Saturday, April 30, 2016

Pump station glitch leads to sewage overflow

Rutland Herald
By Lola Duffort
Staff Writer | April 29,2016
 
KILLINGTON — A electronic glitch led to an estimated 1,000 gallon-sewage overflow, according to a posting on the Agency of Natural Resources website.

ANR keeps a running tab of wastewater overflows on its website. A posting Friday afternoon said that “a problem with the electronic communication between the three pump stations on Route 4” lead to one pump station overfilling and sewage spilling out through a hatch. The overflow was discovered during a “routine check,” the posting reported.

Sherburne Fire District 1 manager David Lewis said Friday evening operators “quickly manually pumped the station down, and contacted the person that does the computer repairs.”

The posting also said Kent Brook was affected by the overflow, but Lewis said this was likely because the brook is the nearest watershed. The pump station is partway up Sherburne Pass on Route 4.

“It’s actually a long ways from that pump station to the brook — so I’m not sure,” he said.

lola.duffort @rutlandherald.com

Friday, April 29, 2016

Meet Killington’s new manager: Deborah Schwartz

Rutland Herald
By Lola Duffort

Staff Writer | April 29,2016
 

KILLINGTON — The town recently named Deborah H. Schwartz, a former airport executive, to lead the town.

A native of Indiana, Schwartz comes to the town from Arkansas, where she ran her aviation consulting firm, Strategic Aviation Solutions. From 1994 to 2007, Schwartz was executive director at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Ark., a municipally-owned and operated airport in Arkansas, according to her LinkedIn profile. Also, she has worked at MorphoTrustUSA, a supplier of background checks for airport personnel, and the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas.

Before heading out to meet a resident, tour the roads and highway maintenance facilities, and review tax bills, Schwartz sat down Monday morning with the Herald — day seven of her tenure in town — to answer a few questions.

Why move to Vermont from Arkansas?

Well, I’m not an Arkansas native, and I’ve had several stints for school, work — I have family connections in Vermont — excuse me, New England — and I’ve always enjoyed New England. The combination of my past positive experiences in New England, coupled with my love for mountains and the opportunity for this position, all came together.

Why go from managing airports to a town?

I was ready to do something different and something that utilized my skill sets. I’ve always been involved in public service, ever since I was in high school, and I’ve always enjoyed public service, and this is a broader venue, and an opportunity to serve more people in a wider range than just transportation.

What will you bring to the job?

I’m very well versed in municipal operations, having worked for municipalities as a department head for years. And I think that for this particular community, I have fresh eyes.

What will your priorities be?

I’m still learning what those priorities will be in terms of specific tasks. But I would just say my overriding interest is in serving the public. Being available. Hearing what they have to say, and being responsive to their interests. Now, being responsive doesn’t mean that I am always going to be giving them the answers that they choose, or that they would like to have. But there are a lot of people here that I have met just in the week that are long-time residents. Some are recent transplants — they’re firmly committed to the area. They’ve made a conscious decision to come here. They’re not here by accident of birth or happenstance … And many people I’ve met are tremendously involved in the community, in multiple areas. And that shows me a love and a commitment to the area … .

Some people have identified themselves as complainers, and I said that’s fine — we need everybody to talk. Because we can’t get things done if we don’t hear the good, the bad and the ugly.

What kind of concerns have citizens brought to you already?

Lower taxes. But I don’t know any community … where somebody doesn’t want lower taxes. Positively, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback about the fact that I’ve chosen to live in Killington … As a newcomer to the area, there was no reason for me not to. (But) I could see where prior managers who were established in Vermont could choose to be in a commuting capacity.

Any surprises so far?

Last week, someone said: “There’s a moose down the road.” And I’ve never worked somewhere where you can walk outside and potentially see a moose.

Editor’s note: This interview was edited for space and clarity.

lola.duffort @rutlandherald.com
 

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Kennedy should admit mistake

Rutland Herald
Letter To The Editor
April 27,2016
 
When Rose Kennedy ran for Rutland County state’s attorney, she said she was going to be tough on crime, work hard to protect children and work with other agencies.

She didn’t tell the people of Rutland County she was going to try and make a name for herself by making criminals out of ordinary citizens for unfortunate accidents.

Perhaps making a name for herself isn’t what she is trying to do, but from the outside looking in, it sure seems to be.

It takes a big person to admit they have made a mistake. Be that person, Ms. Kennedy, and get to work achieving the promises you made to the people of Rutland County.

CHARLES LARAMIE

Fair Haven

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Resident Wants Town To Support Man Facing Indictment

Vermont Standard
By Curt Peterson
Standard Correspondent
Killington — Resident Vito Rasenas to ask the select board to consider some kind of official town support for Craig Mosher, a 61-year old Killington farmer whose bull “Rob” was involved in a fatal altercation with an automobile two months ago. On Monday April 4 a grand jury in Rutland Criminal Court indicted Mosher for involuntary manslaughter in the death of a Connecticut resident and Killington second-home owner, Jon Bellis, 64.
Mosher “acted with criminal negligence by having notice that his Scottish Highland bull was loose and failed to contain his bull or alert others to this danger,” leading to Bellis’s death, the indictment says.
In fact, according to his attorney, Mosher himself was notified about his errant bull by the police, who had received a 9-1-1 call from someone who had seen it running loose, and when he heard about the accident he was already out looking for the animal to capture it.
Killington police chief Whit Montgomery said, “In my 17 years I don’t recall being called out for any of (Mosher’s) animals being loose.”
“Everyone here knows what Craig Mosher has done for this town over the years,” Rasenas said. “And most people feel he’s been mistreated by the Rutland County prosecutor. I think the select board and the town should do everything we can to support him.”
Resident David Rosenblum suggested public notifications of any hearing dates so residents who wanted to support Mosher could attend.
Schwartz thought a petition might be circulated. “A lot of signatures of people who know him might have an effect,” she said.
Rosenblum said he thought individual letters from each person who would otherwise sign a petition would be more effective. “Stacks of individual letters would be even more powerful than a petition. They would show more effort.”
Pressed for what the select board might do as an official entity, McGrath said she would want to consult with the town’s attorney to find out what would be appropriate before taking any action.
“We want to be careful,” she said. “We’re in court already.”
McGrath was referring to a pending suit in federal court in which resident M. B. Neisner is alleging several areas of incompetence, cover-ups and other misdoings by the Select Board.
As of April 19 the board has filed a motion to dismiss Neisner’s suit on grounds that it contains no actual claim. It was their second such motion, the first having been deemed moot because Neisner had filed an amendment to his original filing, making the original invalid, ergo not eligible for dismissal by the court.
However, McGrath pointed out, the Neisner situation has made the board cautious about actions that might have legal implications. The board will determine what their options are regarding official support for Mosher.
Deborah Schwartz’s short first town manager’s report included some good news — the state school tax obligation, notice of which arrived this week, is about $68,500 lower than the amount the Select Board had budgeted.
“This will more than offset the expected decrease in our options tax revenue,” McGrath said.
A relatively poor tourism season this winter negatively affected sales on which the tax is levied. McGrath, who is owner of The Inn at Long Trail, said second quarter revenue at her establishment was down 20 percent from last year, although their first quarter had seen an increase.
“I was impossible to accurately estimate in advance how to budget for the decrease,” she said, “so we picked a number out of the air. I think the reduction in the school tax will take care of it.”

Killington seeks to dismiss Neisner case, again

Rutland Herald
By Lola Duffort

STAFF WRITER | April 21,2016
 
KILLINGTON — A new court filing by town lawyers ridicules the lawsuit filed by Killington resident and attorney Melvin B. Neisner Jr. as “hardly a model of clarity” and the result of personal vendetta.

In a suit filed against the town in December, Neisner alleges a litany of misdeeds by the town and by its former Town Manager, Seth Webb.

