Fourth man charged in Killington brawl, Three men charged in Killington fracas

Rutland Herald

March 25,2015

 

A fourth man has been charged in connection with a December brawl at the Trail Creek Inn in Killington.

Donnell Myers, 35, of Lindenhurst, N.Y., pleaded innocent Monday in Rutland criminal court to a single misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. He was freed on conditions he have no contact with other defendants and witnesses in the case and stay away from the Trail Creek Inn.

Police said Myers was part of a fight that started with an argument about where a shuttle from the Pickle Barrel night club should stop. One of the combatants had a tooth knocked out, according to affidavits, a car was damaged and the door to one of the condominiums was battered open during the melee.

Two other New York men entered innocent pleas in connection with the incident last week, and an arrest warrant was issued for a third when he failed to appear for arraignment.

 

In a related story a couple of days ago:

 

 

Three men charged in Killington fracas

By Gordon Dritschilo
Staff Writer | March 23,2015

 

Three New York men are facing charges after an alleged brawl in Killington.

Only a handful of details were available as few witnesses to the incident said much to police, but affidavits describe a combatant getting a tooth knocked out, an attempt to batter down a condominium door and a trail of blood between units at Trail Creek Inn.

Adam LaCast, 32, and, Jason Defilippis, 30, both of Farmingdale, N.Y., each pleaded innocent last week in Rutland criminal court to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful mischief. LaCast also denied a single misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

A third man, 27-year-old TJ Bertorello of Copiague, N.Y., was also scheduled for arraignment on one charge each of disorderly conduct and unlawful mischief, but did not appear in court Monday. Judge Nancy Corsones issued a warrant for his arrest.

LaCast and Defilippis were freed on conditions they have no contact with Bertorello or witnesses in the case and they stay away from Trail Creek Inn.

Vermont State Police said they responded in the early morning hours of Dec. 14 to what was initially listed as a vandalism call.

The initial complainant reported a group of drunk people trying to force their way into Unit 43 at the Trail Creek Inn. The two men staying in that room described a man breaking the door open by running into it, shouting “get the knife.” The men in the room told police they managed to keep the door closed.

A car parked nearby was reported damaged.

Police said they followed a blood trail in the snow from that room to another, where they found LaCast and Defillipis.

LaCast told police they were returning from the Pickle Barrel via the nightclub’s shuttle service when an argument broke out among passengers about where the shuttle would stop. LaCast said he was jumped by multiple attackers as he got out and fought back, knocking out the tooth of one of his assailants, but cutting his hand in the process.

LaCast offered no information about the door being broken, according to affidavits. Police said Defilippis, who matched the description they were given of the man who broke down the door, did not give a statement.

Police said they went to Unit 49, where a security guard had told police a man entered the unit after the reported fight. There, police said, they found Bertorello, who was missing a tooth but denied knowing anything about a fight and refused to provide a sworn statement. However, police said Bertorello’s cellphone was found near the damaged car.

Police cited the three men in early January.

 

 

 

 

Killington man denies guilt after alleged fracas

Rutland Herald

By ERIC FRANCIS
CORRESPONDENT | March 25,2015

 

Photo by Eric Francis

Loren Washburn appears Monday in White River Junction criminal court to face a series of charges connected to an alleged rampage in a tavern parking lot in Ludlow.

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A man who allegedly went on a violent rampage outside a Ludlow tavern Saturday night is facing nearly a dozen criminal charges as a result.

Loren Washburn, 33, who listed addresses in Killington and Bethel, pleaded innocent to a felony count of attempted grand larceny and to a series of misdemeanor counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct, unlawful mischief, operating a vehicle without consent and drunken driving before he was released from White River Junction criminal court Monday.

Ludlow Police Sgt. Richard King said police were called just before midnight Saturday for a report that a man was attacking people in the parking lot of Tom’s Loft and trying to steal a taxi.

King said when he arrived at the bar, cab driver Melvin DeGrasse told him that a man wearing a bright red Red Sox baseball jersey had come outside while he was waiting to pick up a party of people and appeared to be on the brink of urinating on the back of his taxi.

DeGrasse said he was “jumped” when he got out to ask the subject what he was doing. He said the man, who was later identified as Washburn, punched him in the face, broke his glasses, then climbed in behind the wheel and tried to drive away with the cab.

Police said bystanders pulled Washburn from the cab and tried unsuccessfully to wrestle him to the ground, getting kicked and punched in the process.

King said Washburn went to the other side of the parking lot and started a silver pickup, but the officer blocked the truck with his cruiser. Washburn then ran off and jumped over a steep embankment into a wooded area.

Minutes later, King said, Washburn reappeared in the parking lot and got into a fight with several patrons trying to detain him.

Vermont State Police troopers were called for backup as King and bystanders struggled with the “extremely combative” Washburn before finally getting him into handcuffs.

“Washburn continued to yell obscenities, talk nonsensically and scream” once he arrived at the police station, King wrote, and at one point, Washburn grabbed a trooper’s gun belt.

