Vermont

Tunbridge trails debate leads to larger issue of landowner control in Vermont

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2022

Tunbridge trails debate leads to larger issue of landowner control in Vermont

TUNBRIDGE — The homeowners of a former dairy farm that dates again to the nineteenth century are suing the city of Tunbridge over a dispute concerning the utilization of two public trails that run via their property.

John Echeverria and Carin Pratt say within the submitting that they “haven’t posted the land to limit looking and have permitted use of the land by the general public for quite a lot of leisure actions, together with snowmachines, climbing, snowboarding and snowshoeing,” however they’re opposing the usage of wheeled automobiles together with ATVs, bikes and bicycles on the 325 acres generally known as Dodge Farm.

The lawsuit cites issues that embrace “potential injury to wetlands alongside the paths from bicycle use and dangers to the protection of path customers (and potential legal responsibility for accidents),” in addition to stating that “opening these trails to bicycle use would severely intervene with the Plaintiffs’ use and delight of their property” and likewise create a “security threat for the Plaintiffs and others who stay, work in or in any other case frequent” the world that the path crosses via.

Echeverria and Pratt moved from Washington, D.C., to Strafford greater than a decade in the past. They hire the Dodge Farm property, which they bought in 2015, to a Tunbridge resident. In addition they “have granted permission to a neighbor to pasture cows on the property” and use two barns.

Pratt was a longtime manufacturing govt with CBS’ Face the Nation. Echeverria is a professor at Vermont Regulation College and a property lawyer himself.

Norwich lawyer Geoffrey Vitt is representing the couple.

The go well with alleges that the Selectboard has not been open to making an allowance for the issues about cyclists and continues to allow cyclists on the path. Underneath state regulation, the go well with maintains, permission wasn’t the city’s to grant within the first place.

The go well with argues that as a result of a path, just like the Orchard and Baptist Hill trails that cross Dodge Farm, “shouldn’t be part of the city freeway system” it’s not within the purview of the Selectboard.

Whereas the submitting hinges on the technical authorized definitions of rights of means, each events harassed the commonsense points on the coronary heart of the lawsuit.

“Our place is that the authority to keep up the general public path stays with the landowner,” Vitt mentioned.

“I’m not saying we’ve got the correct to say who will get to make use of it, however I’m saying we’ve got the correct to make the choice about how, if in any respect, the general public path is to be maintained.”

Earlier than the lawsuit introduced it to a head, the dispute had been enjoying out in Selectboard and Planning Fee conferences for nearly two years and noticed the formation of a Tunbridge Trails Committee.

“I simply suppose trails ought to stay open,” Tunbridge resident and bicycle owner Michael Sacca mentioned. “They’re more and more helpful for public entry to land, and they’re public proper of how.”

Sacca participated in public discussions with the paths committee, pushing for the paths to stay open to make use of by cyclists and even prompt {that a} group of residents, quite than the city, might be answerable for path upkeep.

“It’s alternative for conservation teams and native volunteers to get collectively and preserve these trails in fine condition for everyone,” Sacca mentioned.

The eagerness behind the controversy shouldn’t be misplaced on city officers.

“Having hosted all of those public boards and gotten a lot suggestions — a whole lot of it’s on video report — it’s very easy to see the extent of emotion that’s contained on this dialogue,” mentioned Laura Ginsburg, co-chair of the planning fee.

“Entry to the outside is likely one of the issues that makes this place particular,” Ginsburg mentioned, including that individuals use numerous roadways in Tunbridge, from city highways to authorized trails to personal property, for out of doors recreation.

Montpelier lawyer Paul Gillies is representing the city. Gillies, in addition to members of the Selectboard, declined to remark.

Ginsburg harassed that the lawsuit has broader implications for the utilization of trails that run via non-public properties throughout the state — a problem that’s had little consideration in Vermont courts.

“It’s like this authorized grey space that you simply don’t know exists till any person pushes again towards it,” Ginsburg mentioned. “We’re keenly conscious that what occurs in Tunbridge goes to affect different cities.”

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Vermont

Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared

Published

2 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared

The 2024-2025 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.

►Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11

Boys basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Hartford at Middlebury, 12:30 p.m.

Missisquoi at Lake Region, 1:30 p.m.

Milton at BFA-St. Albans

Williamstown at Northfield, 6:30 p.m.

Girls basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Danville at Winooski, 11 a.m.

Spaulding at Milton, 11:30 a.m.

Mount Mansfield at Colchester, 12:30 p.m.

Otter Valley at Mount Abraham, 12:30 p.m.

Montpelier at Stowe, 1 p.m.

Richford at Enosburg

Peoples at Twinfield/Cabot

Brattleboro at South Burlington

Burr and Burton at Champlain Valley

Rutland at St. Johnsbury

Williamstown at BFA-Fairfax, 3:30 p.m.