The town breached its fiduciary duty to tax payers by hiring Webb in the first place without doing a more thorough search, Neisner claims. The town also allegedly ignored Webb’s alleged incompetence and abuse of employees, failed to budget for a sewer bond, misappropriated town funds and signed a bum park-and-ride lease.

Neisner also claims the town violated state and federal public records laws when responding to records requests he made related to Webb.

Neisner, the town’s longtime moderator, first filed suit in a Rutland civil court, but the town petitioned to have the case moved to federal court, where it is now.

Echoing earlier filings by the town, Killington’s April 19 motion to dismiss the lawsuit characterizes Neisner as a frustrated office-seeker pursuing a grudge.

They noted Neisner wrote to the town to offer himself in Webb’s stead after the town first appointed Webb. Neisner has said in an interview the offer was made as a joke, and his court filings have made note of a later letter he sent the town saying he had “no desire” for the post, but that the Killington Selectboard should nevertheless look to replace Webb.

“Plaintiff Neisner’s second letter was nothing more than ‘sour grapes’,” the town’s motion argues, including a link to read the children’s fable online.

Webb, who was appointed as town manager in 2011, stepped down at the end of last year to take a position in the private sector. His last day as manager was Dec. 31. Deborah Schwartz, an airport executive and Arkansas transplant, took over this week as the town’s new manager.

The town’s April 19 motion argues that both state and federal law protect municipalities from having to pay monetary damages, which Neisner seeks; that many of his claims lack standing; that it’s too late to make such claims; and that he offers little proof.

The Neisner lawsuit has so far cost the town $4,441 in legal fees, Schwartz said.

Reached Wednesday, Neisner said he hadn’t seen the recent filing and couldn’t comment on it. But he did note this was the town’s second attempt to get the case kicked out of court.

“They filed a motion to dismiss and it was denied, you know that, don’t you?” he said.

Town officials have said a judge in early April denied a motion filed in January to dismiss the case because Neisner had since filed an amended complaint — making their earlier motion irrelevant.

The court’s docket entry itself states that the judge’s order denying the town’s motion to dismiss is “in light of the Amended Complaint.”

Told of the town’s position and the docket entry, Neisner said, “Well, then, you must be a lawyer.”

Asked if he had a different interpretation of the judge’s actions, Neisner reiterated loudly he didn’t want to comment.

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” he said. “And never call my cel phone. ... I’m coming down to that office, and I’m going to rip the phone off your hand, got it?”

lola.duffort

An accident, not a crime

Rutland Herald
April 21,2016
One evening in July 2015, many people’s lives were changed forever because of an automobile accident on Route 4. It is very sad and difficult for all involved. But it was just that an accident, not involuntary manslaughter. This is the charge that the Rutland state’s attorney, Rosemary Kennedy, has brought forward against Craig Mosher. She could have chosen to dismiss the grand jury indictment but that was not what she did. Doesn’t Rosemary Kennedy have better ways of spending her time, efforts and taxpayer’s money than going forward with this charge?

We have known Craig Mosher for over 40 years and know him to be an extremely responsible person, community member and a person who takes very good care of all his animals. Craig has always been attentive to keeping his fences in working order and his animals safe. Big Red, the bull who unfortunately got out of the field that night, didn’t get out due to any negligence on the part of Craig. When Craig was alerted that Red was out of the field, he went looking him; unfortunately, he was not able to locate and re-secure Red in time to prevent this tragic accident.

We all have seen livestock in the roads as well as dogs, cats, turkeys, moose, bear and deer; at times some that have been killed by vehicles; and vehicles that have hit something when the driver has swerved to avoid an animal. It is the reality of living in a rural community. Should we be confining all our domestic/farm animals inside a building? Should the state of Vermont be confining all the wildlife?

Craig Mosher did not do anything negligent to cause this accident. He should never have been charged with involuntary manslaughter or any other criminal charge.

One would hope that Rutland State’s Attorney Rosemary Kennedy will re-evaluate this case and dismiss the charges against Craig Mosher. This is a civil case, not a criminal case.

PEPPER TEPPERMAN

KENNETH ZUBA

Plymouth

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Killington Road sidewalk to be completed this summer

Rutland Herald
By Lola Duffort
STAFF WRITER | April 19,2016
 
KILLINGTON — A new sidewalk will soon stretch from School House to West Hill along Killington Road.

“This will pretty much end sidewalk construction on Killington Road for awhile,” said Town Planner Dick Horner, adding that this last stretch of pavement would bring sidewalk accessibility to roughly “90 percent” of the town’s commercial district.

The town had won two Agency of Transportation grants for the project, according to Horner. One, in 2010, totalled $255,120. The other, in 2015, brought in $227,174. Killington agreed to contribute 20 percent matches to both grants.

The town has spent about $62,000 on design and engineering. The construction bid for the project was awarded to the Rutland-based Belden Co. for $522,473, according to Horner.

Construction is set to begin in June, and is expected to conclude by Aug. 1, Horner said. The West Hill Road slip lane was originally expected to be closed for construction, but adjacent property owners agreed to let Belden use their land as a stage of operations.

“You’ll probably get half a lane closed for safety reasons, but we don’t anticipate Killington Road being closed as a result of this project,” Horner added.

The roughly 1,700-foot sidewalk will include lights and a crosswalk at West Hill Road and around The Foundry restaurant driveway.

Meanwhile, Killington continues work on making its commercial district more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The town is currently seeking bids on a scoping study that will look at the 6,000-foot section stretch of road from the Killington Mountain Lodge to Weathervane Drive and suggest locations for crosswalks, sidewalk segments, bus pull-offs and shelters. The grant-funded contract is for no more than $30,000, and the town is expected to select a bid May 27.

lola.duffort

@rutlandherald.com

Killington plans expanded summer events

Rutland Herald
By Andy Clark
Staff Writer | April 19,2016
KILLINGTON — Last week, Killington Ski Resort announced continued infrastructure investment focused on summer business including more mountain biking and offering family-friendly adventure attractions. Also, the resort announced an expanded summer events calendar.

Killington, on 3,000 acres, is the largest ski and snowboard destination in eastern North America. Because of investments in recent years, it is already a four-season attraction — matching the activity associated with ski resorts in the western U.S.

Last year, the resort invested $3.5 million in summer amenities such as the Beast Mountain Coaster and Skyeride. This year an additional $850,000 is planned for dual ziplines, six more Gravity Logic-designed mountain bike trails, summer tubing lanes, a 40-foot tower jump, food and beverage facility upgrades, kids camps and a new fleet of rental mountain bikes for riders of all ages.

“With momentum from last summer’s growth, we are adding more options for thrill seekers plus activities specifically designed to keep young kids engaged all day,” said Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort. “We will continue to build out our trail network, moving Killington closer to being the premier mountain bike destination in eastern North America.

“To sustainably grow our summer business every year, we are bringing more and new visitors to the area and giving them reasons to extend their vacation stays during the summer and fall,” Solimano added.

Tracy Taylor was recently named business development and special project manager at Killington and Pico, and will direct the summer investment program. He was director of operations for the resort.

Phase three of the five-year Killington Bike Park build out designed by contractor Gravity Logic calls for a $375,000 investment for six new trails. Ramshead Express Quad will serve the trails opening throughout the summer including a 1.31-mile downhill race trail, 2.15-mile expert jump trail, 2.29 miles of single track from the top of Ramshead to K-1 and Ramshead base areas, pump track, skills park, kids strider bike park and designated uphill mountain bike route.

Killington’s new fleet of rental bikes will feature 70 adult cross-country and downhill mountain bikes from Scott, plus demo bikes from Norco and Devinci, 24 full-suspension youth-sized mountain bikes from Norco and new Strider bikes for the youngest riders.

