As the days get shorter and the lights get brighter, our little town is starting to feel especially cozy. Whether you’re sipping cocoa at home, enjoying outside winter activities, or putting the finishing touches on your holiday plans, we hope this season brings you moments of joy, connection, and calm.
Find Some Holiday Cheer in Milton this Weekend
Tomorrow, December 6, cozy up with friends and family in front of the Milton Municipal Building to kick off the holiday season with the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting! There will be cookies, cocoa, Santa, music and more! Check out the facebook event from Milton Recreation for more information, and follow Milton Recreation & Parks for more upcoming events.
Can’t make it this weekend? There will be another chance to see Santa on December 21st with Milton Rescue! Take photos with Santa, enjoy hot chocolate, and see the trucks. Learn more here.
Giving Back to Our Community
November and December are always special months in Milton, when our community comes together to support one another and spread generosity. Here at the Town offices, our staff and departments are proud to contribute to local efforts that help ensure families have what they need during the holiday season. Below are several initiatives currently underway or recently completed.
MFCC Food Distribution and Thanksgiving Dinner Drive
On November 8, the Town partnered with the Milton Family Community Center (MFCC) to support families experiencing an interruption in SNAP assistance. A drive-through food distribution event was held at the Bombardier West Fieldhouse, providing food support to 97 families. Check out the facebook post from MFCC about the event.
Additionally, Town Office staff organized to help with MFCC’s Thanksgiving dinner drive, collecting enough items to assemble and donate 20 complete holiday meals. Thank you to everyone who donated, contributed time, and helped assemble the bags. Your generosity made a meaningful difference for Milton neighbors.
The Milton Police Department held its second annual Handcuff Hunger Food Drive on November 13 in front of Hannaford. Thanks to the outstanding support of the community, the event succeeded in filling the department’s trailer with 1,224 pounds of food and raising a substantial amount of monetary donations. All contributions were delivered to the Milton Family Community Center food shelf. Thank you to the entire Department for your leadership and dedication to this important cause.
Milton Fire Department: Operation Firecuffs Toy Drive
The Milton Fire Department is once again collecting toys through its annual Operation Firecuffs Toy Drive in support of the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. The department is accepting unwrapped toys and gift cards through December 17. We appreciate the firefighters’ continued commitment to helping children and families have a brighter holiday season. Learn more and get ideas for donations on this post from the Milton Fire Department.
Make Way for Safe Winter Operations on Milton Roads
As we enter snowy season, I want to remind everyone that the Town of Milton follows a “Safe Roads at Safe Speeds” policy – not a bare roads policy. This means that during a storm, roads are plowed, sanded, and salted to keep them open for travel, but road surfaces may be snow covered at times. Our Public Works Highway team will begin plowing between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., depending on conditions, to maintain safe passage. Drivers should expect less than perfect road surfaces during storm events and are encouraged to allow extra travel time and adjust speed accordingly.
Please remove any personal items from the Town right of way and avoid placing items such as trash bins near the roadside during storm events. These items can interfere with snow removal operations and may cause damage.
The fiscal year 2027 budget process has officially begun. Initial discussions between Department Heads and the Selectboard have concluded (learn more about the process so far) and upcoming discussions will focus on deliberations. Upcoming meetings are scheduled as follows, and the public is invited to attend and participate.
Special Meeting on December 8, 6 p.m., Community Room in the Milton Municipal Offices
Regular Meeting on December 15, 6 p.m., Community Room in the Milton Municipal Offices
Special Meeting on December 16 December 22, 6 p.m., Community Room in the Milton Municipal Offices
We expect to finalize the budget in early January. In the meantime, Town staff and the Selectboard will continue working together to build a budget that supports our growing community while remaining responsible with taxpayer dollars.
Stormwater Utility Ordinance Now in Effect
The recently adopted Stormwater Utility Ordinance (PDF) has completed the hearing and appeal process and officially took effect on November 15. Establishing this utility opens new opportunities for how the Town manages stormwater in the future, including the potential acceptance of certain private stormwater systems. As state and federal regulations continue to become more restrictive for municipalities, having the utility in place will allow us to adapt more quickly and unlock potential funding sources to help offset associated costs.
Friends of the Library Raffle
The 2025 Friends of the Library Basket Raffle is underway. Local individuals, businesses, and organizations have created themed baskets to be raffled off as part of this fundraiser. Each basket features a theme and includes a book along with items related to that theme. Baskets are now on display in the library, and residents may purchase raffle tickets through December 15. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. All proceeds directly support the Milton Public Library. The drawing will take place on Tuesday, December 16. For more information and updates, follow the Milton Public Library on Facebook for more information.
The holiday season always reminds us how lucky we are to be surrounded by neighbors who show up, pitch in, and care for one another. We hope the weeks ahead bring you plenty of laughter, good company, and quiet moments of peace. Stay warm, stay connected, and we’ll see you around town!
With gratitude and commitment, Chris Taylor, Milton Town Manager