King said police were unable to get Washburn to calm down enough to take an alcohol breath test.

“Throughout my interaction with Mr. Washburn, I could smell the heavy odor of intoxicants … he was unsteady on his feet … (and) his eyes were bloodshot and watery,” the officer wrote.

Washburn has prior convictions for marijuana possession, drunken driving and attempting to elude police.

He was ordered not to enter Tom’s Loft as one of his release conditions.

 

Comment: Anybody know this guy? I don't recognize him. Looks like he's on more than alcohol.

Vito 

Easter Snowman

The snowman is still going strong. He's in his Easter outfit. Hopefully he makes it 'til then - mucho rain in the forecast for Thursday.

Skier crashes into trees at Killington, dies

Rutland Herald

The Associated Press | March 23,2015

KILLINGTON - A 23-year-old skier from New Hampshire has died after losing control on an intermediate trail at a Vermont resort and crashing into trees.

State police say Terence Scott, of Nashua, was skiing down the mountain with family and friends Saturday afternoon at Killington Resort when he crashed, losing his helmet in the process.

Police say Scott was immediately attended to by an emergency medical technician, a doctor and a nurse. He was unconscious throughout treatment and was pronounced dead at the mountain.

Scott was described as an expert skier. Witnesses tell police that just before the crash, Scott was speeding down the hill and had tried to turn onto a connector trail while avoiding another skier.

[From Boston.com: "Moving at fast speeds on the intermediate-level High Road Trail, Scott avoided colliding with another skiier while trying to turn onto a connector trail. He then lost control and crashed into “multiple trees,” police said. His helmet fell off in the process. The other skiier has not been identified."


Comment: Interesting that it's the AP reporting this and not a local. 

Vito

Judge weighing ski village appeals

By Bruce Edwards
Correspondent | March 23,2015

 

PROVIDED IMAGE

Killington Village Ski Plaza is shown at dusk in this architect’s rendering which shows the contemporary style for the village.

KILLINGTON — The future of a long-awaited ski village is now in the hands of an Environmental Court judge, who is considering several appeals of Act 250 permits for the $130 million project and an associated parking lot.

But one of the parties appealing the permits, Pinnacle Condominium Association, filed a motion this month with Judge Thomas Durkin asking him to stay his decision until a lawsuit related to parking issues can be resolved.

Pinnacle’s owners filed a lawsuit in December against SP Land Company, the developer, and Killington Resort objecting to the configuration of the proposed day-skier parking lot.

If built, the parking lot “would interfere with the deeded easements that benefit the Pinnacle Condominium (Association) in Killington, Vermont,” according to the lawsuit filed by Carl Lisman, a Burlington lawyer representing the owners.

Killington Resort President Michael Solimano said the lawsuit should not stop Durkin from rendering a decision.

“We believe the matters are unrelated and hope the Environment Court judge declines Pinnacle’s request,” Solimano said in an email.

In October 2013, SP Land Company received its Act 250 permit for the first phase of a ski village at the base of Killington Resort.

The estimated $130 million village includes a 77,000-square-foot base lodge, 31,622 square feet of retail space,193 residential units and a 32-unit subdivision.

The new base lodge would replace the aging Ramshead and Snowshed base lodges.

In a related project, Killington Resort received an Act 250 permit for a 1,276-vehicle parking lot for day skiers.

Both permits came with conditions that didn’t please either the developers or parties to the case, who appealed to the state Environmental Court.

In issuing an Act 250 permit for the parking lot, the District 1 Environmental Commission required Killington Resort “at all times manage the parking facility in a manner sufficient to prevent intrusion of visitors parking onto adjoining or neighboring condominium owners property.”

Pinnacle’s owners filed appeals over parking issues related to the resort’s 1,270-vehicle parking lot and SP Land’s parking design within the village core.

Jon Readnour, the condo association’s lawyer, filed a motion with the Environmental Court seeking a stay of the judge’s decision until the lawsuit over easements and parking can be resolved.

In his March 3 motion to the court, Readnour stated that … “SP Land does not have adequate real estate rights because Parking Lot B (village core) would illegally obstruct and trespass upon the Association’s paramount deeded access easements.”

Readnour continued that Killington Resort’s plans for the day skier parking lot, which includes a new road, would be an “illegal overburden of the deeded access rights of the Association and its members and guests.”

In October, Durkin held two days of merit hearings on the parking lot permit. That was followed in December by five days of consecutive hearings on the appeal of the ski village permit.

Parties had until Feb. 12 to file additional information on the parking lot permit appeal and March 4 on the ski village.

Durkin has now taken appeals on both permits under advisement.

In issuing a permit for the ski village, the District 1 Environmental Commission imposed conditions on SP Land, several of which the development company took issue with.

SP Land is required to pay half the cost of a post-construction traffic study, up to $25,000. The state and the regional commissions would pay the other half.

