Historical Society returns to Killington

Rutland Herald

By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | March 28,2013

 

KILLINGTON — The Sherburne Historical Society is getting back together, with plans to restore the former home of the library and the Teen Center.

Historical Society member E.J. Willis is looking to reconvene the currently dormant group, with the first meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 9 at the Sherburne Memorial Library.

“The group is inactive right now, because most of the past members have passed away,” Willis said.

The first task for the Historical Society is to explore the viability of restoring the one-room schoolhouse, located across River Road from the library.

The building was built sometime in the 19th century- records are unclear regarding the exact year- in West Bridgewater. At some point during the latter-half of the 20th century, the town bought the building for $10 and paid another $40 to move it to its current location.

The building was home to the town library, and later the Killington Teen Center, which has been inactive for at least the last three years. In 2011, flooding from Tropical Storm Irene damaged the building. During past meetings of the Select Board, Town Manager

Seth Webb said the town has received estimates to both restore and demolish the structure, with the former costing anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000, depending on its use, and the latter costing around $10,000.

The town has $10,000 left in flood insurance money.

“When I saw the Select Board was thinking about demolishing it, I thought this might be a great opportunity for the Historical Society to have a place to store and display our historical items,” Willis said.

While the Historical Society has no official home, the library has become a sort of de facto dumping ground for items of historical interest. However, a broken water pipe damaged some old photographs and highlighted the need for a new location, said Gail Weymouth, director of the Sherburne Memorial Library.

“When the pipe burst, it really raised the issue that they (historical items) need some kind of preservation,” Weymouth said.

Recently, Ann Cousins, a field service representative for the Preservation Trust of Vermont, came to Killington to assess the state of the schoolhouse.

“Structurally, the building looks really good,” Cousins said. “When they moved the building, they reinforced the floor joists to accommodate the weight of the book stacks, and they’re still in great shape. And, the roof looks good.”

Cousins said the major repairs would be to the foundation, while restoration work would include removing the vinyl siding — which covers some windows — and replace it with wooden shingles.

Cousins said there are many grants available, depending upon the building’s proposed future use. The Preservation Trust gave the Historical Society a $250 matching grant to hire a contractor, who will provide estimates for repair and restoration.

Tuesday night, the Select Board approved a request from Willis for a $250 loan from the town, which will allow the Historical Society to accept the matching grant. Per the terms of the request, the Historical Society will repay the money by July 1.

“We want to preserve the history of Sherburne because the history of Killington has been well documented,” Willis said.

“We had 225 years of being Sherburne and 25 years of being Killington, and people will ask, ‘Where is Sherburne?” Weymouth said.

josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com

 

Comment: Sure hope this doesn't end up costing the twon hundreds of thousands dollars.

Vito

Revision of Killington Selectboard Rules of Procedure

In the advent of the post Jim Haff  Killington Select Board era some interesting revisions to the Select Board Rules of Procedure were introduced by Chairman Chris Bianchi and unanimously approved by the board. I find it disturbing, and all townspeople should as well, that our ability to address the select board is being curtailed in at least two instances within the rules.
Also the chairman so surreptitiously gave himself the power to shut down other select board members and they approved it unanimously! Is this the kind of obsequious board we want?
This town is on a slippery slope, first we gave up town meeting so the voters get limited information on the issues they will be voting on. Now our only outlet for public comment is being severely curtailed. For you numbers people that is 50% as you will note in the following draft of the rules.
Note the red and struck through text which reflects the deleted/modified language.
Whether you realize it or not, this is an erosion of our right to speak out on issues. Make it be known you are not happy with this backdoor attempt to limit free speech in our town.

Vito

 

KILLINGTON SELECTBOARD RULES OF PROCEDURE

A. PURPOSE. The selectboard of the Town of Killington is required by law to conduct its meetings in accordance with the Vermont Open Meeting Law. 1 V.S.A. §§ 310-314. Meetings of the selectboard of the Town of Killington must be open to the public at all times, except as provided in 1 V.S.A. § 313. At such meetings, the public must be afforded reasonable opportunity to give its opinion on matters considered by the selectboard so long as order is maintained. Such public comment is subject to the reasonable rules established by the chair of the selectboard. 1 V.S.A. § 312(h).

B. APPLICATION. This policy setting forth rules of procedure for selectboard meetings shall apply to all regular, special, and emergency meetings of the Town of Killington selectboard.

C. PROCEDURES.

1. The chair of the selectboard, or in the chair’s absence, a member selected by the board shall chair the meeting.

2. The chair shall rule on all questions of order or procedure and shall enforce these rules as required by 1 V.S.A. § 312(h).

3. A majority of the members of the selectboard shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum of the members of the selectboard is not present at a meeting, the only action that may be considered by the selectboard is a motion to recess or adjourn the meeting.

4. At the beginning of each selectboard meeting, there shall be 20 10 minutes afforded for open public comment. By majority vote, the selectboard may increase the time for open public comment and may adjust the agenda items and times accordingly.

5. Public comment on issues discussed by the selectboard, if not offered during the open public comment period, may be offered during the meeting with the permission of the chair. Such comment, if permitted, shall be limited to 20 10 minutes, unless by majority vote, the selectboard increases the time for public comment.

6. Each selectboard meeting shall have an agenda, with time allotted for each item of business to be considered by the selectboard. Those who wish to be added to the meeting agenda shall contact the town manager or selectboard chair to request inclusion on the agenda. The selectboard chair shall determine the final content of the agenda.

7. All business shall be conducted in the same order as it appears on the agenda, except that by majority vote of the selectboard, the order of items to be considered and/or the time allotted may be modified.

8. Motions made by board members do not require a second. The chair of the selectboard may make motions and may vote on all questions before the board.

