Killington Selectboard was elected to represent voters no act as supreme ruler (unedited)

Mountain Times

Letters to the Editor

6/25/15

I have a lot of serious concerns about what is happening in Killington.  As a long time resident and gardening professional, I'm alarmed at the decisions that have been made. I'm all for the beautification of Killington, but the decisions made on few new garden areas were not well thought out.  The amount of our money being spent on these limited areas is outrageous. There wasn't an open bidding process. One needs a private invitation to bid on a public project. If only certain people are asked , how does that allow new ideas to be put forth or get the most for our tax dollars. This was an opportunity for the people of Killington to work together on something we will have to live with. When attending a Select board meeting I tried asking questions about when and how these decisions were made.  Disturbingly, I was cut off, being told I was taking too much of their time. It was said they don't need our input, they can do what they want. This is our public property, not their private property. WE live here, WE pay taxes here, WE should have a say as to what happens here. Not only  does this Selectboard want to give our tax dollars away to a private entity, the KPAA, they are throwing it away on these gardens. They are spending thousands upon thousands of our tax dollars on labor, soil, compost and plants, that will struggle to survive  after being damaged by road salt and sand from winter plowing. Even worse is how our rights are being eroded in this town. Citizens input is the only public forum that we have to speak at. If our Selectboard doesn't have time to listen us and answer our questions there, maybe they shouldn't be serving on the board. When one has been voted into office, it doesn't make them a supreme ruler. This is supposed to be a democracy not a dictatorship.  Decisions are being made behind closed doors about the direction of this town.  Where is the transparency? Why do we find out after, when what's done is done. Just because they don't legally  have to include us in these processes, doesn't mean that they shouldn't. It's beyond disturbing. One Selectboard member was overheard criticizing the residents that attend meetings as "BOZOs".   If the people who do take their time to become involved and informed are considered clowns, what exactly do they think of those that don't?  It seems  that they are the ones turning this town into a circus with all the twisting and spinning that goes on.   Think about it, we're the ones paying for this show, through our ever increasing tax  burden!

Susan Maples

Email Chain regarding Killington Road/KPAA Garden Budget

Seth,

 

WOW! That is quite the budget. I have transformed numerous large properties and never required a budget of that size. They included the excavating work, trucking, all the materials used, such as soil, compost, stone, plants and labor.  It’s amazing the difference when it’s one’s own money being spent on private property  vs. tax payers’ money being spent on a public property. Maybe if the tax payers’ of this town had been allowed to participate, there might have been better decisions made. This town and the residents are divided because of these type of situations. It would’ve been good for people to be allowed to come together and  work on this public project. We’ll never know what other talent exists within our own town, and what could have been created. When the same people are afforded all the opportunities it allows them to take advantage of the system.  Whether you didn’t have to form a committee or have input from the people of this town, you should have.  It would have shown respect rather than disregard.  It’s not only disappointing it’s disturbing.

 

Susan Maples        

 

From: Seth Webb

Sent: Friday, June 19, 2015 4:34 PM

To: Vito & Susan

Subject: RE: Garden project

 

Susan,

To answer your questions:

In sourcing the contractor, we spoke/met/consulted/worked with Landworks, Ehmann Landscaping, Rock Landscaping, Mountainside Properties, and Landscape Design and Maintenance.  From those meetings, previous work, and references we determined that Landscape Design and Maintenance (LD&M) was the most cost effective/best qualified to meet our needs.  We then requested LD&M submit a proposal. They did and the proposal included a project description, cost estimates for materials and labor, and maps for planting.  The costs in the proposal were: 

Materials	8,178.20
Design	500.00
Labor	8,550.00

Seth

Seth Webb

Town Manager

Town of Killington

2706 River Road

Killington, VT 05751

sethwebb@town.killington.vt.us

802.422.3241 (office)

           www.killingtontown.com

From: Vito & Susan [mailto:Marla@Vermontel.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 9:16 AM
To: Seth Webb
Subject: Garden project

Seth,

Since I was cut off last night from asking any further questions, I would like to know who else was asked to bid, what was included in the bids and what were the bids?

Susan

Is the KPAA tail wagging the Killington Town dog?

