Morristown Selectboard hears safety and access concerns at Sandridge Road discontinuance hearing

Morristown’s Selectboard held a public hearing on the proposed discontinuance of Sandridge Road, hearing presentations from Town Attorney David Drew and Highway Superintendent Jordan St. Onge and testimony from nearby residents who said the change would shift maintenance costs and could make a steep Route 12 approach less safe.

David Drew filed an eight-exhibit packet documenting notice and background for the discontinuance under 19 VSA chapter 7, including proof of publication in the Eagle Citizen, certified mailings to interested parties and a historical survey. He said the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation provided a letter stating it has no objection to the discontinuance and did not request conversion of the right-of-way to a trail.

Highway Superintendent Jordan St. Onge described the physical condition of Town Highway 78 (Sandridge Road): "It's 0.08 miles or 424 ft of class 3 road," he said, adding that the first roughly 280 ft is about "19 to 20 ft" wide and the remaining roughly 140 ft narrows to about "12 ft." St. Onge testified the town's rural road standard calls for a 24-ft width and estimated routine annual maintenance at about $3,000. He said upgrading the narrow section — removing asphalt, widening, adding ditching and possibly clearing trees — would likely cost on the order of "$5,000, give or take."

Several residents said the road serves more households than the town presentation implied and raised safety concerns. "There's nine houses that feed off of that road," testified Brian Simpson, who described multiple winter crashes on the hill and limited turnaround room for plows. Calvin Nichols asked, "Isn't that your responsibility as the town to maintain it and keep it at town specs because it is a town property?"

Drew explained legal consequences if the board discontinues the highway: abutting property owners retain a private right-of-way over the former highway, and under state law (19 VSA 2702) those who benefit from maintenance may be required to contribute to its upkeep or seek civil recovery if others do not pay. Counsel and staff advised the board there is no automatic statutory requirement that a discontinued road be brought up to town standards, but the Selectboard could make improvement a condition of discontinuance.

Board members asked whether the intersection at Sandridge/Route 12 was designated by VTrans as a high-crash location; St. Onge said he was not aware of such a designation. Attendees also confirmed utilities adjoin the right-of-way — a power pole and guide wire sit near the inside of the turnaround and water and light lines run along the edge of the highway corridor.

The Selectboard closed the public comment portion and took two formal votes: it voted to close the public hearing and then voted to enter a private deliberative session; both motions passed by voice vote. The board returned from deliberation at about 6:39 p.m. and announced no action had been taken. Drew said a written decision can be recorded in the land records within 60 days and offered to circulate the decision by email to the parties who request it.

Next steps: the Selectboard will complete its deliberations and issue a decision that may include conditions (such as required improvements) or the discontinuance as drafted; if the board discontinues the highway, abutting owners will retain private rights of access and may share maintenance responsibilities under state law.