9. There is no limit to the number of times a selectboard member can speak to a question. A member may speak or make a motion without being recognized by the chair. Motions to close or limit debate will not be entertained.

10. Any selectboard member may request a roll call vote.

11. Meetings may be recessed to a time and place certain.

12. These rules shall be made available at all meetings, and procedures for public comment shall be reviewed at the beginning of all meetings.

13. These rules may be amended by majority vote of the selectboard, and must be readopted annually at the organizational meeting.

ADOPTED: March 12, 2013






_______________________________________
J. Christopher Bianchi



_______________________________________
Bernard Rome



_______________________________________
Patty McGrath



KILLINGTON SELECTBOARD

Wallingford refuses to back local sales tax

Rutland Herald

By SANDI SWITZER
Correspondent | March 20,2013

 

WALLINGFORD — There is no support among municipal officials for a 1 percent local option sales tax.

The Select Board opposes efforts in Montpelier to allow towns to raise revenue in that manner.

“I’m personally against the local option tax,” Selectman Nelson Tift said.

The five-member board considered a request Monday by its counterpart in Bennington to support proposed legislation giving all towns the option of assessing a 1 percent sales tax.

Only those towns considered to be “sending” towns under the state’s education funding laws currently have the option of assessing the tax.

Those include Rutland Town, Killington, Ludlow, Middlebury, Manchester, Burlington, Dover, Stratton, Williston, Wilmington and Winhall.

Select Board Chairman William Brooks said he was “OK” with other towns enacting the tax, but he did not think it should be assessed in Wallingford.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily anything we would want to institute,” he said.

Tift said Vermonters were overtaxed and he was unhappy with legislators considering additional revenue sources with “a gas tax, soda tax and a tax on just about anything you can think of.”

Selectman Gary Fredette said the town should not join Bennington in encouraging legislators to pass a bill giving all Vermont towns the ability to assess the tax.

“I think we’ve got enough to worry about,” he said.

New Selectman Mark Tessier also opposed the proposed legislation. “I don’t think we want to be associated with it,” he said.

Brooks directed Town Administrator Julie Sharon to inform Bennington officials that Wallingford “respectfully” declines any effort supporting a 1 percent local option sales tax.

After the constable race: Montgomery urges holding off on second constable appointment

Mountain Times

By Cristina Kumka posted Mar 14, 2013

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In what was one of the most hotly contested town office elections in years, newly elected First Constable Whit Montgomery said last week that he recommends holding off on the town Select Board appointing a second law enforcer for the town.
"While I do feel it is important to bring on additional officers or a second constable, I also feel it is equally important to make sure the positions are filled by qualified and experienced officers. It is not something we want to rush into just to fill the vacancies. With the election now over, we can begin to focus on this, and the formation of the police department," Montgomery wrote in an email last week.
Montgomery handedly won last Tuesday's election for the top cop spot by 212 votes, with Montgomery receiving 331 ballots cast for him to opponent Mark Fiore's 119.
He said his first steps would be to begin community policing, improve school and senior relations programs with law enforcement, work on the implementation of the police department and consider applying for the police chief's position in town.
Fiore, a Killington resident and Woodstock and Castleton part time police officer, also campaigned for the first constable position after the resignation of Scott Bigelow.
Montgomery, who held the town's second constable position for years then as of late was the acting first constable, privately and publicly fended off his opponent by touting his years of experience working in the town as a law enforcer and his plans of implementing the proactive style of community-oriented policing.
Montgomery started his law enforcement career in Killington as a special officer hired in 1999 by then First Constable Howie Zack.
Both candidates are youthful and run their own small businesses in town outside of law enforcement.
But the race grew divisive and revealing.
About a month before the election, Montgomery gained approval from the Select Board to put an article on the ballot that symbolized the start of a paid, part-time police department. Voters passed article 4, authorizing the Select Board to appoint a first constable, and if needed, a second constable.
Montgomery said this measure ensures progress in the town in two ways, by providing Killington constables with more critical information on who they are pulling over, burglary and case follow ups and by taking the politics out of law enforcement.
"You don't want to have to worry about who you are pulling over and if they are going to vote for you the next day just because you are doing your job. Police officers should not have to be campaigning and asking for votes," Montgomery said at last week's meeting.
Article 4 was passed last week by a vote of 281-166.
Those voting against the article were very upset that voters will no longer decide who is in charge of law enforcement in town.
At an informational meeting prior to the vote last week, some residents shouted from the crowd that the article was meant to guarantee Montgomery had a job despite the outcome of the first constable vote.
Resident Charlie Demarest urged residents to vote down the article because he said it was "an erosion of their rights," claiming that police officers would be hired from out of town and voters could no longer decide for or against who they like.
Resident Jan Rich applauded the Select Board for putting the article on the ballot to ensure more information on out-of-state drivers is available.
Mark Fiore, in an interview after the election, said he felt like the police department concept was a good one although there was not enough money in the budget to pay for a chief and the budget itself was "not realistic."
Fiore said he would not apply for the second constable position.
When asked why he ran for the first constable position, Fiore responded, "the only proactive police officer up there (in Killington) was Ryan Soos."
Soos, a Killington resident, was hired by the town as a special officer in 2010, and according to a resignation letter provided by the town, Soos resigned from the position in August 2012.
In multiple interviews in late 2012, Webb, Selectman Jim Haff, Whit Montgomery and Scott Bigelow would not say why Soos left the position.
When asked to elaborate on Soos and his "proactive" law enforcement in town, Fiore would not provide details.

