Highgate meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Highgate DRB closes subdivision and variance hearings; Library Trustees approve September budget

The Highgate Development Review Board closed three public hearings on Oct. 8, 2026 — one for a 3-lot subdivision on US Route 7 and two for variance requests on a Highgate Road property — and now has 45 days to issue written decisions. Each closure was unanimous. The records provided do not include those written decisions.

Development Review Board: hearings closed, decisions pending

The three hearings closed by unanimous vote: the Lothian 3-lot subdivision, a variance request from Brian Bessette, and a variance request from Donald Bessette. The board also entered and exited a deliberative session, both by unanimous vote, and approved the minutes of its Sept. 10, 2026 meeting unanimously before adjourning.

Closing a hearing is not a decision on the request. Under the timeline stated in the minutes, the board has 45 days from the closings to issue its written decisions.

Library Trustees approve September budget and warrants

At its Oct. 5, 2026 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the September meeting minutes, the September budget and warrants, and the September director's report. The summary does not list dollar amounts for the budget or warrants.

Members also discussed potential funding for new flooring and ramp updates, noting that any such requests must be approved by the Selectboard. The records provided do not show that any request has been made to the Selectboard or acted on.

Recreation Commission approves August and September reports

The Recreation Commission, also meeting Oct. 5, approved the secretary's report from the Aug. 31, 2026 meeting and the treasurer's report, both unanimously. The commission then entered executive session, exited it, and adjourned, each by unanimous vote. No details of the executive session are included in the minutes summary.

Agendas set, outcomes not yet recorded

Several meetings fell within the past two weeks but are represented in the records only by their agendas, with minutes not yet published. No outcomes are known for these:

• **Selectboard, Oct. 15:** discussion and possible adoption of a Hazard Mitigation Plan; decisions on a personnel policy update and on pumphouse heat; a K&K Brew Mamas vendor request; and a request regarding trapping on Town land. Updates from the Town Administrator, Road Commissioner, and Recreation Department were also listed.
• **MVSD Board, Oct. 13:** a merger study update on proportional representation and board representatives; new graduation requirements and schedules for MVU; a dedication of the MVU Library to Jason Barney; first readings of Policy C 1 (Education Records) and Policy C 2 (Student Alcohol and Drugs); Policy E 1 Title I, Part A Parent and Family Engagement; and action on MVU boilers.
• **MVSD Finance Committee, Oct. 8:** planning and schedule for the FY28 budget, plus future topics including department and athletics budgets, budget communication, and tax rates.
• **MVSD Facility Committee, Oct. 12:** MVU boilers, MVU Roof Phase IV, the Highgate White Building, Swanton Town/Rowell Land, Highgate Town Wastewater, and FY28 capital planning.

Coming up

• **Monday, Oct. 19 — Recreation Commission.** Agenda items include a budget discussion, a Buildings and Grounds report, and a parks update. A separate notice for the same date lists only procedural meeting details.
• **Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Planning Commission.** The commission is scheduled to discuss the Capital Improvement Plan, focusing on the Recreation Department and the Highgate Volunteer Fire Department.
• **Monday, Nov. 2 — Library Trustees.** A meeting is scheduled; the agenda provided contains only procedural details, with no items listed.

All meetings listed are public. Agendas and minutes are posted by the Town of Highgate and the Missisquoi Valley School District; readers should consult those official documents for the full record.

Highgate Selectboard accepts $133,333.33 federal grant for firefighter breathing equipment

The Highgate Selectboard voted Oct. 1 to accept a $133,333.33 federal grant for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for the Highgate Volunteer Fire Department, with a $6,666.66 local match. The board authorized the Town Administrator to accept the grant, according to the meeting minutes.

Fire department and town business

Along with the grant, the Selectboard approved the minutes of its Sept. 17, 2026 meeting and approved check warrants. The board also approved a motion to pave Platt Road, with no date certain set.

Rescue squad asked to supply financial and response data

At a joint meeting Sept. 30, the Highgate and Swanton Selectboards questioned Missisquoi Valley Rescue (MVR) directors about vehicle maintenance, supply shortages and staffing. According to the minutes, the boards approved the designation of Kyle Lothian as a non-voting facilitator. MVR agreed to provide financial reports quarterly starting January 2026, to provide response times and financial data within seven days, and to give written responses to all board questions within three weeks.

Wastewater project comment period ends Oct. 14

The Selectboard held a public hearing Oct. 1 on the environmental impact of the Highgate Village Wastewater Project. A separate notice describes the hearing as covering a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a proposed wastewater collection and treatment system for Highgate Center properties, with a 30-day public comment period open through Oct. 14, 2026. The project as described includes three contracts: a new wastewater disposal system of up to 20,000 gallons per day on the Wright Property; a new Septic Tank Effluent Pumping (STEP) system; and gravity sewer service connecting homes to STEP tanks. Minutes of that hearing have not been published.

Development Review Board closes three hearings

On Oct. 8 the Development Review Board unanimously approved the minutes of its Sept. 10, 2026 meeting and unanimously closed three hearings: a 3-lot subdivision on US Route 7 (Lothian), and variance requests from Brian Bessette and Donald Bessette for a property on Highgate Road. The board entered and exited a deliberative session and adjourned, all by unanimous votes. It has 45 days to issue written decisions.

Library trustees

The Library Trustees approved the September meeting minutes, the September budget and warrants, and the September director's report on Oct. 5. Members discussed potential funding for new flooring and ramp updates, noting that any such requests must be approved by the Selectboard.

Recreation Commission

The Recreation Commission was scheduled to meet Oct. 5 at 6:45 p.m. at the Town Office. Its agenda listed a Trunk or Treat update, painting parking lot lines, overflow storage, a walking path, and an executive session on personnel regarding a Zamboni. Minutes have not been published.

School district

Several Missisquoi Valley School District bodies met or were scheduled to meet. The Merger Committee #17 held its first meeting Sept. 29 under Vermont Act 170, with an agenda covering election of a chair, adoption of Robert's Rules of Order, an Act 170 overview and a proportional representation determination; minutes have not been published. The Champlain Valley North CESA board met Oct. 1 to approve minutes from its Sept. 3 inaugural meeting and review draft bylaws. The MVSD Finance Committee met Oct. 8 on FY28 budget planning, and the School Board Facility Committee met Oct. 12 on items including MVU boilers, MVU Roof Phase IV, the Highgate White Building and Highgate Town Wastewater. Minutes for these meetings have not been published.

Coming up

• **Oct. 13: MVSD Board** — a merger study update on proportional representation and board representatives, new graduation requirements and schedules for MVU, first readings of policies on education records and student alcohol and drugs, a Title I parent and family engagement policy, a vote on dedicating the MVU Library to Jason Barney, and action on MVU boilers.
• **Oct. 19: Highgate Recreation Commission** — the agenda contains only procedural boilerplate for the meeting time and location; no discussion items or decisions are listed.