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1. Does the town plow private roads?

Since 1970, the Town of Colchester has been involved in the practice of providing varying levels of winter road maintenance to a portion of the Town's 41 miles of privately owned roadways. The appropriateness of this practice has been discussed and voted on many times over the past 47 years.

An extensive study of plowing private roads was conducted by the Public Works Department in 1995. In 1997, in an attempt to minimize the risks to the Town for this practice, the voters of Colchester approved an amendment to the Town's Charter which enabled the Selectboard to establish a formal policy regarding the practice. To date, the Town has chosen to continue the practice and no formal policy has been established. After public input, the Selectboard will adopt a formal policy on this issue. In 2015, the Governance Committee made a recommendation to the Selectboard that a formalized private road policy be developed and the Charter language pertaining to this issue removed. More recently, an increasing number of citizens have expressed concerns over the fairness and equity in this practice, as roughly 34% of the Town's private roads receive winter maintenance while the remaining 66% do not.

The Colchester Selectboard will be discussing the snow/ice removal operations of 14 miles of the Town's 41 miles of private roads at a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the Outer Bay Conference room on the third floor of the Town Offices at 781 Blakely Road. The Selectboard will be considering whether to:

1. Continue with the status quo (provide winter maintenance to 14 miles of the 41 miles of private roads);
2. Discontinue winter operations on all private roads; or
3. Provide winter maintenance to all private roadways if they meet established Town standards and are converted to public roadways.

More information:

• Read a Brochure summarizing the Private Roads issue (PDF)
• Find all of our information at the Private Roads page.

2. How do I register to vote?

Voter registration is completed at the Town Clerks Office. See the Town Clerks section of the website for more information. Elections

3. When are taxes due?

Taxes are due in three installments:August 15th, November 15th, and March 15th. If the 15th falls on a weekend they are due on the following Monday. Property Taxes

4. Who do I speak with about my water/bill?

Water supply services in the Town of Colchester are provided by five distinct entities for water that are all separate from the Town. All water districts operate under different governmental structures, boards and bylaws.

You can find contact information and other details about the individual districts here - http://colchestervt.gov/502/Colchester-Water-Supply-Services

5. Where can I get my car seat fitted?

Contact Colchester Police (802-264-5555), Or Colchester Rescue (802-264-5590) to schedule an appointment for car seat fitting. Colchester Rescue

6. Who can remove a wild animal from my property?

Please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Damage Control at 802-223-8690.

7. Is the water quality safe at the beach?

Water quality is tested regularly. Call the Parks & Recreation Department at 802-264-5640 for updated information or see this page - Water Quality Test Results

8. Can we have a campfire at our house?

Yes, if it is not greater than 30 inches in diameter you do not need a permit. For a larger burn, please contact the Colchester Police Department at 802-264-5556. You can read Section 7-14 of the Code of Ordinances at the link below.
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9. Where can we get Great Escape or Six Flags tickets?

Discounted Great Escape and Six Flags New England tickets can be purchased through the Parks & Recreation Department. For more information, visit their webpage or call 802-264-5640. Please note: Cash or check are the only accepted forms of payment; credit cards are NOT accepted! visit their webpage

10. Where is the post office, and what is their phone number?

The U.S. Post Office is located at 218 Malletts Bay Avenue, and the phone number is 802-655-1376.

11. How do I register my dog?

Dog registration is completed through the Town Clerk's office. There is additional information on animal licenses in the Town Clerk section of the website. Animal Licensing

12. Does the Town pick up trash and recycling?

Colchester does not provide trash and recycling pick up. Residents and businesses can contract for private pick up or bring to Myers Recycling Center on Rathe Road in Colchester. Another option is the Solid Waste Districts numerous locations. Chittenden Solid Waste District

13. Is there a leash law?

Animals are required to be "under the control" of the owner (or a member of his/her immediate family or other agent) anywhere besides the owner's property; the exception is a recreation/bike path, which specifically requires a leash of up to 6 feet. In this context, "under the control" of the owner implies that the person exhibits control of the animal by command, and that the animal is prevented from "causing injury, damage, disturbance or annoyance to others." Leash Law / Animal Ordinances

14. What are the hours at the Town Offices?

Our office operating hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Passport requests can be made through the Town Clerks Office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

15. Who do I call about a dead animal in the road?

Call the Colchester Police Department on the non-emergency line 802-264-5556, for animals located in the road or public right of way.

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1. Is there another town or model in Vermont where this type of study has been done? Have we learned what to do and what not to do?

This is not the first time a storm water systems study has been conducted, but this is the first truly comprehensive program as far as integrating storm water and onsite systems. The Environmental Protection Agency is funding this as a demonstration project to see if the program will be successful.

2. There have been a lot of studies done by the University of Vermont and by the State over the years. Will you use any of those studies and reports for this program?

We plan to use all of the past and current studies, report and resources available to us for this effort. We have tapped into various other organizations and groups throughout the state to be sure we have all the information available to us allowing us to enhance our work.

