Community Questions and Priorities
1/20/2025
Selectboard Candidate Forum
Bernie Paquette • Browns Trace, Jericho
Posted to: Jericho
The theme of this set of questions is Road Safety — Infrastructure and data-driven processes for Slower and Safer Streets and Safe Walkways / Bikeways.
Jericho has extensive traffic data, a Vermont-endorsed traffic safety toolbox, and clear Town Plan language prioritizing speed reduction and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Yet, residents continue to experience unsafe speeds, and the town appears to struggle with determining effective measures.
We need a plan* for physical and perceptual speed control measures to influence self-governed driving behavior. *Plan = detailed, rigid "how" (specific steps, resources, and timelines).
Question 3 (set of sub questions)
As a Selectboard member:
1. What specific governance mechanisms or decision-making processes would you support to move Jericho beyond this impasse and toward the implementation of effective traffic-calming measures?
(For example: a standing traffic-calming policy, a volunteer or advisory task force, or adoption of a formal prioritization framework - See my notes on Criteria for Evaluating Neighborhood Proposals.)
2. Which categories of road-safety infrastructure would you be willing to consider for Jericho neighborhoods, including physical and perceptual speed controls such as raised crosswalks, lane narrowing, curb extensions, median islands, and pavement markings?
3. What perceptual or passive measures, like pavement markings, would you put in place? These are usually inexpensive maintenance items. (Ex. Government studies have concluded that reduced lane width via painted fog lines, giving a perspective narrowing of streets, can be effective in slowing traffic.)
4. Do you support results-based, data-driven evaluation to measure whether implemented safety features actually reduce speeds and improve safety—and to adjust or replace measures that do not perform as intended?
5. What role should the Selectboard play in setting direction versus managing details? Specifically, would you support the Board committing to clearly defined safety outcomes and delegating technical design, prioritization, and implementation to staff, experts, or a structured process?
6. Would you be willing to take a lead role within the Select Board to bring forth (Slower and Safer Streets) proposals to the entire board? (Including plans for a formal prioritization framework)
7. Do you support directing sheriff traffic-enforcement hours and locations using documented traffic-study data—so enforcement complements road design, improves compliance, and increases the cost-effectiveness of public spending?
If you do not support one or more of these approaches, please briefly explain why.
- A pedestrian struck by a vehicle going 30 mph has a 40% chance of being killed.
- A person hit at 50 mph is almost certain to die.
- Our streets are getting faster, not safer.
- If we do nothing, these trends will continue—and more lives will be lost.
- Let's work together to reclaim our roads—for pedestrians, for cyclists, for children, for all of us.
It's time for Slow and Safe Streets—before another tragedy strikes.
Read the full report, including recommendations (proven methodology) by the State of Vermont and Federal agencies, at https://jerichovermont.blogspot.com/2025/06/slower-and-safer-streets-why-what-and.html
Dialogue is hard work, takes lots of time, but is essential to our town democracy. Dialogue brings us together even when we have different experiences, views, and live in different parts of town. Dialogue brings out the best solutions, diminishes apathy and angst.
I wish to provide a platform for “a chorus of voices”.
Change doesn't always start with a grand gesture. Sometimes, it starts with a conversation in your neighborhood.
- Bernie
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 2: Managing growth while retaining our values.
Many residents support growth if it is deliberate and well planned. While there is not a broad opposition to change, there is a strong interest in ensuring that growth respects Jericho's rural character, historic identity, natural communities, and sense of place.
Beyond current zoning and regulations, how will Jericho ensure that growth respects Jericho's rural character, historic identity, natural communities, and sense of place?
