Town solicitor says judge will issue rulings Jan. 22 in two suits from the fire district over Spring Avenue and Sand Trail; CRMC jurisdiction central to defense

Town Solicitor briefed the council on two pending lawsuits filed by the local fire district that challenge town actions around Spring Avenue and the Sand Trail and asked councilors to expect bench rulings from the Washington County Superior Court on Jan. 22.

Solicitor’s summary: The fire district’s complaints seek quiet‑title declarations and other relief, and also allege slander of title and abuse of process. The town’s defenses include arguments that the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) has administrative authority to adjudicate public‑right‑of‑way designations and that courts should not preempt that administrative process. The solicitor also said the town has raised separation‑of‑powers and procedural defects as grounds for dismissal.

Court posture: The solicitor described prior related litigation and motions that preceded the current filings and said the upcoming bench decisions will detail the judge’s reasoning on whether the superior court has jurisdiction to grant the relief the fire district seeks or whether the matter should proceed through the administrative CRMC process and its appeal channels.

Council implications: The solicitor advised the council the litigation runs on parallel tracks with CRMC proceedings and that the town is prepared to defend its administrative approach. Councilors had asked for a clear chronology and the solicitor provided dates and procedural notes to help councilors respond to constituent inquiries.

What councilors asked and what’s next: Councilors requested continued updates and emphasized the need for careful legal strategy; the solicitor said written bench rulings and transcripts would follow and that staff will brief the council on next steps once the judge issues decisions.