Michael Joseph, Killington Resort’s Communications/PR Manager, said, “Killington’s summer momentum continues to grow and the energy here is exciting. The resort is investing heavily in mountain biking by expanding trail offerings, and we’re debuting the first of six brand-new, downhill trails on Ramshead Mountain in July with a Professional Mountain Bike Gravity Tour event — something locals and visitors alike can look forward to.“

Planned facility upgrades include installation of a waterside umbrella bar and outdoor deck near Snowshed Pond with easy access to walking trails and Killington Grand Resort Hotel.

Summer action launches Memorial Day Weekend. On May 27, Killington Golf Course and Clubhouse Bar and Grill will be open to Golf Season Pass holders. The public will be welcomed the following day.

Public access to the Snowshed Adventure Center’s Beast Mountain Coaster and Skyeride, plus Killington Mountain Bike Park trails in the Snowshed area begins May 28. The Snowshed Express Quad will serve hikers and mountain bikers on weekends and holidays until daily lift operations of the Snowshed Express Quad and K-1 Express Gondola commence June 18. The Peak Lodge and restaurant will be open daily when the K-1 Express Gondola is running.

Additional lift service for mountain biking via the Ramshead Express Quad chairlift will begin in late July as the first new downhill mountain bike trail in that area opens for “USA Cycling’s Beast of the East Professional Mountain Bike Gravity Tour” — July 28-31.

Summer season events include the “Cooler in the Mountains Concert Series” featuring eight free live musical performances on Saturdays from July 16 through Labor Day weekend; the Dirty Girl Mud Run on July 9; Killington Wine Festival July 15-17; Killington Boot Camp’s Race to the Peak on Aug. 20; Spartan Race Sept. 19-20; Killington Brewfest on Oct. 1; and Killington Oktoberfest on Oct. 8 and 9.

Golf, mountain bike and K-1 scenic season passes and more information including operating schedules, pricing and dining options can be found at www.killington.com.

andy.clark @rutlandherald.com
Comment: Notice how neither the Town's or the KPAA's efforts are acknowledged or at least attributed to them. I think it really reflects that it is the Resort's effort's that make a difference.
Vito 

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Manchester chamber will file for bankruptcy

Rutland Herald
Staff Report | April 12,2016
 
MANCHESTER — The Manchester and the Mountains Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors has voted unanimously to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The chamber of commerce made the announcement late Monday, saying it made the decision “after much deliberation and on the advice of legal counsel.”

The announcement said there was “no clear path or sustainable financial model” to continue the chamber in the immediate future.

“Without sufficient income under the current model, the chamber cannot staff a visitors center, manage events or provide the other services it has provided in the past,” the statement said.

The chamber, like many in the state, has been coping with a loss of revenue ever since it was no longer able to sell health insurance to its members under federal and state health insurance programs. The Manchester group had announced in late March it was closing, but then reversed itself and remained open.

The group also sought funding from area towns at town meeting, but Manchester voters by a 5-vote margin defeated a request for $25,000 in funding. In all, 16 towns had been asked to kick in $75,000 to keep the business organization going.

Among the events the chamber is involved in is the Manchester Antique and Classic Car Show, Summer Concerts on the Green and Make-A-Wish Maple Leaf Half Marathon.

The release stated that Don Dorr has come forward to host the Manchester Antique and Classic Car Show at The Dorr Farm as planned on June 11-12, and that the town of Manchester will assume the management of the Summer Concerts on the Green, which are held from July 12 to Aug. 14.

Staff support will be made available to the Make-A-Wish Maple Leaf Half Marathon set for Sept. 10, the release said.

While the visitors center closed at 5 p.m. Monday, the phone line and the chamber’s website, visitmanchestervt.com, remain live.

Berta Maginniss, the executive director, will continue to work through Friday, the statement said, while the balance of the board members have ended their volunteer service.
 
 

Friday, April 15, 2016

Officials: Massive fraud scheme uncovered


By Neal P. Goswami

VERMONT PRESS BUREAU | April 15,2016
MONTPELIER — Federal and state officials on Thursday leveled civil fraud complaints at the main actors in major Northeast Kingdom development projects, accusing them of misusing $200 million in foreign investors’ money in a “Ponzi-like scheme.”

The federal Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled a civil fraud complaint, while Vermont officials filed a state-level complaint mirroring the federal charges.

Ariel Quiros and William Stenger, owners of Jay Peak Resort and the principals heading up eight different development projects through the federal EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, have raised $350 million in $500,000 increments from foreign investors seeking permanent residency in the U.S. through the investor program.

Federal and state officials said $200 million of the money raised was misused, including $50 million by Quiros for his own personal benefit.

The eight ambitious EB-5 projects include improvements at Jay Peak and Q Burke Resorts, and a biomedical research facility in Newport.

According to the state’s civil complaint, filed in Washington County Superior Court, the Quiros and Stenger used various limited partnership companies to raise the funds. They then “treated the investor funds as an unrestricted pool of money that could be transferred between EB-5 projects indiscriminately and used for personal benefit.”

But the complaint said commingling of investor funds was prohibited and the funding was supposed to be tied to specific EB-5 projects.

The state complaint also alleges that Quiros inappropriately used $50 million in investor funds, including $20 million to purchase Jay Peak and Burke Mountain resorts, millions of dollars to take out a line of credit to pay his personal income taxes and pay taxes for an unrelated company he owns, and $2 million to purchase a luxury condominium in Trump Place in New York City.

“The fraud allegedly began on Day 1, when millions of investor funds intended for EB-5 projects at Jay Peak… were used instead to purchase Jay Peak Mountain way back in 2008,” Gov. Peter Shumlin said at a State House news conference to announce the charges.

The event was also attended by Attorney General William Sorrell; Susan Donegan, commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner; and Patricia Moulton, secretary of the Agency of Commerce.

The federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Miami, where Quiros lives, makes similar accusations. A federal judge has granted the SEC’s request to freeze Quiros’ assets and appoint a federal receiver to oversee the assets and operations of Jay Peak and Q Burke Resorts.

While the litigation is pending, Stenger and Quiros are prohibited from any further involvement in the eight EB-5 projects they started.

The accusations

“The alleged fraud ran the gamut from false statements to deceptive financial transactions to outright theft,” Andrew Ceresney, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said in a statement.

“As alleged in our complaint, the defendants diverted millions of EB-5 investor dollars to their own pockets,” Ceresney said, “leaving little money for construction of the research facility investors were told would be built and thereby putting the investors’ funds and their immigration petitions in jeopardy.”

Sorrell said the state’s case, like the SEC’s case, involves civil allegations.

“The defendants, if found liable, will face no jail time,” Sorrell said. “They could, however, face substantial financial penalties, restrictions on their future business activities and forfeiture of ill-gotten gains.”

He added, “Our top priorities, however, are protecting investors’ interests, keeping businesses at the resorts operational, opening the Q Burke Hotel and Conference Center and otherwise ensuring that justice is served. At this point in time no state criminal prosecution is contemplated.”

But a federal criminal case may still be made, according to Vermont U.S. Attorney Eric Miller.

“We have been aware of the state and SEC civil enforcement efforts made public today,” Miller said Thursday. “My office has been conducting, and continues to conduct, an investigation designed to determine whether or not there have been violations of federal criminal law in connection with EB-5 projects in the Northeast Kingdom.”

Despite not seeking a state-level criminal prosecution, Sorrell said he considers the allegations against Quiros and Stenger to be a major case of fraud.

“This is not a depiction of a simple bank robbery,” he said. “Rather, this depicts what we allege to be a massive and complex fraudulent enterprise. It is very early in what will likely be lengthy litigation. As we and federal authorities learn more, the litigation could broaden and deepen.”

The federal receiver now controlling most of the EB-5 projects in question, Miami-based attorney Michael Goldberg, was not granted authority by the federal court in Miami to oversee Q Burke Resort. Sorrell said the state has not sought a state-level receiver, but if Goldberg is not permitted by the federal court to also oversee Q Burke, the state is ready “to seek such control for the federal receiver from the Washington Superior Court.”

Resorts to operate

Shumlin declared it “a dark day” for the state, but said he has been in contact with Goldberg and expects operations at the resorts to continue.

