VERGENNES, Vt. (WCAX) – As the state of Vermont refines plans to build a juvenile rehabilitation facility in Vergennes, “America’s Smallest City” is hoping for something in return.
Since the closure of the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Essex four years ago, the state has struggled to find a place to house the state’s youngest offenders. After plans to build a facility in Newbury soured, state officials this spring confirmed they were eyeing Vergennes.
The Department for Children and Families is envisioning a 14-bed therapeutic facility aimed at rehabilitation instead of punishment.
Leaders are eyeing a plot of state-owned land near a dog kennel and the federally run Northlands Job Corps, to build what will be known as the Green Mountain Youth Campus.
“Be either tied to the betterment of the city — and by extension to the state — but also to the facility itself,” said Vergennes City Councilor Koenig.
Vergennes officials want their local police department involved in the state’s planning, and $275,000 to cover police costs. They also want the state to transfer around 180 acres of state-owned land.
“Think that’s a good match and would be able to bring in people. It would increase the grand list and our schools and would help the housing crunch that the state is seeing statewide,” Koenig said.
They say it’s important the state gets this right. The former Weeks School, a reform program for troubled teens, was shuttered in the 1970s.
“I think what a lot of our citizens want is if this facility does indeed come here, we want to make sure the same mistakes aren’t made and this is a viable program that will help people,” said Vergennes City Manager Ron Redmond.
But the list of perks may be easier said than done. “There are some very reasonable and understandable requests on the list, and others that may be more difficult to agree to or will require legislative action,” DCF officials said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Vergennes voters will weigh in on Town Meeting Day on a non-binding resolution to gauge public support for the project.
Local zoning for the project must also be approved.
The state hopes to have the project online by 2026.