Comment: Now that we are going to a police department there is no need for a second constable as the main public safety function is in the PD's purview. The constable duties now are mainly monitoring public meetings and mercy euthanizing of injured wildlife.
Vito

Killington meets with state officials to better understand obstacles to growth

Mountain Times

By Polly Lynn posted Mar 14, 2013

 

On Thursday, Feb. 28 Jim Haff, former Selectman, hosted a meeting with state representatives at the offices of SP Land Company to discuss some recent developments in Town of Killington and some of the roadblocks preventing faster progress. The meeting was attended by Steve Selbo, president of SP Land, Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, Seth Webb, Killington town manager, and Tao Smith, headmaster of Killington Mountain School, who each briefed the panel on projects underway and long term goals. Also in attendance were Phil Black, owner of the Lookout Tavern, representing the Killington Chamber, Vito Rasenas, self-described "community activist," and Jeff Temple, director of mountain operations at Killington/Pico. Representatives from the state included Secretary Lawrence Miller from Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Kiersten Bourgeois, senior project manager with the Agency of Commerce and the new contact for Connect Vermont, and Christine Thompson director of Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division.
The two hour meeting was educational, even if solutions were not always forthcoming.
After presenting an overview of the Village Master Plan, Selbo explained an unusual obstacle he was facing in three regional planning commissions that had teamed up to insist upon a legacy agreement from 1998 (made when American Ski Company owned Killington and had their own village plan.) That agreement would hold SP Land partially responsible for over 130 miles of roads and 17 major intersections along the Routes 4/100/103 corridors. The three planning commissions working together are Rutland RPC, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee RPC and Southern Windsor Country RPC, Selbo said. They are three of the 11 total regional planning commissions in the state.

"Regional planning commissions get money from VTrans, so it's good to know when they are off-rail," said Secretary Miller.

According to Selbo, the three planning commissions continue to insist upon the legacy agreement despite the fact that VTrans approved the traffic impact study for the first phase of the project and found there to be minimal impact on transportation. Selbo says there has been an ongoing attempt to speak with the executive directors of the regional planning commissions but little progress has been made. He noted that the new executive director of the Rutland RPC, Kris Hughes, has brought a new opportunity to discuss the issues. SP Land believes progress is now being made with the Rutland RPC.

Vermont's Act 250, also known as the Land Use and Development Act, was established in 1970 to review large-scale development projects using 10 criteria designed to safeguard the environment, community life, and aesthetic character of the state.

SP Land has been working toward developing the Village at the base of Killington Resort since 2008. They completed their Act 250 submittal in February of 2012 and have been "working with ANR since to come up with agreeable solutions to a couple of items, which we hope to have wrapped up next week," said Selbo. Four weeks of open evidence will follow, which Selbo hopes will end by April. "It's been a long 14 month process."
Secretary Miller said that he is aware of this scenario. "There is a state initiative to give projects an early temperature check that is honest," he said, that way money and time will not be wasted. "90% of all permits are on time and with no conditions," Miller continued. "But this project is almost exactly what Act 250 was designed for."

Secretary Miller is well aware that the process can take a long time to get through, but thinks the SP Land's plans for a Village are "entirely consistent with Killington's general land use plan."

The timeline and general uncertainty, however, makes it very difficult for the resort and town to make other plans for development.

Killington Resort and Pico Mountain President Mike Solimano knows infrastructure at the Resort needs improvement, "especially our two main base lodges, Snowshed and Ramshead lodges" he noted, but says its difficult when "for 15 years we've been planning to rip them down." Indeed, most long-term plans depend largely on whether or not the Village will be built. "It determines the focus entirely," Solimano says.

The Resort and town have the capacity to feed and sleep thousands of visitors and the terrain to keep skiers and riders challenged and entertained, but without improvements to infrastructure, Killington is not able to keep up with its competitors, Solimano said.
"We hope the Village will contribute to increased destination visits, where people plan longer stays here," he said. "We have a really big resort that people want to come to for a week, we have the terrain, but we're missing some of the off-mountain things, that's where the growth is… we're trying to figure out how to pack in 50% more each day… we have a lot of excess capacity mid-week."

Waiting for the Village plans to go through, is holding up summer investments too, says Solimano. "It's hard to know where to invest in summer, when the plans keeps changing… do you go and build something in the middle up there based on one plan? We just don't know."

STATE INVESTMENT

Town Manager Seth Webb presented an overview of the Economic Development initiatives the Town is pursuing and discussed how state funds could continue to support the Town. His presentation reviewed investments in a municipal Golf Course, marketing and events, a feasibility study for creating a municipal water system in conjunction with the ski village, plans to enhance the gateway and Killington Road and more.

Webb also explained how Act 60, which took effect in 1997, has affected Killington small businesses and residents. He showed a chart illustrating the increase in property tax paid in 1996 compared with 2012, and noted that Killington competes with other resort communities beyond Vermont's boarders.

"Frankly, I really don't see a constitutional amendment happening to amend the state's responsibility for education… it is not likely to go from a state to a local responsibility," said Secretary Miller. "It was found that there was a fundamental failure of the state's education system and this was the solution they came up with," he said, admitting that the current policy is not a perfect solution either.

Miller strongly encouraged Killington not to expect any major change in the state tax structure, at least until 2015. "Equity in state-funded education is part of the Vermont Constitution and that is not going to change… we came out of the recession better than our neighboring states, so we are going to be careful not to mess up what is working with our tax policies."

Act 60, also known as the Equal Educational Opportunity Act, was signed into law in June 1997 in response to a Vermont Supreme Court decision (Brigham v. State of Vermont) that said the state must provide "substantially equal access" to education for all Vermont students, regardless of where they reside.

Miller pointed to the loss of population in Vermont schools as another big concern that has further driven up the cost of education per student. The problem is often attributed to the larger trend of Vermont losing population, but "Vermont is not declining faster than the rest of white America," Miller noted. "The problem is that we lack diversity here, the states that are growing have diverse populations… We need to be friendly and welcoming of ethnicity to our towns," Miller said.

