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.