Rutland Herald

Conflict is cited

July 3, 2000
BY SANDI SWITZER Herald Correspondent

WALLINGFORD - Conflict-of-interest issues have surfaced in the OMYA proposal currently facing town officials.

A member of the town's Transportation Impact Committee is questioning whether Selectwoman Christie Harris should be involved in discussions of OMYA's proposal to haul marble ore through town.

William Lohsen said in a recent interview that Harris' employer, Rutland Economic Development Corp., has made statements in support of OMYA and its project.

OMYA wants to begin quarrying activities in Danby, and has plans to haul its product through Wallingford to a processing plant in Florence.

It is estimated the operation would require up to 40 round-trips a day, six days a week, with trucks utilizing Routes 140 and 7.

"I can't see her not being biased, because if she votes against the project, she'll have problems at work," Lohsen said. "I think there's a problem with the OMYA project and her position."

Lohsen said he raised the issue at a recent Select Board meeting, but no action was taken.

Select Board Chairman Chris Dinnan could not be reached for comment.

Harris responded to Lohsen's remarks in an interview. She that while REDC Executive Director David O'Brien has publicly spoken in favor of the project, REDC has not taken a formal position.

She said she shared a number of safety concerns regarding the use of Route 140.

"As a Wallingford resident and citizen for 27 years, and as a select person, I have the exact same concerns as everybody else does in terms of (Route) 140: It's not a safe road for cars," she said. "Where I think I differ from a lot of folks is that I think there are legitimate ways and solutions that we can identify to work together."

Harris said while she feels at times conflicted wearing an economic development hat by day and a town official hat at night, she does not believe she has a conflict of interest regarding the OMYA project.

"I have nothing to gain or lose by this quarry project being shot down," she said. "By the true definition of conflict of interest, it doesn't apply."

Harris also pointed out that her REDC position involves marketing and membership development.

Lohsen and others are circulating a petition asking the town to oppose the use of Route 140 by OMYA to haul material from the Jobe Phillips Quarry to its plant in Florence in "order to preserve the character and integrity of the village."

The petition asks the board promote the use of rail transport as a viable alternative to truck transport along the Route 7 corridor.

"The committee basically agreed we're not against the project, because we don't really have any reason to be against the project," Lohsen said. "We just don't like the route they picked, and we don't like the fact that if they come down Route 140 or Route 7 it's going to affect Wallingford with the trucks."

The proposed haul route would have trucks traveling in close proximity to town recreational facilities, heavily traveled access roads and the transfer station.

Lohsen further noted that REDC has joined others in support of expanded truck trips along Route 7 between OMYA's Middlebury quarry through the village of Brandon to the Florence plant.

"That puts (Harris) in a conflict of interest again with her employer coming out with a bold statement in support of a certain type of transportation," he said. "We're looking at alternate transportation. So whenever we're discussing that, she's already got a mindset the opposite way.

"So I'm asking for her to stay out of the meetings involving OMYA, especially when we bring this petition in and ask for a vote of the selectmen."

Harris countered that if rail were an acceptable alternative, REDC would most likely be supportive of it. And, as a member of the Select Board, she would likely be supportive, too.

She said there were a number of differences between the Brandon and Middlebury issue, and the Wallingford and Route 140 issue.

"The big difference is Route 7 is a federal highway, and that's why REDC took the position it took," she said. "It's the only economic lifeline north and south."