Jim Haff, saw the tax burden as an opportunity for the state, suggesting that the state invest in Killington's growth, because "the state will get it back in alcohol, room and meals tax," he said, explaining that, if the leverage investment were to bring in an additional $3 million in spending, the state would make it back in taxes collected.

Secretary Miller said municipalities should use their own tax base for such investments in themselves. "That's exactly what a municipal tax is for," he said. Adding that the state simply does not have money to invest in economic development for individual towns. "The legislature is busy with low income housing and keeping peoples heat on… last year we had people freeze in their homes when we ran out of funds… we simply do not have the resources to invest in town's infrastructure for growth. It just isn't going to happen," he said. "I think we can all be creative when it comes to how to get things done smoother and more efficiently… those are the things we can do to help accelerate the process."

Miller went on to explain that the tourism industry in Vermont lost credibility in 2008 when an impact study that reported huge returns in tourism investments was easily shown to be over inflated. As a result, the state cut the tourism budget from $6 million to $2 million. The situation has improved slightly since Irene, Miller said, noting that the industry really came together to report "all roads open." There as been no criticism of tourist spending, since then, he said. But there has not been an increase either.

Tao Smith, headmaster of Killington Mountain School, the second largest business in Killington, told the panel about the significant growth the school has experienced over the last decade, and the positive economic impact KMS has had on the Town of Killington and the Resort. But he also said it was evident that "Killington suffers from lack of investment in infrastructure." When being compared to some of the other local offerings "some families are skipping by us," he said.

 KMS currently has about 300 families in the KMS weekend club, many of whom are desperate to make lifestyle change, Smith says. "I like to think of us as Killington's most loyal customers; you've got us rain or shine," he said.

Secretary Miller pointed to these families in addition to the thousands of weekend visitors that come to Killington each season as the audience that the town should be targeting for second home ownership and/or primary home ownership for those that can work remotely. "You have lifestyle to sell," he said.

Miller admitted that initial investments in growth are often high for a municipality like Killington, but explained that when a municipality invests in itself the return over time makes up for it. "It's like an arc," he said, explaining that the initial spending to bring more people in is eventually off-set by a larger and wealthier grand list on which to spread the tax burden.

The discussion came to an end with a greater understanding of the policies and some of the obstacles those policies create for growth.

Vito Rasenas concluded the meeting pleading for any help the state could give to move the Village progress along. "The rising tide lifts all boats," he said.

Comment:
If Patty McGrath and the current Select Board are serious about economic development in this town they should be doing everything in their power to move this project forward.
Vito

McGrath clinches seat from financial watchdog

Mountain Times
By Cristina Kumka posted Mar 14, 2013

With her impassioned plea to bring more civility to Select Board meetings, innkeeper Patty McGrath clinched the three-year Select Board seat from Jim Haff at last week's annual town meeting election. McGrath won by just 26 votes, 222-196.

The co-owner of the Inn at Long Trail said in a recent interview that her immediate goal is to "set a different tone... more respectful and more dialogue oriented."
It is McGrath's second run for a Select Board seat, losing in 2011 to Bernie Rome by just three votes.

Haff won his seat in 2011 partly due to his knowledge of tax assessments and helping residents fight through the process.

During his term, Haff elicited controversy among board members and town employees with his outspoken opinions and financial proposals, including increasing the amount town employees pay for healthcare.

Haff adamantly justified these positions saying he was motivated by saving taxpayer dollars.
Last year, Haff was credited with finding more than $700,000 in undesignated funds between the lines of the town's audit report. This year, most of that money is being used to offset budget expenses and is helping to keep the town's municipal tax rate level.

McGrath has publicly opposed Haff's argumentative approach at meetings and has been an adamant supporter of the town's publicly-funded economic development and tourism initiatives.
EDT funds in 2013 have been spread throughout the town's General Fund budget to offset town expenses, including the indebted Green Mountain National Golf Course.

At one point, the town's EDT funds, strictly flowing from a 1 percent local options tax, were used exclusively to fuel the town's municipal EDT department that generated events mostly in the summer and fall. It was a concept unique to Vermont. In 2009, a year after the tax was instituted, Killington was the only town in the state to use its EDT funds to form a town tourism department, according to state officials.

Now absent a department director, a steady budget and an advisory commission, McGrath said the direction of economic development is on the table for the new Select Board to discuss.

"It's certainly on the agenda and we will look at it to see how we will move forward. I don't know exactly what direction it would take. To integrate the EDT functions with other town functions has a lot of potential, but my concern would be if we continue to see a guarantee of economic development. It leaves open the possibility that we could ignore economic development. I want to make sure economic development is not pushed on the back burner," she said.

At an informational town meeting prior to last week's vote attended by about 100 residents, Haff handed out a draft document from July of last year that proposed  privatizing many of the economic development functions the town currently manages.

McGrath called the document "much to do about nothing."

She said after discussions with chamber members, she learned the document was the result of a consultant's report that looked at  getting rid of the local options tax and transferring many of the economic development functions of the town to a privately funded foundation.  The idea was based on examples from Vail and Stowe resorts.

McGrath said the document was the result of brainstorming between community members in how to solve the problem of funding economic development in the future.

The private foundation concept was one solution posed, according to McGrath, and it wasn't fully embraced by those participating in the discussions.

