Neighbors urge delay to Legion Field changes until master plan is finished

Several residents told the Johnson Select Board during public comment that they have learned of proposed changes at Legion Field only through rumors and felt excluded from planning. One neighbor said the proposed relocation of the bandstand would put amplified activity “right outside of the house” and asked the board to include adjacent homeowners in outreach before work proceeds.

Board members and staff acknowledged ongoing grant activity tied to Legion Field and said some project work has moved forward ahead of a finalized master plan. The town administrator said decisions requiring formal action have to happen in public meetings, noting the board’s obligation to post decisions and take public comment: “We’re not allowed to talk about things outside of public meetings,” the chair said, underscoring the board’s procedural limits. Several speakers asked staff to pause physical changes until the library move and a community vision are reflected in a single plan and recommended inviting neighborhood stakeholders to planning sessions.