FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BY THE WILLISTON PLANNING & ZONING OFFICE

1:36 PM on May 13, 2026 

PHISHING SCAMS TARGETTING PERMIT APPLICANTS

It has come to our attention that recent applicants have been targeted by fraudulent phishing emails requesting that applicants wire money or send an ACH payment and to communicate only by email. One version of the scam uses the signature of Christine Dougherty, Assistant Public Works Director, whom does not oversee the Williston Planning & Zoning Office's permit submission, review, or fees. An example of the phishing email is attached for reference. 

The Williston Planning & Zoning Office will NEVER ask applicants to wire money or send ACH payments by email.

The Williston Planning & Zoning Office ONLY accepts payment in the following manners:

• By check made out to "The Town of Williston" mailed to The Town of Williston, 7900 Williston Road, Williston VT 05495; or dropped off in the secure drop box located in the Town Hall parking lot at 7900 Williston Road. 
• In-person at the Planning & Zoning Office in the Town Hall Annex, 7878 Williston Road, via cash, check, or credit/debit card. 
• Online via invoice. The invoice is a PDF document with a link to pay at  https://payments.municipay.com/willistonvt. The invoice is sent by email from a Planning & Zoning staff member using an “@willistonvt.org” email address. 

Please also note that the Planning & Zoning Office issues Development Review Board Notice of Decision (NOD) letters by USPS mail only. If you have not received an NOD letter by mail, your application has not yet been formally approved. 

What to do if you receive a suspicious email? Pause & think - don't act immediately. Don't click any links or open attachments. Compare the sender's email address, including punctuation (such as "." and "-"), to the email address you know to be authentic. Contact the Department or person using the phone number or website you know is real - not the information in the email. 

The official websites and email domains for the Town of Williston are: 

• Williston Manager's Office, Finance, Human Resources, Clerk, Listers/Assessor, Planning & Zoning, Public Works, Recreation and Parks: www.town.williston.vt.us and @willistonvt.org
• Williston Recreation & Parks Program and Facilities Registration: https://willistonvt.myrec.com/info/default.aspx
• Williston Fire Department: www.willistonfire.com and @willistonfire.com 
• Williston Police Department: https://www.willistonpdvt.org/ and @willistonpdvt.org 
• Dorothy Alling Memorial Library: https://damlvt.org/ and @damlvt.org

Please contact Planning & Zoning staff if you have any questions at (802) 878-6704 or email planning [at] willistonvt.org