“It is his intention, as much as possible, to maintain normal operations of the affected businesses and keep Vermonters working there. I’m grateful to those efforts, and therefore, we do not expect significant job losses as a result of today’s actions,” the governor said.

Donegan said her department has been investigating the EB-5 projects for about a year, issuing 64 subpoenas and reviewing 300,000 documents. The initial review was sparked when Stenger and Quiros asked to raise more money from foreign investors for the biomedical research lab and the Q Burke Hotel, she said.

“We saw anomalies and unusual transactions that raised regulatory concerns about how all the investor money across all the projects… were transferred and accounted for by Mr. Stenger, Mr. Quiros and the limited partnerships, various partnerships and related entities,” she said.

Donegan displayed two charts at the news conference to highlight the unusual transactions by Quiros and Stenger. The first showed how money from investors is supposed to flow to specific projects. But the second chart, which she dubbed the “spaghetti map,” showed how the two used a host of accounts to transfer money between projects and for personal use.

“When an EB-5 investor sends their money it should go right into an escrow account and it’s kept there until certain conditions are met, when the money is then released into an operating account,” Donegan said. “As DFR pulled the pieces of the financial puzzle together, we saw something very different.”

‘Personal piggy bank’

The department’s review began to unravel the alleged fraud that allowed Quiros and Stenger to use investor funds “as a personal piggy bank,” she said.

“We saw a complex web of financial accounts that allegedly facilitated the improper commingling and misuse and diversion of funds between EB-5 projects, related companies and personal accounts,” Donegan said. “DFR tracked over 100 accounts at 10 financial institutions involved in this scheme.”

Shumlin defended his administration’s efforts to regulate EB-5 projects, noting that the alleged fraud began under then-Gov. Jim Douglas. He said his administration shifted oversight of the projects to DFR in December 2014, which has more investigative authority than the Agency of Commerce. After the transfer of oversight authority, he said, the alleged fraud was uncovered.

“We made the move when we did. You could certainly argue, I bet, that we all wish that previous governors had made that move, that I could have made it sooner,” Shumlin said. “But we made it and these were the results.”

News of the fraud allegations Thursday followed on-the-ground action in the Northeast Kingdom the day before. The locks on the administrative offices at Q Burke Hotel and Conference Center were changed as Goldberg took control of the property.

“This is obviously a very difficult day for Vermont and for the many people, myself included, who are so invested in growing jobs and economic opportunity in the Northeast Kingdom, the part of the state that has lagged behind the rest of the state in job creation for as long as we can all remember,” the governor said.

“Most of all, this is a difficult day for the hundreds of employees — hundreds in the Northeast Kingdom — who rely on Jay Peak, Q Burke and the related projects to support their families, projects that appeared to hold so much promise,” Shumlin said.

It remains unclear if the foreign investors who put up $500,000 each will get their investments back.

“It’s way too early to know how any funding or refunds might occur,” Moulton said, “but investors are encouraged to file the appropriate petitions and each one will be considered case by case.”

It is unlikely, Moulton said, that the biomedical research lab, which has seen site preparation and a ground-breaking but no construction, and a redevelopment of downtown Newport, will be completed.

Instead, “only a portion of the vision will become a reality,” she said.

neal.goswami @timesargus.com


Another article 

 http://www.tetongravity.com/story/news/breaking-owners-of-jay-peak-q-burke-accused-of-ponzi-scheme-fraud

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Killington’s New Town Manager Begins Mid-April

Vermont Standard
April 14, 2016
By Curt Peterson
Standard Correspondent
Killington — Select board chairman Patty McGrath reminded everyone that last Tuesday’s select board meeting would be Interim Town Manager Richard Horner’s last holding that post. The newly appointed permanent town manager, Deborah H. Schwartz, will be starting her new job on April 18, just in time to officiate at the next board meeting on April 19.
Horner promised to be in attendance, and has said he will be continuing on for two weeks after Schwartz takes over to assist her smooth transition into the job.
One part of that job will be to finish up Killington’s dealings with the Federal Emergency Management Agency over damages caused by Tropical Storm Irene. Similar to other towns in the storm’s wake, Killington finds itself caught between the state and FEMA — Vermont has upgraded its road replacement and repair requirements, and one washed-out culvert in Killington must, by state law, be replaced with a bridge that will cost a lot more money, in fact the difference between $193,000 FEMA has offered to pay to replace the culvert, and $435,000 for the bridge that the Agency of Natural Resource and the Agency of Transportation are requiring in place of the culvert.
While the town had budgeted conservatively to make sure it had the money on hand if FEMA turned down its requested “enhancement,” and there will be no net effect on its budget or taxes if it pays the difference, they are still considering appealing the agency’s decision.
Vermont State FEMA representative Mary Andes has offered to come to a select board meeting to describe exactly how the appeal process would work, and how the state would act as Killington’s advocate.
“We have 60 days to respond to FEMA,” Horner said. “Let’s wait for our new town manager to be here so she can hear what Mary has to say first-hand.”
The suit against the select board filed by M. B. Neisner in December 2015, claiming misdoings and poor decisions that cost the taxpayers unwarranted expenses, was amended by the plaintiff before a motion by the board requesting dismissal of the case could be heard in federal court. As a result the judge decided he could not rule on the motion to dismiss the original suit as it has been amended.
“So this means we will be starting all over again, filing another motion to dismiss,” select board member Chris Bianchi said.
Bianchi also said Neisner had filed a motion of his own, asking the federal judge to return the case to state court for trial. The litigation had been moved to federal court because, in part, it accuses the select board of denying Neisner his U. S. constitutional rights. The judge refused to grant Neisner his request, according to Bianchi.
Horner’s town manager’s report began with an announcement that the library will have to be closed for a few days while energy tests are performed on the roof system.
In good news, Horner said, the town was notified the cost of water testing, which they expected to be $21,200, has actually come in at $19,300.
The “slip lane” in the approach on West Hill Road to Killington Road will be closed on a short-term basis this summer, Horner said, for scheduled upgrade and maintenance work. The popular slip lane is a hot topic for many residents who are afraid they will lose it. Ken Lee remarked that a discussion about closing the slip lane for any reason and for any length of time would bring more people out to the select board meetings. On Tuesday night only one resident attended.
After giving his monthly budget update for March, Horner said the Town Treasurer had remarked on the figures, “That golf course had better open up soon and start generating some revenue.”
“She says that every year at this time,” selectman Ken Lee said.
On the subject of revenue, Horner said the town may have to take out a loan “in anticipation of taxes” this fiscal year, but if they do, the amount of the loan will be considerably less than it has been in the past.
“The auditors’ report suggested we use money in our ‘reserved accounts’ for covering expense rather than borrowing from the bank,” McGrath said.
Bianchi said the select board should go through the list of “restricted purpose funds” that has also include reserved-but-not-restricted monies and set up a separate account so they know how much is in the accounts that might be used in lieu of the tax-anticipation loan from the bank.
Lee remarked the meeting was one of the shortest since be began serving on the board.

Comment: Wonder why they're so concerned about people attending meetings.

Killington Resort workers warned of potential security leak

Rutland Herald
By Lola Duffort
STAFF WRITER | April 14,2016
 
KILLINGTON — Killington Ski Resort advised some of its employees this week to watch out for fraud after their private information was accidentally left unattended.

A list of names with Social Security numbers was left unsecured at the resort’s Lift Operations Office for about 11.5 hours between April 5 and April 6, employees were told in a letter signed by human resources director Judy Geiger.

“Please bear in mind we have no knowledge or reason to believe this information was viewed, accessed, or copied, but we are aware the potential existed,” the letter reads.

“Though it is unlikely, it possible that your personally identifiable information could be used for fraudulent transactions,” the letter continues.

Attached to the letter is a list of recommendations for monitoring personal and financial accounts.

