MONTPELIER—The Vermont Department for Children and Families will appeal to the Environmental Court to overturn the Newbury Development Review Board’s decision to deny the proposed Covered Bridge juvenile detention facility.
DCF Commissioner Sean Brown told legislators during a hearing on Nov. 19 of the Joint Legislative Child Protection Oversight Committee. DCF will appeal the decision alongside Becket Family of Services, the private contractors that would operate the facility under its Vermont Permanency Initiative subsidiary.
“We are disappointed in that decision, and while it is a legal document and any challenge to it will be a legal process, we believe there is basis for appeal,” Brown said.

BRADFORD—Selectboard members will start reviewing a proposed 2022 budget in earnest at their meeting on Nov. 23.
The board, which typically meets on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, moved its next meeting to Tuesday, Nov. 23 so as not to conflict with the Thanksgiving holiday.
A preliminary draft of the budget prepared for the meeting on Nov. 11 shows more than $2.5 million in proposed municipal spending. There are earmarks for the town-operated summer camp which was cancelled the last two years due to COVID-19 and inadequate staffing.

WEST FAIRLEE—Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, D-Bradford, led an evening Town Hall forum hosted by the selectboard at the West Fairlee Community Building on Nov. 10.
She reviewed several issues relevant to West Fairlee, such as broadband expansion, roads and bridges, housing, in light of the American Relief Plan Act and infrastructure funds.
“Sarah Copeland Hanzas likes to touch base with the selectboard every year and have the opportunity for a more broad discussion with folks,” selectboard chair Delsie Hoyt said to get the forum underway.

FAIRLEE—A massive water leak in the municipal water system was repaired last weekend.
Selectboard chair Peter Berger said on Sunday that the leak was in an old section of pipeline feeding the cemetery across from the system’s pump house on Route 5 north of the village.
On the afternoon of Nov. 5, sensors alerted the water systems operators that there was a problem. When the leak was discovered, water was pouring out at a rate of 200 gallons per minute.

NORTH HAVERHILL—There will be no requirement for players and fans to wear masks during basketball games at Haverhill schools this winter.
On Monday night, the school board voted 4-3 not to impose a mask mandate at basketball games as several months of indoor competitive sports near. The vote does not change current masking protocols inside Haverhill schools for academics, but board members asked the superintendent to once again survey parents and community members about masking in advance of their December meeting.