NEWPORT — Councillors voted Monday to let all-terrain vehicles travel on select city roads, capping a meeting that drew dozens and saw one citizen escorted away by police.
The 3–1 decision came after a month of deliberations in Newport, where the City Council held three meetings on the proposed ATV ordinance. The law will go into effect after 60 days.
Like in other Northeast Kingdom communities, debate in Newport has centered on whether potential business boosts from ATVers would offset concerns from residents about noise, traffic and safety.
More than 20 citizens spoke about the idea Monday, most in support.
“You should heed the moment right now and pay attention,” said Jason Boutin, owner of a Lowell restaurant, who described a 20% increase in revenue at his business over the last few years after that town allowed ATVs on roads.
“Another economic opportunity probably won’t come around like this,” Boutin said.
But several expressed reservations about moving forward so soon, asking officials to reconsider segments of the route and to clarify how the proposal — billed as a one-year trial — would later be evaluated.
“The trial period is just that — an experiment,” Newport resident Diane Peel said. “If you don’t get results from the experiment, there’s no point in doing it.”
Some speakers also told councillors they should let citizens decide directly.
That’s what Colleen Moore de Ortiz said when she stood to speak during a public comment period.
“If this city gives one shit about the people that live in this community, it will put ATVs out for a vote in March 2020,” she said, prompting Mayor Paul Monette to ask Police Chief Seth DiSanto to escort her out of the building as audience members applauded.
Some council members had hesitations, too, and it seemed they might hold off on approving the measure.
“I personally feel it got fast tracked,” Councillor Dan Ross said.
Ross said there was no need to rush the ordinance — ATV season won’t begin until May — and given concerns about some residential routes, the council had plenty of time to rework the proposal.
“I’d really like to see it tabled and the route changed for the Third Street route,” he said, referring to a stretch of road that several residents had asked the council to avoid.
“But … I know a couple business owners downtown,” he continued. “They need this business.”
Ross voted for the ordinance, joined by Councillors Kevin Charbonneau and Melissa Pettersson.
Council President Julie Raboin voted against the measure. She had questioned the proposal at previous meetings, and Monday night she focused on how the draft ordinance had been given to the council.
She said councillors are chronically “presented with a done deal, something that’s already been assembled, and there’s really no room for negotiation. The same is true for this ordinance.”
She said she had seen no efforts to adjust the proposal despite residents’ concerns and suggestions.
“I am very disappointed that folks at this council table are defending the way this was done,” Raboin said.
Like some speakers, she called the process undemocratic and wanted a citizen vote instead. When audience members cheered her on, Mayor Paul Monette told them to hold their applause, asking, “Would you like to leave too?”
Raboin also asked what liability the city would have if it ignored ATV manufacturers’ advice that the machines shouldn’t be taken on roads, and supported removing Third Street from the list of open roads.
Adorian Willis, a Third Street resident, didn’t oppose allowing ATVs on municipal roads but had critiques about the process, too.
“I just would’ve felt more comfortable had there been a plan, for all of us to see, to show that all of the safety concerns had been addressed,” Willis said.