“If you see or suspect suspicious activity please bring it promptly to our attention so we can offer assistance,” the letter states.

In an emailed statement, Killington spokesman Michael Joseph said the security breach “only relates to employees of one department — not of the entire resort.”

The list included names, department numbers, job codes, company codes and social security numbers, Joseph said.

He declined to say how many employees the breach potentially affected, and reiterated that the company had no evidence the information had been viewed or accessed.

Resort officials decided to alert employees “out of an abundance of caution,” he said.

“Killington deeply regrets this event and takes security of our employees’ and applicants’ personal information very seriously,” Joseph said.

lola.duffort @rutlandherald.com

Resident blocks ski village approval

Rutland Herald
 By Lola Duffort
Staff Writer | April 14,2016
 
KILLINGTON — The $130 million ski village long planned for the base of Killington Ski Resort remains on hold as Act 250 permits and Killington town approval related to the project are tied up in the state’s environmental appeals court.

The issue has seen some movement: On March 7, Environmental Court Judge Thomas Durkin affirmed an Act 250 permit issued to Killington / Pico Ski Resort Partners for a parking lot reconfiguration tied to the project.

Stephen Durkee, a Mendon resident who owns commercial, residential and undeveloped property in Killington, had appealed the permit claiming he was concerned about stormwater runoff and traffic. Durkin found there was “insufficient factual foundation” to support Durkee’s concerns.

Durkee’s attorney, Nathan Stearns, a White River Junction lawyer, said his client had since filed a motion for clarification. Once Durkin acts on that motion, Durkee will have 30 days to appeal the decision to the Vermont Supreme Court. Stearns couldn’t say whether his client would choose to take that route.

Meanwhile, a decision regarding the ski village’s larger Act 250 permit — also on appeal — is expected any day now, said Christopher Roy, a Burlington lawyer representing the resort and SP Land Co., the ski village’s developer.

After it was issued in October 2013, the Act 250 permit was cross-appealed by Durkee — citing stormwater, aesthetic and traffic concerns — and by SP Land Co., which took issue with several conditions tied to the permit.

“They’re hopeful that (the parking decision) is indicative that the decision on the village master plan will likely be positive. But you don’t know until you see it,” Roy said.

The project envisions creating, in phases, 2,300 residential units, a 77,000-square-foot skier services building, 32 new residential lots and about 200,000 square feet of retail space over the next 20 to 30 years.

Meanwhile, the Killington Planning Commission’s site-plan approval for the first phase of the project, awarded to SP Land Co. on Jan. 13, has also been appealed by Durkee to the Environmental Court. Durkee again raised concerns about traffic and the project’s aesthetics.

“You won’t see heavy equipment out there next week,” Roy said. “I can basically guarantee that.”

lola.duffort @rutlandherald.com
 
Comment: Finally this is getting some press. It's pretty sad that the town of Killington has been tearing itself apart in the interest of economic development while one person blocks the largest economic development project to come down the pike since the resort was first created.
 
Vito 

Dangerous precedent (pt2)

Rutland Herald
LetterTo The Editor
April 14,2016
As a former farmer and recent transplant to Vermont, I read with dismay the involuntary manslaughter charges against Craig Mosher due to a driver having died last summer as a result of one of his livestock getting loose. This indictment opens a huge can of worms and one that a rural state such as Vermont may want to reconsider.

Livestock get out, as do dogs and cats, and I believe it is safe to say that deer, moose and other wildlife are always “loose.” Are we to now accept that if a dog gets loose and a driver dies when swerving to miss it, the owner is now criminally liable? Who is liable for a moose or a deer? It is not hard to imagine that when someone dies as the result of striking a moose it would kick off a flurry of copycat lawsuits, holding the state of Vermont liable for allowing wildlife into the roads.

While it is admittedly tragic when someone dies as a result of avoiding or by striking a large animal, how is it possible that the owner of an animal can be responsible for that death? If this is, in fact, the case, I would urge every farmer raising livestock to quickly sell off your herds and flocks, for you, too, could easily find yourself in court, being handed an indictment for murder and looking at possibly serving up to 15 years in prison.

Folks, keep your dogs and cats confined also. Sounds ridiculous, yes, but it is a fact that Mr. Mosher is now looking at a charge of murder for that very reason. I urge every person in Vermont who owns an animal that is ever outside to make your voice heard in defense of reason.

TRACYLEA BYFORD

Tinmouth

Comment: Great letter!
Vito

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

This is just wrong.

Below is a comment from a previous blog entry,
Subject: [As The Ski Turns, Killington Vermont] New comment on Mosher charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Greg Kobak has left a new comment on your post "Mosher charged with involuntary manslaughter":

This is just wrong. I know Craig Mosher personally and if he knew that the bull was out he WOULD have done anything in his power to make sure that know one would hit it. How in the world is he supposed to know if an animal got out at 10:30 pm? Was he supposed to sleep with the bull? This man is no criminal and it sickens me that he is being called one. Let's put a hard working, good man behind bars but let drug dealers and child molesters go free. Way to go State of Vermont! Another good person's life could be ruined at the hands of this state's backward judicial system.

Posted by Greg Kobak to As The Ski Turns, Killington Vermont at April 12, 2016 at 8:52 PM 

 My Reply:
Greg,
Thanks for your comment. I’m sure Craig does as well. We need to keep getting this sentiment out there. If you are willing you might try writing letters to the local papers at the following emails; Rutland Herald, letters@rutlandherald.com, Mountain Times editor@mountaintimes.info, Vermont Standard, info@thevermontstandard.com.
Thanks again.
Vito

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Perpetuating the tragedy

Rutland Herald 
Letter To The Editor
April 12,2016
 
I am greatly disheartened the state has chosen to bring felony charges against Craig Mosher in the tragic accident that resulted in the death of John Bellis.

Craig Mosher is an outstanding individual whose tireless and timely response to open up Route 4 and rebuild Killington and a large part of the region in the wake of Irene is legend. To quote from a Bloomberg report at the time, ““Craig is definitely a local hero,” said Roger Rivera, 33, an emergency worker with the state.”

Craig Mosher is not irresponsible and certainly not a criminal. He is an upstanding pillar of the community and should not be treated with such impunity as to level questionable felony criminal charges against him.

This incident was simply a tragic accident and nothing more. Even the charge of “involuntary manslaughter” seems a reach. While there may be some liability issues those should be handled in civil proceeding not a criminal one.

It seems to me that the state is wasting taxpayer money and the court’s time in bringing this indictment. Craig Mosher is no more a criminal than was Mother Teresa. To put him through the wringer like this is just plain wrong. Maybe someone should look closer at what motivated the state to lodge such serious charges.

Jan Dawson, a retired attorney experienced in such cases, quoted in a recent Vermont Standard article stated, “I’ve never heard of anybody filing criminal charges like manslaughter,” also stating it’s “not uncommon” for owners of livestock to be found liable, but “sizable” civil liability suits are the harshest punishment she’s seen.

It is a shame that the state has chosen to perpetuate this awful tragedy by creating another victim in Mosher and subjecting the Bellis family to reliving this nightmare once again. I would hope Rose Kennedy reconsiders her harsh decision to prosecute Mr. Mosher.

VITO RASENAS

Killington

Friday, April 8, 2016

Driver under influence in crash


April 08,2016
 
KILLINGTON — A Middlebury woman is accused of driving under the influence after veering off the road early Thursday.

Vermont State Police responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Dean Hill Road just before 1:30 a.m. When they arrived, they found a 2000 Dodge Durango off the roadway and down an embankment, they said.

Police said the driver, Catharine Lobo, 23, had been driving west when her vehicle left the road and struck several trees.

Lobo, who was sitting in another vehicle near the scene, displayed signs of impairment, according to police.

A preliminary breath sample revealed her breath alcohol content to be 0.170, more than twice the legal limit, police said.