The analysis would encompass regional traffic impacts along Killington Road, and the Route 4 and 103 corridors from Killington to I-91 and I-89.

Another condition required SP Land to install sprinkler systems in the residential units.

The company doesn’t have a problem participating in a future traffic study, said SP Land President Steve Selbo.

“I don’t have any problem participating but why is one party responsible for 100 percent of the private portion of that study,” Selbo said.

He suggested that in fairness the commission should have asked other entities that have an impact on traffic in the region to share the cost.

“It’s not appropriate for one party to be responsible for a three region-wide study,” Selbo said.

SP Land also took issue with the sprinkler requirement for the 32, single-family home Ramshead development, which Selbo said is not “consistent with the state code.”

He also objected to a condition that requires a buyer of a residential lot to obtain approval from the District 1 Environmental Commission before construction.

Condition 19 requires an administrative amendment to ensure homes in the Ramshead 32-lot subdivision meet the design standards set out by SP Land.

Steve Durkee, another adjacent property owner, also filed an appeal over several issues. During the Act 250 proceedings, Durkee raised several issues, including aesthetics, water and traffic.

Selbo said the longer the permit process drags out, so does the cost.

“It’s not like we get this permit and a spade goes in the ground,” he said. “We have some other work to do before that happens.”

SP Land’s long-range village master plan calls for construction of an additional 2,107 housing units and 169,000-square-feet of additional retail development.

 

Comment: I sure hope the parties tying up this development aren't  whining for the town of Killington to spend money on Economic Development. Here we have a private entity interested in pouring millions of dollars into economic development while other parties are more interested in getting their businesses subsidized with taxpayer dollars and creating obstacles to private development.

Vito

Haff: candidacy brought deficit into focus

Mountain Times
3/12/15

Dear Editor,

By now you should already know the outcome of the vote: 176-153 in favor of Chris Bianchi.

I’m glad I ran for office and happy I spent the time and effort putting together the data from the town report about the Town of Killington having a deficit.

The independent auditor did come out to the information meeting Monday night and stated that the town does have a deficit and will need to make a choice on how to address it this next cycle. This statement alone from the auditor made my running for office worthwhile. The Board will need to address it, which is a whole different position from just last week when they were claiming the town did not have a deficit and that my data was inaccurate.

I would like to thank all for coming out and voting.

Thanks,

Jim Haff, Killington

McGrath Re-Elected As Killington Select Board Chair

Vermont Standard

3/12/15

By Curt Peterson
Standard Correspondent

KILLINGTON — Patty McGrath was re-elected by the Killington select board to serve another year as chairperson at the meeting Tuesday night.

There is competition for several of the appointed positions in town – three people seeking to serve on committees that have only two open seats, for example. But for a few positions, the town is hoping to attract volunteers who want to serve the community.

“We need two people for the Recreation Commission, one to be District Representative on the Solid Waste Commission, one person to serve on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and someone to be Tree Warden,” Town Manager Seth Webb said.

The select board is accepting volunteers’ names until March 13, and appointments will be made at the March 24 meeting.

“For those positions where there are more volunteers than open seats we’ll discuss the appointments in executive session,” Selectman Chris Bianchi said.

Like several other Vermont towns, Killington’s Fire Department is hoping to replace their current firehouse with a new one.

“It would take a lot of money to renovate the old facility, and when we got through, we’d have the same problems: There isn’t enough space inside, and there isn’t enough space outside. We need a new site,” said Peter Vito, a volunteer fireman.

The firemen, in a joint committee with residents, are developing a proposal together. The plan, Seth Webb explained, is for the committee to gather information on a few good, affordable sites, then make their recommendation among them to the selectmen. If the board concurs, the next step would be to do the necessary engineering and architectural planning for a new building, which would be the next proposal to consider.

Bianchi suggested “the committee produce a progress report for the public so they know the non-fire department residents are represented in the process, and that this expensive decision isn’t being made in-house without their input.” Webb said he would convey that request.

One subject left over from the Town Meeting Preview regarded some residents’ sentiment that Killington abandon the current Australian Ballot system and return to the traditional Town Meeting format. Webb explained that voter participation doubled when the Australian Ballot system was put into place, and the board requested this be publicized.

The four-payment tax collection system that was introduced in conjunction with the one-time eighteen-month budget was another Town Meeting Preview holdover. McGrath suggested a discussion of easing the resulting town cash-flow constraints by charging taxpayers the town’s portion of the taxes in two payments and spreading just the state portion over the four installments, but the board responded that residents thought they had approved a four-equal-installment plan, and would not look at the suggestion favorably.

“Let’s leave it at four equal installments for now,” Selectman Ken Lee said, “and if we run into a cash-flow problem we can always change it.”

Jim Haff, who unsuccessfully ran against Bianchi for selectman, had researched state regulations and found that a town can legally offer a discount to taxpayers who pay their taxes up front in one lump sum. “This would help the cash flow if enough people take advantage of it,” he said. The board agreed to consider it.

Comment: Who is this guy Peter Vito?