NEWPORT — Residents will decide the fate of the city’s all-terrain vehicle ordinance on Jan. 14.
That’s the date Newport city councillors chose Monday for a public vote on the controversial law, which passed 3–1 in October and is set to allow ATV travel on roads throughout downtown.
A group of petitioners, concerned with how officials handled the ordinance process, gathered more than 230 signatures from residents to trigger the vote.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the city office building’s gymnasium. A “yes” vote supports repealing the ordinance, and a “no” vote favors keeping it.
Part of a regionwide trend, the ordinance raised tensions throughout the fall, as the City Council weighed potential business boosts from ATV traffic against worries from residents about safety, traffic flow and noise.
The council held three meetings dealing with the proposal. Many speakers at those meetings — including Mayor Paul Monette and City Manager Laura Dolgin — backed the idea, emphasizing the need to encourage tourism in the Orleans County city.
Others, including some councilors, believed the decision had been rushed and that officials had ignored the concerns of residents, such as those in the Third Street neighborhood — part of the ATV route. Council President Julie Raboin opposed the ordinance and joined residents in calling for a public vote.
At the council’s meeting Monday night, City Clerk Jim Johnson told officials that Jan. 7 and Jan. 14 worked best for the vote, given the amount of time he is required to warn it.
Councilors had no preference between the dates and unanimously approved member Melissa Pettersson’s motion for Jan. 14.
Johnson said Tuesday it will cost the city at least $1,000 to pay and feed poll workers, print paper ballots and count votes.
Meanwhile, members of the Borderline Ridge Riders ATV club and other supporters of the ordinance have started organizing on social media to defeat the repeal.