Lobo was cited and released to appear in Rutland criminal court on April 25.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

VEDA APPROVES $10.6 MILLION in ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING

VT Digger
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2016
CONTACT: Jo Bradley, Chief Executive Officer
Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA)
802-828-5627

 ...........................................................
VEDA ...... approved financing for two Killington-based travel and tourism projects:
· Killington Mountain Lodge – VEDA financing of $1.5 million was approved as part of a $6.6 million permanent financing package for the purchase and substantial renovation last year of a former condominium property once known as the Inn at Six Mountains. Centennial Bank is also providing financing for the project. The newly-opened Killington Mountain Lodge (http://killingtonmountainlodge.com) is a 64,000 square foot four-story hotel with 103 rooms situated on approximately 4.2 acres located just below the Killington Mountain Resort on the Killington Access Road. In addition to renovating each room in the new hotel, significant improvements were made to the lobby, which now boasts the largest indoor fireplace in Vermont, an outdoor courtyard featuring a large hot tub with fire pits, game/movie room, exercise room, restaurant and bar, indoor pool, and two conference rooms. The hotel also has two full kitchens and its restaurant will offer a limited upscale menu. Management for the new hotel expect to create 57 new jobs within three years of the project; and
· Summit Lodge – VEDA approved partial financing of $560,000 to support the purchase of the Summit Lodge. VSECU also provided financing for the project. Originally established in 1960, Summit Lodge was the first lodge built in Killington, and is located just minutes from the Killington and Pico ski areas. The property consists of a four-season, full-service 45-room lodge located on 8.26 acres of land, is a well-known venue in the region for hosting weddings, and attracts customers for hiking, golfing, kayaking, and other outdoor activities year round. The Lodge’s new owners plan to make extensive upgrades to the property during the next several years, and estimate employment there will double from ten to twenty positions within three years of the purchase.
About VEDA
The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) is Vermont’s nonprofit economic development finance lender. VEDA was created by the General Assembly in 1974 with a mission “to contribute to the creation and retention of quality jobs in Vermont by providing loans and other financial support to eligible and qualified Vermont industrial, commercial and agricultural enterprises.”
Over the years, VEDA has grown and adapted its financing programs to keep pace with an ever-changing economy.
VEDA offers a wide range of low-cost lending options for Vermont businesses and farms of all sizes, and the Authority’s
lending solutions are customized to each borrower’s individual needs. Whether in the form of direct loans, tax-exempt bond issuance or loan guarantee support, VEDA’s innovative financing programs help ensure that Vermont businesses and farms have the capital they need to grow and succeed. VEDA most often lends in conjunction with banks and other financing partners, helping to stimulate economic development activity in Vermont.
Since 1974, VEDA has provided over $2.16 billion in financing assistance to thousands of eligible Vermont entrepreneurs, manufacturers, small businesses, family farms, and agricultural enterprises, helping them to realize their business growth goals, create jobs, and enhance the vitality of Vermont’s economy. For more information about VEDA, visit www.veda.org or call 802-828-JOBS.


Comment: Thanks to Wayne Wilbur for the following info:

A  Correction to the Article's Claim that the Summit lodge was the "First" on the Access Road is Totally False! Bigelow's lodge, now known as the Fireside was Built in 1958, and was in Fact the "First" Lodge.

A dangerous precedent

Rutland Herald
April 07,2016
 
The recent involuntary manslaughter charges against Craig Mosher because his bull escaped from its enclosure sets a dangerous precedent. If this is allowed to continue, what happens to the homeowner whose dog or cat escapes and crosses the street? What happens to the farmer when his cows get out? And if a moose or deer crosses the street and gets hit and causes an accident, which state official gets charged? This is a tragic loss for all but nothing more than an unavoidable accident.

The state needs to drop this charge immediately on the man who single-handedly reopened Killington to the world immediately after Hurricane Irene.

FRANK GONZALEZ

Rutland

The lights have been turned back on

The issue of email alerts regarding scheduled Select Board meetings have been resolved. In a brief exchange of emails and phone between Dick Horner and myself we came to an amicable solution as outlined in the following emails.

Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2016 9:23 AM
Subject: RE: Selectboard Meeting Email Alerts
 
I do not want to prolong this debate since the new town manager will be starting in 10 days. I am aware of constant contact and I do know how to use it. The original purpose of constant contact was to inform people of special events, press releases and other information which distribution of is not covered by statute. By statute I am required to post legal notices in 3 places in town and post the notices on the town website which I do. The town attorney has always advised that the town should not go beyond what is required by statute because it can lead to charges of discrimination because some people get the legal notice and others may not get the notices.  By following statute everyone is treated equally with equal access to the legal notices.

Richard L. Horner
Killington Town Planner
Zoning Administrator
Interim Town Manager
2706 River Road
Dick@town.killington.vt.us
802-422-3242


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Dick,
 
This is to confirm our conversation of today regarding email alerts for the Select Board meetings. Your understanding of the legality of public notices is based upon relatively strict legal guidelines in your capacity as Town Planner and Zoning administrator. You did acknowledge that a Town Manager has much greater leeway in the way information is disseminated because a Town Manager has to manage not only municipal functions but also community relations.
Based on that premise you came around to the idea that reinstating the email alerts is in fact beneficial and you will work with Amy Morrison to keep the townspeople informed of the scheduled Select Board meetings.
We agreed that going forward the town will be posting the alerts via the Constant Contact software platform.
I thank you for your time, patience and effort in getting this matter resolved.
 
Sincerely,
 
Vito

Bull Owner Indicted In Fatal Crash

Vermont Standard
April 7, 2016 
By Katy Savage
Standard Staff
Killington — Almost eight months after a fatal accident on Route 4 involving an escaped Scottish Highland bull and a part-time Killington resident, a grand jury has charged the bull owner with involuntary manslaughter.
Craig Mosher, 61, of Killington was indicted in Rutland criminal court Monday. The indictment said he acted with “criminal negligence by having notice that his Scottish Highland bull was loose and failed to contain his bull or alert others to this danger, and that his failure to take action caused the death of Jon Bellis.”
Both the bull and the man, 64-year-old Bellis of Woodbridge,
Connecticut died in the July 31 accident.
A criminal charge in such situation is rare, people who are close to agriculture laws say.
“I’ve never heard of anybody filing criminal charges like manslaughter,” said Jan Dawson, a retired attorney in Texas who has written books on this issue from the equine perspective. Dawson is currently president of the American Association for Horsemanship Safety. She said it’s “not uncommon” for owners of livestock to be found liable but “sizable” civil liability suits is the harshest punishment she’s seen.
Usually the punishment in cases of animals at large stems from a fence issue, she said.
Vermont law says fences that are 4-1/2 feet tall, in good shape, sturdy enough to prevent sheep from escaping “and any natural barrier equivalent to such fence” is sufficient. Damaged fences are required to be repaired within 10 days.
Vermont law says if an animal is found at large in a roadway the owner of the animal “shall forfeit $20 for every horse or beast so found going at large, and shall be liable for the damages thereby sustained by any person.”
The type of charge in such a case usually depends how many times an animal has escaped in the past, said National Agricultural Law Center Senior Staff Attorney Rusty Rumley.
“Usually there’s a pattern,” Rumley said.
Mosher had owned his bull, named Rob, since 2008, according to Mosher’s company website. Mosher used Rob and another bull named Big as company mascots. Mosher also has two sheep and a rescued donkey on his property on Johnson Road in Killington, the website said.
Killington Police Chief Whit Montgomery said there may have been “a couple of times” in the past when animals had gotten loose from Mosher’s enclosures “but nothing to this extent.”
“In my 17 years I don’t recall being called out for any of (Mosher’s) animals being loose,” Montgomery said. “It’s tragic all the way around.”
Vermont State Police Trooper Robert Rider, who investigated the accident, could not be reached for comment. Rutland State’s Attorney Rosemary Kennedy also didn’t return a phone call by the Vermont Standard’s deadline.
“I’m just very upset about it,” said Mosher, who declined to comment further, referring questions to his lawyer.
Attorney Matthew Hart said Mosher’s bull escaped when it started eating apples from an apple tree. A tree limb got under the electric fence and lifted it up, creating an opening for the animal to escape.
He said Mosher had been told about his loose bull before the accident and “got up, got dressed and started looking” for the bull.
“Unfortunately he was looking in the wrong place,” Hart said.
State police responded around 10:30 p.m. after a 911 call about the crash.
“It’s a horrible accident,” Hart said.
Killington Police received a 911 call that the bull was wandering along Route 4 south of the Killington Skyeship gondola’s parking lot. While responding, another 911 call came through saying that a man had struck the bull.
Bellis, a psychiatrist who split time between Connecticut and his second home in Killington, died after he hit the bull, went down a grassy hill and collided with a tree, state police said. Bellis’ wife, Kathryn Barry, was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center with a right wrist injury.
She was treated and released.
Scottish Highland cattle are considered the oldest breed. They’re known to withstand rugged conditions and can weigh 2,000 pounds — more than a male moose. The body of the dead bull was removed with a loader truck, Montgomery said.
Paul Doton, who owns a dairy farm in Barnard, keeps his heifers in the barn for the summer. Too often, they found ways to escape.
“We don’t pasture our heifers anymore partly for that reason,” he said.
Doton has never heard of a car coming close to hitting his loose livestock but, “It’s a danger with animals getting out.”
On Monday, Judge Thomas A. Zonay released Mosher on the condition that he contain his animals on his property and not make contact with Bellis.