Cristina Kumka is a correspondent for The Mountain Times. She can be reached directly at 
 cristina_kumka@yahoo.com

Comment: Interesting how both McGrath and Bianchi backed away from that document. While it was never officially adopted the document itself is a window into the though processes of the town's "movers and shakers" at the time. Those meetings at time were not "much ado about nothing." These people were looking to regain some sort of public monetary support for their private interests.
 "McGrath ......has been an adamant supporter of the town's publicly-funded economic development and tourism initiatives." That quote tells you all you need to know where McGrath sits on the issues. That study was initiated by the very Chamber of Commerce forces to whose philosophy she so adamantly subscribes to and who supported her campaign in the recent election with a full page ad. Many people who I have spoken with seem adamant that the Chamber had no business endorsing any candidate.
Bianchi, in Selectman's Concerns last meeting, disavowed that the document's preparation was done in secret. Well it wasn't exactly done in public either.
McGrath has stated repeatedly during the campaign and in the recent meeting that she is not about necessarily cutting spending but looking "value" and future benefits from spending as a way for efficient government.
 And what about the statement of a "guarantee of economic development". What is that supposed to mean. Is it similar to "every child needs substantially equal access to education." Are we going to be liable to give businesses, which in our capitalist economic model are supposed to be competitive, a level playing field with tax dollars?
Vito

Killington leaders looking to the year ahead

Rutland Herald

Killington leaders looking to the year ahead

By JOSH O’GORMAN STAFF WRITER

   ‍KILLINGTON — The Select Board discussed its priorities for the upcoming year and made appointments during its annual reorganization meeting Tuesday night.    It was the first Board meeting to include Patty McGrath, who on Town Meeting Day unseated incumbent Selectman Jim Haff and secured a three-year seat on the Board.    For the first order of business, board members re-elected Chris Bianchi to serve as chairman. Shortly thereafter, Selectman Bernie Rome welcomed McGrath and acknowledged her presence on the board might result in fewer unanimous votes during the next year.    “Moving on, to what historians might call the ‘post-Haff era,’ I expect there will be a lot of 2-1 votes this year, and that’s OK,” Rome said. “We don’t always need to come to a unanimous decision.”    The board adopted a new policy that will allow board members to halt comment from the audience. Previously, selectmen were prohibited from making such a motion.    “I think we should have the abilityasaboardtosay,‘We’ve addressed this and need to move on,’” Bianchi said.    Town Manager Seth Webb presented a list of items the board might want to take up, including a transition from a calendar year to a fiscal year.    “Right now, we begin the budget process in October and November before we even know where we’re finishing for the year,” Webb said. “The first couple months of the year, we’re spending money before we have an approved budget.”    In a pair of issues that are related by geography at the very least, Webb suggested that some action be taken on the ‍Killington Teen Center building, as well as the possibility of updating the way residents dispose of their garbage.    The vacant Teen Center is in a poor state and would cost far more to repair than to demolish. Webb said removing the structure would free up more room for residents to drop off their garbage.    Also, the town’s trash compactor is old and in need of repairs. Webb said the town could contract with Casella Waste Systems in Rutland for a Zero-Sort facility. The contract would not cost any more than the town pays now to dispose of its garbage, he said, but it would require a long-term commitment.    Another item on the horizon is the future of the former Bill’s Country Store, which was purchased by a consortium of local business owners with the expressed intent of turning it into a tourist information center. Rome said he might oppose the project if private money is not raised.    “I think the business community should be putting a fund together to make Bill’s Country Store a nice project,” Rome said. “If they are waiting for us, I think that’s the wrong thing to do. I see no effort to make it happen. I’m moving in the direction of being opposed to it.”    The board also made several appointments, including David Rosenblum and Jennifer Connolly to the Planning Commission; Martin Post to the Zoning Board of Adjustment; Stephen Nisimblat and Chris Clarke to the Recreation Commission; Ken Lee to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission; David Rosenblum to the Rutland Region Transportation Council; Todd Kowalczyk as energy coordinator; and Lou Grob and John Curtis will serve in the dual roles of fence viewers and weighers of coal.    The board will next meet at 7:30 p.m. March 26 at the Town Office. josh.ogorman

Comment: I hope the following decision, "The board adopted a new policy that will allow board members to halt comment from the audience. Previously, selectmen were prohibited from making such a motion." is not the start of a slippery slope to shut up citizens. But that's what it looks like to me given that it's such a priority after the balance on the board shifted to the "EDT". Not mentioned was Bianchi's suggestion to the board that the EDTC structure and role be reconsidered at a future meeting. Sounds like we're going backwards instead of forwards. 
Interestingly enough, Mr. O'Gorman neglected to mention the board made no mention of the citizen comments as to what the board should consider priorities in the coming year. I brought up the Ski Village which the board unanimously endorsed last year. My contention was that the board should make moving the project along through whatever influence it could bring to bear with state authorities, "errant appellants" in the Act 250 process and stonewalling Regional Planning Commissions. After all it is an estimated billion dollar project which would improve the town's, region's and state's economic health. After all we turned this town upside down, shaking out its pockets and changing hundreds of years of political structure in the name of economic development (and that for only a few business owners). 
You know what response I got. Chris Bianchi said, "So what you're saying is the board needs to educate itself on what's going on with the ski village." Huh? Where have they been? On the moon. You've got to wonder, if they need to be educated on this issue, whether they belong on the board. This happens to be the biggest thing that's come down the pike in this town since the advent of the resort, yet they, at least Bianchi, profess ignorance as to its current status.  You've really got to wonder! This is what we, well, at least a slight majority of the townspeople, voted for?
And to top it all off, they installed Jennifer Connolly, whose strident testimony at the Act 250 against the Ski Village, contributes to the delay of the project, as a Planning Commission member. Fox in the chicken coop?
Vito 

Taming the cost of education in Vt.

Rutland Herald

By Peter Hirschfeld
Vermont Press Bureau | March 10,2013

MONTPELIER — As school budgets continue an upward trend that has seen the cost of public education nearly double since 2001, lawmakers are looking for new ways to help local boards finally bend the curve.

In all but 16 of the 244 school districts that saw budget votes Tuesday, voters said “yes’ to education spending that will rise on average by 5.3 percent. The figures will bring statewide spending on public education to $1.44 billion in fiscal year 2014 — almost a third of all government spending in Vermont.

