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Lincoln mulls ATV use ordinance
LINCOLN — Lincoln residents could soon weigh in on whether the town should explore development of an ordinance for ATV use on Lincoln roads.
The town’s selectboard discussed the matter at meetings this past May and August and continued the conversation at its Jan. 7 meeting.
According to meeting minutes, the selectboard had previously “discussed resident feedback on the current use of ATVs, which are not explicitly permitted on town roads, as well as questions they’d like answered, like the liability risk and possibility of enforcing a new ordinance,” and “What remained was to discuss whether or not to proceed with drafting and attempting to pass an ordinance.”
Selectboard members ultimately determined that more information is needed, and that Lincoln voters should decide whether the selectboard should continue looking into the matter.
Selectboard Chair Tim McGowan noted that the subject has been brought to the board by residents in the past and that over the past several months town officials have sought to discuss the matter and hear residents’ input.
“We were trying to just hear the constituents of people wanting and people not wanting and that’s the only way that democracy will work, is to have this conversation,” he said.
The selectboard at its Jan. 7 meeting heard from Lincoln First Constable Matt Collins. He shared some takeaways from research into ATV laws and how other towns have handled ATV use. Collins noted that in addition to having ATVs registered, the town could require that ATV drivers have liability insurance.
The selectboard also heard from a couple of Lincoln residents. Coco Moseley told the board she’s been following its conversations and researching the matter and has some concerns about consideration of ATV use on public roads.
“One thing that has really been sticking with me lately is that we would be one of the only, if the only, town in Addison County to allow ATV use on public roads, and I feel like that would kind of concentrate ATV populations in Lincoln,” Moseley said.
Moseley’s other concerns included the ability to enforce such an ordinance and safety, noting there have been two dangerous accidents involving ATVs in the area in recent years.
“I really think that there’s a question of what the public benefit is for the larger population of Lincoln beyond just ATV riders,” she said. “I really think that if this is going to be continued to be considered by the town that it should really be a town vote.”
Lincoln resident Jason Moreau echoed sentiments shared by Moseley.
“I don’t feel like it will make the town safer to have this going on on our public roads, and I would prefer that we didn’t do that,” Moreau said.
Selectboard member Victor Atkins has been speaking with Vermont towns that have ordinances allowing ATV use on roads about their experiences, which have been largely positive. He noted that most towns he spoke to saw a reduction in a lot of the issues experienced with ATVs after adopting an ordinance.
Atkins agreed that the matter needs to be brought before the town. He noted that if such an ordinance was something the majority of the town voted on and wanted, town officials could then spend more time developing an ordinance.
Other selectboard members agreed that the question should be fielded to Lincoln residents. McGowan explained that the question would ask if the town of Lincoln wants to pursue development of an ATV ordinance.
Atkins was expected to write up a question for the selectboard to review at its Jan. 21 meeting, at which point selectboard members could decide whether to include it in this year’s Town Meeting Day warning.
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