Comment: Craig Mosher is an outstanding individual whose tireless and timely response to open up Rte 4 and rebuild the town in the wake of Irene is legend.  To quote from a Bloomberg report at the time, “Craig is definitely a local hero,” said Roger Rivera, 33, an emergency worker with the state.
Craig Mosher is not irresponsible and certainly not a criminal. He is an upstanding pillar of the community and should not be treated with such impunity as to level felony criminal charges against him.
This incident was simply an accident and nothing more. Even the charge of “involuntary manslaughter” seems a reach. While there may be some liability issues those  should be handled in civil proceeding not a criminal one.
It seems to me that the state is wasting taxpayer money and the court’s time in bringing this indictment. Craig Mosher is no more a criminal than was Mother Teresa.  To put him through the wringer like this is just plain wrong. Maybe someone should look closer at what motivated this prosecutor.
If this proceeds and Mosher is sent to jail it will destroy his business and harm the local economy in the face of desperate efforts by the town and state to increase economic activity. Has anybody weighed the consequences of this prosecution?
Vito


Permits issued then appealed: Update on Killington Village progress

Mountain Times
March 30, 2016
By Karen D. Lorentz

Some progress has been made concerning the Killington Village master plan and resort parking project permits that were issued by the District #1 Environmental Commission on Oct. 7, 2013, but then appealed.

On March 7, 2016, Judge Thomas S. Durkin, who is presiding over the two appeals before the Superior Court’s Environmental Division (a.k.a. the Environmental Court), rendered a decision affirming the resort parking project permit which Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC, received in Oct. 2013.

The resort parking project permit is for construction of a day-skier parking lot for 1,276 vehicles to replace existing day-skier parking areas (at Snowshed and Ramshead); realignment of a portion of Killington Road; reconfiguration of the Killington Grand Hotel parking lot; and construction of a stormwater basin and associated utilities.

That permit had been appealed by Killington businessman Steve Durkee. A Mendon resident, Durkee  filed an appeal to the resort parking project permit and raised issues regarding Act 250 criteria in his Statement of Questions. Those criteria included: 1(E) (Streams), 5 (Traffic), 8 (Aesthetics), 9(K) (Public Investment), and 10 (Regional Plan).

On March 18 Durkee filed a motion to alter (the decision) with the Environmental Court. The judge now will decide whether to accept the motion to alter and can then alter his findings or uphold the permit in its entirety.

Should he do the latter, Durkee has 30 days in which to appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court.

The significance of the parking lot permit is that it affects the building of the Village since it is a requirement for Phase I of the Killington Village to proceed.

“The next steps require unappealable permits,” noted SP Land President Steve Selbo. SP Land is the applicant for the Killington Village.

Selbo noted that the only other issue to affect the parking project had been resolved last summer when representatives of the Pinnacle Condominium Association and Killington agreed to reverse the sidewalk and roadway (change the side on which the sidewalk is located) during mediation.

Without a final parking lot permit that will stand, however, Selbo said it is difficult to move forward with Village preparations due to the complexity of that project.

Killington Village appeal

After a permit application was made in February 2012, the district commission issued an Act 250 permit to SP Land for the Killington Village master plan in early October 2013.  SP Land later that month appealed the permit and findings that were also cross-appealed by Mr. Durkee.

SP Land received approvals for a 15-lot subdivision; reaffirmation of a previously-approved 10-lot subdivision; authorization to construct Phase I of the Killington Village master plan; and associated partial findings for proposed future phases of the Killington Village master plan. At the time, Selbo said that after careful examination, it was determined that SP Land could not figure out a way to make the Village master plan project work within the permit’s framework.

After filing its October 2013 notice of appeal, SP Land raised several questions that it wished the Environmental Court to address. The questions essentially gave notice of SP Land’s objections to issues centering on conditions imposed regarding party status, traffic, fire safety and future permit oversight of the district commission.

The Environmental Court hearing concluded in December 2014 but a decision has not been rendered on that appeal yet.

The Environmental Court is a trial court that considers an appeal on its merits and generally hears any appeal that is timely filed and based upon legitimate grounds. In accordance with court rules, Judge Durkin hears each appeal de novo, meaning that the judge hears all the evidence on the issues raised in the appeal as if the hearing had never happened at the district commission level that took place in May/June 2012.

The cross appeal filed by Durkee was for personal and commercial properties he owns (or has controlling interests) in Killington.

While Judge Durkin ruled on the party status issue in August 2014 and granted many requests in SP Land’s favor, he also said that he would consider testimony anew (at the trial) on several issues raised, including those questions regarding the propriety of proportional payments regarding traffic, fire safety, and certain findings and conditions affecting future phases of the Village.

At that time, Selbo told The Mountain Times that while SP Land was “encouraged” by Judge Durkin’s findings,  “the trial will take a little longer than we had hoped as he will listen to testimony on some things he wanted to wait to rule on.” He also explained that the judge’s decision had reduced the number of items Mr. Durkee could appeal and in effect had limited his party status.

Killington Village progress

While awaiting the Environmental Court’s rulings, Killington and SP Land have made some progress regarding site plan approvals from the Town of Killington. The Town gave site plan approval to the resort parking project on Oct. 8, 2014. This approval was not appealed.

SP Land received site plan approval for Phase I of Killington Village master plan (193 units, 30,000 sf of commercial space, new skier service building and a 32 lot subdivision) from the town on January 13, 2016.

However, Durkee put in a notice of appeal on Feb. 9 to the Environmental Court with the town receiving notice on Feb. 11. A pre-trial telephone conference was scheduled for March 28, Selbo said.

In Durkee’s Feb. 28 statement of questions to the Environmental Court, he raises several questions in regard to traffic. Additionally, he raises an issue of whether the site plan application was complete without “presenting relevant information about the future phases of its development” and if it provided for “adequate protection and maximum compatibility to adjacent properties through adequate design, landscaping, screening and/or other remedy.”

In view of no appeal being filed regarding the aforementioned town’s site plan approval for the resort parking project, Mr. Durkee’s appeal on SP Land’s site plan approval is interesting. The question reads “Does the site plan adequately provide for replacement of day skier parking within a reasonable proximity to ski lifts and services as required by existing PUD approvals under the town zoning bylaw?”

