Stowe City Council on Jan. 8 approved a package of procurement ordinances and land‑use items moved from committee and adopted an ordinance creating a Citizens Environmental Commission.

Council adopted Ordinance 2026‑001 (site plan and variances for 816 Seasons Road) after discussion at the planning committee and a public presentation by the applicant. The council also approved a series of vendor and service contracts — including an off‑site backup contract with Aetna Plus (2026‑003) and multiple Fox Den Golf Course resale and supply contracts — that were presented in committee and advanced to the council agenda. Most procurement measures were adopted on suspension of rules by recorded roll call votes.

The council also adopted Ordinance 2026‑025 establishing an Environmental Commission to advise the mayor and council and to promote environmental education; that ordinance passed on the council floor with one recorded dissent (Councilmember Coffey voted no).

Why it matters: the procurement approvals keep routine city operations, public safety and parks/golf concessions running; the site plan decision includes a wetland setback variance that required Army Corps mitigation; the new environmental commission creates a formal advisory body the city intends to use to pursue sustainability projects and grant opportunities.

What passed (selected items):
- 2026‑001 — Resolution granting site plan approval and variances for 816 Seasons Road (motion to adopt carried; council adopted after suspension of rules).
- 2026‑003 — Ordinance authorizing interim contract with Aetna Plus for Office‑365 backup/disaster recovery (moved and adopted by roll call).
- A bundle of procurement ordinances authorizing contracts for Routeware (fleet routing software), multiple golf‑course resale and supply vendors (Coca‑Cola, Acushnet/Titleist, TaylorMade, US Foods, etc.), AllScapes (grass abatement), and others were moved to and approved on the council agenda.
- 2026‑025 — Ordinance establishing chapter 185 (Environmental Commission); adopted by roll call (one dissent).

Votes and next steps: Each ordinance adopted on Jan. 8 will take effect in accordance with applicable rules or effective dates stated in the ordinances. Items that required additional readings (such as the Marsh Road rezoning) were advanced as first readings or scheduled for public hearing as required by code.

The council recorded roll call votes for adopted ordinances; individual roll call tallies and recorded votes are part of the official minutes and have been entered into the meeting record. The council also scheduled a public hearing for the Marsh Road rezoning request as part of the required rezoning process.