News

Selectboard talks animal noise, short-term rentals

By LAYLA KALINEN
Eagle Times Staff
CHESTER, Vt. — On June 5, 2024, the Chester Selectboard met at the first of their bi-monthly meetings to review drafts of animal noise and nuisance and the Short-Term Rental ordinances.

Town Manager Julie Hance Also announced two new changes in roadways around the village.

“We have received a $200,000 grant from Downtown Transportation to electrify the Green,” Hance confirmed.

According to Hance, the town has received a $200,000 grant to light up crosswalks and the pathways leading from Cobleigh Field through the Chester Green and Brookside Trail. Hance said she hopes they can stretch the money to light bulbs surrounding the actual green and repainting area crosswalks.

Hance also confirmed that the Vermont Highway Department is beginning to assess the road beginning at Green Mountain High School for sidewalk installation leading into the village.

Hance said they hope through working together that they can solve any potential incumbrances. If successful in approving the plan, she said that after the sidewalks were installed the state would hand over the right-of-way to the town.

In new business, Chair Arunas Jonynas and board member Tim Roper examined and discussed, with input from the other members, the animal nuisance ordinance

opening statement of purpose and complications with exotic pets, livestock and how far past the village limits it carries.

To date, the only ordinance the town has is the Dog Ordinance within town limits.

Board Member Peter Hudkins noted that exotic pets could be potential nuisances that could be indicated in the ordinances.

“Some people have snakes. I lived next to a person with parrots at one point and it was a lot,” Hudkins explained.

Board Member Tim Roper said he thought the wording in the purpose of the ordinance might be too restrictive concerning livestock; he also asked how far out of village limits the ordinance would extend.

Roper said a crowing rooster might not be a very good reason for the police to respond to and that cows can be noisy.

Jonynas said the ordinance states 30 minutes or more of extended noise.

Hance noted on the communicable diseases piece that if livestock escape their property and enter another herd. For example, goats might introduce a communicable disease. Hance cited an incident of rogue escaped goats in Andover she had to deal with.

Hance said overall, the ordinance will handle issues on a case-by-case basis with reasonable resolve.

It has been almost two years since Planning Commissioner, Hugh Quinn began officially working with the selectboard on the Short Term Rental Agreement Ordinance.

First brought up in the spring of 2022, because of overcrowded Airbnbs and the potential recognition of campgrounds becoming over capacity because of an influx of visitors.

Jonynas cited the time to begin was now before it became a problem they couldn’t roll back.

The final draft of the ordinance has slightly increased penalty fees and gives a 30-day window for payment.

Jonynas hopes the final draft will be signed at the Wednesday, June 19 at the 6:30 p.m. Chester Selectboard Meeting.

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