Letter To The Editor
Mountain Times 
6/24/15
 
In response to Vince Chiarella’s letter to the editor “KPAA Questions Answered” in last week’s, June 18-24,2015 paper, his letter has no new information that is not included in the KPAA’s  presentation to the Killington Select Board or The Mountain Times article "Town officials support contracting with new association for marketing and events" of June 11th. As for the KPAA’s not just being a reformed Killington Chamber all one has to do is look at their website right in the main menu bar where it says “Chamber Info” to see that it in fact is. And furthermore they should not be using the Killington Town logo as it looks as if they are a town government entity which they are not.
I have more questions regarding the operations and funding of the KPAA. Why is a town with a budget of a just under five million dollars subsidizing a regional entity to the tune of $300k plus ($250,000 marketing and events budget and soon to be KPAA’s director Amy Morrison's salary and benefits)? You would think the KPAA supporters touted in the KPAA proposal, the Killington Resort, estimated annual revenues $60 million, Green Mountain Power est. annual revenue 3/4 of a BILLION dollars, and Rutland Regional Medical Center, est. annual revenues, 1/4 of a BILLION dollars, would be able to support this organization without batting an eye, never mind the rest of the KPAA members. If you calculate what just these three entities would supposedly pay at KPAA’s membership dues rate of 1.7% of sales the number is $1.8 million.
KPAA members receive discounted passes for their employees in return for membership dues, what does the town of Killington get for its $300k. Looks to me like we just get more bills to pay, like having to refurbish the front of the KPAA/Park and Ride parking lot. You would think the KPAA or the Resort would at least offer the townspeople some sort of break on the ski passes since we're going to fork over $300k plus.
An added note, the Select Board has chosen the “subcontractor” route to subsidizing the KPAA so as to bypass citizen approval during the budget process. Their logic is that they’re just subcontracting the town’s voter approved Marketing and Events budget to the KPAA. If they are truly representing all the townspeople and not just a narrow set of interests (not even townspeople necessarily), why bypass the citizenry’s review and approval of this proposal during the election? The answer seems pretty obvious – they’re worried it wouldn’t pass.
Another thing, not long ago I asked why the Visitor’s center was not open on weekends and the response I got was there was no one coming in then. Yet in the proposal its touted with the town paying the directors’s salary and handing over the town’s Marketing and Events budget that it will be able to stay open seven days a week.
And I still maintain the KPAA needs to change its logo so it does not look like they're running the town. Although given current events I'm starting to wonder if that isn't actually the case. Talk about the tail wagging the dog!

Vito Rasenas

Diane "Dee" Montgomery Passed Away

Diane M. Montgomery

June 24,2015

 

Diane M. Montgomery

Diane M. Montgomery

KILLINGTON — Diane “Dee” Martin Montgomery, 69, died Friday, June 19, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center following a short illness.

She was born Oct. 16, 1945, in Elizabeth, N.J., the daughter of Franklin Armstrong and Olive (Smyth) Martin.

She received a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and further her education with two years of graduate studies at New York University.

She became a commercial loan officer for Manufacturers Hanover at Rockefeller Center, where she met her future husband, Robert “Bob” Montgomery. After moving to Boston, she became a commercial loan officer for New England Merchants Bank.

After running a couple of ski houses in the late 1960s, the Montgomerys moved to Killington in 1971 and subsequently founded the Montgomery Co., a real estate firm.

Mrs. Montgomery opened the first full-service bank (the Howard Bank) in Killington. She was also a partner in several businesses.

She was one of the founders of Sunday School at United Church of Christ, an early member of Killington Women’s Club and an original trustee of the Killington Mountain School, where she also taught and tutored in French and Spanish.

She eventually became a private college counselor.

Mrs. Montgomery enjoyed cooking, tennis, boating and gardening.

Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Robert; two sons Robert of Killington and Brian of Melrose Mass.; and two grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents and two brothers George and Peter.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015, at United Church of Christ in Killington.

Memorial donations may be made to the Diane M. Montgomery Killington Scholarship Foundation, c/o Killington Elementary School, 686 Schoolhouse Road, Killington, VT 05751.

Arrangements are by Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock.

An online guest book can be found at cabotfh.com.

Longtime Killington educator makes a move

Rutland Herald

By Bryanna Allen
STAFF WRITER | June 20,2015

 

Anthony Edwards / Staff Photo

Loren Pepe, principal of Killington Elementary School, is moving to Rutland Intermediate School this fall.

KILLINGTON — Educators generally tidy up their desks at the end of the school year, but this year, one local administrator will do somewhat more than that.

Loren Pepe, principal of the Killington Elementary School, will step down after 23 years at KES to become one of two assistant principals at Rutland Intermediate School.

