Mount Holly ATVs
MOUNT HOLLY — Select Board Chairman Ted Crawford has announced the board will consider enacting a trial period to allow all-terrain vehicles onto Mount Holly roads.
The announcement came during a March 24 special meeting, but since late last year, the on-road ATV debate has been making the legal rounds in town. In December, the Select Board moved to approve an ordinance allowing ATVs for road use — but retracted the vote in January after popular opinion was sought.
On March 3, Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, the Select Board distributed “unofficial” and “nonbinding” surveys to voters, gauging reception toward the ATV issue.
The majority of voters who were polled — 55 percent, or 196 residents — moved against allowing ATVs on roadways. Forty-five percent, or 157 individuals, voted in favor of the proposed ordinance.
Written comments were jotted on many surveys, Crawford said. While the names of the notes’ authors were not revealed, their comments were read aloud.
Some supported limiting ATV access to dirt roads and enforcing a driving ban after dark.
ATVs were cited as invaluable following Hurricane Irene.
Crawford recited one voter’s written comments, “I grew up in this town and rode ATVs to friends’ houses, and used them to go fishing, etc. Nobody got killed on the town roads. Nobody complained as long as riders go slowly and carefully and used good judgment. Too many out-of-staters moved into town and complained the loudest. The locals will do the right thing.”
Rhonda Rivers, the clerk of the Select Board, read comments in opposition to on-road ATVs. Some comments decried the on-road proposal with a succinct “no,” while others included comments, broaching concerns of safety and road maintenance.
“Even the manufacturer’s warning says, ‘Don’t use on paved roads,’” Rivers recited from the text of one written statement. “What part of ‘safe use’ don’t you understand?”
Selectman Raymond Tarbell said to his knowledge, an ATV has never caused road damage. Tarbell went on to say he was unaware of any on-road ATV-related legal action being mounted against the town.
“The Select Board did consult with an attorney,” Crawford said, and explained liability concerns were not highlighted. Instead, Crawford said, the attorney focused on ATV road designation and the enforcement of driving policy.
Crawford said he believes all modes of road transportation — including bicycles — are covered by the town’s liability insurance.
Ron Unterman, a Belmont resident, said the March 3 survey put the issue to rest — no ATVs on the road, he said.
“I looked at the vote,” Unterman said. “It was 55 percent to 45 percent, which is a substantial difference in an election …. It seems to me the town has made a statement, ‘Please don’t bother trying to pursue it.’”
Crawford said the proposed ATV trial period would run May 15, 2015, to Oct. 12, 2015, and would permit residents and landowners older than the age of 16 — with a valid driver’s license and insurance — to operate an ATV on the town’s roads for “the sole purpose of going from point A to point B between the times of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.,” and with speeds not to exceed 25 miles an hour.
“What I’m trying to accomplish here is, ‘Let’s find out what the impact of ATV riding will have on our community,” Crawford said. He said the potential for a trial period will likely be hashed out during the regular board meeting April 14.
Crawford declined to answer follow-up questions. Other members of the Select Board were not available for comment.
dan.colton
rutlandherald.com
The announcement came during a March 24 special meeting, but since late last year, the on-road ATV debate has been making the legal rounds in town. In December, the Select Board moved to approve an ordinance allowing ATVs for road use — but retracted the vote in January after popular opinion was sought.
On March 3, Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, the Select Board distributed “unofficial” and “nonbinding” surveys to voters, gauging reception toward the ATV issue.
The majority of voters who were polled — 55 percent, or 196 residents — moved against allowing ATVs on roadways. Forty-five percent, or 157 individuals, voted in favor of the proposed ordinance.
Written comments were jotted on many surveys, Crawford said. While the names of the notes’ authors were not revealed, their comments were read aloud.
Some supported limiting ATV access to dirt roads and enforcing a driving ban after dark.
ATVs were cited as invaluable following Hurricane Irene.
Crawford recited one voter’s written comments, “I grew up in this town and rode ATVs to friends’ houses, and used them to go fishing, etc. Nobody got killed on the town roads. Nobody complained as long as riders go slowly and carefully and used good judgment. Too many out-of-staters moved into town and complained the loudest. The locals will do the right thing.”
Rhonda Rivers, the clerk of the Select Board, read comments in opposition to on-road ATVs. Some comments decried the on-road proposal with a succinct “no,” while others included comments, broaching concerns of safety and road maintenance.
“Even the manufacturer’s warning says, ‘Don’t use on paved roads,’” Rivers recited from the text of one written statement. “What part of ‘safe use’ don’t you understand?”
Selectman Raymond Tarbell said to his knowledge, an ATV has never caused road damage. Tarbell went on to say he was unaware of any on-road ATV-related legal action being mounted against the town.
“The Select Board did consult with an attorney,” Crawford said, and explained liability concerns were not highlighted. Instead, Crawford said, the attorney focused on ATV road designation and the enforcement of driving policy.
Crawford said he believes all modes of road transportation — including bicycles — are covered by the town’s liability insurance.
Ron Unterman, a Belmont resident, said the March 3 survey put the issue to rest — no ATVs on the road, he said.
“I looked at the vote,” Unterman said. “It was 55 percent to 45 percent, which is a substantial difference in an election …. It seems to me the town has made a statement, ‘Please don’t bother trying to pursue it.’”
Crawford said the proposed ATV trial period would run May 15, 2015, to Oct. 12, 2015, and would permit residents and landowners older than the age of 16 — with a valid driver’s license and insurance — to operate an ATV on the town’s roads for “the sole purpose of going from point A to point B between the times of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.,” and with speeds not to exceed 25 miles an hour.
“What I’m trying to accomplish here is, ‘Let’s find out what the impact of ATV riding will have on our community,” Crawford said. He said the potential for a trial period will likely be hashed out during the regular board meeting April 14.
Crawford declined to answer follow-up questions. Other members of the Select Board were not available for comment.
dan.colton
rutlandherald.com
In response to this morning’s Rutland Herald article would you put out on the Newsflash that the Select Board will not be discussing the “trial” concept at its meeting on 4/14/14. I brought this idea up at the special meeting as a concept. It was clear that the citizens of Mount Holly who attended the special meeting had no interest in pursuing the “trial”concept. Therefore as far as I was concerned it was a dead issue and I had no plan to put this issue on the agenda for the next meeting.
Thanks,
Ted Crawford
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