Hinesburg driver pleads not guilty in biker death

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Richard Lewis was not speeding, he wasn’t drunk and he wasn’t using his phone, according to police, when he allegedly swerved into the shoulder of Hinesburg Road in South Burlington on a Saturday afternoon last October, striking and killing Williston cyclist Gerard Malavenda.

A South Burlington Police and Vermont State Police investigation into the crash revealed no reason Lewis’ GMC truck reportedly drifted about 3 feet to the right into where Malavenda was standing with his bike on a straightaway with unobstructed sightlines. But police are charging Lewis, 69, with grossly negligent operation of the vehicle resulting in death, a crime that carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Lewis appeared in Chittenden County Criminal Court on April 5 and pleaded not guilty. He was released on the condition that he not drive any car, truck or motorcycle. A status conference in the case is set for May 15.

First-responders did not find any witnesses to the crash when they arrived that afternoon, according to a South Burlington Police affidavit. While Malavenda, 65, was treated and transported to the hospital, where he later died, police questioned Lewis. Lewis, who was driving alone, said he saw Malavenda standing on the side of the road with his bike, according to the affidavit. Police found only the rear tire of the bike to be damaged. A sobriety test showed no signs of impairment, according

Reduced hours, increased fees planned for drop-off center

Hours at the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s drop-off center in Williston will be reduced and trash fees increased under the district’s new budget set to go into effect July 1.

CSWD leaders are planning to sync hours across the majority of the district’s drop-off centers, which take food scraps, recycling and trash. Under the plan, centers in Essex, Milton, South Burlington and Williston will all go to a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule.

That will increase hours in Milton, shift hours in South Burlington and retain existing hours in Essex. The Williston center on Redmond Road, which currently operates six days a week, will drop to five days, eliminating Mondays. All four centers will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

“It’s been really confusing to the public to have all our facilities have different hours,” said CSWD Communications Manager Alise Certa.

Certa noted that the new schedule will be better for staff, which will have two consistent days off each week. Staff districtwide will receive a 7 percent cost-of-living raise in the new budget. The district employs about 50 people.

Fees for trash drop-off will be increasing from $8 to $11 for large bags, $6 to $8 for medium bags and from $2 to $3 for small bags. The increases will help fill an operating deficit for the drop-off centers that would total about $420,000 without an increase, according to all our facilities have different hours.”

CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves.

Overall, the district’s $14.4 million budget is up $1.1 million (8.7 percent) over the current fiscal year. The district is seeking approval this month from the 18 municipalities that it serves. It needs a majority of the municipalities to approve it in order for it to take effect.

The Williston Selectboard approved the budget in a unanimous vote April 4.