Royalton Planning Comm.

Discusses T & S Appeal

The Royalton planning commission held a special meeting Monday, Sept. 19 in order to discuss a plan of action to deal with the latest "Times and Seasons" appeal to the Environmental Board. The deadline for the Planning Commission to file its side of the appeal on this issue was Wednesday this week, which prompted the special meeting. The commission members agreed unanimously that they must defend the town plan at this appeal just as they did, successfully, at both the District Three Environmental Commission and, a second time, at the Environmental Board.

At last week’s Royalton Selectboard meeting, in a 3-2 vote, the board denied the planning commission’s request to use money from the commission’s own budget to hire attorneys to defend the "Times and Seasons" case at the environmental board.

Earlier this year, at Town Meeting, the selectboard presented a budget for the planning commission that eliminated a $10,000 request by the commission to cover any attorney fees should it need to retain counsel during the year. Instead, the board reduced the planning commission's budget for consultants to $1,000. During the discussion at Town Meeting a motion was made from the floor to reinstate the $10,000 to the planning commission’s budget. That motion failed to pass by one vote. Following that, a motion was made to increase the planning commission's consultant budget to the original $3000, the same as it was the previous year. That motion passed.

In order to fund the appeal process, and pay the attorney fees the planning commission voted Monday night to once again solicit private funds, just as it was forced to do for the last appeal.

Jo Levasseur, chair of the planning commission, said she didn’t believe the board’s nonsupport of the planning commission on this issue removed the obligation of the planning commission to act in accordance with Vermont statute.

Rob Gray, also of the planning commission, said that he felt the planning commission exists to represent the citizens of Royalton, and to not fund the planning commission denies representation of many citizens wishes as the townspeople did vote for the current town plan.

Selectboard chair David Lewis argued that the townspeople didn’t understand what they were voting on when they passed the most recent town plan, adding that they didn’t realize that the plan was to be considered "regulatory" as opposed to "advisable."

John Dumville, the only selectboard member present at Monday’s planning commission meeting, said he felt the board is micromanaging the planning commission, noting, "We don’t disavow budget line items for any other commission." He said felt strongly that the board should support a "voter approved document. Do I support Times and Seasons? It doesn’t matter. Do I support something the voters approved? Yes! I have to."

In the past, there was considerable debate whether the planning commission could raise funds from private individuals. That issue now seems to have been resolved as it is clearly stated in the Vermont statute of the planning commission that it may do just that.

John Lefgren, owner of the current "Times and Seasons" store on Dairy Hill stated in a letter to the Royalton Selectboard that he had spent $80,000 on professional fees and services to make this upgrade to his store possible. The town of Royalton, through the planning commission, has spent funds of $5,821 and the planning commission has spent an additional $2,000 that was raised from private funds.

Planning commissioner Hobart said that Lefgren had already filed a petition to the Vermont Supreme Court on this case, which he (Hobart) felt was "both premature and moot" until the Environmental Board decides once again.

By Randy Leavitt