One local man’s gift could become a huge gain for the town’s recreation scene. 

At a recent Select Board meeting, there was discussion of Ed Davis, a Castleton landowner, looking to donate acreage to the town that could be used to create trailheads on Birdseye Mountain. 

If the land were to be donated, it would become town-maintained and allow for an access point to hiking trails on the mountain, as well as a designated place for parking, because no motor vehicles or ATVs will be permitted on the trails. 

The board was very interested in this idea and appeared eager to learn more about the proposal. 

“I like the idea of having a place to park and access to Birdseye. It would be huge,” said Chairman Richard Combs. 

At a prior meeting, when the donation was first proposed to the board, board member Mark Brown seemed elated to learn of the opportunities that could come of the land. 

“I’m so over the top about this that I could gush about it,” said Brown, who was not present at the April 14 meeting. 

While the board was very much in favor of exploring the opportunity, there was one concern from member Rob Steele. What would happen if the remainder of Davis’s land in the area, which is up for sale, was sold? 

The board is asking Town Attorney Merrill Bent to look into the legality issue before moving forward. 

The board took no immediate action, as this was more of an update on where things currently stand. 

Also during this meeting, a discussion continued about permitting alcohol use in town facilities and on town property, in reference to the Friends of Castleton Parks and Recreation’s Cash Bash fundraiser set to take place on June 7. 

The board was approached at a previous meeting by Mary Mclntyre, the vice president of Friends of Castleton Parks and Recreation, with regards to the authorization for the fundraising event to sell catered beer and wine to their ticket buyers.

One board member in particular expressed concern about allowing the serving of alcohol in the town facility. 

“I just don’t know why you think you have to have alcohol, that I have a problem with,” said Vice Chairman Robert Spaulding at a previous meeting where no decisive action was taken on the matter. 

At the most recent meeting, Mclntyre approached the board seeking an update, to which she was told the item was not on the agenda to be discussed that night and to return for the next meeting. 

Mclntyre then left the meeting. 

Later on, Combs realized the item was on the agenda and explained that he would apologize to Mclntyre for his mistake. 

The board voted to approve the use of alcohol on a one-time basis for this event. The motion passed with three votes in favor and one against, which was Spaulding. 

In a follow-up interview, Mclyntyre said she felt bad for missing the vote, but she assumed they weren’t doing anything with it that night. 

“But I’m elated that they’re using us as a trial,” she said. “And I’ll take great responsibility in this being the first one.”

She said that they have sold many of the available tickets, but that she expects to sell more now that people realize they can have a glass of wine or beer during the event.

“It’ll be a jovial, nice event,” she said. 

In other business: 

–The board discussed an issue with ponding stormwater at the Green Mountain Church of Christ, which church officials say has worsened since the town put in new sidewalks. The board says that the sidewalks are not the cause of the problem, and that this has been an issue long before the sidewalks were put in. Chairman Richard Combs discussed the possibility of the town paying a certain amount of money to help get it fixed, but they don’t feel the town is responsible. No further action was taken on the matter. 

–The board is looking to appoint two members to the Recreation Department: Hubbardton resident Jennifer Morrison-Taylor and Castleton resident Eric Pulver. The board took no further action at this meeting, as only Morrison-Taylor was present. The board deemed that Pulver needed to be appointed at the same time to maintain the department’s Castleton majority. 

–Board members approved a motion for the removal of weeds at Crystal Beach that will take place after the first of June. 

–The board was approached by Castleton resident Tim Gilbert, who expressed his concerns about a potential zoning regulation that could result in residents needing to move their fences to be three feet from the property line. The board took no action, stating that the decision was not yet finalized. 

–Board members discussed the potential sale of three 10-acre parcels of land in Crystal Heights, but they first want to investigate what the land is worth both with and without sewer connection. No further action was taken by the board.