Orwell Select Board schedules in-person ATV ordinance vote for April 18

The Orwell Select Board announced that voters will decide an ATV ordinance at an in-person election at the Orwell Firehouse at 10 a.m. on April 18. Chair Andrea Treadway said the vote will be conducted in person, ballots will be counted immediately after the vote, and no remote option will be provided.

The vote was explained during the citizens comments section after resident Julia Beamish asked how the process would work; Treadway told the meeting the procedure and location and reiterated that the board will accept the result as the town’s decision. The Select Board recorded on the agenda that if the ordinance passes it will go into effect immediately and, if it fails, the board will not raise the measure again.

Why it matters: the vote is time‑limited and requires in‑person turnout; residents who want to influence the outcome must attend at the scheduled time. The Select Board emphasized there will be no Zoom livestream or absentee option described at the meeting.

What to expect: the board did not detail ballot language or any administrative attachments at the March 23 meeting. Questions about the exact wording of the ordinance, voter eligibility, or ballot language were not answered in the meeting minutes and were described as “not specified.” Voter timelines: the clerk’s office will host the vote at the Firehouse only on April 18 at 10 a.m., according to the board’s announcement.

Next steps: residents planning to vote on the ATV ordinance should appear at 10 a.m. April 18 at the Orwell Firehouse. The Select Board will count ballots immediately and announce results at the site.