Sign at town hall at Killington. 

Below is a letter I have written to the Citizens of Killington as published in the Mountain Times, May 4th, 2011:

Dear Citizens of Killington

On the evening of May 9th, when we gather for the special Killington town meeting, the time has come to make some thoughtful changes to how our town is governed. As residents, we are lucky that there are clear choices. Continued complacency with "the way things have been" is not the solution. Some of the political structures of the towns past are placing impediments to reinvigorating our town, and they should be changed.

During the town meeting, citizen initiatives to change the way voters are included in important town decisions will be decided. Initiatives to change voting to Australian Balloting and to increase the size of the Select Board from 3 to 5 members deserve careful consideration and a "Yes" vote by Killington residents.

Adopting an Australian ballot voting format is long overdue. While it is a wonderful concept that all residents should attend town meeting, the reality is that too many of our citizens are left out due to the structure of life in the 21st century. If Killington is to move forward, more citizens need to take ownership of town governance. Voting by Australian ballot enfranchises everyone, and we need every resident of Killington to participate if our town is to thrive. Please attend town meeting and vote "Yes" on the Australian ballot initiatives.

Expanding the select board to 5 members also is critical to Killington's future. While a 3-member board has "historically worked" for Killington, the challenges facing our town today have rendered the current board structure chaotically dysfunctional. Multiple issues requiring immediate select board focus can no longer be ignored. Maximizing available resources is critical if we are to address economic development, re-examining the town's zoning plan, fixing the financial problems of the Green Mountain National Golf course, and attracting visitors back to our town as the economy recovers. How the select board manages these and other issues will have a direct impact on our local taxes, and the quality of life of all Killington residents.

Moving to a 5-member select board would allow the board to operate more effectively. It would allow for the creation of focused, issue oriented, sub-committees within the board. It would promote broader representation by making select board members more accessible to the community. It would provide greater select board stability for our residents and businesses, as 3 members would carry over each year from the prior years board. At town meeting, please vote "Yes" on the initiative to expand the select board to 5 members.

On a personal note, if the residents of Killington decide to expand the size of the select board, I ask your consideration to fill one of the newly created board seats.

In 1997, after many years of visiting Killington first as "weekenders" then as second homeowners, Mary and I decided to pursue the American Dream and open our own small business. We chose Killington as the place to start the Birch Ridge Inn. We have established strong roots in Killington, both through our business and by volunteering our time and resources to many community organizations. It has not been easy. The political turmoil in both Vermont and Killington has constantly changed the rules on being successful. But that has not dampened our spirit. Killington, at its core, is a beautiful place. We are blessed to be able to call Killington our home.

Please attend the special Killington town meeting on May 9th. Vote "Yes" to increase citizen participation in town government by supporting the Australian ballot initiatives and the change in size of the select board. And if the 5-member select board initiative passes, please give me the honor of your vote for one of the newly created select board seats.

Respectfully
Bill Vines

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

Sign at town hall at Killington. 

With the ski season coming to a close, many residents of Killington are thinking about the future. A day does not go by without a conversation about "what are you doing this summer?" or "are you getting away in the spring?" But before we get there, there is some town business that needs attention.

Unfinished business from the Killington Town Meeting held in early March will result in town residents getting together for the evening on May 9th (7:30PM - Killington Elementary School on River Road) to discuss and vote on many town issues. The town budget failed in March, requiring the town to get together in late spring to discuss the new proposal from the select board and vote the budget up or down. In addition, as there is a meeting scheduled, a number of citizen initiatives are also on the agenda to be acted upon.

One citizen initiative is switching town voting practice from an open floor vote at town meeting to an "Australian Ballot". An "Australian Ballot", for those who are not familiar with the term, is also referred to as a "Secret Ballot", where voters go to a polling place and vote on election day.

Mary wrote a "Letter to the Editor" which the Mountain Times published this week. The text of the letter, which discusses the "Australian Ballot" initiatives, is below:

Australian Ballot and why should you should vote for it!

Australian ballot is a secret ballot. Polls are open from at least 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and voters can show up any time to vote by marking a printed ballot. The Australian ballot allows people to vote quickly and at a time that is convenient for them. This system also allows a person who is sick or out of town or prefers not to come to the polls on election day to vote early or vote by mail using an absentee ballot.

Town Meetings still occur with Australian ballot voting and the community would still have the opportunity to discuss issues and hear from candidates. Town Meeting would also serve as an educational session to inform voters about the issues they would be voting on.

