Williston Observer 09/05/2019

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Redhawks Roundup Fall Sports Preview

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pages 9-16

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SEPTEMBER 5, 2019

WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985

WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM

Gun club pushes for weekday events By Jason Starr Observer staff

The North Country Sportsman’s Club claimed a right to host special events on weekdays and to exceed a town-proposed limit of 16 special events per year in continuing negotiations over an ordinance amendment aimed at containing gunfire noise from the Old Creamery Road site. After a Williston Selectboard meeting with club president Bob Otty in July, town administrators drafted an amendment to the noise

ordinance that would restrict sport shooting to Sundays and Wednesday afternoons/ evenings. Special events would be limited to Saturdays and capped at 16 events per year — and no more than three per month. Up to four hunter education courses would also be allowed annually. The amendment was written to comply with a 2017 Vermont Supreme Court ruling that permitted the club to continue operations consistent with its “historical use” — identified in the ruling as the club’s use as of

2006, when state law was amended to limit municipal oversight of sport shooting ranges. In an Aug. 29 letter from attorney Hans Huessy, the club asserted that the town has no right to restrict special events to Saturdays, pointing out that the club has historically held weekday special events. “This places an illegal restriction on the club’s right to schedule (weekday) events,” Huessy wrote. In a meeting Tuesday with the selectboard, Otty noted that noise from weekday events

would be less impactful than Saturday events, as more residents are likely to be away from home during weekday hours. “I do not understand why the town insists on limiting such events to Saturdays, when nearby residents are much more likely to be home,” wrote Huessy. The club “can live with” the town’s proposed cap of 16 special events per year, Huessy said, but proposed it be counted as an average over a three-year period. Otty see CLUB page 24

Fields come alive

Observer courtesy photo

Christine Dougherty starts as the town’s stormwater coordinator Sept. 16.

New stormwater coordinator makes move from Colorado Town’s library director search down to two finalists By Jason Starr Observer staff

Christine Dougherty will take over the Town of Williston’s stormwater program Sept. 16. Dougherty replaces James Sherrard, the town’s first stormwater coordinator, who left the position in June for a similar job in Burlington. Dougherty is a native of Rochester, N.Y., and a graduate of SUNY-Plattsburgh who has spent

the past decade working on stormwater issues for businesses and government agencies in Colorado. She left her job as an oil and gas liaison for Adams County, Colo., on Friday. Dougherty is familiar with Vermont and said she is ready to “come home” to the East Coast. “I am really excited for the opportunity to join the Town of Wilsee STORMWATER page 24

Observer photo by Al Frey

CVU’s Riley Gauthier, right, fights for possession during the Redhawks’ season-opening boys soccer win against Burr & Burton on Friday in Hinesburg. For more on CVU fall sports, see our Redhawks Roundup preview section on pages 9-16.

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