https://www.vnews.com/House-committee-moves-ahead-with-public-trails-bill-even-as-lawsuit-inches-forward-in-court-61427521
The House Transportation Committee has voted out a bill that seeks to clarify whether towns can maintain trails that run across private land.
Tunbridge property owner John Echeverria is suing the town because he says he has the authority to control the maintenance on the two public town trails on his land.
Echeverria allows the public to use the trails for walking, but he does not want bicyclists there, and so he filed the lawsuit to prevent the town from removing some large trees that are currently blocking access. That high profile case is in Orange County Superior Court, and outdoor recreation advocates have been asking lawmakers to pass legislation that would authorize municipalities to clear away downed trees and do other work to keep trails accessible to the public.
An original bill that was introduced in the Senate did not make it out of committee, but then the House Transportation Committee included it in a motor vehicles bill.
Josh Hanford, director of intergovernmental relations for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, said the lawsuit is having ripples across the state, as municipalities are holding back on trail work.
He said the House provision clarifies the authority towns have to do the trail maintenance, even on private land, if the owner is opposed to the work.
“This is critical to clear up any confusion here,” Hanford said. “This is the time of year where people do trail maintenance, so it’s really important to have this clarity before we get into the summer months.” Read full article.
