Ethan Lawrence-Essex Selectboard

03/05/2026

I will post topics and packets as they come to the board, it is Important for everyone to weigh in along the way as decisions are made.

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 "𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜" 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎?

The voters of the Town of Essex on March 3 chose to advise the Selectboard to continue the overall progress in implementing a new municipal complex at 80-90 Upper Main Street as well as to complete the public infrastructure planning and design for the site.

𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝟾𝟶-𝟿𝟶 𝚄𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝙼𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚂𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚝

After the purchase of the 32-acre 80-90 Upper Main Street, the Town completed a 7-month planning process in March 2025, with the Selectboard acceptance of the Upper Main Street Planning project report.

The planning process accessed future town needs and opportunities for the site, including the potential to house new Town offices, a fire station, community space, and expanded programming space for library, senior, recreational activities, and more. Located in the town center area, it will support development and a vibrant downtown envisioned in the 2024 Town Plan and the ETC Next (Essex Town Center) plan.

Possibilities for the new municipal site:
🚶‍➡️public space for walking trails
🏠private development could support community needs such as housing and commercial space
🏫town offices and services located within town borders
🚒replacing the small and outdated fire station and library

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝙽𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝟾𝟶-𝟿𝟶 𝚄𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝙼𝚊𝚒𝚗?

In the near future, the Selectboard will consider accepting the $500,000 grant received from the Northern Borders Regional Commission (NBRC) for the planning and design of the public water, sewer, roadway, and stormwater infrastructure.

The Selectboard will also begin to lay out a draft timeline for site development. Stay tuned to the project webpage for more details about the project’s proposed phasing, schedule, budget, and how you can be involved.

https://www.essexvt.gov/1268/MUNICIPAL-COMPLEX---80-90-UPPER-MAIN-STR

03/04/2026

Preliminary (unofficial) results can be found on the Town's website at https://www.essexvt.gov/659/Voting-Results

The quick look:
John Sonnick - Moderator
3 year Selectboard seats - Meg Zimmerman, Andy Watts
1 year Selectboard seat - Ethan Lawrence
All articles passed.

03/04/2026

Thank you for trusting me to serve the Town of Essex. It has been a pleasure to serve the residents of this town and I look forward to serving you for another year!

03/02/2026

Join me tonight at the Informational Town Meeting at Essex Middle school, visit with our boards and committees from 5-7 and enjoy some soup! At 7 listen in and ask questions on our presentation about the 2026 town meeting day ballot! Poles open at 7 am and don’t close until 7 pm, I will see you there!

02/19/2026

Join me and Ken For Essex Selectboard at Uncommon Coffee on Saturday 2/21/26 from 11:00 to 1:00PM for a chat about our Selectboard Campaigns. Bring your questions, I’ll bring answers.

02/10/2026

I am excited to announce that I am running for a 1 year term on the Essex Selectboard. I have had the pleasure of serving the Town of Essex the last 4 years and I look forward to serving another year, please reach out with any questions.

https://linktr.ee/townmeetingtvTown Meeting TV is a free speech forum and the ideas expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the Town Meeting TV Tru...

02/01/2024

https://www.essexreporter.com/news/town-of-essex-selectboard-approves-16-1-million-budget-now-on-to-voters-to-decide/article_f66430d2-c069-11ee-9196-93f261b7ca37.html

ESSEX TOWN — The Town of Essex selectboard hosted a public hearing Monday night to discuss its fiscal year 2025 municipal budget. Following the hearing, the board approved the budget

04/09/2023

The Arbor Day Foundation has awarded the Tree City USA designation to the Town of Essex in recognition of its commitment to urban forestry. By earning the Tree City USA designation, Essex joins over 3,400 communities across the country that are committed to maintaining and enhancing their urban forests. These communities have recognized the significant benefits of trees, including clean air and water, reduced energy use, and improved quality of life.

Achieving an official first-year designation, Essex has been recognized for meeting the foundation's core standards of sound urban forestry management, including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and conducting an annual Arbor Day celebration. Essex is one of only 10 municipalities in the state to achieve this recognition! https://vtcommunityforestry.org/arbor-day/awards/national-recognition-programs

Achieving this recognition was a project of the Essex Conservation and Trails Committee, a citizen volunteer organization, and Essex Town staff. The award serves as a testament to Essex's dedication to preserving and enhancing its natural resources, which are essential for maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Since 1976, it has recognized communities across the country for their efforts in maintaining and improving their urban forests through the Tree City USA program. For more information on the Tree City USA program, please visit the Arbor Day Foundation's website at https://www.arborday.org/

03/08/2023

Thank you to those who came out to vote yesterday and today! I look forward to serving the town for another 3 years!

Preliminary election results can be found on the Town of Essex website at https://www.essexvt.org/659/Voting-Results

All articles passed.

Elected seats:
Moderator: John Sonnick
Selectboard: Andy Watts and Ethan Lawrence

01/13/2023

𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗! 📸 ❤️

Do you have a beautiful old barn photo or a snapshot of your kayak adventure on Indian Brook? Maybe you just have a great selfie of you and a friend sipping coffee while on a break from shopping? Who doesn't love a gorgeous sunset or a photo of wildlife?

Comment below with your photos and you might be surprised to see them in the annual town report or as a part of other posts and communications for Essex!

Just comment with your photo below. Be sure to tell us where the photo was taken. You may also email your photos to [email protected]. Let's see what you got! 👍
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