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Charlemont Selectboard declines to support Deerfield River Wild and Scenic designation
Summary
The Charlemont Selectboard voted 2–1 on April 13 to withhold support for the Deerfield River Wild and Scenic designation, citing unanswered questions about town infrastructure in the floodplain and concerns about potential constraints on development.
The Charlemont Selectboard voted 2–1 on April 13 not to sign a letter supporting the Deerfield River Wild and Scenic designation. Jared Bellows moved the motion not to support the designation and Wilder Sparks seconded; Kim Blakeslee opposed the motion.
Kim Blakeslee had earlier moved in favor of the designation but was unable to obtain a second. Board members said they were reluctant to lend the town’s support without written answers to questions posed by guests and expressed concern that designation could complicate projects and infrastructure located in the floodplain.
Wilder Sparks had previously emailed the board outlining reasons for skepticism about the designation process, and Jared Bellows said he would have preferred to receive written responses from speakers before committing the town’s support. The motion to decline support passed with two votes in favor and one opposed.
The board did not adopt further language or conditions related to the designation at the meeting; any future action would require renewed discussion or receipt of additional information from proponents or state representatives.
