The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 25

(Vt. Frea Pri, Friday, July 1, 1988 5B Swanton zoner decides he's taken enough heat By Richard Cowperthwait Free Press Correspondent SWANTON Following sharp criticism of his performance at a Thursday night meeting, embattled Zoning Administrator Robert Pike indicated that he was not interested in being reappoint'! to the part-time post when his term expires late this month, officials said. "We are going to be advertising for a new administrator," Mark Ledoux, Planning Commission chairman, said after a joint meeting of the commission, town selectmen and village trustees. The appointment rests with the commission with the approval of the two legislative bodies. "He always had the full support of the Planning Commission and he did an excellent job," said Ledoux.

"Bob might be hardheaded, but there are some hardheaded people in town, too. There may have been some personality conflicts." "You have a time bomb ticking here," warned Abenaki Indian Chief Homer W. St. Francis, one of about 20 residents who blasted Pike. Pike, who attended the meeting but did not respond to various charges, has had a sometimes stormy tenure as zoning administrator in Franklin County's second largest community.

Pike spoke with officials during an executive session but declined to discuss what he said. Ledoux, though, said Pike "made it very clear" that he didn't want to be reappointed. "I don't want it," Pike said of the job. He said he retired three years ago from another job and wants to do some traveling. "I don't feel that I've done anything but literally enforce the bylaws," said Pike.

His opponents presented officials with petitions that requested them to deny Pike's reappointment and abolish zoning. He was charged with intimidating and harassing some residents and showing favor- others. are more or less set by state Selectman Norman Larose. are not just scared of him (Pike) scared of zoning," said Alec Campbell. that money that was being spent be put to better use in the community.

to be nice and peaceful, and I'd that way again," said Roger Unwin. little bit out of hand." "If I wanted to live in Russia, I'd is Indian land." Essex makes plans riinglon MARK SASAHARA, Free Press Vha Ou itism toward "His guidelines statutes," said "They (residents) now, they are He also contended on zoning could "Swanton used like to see it "This is getting a Said St. Francis, go to Russia. This A 'if 1 often difficult for firefighters to reach the station quickly, he explained. Making the Fire Department a paid force is also realistic because employment demands make it difficult for volunteers, St.

Peter said. The time may also be right to combine the Essex and Essex Junction fire departments a notion considered but never accomplished in the past, he said. He said the departments' good working relationship would make a merger successful, but he would like the village fire station to remain in operation. A meeting will be scheduled for police, fire and rescue personnel to meet with the Board of Selectmen to determine the course they would like to take, Bell said. "It will be very deliberate, very slow and very complete," he said adding that the earliest he could foresee a bond vote would be November.

"But I think it may be later, as late as the next town meeting." From page 1B the Main Street headquarters would need to be evacuated. "That would cause a great deal of uncertainty in an emergency," he said. "The community would lose." The recommended facility would give the Police Department 17,700 square feet, with the remainder for fire and rescue. The Police Department's current space of 2,000 square feet is grossly inadequate, according to the report. The size of the police force will need to expand as well.

By 2008, Essex will need 48 police officers compared to the current 22. Including support staff, 31 now work for the department The report recommends a total staff of 59 in 20 years. Terry said he is taking applications for two officers voters approved at town meeting. Also, by the end of July new computer software will be in operation for dispatching and record-keeping, he said. The growth is to be expected, Terry said.

"I don't think we're on the verge of anything new here; Essex is in the throes of change," he said. Essex Fire Chief Bruce F. St. Peter said he also thinks the recommendations are workable. "We haven't grown in 16 years," he said.

"Our biggest priority is space." The Sandhill Road fire station has special problems a new facility could alleviate, he said. Since the neighborhood includes Sandhill Park, Essex Middle School and Founders Memorial School, it is Spreading joy Using a little dish soap and a lot of water, 'Bubbleman' Garry Thomas wraps a bubble around himself on Church Street Thursday. Defenders allowed cases with media Morrison were afraid the grand jury would be affected by the leaked news stories. Two days before the grand jury, Morrison and Axelrod met with a reporter from the Caledonian-Record and Axelrod read a statement Morrison had prepared. The newspaper ran the comments.

When the jury was convened, Judge Stephen Martin found that 14 of the 23 prospective jurors had read publicity about the case; that five of the 14 had formed opinions, with three saying their views were formed before Morrison's statement and two after. Martin discharged the entire jury because of the jurors' knowledge of the case. Two months later, after the publicity had passed, a second grand jury was called and refused to indict either Morrison or the officer. St. Johnsbury Police Chief Bruce Pratt filed a complaint Mystery's solution may lie From page 1B The federal appeals court ruled there is a difference between prosecutors and defense lawyers; that prosecutors "have the ability to influence and ensure proper governmental procedure without resort to public opinion.

