John Reid

A Special Town Meeting has been called for October 15 (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodbury Elementary School Gymnasium to consider whether town officials should be elected by Australian Ballot.

VTDigger: Thousands of acres conserved in Woodbury, where family plans to sustainably log for generations

Hello neighbors, I hope this finds you well and that you are enjoying the end of summer. I want to you to let you know of some changes to the Town Office hours. We are changing the hours of operation in the hopes to serve those better who commute to work everyday. The new hours will be: Monday - 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday - 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday - 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday - 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. If this new schedule does not work for the greater public we can always go back. If you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you for your attention to this matter and please have a great day!   Graham Christie   Town Clerk

Dear Woodbury Residents, At Town Meeting in February of this year the voters of Woodbury approved a budget of $1,503,680. Consequently, it is the duty of the The Woodbury Selectboard, with the help and guidance of the Woodbury Town Treasurer, to set a tax rate that will raise those funds. The FY27 tax rate is 0.9719 which is an increase from last year’s tax rate of 0.7860. The reasons for the increase are many, and have been discussed at Town Meeting as well as at regular Selectboard meetings. However, we think it’s important to communicate the reasons for a larger budget and thus an increased tax rate. The factors that drove our decision to settle on the established tax rate increase are as follows: 1. In 2024, the town decided to replace the oldest town plow truck. This truck is a crucial piece of equipment and we had anticipated spending $200,000. However, as equipment prices soared over the two years we found ourselves in the position of having to purchase the truck for $299,617. 2. Estimates for the Valley Lake Culvert project came in higher than previous preliminary estimates. Preliminary estimates led the Selectboard to budget $75,000 as the town match to the state grant. Towns pay a percentage of the total cost of the project as their town match to the grant. Higher than expected estimates resulted in a higher town match at $98,000. 3. The 2023 flood resulted in the washout of two town bridges and an award from FEMA to replace the bridges. Estimates for the work came in significantly lower than the FEMA award. The work was completed and guidance for how to deal with the excess funds was sought. FEMA representatives suggested that the town could use the funds for disaster mitigation projects and directed the town toward a list of appropriate projects. Consequently, the Selectboard contracted with a roofing company to replace the roofs on the Town Hall and the Town Office. We also identified a number of compromised and undersized culverts that needed to be replaced. This work was accomplished with the used of the excess FEMA funds. Some months later, FEMA “de-obligated” these excess funds. The town had to repay the funds of which approximately $105,000 had already been spent on the roofing and culvert work. 4. The Town directly benefits from having high-functioning town employees and elected officials. The Selectboard has been aware for some time that most employees were being paid less than their counterparts in other Vermont towns. The Selectboard has sought to increase compensation so as to be competitive with these other towns to attract and retain qualified candidates. 5. The Town of Woodbury saw an increase in insurance cost this year as a result of the 2023 flood claim for damage to the Fire Department building. The Selectboard is very aware of the difficulties facing Vermonters in the current economic climate. We underwent a line by line review of the 2027 budget, reduced where we could, and made every effort to set a tax rate that will allow the town to function effectively while avoiding a budget shortfall. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, and thank you for your continued support in making Woodbury a great place to live.   The Woodbury Selectboard

To Area Residents, Public WiFi is available once again at the RT 14 Town Office parking area. The WiFi network name is different than before, and for user security now requires a password. The network name is: WoodburyGuest Password is - including caps & spaces: Reading in 2024! A reminder that login information about the town's public WiFi at Town Office and Town Hall is available on the website at http://woodburyvt.org > Our Town > Public Wifi.   Skip Marchesani   Wayne Lappen   Woodbury Voluntary IT Support

The culvert replacement project on Valley Lake Road in Woodbury village has been completed. The road is now open to traffic. - Michael Gray

