Short-term rental law referendum set for May

The vote was set in whirlwind fashion at a special selectboard meeting last Friday after Billy Adams, invoking his authority as the newly appointed chair of the board, pushed to hold a town meeting less than 48 hours after petitioners called for a public referendum on the new law.

The petition, an effort undertaken by a coalition of property managers, rental owners and property rights enthusiasts, was delivered to the board last Wednesday evening along with a fiery rebuke of the ordinance by resident Courtney Percy.

The ordinance established a mandatory registry for short-term rentals in Stowe for data collection purposes along with some public-safety-related requirements and is set to take effect next May.

While reasons for opposing the ordinance vary, an organized coalition led by property managers and real estate agents attempted to stop the ordinance from being passed, objecting primarily to the institution of a mandatory registry instead of a voluntary one. Supporters say opponents of the ordinance haven’t adequately explained what all the fuss is about.

There has also been an often-expressed sentiment that, despite a nearly year-long process of public hearings on the subject, that the process was rushed.

At last Friday’s special meeting, Adams, an outspoken opponent of the ordinance, evinced a spirit of retribution when shutting down the protests of resident Peter Schmeeckle, who objected to Adams “rushing” the referendum.

“Isn’t that interesting that you’re saying that now that the shoe is on the other foot, so please sit down,” Adams said.

Before the agenda could be approved at the meeting Friday afternoon, Adams’ fellow board members revolted, expressing their frustration that setting a date for the referendum could have waited until the board’s next regular meeting in April.

Adams said his haste stemmed from his own interpretation of state statute, even though it differed from other board members and the town’s lawyer.

Freshman board member Ethan Carlson, just elected to replace outgoing member Lisa Hagerty, was on vacation with his family and present at the meeting by video. He expressed frustration that the matter was rushed, and said he would be back in town the following week.

“I think it was a rushed decision and it could have been done at our next meeting,” Nick Donza said. “I would appreciate it in the future if we could take the extra time that it takes to make a good decision.”

Ultimately, Adams convinced his disgruntled colleagues to settle the matter that afternoon, fighting off a motion from Jo Sabel Courtney to adjourn the matter until the following Monday.

Careful consideration

After the particulars of the time and date were settled, the board turned to other details, while anticipating a high-tension vote, members hope to make the May special town meeting as accessible, and as unassailable, as possible. There was some preliminary discussion about providing child care for attendees and the importance of ensuring that only Stowe residents were voting during the proceedings, particularly if the vote was decided by a paper ballot at the in-person meeting, as it likely will.

Town clerk Penny Davis assured the board that processes were in place to ensure the validity of the vote.

Members of the public who support the ordinance and who say misinformation and falsehoods have driven the debate asked the town to create a basic fact sheet about what the ordinance does and does not do.

But none of the board members were willing to specify how the town should move forward regarding a short-term rental policy in Stowe if the current ordinance was rescinded.

The meeting ended on a conciliatory note, with Paco Aumand urging the board to find a sense of cooperation after being bitterly divided for months by the short-term rental ordinance, a sentiment with which Courtney agreed, saying that she had been made physically ill by the stress of the board’s often contentious debates.

“The community wants this issue resolved and wants to know how we’re going to move forward,” Aumand said. “We need to do a better job working together.”