Questions Raised Over Powder Ridge Negotiations

For the first time in recent memory Powder Ridge wasn't the first item listed on the agenda but it was certainly the most talked about issue during Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting in .

At least 30 minutes of the meeting was spent discussing the ski area, during which questions were raised about the ongoing negotiations between the town and potential buyers, as well as whether those negotiations should be conducted more openly.

The meeting began with resident Marianne Corona asking town officials, during public comment, to consider holding a public forum on Powder Ridge.

"It's the biggest item of interest in the community. The taxpayers own the land, it's their future," she said, clearly frustrated that some of the negotiations involving the defunct ski area have been carried out in private. "I would encourage you to have a forum and invite the townspeople in and discuss that issue."

Although he's said on several occasions that a handful of interested buyers have come forward in recent months, First Selectman Jon Brayshaw challenged Corona's assertion that he's been in private negotiations with Gouveia Vineyards (in Wallingford) or Brownstone Park (in Portland).

"Who gave you that information?" Brayshaw asked.

"I'm not going to tell you," she responded.

"Both of those people have asked in writing that it not be revealed, so you're caught in a conundrum," Brayshaw told Corona. "So much for confidentiality."

Ellen Waff, a Middlefield resident who also serves as the town's treasurer, said the town should be transparent in its negotiations to sell Powder Ridge and suggested that residents be given the chance to share their ideas.

"The brain power you can tap into is worthwhile, getting that public input. It really can change things," she said.

Long Hill Road resident Carl Zanoni, who said he'd supported two previous interested buyers but called the town's failed agreement with Alpine Ridge "a bad deal" agreed that transparency was needed in negotiations, but questioned a Canadian group's at Powder Ridge.

"Can anyone believe that people are going to want timeshares in Middlefield? I mean it defies comprehension in my mind," he said. "There's nothing here. The golf course at Lymans is wonderful, okay, but why you'd need to buy a timeshare to play golf at Lymans, I haven't the foggiest idea."

Brayshaw would later point out that he had not received a formal proposal for timeshare units.

When it was resident Bob Johnson's turn to speak, he spent several minutes questioning the last item on the agenda - an executive session dealing with Powder Ridge.

"Unless there's something in writing from a prospective buyer as to what their intentions are and monetary amounts, that doesn't belong in executive session.

"At this stage of the game there's a lot of people in town that want to know what's going on," Johnson added. "And other people have ideas of where we might want to go forward."

Brayshaw said the town had consulted with the Freedom of Information Commission regarding the issue and repeatedly said that the negotiations required some anonymity.

Cheryl Pizzo, a member of Middlefield's Economic Development Commission, accused the town of keeping it's own 5-member commission in the dark over plans to sell Powder Ridge.

"The last deal that was made came to us after the fact and we were asked to rubber stamp it," said Pizzo. "I don't think it behooves the community."

Pizzo asked that the commission be involved in future talks. 

As if to put an exclamation point on the discussion, Brayshaw said the lack of snow this winter wasn't helping the negotiations.

"Sking this year, sucks."