“It just feels like it’s the right time for me to make a change in my life,” Pepe said.

Pepe’s own children went through the Rutland City schools, and she said this is a chance for her to give back to the community that educated them.

She said she had been wanting to give back for a while now, and thought of possibly joining the city School Board.

“It just didn’t fit in with my schedule,” she said. “I was worried it would take away from what was going on here at my school.”

So when the job opened in Rutland, she said it was a good sign for her to head in that direction.

Pepe started out at KES as a special educator in 1991 and worked her way up to principal in 2005.

She said her responsibilities at Rutland Intermediate won’t be too far off from what she has been doing, just in a different space and at a new level.

The little elementary school on the mountain has 97 students. Rutland Intermediate has nearly 600.

“I’ve always been pretty good at knowing all of the names of the kids at my school. This will be a bit challenging,” she said, laughing.

But of the 21 applicants for the assistant principal position, Pepe was the most qualified candidate for that challenge.

“She is an incredibly distinguished principal and member of the community,” said Mary Moran, Rutland superintendent.

She said Pepe’s previous work in special education and reading specialist help set her apart.

“She goes above and beyond,” Moran said.

And even though Pepe has been on the education scene since 1985, she continues to further her own education by taking graduate courses.

“I think this will be a good way for me to learn,” she said of her new job.

But leaving the school that collects maple sap and incorporates skiing into the curriculum doesn’t come without a touch of sadness.

“I love my work here, and I will absolutely miss the people and the children,” Pepe said. “But I’m looking toward the future and what that brings. And I’m excited about it.”

Those familiar faces she will miss will also miss her.

Jennifer Iannantuoni has two children who attend KES.

Iannantuoni has been on the Killington School Board for nine years now, and those years have given her a chance to get to know the woman she called an intelligent, compassionate and professional educator.

“Loren will be missed by the community, the teachers, staff and the parents at KES, but, most importantly, by the students who have been the recipients of her unconditional encouragement and support for over 20 years,” Iannantuoni said.

The board is in the middle of the search for a new principal, but should have a replacement by next week, she said.

“Everyone wishes Mrs. Pepe well as she takes on the challenges of a new role,” Iannantuoni said. “And we look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that Mrs. Pepe has so steadfastly nurtured at our school.”

bryanna.allen @rutlandherald.com

Residents Complain To Select Board About Roads, Flowers

By Curt Peterson

Standard Correspondent

Killington — Citizens were eager to make comments at the June 16 select board meeting Tuesday evening. Susan Maples spoke first, introducing herself as a longtime gardening professional in the town, following with a list of at least six rapid-fire questions related to a town flower planting project she has seen going on.

“When was the decision made to do these plantings, and who made that decision?” she demanded to know. “Where in the budget is the money coming from? Why wasn’t a committee of residents formed to provide input into the project? How much time is being spent by town employees to prepare the beds and do the plantings? Who decided what to plant? Who is going to maintain the plants and water them, and where is the water going to come from?”

Maples, audibly upset, went on to proclaim that many of the flowers she has seen being planted are annuals and will have to be replaced every year. “And they’re expensive! This is wasteful!” she said. “The gardens should never be put at road level here. And how was the contractor who is doing the work chosen? Was the work bid out?”

Selectman Chris Bianchi tried to defuse the tension. “So, is your suggestion that we should get more residents’ input next time we make a decision regarding this kind of planting?”

Maples confirmed she thought more residents’ input should have been solicited, and pointed out that there are more than a few people who live in town who have expertise in gardening and would have helped make better decisions. She added that there are landscape and gardening contractors in town as well, and she objected to the town’s use of “someone from Rutland” to do the work.

Town Manager Seth Webb attempted to answer each of Maples’ original questions. “Actually,” he said, “most of the flowers being planted are perennials and not annuals. We got some good advice from knowledgeable employees from the golf course and solicited bids from three quality contractors. We chose the contractor doing the work because we’d had experience with him before and we were very satisfied with his work.” He went on to explain that some of the digging Maples claimed was unnecessary was actually done to get rid of excess stone and salt imbedded in the soil, and to explain that the board doesn’t always form a committee when making decisions. He agreed with Maples that more citizen input would have been a good idea.

Maples began to complain that the planning and bidding should have been public, and that much of the expense and waste resulted from not including residents’ participation.

Selectman Bianchi stopped her. “We really have to move on.”

