Lyndon Moves Toward Downtown Revitalization Designation

LYNDON — Lyndon is moving through the final stages of a yearslong effort to secure Vermont’s Step 3 Center designation, with town officials working simultaneously on zoning changes, long-term capital planning and the organization needed to lead downtown revitalization.

The designation is part of Vermont’s updated downtown and village program, created under the state’s 2024 land-use law, Act 181. It could give Lyndon greater access to state grants, tax credits and technical assistance for downtown improvements.

Town officials and consultants have been working through several requirements this year, including a downtown improvement plan, a capital improvement plan, zoning and design standards, a community reinvestment agreement and an independent nonprofit downtown organization.

Lyndon hopes to submit its application by the end of 2026.

Four years after entering a contract with Franconia to provide emergency medical services after the Franconia Life Squad disbanded because its volunteers dried up, Littleton Fire Rescue will meet with Franconia officials to discuss how the contract might change and how costs might be shared more fairly.

LFR chief Chad Miller is currently scheduled to meet with the Franconia Select Board as well as the boards of Easton and Sugar Hill on Sept. 14.

About a month ago, Franconia town administrator Libby Staples met with Miller to discuss the Franconia-Littleton EMS contract and how it might change as Littleton’s contracts with Sugar Hill and Easton — for which Littleton also provides EMS — are being renegotiated.

The ACLU of New Hampshire is suing the State Police, accusing the agency of being a “black box” when it comes to informing the public about its involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

The lawsuit argues that the New Hampshire Division of State Police is violating the state’s Right-to-Know Law by failing to provide public records in a timely manner.

The ACLU said its requests for documents are months old and haven’t received any substantive response from the agency.

The requests are related to the State Police’s 287(g) agreement with ICE, which deputizes troopers to assist federal agents with enforcing immigration law.

These agreements are becoming more common nationwide, though New Hampshire is the only state in New England to sign on.