By Patrick Adrian
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WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. — A program manager from the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) notified Weathersfield that it will collaborate with the town to get a second evaluation on the condition of the historic Tenney maple tree before proceeding with its removal.
At last night’s selectboard meeting, Selector N. John Arrison shared a letter from Andrea Wright, the VTrans program manager who oversees the departments handling the Tenney tree. The century-old tree is the last standing maple from the land once held by Romaine Tenney, the Weathersfield farmer who tragically took his life in 1964 just before the state evicted him from his home to clear way for the construction of Interstate 91.
At a community forum on Tuesday, Oct. 29, many Weathersfield residents challenged VTrans’ plan to remove the tree, which has stood in the Ascutney Park-and-Ride by I-91 Exit 8 as a living memorial to Tenney.
Based on an arborist’s assessment of the tree conducted between March and September, the tree has reached the end of its life and needs to come down due to its proximity to parking spaces posing a safety risk to people and vehicles, according to VTrans.
However, many Weathersfield residents argued that the tree still displays considerable foliage and felt the tree should be allowed to live longer as a testament to Tenney’s legacy.
“It’s the last living reminder of Romaine Tenney,” Arrison told VTrans during the forum. “It should be allowed to die, rather than be brought down by a chainsaw.”
Residents suggested getting a second opinion to determine whether the state could opt to prune the dead branches or stabilize the tree.
On Friday Wright wrote a letter in response to Arrison’s wife, Patti Arrison, saying that VTrans will coordinate with the selectboard to conduct a second evaluation in response to citizen concerns.
“After hearing the towns concerns… I am intending to reach out to the Selectboard to collaborate on another evaluation by the professional of their choice,” Wright wrote. “I will be making contact with the Chair of the Select Board within the next few days to begin coordination of that effort.”
In a related action, Selectboard Vice-Chair David Fuller motioned that the board submit a letter to the governor to temporarily stay the order for removal pending further investigation. The board approved the motion by unanimous vote.
Board revisits forest land swap agreement
Three years after an agreement between the town and resident Emily Abbott to swap land to offset unpaid back taxes, Town Attorney Nathan Stearns told the selectboard that he has had little success finalizing that deal with Abbott’s attorney.
The town made the agreement over three years ago with Abbott who owed $86,000 in back taxes to the town. Abbott would give the town a 3-acre lot and an additional easement to offset her finances.
This land would be a key component to an agreement with the state to access the town forest. During the 1990s, Weathersfield received a donation of about 100 acres of forested land for the purpose of developing for recreation.
However, the town forest is landlocked, and until the Abbott agreement, Weathersfield did not have a means to access it.
Through the land swap, Weathersfield would construct a parking lot for trail users. Additionally, according to Selector Dan Boyer, the state parks service would be willing to approve a wetlands permit for Weathersfield to make a trail through state-owned land, connecting the Abbott easement to the town forest.
Fuller, on the other hand, suggested that the town reconsider the entire agreement at this point.
“I think it’s time to cut our losses,” Fuller said. “This board needs to treat all taxpayers equally. This is a large piece of property, and for the town to completely walk away would treat the rest of the town badly.”
Fuller also questioned whether acquiring this easement would guarantee the town the wetlands permit and other easement necessary to access the town forest, without which the town would not benefit from the land swap.
Boyer said that per his conversations with former town manager Ed Morris, who had worked on agreements with the state, that state officials told Morris that Weathersfield would most likely get the needed connecting easement. Furthermore, state officials told Boyer that getting the permit wouldn’t be a problem, but that Weathersfield needs to acquire the right-of-way before filing.
The selectboard did not take action, but Selectboard Chair Kelly Murphy recommended the board invite Morris, who now serves as Claremont city manager, to the next board meeting to acquire his information on the issue.
Stearns also suggested that a town official learn whether Abbott still intends to continue with the deal.
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