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Warner votes to halt Route 103 sidewalk/multi-use path and reject matching grant
Summary
A citizen-submitted warrant article to cease development of a sidewalk/multi-use path on Route 103 and to reject a grant requiring a taxpayer match passed on a paper ballot, Yes 104, No 96, after debate over process, resident impacts and prior Master Plan support for a trail.
Town meeting voters narrowly approved Article 6 to cease pursuit of the Route 103 sidewalk/multi-use path and to reject the previously submitted grant that required a taxpayer match, passing on a paper ballot, Yes 104, No 96.
Petitioner James Brown, who read his statement in support of the article, said he was concerned about how the town announced and pursued the project and worried about negative impacts on residents; he urged the town to install shoulders that would be state-maintained instead and to spend local funds on priorities such as the Transfer Station. "I first found out about the town wanting to put a sidewalk/multi-use path in and the process that was used," Brown said, explaining he submitted the article to cease the project.
Opponents cited the Master Plan and past ballot results: Arlon Chaffee noted a Master Plan community survey showed 75% support for a bicycle and pedestrian link and listed prior warrant-article outcomes (passed in 2018 and 2020; failed in 2022), and several residents said the Selectboard formed a Corridor Committee despite what they said was a prior town vote. Concerns focused on process, resident impact and committee formation rather than a technical design debate.
After motions to move the question and request a paper ballot, voters narrowly approved Article 6 to cease development of the Route 103 sidewalk/multi-use path.