3. How long will it take to complete the study?

The study has been designed to be conducted over 3 years. There will be 2 phases, the first phase is the evaluation phase. This began in April 2009 and will take 2 years to complete. The 2nd phase is the study phase, which we plan to begin in 2011 and finish in 2012. This phase will take 1 year to complete and will include the ribotyping work.

4. Will future Intergrated Water Resources Management meetings be taped so that they can be accessed by the public?

We hope to have a television or audio/visual crew here at each meeting to document our meetings so that the meetings can be archived for public use.

5. During the study are there any success criteria that the Environmental Protection Agency has established that the study must meet to continue receiving funding?

Colchester has been given a unique opportunity by the Environmental Protection Agency to be a test site for the study and we have been given a grant to fund the study. Because of the pilot nature of the program there are no specific requirements that we have to meet. We do have to report quarterly to the Environmental Protection Agency concerning our timeline and any budgeting issues that we may have and why.

6. Will you collect data on the current water quality condition of the lake and ground water in Colchester?

We will not be collecting data on the ground water in Colchester. We will also not be sampling other sections of the lake other than the beach areas and areas related to the impaired watersheds that the state has already identified.

7. Will you be testing the levels of chemical waste in addition to biological waste?

We are focused on biological waste and we will only be testing the bacterial levels in and around the water. The goal of the project is to identify areas that have high levels of pathogens that have the potential to become public health concerns.

8. Will you be sampling at Rossetti Beach?

Yes. We have been sampling at Rossetti Beach and we will continue to do so. We have a sampling program that runs independently of this project and we will use the data collected from those samplings to supplement this project, particularly with the DNA ribotyping.

9. Will your testing areas include all of the marina areas as well as public access areas where people swim?

Marinas and public access areas will be sampled. We will look at historical data to strategically locate the best areas to perform sample testing. We are unable to sample every stream in Colchester, but we will focus on areas where there is a heightened potential for contamination or public health concerns.

10. How will you locate the areas that have wastewater treatment systems and how will you determine if others need 1?

The town has substantial information on nearly every lot with a wastewater treatment system. If we are missing information, our field testing team will be in charge of locating areas that may be at high risk for contamination. We will use historical septic records to locate these areas and they will be supplemented with onsite field testing.

11. That would be the expected lifespan of an advanced onsite wastewater system like a mound system?

The soil quality, the system design, and the use and maintenance of the system will affect the lifespan of the system. In good conditions, a mound system could last 20 to 25 years. Regular inspections to find problems at an early stage will increase the lifespan and make repairs easy and inexpensive to fix.

12. Will you be assessing the locations and extent of impervious surfaces?

Yes. Assessing impervious surfaces is part of the study. We will be looking at where the storm water discharge locations and the condition of the water at the discharge sites.

13. What are the sources of sediment buildup because it also seems like a problem that needs to be addressed?

When it rains the water naturally permeates the ground but in areas where the ground is impervious the storm water flows along the ground sweeping up debris which is then deposited into the water.

14. How will you collaborate with future construction projects that occur during Environmental Protection Agency study to ensure that what they are doing does not interfere with the study process?

We have established an entire project planning team lead by the Town's Director of Planning and Zoning, the Town planner and the Town's Chief Financial Officer. It will be their responsibility to collaborate with the project leaders of the various construction projects to establish best practices and to ensure that our study will not be heavily impacted.

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1. Flood Information & Flood Insurance Information

https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/
http://floodready.vermont.gov/

2. How long will it take for my building permit to be approved?

If all information on the application is complete, usually 7 to 10 days.

3. Why do I have to wait 15 days before beginning work if I have a permit?

The 15 days is an "appeals" period that provides notice to neighbors so they may review pending changes.

4. What is a "Certificate of Occupancy", and when do I need to get one?

A "Certificate of Occupancy" shows that your construction has been completed properly within the parameters of the building permit. You should close out every building permit with a final inspection by the building inspector, including unoccupied items such as permanent signs, sheds, pools and fences. It is the last step of the permitting process, and is included in the permit fee if the work is completed within one year.

5. Why do I need a permit for something as minor as a shed or fence?

To be sure no structures are placed over septic tanks or leach fields and to ensure compliance with property set-backs. For fences, we also review for allowable materials and height limitations.

6. How much will the building permit cost?

The cost varies; some items have a specific fee. The general rule is $8 per $1000 of construction cost for a remodel or renovation, plus a $20 recording fee. The minimum fee is $75 (including the $20 recording fee). New residential construction is calculated at $0.50 square footage plus applicable impact fees. Decks, sheds, and commercial construction have separate fees.

7. Why do I need a permit to finish my basement?

Finishing a basement is more complex than many people realize, as it requires compliance not only with residential building codes, but also with state fire codes to ensure safe egress.

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1. What is Stormwater Runoff?

Please visit our Stormwater Runnoff page.

2. Why is Stormwater Runoff a problem?

Please view the Runnoff Problem page.

