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Newport / Derby

Your Community, More Completely.
Monday, October 26, 2026 · Permanent link to this edition
Edition archive
October 26 · Derby zoning hearing, 6 p.m.October 30 · Derby Line hydrant flushing endsNovember 2 · Newport charter informational hearing; Derby Line village taxes dueNovember 3 · Election Day and Newport charter vote
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Today in Newport / Derby

Derby holds a public hearing tonight, Monday, October 26, at 6 p.m. on zoning changes to allow more housing near Derby Line and Derby Center.
The Derby Selectboard meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, and Wednesday, October 28, to interview town and zoning administrator candidates.
Derby Line is flushing hydrants and water mains through Friday, October 30, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.; village taxes are due Monday, November 2.
A Paint Your Own Pottery Night at NCUHS is Wednesday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m., with proceeds going to student scholarships.
Newport votes November 3 on an amended city charter, on a separate city ballot; an informational hearing is Monday, November 2, at 6 p.m.
Vermont ballots can be returned to the town clerk or a town drop box before close of business Monday, November 2, or handed in at the polls by 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 3.

NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Eastern Daylight Time.

Elections

ONGOING

Newport votes on an amended city charter November 3

Newport voters will decide on Tuesday, November 3, whether to approve an amended city charter dated September 21, 2026. The question is on a separate City of Newport Special Meeting ballot, voted by Australian ballot at the Newport Municipal Building, 222 Main Street, with polls open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The city's August notice called the proposed amendments substantial. The ballot lists 31 charter sections, from the mayor's powers and the City Council to police and fire services, water and sewer systems, a city manager and a harbor commission.

An informational hearing on the article is set for Monday, November 2, at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building, in person or online. The full charter amendment is posted on the city website and available at the City Clerk's office.

ONGOING

How to return general election ballots in Newport and Derby

General election ballots are mailed by the State of Vermont, the Town of Derby reminds residents. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Under Vermont law, a returned ballot is counted if it reaches the town clerk's office by any means before the close of business on Monday, November 2, or is placed in the town's secure ballot drop box before the close of business that day. A ballot sent by mail is also counted if it reaches the clerk's office before the polls close on Election Day, and a ballot can be handed to the presiding officer at the voter's polling place before the polls close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.

City, Roads & Planning

ONGOING

Derby hearing October 26 on zoning changes for more housing near the villages

The Derby Selectboard holds a public hearing tonight, Monday, October 26, at 6 p.m. in the Selectboard Room of the Municipal Building, 124 Main Street, Derby Center, on proposed zoning bylaw and map amendments.

The proposal would move several parcels from the Residential 2 Acre and Rural Residential districts into the Residential Medium Density district. The town's notice says the intent is to allow more housing units per acre just outside the villages of Derby Line and Derby Center. A second change would require a 50-foot minimum right-of-way for streets in subdivisions of more than three lots.

The regular meeting agenda that follows lists consideration of the bylaw amendments, road crew applications, equipment auction bids and two liquor licenses. Copies of the proposal are available from the Zoning Administrator's office. The board has not yet voted on the changes.

ONGOING

Derby Selectboard to interview town and zoning administrator candidates

The Derby Selectboard has scheduled meetings at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27, and Wednesday, October 28, to interview candidates for town and zoning administrator. The interviews are listed for executive session, and the agenda shows no other business besides public comments.

No hiring decision has been announced.

ONGOING

Derby Line flushing hydrants through October 30

The Village of Derby Line is flushing hydrants through Friday, October 30, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and is also flushing sewer lines. The village says flushing may briefly discolor water but does not affect its safety, and asks residents to keep water use to a minimum and plan laundry for other times.

Village tax bills have been mailed and are due Monday, November 2. The trustees meet in special session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, at the Village Hall to interview candidates for a part-time road crew job.

Arts, Culture & Events

NEW

Paint-your-own pottery nights at NCUHS raise money for student ceramics trip

A Paint Your Own Pottery Night is set for Wednesday, October 28, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at North Country Union High School, 209 Veterans Avenue, Newport. Participants paint a food-safe ceramic mug with help from NCUHS art students, and no experience is needed, according to the event listing on the Discover Newport calendar.

The cost is $30, which covers a mug, materials and student support; additional mugs are $20. The listing says all proceeds go to scholarships for students to attend the Ghost Ranch Ceramics Trip. Registration is through an online form linked from the listing. The calendar lists another session Wednesday, November 4, at the same time.

Still Developing

The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.

OPEN

Future of the North Country Union High School and Career Center buildings

The North Country Supervisory Union says North Country Union High School and the North Country Career Center, both approaching 60 years of age, have major building systems nearing or past their expected lifespan, and that PCB contamination found through the state's testing program has added urgency. A building committee of staff, parents, community members and others is studying the buildings' condition and possible long-term solutions. A community survey on the facilities' future was open through October 13.

First covered October 23, 2026.

Source: North Country Supervisory Union: Community input on future of NCUHS, NCCC facilities
OPEN

North Country and Orleans Central begin Act 170 merger talks

Board members from districts in the North Country and Orleans Central supervisory unions met in Newport October 8 to begin merger discussions required under Act 170, the Barton Chronicle reported. The law does not require districts to combine, but it does require good-faith consideration of a merger plan. The state named Heather Boucher, a former interim secretary of education, to facilitate.

First covered October 23, 2026.

Source: Barton Chronicle: North Country and Orleans Central begin merger talks

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