Candidate for Selectboard Joe Flynn: Overall, the permitting process, both state and local, does an excellent job of ensuring that any kind of growth is controlled and well vetted. You only have to go through the development process once to know how expensive and laborious it can be. Hearings give everyone ample time to be involved, and with the state controlling wastewater, stormwater, wetlands, and, if Act 250 is involved, then we have historic preservation, prime ag, and environmental assessments. Keeping the character of the town is a balance also, how do we bring drug stores, more restaurants, and small businesses here, all the while not changing the character? The last one is the most difficult and most divided. Can zoning regulations help? Yes, but they can also hinder, and those answers will come from future town plans and input from those who choose to be involved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: Selectboard Candidate Forum
Chris Brown • Candidate for Selectboard, Jericho
| Election |
In response to Bernie Paquette's Question 2: How can Jericho grow and retain its character?
Many people like Jericho as it is and feel uncertain about change. I understand this. However, sometimes a little bit of change is needed to ensure that the overall qualities of Jericho that we value remain the same: the rural character, historic identity and vibrant family neighborhoods. Our aging population and declining school enrollment are evidence that we need some new growth. It would be great if our older residents could afford to downsize and stay in town. It would be great if more young families could afford to move to Jericho. It would also be great if we had a few more shops and restaurants.
How can we balance the need for new development with our desire to protect the natural environment we live in and keep Jericho from getting too big?
The Town Plan offers a map for how we can do this. Focusing new development in our village centers will allow for new residential and commercial growth while balancing our desire to protect the environment. Adding to our municipal infrastructure will allow for this development. New infrastructure could serve both existing and new users. Working with the State's new CHIP (Community Housing Infrastructure Program) program will allow Jericho to undertake this municipal infrastructure work in an affordable manner. Our updated zoning regulations will ensure that new development fits in with Jericho's character. We can create mixed-use neighborhoods where families can live, shop, and eat within walking distance of their friends and relatives.
This does not mean we cannot have new development in the rural parts of Jericho. Rather, it helps us understand how we can build new housing while limiting the environmental impacts of growth. We can cluster new houses, we can build pocket developments of smaller houses, and at the same time, we can preserve open space, protect our forests, and maintain farmland.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 1 Jericho's Future
What is your vision for Jericho’s future—both in the near term (1–5 years) and longer term (10–15 years)?
Joe Flynn Candidate for Selectboard
One to five isn’t a very long time, and creating significant change in that time is tough. Being in the land development profession, we have housing development projects that take that long to get designed, permitted, and approved, and that doesn’t include the actual build-out. So, in the short term, let’s work towards setting the basis of enabling those who want to come to Jericho. That would include active measures by the Planning Commission and the Selectboard to promote housing.
The good news is that it is already happening! The PC and SB are making a difference with some of the new zoning changes, responding to requests to deeply, and I stress deeply, invest and research how we improve septic to open real estate options for more housing in the village cores. So, let's continue to set the stage for the longer term and open avenues to bring families and businesses to Jericho.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 1: Jericho's Future
Chris Brown • Candidate for Selectboard, Jericho
I share the vision of Jericho's future that is laid out in the Town Plan. I would like to see Jericho maintain its beautiful rural character while embracing opportunities for new affordable housing and commercial growth so we continue to be a vibrant and welcoming community.
In the short term (1-5 years), I would like to implement the following suggestions to achieve these goals. I suggest that the Select Board, the Planning Commission, and the Town Planner work together to create a five-year action plan to implement the vision of the Town Plan.
While the Town Plan is great, it is largely visionary. An action plan would map out specific objectives to see this vision come to life. The PC and SB have begun to work together on a robust Capital Plan, and I would like to see this developed a lot further. This will help the Town better understand how to leverage opportunities in both the short and long term.
I believe a Town Manager would help complement the talents and efforts of the current Town Staff. This would not be to replace current staff, but rather to add new resources and expertise.
I would like to see the PC and SB work together to make a plan to capitalize on the State's new CHIP (Community Housing Infrastructure Program) program.
Finally, I would like to see the PC continue to work on zoning updates to foster new development that creates opportunities for growth while protecting the environment.
