Colchester will stop plowing private roads in winter 2018

Burlington Free Press

Correction: Bryan Osborne is the Director of Public Works for the town of Colchester. His name was misspelled in an earlier version of the story.

The Colchester Selectboard voted unanimously to create a policy stating the town would stop plowing all private roads in winter 2018.

Some private roads in Colchester have enjoyed town plowing in the winter for decades, prompting some residents to question whether the practice is a fair use of taxpayers' dollars.

The decision at its meeting Tuesday night came after months of research, two public hearings and hundreds of letters send by residents to the town. The Selectboard asked the town to draft a policy by its next meeting Oct. 24.

According to updated information from the town Tuesday, the town had been plowing 15 miles out of 44 miles of private roads. Town officials don't know how that practice came to be or how those roads were chosen.

The issue has been the subject of several town-wide votes and discussions over 47 years. The Selectboard was trying to find a policy that would create the highest level of equity for residents and the lowest liability for the town.

"I've lost a lot of sleep over this issue weighing the pluses and the minuses and the fairness," said Selectboard member Jacki Murphy. "For me, the situation goes back to why did we start plowing private roads. From what I've gathered, it was sort of an old boys' network that was not fair from the get-go."

More:Colchester to hold 2nd public hearing on private roads issue

She added, "I think we need to weigh the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and the greatest fairness for the greatest number of people."

The options being considered by the Selectboard were:

Stick to the status quo and continue plowing the 15 miles of private roads
Stop plowing private roads altogether
Begin winter maintenance to all private roadways (29 additional miles) if they meet certain standards and are converted to public roadways
Any other options as proposed via public input.

The town had supported discontinuing the practice altogether, saying it held the least amount of liability. By discontinuing this practice, about $20,000 per year will be saved, the town said.

Public Works Director Bryan Osborne said during Tuesday's meeting that most other towns and cities in Chittenden County are not responsible for plowing private roads.

Some residents at the meeting asked that the Selectboard create a task force for further study or delay the policy taking effect for one year. The Selectboard unanimously approved the second option.

Colchester Town Manager Dawn Francis, second from left, speaks during a public hearing on whether the town should be responsible for plowing private roads on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, at Colchester High School. Other town employees and members of the Colchester Selectboard heard feedback from residents.

Selectboard Chairwoman Nadine Scibek said she would have a conversation with Town Manager Dawn Francis as to how the town can help those whose private roads had been plowed up to this point.

"We're not just going to leave you hanging," Scibek said.

More:Should Colchester plow private roads? Residents passionate and divided

Several Selectboard members said they had not seen this sort of interest on a town issue before. They commended residents for the level of discussion and respect seen throughout the process.

"You really put the staff and us through the ringer," said Selectboard member Herb Downing.

He added, "It's not your fault. This board should have faced up to this problem not now, but it should have faced up to it 35 or 40 years ago."

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.