“Of course you do!” Maples said, and left abruptly.

Andy Salamon remarked that better communications from the board might improve acceptance of the work the town does.

Next, referring to negative reactions since the board’s June 2 consideration of turning events planning over to the Killington Pico Area Association, a coalition made up of representatives from the town, Killington Resort and the Chamber of Commerce, Diane Rosenblum accused the selectmen of treating residents dismissively at meetings and not considering the townspeople’s interests when they “sub-contracted” events planning to “outsiders,” conflating the KPAA issue with a discussion at the last meeting about work being done on West Hill Road.

“I’ve dealt with New York City politicians and New York State politicians, so I know how to fight,” she said, “If you want to get down in the dirt and fight with somebody, pick on me!” and accused the Board of taking advantage of her husband David, “who is a gentleman,” and who was seated next to her.

Chris Bianchi defended the board, saying the residents were often contentious with them as well, and, referring to Pat Linnemayr’s call to stop all work on the West Hill Road project until a public hearing was held, he repeated that the select board has purview over road project decisions and that the town was not going to stop work every time a few residents didn’t like what they were doing.

Rosenblum said elected officials are supposed to expect contention from the voters. “You wanted to be elected, so you have to take it!”

James Rich, who also attended the June 2 meeting, said he thought “democracy has been aborted (sic) when citizens voice an opinion and their elected officials shut them down, but the officials are allowed to say their piece without interruption.”

Seth Webb presented research on various ways Killington might approach delinquent taxpayers, specifically relating to the process leading up to tax sales.

“The town is owed approximately $470 thousand in delinquent taxes,” he said. “But 62 percent of that are taxes from the 2014 year. Only 38 percent is from prior tax years.”

He said the current delinquent tax policy, adopted in 2009, is simple but vague. People are encouraged to set up payment plans to dispatch their delinquency, but often they do not follow through on the payment agreement, then there isn’t a clear path to resolution. He presented sample policies from Vermont League of Cities and Towns and a few other municipalities and asked the Board if they would like him to put together a new policy proposal, which they endorsed.

Andy Salamon asked if anyone had taken time to “pick up the phone and call these delinquent taxpayers.” He said the City of Philadelphia tried this and had amazing results.

Webb replied that he had, in fact, contacted many of the delinquents, and had mixed results. “I encouraged them to set up a payment plan, and some of them stuck to it and are now current. Others, however, did not and are not.”

It was also pointed out that the town ultimately gets a lot of revenue from penalties and interest charged on delinquent taxes, and if everyone is current, that money isn’t there.

undefined

Slip Lane Tentatively Scheduled To Be Repaved This Year

Below is email chain regarding the slip lane repaving 

Vito,

Yes, the slip lane will be repaved during the second phase of the Killington Road repaving project.  The schedule of that project is subject to the completion of the walkway extension project.  The final walkway extension plans are with AOT who must sign off before we are able to bid the project (since we are getting 80% of the sidewalk project paid for by grant funds, we have to get their approval).  We are monitoring this daily and working with them to complete it as soon as possible.  Our hope is to have it done this year, but the State is the unknown variable and we’ll know the final schedule by mid-July.

Seth

Seth Webb

Town Manager

Town of Killington

2706 River Road

Killington, VT 05751

sethwebb@town.killington.vt.us

802.422.3241 (office)

           www.killingtontown.com

From: Vito & Susan [mailto:Marla@Vermontel.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2015 8:00 AM
To: Seth Webb; Chet Hagenbarth; Chris Bianchi; Ken Lee; Patty McGrath
Cc: 

Subject: Slip lane paving

Sirs, Madam,

I am concerned about the West Hill Road slip lane repaving schedule. In prior conversations with the Select Board, the Town Manager, Seth Webb, and the Town Road and Facilities Manager, Chet Hagenbarth it was stated that the slip lane would be paved during the second phase of the Killington Road construction. Could you pleaser confirm this once again and if not please state the reasons for the change in schedule.

I am concerned because of the continual allusions to closure of the slip lane as an option preferred by Selectman Chris Bianchi and Chet Hagenbarth in private conversations and public discourse even after my submission of a petition signed by virtually every resident in the West Hill Road neighborhood and others beyond it. [requesting all actions and considerations regarding the slip lane cease]

Vito Rasenas

Dog causes vehicle to roll into Killington pond, police say

Police believe dog knocked manual transmission vehicle into neutral

UPDATED 11:52 AM EDT Jun 05, 2015

Emily Cutts/Rutland Herald

Rutland Herald

Dog rescued after sending car into pond

By Emily Cutts
staff writer | June 05,2015

 

Lucy, an English bulldog, is in fine condition and spirits Thursday after the car she was in rolled into a pond.