Asked about the length of time he has been involved with the Village project, Selbo, who joined SP Land in 2004, noted that Centex, the original development partner of the Village, had made progress but then left late in 2006. In 2007, SP Land, which played a major role in locating Powdr Corp to purchase Killington from ASC in May 2007, went back to the drawing boards and hired architect Hart Howerton to design the Village. Since that time, the homebuilding crisis intervened and the product designed for the market in 2010, when the economy was still recovering, was downsized to create smaller units in the Village core.

“We’re now trying to get unappealable permits for a product designed six years ago,” Selbo reiterated, noting SP Land still has to secure a development partner(s)  to build Phase I. The developer could be a joint-venture partner with SP Land or could purchase land and proceed independently. [As noted, the resort parking project would proceed in concert with the Village development as replacement parking is needed to make way for any development.]

However, if any appeals are made to the Vermont Supreme Court, which does not hear the case de novo,  members look at the Environmental Court’s decision and consider the evidence that was submitted on the record in its hearing.

Meanwhile, Killington is one of only a few major Eastern ski resorts not to have a pedestrian village at its base. And it’s only been 49 years since Killington founder Pres Smith announced plans for the East’s first complete pedestrian ski village!
- See more at: http://mountaintimes.info/permits-issued-then-appealed/#sthash.e57NHQO1.dpuf

Permits issued then appealed

Update on Killington Village progress
By Karen D. Lorentz
Some progress has been made concerning the Killington Village master plan and resort parking project permits that were issued by the District #1 Environmental Commission on Oct. 7, 2013, but then appealed.
On March 7, 2016, Judge Thomas S. Durkin, who is presiding over the two appeals before the Superior Court’s Environmental Division (a.k.a. the Environmental Court), rendered a decision affirming the resort parking project permit which Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC, received in Oct. 2013.
The resort parking project permit is for construction of a day-skier parking lot for 1,276 vehicles to replace existing day-skier parking areas (at Snowshed and Ramshead); realignment of a portion of Killington Road; reconfiguration of the Killington Grand Hotel parking lot; and construction of a stormwater basin and associated utilities.
That permit had been appealed by Killington businessman Steve Durkee. A Mendon resident, Durkee  filed an appeal to the resort parking project permit and raised issues regarding Act 250 criteria in his Statement of Questions. Those criteria included: 1(E) (Streams), 5 (Traffic), 8 (Aesthetics), 9(K) (Public Investment), and 10 (Regional Plan).
On March 18 Durkee filed a motion to alter (the decision) with the Environmental Court. The judge now will decide whether to accept the motion to alter and can then alter his findings or uphold the permit in its entirety.
Should he do the latter, Durkee has 30 days in which to appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court.
The significance of the parking lot permit is that it affects the building of the Village since it is a requirement for Phase I of the Killington Village to proceed.
“The next steps require unappealable permits,” noted SP Land President Steve Selbo. SP Land is the applicant for the Killington Village.
Selbo noted that the only other issue to affect the parking project had been resolved last summer when representatives of the Pinnacle Condominium Association and Killington agreed to reverse the sidewalk and roadway (change the side on which the sidewalk is located) during mediation.
Without a final parking lot permit that will stand, however, Selbo said it is difficult to move forward with Village preparations due to the complexity of that project.
Killington Village appeal
After a permit application was made in February 2012, the district commission issued an Act 250 permit to SP Land for the Killington Village master plan in early October 2013.  SP Land later that month appealed the permit and findings that were also cross-appealed by Mr. Durkee.
SP Land received approvals for a 15-lot subdivision; reaffirmation of a previously-approved 10-lot subdivision; authorization to construct Phase I of the Killington Village master plan; and associated partial findings for proposed future phases of the Killington Village master plan. At the time, Selbo said that after careful examination, it was determined that SP Land could not figure out a way to make the Village master plan project work within the permit’s framework.
After filing its October 2013 notice of appeal, SP Land raised several questions that it wished the Environmental Court to address. The questions essentially gave notice of SP Land’s objections to issues centering on conditions imposed regarding party status, traffic, fire safety and future permit oversight of the district commission.
The Environmental Court hearing concluded in December 2014 but a decision has not been rendered on that appeal yet.
The Environmental Court is a trial court that considers an appeal on its merits and generally hears any appeal that is timely filed and based upon legitimate grounds. In accordance with court rules, Judge Durkin hears each appeal de novo, meaning that the judge hears all the evidence on the issues raised in the appeal as if the hearing had never happened at the district commission level that took place in May/June 2012.
The cross appeal filed by Durkee was for personal and commercial properties he owns (or has controlling interests) in Killington.
While Judge Durkin ruled on the party status issue in August 2014 and granted many requests in SP Land’s favor, he also said that he would consider testimony anew (at the trial) on several issues raised, including those questions regarding the propriety of proportional payments regarding traffic, fire safety, and certain findings and conditions affecting future phases of the Village.
At that time, Selbo told The Mountain Times that while SP Land was “encouraged” by Judge Durkin’s findings,  “the trial will take a little longer than we had hoped as he will listen to testimony on some things he wanted to wait to rule on.” He also explained that the judge’s decision had reduced the number of items Mr. Durkee could appeal and in effect had limited his party status.
Killington Village progress
While awaiting the Environmental Court’s rulings, Killington and SP Land have made some progress regarding site plan approvals from the Town of Killington. The Town gave site plan approval to the resort parking project on Oct. 8, 2014. This approval was not appealed.
SP Land received site plan approval for Phase I of Killington Village master plan (193 units, 30,000 sf of commercial space, new skier service building and a 32 lot subdivision) from the town on January 13, 2016.
However, Durkee put in a notice of appeal on Feb. 9 to the Environmental Court with the town receiving notice on Feb. 11. A pre-trial telephone conference was scheduled for March 28, Selbo said.
In Durkee’s Feb. 28 statement of questions to the Environmental Court, he raises several questions in regard to traffic. Additionally, he raises an issue of whether the site plan application was complete without “presenting relevant information about the future phases of its development” and if it provided for “adequate protection and maximum compatibility to adjacent properties through adequate design, landscaping, screening and/or other remedy.”
In view of no appeal being filed regarding the aforementioned town’s site plan approval for the resort parking project, Mr. Durkee’s appeal on SP Land’s site plan approval is interesting. The question reads “Does the site plan adequately provide for replacement of day skier parking within a reasonable proximity to ski lifts and services as required by existing PUD approvals under the town zoning bylaw?”
Asked about the length of time he has been involved with the Village project, Selbo, who joined SP Land in 2004, noted that Centex, the original development partner of the Village, had made progress but then left late in 2006. In 2007, SP Land, which played a major role in locating Powdr Corp to purchase Killington from ASC in May 2007, went back to the drawing boards and hired architect Hart Howerton to design the Village. Since that time, the homebuilding crisis intervened and the product designed for the market in 2010, when the economy was still recovering, was downsized to create smaller units in the Village core.
“We’re now trying to get unappealable permits for a product designed six years ago,” Selbo reiterated, noting SP Land still has to secure a development partner(s)  to build Phase I. The developer could be a joint-venture partner with SP Land or could purchase land and proceed independently. [As noted, the resort parking project would proceed in concert with the Village development as replacement parking is needed to make way for any development.]
However, if any appeals are made to the Vermont Supreme Court, which does not hear the case de novo,  members look at the Environmental Court’s decision and consider the evidence that was submitted on the record in its hearing.
Meanwhile, Killington is one of only a few major Eastern ski resorts not to have a pedestrian village at its base. And it’s only been 49 years since Killington founder Pres Smith announced plans for the East’s first complete pedestrian ski village!
- See more at: http://mountaintimes.info/permits-issued-then-appealed/#sthash.e57NHQO1.dpuf

Permits issued then appealed

Update on Killington Village progress
- See more at: http://mountaintimes.info/permits-issued-then-appealed/#sthash.e57NHQO1.dpuf

Permits issued then appealed

Update on Killington Village progress
- See more at: http://mountaintimes.info/permits-issued-then-appealed/#sthash.e57NHQO1.dpuf