Vermont Standard
6/30/16
By Curt Peterson
Standard Correspondent
Killington — Kathryn Barry Bellis, whose husband was killed in a July 31, 2015 accident on Route 4, asked to address the select board at its June 21 meeting.
Jon Michael Bellis, 64, a part-time Killington resident, died when his vehicle struck an 1,800-pound Scottish Highland bull, an animal owned by local businessman Craig Mosher, whose farm and excavating business stretch along Route 4 across from the Val Roc Motel. The bull also died in the accident and Bellis suffered minor injuries. Bellis read from a twopage statement and provided copies of an affidavit Vermont State Trooper Robert Rider which was filed on June 3 as a public document by Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy in the grand jury indictment of Mosher, who is being charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the accident.
Referring to the controversy, Bellis said, “all of you and the public only knew that Mr. Mosher had been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with my husband’s death. It was not until June 3 that you had access to the actual facts.”
And the facts, she said, “are very different from what you and the public were first led to believe.”
The affidavit cites five occasions prior to July 31 on which police were notified a bull was loose near Route 4.
“The fifth report was on July 30, at about the same time of night when my husband was killed,” Bellis said.
On the evening of Bellis’s death, just a quarter hour earlier, a truck driver almost hit Mosher’s bull, which he said was standing in the middle of the dark highway. The driver went to Mosher’s house and woke him up, he told police, but didn’t think the farmer was reacting quickly, so he called the State Police.
“The state police dispatched a trooper who was on his way, but he was too late,” Bellis said. “The next call was at 10:13 by a passing motorist reporting the crash that killed my husband.”
“I was sitting in the dark, surrounded by air bags, covered in broken glass, next to my dead husband whose chest was crushed by the steering wheel, his head crushed by the bull coming through the top of the car.”
On April 19, Mosher’s attorney had claimed the farmer was out looking for his escaped bull when he was told of the crash by police. According to Trooper Rider’s affidavit, Bellis stated, Mosher “told the police he did not look for his pet where he was told by the truck driver to go on Route 4 – instead he chose to go back to sleep.”
“The facts are clear,” Bellis said. “The state police thoroughly investigated the crash. The state’s attorney is doing her job — protecting the public.”
She said it might have been anyone who died because the bull was where it shouldn’t have been, and she hopes her husband’s death will inspire a conversation about accountability and responsibility, and that the conversation will be based on facts, not hearsay. The indictment states 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.”
After several seconds of silence, select board chairman Patty McGrath expressed to Bellis the board’s sympathies for the loss of her husband, and thanked her for sharing her information.
At the April 19 select board meeting, resident Vito Rasenas stood and requested the town take some kind of official action condemning the indictment.
“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.”
Rasenas’ call for action inspired suggestions from the large crowd, including holding a public hearing, circulating a petition, and residents writing “stacks of individual letters.” The select board, however, declined to take any official action in April, but promised to explore any appropriate options.
On June 21, resident Diane Rosenblum, who was seated in front of Bellis, turned to her and said, “From the other side — my sympathies go out to you, but Craig Mosher is a much-loved member of this community and many here stand with him. Just so you know.”
Bellis replied, “All I ask is that you consider the facts.”
After the meeting Killington Police Chief Whit Montgomery said, “It’s a tough situation all the way around.”
Mosher had to drag his dead bull off the road with a loader and chains, Montgomery said. The chief had been off-duty when the accident occurred, but was at the scene in plain clothes to assist the state police. He said the Killington police have never received calls about Mosher’s livestock escaping or interfering with traffic, but assumes the reports have gone directly to the state police.
“We have a dog ordinance in Killington,” Montgomery said. “It requires dog owners keep their dogs under control or on their own property. There are stiff graduated fines. But it’s a dog ordinance. There’s no statute regarding livestock.”
Asked if he is aware of any special measures Mosher might have taken to prevent escapes since the accident, Montgomery said no, he is not.
In other business, Town Manager Deb Schwartz gave further information about the effect of tax delinquencies and her strategy for dealing with unpaid levies, which currently amount to over $460,000 including interest and penalties.
“I’ve been researching how other towns deal with tax collections,” she said. “Some don’t allow quarterly payments, don’t provide ten-day grace periods, don’t let taxes get two years arrears.”
She pointed out the town budget is designed assuming all the tax revenue due will be paid during the fiscal year.
“If all the taxes aren’t paid, the town doesn’t have the money to cover the budget,” she said.
McGrath said the quarterly payments idea was an experiment to see if it helped people pay their taxes on time.
“I think it helped,” she said, and cited delinquent taxes of $500,000, $600,000 and even $700,000, although she did not imply the quarterly payments made that much difference.
The recent Stage Race, according to Economic Development Commission liaison Amy Morrison, was a big success. Although participation was down 15 percent, more of the riders were from out of state, meaning they used local lodging and restaurants, and more of them spent the weekend in and out of Killington businesses. She claims the economic gain to the town was$663,000.
“Everyone here knows what Craig Mosher has done for this town over the years. 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.”
Killington Resident Vito Rasenas
Monday, Jul. 11 State vs. Mosher, Craig at 3:00 PM in Room 2 363-4-16 Rdcr/Criminal Status Conference Plaintiff, State (Rosemary M. Kennedy) Defendant, Craig Mosher (Paul S. Volk)
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