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Selectmen Meet in Executive Session About Sugarloaf Ownership
By BEN HANSTEIN
Staff Writer
CARRABASSETT VALLEY – A meeting held Wednesday morning to discuss the possible purchase of Sugarloaf Mountain surprised and upset some residents and selectmen.
Several residents expressed concern over the timing and legality of the executive session, which was announced barely 24 hours before being held.
The session was held to allow selectmen to meet with Warren Cook, a former chief operating officer for American Skiing Company, who may be interested in bidding on the Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation. That corporation owns and operates the Sugarloaf/USA, a major factor in the economic development of Carrabassett Valley.
Selectman George Abbott joined members of the community in questioning the legality of meeting in executive session with such short notice. Abbott noted that he himself had received notification of the session just 22 hours before the 9:05 a.m. meeting. Also, Abbott was curious of the timing of the session, which was held just one day before the selectmen met at their regularly scheduled meeting, on May 10.
Town Manager Dave Cota assured Abbott and other residents that he had consulted with the Municipal Association Attorney Richard Flewelling before calling the meeting. Flewelling indicated that the board does indeed have the authority to meet in executive session about the ownership of Sugarloaf under Title 1 M. R. S. A. Section 405 (6) (c).
Abbott did insist that his questions and the manager's answers be recorded before the board entered executive session. He also alerted local newspapers, in case they were unaware of the meeting due to the short notice.
"I did have some questions about the legality of the meeting," Abbott said, "But the town's legal department was pretty clear."
As no decision was reached by the board, the town is not required to release the contents of that session, which ended after an hour of discussion at 10 a.m. The selectmen meet again Thursday at 5 p.m. An explanation for today's executive session, and the timing of the session, is not currently on the agenda. However, any resident present can request that the selectmen explain the legality or necessity of the meeting, if the board chooses to address that resident's concerns.
After leaving the employ of the American Skiing Company, Cook was the president of JAX Research Systems, a division of the Jackson Laboratory, from 1999 to 2003.
What do you think ? Write us at editor@dailybulldog.com
By BEN HANSTEIN
Staff Writer
CARRABASSETT VALLEY – A meeting held Wednesday morning to discuss the possible purchase of Sugarloaf Mountain surprised and upset some residents and selectmen.
Several residents expressed concern over the timing and legality of the executive session, which was announced barely 24 hours before being held.
The session was held to allow selectmen to meet with Warren Cook, a former chief operating officer for American Skiing Company, who may be interested in bidding on the Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation. That corporation owns and operates the Sugarloaf/USA, a major factor in the economic development of Carrabassett Valley.
Selectman George Abbott joined members of the community in questioning the legality of meeting in executive session with such short notice. Abbott noted that he himself had received notification of the session just 22 hours before the 9:05 a.m. meeting. Also, Abbott was curious of the timing of the session, which was held just one day before the selectmen met at their regularly scheduled meeting, on May 10.
Town Manager Dave Cota assured Abbott and other residents that he had consulted with the Municipal Association Attorney Richard Flewelling before calling the meeting. Flewelling indicated that the board does indeed have the authority to meet in executive session about the ownership of Sugarloaf under Title 1 M. R. S. A. Section 405 (6) (c).
Abbott did insist that his questions and the manager's answers be recorded before the board entered executive session. He also alerted local newspapers, in case they were unaware of the meeting due to the short notice.
"I did have some questions about the legality of the meeting," Abbott said, "But the town's legal department was pretty clear."
As no decision was reached by the board, the town is not required to release the contents of that session, which ended after an hour of discussion at 10 a.m. The selectmen meet again Thursday at 5 p.m. An explanation for today's executive session, and the timing of the session, is not currently on the agenda. However, any resident present can request that the selectmen explain the legality or necessity of the meeting, if the board chooses to address that resident's concerns.
After leaving the employ of the American Skiing Company, Cook was the president of JAX Research Systems, a division of the Jackson Laboratory, from 1999 to 2003.
What do you think ? Write us at editor@dailybulldog.com