Boys hockey

Essex at Hartford, 2 p.m.

Burlington at U-32, 2:30 p.m.

Mount Mansfield at St. Johnsbury, 3 p.m.

Milton vs North Country at Jay Peak, 4 p.m.

Harwood at Stowe, 4:15 p.m.

South Burlington at Champlain Valley, 4:45 p.m.

Brattleboro at Woodstock, 6:45 p.m.

Rice at Burr and Burton, 7 p.m.

Spaulding at Middlebury, 7 p.m.

Rutland at Colchester, 7:30 p.m.

Girls hockey

Spaulding at Rutland, 11 a.m.

Woodstock at Brattleboro, 4:45 p.m.

Harwood at Burr and Burton, 5 p.m.

Rice at Burlington/Colchester, 5 p.m.

Stowe at Middlebury, 5 p.m.

Essex at BFA-St. Albans, 7 p.m.

U-32 at Kingdom Blades, 7 p.m.

Gymnastics

Harwood at Burlington, 2 p.m.

Montpelier, St. Johnsbury at South Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling

Michael J. Baker Classic at Essex

MONDAY, JAN. 13

Boys basketball

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Randolph at North Country, 6:30 p.m.

Harwood at U-32

Winooski at Twinfield/Cabot

Northfield at Milton

Brattleboro at Champlain Valley

Thetford at Williamstown

Oxbow at Hazen

Girls basketball

Vergennes at BFA-Fairfax, 7 p.m.

Essex at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

(Subject to change)

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Vermont

Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators

Published

14 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont educators are leery of plans from Gov. Phil Scott to control costs in Vermont’s education system. In Thursday’s inaugural address, Scott pitched sweeping plans to rein in spending which has led to skyrocketing property tax rates.

Last year, one-third of Vemont’s school budgets failed and voters sent more Republicans to Montpelier in years in what some dubbed a tax revolt.

Democrats say everything should be on the table to fix the tax troubles, but some in the education community remain wary.

In his address, the governor outlined a multiyear plan to overhaul how we fund public schools and rein in the cost of spending which has skyrocketed to $2.3 billion.

“In too many districts, teachers aren’t paid enough, administrators are tied up in bureaucracy, schools have too much empty space and many are in disrepair,” said Scott, R-Vermont.

He proposes consolidating dozens of school districts and supervisory unions, putting guardrails on local school spending and completely rewriting the school funding formula with the aim of cutting back on staff and the 80% of school costs that go to wages and benefits.

But some in Vermont’s education community see it another way.

“We have to be clear what is the problem we’re trying to solve. We’re not spending too much money in public education; we’re having a difficult time funding it,” said Don Tinney the executive director of the Vermont NEA.

The Vermont teachers union contends the state has enough taxing capacity to fund schools and students’ complex needs. But they say the state should instead fund schools through state and income tax instead of a property tax.

“We believe the income tax is the fairest way of doing that because people are paying what they can afford to pay,” Tinney said.

As for the funding formula, Scott argues more affluent towns that can afford higher property taxes spend more and approve their local budgets, which drives up costs in the statewide education fund.

“Those higher spenders can actually increase the rates of those districts whose kids and teachers are getting less,” Scott said.

The governor is expected to introduce a formula where districts are paid a flat rate and any additional spending would have to be raised locally.

But some worry that will lead to inequitable opportunities for kids.

“There are states that use foundation formulas to keep poor people poor and drive down public education costs and allow for more opportunities for private schools and school choice schemes. I can’t see Vermont allowing that to happen,” said Jay Nichols of the Vermont Principals’ Association.

Vermonters are still staring down a 6% property tax increase if school budgets as drafted pass on Town Meeting Day.

Scott says in the weeks ahead, he will unveil ideas to hold taxpayers harmless and keep taxes flat.

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Vermont

Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast

Wintry weather spreads across the South

Significant snow and icy precipitation are moving from Texas to the Carolinas.

Following a week of cold temperatures and harsh winds, this weekend will see light snow across New England, including Vermont.

While the snow is expected to cover the entire state of Vermont, this weekend’s snowfall will be calm, with no strong winds to create a storm and only a small amount of accumulation.

Here’s what to know about the timing, location and effects of Saturday’s snowfall in Vermont.

Where in VT will it snow Saturday?

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) of Burlington, light snow is expected throughout the day on Saturday, with the greatest chances of snow in the morning. Most areas of the state will see one inch of snowfall, with two inches possible in the middle region of the state.

While Vermont has seen extremely strong winds over this past week, the wind is expected to die down Friday night and stay mild throughout the snow Saturday. As of right now, the NWS has not issued any hazards or warning for Saturday, as the snowfall is expected to be calm.

VT weather next week

Temperatures will stay in the 20s throughout the weekend, with slightly warmer temperatures coming in next week. Snow showers are expected overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

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