[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6103895,"mediaKeyId","2792853-c6ae58116563b6707747a2badc590105","parentId",2792853,"title","Brownell Library directors, trustees outline staffing, safety and sustainability concerns","audioSeconds",1425,"startMs",1170000,"endMs",2595000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2792853-c6ae58116563b6707747a2badc590105&start=1170&end=2595","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2792853-c6ae58116563b6707747a2badc590105/thumbnail_1170000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6103895/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Brownell-Library-directors-trustees-outline-staffing-safety-and-sustainability-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103895-aae197f487149af347ef4a6b0fc2d701/orig.mp4?Expires=1771212162&Signature=UknNzb7z41NWaj1G25-8g7dzP5FHVs4T8sZrLuq~aoccHQrZU77R8QxJ2Esg4dDcA0tDYKuX305eZvJNB1y4g8-DVGQ1dDln72AcW1iPw7f6Apgeg4G6L2Fy5jV1Uq6NB0ha1E~l-1b6fjxng4rOL21YqaT4sTukvioVkfv14tZSsrE6~xfKsRRzV0F2ds3h~1BwUzTtBm9zKNid5kxSjXqO01j13Ik7b~fgUiVCNLA~MX3eSzGPJntmZA3RL230iwXZVdT4Jd0KMFKVe4oCXrGmGzWE30ih9rhaj-AcnOHhBhHbjaZFpRBxkSlV05nSZNtkLdFEFCpdEBKFeOPLEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Essex Junction City, VT","date","2025-03-27T13:28:32.14Z","article","Brownell Library Director Wendy Hisco and Brownell trustee chair Jean Grant briefed the Junction City Council on March 26 about building pressures, staffing challenges, patron needs and planned policy work.

Hisco said construction at nearby Lincoln Hall has increased demands on the library’s meeting spaces and parking, and that staff have seen more patrons in crisis recently. “We’ve had to call emergency services, more regularly,” Hisco said, adding that outreach workers have been an important resource. She described efforts to manage the building and its services while staff cover additional duties and absences.

Hisco noted concern about possible federal funding reductions to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and described the importance of state Department of Libraries grants and interlibrary loan networks. She said the library is preparing for uncertainty and monitoring possible impacts on services that rely on those funds.

The trustees described work on a sustainability initiative that includes environmental stewardship, social equity and economic feasibility. Jean Grant summarized the scope of the sustainability plan and noted new programs and passive offerings funded by local donors: “The youth department added a Winnie Bell Maker Space, which offers opportunities for youth and families to explore STEM concepts,” Grant said. She also described popular community swaps and other outreach that reduce waste and build community.

The council and trustees discussed safety, training and on-site response. Hisco said the library is coordinating with Essex Police for staff training and that officers will bring training (replica) firearms to help staff become familiar with safe handling and response protocols. “Most of our staff have not had any like, have never interacted with firearms in any stretch whatsoever,” she said, describing a plan to increase staff comfort with what an unattended firearm might look like and how to secure a scene until police arrive.

Grant and Hisco also described operational impacts from a July 2024 state law (S.220, Act 150) that expanded privacy protections for youth. “In July 2024, a new law went into effect…that created new privacy protections for youth age 12 to 18,” Grant said, and staff have adjusted registration and checkout procedures accordingly.

Trustees and council members discussed whether internships or dedicated social-service staff could relieve pressures. Hisco said internships require substantial staff time to supervise and that outreach workers who are already experienced often provide a more immediate match for patrons’ needs. She noted Burlington has hired a full-time social worker based in the library and that models differ across municipalities.

Throughout the discussion council members expressed appreciation for the library’s services and asked the trustees to keep the council informed as the library analyzes a recent community survey. The trustees requested continued support for training, outreach and funding, and highlighted staff turnover driven in part by low local wages.

The council did not adopt any formal policy changes during the discussion; the item served as an informational presentation and trustees update.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Essex Junction City Council - 3/26/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Brownell Library Director Wendy Hisco and Brownell trustee chair Jean Grant briefed the Junction City Council on March 26 about building pressures, staffing challenges, patron needs and planned policy work.","taxTitle","Essex Junction City, Chittenden County, Vermont","taxId",68791,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6103900,"Champlain Water District outlines system scope, usage trends and capital approach",1119,75000,1194000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2792853-c6ae58116563b6707747a2badc590105&start=75&end=1194","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2792853-c6ae58116563b6707747a2badc590105/thumbnail_75000.jpg","/articles/6103900/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Champlain-Water-District-outlines-system-scope-usage-trends-and-capital-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103900-89e2ea7aff088d23f4fe976641b31822/orig.mp4?Expires=1771212162&Signature=L3TKDozpe4QUA~Mof3xUqm5WQJ4H7Ru6K5fV8Dc0rF-8Y7iY~sxhjys0J5dZmJmnMpA84ZOEZ57IFLsVXHsll4Ezi1X199Dl~XN2ieMtAK82KB1f5Hs1vxtRMcnD7m8tmEJ0y2We5RQuvZIge9LaiNw2Z0M2kmkXWetl~3kTcPB3yfMzIU3L~am5lWcr9qqxLzEO8LJQQE0uoMM3OIdo6fAHolZCPHNkteWymlwXHW8EMem2u8vbD-S1B3Zyvy7cp7uFq3Z1BI5Tb3-PQ0041QiI9UmJR8ECt6mblauS1F1x0PYz3iixHAwetBlYACagv-aXKh5GdWtBXcFddngjjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Joe Duncan, general manager of Champlain Water District, told the Junction City Council on March 26 that the district is a wholesale water supplier that draws from Shelburne Bay in Lake Champlain, treats water at a plant on Queen City Park Road in South Burlington and delivers it to nine member municipalities, including Essex Junction.

