Sign at town hall at Killington.

Sign at town hall at Killington.

David Rosenblum, an attorney practicing law in the town of Killington, wrote a "Letter to the Editor" which the Mountain Times published on April 27th in support of expanding the Killington Select Board from 3 to 5 members. The text of David's letter, is below:

To the editor

At The Town of Killington Special Town Meeting warned for May 9th, 2011, the expansion of the selectboard to five members should take place for the following reasons. The need for the Special Town Meeting infers that a three member selectboard cannot formulate an acceptable town budget in time for a regular town meeting. The current financial situation surrounding the Green Mountain National Golf Course, which evaded scrutiny by such a board for the last several years, is, by itself, reason to question the sufficiency of a three man board. In addition the selectboard must now also take on overseeing revenues from the 1% option tax, the fate of economic development commission, consideration of development of a municipal water system and review of the town's zoning regulations. Thus the time has come to expand the selectboard to five members.

By expanding to five members the selectboard could split into committees of two members to examine key issues and make a recommendation to the full selectboard for formal action. This would allow a more thorough and quicker examination of the issues by providing an opportunity to raise questions and secure answers prior to the full selectboard hearing. Such committee meetings would be open to the public. The public would also not have to sit through an entire selectboard meeting to face an issue they are concerned about. Thus public participation would be enhanced.

Congress, state legislatures and many organizations operate in this manner. Most towns in Vermont have a five member selectboard. In considering the towns that have a three member board one should compare the issues and budgets facing these towns as compared to the town of Killington.

Furthermore the town Planning Commission has 7 members, Zoning Board of Adjustment has 5 members, the Recreation Commission has 5 members, Sherburne Fire District #1 has 5 members and the Library Board of Trustees has 5 members. Considering the scope of issues the selectboard must deal with in comparison to what the above organizations face, expanding the selectboard to five members appears to be the most reasonable, prudent and necessary course of action.

Accordingly, in order to best insure an acceptable budget and that the aforementioned issues are most appropriately addressed for the 2012 town meeting, the expansion of the selectboard to five members must be accomplished at the May 9th, 2011 meeting.

Sincerely,
David A. Rosenblum