Towns that use the Australian ballot generally have much higher voter participation rates than those that do not. The Vermont Secretary of State web site states that in 2008 towns that held traditional town meetings and Australian ballot had a 47.8% turn out for Australian ballots and in towns that held only a traditional town meeting the turn out was 21.1%.

If you want all registered voters in town to have access to voting please vote YES on the Australian ballot Articles. These Articles are part of a Special Town Meeting to be held on May 9th at 7:30 PM in the Sherburne Elementary School Gymnasium.

The three Australian Ballot Articles read as follows:

Article 4 - "Shall the Town of Killington adopt its budget article or articles by Australian ballot?"

Article 5 - " Shall the Town of Killington vote on all public questions by Australian ballot?"

Article 6 - "Shall the Town of Killington elect officers by Australian ballot?"

If you feel that the right to vote should be as accessible as possible to the most people as possible this is the right thing to do. Supporting the Australian ballot Articles will greatly improve access to voting in the Town of Killington......Mary Furlong

Commentary on plans for the new lodge on Killington Peak 

Late last week, Killington-Pico Ski Resort Partners, better known as the Killington Ski Resort, announced a long overdue project to completely rebuild the guest lodge at the top of Killington Mountain. The condition of the lodge at Killington Peak has been the "elephant in the room" at the resort for the last several years. The resort has big plans to change that picture.

The building was originally constructed in the late 60's as the terminal to the Killington Gondola, which ran from Route 4 to Killington Peak by way of Sky Peak. Because the original use of the building was as a gondola terminal, a significant portion of the building is both hollow and open to the elements. Anyone who has gone hiking to Killington Peak in the summer has had a clear view of the decaying guts of the building from the gondola piers facing Skye Peak at the base of the lodge. In recent years, high winds on Killington Peak have quite literally ripped the side curtain walls off the building, exposing the steel girders, floor trusses, and other building components to the elements. It was just such a storm in early December of this ski season that tore 2 exterior walls off of the structure. Instead of once again patching up the building and making due, the resort is taking the bull by the horns and replacing the whole structure.

Killington Peak Lodge Pictures of the current structure in desperate need of repair and the Architects concept of the new lodge. Click image to stop rotation. Click again to resume rotation.

Replacing the Killington Peak Lodge will be an ambitious project. The architectural firm of Robert Carl Williams Associates in Pittsfield, Vt. has been retained for design and planning. Estimated construction costs announced by the resort will approach $7 million. Once permitting is in place, expected early this summer if all goes well, the project will span multiple years. This summer, the resort is planning to remove the old structure and complete the necessary infrastructure and foundation work for the new building. Next summer (2012), the resort would complete construction of the building and outfit it for public use. If all goes according to plan, the new facility will be completed for the Christmas Holidays in 2012.

Those of us who live in the area and spend a significant time on the mountain know that the environment on Killington Peak is very demanding. The weather can be the roughest found on the planet. One only needs to look a little east of Killington to Mount Washington Weather Observatory to get a listing of the weather events that happen on mountain peaks in the Eastern US.

Mary and I are excited about the project. Undertaking this project makes a statement by KSRP and their parent companies that they are investing in the future of Killington, and that they are in it for the long haul.

The new peak lodge is long overdue and, when it is completed, will be a welcomed addition to the Killington Resort community.

Strike a pose.... on Mousetrap. 

The clouds and showers of the last couple of days have given way to a beautiful spring day in Killington...just perfect for a few turns on the mountain.

When we spun off the Snowdon Quad this morning, the clock was striking a resounding crack-o-10:30. In the spring, you do need to let the sun work it's magic you know....plus a few extra zzzz's are not a bad thing either! The mountain was resplendent in full sunshine. Soft bumps were developing everywhere. It was just a nice day to be out on the mountain.

Snow conditions were "interesting". The showers of the last couple of days combined with warm spring temperatures have left surfaces very soft. Today's surfaces went right past cream, through corn, all the way to Slurpee. (What's your favorite color?) Trails that still had groomed corduroy (and yes, at 10:30 there was still groomed corduroy visible on some trails like Killink from Snowdon to East Fall) were squishy under foot. Trails compacted by skier traffic were wet with slush bumps in abundance.

Surfaces on Sky Peak off the Superstar Quad were firmer, given the north facing aspect of the trails. But even here, the snow is feeling the effects of spring. Superstar itself had small bumps developing up and down the slope. There was still evidence of it being groomed. I would guess that the resort will give it one last flattening for this weekend and then let nature take its course. (Only conjecture....not inside information.)

Tonight the temperatures in the area are due to go down to the low 20's. Surfaces for Friday should firm up substantially in the early morning hours, allowing the groomers to smooth out any surface imperfections created over the last couple of days by the warm temperatures and high moisture.