In the longer term (10-15 years), I would like to see the Town continue this momentum. Jericho will be well-situated by then to continue to balance new growth with preservation. I would like to see the grand list of tax revenue continue to grow to enhance our financial stability. New and existing infrastructure work will continue to be a priority, and with an increased grand list, Jericho will be able to better support the needs of our residents without undue tax burdens. I am excited about Jericho's future!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selectboard Candidate Forum
Jericho residents are invited to hear from candidates for Selectboard as they respond to a series of questions grounded in themes that consistently emerge in local community discourse.
Community Questions and Priorities are based on the following
Key Community Themes
Balancing Change and Stability
Many residents support growth if it is deliberate and well planned. While there is not a broad opposition to change, there is a strong interest in ensuring that growth respects Jericho’s rural character, historic identity, natural communities, and sense of place.
Affordability and Housing Diversity
There is growing concern that without additional housing options—particularly affordable and workforce housing—Jericho risks becoming accessible only to very high-income or aging populations. Interest in denser zoning and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) reflects a desire for a more economically diverse and intergenerational community.
Infrastructure as Both Enabler and Constraint
Infrastructure is seen by some as essential to supporting housing and community needs, while others are concerned about financial, environmental, and social costs. Road conditions, traffic safety, and pedestrian infrastructure (including sidewalks) are frequently raised issues.
Participation, Communication, and Transparency
Jericho has implemented multiple tools and methods for information-sharing, public engagement, and civic discourse.
Procurement, Capital Planning, and Governance Practices
Residents have expressed interest in clearer processes, stronger guidelines, and more consistent policies related to procurement and capital planning.
Implementation of the Town Plan
There is concern that actions necessary to achieve the goals outlined in the Town Plan are not being adequately addressed or prioritized.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jericho Selectboard Candidate
Joe Flynn • Candidate for Selectboard, Jericho
1/26/2026
| Election |
Town Meeting Re-imagined, through my observations, was a success, and the efforts of the committee continue to be fruitful and purposeful. Please keep it up. I also appreciate the parameters set by the Selectboard prior to opening the meeting, and Mr. Barrington continues to serve the community in a stellar manner. It was easy to see that the items covered in debate were both respectful and passionate, while remembering that we are still a small town. We live, work, and play next to each other, so we must continue to view issues as a whole rather than solely from an individual perspective. This is why I support the Australian Ballot option. While ample time and opportunity are afforded for discussion of town-wide issues through FPF, FB, Selectboard, and Planning Commission hearings, major items are ultimately decided by the community as a whole. The Selectboard's job is a difficult one. Much of how a town is run is governed by state statutes, but many decisions require weighing strong, well-intentioned, and often passionate viewpoints. Listening to all concerns and evaluating their impact on the entire town is the paramount responsibility Selectboard members face almost daily. Through FPF, some have asked where candidates stand on issues such as traffic, affordable housing, future development, and the environment. I stand where the town directs me, guided by constructive input that is fair to the community as a whole. The current Town Plan provides direction on these matters, and the Selectboard has made great strides toward achieving those goals. New sidewalks, Wastewater Committee, zoning changes, a complete Highway Department, and a new highway facility are just a few major initiatives advanced based on community input and decisions made in the best interest of the town. If elected, I would continue to listen carefully to all perspectives and render decisions that benefit the community as a whole. Your support on Town Meeting Day would be appreciated.
Joe Flynn
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select Board
My name is Chris Brown, and I am a candidate for the open seat on the Select Board. While working on the Planning Commission for the past eight years, I have heard over and over again about Jericho's need for affordable housing. I totally agree. It would be great if seniors living in town could afford to downsize and stay in the community. It would be great if young people could afford to buy a house in Jericho and raise their families here. Our aging population and declining school enrollment highlight how much we need new housing.
While we need new development for new housing, we also want to protect the natural environment we live in. Balancing these issues will be the key to ensuring that Jericho remains the beautiful and vibrant community we all love.
