St. Albans residents demand answers

ST. ALBANS – Early in February, two St. Albans residents presented a list of 20 questions the Board of Selectmen that they say selectmen have ignored repeatedly at board meetings.

Gary Jordan and Dennis Smith, who are both in opposition to an eminent domain action on the March town meeting warrant, have attended all recent selectmen’s meetings. During those gatherings, both men said, they have asked questions regarding town actions, town funds and town surveys. “They just look at us and don’t answer the questions,” said Jordan. “That is totally inappropriate.”

Jordan, one of the landowners affected by the eminent domain action, said that if the board does not reply to the questions in writing before the Feb. 17 board meeting, each question would be asked again. “If there is any reason that a question cannot be answered,” said Jordan, “we would like an explanation.”

Jordan and Dennis maintain that the information they are seeking is public information and that it is illegal for the selectmen to withhold it from the residents of St. Albans.

Town Manager Larry Post said Thursday that all of the questions asked by the duo would be answered. “We expect they will all be answered and anticipate the answers will be in writing,” said Post.

Town officials are seeking to take the Town Landing Road for public use and increased access to Big Indian Lake. Jordan, who owns a considerable portion of the road, maintains the town already has a right of way to the lake that it plows and maintains and that the eminent domain issue is actually being brought to provide access for private landowners who are planning to create lakeside housing developments.

Jordan offered at a recent board meeting to give additional footage to the town to expand the right of way but town officials opted to pursue the eminent domain procedure.

Jordan has two lawsuits pending on the issue: one against the town and a second against another Town Landing landowner, Peter Duncombe.

Some of the questions and requests on the list include:

. How much money has been spent to date on the four attorneys hired by the town concerning the Jordan land disagreement?

. How much transfer tax was paid when the town recently purchased a right of way?

. Why is there a $5,000 difference between the 1987 cemetery fund closing balance and the 1988 opening balance?

. How much money will be spent developing the land proposed to be taken by eminent domain?

. Why aren’t documents presented to the selectmen during public meetings made a part of the meeting documentation?

. Why have tax maps been changed in contradiction to town surveys?

The pair are also seeking a copy of the written opinion of the surveyor who just surveyed the land in question, and the written opinions of two attorneys that Post said advised town officials on a recent easement purchase.

They are also requesting a copy of a tape of a Feb. 17 meeting to confirm a resident’s claim that Post said he was taking the land from Jordan “to shut him up.”

“We have tried in vain at every selectmen’s meeting to get these questions answered. We addressed the board during the public forum part of the meeting yet we have repeatedly been ignored,” said Jordan. He said the board and Post have been rude, sarcastic and have made fun of Jordan’s requests at meetings.