Increases over the past decade have come despite nearly a 20 percent decline in the student population, which has fallen from about 104,000 in 2001 to 85,000 today. And while the Democrats who control both the executive and legislative branches continue to preach the importance of local control, lawmakers have begun contemplating policies aimed at bending upward spending trajectories in the state’s 307 schools.

Asked whether the Legislature should assume a more hands-on role in containing local education costs, House Speaker Shap Smith said he isn’t sure.

“I don’t think that we know at this point in time whether that should be our role, and if it is our role, what we would do to bend the cost of education,” Smith said.

But he left open the door to the possibility of a more intensive effort at cost containment than Montpelier has undertaken in years past.

“If what we did would improve the quality of the schools, then I think it would be appropriate for us to have a heavier hand,” Smith said last week.

Smith isn’t the only prominent lawmaker voicing a willingness to consider heightened legislative intervention in local spending decisions.

The House committees that focus on the budget, taxes and education convened a rare three-committee hearing last week to “brainstorm” potential cost-cutting maneuvers. Every member of each committee was asked to throw out ideas they’d like to explore.

Rep. Martha Heath, a Westford Democrat and chairwoman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said she’s interested in looking for ways to address a staff-to-student ratio that, at about 10-to-1, is lower than any state in the nation.

The ratio is one of the main reasons that Vermont’s per-pupil spending — $17,400 as of 2011, according to a report commissioned by the Legislature — is third-highest in the country. Heath said she’s also interested in finding ways to promote a statewide teacher contract.

“I want this body to explore those two ideas and the potential for us to encourage those ideas,” Heath said.

Rep. Adam Greshin, a Warren Independent, said the portion of school spending dedicated to salaries and benefits means that any discussion about cost must necessarily focus on staffing levels.

“The reality is that something between 70 and 80 percent of our costs are labor-related,” Greshin said. “So there’s no way we can reduce costs without looking at that.”

Other lawmakers pressed for reforms to the state’s notoriously complicated school-funding system, in which the lion’s share of revenue for local school budgets is collected via a statewide property tax. Critics say the system, created when lawmakers passed Act 60 in 1997, disconnects local voters from the financial consequences of their spending decisions.

Concern over the rising education costs isn’t new in Montpelier, and it always tends to peak around Town Meeting Day. Gov. Peter Shumlin has sounded the alarm over rapidly increasing education costs, but said responsibility for fixing the problem lies with local school boards, and the voters whose approval they need to pass budgets.

Unlike his Republican predecessor, Gov. James Douglas, Shumlin says Montpelier should resist the urge to impose spending or staffing mandates on local districts.

Shumlin said he supports some of the measures under consideration this year, including the elimination of a “small-schools grant” that, some lawmakers argue, provides a financial disincentive to consolidation.

Lawmakers are also considering tweaks to the school-funding formula, including harsher penalties for per-pupil spending that exceeds the statewide average.

But so long as the Legislature respects the sovereignty of local districts, Shumlin said, none of the legislative initiatives will stem the rising tide of costs.

“I don’t want to pretend that any of them will make a big difference in the rates that are being determined by local decisions and local spending,” Shumlin said last month. “There can’t be a school board member in Vermont that doesn’t understand that the current rate of growth is not sustainable, and that we have to have conversations locally about how we can more efficiently deliver a great education in Vermont in a more affordable way for taxpayers.”

The extent to which lawmakers opt to insinuate themselves in that local process remains to be seen. Heath said the brainstorming session was the beginning of a process that may or may not yield new legislation.

“We need to decide on a process for how we winnow those (ideas) down to things that we think are doable,” Heath said. “We’re headed in that direction, but we’re not there yet.”

chainsaw 5 pts

What local control. The minute the state initiated Act 60 local control was lost. Receiving towns have absolutely no incentive to control costs. It is due to this funding mechanism that many school districts built overcapacity and staffed schools without any concern or plan for the future student levels. Take as much as quickly as possible seemed to be the governing creed, because I'm sure they understood this ridiculous spending philosophy could not continue for very long.
So called gold towns did not have any control. They were forced to spend at certain levels because of penalties if they spent over the state's per pupil threshold.
And a ten to one student teacher ratio. Private schools don't have that. Why are we number one. Our school spending should be tied to the our states relative domestic product. Another words we should spend based on income we produce.It's not like we're the number one state in per capita income but we spend like it.

27 minutes agoReplyLike

Charles Laramie 6 pts

The problem that I see is throughout this article no one mentions the cost of Special Education in Vermont. The cost of Special Education in VT has risen from $60 million in 1990 to $290,000.000 million for FY 2014.

The 2008 follow up report on the 1998 Blue Ribbon Commission states that the Vermont taxpayer receives little or no return on that. The Special Education system in Vermont is in need of a massive overhaul. The current system is broken and yet since 1990 the cost has risen $17 million a year on average.

Why? As this article has stated the student numbers are dropping. It's interesting that over the last 12 years administrative salaries have risen right along with Special Education. Should this parallel be looked at?

How did the cost of Special Education reach $290,.000.000 in Vermont. For this price Vermont could hire 6500 teachers at $45,000 a year and Vermont students would be much better served. There is not an experienced  teacher or Special Educator in Vermont's schools who wouldn't tell you this. As long as it was in private and off the record. People are afraid.

Let me ask this question: Do Vermonters even have any idea of what Special Education really is or is supposed to accomplish. It makes up 1/3 of the school budget...it would behoove you to know.

More lost skiers helped by police

Rutland Herald

March 10,2013

 

KILLINGTON — A Canadian youth who went out of bounds at the Killington Ski Resort was found safe Friday night, as were two lost New York skiers earlier in the day.