The Town Plan offers a map for how we can achieve these goals. Focusing new development in our village centers will allow for new residential and commercial growth while balancing our desire to protect the environment. Concentrated, mixed-use development creates walkable neighborhoods with a variety of housing options and conveniently-located shops, stores, and restaurants. With careful planning, the scale of these developments can be friendly and inviting.
This does not mean we cannot have new development in the rural parts of Jericho. Rather, it helps us understand how we can build new housing while limiting the environmental impacts of growth. We can cluster new houses, we can build pocket developments of smaller houses, and at the same time, we can preserve open space.
I know there are exciting opportunities ahead for Jericho! We can create opportunities for new development while preserving the rural character we all love. Most importantly, I believe we can achieve these goals affordably. I welcome the chance to talk to anyone who is interested. Please feel free to contact me directly, and I hope you will consider voting for me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jericho Selectboard Candidate
My closest friends and family asked why in the world I want to be on the selectboard? My reply is always because I want to be involved and know firsthand what is going on. Sitting on the sidelines and offering conjectures with few details rarely creates solutions, and creating solutions is much better than creating problems. This exact premise is abundantly clear regarding the $92,000 price tag on the Riverside septic evaluation.
I heard that Jericho was creating a task force for evaluating community septic systems in the village core areas. This is no surprise; it was in the town plan. Since my profession is bringing homes to Vermont, and it is my town, I asked to be on the committee, and was approved.
I will confess that when I first viewed the funds necessary to fulfill the town plan septic evaluation process, I was a bit shocked, but this is where sacrificing my evenings and participation made a difference. Between asking questions to the Town Planner, PC chair, and SB, I got answers that were not only justifiable but also well thought out and structured to ease repayment to the town if the community septic did not reach fruition. Details matter, every time!
That is why I want to serve the community, to know the details, to listen to the people, and make decisions based on their needs, wants, and desires. The tough part is not all those can be made, there is a balance to making our town livable, walkable, and affordable without being taxed into elite-hood. I ask for your support to keep me involved, and I will do my very best to remember that the SB represents everyone in the town!
Thank you, Joe Flynn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jericho Selectboard Candidate
As I think about running for the open seat on the selectboard, I ponder what I can bring to the table regarding my skill set, character, and points of view. Typically, I try to work a few hours Sunday morning at the office, mainly since it's quiet, but also the money helps, and there it is, the money helps. I remember from filling out Wayne Howe's term that I did have the pleasure of going through a budget season, and it was educational. As we discussed the impacts of adding line items and more costs to the taxpayers, the end values were typically made relevant to the cost of a pizza, and if giving up the pizza was tolerable, but what if it wasn't a pizza? What if was a prescription for the elderly couple? Or three months of the tax increase the fee for a kid playing soccer or hockey?
I know very well, since we started a family early, that the cost of a pizza was a consideration at one time, and making x=y at the end of the month did involve those 2 values left of the decimal point. Jericho is said to be a rich town, and I can vouch for that, but since I live across the road from The Good Shepard Lutheran, I also see a full parking lot and cars parked on Gary Irish's lawn every month for food assistance, and the line starts at 7:00 AM, so we also have residents struggling to eat. Now, doesn't that change your perspective on the term "the cost of a pizza"? I see that, and I can vividly remember when every dollar mattered. That's where I believe a selectboard member should remember that they serve the whole community.
Yes, the town is at a crossroads, and we have some incredible opportunities to move us towards those opportunities, but we need to be aware of all those impacted and what the cost-benefit will be, from renters scraping by to the million-dollar house. I'd like to think that I see all of that, and I want to serve the community in a balanced fashion that considers all the options and benefits to everyone.
Thanks, Joe Flynn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select Board
I am pleased to announce that I will be running for the open seat on the Select Board this year. I have been a Jericho resident for over 20 years, and I have been on the Planning Commission for the past eight years and on the Waste Water Task Force since its formation last summer. My three kids all attended JES, BRMS, and MMU, where they were not only educated but also nurtured. I have a deep appreciation for the people, places, and values that make up this community.