"Admittedly our formulation may place prosecutors in a difficult position since they may be criticized for a particular investigation but may not publicly re spare no expense in the search for his son. He has hired private detectives and paid $1,000 a day for the use of Rover. Police said they were considering renting Rover without Bovit's help but might not have had enough money. Two weeks ago, Bovit cancelled the newspaper ads but would offer no explanation. He would only say he has not given up and is planning to set up an endowment in his son's name for crime victims in Vermont once his son's case is solved.

The search this week followed spond," the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said. The Vermont Supreme Court ruling was triggered by misconduct charges filed by the St. Johnsbury police chief against Richard Axelrod, who used a highly unusual strategy to combat stories involving his client. On May 28, 1984 Morrison was shot in the chest by a St.

Johnsbury police officer after police had stopped Morrison on a back road. The police said that a visit to Willoughby by the U.S. Coast Guard last week. Police wanted to use a Coast Guard device that maps the lake bottom with sonar. About 10 spots the size and shape of a trailer were chosen for further investigation by Rover.

None of the spots turned out to be a trailer. Police said they are confident of their tip or they would not have spent so much time on the search in Willoughby. The tip seems to be backed up by a story that a private diver saw a trailer in the lake about two years ago. However, Lt. Harold Kenney said the diver has not been found to help them pinpoint the spot.

Police were revealing few details for fear of jeopardizing their investigation. Willoughby Lake was revealing New laws enacted From page 1B Several health care initiatives for the elderly also kick in, including an office of public guardian for elderly people under a court-appointed guardianship and the legalization of long-term powers of attorney for health care. The guardianship office, administered by the Office on Aging, -is expected to appoint guardians for as many as 100 people whom the court determines are mentally disabled but who don't have a relative or friend to take the job. i Vermont doesn't have continu-ing-care homes for the elderly, but a law that takes effect today" would regulate them. The first continuing-care home in the state -has been proposed in Shelburne.

Farmers could be eligible for a', break on their property taxes through a tax abatement program that is designed to tax barns and silos on use value rather than fair -market value. with the state's Professional Conduct Board against Axelrod alleg- -ing that he had violated the code's ban on press statements. The Supreme Court was then'-asked to rule. In their brief, Axelrod and his lawyers argued that the gag was unconstitutional, a violation of. free speech rights.

But the court did not go that far, saying simply the rule's wording was such that it should not apply to defense lawyers. rvanrA 9DDT tfOQQ mim ID ASPIIM Start your summer with the great new taste of California Cooler's Wild Cherry Splash and you'll splash into savings of up to mail-in refund CH(C ONE Save urntn you buy om 4 part of ont 2 Save whan you buy two 4-pack 0i ro MMr. Dsmt3wfwnytwyairM4pact0flhrM 7m svft4twnyoutwyompatofour 2 Saw tb wtan you buy true 4 -pack hvt Mutt Save 16 whan you buy ta 4 part 2 m. I UVDEPINDINT POOD COMPANY'S WAVHOUM POOD OUTLET I Om Met "ix" mmh Ox ki I From page 1B person who harmed his son. He said he believes someone in the area knows what happened.

He said his son came to Vermont while in junior high school because a guidance counselor recommended that Russell, a skiing fanatic, go to school in Stowe. He went on to Goddard College in Plainfield and started farming in Walden. He was a whiz at computers and used them for all his farm records, his father said. Bovit's father said he will 1 ft to discuss Morrison had a gun and threatened police. Following the shooting, the Caledonian-Record, based in St.

Johnsbury, ran a number of stories that quoted police sources and investigators alleging that Morrison threatened to shoot, was suicidal and generally indicated the police shooting was warranted. State's Attorney Dale Gray decided to call a grand jury to determine if charges should be filed in the case. Axelrod and in lake no details, either. The lake, framed by the steep, rocky and wooded sides of mounts Pisgah and Hor, is eerie and dramatic on the sunniest of days. The steepest part of the lakeshore is wild and undeveloped.

The road hugs the eastern shore with little more than a few guardrails between it and the water for two stretches near a rock outcropping known as Devil's Rock. It's there that police believe Bovit's body was dumped, trailer and all. The missing man's father was not discouraged despite the lack of results so far. "We're going in with more equipment," he said, referring to the metal detector. "The guilty people have no rest." always keep an extra on-hand (740-209, 208, 757) Reg.

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Motorists may use Blakely Road at reduced speed because It is now covered only by a stone surface. In Burlington, the intersection of Stanbury and Woodbury roads is closed due to sewer work. Alternate routing is advised. Sewer excavation will continue on North Avenue between Maswell and Berry streets, requiring one-lane traffic under the direction of flag people. Motorists should drive slowly.

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