Get Engaged
Interested in learning more about your community, shaping its future, and setting yourself up for future internships or employment? Get Engaged with your Colchester community now and experience municipal government first-hand!
Why Get Involved?
- Senior Seminar credits
- Civic knowledge & engagement
- Future internships and/or employment
- Board member mentorship
- Experience for future employment or college application
Eligibility
- CHS students grades 10-12, who are also Colchester residents, are eligible.
- Student members serve a term of one year, but are not restricted to a one-year term if interested in serving again. Students will work with a board/commission member who will act as their mentor.
Application Process
Before appointment to a board, the student will attend an introductory meeting with the director or other staff member of the Town department with which the board is associated, with the exception of the Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission Chair will attend the introductory meeting with student.
Student members will have voting rights on volunteer boards/commissions except for the elected Library Board of Trustees (per state statute, a volunteer member may not vote on boards with elected members), the Planning Commission, and the Development Review Board.
More Details about the Town Boards/Commissions:
Conservation Commission
Theresa Carroll, Chair
Meets the 3rd Monday of the month, 6:00 PM at the Town Offices, Champlain Room, 2nd floor, or per agenda.
The Conservation Commission is concerned with the public awareness, education, and preservation of Colchester’s natural areas; water quality of rivers, ponds, and Lake Champlain; wildlife habitats; and beautification of the Town. Annual activities include:
- Green Up Day Coordination
- Colchester Blooms! to raise funds for planting flowerbeds at high-traffic sites
- Maintenance of the rain garden on Holy Cross Road
- Site visits to Town natural areas to plan future projects and assess natural resources for reports to Lake Champlain Land Trust
- Attention to water quality, stream protection, conservation and related areas and responds to special project requests from Town officials
- Completed Projects include: Care of the Urban Forest Project through the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program to assist with master tree plan and tree inventory and provide volunteer training in the maintenance and care of Town trees; Rain Barrel Workshop
- What CCC Values: Creative thinking and new ideas regarding ways to address conservation in Colchester
Development Review Board - Non-Voting Member
Zachary Maia, Development Manager
Matthew Gamage, Chair
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month 7:00 PM at the Town Offices, Outer Bay Room, 3rd floor
The Colchester Development Review Board processes and approves:
- Commercial and Residential site plans
- Subdivision applications
- Conditional use and variance applications
- Appeals of the Zoning Administrator's determinations
Recreation Advisory Board
Glen Cuttitta, Director of Parks and Recreation
Adriane Martin, Chair
Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Town Offices at 7 AM
Members work with the Director of Parks and Recreation on the development and management of recreational facilities and programs to serve the citizens of Colchester. In addition, they help coordinate and volunteer at Parks and Rec events such as:
Adriane Martin, Chair
Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Town Offices at 7 AM
Members work with the Director of Parks and Recreation on the development and management of recreational facilities and programs to serve the citizens of Colchester. In addition, they help coordinate and volunteer at Parks and Rec events such as:
- Winter Carnival
- Touch a Truck
- Fourth of July events
Planning Commission - Non-Voting Member
Cathyann Larose, Director of Planning and Zoning
Richard Paquette, Chair
Meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Town Offices at 7:00 PM, Outer Bay Room, 3rd floor
Currently the Planning Commission is finalizing several amendments to the Development Regulations and will likely soon begin a review of design in the Town’s Growth Center (Severance Corners). The Commission also:
- Oversees revisions to the Town Zoning Regulations
- Undertakes planning studies for the long-term growth of Colchester (updating the open space plan is possible during this term)
- Updates the Town Plan (will kick off in 2024)