 

KILLINGTON — Even in dog years, Lucy was too young to drive.

Yet somehow a car the 2-year-old English bulldog was sitting in ended up in the pond behind the Killington Grand Resort Hotel on Thursday morning.

Police said Lucy may have bumped the car’s standard-transmission stick into neutral, which allowed the vehicle to roll toward the body of water.

Lucy, who works as a therapy dog, declined to comment on exactly how the Volkswagen Jetta wagon ended up in the pond.

The last thing Lucy’s owner, Nick Hayer, knew was that his car was parked against the building while he was at the hotel for a conference.

Lucy had been put in the front passenger seat shortly before the incident. “I was in the building and people came in and said my car was in the lake,” said Hayer, a Warren resident.

Mark Venter, a hotel employee, said he saw Hayer put Lucy in the car while he was mowing the lawn by the pool. When he went to return the mower to the shed he saw the car had gone into the pond.

“It was very quiet,” Venter said of the incident.

Venter jumped into the pond and reached through an open window and unlocked the vehicle door to get Lucy out.

“I think anybody would have done that. That’s the culture in this state. People protect one another,” Venter said. “It’s man’s best friend. I’m just glad the dog’s OK.”

Wearing her pink bandana, Lucy was in good spirits after the incident, showing off her trick of playing dead.

Vermont State Police were called to the hotel around 11:30 a.m.

“It’s not a traffic crash,” Sgt. Todd Wilkins said. “They’ll pull it out and this gentleman will have to deal with the insurance company.”

As for whether Lucy will get in trouble when she gets home?

“Maybe from my wife,” Hayer said. “I’m very easy on her.”

“You can’t be mad at Lucy, she’s too cute,” the trooper added.

emily.cutts

Killington Resident Asks For Work Stoppage And Public Hearing

Vermont Standard

By Curt Peterson

Standard Correspondent

First to speak when Chairwoman Patty McGrath asked for “Citizens Input,” resident Pat Linnemayr started a firestorm when she said, “I’d like to request a public hearing prior to any more work being done at the Killington Road/ West Hill Road intersection.”

McGrath asked Linnemayr, who says she is 92 years old and started working at the Killington Resort in 1975, “What are your specific issues?”

Linnemayr handed each selectman a copy of a hand-drawn diagram of the “Y-shaped” intersection with lane width measurements and markings for proposed plantings, a document she called, “Exhibit A.” She said that the “slip lane” is too narrow, and the island juts out too far, both of which make turning “very difficult.”

“I realize the slip lane is designated a ‘collector road’ so it can legally be narrow, and that this is supposed to discourage speeding and use by other than local traffic. But the Boston skiers use it anyway, which makes the intersection very dangerous,” she said.

McGrath said the design of the intersection follows state guidelines. Selectman Chris Bianchi added that, while the guidelines are optional, the town has to follow them to qualify for Agency of Transportation grant money on which they rely to do the planned work on the intersection.

“Well, I think the townspeople should have something to say about how the final design comes out,” Linnemayr said. “I think we should have a public hearing and I think any work should be delayed until the hearing is held.”

Bianchi told her that, while the select board could hold a hearing, they were not going to, that “It is within the purview of the board to make decisions regarding road layout without putting those decisions up to a vote.” He added: “We can’t stop work because a few people don’t like the decisions we’ve made.”

A few attendees raised their hands immediately, and a heated exchange ensued between West Hill Road neighborhood residents and Bianchi over how many people were and were not upset about the planned project. McGrath had to call for order and civility more than a few times.

Vito Rasenas reminded Bianchi that he had gathered signatures from almost every West Hill Road resident last year on a petition condemning the planned layout for the intersection.

“I gave that petition to the board, but I never heard any more about it. I’ll go around and get their signatures again,” he said. “Maybe the people in your neighborhood think the project design is fine, but the people who live near the intersection should have more to say about how it is done.”

Bianchi repeated: “Road layout is not in the voters’ purview. If you don’t like the way we do it, you can vote us out and elect someone you think will design the roads the way you would like them.”

