After the meeting opened with a prayer by Rev. Craig Benson and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Gary Arleth, moderator Jerry Cole announced a change in the law governing the discussion of articles to be voted by Australian ballot. According to the office of the Vermont Secretary of State, any articles other than those governing the election of individuals can now be discussed from the floor. In Cambridge, the ruling affects the elementary school and secondary school budgets. However, when the time came to cover the issue, a vote by show of hands indicated that the majority of those present did not want to discuss the school budgets.

The subject of delinquent taxes provoked one of the longer discussions of the day, and began with questions about the reports of the auditors and other town officers. Jane Porter, who is Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and Collector of Delinquent Taxes, reported that $53,000 in delinquent taxes have been received for this year to date, decreasing the total amount of delinquent taxes from the $461,787 listed in the town report. Porter also said that a tax sale is scheduled for April that will bring in $108,000 and another one in the summer will bring in $105,000.

Larry Wyckoff asked, “Do the Selectmen have a set of guidelines on how long delinquent taxes can go on?” Selectboard Chair Bernie Juskiewicz said, “Hopefully we’re going to collect everything prior to 2008. The selectboard has talked about this. Hopefully we’ll get the majority of this cleaned up by November.” However, Juskiewicz admitted that there was no set procedure, noting that there are circumstances such as bankruptcy that prevent the town from being able to collect. Chuck Hogan said, “If people owe taxes, then they should pay their taxes. It needs to be collected and in the town coffers.”

When the time came to elect a tax collector, Hogan was nominated to run against the incumbent, Porter. Joel Page said that there is some benefit to the town of having the town receive the fees collected. Hogan said that if he were elected he would follow Morristown’s procedures of proceeding to a tax sale after a total of 50 days of tax delinquency. Because he is not a town employee, he said he would keep the fees that normally accrue to the position, but “the amount of taxes that the town receives should be more.” Porter said, “We will hold tax sales if they go past more than two years that they owe.” When the ballots were counted, the total was 139 for Porter and 64 for Hogan.

While the votes were being counted, David Fay of the Cambridge Conservation Commission, announced that Nick Alden and Kolby Hanley had received scholarships to attend the 2009 Green Mountain Conservation Camp. That award is sponsored by the Conservation Commission, thanks to the generosity of G. Joseph Rogers and family.

During the discussion of the school reports, the two major issues were the condition of the building and teacher contracts. Howard Cary asked about mold being found in the new addition. School Board chair Jan Sander said that there has been an issue, although the mold found is not one that is known to be health-threatening, and she explained that the board is trying to work the issue out with the architect through mediation. “We are working toward a permanent solution,” Sander said.

Juskiewicz opened the issue of teacher compensation by saying, “There is a concern that the school board is negotiating this year. The Town has made some cuts in salaries. I think that the school board should be aware of this in negotiations and teachers should pay more in health insurance or take less of a pay increase.” Sander said that while she was limited in what she could say because negotiations were under way, “We are working toward a goal of economic restraint and financial restraint.”

A number of new town officers were elected: Bill Sander received a three-year term on the Selectboard; Terry McCuin became Agent to Convey Real Estate, and Jeff Warren was named Cemetery Commissioner. Although Nanci Lepsic had announced her decision to leave the Cambridge Elementary School Board, her name was the only one placed in nomination, so she was re-elected to a two-year term. Jeff Coslett was also re-elected to the elementary board, while Bill Sander was re-elected to the Lamoille Union board.

Cambridge voters recognized the achievements of several fellow citizens. At the opening of the meeting, Juskiewicz asked that those present recognize “two outstanding citizens.” David Severance, named Vermont Emergency Manager of the Year, and Larry Wyckoff, the Senior Firefighter of the Year, stood and received a round of applause. As the meeting drew to a close, Selectman Dana Sweet took the microphone to say, “We don’t give gold watches around here. It’s been a pleasure serving with Bernie for the last four years. I think we should give him a round of applause.” Sweet’s request was honored.

The meeting adjourned at 1:40, following a request that it begin promptly at 10:00 next year, rather than waiting for voters to get through the check-in line.

The vote tally after the polls closed showed that all school budgets

had passed, with the CES budget receiving 216 yes and 139 no votes.

The Lamoille Union vote was 653 to 634 and the Green Mountain Tech

Center vote was 713 to 380.

Belvidere Aproves Budgets, Re-elects Road Commissioner for 43^rd Year

by Mickey Smith

He doesn't know if he has it right yet, but the voters of Belvidere have decided to give Hugh Tallman a 43^rd chance to perfect the maintenance on their roads. Tallman was re-elected road commissioner at a meeting that also saw the town approving the town and school budgets, which were down about two percent.

The only contested office was for selectboard, where incumbent Ken Adams defeated former selectboard member Bill Samal. Angie Evans and Frieda Myers were both re-elected to the school board unopposed.

The one change in elected positions came when Olive McLean stepped down as collector of delinquent taxes. Sue Alexander was elected to replace her.

The meeting ran until about 2:30 p.m., with a break taken for lunch, provided by the sixth graders who are raising money for their annual class trip.

Turnout was a little down from recent years, about 35 people attended. Myrna Tallman said in the past few years attendance has been about 45 people.

Hyde Park Bank Robbed

by Mickey Smith

At about 2:20 p.m., on Friday, February 27, a masked man entered the Hyde Park branch of the Union Bank and demanded cash from one of the two tellers.

According to the Vermont State Police, a male brandishing a pistol entered the bank wearing a dark colored ski mask and yellow trimmed snowboard-style goggles. He demanded one of the two tellers in the bank give him cash from the drawer and told the other to get on the floor.

The gunman had the teller who gave him the cash get on the floor as well, before leaving the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The subject was described as a male of unknown race due to his skin being covered by clothing and the goggles. He is thought to be about 5'9” and of slender build. He attempted to disguise his voice by muffling and lowering it.

The Lamoille County Sheriff's Department was the first on the scene and began the investigation with assistance from the Morristown and Stowe Police departments. Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux Jr. requested assistance from the Vermont State Police, and detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation from the St. Albans and Middlesex barracks responded. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was also called in to assist with the case.

According to a press release from the Vermont State Police, surveillance footage is being reviewed. Anyone with any information or who might have been in the area of the Union Bank at the time of the robbery is asked to call the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department at 888-3502 or the St. Albans barracks of the Vermont State Police at (802) 524-5993.

A cash reward has been offered by the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved in the incident.