Letter of resignation - Laura Church - March 8, 2025

March 8, 2025 

To my friends, neighbors, and fellow residents of Vienna, 

First, let me say thank you to everyone who turned out for Town Meeting today, asked good questions, voted to approve the articles that had been carefully prepared. We completed our work together in under an hour. Well done! 

Second, let me also say that it has been an honor to serve as a member of the Select Board for the last eight years. I believe much good has been accomplished.  

That being said, I wish to inform you that I have resigned as a member of the board effective immediately. And I feel I owe a bit of explanation at the very least. Over the last few years, the work has been great both in scope and difficulty. It’s much more than I think most people realize. But primarily the challenges have been more than I can handle since the town wide reassessment that began about a year ago. Ten months ago, everyone received their new valuations. Since then, I have fielded many angry phone calls, so many, in fact, that I had to begin screening my calls. Those calls would come any day and any time regardless of what might seem reasonable working hours. And it seemed that I fielded the majority of the complaints for reasons I can only surmise. I was threatened with physical harm by one person.  People showed up at my house to register their complaints. We did not make the re-evaluations and tried hard to be fair and reasonable with finding solutions. But it has reached a breaking point where I am unwilling to be shouted at any more.  

So this move is to protect my mental (and physical) health. I regret not being able to complete the remaining year on my term, but I just can’t do it. 

Again, thank you for your trust in me for the last eight years. Please direct any questions regarding the process of finding a replacement to the other two members of the board. Be kind to whoever takes my place.  

Sincerely, Laura Church

Changing your email account - Time to plan ahead for fiber

Starlink vs. Vienna Fiber to the Home (FTTH)

Choosing between Starlink and Vienna's municipally owned fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network depends on your specific needs and location. Here's a comparison to help you decide:

1. Performance

  • Vienna FTTH (100 - 500 Mbps symmetrical)
    • Provides consistent speeds with 100-500 Mbps upload and download.
    • Excellent for streaming, online gaming, video conferencing, and working from home.
    • Low latency (ideal for real-time communication and gaming).
  • Starlink
    • Speeds vary: Typically 50–250 Mbps download, with 10–50 Mbps upload.
    • Latency: 20–40 ms, generally good but can fluctuate due to satellite coverage.
    • Performance may degrade during bad weather or network congestion.

Winner for Consistency: Vienna FTTH.

2. Cost

  • Vienna FTTH: $60/month for 100 Mbps symmetrical, no data caps.
  • Starlink:
    • $120/month (Standard plan) plus $599 upfront for hardware.
    • Premium plan costs more, aimed at businesses or high-demand users.
    • Data caps may apply in the future.

Winner for Affordability: Vienna FTTH.

3. Installation and Availability

  • Vienna FTTH:
    • Local municipal service, easier and cheaper installation within service areas.
    • No reliance on external equipment like satellites or dishes.
  • Starlink:
    • Self-installation requires a clear line of sight to the sky.
    • Better for rural or remote areas outside fiber coverage.

Winner for Ease in a Covered Area: Vienna FTTH.

4. Reliability

  • Vienna FTTH: Fiber is resilient to environmental factors, ensuring uninterrupted service.
  • Starlink: Weather (clouds, rain, snow) can disrupt connectivity, especially in harsh climates.

Winner for Reliability: Vienna FTTH.

5. Future-Proofing

  • Vienna FTTH: Fiber can be upgraded to support higher speeds (e.g., gigabit or multi-gigabit).
  • Starlink: Expanding satellite network, but physical limitations of current satellites may constrain future improvements compared to fiber.

Winner for Scalability: Vienna FTTH.

Recommendation

  • Choose Vienna FTTH if:
    • You are in an area with fiber coverage (all Vienna residents can connect).
    • You value cost-effective, reliable, and consistent internet.
    • Symmetrical upload/download speeds are important for your usage.
  • Choose Starlink if:
    • You live outside Vienna’s fiber coverage area.
    • Fiber installation isn’t an option.
    • Portability (e.g., for RVs or remote work) is a priority.

For most users within Vienna, the municipal FTTH network is the better choice due to its reliability, performance, and affordability.

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