During my time on the Planning Commission, I have seen firsthand the hard work and dedication of the town staff and many volunteers who work countless hours to make Jericho the special place that it is. I was a part of the extensive outreach and public engagement process that led up to the updated 2024 Town Plan and saw our shared values come together into a robust plan for Jericho's future.
At the same time, the world around Jericho has changed. Property values have skyrocketed, construction costs have increased, and we are in the midst of a significant housing crisis. Our aging population and declining school enrollment highlight how much we need new housing. While we will need new development for housing, we also want to protect the natural environment we live in. Balancing these issues will be the key to ensuring that Jericho remains the beautiful and vibrant community we love.
The Town Plan offers a map for how we can meet these challenges, and I look forward to the opportunity to work on the Select Board to help realize these visions. I will share more of my thoughts on Jericho's future in the coming posts. I believe that public engagement is essential to successful town government and welcome the chance to hear from anyone who would like to discuss our town's future. Please feel free to contact me directly to share your ideas or concerns. I hope you will consider voting for me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jericho Selectboard Candidate
To all my fellow residents and taxpayers, I would like to announce that I will be running for the open selectboard position term of 1 year on Town Meeting Day.
While some may know who I am, to those who are either newer to the community or others whose path I have not had the pleasure of crossing, here is some background.
My wife and I moved to 272 VT Route 15 in 1991, in what was supposed be our starter home. 35 years later, we are still there and so happy that we never moved. We raised two wonderful kids in the community, and I have been involved in the community almost since the day we moved in. If it wasn't coaching soccer or hockey, it was starting the movement and design for the playing fields for Mills Riverside Park, serving on the Development Review Board, laying out soccer and lacrosse fields, volunteering at the high school to bring land surveying profession to the students, and a short stint on the selectboard to fill out Wayne Howe's term.
Overall, I like to believe that I am a fair-minded individual who keeps an open mind on about everything, but my wife may disagree with that one! I am a licensed land surveyor of 23 plus years and have served civil engineering companies since moving to Vermont in 1988 from very rural upstate New York.
The majority of my professional experience has been centered on bringing housing and community development to the people within Chittenden County. I love what I do for a living and have a passion for navigating the never-ending hurdles that both impede and protect our environment and communities. This experience does play well in the needs not just Jericho, but all of Vermont, and I would like to combine my energy for community service with the expertise of my profession to move our town forward in a manner that balances the need for housing, protects the environment and our small town culture, all the while being fair to all the taxpayers.
I would appreciate your support on Town Meeting day and thank you for your time!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select Board
Chris Brown • Candidate for Selectboard, Jericho
| Election 1/23/2026 |
A friend asked me recently why I was running for the Select Board. Here is what I said.
I am running for the open seat on the Select Board now because I feel like I have a solid understanding of our town as it is today: what people appreciate about the town, what goals they have for the future of Jericho, and how we can achieve these goals. I did not come to this understanding overnight. I have been on the Planning Commission for eight years, and I joined the Waste Water Task Force when it was formed last spring. Doing this work, I have spent a lot of time with other volunteers and Town Staff thinking about these issues. I have seen what the challenges are, and I have come to understand over time how we can work together to meet these challenges. I have not run for the Select Board before now because I haven't felt ready. I do now.
Here is what I have been hearing from friends and neighbors in town. People want more affordable housing. People are concerned about our aging population and declining school enrollment. People have said how important road safety is, both for bikers, walkers, and drivers. People value the rural character of Jericho, and they want to protect the environment we live in. People want Jericho to maintain its small-town feel. I share these concerns and goals and look forward to the opportunity to work on the Select Board to help ensure that Jericho remains a vibrant and welcoming community. I hope you will consider voting for me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
