PANTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s smallest city may get a little smaller. Vergennes is trying to reconcile a decades-long border dispute with the neighboring town of Panton.
Vergennes and Panton recently spearheaded a study on how to divert noisy tractor-trailer traffic from Route 22A, away from downtown Vergennes. In the process, surveyor Tim Cowan came across a problem that’s been known for decades, but was never addressed. The boundary for Vergennes’ tax map is way off, with the actual boundary further up the road.
“They probably grabbed onto fence lines or hedge rows here and there and put up the sign because that’s where people thought it was,” Cowan said.
With a potential highway bypass hanging in the balance, leaders of the two communities have set out to find a solution. It has sparked lots of questions about what moving the border would mean.
Caught in the crosshairs is about 28 Vergennes parcels — or some 178 acres — which may be turned over to Panton.
“We’re going to do this civilly and we’re going to try to figure out what’s best for everybody,” said Vergennes Mayor Chris Bearor.
“This has been thrust on our plates and we’re doing the best we can with it,” said Panton Selectboard Chair Zach Weaver.
Leaders in both towns are hitting the history — and law books — to understand all implications of moving the border. Several options are on the table: Keep the current tax map as the boundary; Use the original charter line as the boundary; Or negotiate a boundary somewhere between the two.
“We know, as Vermonters, you identify with where you live and your address, so it’s a big deal,” Weaver said.
Where they eventually draw the border could have a big impact on both sides, affecting infrastructure, city services, and the dozens of Vergennes properties that could be subtracted from the town’s grand list
“We’re pretty much a square mile. We have a lot of things happening in there. It costs money, and our taxes are high. We are looking at this tax implication that could come out of this,” Bearor said.
Vergennes’ loss would be Panton’s gain. Weaver says he’s not sure what decision townspeople will favor.
The two communities will hold several public hearings to look at the maps together. And until they come to an agreement, both towns are unable to amend their charters.
And this could just be the beginning. The maps also show that Vergennes has to settle its border with the towns of Ferrisburgh and Waltham.
Whatever plans emerge will still need the approval of the Vermont Legislature.
Copyright 2025 WCAX. All rights reserved.
