An Essex Junction trustee who has kept silent for 10 months in the battle over the control of the village Recreation Department said Tuesday that he wants officials to hammer out an agreement before the issue divides the community more.
...
The village has gone to Chittenden Superior Court to seek a declaratory judgment about who is responsible for recreation. That lawsuit did not sit well with about at least a half dozen residents who asked the trustees Tuesday to drop the action.
..
Gustafson, in his letter and in comments during the meeting, said he fears the negative tone on the issue will spill over when it comes time to vote on the village, school district and recreation budgets in April.
...
Gustafson chaired the meeting in the absence of Village President Deb Billado, who he said was sick. The board has been locked in a 3-1 split in favor of trustees' having more control, with Gustafson abstaining. Trustee George Tyler has favored the school district.
Tyler made a motion that the village sign a proposed agreement drafted by the school district to oversee operation through 2019, but it died for a lack of a second.