McGrath’s calls for calm prevailed, and the board agreed to put the intersection layout on the agenda for the next meeting so interested residents can come and be heard. But work will continue in the meantime, she said.

Police Chief Whit Montgomery reported that his department has rented office space on the second floor of the Visitor’s Center. He is currently working out of the town garage. Starting July 1, he plans to be in the office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Because there is no elevator, he will meet with members of the public either on the first floor or off-site, due to Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. Montgomery said the rental cost is within the $6,000 budget line item.

Howard Smith, president of the Killington Pico Area Association, described a proposal to form a three-way partnership among the KPAA, successor to the Chamber of Commerce, the town and Killington Resort for purposes of event marketing, planning, financing, management and fundraising. He said until now the three entities have each been promoting and running events, duplicating efforts and not using resources as effectively or efficiently as they would if they worked together.

“Because of skiing and snow, winter tourism is a no-brainer”, Smith said. “We think we can get to a point where there’s an event every weekend in the spring, summer and fall as well.”

Under the KPAA proposal the town would exercise oversight and handle the finances for the new partnership. Amy Morrison, who currently works part-time for the town as event coordinator, and part-time for KPAA, would become the director/ manager of operations and move to the Visitor Center full-time.

After some head-shaking doubts and questions from the attendees Chris Bianchi moved to support the proposal and the board unanimously agreed.

Seth Webb was authorized to formalize a proposed firearm discharge ordinance for consideration by the board, then review by the town’s attorney, with intentions of putting adoption on the warnings for the 2016 Town Meeting.

undefined

Killington Selectboard unanimously votes to proceed with handing over Marketing and Events resources to KPAA

Last night the Killington Select Board voted unanimously to proceed with handing over control of the Town's Marketing andEvents to the KPAA. Details of the proposed agreement are posted on this site 3 entries ago and here lProposal KPAA Contract Memo to Selectboard/
According to the agreement the Town will spend the entire Marketing and `Events budget approved by the voters on behalf of the KPAA. This is somehow rationalized as the town hiring a "subcontractor" to do the Marketing and Events function. Well I beg to differ. Not only is the town going to pay the bills for the KPAA it is also handing over control of the events it has invested in directly and indirectly over the last seven or so years, as well as handing over the outside sponsorship relationships it has formed with partners such as Long Trail Brewing, Casella, and Farrel Distributing. These cosponsorship funds will flow directly to the KPAA with no accounting as to how these funds are being used.
While the Select Board and Town Manager insisted the Town will maintain control over the moneys its gives the KPAA since the town will be reviewing and paying its share of the marketing and events expenses directly,  no mention is made of the dollars flowing to the KPAA from the co-sponsors of the events.
Furthermore the KPAA proposal states it can do a better job than the town with the events. Well, a couple of things; first, the Town has done a pretty good job to this point. After initially being the sole sponsor and financier of the events it has developed cosponsors to share the production expenses. My sense is, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Secondly the newly formed KPAA has a severely limited track record in this arena (some want to say that it has experience from its days as the Killington Chamber, if that's the case why reform as the KPAA, - the short answer - financial and internal management issues (from what I've gleaned from newspaper reports). If the argument that the KPAA has a track record as the Killington Chamber (whether successful or not is indeterminate) in Marketing and Events there is no doubt in its prior iteration as the Killington Chamber it had documented financial, managerial and operations problems. Do we really want the Town to stick its neck out and enter into a contract with such an entity?
This is another case of the town's administration investing dollars and manpower over years building a viable vehicle for advancing its agenda of economic development via tourism and then basically giving it away. Last night an attendee stated the town, after creating the Discover Killington website, which people have estimated cost hundreds of thousands, gave it, at no cost, to a private entity. 
While I applaud the KPAA's efforts to promote its agenda of making regional businesses more profitable, my feeling is these businesses,  not the Town of Killington,  should be supporting the KPAA. What other towns are handing over resources to the KPAA?
I have no problem with the Town handing over the Marketing and Events function to the KPAA as I have always thought the Town has no business being in business and should concentrate on its core functions as a municipality i.e. roads, public safety and infrastructure, but I don't agree with the Town funding these efforts on behalf of private entities.
Another sign of the of the KPAA usurping the Town's resources is they have taken the Town's logo and adapted it for themselves. 



rr
rrr

This makes it look like the KPAA is part of the Town's government which I object to. This is the town's "brand" and as such has value.
If they want to use the same colors I have no problem with that but the logo needs to go!

Vito