Vermont State Police said Andrew Baldwin, 13, of Montreal was reported missing at about 5:20 p.m. He had been skiing with his older brother, police said, and was last seen when the two of them went off the Ridge Run trail.

Baldwin’s mother called police when he was two hours overdue to meet up with his family.

Members of the state police and Search Rescue Team, Killington Ski Patrol, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department,and the Killington Fire Department assisted in the search.

Baldwin was located a short time later uninjured, police said.

It was the second of two incidents that day. Two men from Highland, N.Y., also got lost after skiing out of bounds and were found by police two hours later.

 

Comment: Below is all you need to know. 

Vito

Out-of-bounds fine for skiers is shelved

By DAVE GRAM
The Associated Press | February 27,2013

 

Lost snowboarder Jack Lambert, left, and skier Zack Ross of Vernon, N.J., call their families to tell them they are all right after being lost at the Killington Ski Resort earlier this year.

MONTPELIER — A wooded glade deep in trackless snow is sometimes too much for skiers to resist, and Vermont lawmakers appear likely to leave it that way for now.

A recent spate of skiers going past warning signs, sometimes ducking under cables meant to block them, and then needing to be rescued after they get lost in the backcountry, had lawmakers briefly considering a bill to impose a $500 fine for such behavior.

But after hearing from ski industry and law enforcement officials alike on Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee decided to shelve the idea, at least for this year.

“If we start criminalizing what we all think is dumb, we’d have an endless avalanche of legislation,” said Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia.

Backcountry ski enthusiasts told the committee they didn’t want to lump together those who enjoy the sport responsibly with people who take foolish risks.

“Backcountry skiing is really a jewel in the crown of Vermont,” said David Goodman, author of the Appalachian Mountain Club book, “Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast.” If people approach the sport with the right gear and a good sense of where they’re going, the result is often a spectacular winter day, Goodman said.

Washington state has a law making it a misdemeanor when a skier or snowboarder heads into territory marked by signs as forbidden. In Colorado, resorts make their own rules.

Vermont has a law allowing rescue agencies and resorts to bill skiers who get lost after ignoring posted warnings. But even that appeared to give Capt. Robert Evans of the Vermont State Police pause. Evans’ duties include overseeing state police rescue operations.

The threat of fines or paying rescue costs might cause someone to try to find his or her own way out and put off calling for help until after dark, when temperatures are dropping and rescue operations become tougher. Evans said he’d much rather police get the call earlier than later.

“If there’s anything that keeps them from doing that it’s problematic for us,” he said.

Even the principal sponsor of the bill, Sen. Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, said he wasn’t “wedded to the idea.”

Mullin said he filed the legislation after hearing the frustration of officials at the Killington ski area at the number of skiers who required rescue after skiing out of bounds recently. The area is in Mullin’s district.

Evans and Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn said Vermont State Police had participated 15 times — nearly all of them in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, when Vermont saw heavy snow and big crowds at resorts. Fifty people were rescued in those incidents, they said.

Sen. Richard Sears, D-Bennington and chairman of the committee, initially appeared sympathetic to the idea of a fine, but said later there didn’t seem to be sufficient interest among committee members. Sears said the approach is likely to be “wait a year and sit on the bill.”

Killington voters approve school budget

Rutland Herald

By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | March 05,2013

 

Anthony Edwards / Staff Photo Killington residents gather at the Killington Elementary School on Monday evening to discuss the school's budget.

KILLINGTON — Blame it on the weather or perhaps the utter lack of controversy, but about two dozen voters approved the budget for the Killington Elementary School on Monday afternoon.

“It’s so nice to see those of you who are not with us today,” joked Loren Pepe, Killington Elementary School’s principal, as she looked out on a mostly empty gymnasium and an audience microphone that went unused during the 30-minute meeting.

Those voters who did brave snow showers to come to the meeting — which preceded a lasagna dinner fundraiser organized by the Sherburne United Church of Christ and an informational town meeting prior to today’s voting by Australian ballot — approved a budget of $1,562,312 for fiscal year 2013-14.

The budget is an increase of $61,489, or 4.1 percent, more than the current budget of $1,500,823.

Rather than field nonexistent questions from the audience, Pepe touted her school’s recent scores on the New England Common Assessment Program’s test. Ninety-two percent of students scored proficient or better in reading; 85 percent for math, 73 percent for science and 100 percent for writing. All of these scores are above the state average.

School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Iannantuoni — who was re-elected in an uncontested race to another three-year term on the board — discussed some of the finances of the school. Teacher salaries are increasing 2 percent, while insurance is up 14 percent, a common driver of school budget increases this year.

Iannantuoni said during the past three years, the school has seen tuition revenues increase by $65,000. Tuition students now compose 40 percent of the student body, she said.

Plymouth Elementary School closed its doors in 2010.

In another uncontested race, Eileen Godfrey was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of the Woodstock Union High School and Middle School.

Voters also approved an article establishing a health care reserve fund, which will be paid for with existing funds.

josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com

 

Comment: Hopefully this budget increase, while understandable, does not spur a corresponding increase in the municipal budget. I have to read  up on Act 60/68, the but from what I recall of Act 60 the actual cost of the increase is going to be greater taxwise because the state penalizes the town if spending is greater than the threshold they set. That's why so many school budgets in the state did NOT pass. I'm going to alert Chris Bianchi, our resident expert on the school tax and as him for input so we can have a clear picture of the consequences.
Vito

