Operation St. J Reset Shares Progress on Downtown Public Safety in St. Johnsbury

ST. JOHNSBURY — Public safety concerns, progress, and a push for widespread collaboration toward future success were communicated to community members at the school auditorium on Wednesday evening. The public gathering was the next step in a process that began in earnest in August in response to troubling and sometimes criminal behavior affecting downtown. A stakeholders group, composed of businesspeople, town officials, town employees and leaders and staff from area organizations, began meeting biweekly to discuss and identify improvement goals. Fire Chief Brad Reed and interim Police Chief Kevin Wilson worked with resident and businessman David Roth on organizing the sessions. Roth named the effort Operation St. J Reset. Wednesday’s meeting gave a larger audience of townspeople a chance to learn about the work that has happened or is underway, and it let organizers cast a wider net for people willing to step up and help with community wellness efforts.