March 26, 2007
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury residents on April 11 will vote on a proposed 2007-2008 Mary Hogan Elementary School spending plan that offers no new programs and reflects an inflationary increase in spending.
ID-4 school directors have OK’d a draft budget of $5,482,885, which represents a 2.73-percent increase compared to this year’s Mary Hogan Elementary spending plan of $5,337,045.
“It’s pretty much a maintenance budget,” said Principal Bonnie Bourne. “There are no new initiatives.”
It’s a spending plan that reflects roughly the same number of staff (around 65) delivering services to what officials believe will be a level — or slightly higher — number of students next year. Mary Hogan currently serves 389 children in grades kindergarten through 6.
“We worked hard to keep the increase (in spending) as low as possible,” Bourne said.
March 26, 2007
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury South Village (MSV) development off Court Street could soon host a 17,000-square-foot Aldi discount food store.
Developers Jeffry Glassberg and Steve Reid confirmed on Friday they have signed a purchase and sales agreement with Aldi, through which the company would buy two lots within the 30-acre project. Aldi would build its new store on one of the lots, while setting aside the other lot for landscaping and parking — though that site could potentially be developed at a later date.
Friday saw Glassberg, Reid and Aldi Director of Real Estate David S. Wolf meet with Middlebury officials and local business leaders to explain the food store’s history and tentative plans. If all goes well, Aldi will submit a building application to the town as soon as this spring or summer, according to Wolf.
“Our goal today is to introduce the (project concept), and Aldi, and listen,” Glassberg said. “We want to hear from folks what they think.”