With plenty of snow on the mountain, spring skiing conditions should hold up quite well. The last hurrah for the 2010/2011 ski season is quickly approaching. With the mountain scheduled to close on May 1, if you want to make any more turns this year, now is the time.

With spring snow, and bright sunshine...don't forget your sun screen!

Killington Peak set against a brilliant sky from Superstar 

I am really not sure where to start...The combination of bright sunshine, blue sky, deep snow, and warm temperatures just made for a fantastic day on the mountain. It was just the perfect combination for a great day of spring skiing at Killington.

We started the day with a couple of laps on Superstar at the crack of 9. Superstar was groomed flat and it was still firm as skiers and riders had not yet cut it up. The basic method down the trail was put your legs together and go as fast as you dared. With virtually no one on the trail, the first 2 runs were exhilarating.

We next climbed over the top of the mound on the upper Superstar headwall for a visit to the "far reaches" of the resort. As is usual this time of year, there are only a few lifts running, but many of the normal ropes and road blocks directing skiers and riders down certain pieces of terrain have been removed.

We crossed under the wind screen and the Skyship Gondola for a peek at Sky Burst. Oh the creamy goodness! I believe we were the first ones to visit Sky Burst this morning, other than a Ski Patroller taking a reserve run. We were greatly rewarded.

Upper Sky Burst for the taking. Click to enlarge..

Even at this early part of the ski day, being south facing Sky Burst had been sitting in the sun for several hours. Being totally flat, the surface churned up like soft butter with every turn. And unlike Superstar, which begged you to go fast, Sky Burst gave each turn its own special kind of love. I am sure that later in the day, Sky Burst will be whipped into a frenzy of bumps by skier traffic, but catching it first this morning was one of the highlights of the day.

Of course, the mountain giveth, and the mountain taketh away! Because there are no lifts running on Bear Mountain, our run down Sky Burst was terminated at the Snowshed Crossover. On the current resort trail map, you will not find this trail anywhere as during mid winter it is blocked by tuna nets. But instead of pretending it does not exist, in the spring the nets are dropped allowing access to upper mountain terrain, followed by a long traverse back to the Superstar Quad. In addition to Sky Burst, the Snowshed Crossover allows the resort to keep open Upper Cruise Control, Panic Button and Upper Needles Eye, plus the Vertigo Headwall. And they were all worth doing today.

By about 11, we had done enough laps on the Sky Peak side of the resort so we headed to the K1 Gondola for some runs off the Canyon Quad. By now, East Falls had been whipped into a runny ice cream state, requiring attention to turns down its fall line. Double Dipper, still in partial shadow, was still firm but very edgeable. Cascade was generally soft, with a few slick spots on its lower headwall.

We took Ridge Run (formerly West Glade) down Great Northern to the Snowshed quad. Chute had nice snow cover. Great Bear was still a little chunky (I would bet that by 2:00 PM this afternoon it would have been great!). Upper Royal Flush had some gooey softness to its small bumps. Mousetrap offer you a choice of cruising of bumping. I found the seeded bumps course to be nicely soft around noon, while Mary just cruised down to meet me before heading down for another ride on the quad.

We finished up on Highline. By mid day it had been totally churned up with soft wet bumps developing on the lower sections. After a ski season on the slopes, our legs were more than up to the task presented by the suns work on Highline. It just sealed the deal on a beautiful spring day to ski Killington.

Sunshine leads the group on the corduroy at Killington. 

The calendar may say spring, but winter is still in full effect at Killington. Temperatures in the area have been hovering at the freezing mark with a very un-spring like cold combination of snow and drizzle falling most of the day.

Mary ventured out on the slopes today. I spent my time finishing our tax package to provide to our accountant for our 2010 income taxes. I finished collating all of the paperwork around 3:45 this afternoon; just about the time Speaker of the House John Boehner (R, Ohio) gave his riveting speech (not!) on how well the politicians we send to Washington are working together to craft a federal budget. Makes you sort of wonder, doesn't it? But I digress....

Mary reported that surface conditions today were a mix of groomed terrain and fresh powder from overnight snow. Skiable terrain at the resort has shrunk from recent weeks, as the resort begins its spring shut down process. Lifts operating today included Snowshed, SuperStar, K1, the Canyon Quad, and Snowdon.

The weekend forecast calls for warming temperatures and spring skiing conditions. With our tax package prepared, and my all important Masters picks made, I plan on taking a few runs myself over the next couple of days.

Hope to see you on the slopes.