The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 1

Black River Hydro Project Wins Narrow Endorsement -n 1 I substantial margin. Originally, the hydro project was slated to go on line in 1980 and to save ratepayers $467 that year alone. But legal challenges and bureaucratic delays have pushed back the date and pushed up project costs. In 1975, town officials told vot- ers the project would cost $58 million. Now, with increased construction costs, and the Federal By DAVID MOTT Special to fn Preti SPRINGFIELD The Black River hydroelectric project narrowly survived Tuesday as voters Approved continued funding by a margin of three votes in a record turnout.

1 Voters approved, 1,426 to 1,423, a request by selectmen to borrow up to $750,000 to pay off $280,000 in principal and interest due on $2 million in debt incurred by the project to date, and to Continue funding, j- Selectmen and proponents of the 30-megawatt peak power scheme had said if voters failed to gpprove the money request it would mean the withdrawal of Springfield from the 'ambitious hydroelectric project it started seven years ago. Despite the narrow vote, Springfield Selectman and state Sen. Chester Scott, the main spokesman for the project, said he considered the vote a "mandate to go ahead, and I will continue to fight for this project until such time as we win or lose." Scott acknowledged, however, the close vote "is an indication of the frustration of the people and the bureaucratic delays we have suffered." The project has waited 19 months for a decision from the Public Service Board on whether it can condemn Central Vermont Public Service Corp. transmission lines and facilities and establish a minute media blitz, taking ads out in local newspapers and on the radio. The vote means Springfield taxpayers will not have to back a $280,000 payment due to cover the $2 million borrowed by the If the project had gone down to defeat, the tax rate would have been raised this year by 21.5 cents to cover the cost of the debt.

Designed to provide peak power during the winter when demand escalates, the project was planned in secret in 1974 in the farmhouse of then-Selectman Richard Moore. The project was presented to voters in 1975. They approved it that year and again in 1977 by a tangible progress has been made," he said. The town had spent $2.5 million on the project as of Feb. 19.

Cavendish has spent $45,000 opposing the project, and approved at this town meeting spending an additional $15,000 to continue its opposition. "I think that as long as the project is being pursued by Springfield, I see little reason for Cavendish to change its approach very substantially," Van Schaik said. The hydro project was the most hotly contested item at Springfield's town meeting. Factions for and against the hydro project mounted a last- Voters Reject Merger of Essex Town, By MIKE DONOGHUE Free Pri Staff Writer A plan to bring the residents of Essex and the village of Essex Junction under a unified government was rejected Tuesday, 1,677 to 1,513. The rejection came because of a heavy anti-merger turnout in the village.

Villagers rejected the charter 1,349 to 576. Residents outside the village approved the charter 937-328. Town Clerk Jane Yandow said 3, 191 voted out of 8,243 regis Hospital Hears Fund Drive Reports Village "I still say it was the right vote," Morse said. "I never thought there was an advantage to merger." The last separation vote lost in 1978 and the last merger charter was defeated in 1974. Merger supporters said the biggest difference this time was that the tax base had increased in the town substantially so merger would be to the financial disadvantage of the village.

It remained unclear Tuesday night what effect the outcome might have on the decision by Village Manager Kenneth G. Greer to resign. Attempts to reach Greer at his home Tuesday night were unsuccessful. Greer, whose resignation is effective Sunday, said he wanted to resign so he could speak out against the charter. Friends have said a rejection of the charter would do nothing for Greer, who will become 62 March 12.

A "Save the Village" committee made up of village firemen, former and current school officials and some residents surfaced several weeks before the vote. The group had come under fire from merger supporters because of its secret meetings. Fire Chief Joseph C. Jacob was quoted in the Essex Reporter as saying the group wanted only "our people" there. Our End adopted that would prohibit possession of firearms.

Village President Robert Donahue, a merger supporter, said Tuesday night the gun issue and a misunderstanding on some other sections were the reasons the charter failed. Robert C. Morse, the other trustee opposed to merger, said, "It's on from here." Morse, who is not seeking re-election next month, agreed with Lynch's assessment that villagers do not want either separation or merger. $150,000 has been raised. The commission completed hearings on the application last week, the last major hurdle the hospital faces in its plan to erect a seven-story tower and parking garage to upgrade and centralize its facilities.

A decision is expected about April 1, Taylor said. The public portion of the fund drive was set originally at $3 million, but was raised to $4 million after Mr. and Mrs. J. Warren McClure gave the drive $1 million on a three-to-one matching basis.

Hospital officials said the Mc-Clures will give $1 for every $3 raised in the drive, which ends June 30. tered voters'. David E. Lynch, one of two village trustees opposed to the plan, said Tuesday night the defeat can be blamed on a "lousy charter." Lynch said village residents are satisfied with the status quo. "They vote no to separation and they vote no to merger." Trustee William H.

Butler, who was head of the town-village merger committee, said the vote reflected a wish by villagers to retain the identity of Essex Junction even if it means extra costs. their jobs. Technology has advanced so rapidly, he said, much of the equipment used in the hospital wasn't invented 30 years ago. He said the hospital is not only important to the region, but is the place where future physicians receive their training and where sophisticated research is being done. Gov.

Richard A. Snelling, who said he was happy to be at the event because it gave him a chance to have lunch with his wife, Barbara, encourged the volunteers to reach the public fund-raising goal. Dr. Lattie Coor, president of the University of Vermont, attended but did not speak. Hilton A.

Wick, the campaign's general chairman, introduced leaders of the drive's divisions who gave the status of their share of the drive. Announcing Clearance Rria municipal electric company. An application by Springfield to build the project also has been pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for more than three years. The project has been heatedly opposed, particularly by the town of Cavendish, which stands to lose 500 to 800 acres if the so-called Hawks Mountain Dam is built on the Weathersfield Cavendish town in 1977. border.

Cavendish Town Manager Rolf Van Schaik reacted stoically 'to the close vote. It "indicates a frustration on the part of a lot of people in Springfield that they are aware that an awful lot of money has been spent and little if any Village residents are required to pay taxes to both the village and the town of Essex. Merger supporters admitted it would be an uphill struggle after the question became muddled by reports that the charter would help gun control supporters establish a gun ban in the village. Because the charter could not be changed after being legally warned, the merger committee agreed to ask the Legislature to add a sentence to say specifically there could be no ordinance Elizabeth Woods, chairman of the hospital board of trustees, said that division has raised $174,000. Dr.

Richard Narkewicz, co-chairman of the hospital medical staff division, said $504,720 has been pledged toward that division's goal of $750,000. Richard Chapman, who heads the corporate major gifts division, said $324,000 toward a $1 -million goal has been reached. Ann Cof-frin, head of the special individual gifts division, said her unit has raised $31,513. Harlan Sylvester, chairman of the individual major gifts division reported $167,034 raised. Mary Ellen Henry, co-chairman of the hospital employees division, said that although that division's drive begins Monday, $21,867 of the $125,000 goal has been reached.

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