Rutland Herald
Clarendon joins compact worried by OMYA plan
April 14, 2001
By SANDI SWITZER Herald Correspondent
CLARENDON — The town has joined an alliance of neighboring communities tackling transportation issues that could affect the region.
The Clarendon Select Board voted 4-1 Monday to join the Municipal Transportation Compact.
The coalition was formed last year by communities concerned over the potential impact of an OMYA Inc. quarry proposed in the Danby Four Corners area.
Company officials have distributed an initial outline of the project that included mining, blasting and crushing activities in order to haul marble ore to a processing plant in Florence.
OMYA officials have not identified a specific haul route or disclosed updated information on the project since that initial proposal.
Chief among the municipal compact’s concerns are trucking, safety, aesthetic and quality of life issues, as well as infrastructure impacts in the member towns.
Other communities in the compact include Tinmouth, Middletown Springs, Pawlet, Wallingford and West Rutland. Danby has not joined the coalition.
Michael Fannin of Tinmouth called the quarry proposal a “lose-lose” proposition for his rural community of 475 people.
“Do we have to bankrupt the citizens of our town to offer it up as a conduit for a multi-national corporation that hasn’t offered us one dime in mitigation?” he asked Clarendon officials on Monday.
Fannin said West Rutland joined the compact out of concern that Route 133 may be identified as a haul route, and Wallingford signed on because of road and bridge issues on Route 140.
He said monthly meetings are held in order to “map strategies” to deal with transportation issues and other infrastructure impacts.
Fannin noted that Clarendon had recently addressed similar concerns due to various asphalt plant proposals, and added that Walker Mountain Road could be used as a haul route for the quarry project.
“What we are doing, we believe, is also to your benefit,” he said.
Clarendon Selectman Michael Klopchin said he would not be opposed to using Route 7 as a haul route, but would object to the use of Walker Mountain Road or Route 133.
“I would probably be the first person to put up the barricade,” he said.
Fannin said the compact is also working with Conservation Law Foundation and had hired engineers to conduct road studies.
Some of the compact’s goals are examining current use and conditions of roads and identifying the amount of traffic they can accommodate, he said.
Two Clarendon residents spoke in favor of their town joining the compact in order to stay informed about the quarry operation. One citizen opposed the idea.
“Until Clarendon has a problem, I don’t think you want to give the perception you’ve joined the organization,” said R. Brownson Spencer.
The Select Board voted to join the compact for informational purposes only, with no financial obligation. Selectman Robert Bixby voted against joining.
Selectman David Potter was appointed as the town’s representative to the group, with Selectwoman Nancy Buffum named as alternate.
Following the advice of Select Board Chairman Robert Sebasky, it was further decided that town representatives would only attend compact meetings that are open to the public.