Construction for the replacement of the Kingsbury Brook culvert in Woodbury Village, as you first enter Valley Lake Road from Rte. 14, is scheduled to begin on August 10th. Work on the replacement is expected to last for 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. This section of road will be closed off to traffic during this period of work. It will be closed off from Rte. 14 on the east side of Kingsbury Brook and closed off at the food shelf on the west side. A detour will be set up to provide access to the school, library and homes on Valley Lake Road. The suggested detour route will be clearly marked at every turn and twist of the roads leading to the village buildings on the other side of the culvert. The suggested detour route is to turn onto Foster Hill Road, off Rte. 14 in South Woodbury (right across from the town office and church), continue on the paved section of Foster Hill Road, turn right onto Dog Pond Road and continue on Dog Pond Road to Wheeler Hill Road. Continue on Wheeler Hill Road until it meets Valley Lake Road and then turn right. You'll soon see the school and library. Those town residents that know the gravel roads can get to the west side of the closed section anyway they wish. Please feel free to call Michael Gray 802-456-1983 with any questions or concerns.

WATERBURY, VT – The annual rabies vaccine bait drop will begin on Aug. 1 to continue combating rising rabies rates in Vermont wildlife. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, in coordination with the Vermont departments of Health and Fish & Wildlife, will conduct the drops. The August rabies bait distribution will deliver approximately 915,700 rabies vaccine baits in areas of Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington Counties, as well as parts of New York and New Hampshire. “Vaccinating wildlife against rabies remains an important tool to help protect people and animals, and slow the spread of rabies in Vermont,” said Natalie Kwit, DVM, state public health veterinarian with the Health Department. Rabies activity has risen sharply in recent years, with 66 rabid animals reported in both 2024 and 2025 – more than double the previous 10-year annual average number of cases. So far this year, 36 rabies cases have been reported – including 15 raccoons, nine skunks, eight bats and three foxes. Nearly every county in Vermont has been affected, with many cases concentrated in Orleans County. Officials are working to understand why more animals are testing positive for rabies, and surveillance efforts to monitor the increase are ongoing. Over the next month, baited vaccine – in the form of a sweet-smelling oral bait that is attractive for raccoons and skunks to eat – will be distributed across 10 counties by airplane in rural areas, helicopter in suburban areas, and by hand in residential areas. Find more information, including a full list of towns where bait will be distributed, on the Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop Fact Sheet on the Health Department’s website. Rabies is a viral disease that is deadly if people don't receive medical care before symptoms start. It is primarily spread through the bite of an infected animal. In Vermont, the disease is most often detected in raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats and woodchucks – but pets and livestock can also get rabies if they have not been vaccinated. Human rabies cases in the U.S. are most commonly caused by contact with bats. How to protect yourself and your pets: •  If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound well with soap and water and contact your health care provider. •  Do not touch or handle wild or stray animals, even young ones. Learn more about what to do when you encounter a wild animal from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. •  Call the Vermont Rabies Hotline (1-800-4-RABIES) if you see a sick or strangely behaving animal, are bitten by a wild animal, or wake up to a bat in your sleeping area. •  Contact local law enforcement regarding concerns about stray pets. •  Make sure pets and livestock are up to date on vaccination. •  Keep pets indoors at night and supervise them when outside. •  During the rabies bait drop, leave vaccine baits where they are and call the Rabies Hotline if a pet or child eats or brings one home. Learn more about rabies in Vermont – visit www.HealthVermont.gov/rabies.

On May 20, 2026, the Mountain View Union Elementary School District budget PASSED: Mountain View Union Elementary School District results: Yes: 361 No: 251 -0- On April 7, 2026, the Mountain View Union Elementary School District budget did not pass: Mountain View Union Elementary School District results: Yes: 282 No: 315 On March 3, 2026, the Mountain View Union Elementary School District budget did not pass: Yes: 377 No: 389 Blank/Spoiled: 7

Voting on the Mountain View Union School District annual budget will be held Wednesday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Woodbury Town Hall. An informational meeting about the budget will be held Thursday, May 14, 6 p.m., at Hardwick Elementary School. More Information