Editor s Note
This story was written by Jen Lannom, a student at the University of Vermont and a reporter for the Community News Service â a student-powered partnership with local community newspapers.
With the two-time rejection of a divisive merger and the COVID pandemic still affecting daily life, politics in Essex has had an engaging year. Active political life has spurred newcomers to run for office and, in some cases, win.
Both Tracey Delphia and Elizabeth Cady defeated incumbents in recent selectboard and school board elections, respectively, and the
Reporter caught up with them afterwards to discuss their campaign strategies.
TRACEY DELPHIA
Rob Donnelly They spent years trying to make it work. They even moved in together, so to speak, sharing staff and consolidating departments in hopes that it would confirm their compatibility. But some relationships aren t meant to be, and after a messy, century-plus entanglement, the Town of Essex and the Village of Essex Junction are heading toward a split. The potential breakup of Vermont s second-largest community comes on the heels of two votes this spring in which residents were asked to merge their distinct but overlapping municipalities. Villagers, whose taxes would have dropped, voted overwhelmingly in favor, while town-outside-the-village residents, whose taxes would have increased, voted overwhelmingly against. Both times, the merger failed by fewer than 30 votes.
Before turning to a lengthy agenda, the Essex Selectboard went through its annual reorganization process Monday night by electing within itself a chair, vice chair, and clerk.
Selectman Patrick Murray made the lone motion heard for the chair position â that being for Andy Watts.
âYikes,â Watts said with a chuckle after Murrayâs motion was unanimously approved and Unified Manager Evan Teich passed off direction of the meeting. But Watts then went immediately into action and heard a motion, second, and unanimous approval of Murray being vice chair for the second-straight year.
In her first meeting on the selectboard, Tracey Delphia was elected as the boardâs clerk through another unanimous vote after Watts explained that the role has historically gone to the newest member.
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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting a surge in new cases. There does not seem to be a single reason, but the new variants of the novel coronavirus are likely playing some role. Cases were elevated yesterday also, but today s 251 new cases is an all-time high for Vermont. There was also one more death for a statewide total of 224. Health Commissioner Mark Levine said at Friday’s press conference that we are meeting our primary public health goal of reducing the number of deaths and severe illness, and protecting those among us who are most vulnerable. He said, however, that the high number of new cases reported today is concerning, and yet another reminder that we still must do everything we can to keep this virus from spreading.Finally, beginning at 8:15 am on Monday, March 29, Vermonters age 50 and older will be able to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 190,000 Vermonters have now received at