This Just In: McGrath a victor in ‍Killington

Rutland Herald

By JOSH O’GORMAN STAFF WRITER

  ‍KILLINGTON — Residents hit the polls Tuesday to unseat a selectman and elect a new constable for possibly the last time.   In a battle of innkeeper versus innkeeper, Patty Mc-Grath beat incumbent Jim Haff for a three-year seat on the Select Board. Haff, who served one term, was hardly broken up when reached at Mogul’s Sports Pub and Restaurant in ‍Killington.   “I’m having a celebration party,” said Haff, owner of the Butternut Inn and Pancake House. “I’m celebrating getting my life back. The people voted and that’s the way America works.”   Haff, who has exhibited volatile behavior at Select Board meetings as both an audience member and a selectman, expressed tentative support for McGrath, owner of the Inn at Long Trail.   “Patty said she’ll work with everybody and let’s hope she’ll keep her promise,” Haff said. “I’ll be there when the budget comes up again in November.”   McGrath was also celebrating Tuesday night.   “I’m happy. I’m looking forward to helping the town move forward,” McGrath said from a celebration party at the Birch Ridge Inn in ‍Killington. “Right now, I’m just looking to change the way we do things in ‍Killington. I want things to be more discussion-oriented and calmer.”   E.J. Willis, who was also running for the Select Board seat, received 40 votes. Willis announced she was dropping out of the race during Monday night’s public information meeting and she encouraged residents to vote for McGrath.   “I’m glad Patty won. She’s a great candidate.” Willis said. “I’m excited with the prospects of the town of ‍Killington.”   In the other contested race, Whit Montgomery beat Mark Fiore for the two-year post of first constable by a vote of 331-119.   “I’m looking forward to serving the taxpayers, the second-home owners and the business people of ‍Kil‍‍lington, now and in the future,” Montgomery said. “I’m glad the people recognized my experience, both on the job and in life.”   Fiore was upbeat in the face of his loss.   “Despite the outcome, I feel like I won either way,” Fiore said.   It will be the last time voters elect their constable, for the time being, at least. By a vote of 281-166, voters decided to give authority to the town to appoint constables in the future.   Vo t e r s a p p r o v e d a m u n ic i p a l b u d g et of $5,093,080, an increase of $252,168, or 5 percent, compared to the current budget of $4,840,912.

  “I think it’s a strong budget that will allow the town to move forward and I look forward to working with the Select Board to make that happen,” said Town Manager Seth Webb.

 

Comment: I sure hope Patty moves the town forward.  Instead of backward to when the town was put into debt we’re still paying off because of the influence of the very businesses who backed her. I don’t know what she means by “wanting things more discussion oriented” as she complained that the meetings were too long in recent years.

But, no more sour grapes. She won and we’re going to have to live with the consequences for at least two years as Bernie’s seat is the next up for re-election and we’ll have a chamber slanted board for that time.

I know it’s a difficult thing to consider in the face of defeat but now more than ever we need a presence at the Select Board meetings.

A New Day Has Dawned

In yesterday's election, incumbent Jim Haff was narrowly defeated by Patty McGrath in a stunning reversal. At about 8:30 am, Chris Bianchi, current Select Board chairman, who had been working on McGrath's campaign,  all but conceded victory for Jim Haff . I suppose he determined this from their last minute canvassing of voters the previous evening while searching for votes.
I was at the polling place at 7:20 am until 6:00 pm, trying to coax more votes for Jim. During the morning through early afternoon, my informal exit polling process of reading people's reactions to my waving a Haff pamphlet at them, smile, yes for Haff, frown, no for Haff, was confirming what Chris had said. Then around 2:30 - 3:00 pm things changed; suddenly frowns and white knuckles squeezing steering wheels became more and more prevalent. Lack of eye contact by voters leaving became disturbing. An uncomfortable feeling was slowly working its way up my spine.
Periodic checks of the voter turnout kept steadily increasing until it reached about 420 at around 5:30 pm just before I left. We did not count on such a large turnout, neither did Patty's people. The previous local election on had 391 voters. What seemed to be a route was suddenly a new ballgame. As it turned out Patty won by 26 votes.
A post game analysis speculated the likely reason for the high voter turnout was Whit Montgomery's campaign for First Constable. He canvassed a large cross section of voters in town which apparently included many McGrath supporters and Haff exorcists.
Congratulations to Patty for her hard fought nail biting victory.
Congratulations to Whit on his overwhelming victory for First Constable and, paradoxically, Article 4 which will essentially make the First Constable position largely ceremonial.

This Just In: WUHS $11.3 million school budget passes

Rutland Herald
March 07,2013

WOODSTOCK — The $11.3 million Woodstock Union Middle/High School budget passed despite being defeated in one of the towns it serves.

Woodstock Union High School Principal Greg Schilinger said the unofficial results were 985-447 with 322 blank ballots. A total of 1,754 voted on the school budget.

Bridgewater was the only town to defeat the Woodstock Union Middle/High School budget, 35-42. The budget passed in Barnard, 105-41; Pomfret, 59-28; Killington, 327-113; Reading, 45-28; and in Woodstock, 414-195.

Residents raised concerns leading up to the vote because it included layoffs and downgrading of faculty and staff from full-time to part-time positions. The layoffs include Erin Danner, the 2010 Math Teacher of the Year, an art teacher and two family/consumer science paraprofessionals.

According to the School Board, class sizes were a primary factor for cutting faculty and staff positions. The state recommends class sizes of 18 to 22 students and WUHS class sizes are currently 10 to 13 students per class.

Schilinger said the results will be made official at an upcoming School Board meeting.

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 Comment: You can really see what's wrong with this state's educational policies in this one article. When I went to school class sizes of 30-35 were the norm and I, in spite of being a slacker, got a great education. The recommended class sizes of 18 -22 are ludicrous, never mind the actual 10 -13.

Based upon the above numbers if the school doubled its class size it probably come close to halving its budget.  At least the salaries and benefits could be cut in half.

This kind of largess needs to stop if this state is going to remain financially soluble.

Real estate taxes are driving residents, second home owners, and businesses out of the state.

We're giving our kids the second best education in the country, yet they're leaving the state in droves upon graduation because there are no jobs or opportunities for growth in the state.