 Hello Essex Junction and welcome to the Essex Junction Trustees Vice President Raj Chawat. Thank you so much for being here for another independent moment. Sure happy to be here exciting day. Yeah it's a big day and so can you tell us why why and what is big about today and there's been a lot of joy here in Essex Junction this morning. Well we have H-491 which is how the bill is referred to in the legislature which is the proposed charter for the new city of Essex Junction that cleared its second and final committee in the Vermont House today unanimously which is fantastic and the next step would be a vote from the full House of Representatives. We're hoping this week we'll learn more later and after that it will go to the Senate for consideration in their government operations committee. We hope that's the only committee it visits in the Senate and if that's the case then it would and it passes that committee it would go to the Senate for a full vote. If it passes the Senate it would go to the governor for signature and on July 1st we would become a city. Unreal. We are a little short of halfway there and it's looking good and we're optimistic because of the response from both House committees and the unanimous votes. I really like thank you for how succinctly you've presented where we're at and where we're going and I think what both you and I connected about today was there was a moment right after the unanimous vote that that we both connected with and together we've decided to queue up this video. Thanks so much Raj for sharing this this moment which occurred right after the unanimous vote at the House committee on ways and means today, February 16th, 2022. Yes. Your fee votes yes. Representative Elder. Representative Meslin. Representative Mezos. Yes. Representative Odie. Yes. Representative Till. Yes. Representative Coronizer. Yes. Chair Ansler. Yes. 7-0-0. Excellent. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So yeah I just I didn't say it because we didn't have any discussion but these your town officials have gone through so much work to get to this place and it's actually good to be able to move something along so just in recognition that how hard this is it's been many hands have been involved. Exactly. I appreciate putting yours as well. Thank you. Yeah I think I think who you heard speaking at first was the ways and means chair Janet Ansel and on the bottom screen who responded was our representative Karen Dolan who was in the committee today representing the village. And what I heard chair Ansel speak to was the amount of work and effort done by our by our officials and we're so grateful to all of you because I know how much work you all put in to stay really on task and you've just all been that way through all of this and you've been a great team and you've collaborated together and with staff and with the select board and just all of that has been such obviously great work that chair Ansel also recognizes it. Yeah and I think you know sure this this current board put a lot of time and effort into it but you know foundations for this I think this was alluded to by by Laurie and Karen the last time you did one of these foundations for this we're laid you know over many many years we're just kind of taking it over the finish line or trying to and I think you know our staff has been unbelievably great and supportive their energy has really has really helped on this and and we have an we have an amazing legislative team in the state house right now Laurie and Karen and really you know the select board too needs a little credit on this they've they've been working with us throughout this last iteration of our our path forward and it's been difficult and I'm sure it's difficult for them so I just wanted to reach out and you know chair Ansel I think referred to town officials I think she was talking about village officials but but really this has been a collaboration with the town and and that's in some ways probably harder for them so I just want to put a plug in for for their willingness to be at the table with us and and to work in good faith so and and to be part of those hands that that chair Ansel spoke spoke of right so so it's everyone that's done the work that all the people that you and Laurie are alluding to all the past every everyone that's ever brought us any step forward towards anything we tried to do to grow and and the hands of the village officials hands of town officials and then Karen I really loved how graciously representative Dolan Karen Dolan thanked chair Ansel and and that house committee for their hands too right so it's it's all the things that move us forward always I completely agree and it's such a good it's such a good feeling to have that work recognized especially with the unanimous vote and a comment after to to be able to have the community see that what they asked for what they've been working for because so many people have been pushing this through and let's be honest it wasn't the first intention right you know we intended to be to be an emerged community but I think what you're alluding to and what what's been said before is you know this this foundation has been laid you know and all of these efforts that have come before and our past offer for merger you know I think the community finally looked around and said you know what else could we possibly do this is the only path forward and and I'm I'm relieved that folks in the legislature recognize that and are recognizing the quality of the document we put forward for them to consider and yeah it's reassuring and I'm excited for Friday if the vote is on Friday and optimistic this is pretty cool day yeah I think the the respect shown the the thoroughness of of the charter change has been seen in every conversation at the state house I've heard complimentary things about how thorough our charter change is and I know personally how hard staff and trustees work together for that guidance to be true like that's a lot of collaborative intelligence and heartfelt dedication to task that made this charter change so thoroughly viable like it's a real confidently clear document because of how much work and effort has gone before and the thought process of the people presently that presented that forward and so we're we're we're all just so fortunate to be in this moment in time and so grateful for the base that we have from before and just I I feel so proud to to to know that I live in a community where people would put this much time and dedication to making sure something is correct and true and and and growth forward yeah I mean you know from the get go on this effort on this independence effort you know staff you know produced a very intentional and participatory process that was inclusive we had great support from the community you know largely in the form of our village our voices to really engage and make sure people were well informed and could offer input and I mean look we we've had we've known for quite some time I think who we are as a village and what we want to be and I don't think that's changed I think we just had to look around and say you know this is this is so important to us that we're going to do it regardless we're just going to move forward and I think I think it's exciting I think the very heart of what the intentionality was when the village was felt first developed that desire to have those components of services that we thought I think that very heart is exactly what is still true for us today in our intentionality to go forward I think it's the same it's that same desire for community and it's it's just beautiful yeah yeah great we'll see what happens we'll keep people notified of what's next waiting to hear from our representatives Laurie and Karen as to as to what the what the schedule brings then and I understand that you know community members are welcome in the state house if they want to go down for the vote and I encourage people to if they have the time if it's Friday to make the trip great that would be fun what a fun activity yeah we should get it back I'm not kidding talk to brad maybe you're peeking thanks for doing this annie yeah thank you so much rise and thanks for all you do and and so we'll look and see I'll post in the comments below if Friday is the date for the vote or if it's going to be in the future thank you so much for today and thanks for being here and thanks for all you do yeah thanks have a great day thank you