Duncan said Champlain Water District has provided treated water since the early 1970s and that Essex Junction is the district’s largest municipal customer by volume primarily because of GlobalFoundries’ industrial use. “They use around 3,000,000 gallons a day,” Duncan said. He said Essex Junction’s municipal demand is about “0.6 to 0.7[ ]000,000 gallons a day,” and that combined with GlobalFoundries brings system flow in the area to roughly 4,000,000 gallons per day.

Duncan placed those numbers in the context of a multi-decade pattern: removing GlobalFoundries/IBM industrial usage, the district has sold roughly 6,000,000 gallons per day for about 30 years. He described conservation, shifting business patterns and more-efficient buildings as contributors to that long-term flat demand. “One of the challenges that does come with running a water system is trying to encourage conservation,” he said.

On infrastructure and resiliency, Duncan said the district has prioritized capital reinvestment to avoid sudden rate shocks. He explained the district’s policy to place surpluses into a capital improvements plan and to seek moderate, steady rate increases to fund reinvestment. “Our goal is to have a 3 to 5% increase each year in water rates that allows us to reinvest in our infrastructure,” he said, adding that steady adjustments prevent the large spikes the district experienced in the 1990s.

Duncan described recent projects designed to increase redundancy, citing a new pump station near Route 15 that improves reliability between Essex Junction and Essex Town. He also noted growing costs for insurance and cybersecurity coverage and said the board has begun competitive bidding for non-health insurance and is continuing to evaluate options for benefits and property coverage.

Council members thanked Duncan for the presentation and noted they had reviewed the district’s budget materials. The meeting included an invitation to the public to tour the Champlain Water District plant and an announcement of the district’s annual meeting on April 1 at 403 Queen City Park Road.

The council did not take any formal action on rates, contracts or regulations during the presentation; the item was an informational briefing and question period.","Joe Duncan, general manager of Champlain Water District, briefed the Junction City Council on the district's service area, customer water use (including large industrial users), long-term conservation trends and the utility's approach to capital planning and rate changes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6103890,"Junction City Council unanimously renews city manager contract through 2027",188,3675000,3863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2792853-c6ae58116563b6707747a2badc590105&start=3675&end=3863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2792853-c6ae58116563b6707747a2badc590105/thumbnail_3675000.jpg","/articles/6103890/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Junction-City-Council-unanimously-renews-city-manager-contract-through-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103890-c173ff4c71bb6bfafd646465a4cd6bab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771212162&Signature=kdveSCTgUtdAknmS-d3LxZ9uTPBy1GxW8Zg~MBEVswXXBAjYiKEsT0MTv~7NT-iaimNbl1aR3hwnhmaWwSxkSg5R9SUhGIBeH-6n-AKGkU0Tura0BsaqKUA6BfbCKMTKkVoQQDGBdnNn6vqHKAGJy-KbAMLIGmcinGPSkJZRpTQoaKLHbkcJTaa3lvYGnf4JR33mZQpHQVXlBXa0wCywKcj3fMGTXZ2tKIbd~ZxM11OMW3ooJiTho0OvL8jrlJQkS7TOVZVmyeLLzEfvbW8Ft8S~56G3~gzqTwczzj7esWeRT00PSgC3oX0~P0PF0Pv3Sf2WSbpX-0dLDHx1-PRQcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Junction City Council voted unanimously on March 26 to renew the employment agreement for City Manager Regina Mahoney through Sept. 14, 2027.

Council member Marcus moved the renewal motion, and it was seconded by Council member Elaine. After a brief call for discussion the council voted. “All those in favor, say aye,” the chair said; members responded and the chair announced, “Motion passes unanimously.”

The vote concluded the agenda item, and council members thanked Mahoney for her work. The transcript does not include an itemized roll-call or numeric vote tally in the record; the motion was recorded as passing unanimously without individual recorded yes/no votes.","The Junction City Council voted unanimously on March 26 to renew the employment agreement for City Manager Regina Mahoney through Sept. 14, 2027. The motion was moved and seconded during the meeting and passed without recorded opposition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brownell Library directors, trustees outline staffing, safety and sustainability concerns

Champlain Water District outlines system scope, usage trends and capital approach

Junction City Council unanimously renews city manager contract through 2027