3. Why and how to manage Stormwater?

Please view the Managing Stormwater page.

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1. When will my road be plowed?

The Town does not have sufficient equipment and operators to plow all roads at once. The Town’s 1st priority is the plowing of major arterial roads. These are defined as roads that carry the majority of the traffic and connect major sections of the Town to provide emergency access for fire, police, and medical services.

It takes 2-3 hours to plow the major arterial roadways once. Depending upon the time of day and storm conditions, it may be necessary to plow them multiple times resulting in plows remaining on the major arterial roads for extended periods of time. Once the major arterial roadways are completed, plowing will begin on the Town’s residential streets. It takes approximately 4-5 hours to plow all residential streets once.

2. Why does a street right next to my street get plowed first and the snow plow does not come back until hours later to plow my street?

Some residential streets contain steep grades or other conditions that make them more difficult to navigate under storm conditions. For safety reasons, these streets are assigned a higher priority similar to that assigned to major arterial roadways.

3. Why does the snow plow leave a windrow of snow that blocks my driveway?

Plow operators do not intentionally block driveways. It is not practical for plow operators to lift their plows at every driveway as it would leave large piles of snow in the roadway at every driveway. Tip: When possible, clear your driveway after the plow has gone by. When clearing your driveway, try to pile the snow on the right side, (standing in your driveway and looking at the street). This can help reduce the amount of snow that is pushed into your driveway when a plow passes.

4. Why do the snowplows sometimes come by a second time and leave a windrow of snow on the end of my driveway after I’ve already shoveled it?

The width of some Town roadways requires more than one pass in each direction to fully clear the roadway. To ensure that plowing operations keep pace with snow accumulations during heavy snowfall, roadways are cleared only to the necessary width to allow vehicles to safely pass. This will require that the plow return to these roadways as time permits to make additional passes to fully clear the roadway. Depending upon the storm, this may not take place until the day after the storm.

5. Does the Town have a bare road and sidewalk policy?

While we strive to keep roadway and sidewalk surfaces as clear as possible of ice and snow, the Town does not have a bare surface policy. The management philosophy of our snow and ice removal plan is based upon a balance of the basic principles of public safety, cost containment, and environmental sensitivity. We recognize that the public safety of our residents, guests, and travelers is paramount.

At the same time however, we acknowledge that the community has financial limitations which ultimately shape the level of service that is provided. Finally, we understand the environmental impacts from the use of salt and sand in a lake shore community, and strive to limit these factors through our snow and ice removal program.

6. What is the Town’s parking restrictions during the winter?

A parking ban is in effect from the 15th day of November until the following 15th day of March from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

7. My mailbox was damaged when the snowplow came by – will the Town repair it?

The Town will investigate any reported damage to mail boxes caused by the Town’s snow removal operations. If the investigation concludes that the damage was caused by the Town’s snow removal operations, and that the mail box was properly positioned in accordance with U.S. Postal Standards, the Town will replace it in kind.

8. Why does my lawn get damaged by the sidewalk plow and will the Town repair it?

While operators strive to minimize lawn damage, some degree of damage is inevitable. While the sidewalk plows are designed for sidewalk plowing, including the width of the plows, keeping them in a perfectly straight line is challenging even for the most experienced operator. Deep snow along with poor visibility often makes it difficult for the operator to see the edge of the sidewalk.

In some cases, sod grows over the edge of the sidewalk resulting in damage even when the plow is completely on the sidewalk. When the turf is frozen, damage is minimized. When it is not frozen during the early stages of the winter, damage can be significant. The Town will repair any damage to lawns caused by the sidewalk or snowplows. A work order will be created and the damage will be repaired in the spring.

9. Are gravel roads treated any differently than paved roads?

Yes. Salt cannot be applied to dirt roads as it will cause them to thaw and become soft in the winter. At the very beginning of a storm, salt is applied to the major arterial roadways to reduce the rate of accidents and to prevent the snow from bonding to the pavement. In order to do this within 2-3 hours, it requires the use of all of the Town’s primary plow trucks. Once the asphalt roads are complete the driver will return to the public works garage to change the load to sand at which point the plow driver will begin plowing and sanding the gravel roads.

10. Does the Town apply salt or sand to town sidewalks?

No. Salting and sanding of sidewalks would require a significant investment in additional equipment. While the Town has sidewalk tractors, it does not currently own the additional equipment needed for spreading salt and sand. This process also requires significantly more staff time than what the Town has available to both spread the material after each storm, and then clean up the material in the spring time. While the Town sees value in this type of a program, this service cannot be provided within the current levels of funding provided.

11. Who do I contact with other snow plowing concerns, questions, or to report damage?

During normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, call the Public Works Department at 802-264-5620. After hours calls may be directed to the non-emergency line of the Colchester Police Department at 802-264-5556. On call public works supervisors will be contacted if it is an emergency situation that requires an immediate response.

Otherwise these calls will be deferred until the next regular business day. You may also find the answers to other questions you may have within our Snow and Ice Removal Plan.