| Date | Description |
| January 1, 1965 | Land And Water Conservation Fund:
It is An Act of Congress, a Federal Law |
| December 1973 | Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants-in-Aid Manual
including Compliance Requirements
|
| January 25, 1978 | Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service (HCRS) Program Goals |
| March 7, 1978 | The Town vote to direct the Selectboard to pursue the project |
| July 23, 1978 | The Langes' offer of 770 acres for the HCRS program, as a memorial to their son |
| August 8, 1978 | VT Forest, Parks and Recreation (FPR) letter to Langes re:
Title 6 & Outdoor Recreation Requirements |
| August 21, 1978 | Agenda for Public Informational Meeting to Lange Acquisition |
| August 21, 1978 | Minutes of Public Informational Meeting on Lange Acquisition |
| January, 1979 | Lange Property Soils and Environmental Survey |
| January, 1979 | HCRS Program Narrative and Assurances
(Note: The copy of the Program Narrative and Assurances is undated but precedes 8/17/1979, the executed date of the Lange Contract. The Narrative and Assurances is listed on that approval as an included document.) |
| January 24, 1979 | Lange Acquisition Project approved by the State of Vermont |
| February 16, 1979 | HRCS Grant Administrator cautions Town Clerk about logging |
| February 28, 1979 | HRCS Grant Administrator cautions SB Chair Sargent about logging |
| March 5, 1979 | HCRS Grant Administrator advises SB Member Gatto about long-term grant responsibilities
|
| March 14, 1979 | Certification of Town Vote, 92-53
to approve Lange Acquisition Project |
| May 22, 1979 | HCRS General Provisions |
| May 23, 1979 | HCRS Recreation and Forest Management Plan |
| June 11, 1979 | VT Agency of Transportation (AOT) Opinion regarding Bald Top Rd as possible year-round access |
| June 12, 1979 | Surveyor's Summary of the 3 access roads
Map for HCRS Access #1, via Brushwood Road
Map for HCRS Access #2, via Bald Top Road
Map for HCRS Access #3, via Knox Road
Map showing the segments of the Town Forest (2020) |
| July 20, 1979 | HCRS Assurance of Compliance with Title 6 Requirements | |
| July 23, 1979 | HCRS Performance Agreement with the State of Vermont | |
| August 17, 1979 | HCRS Officially Executes the LWCF Contract;
copies of the completed contract and related documents sent to the Town of Fairlee | |
| August 28, 1979 | HCRS informs the State of VT that the
Fairlee Acquisition (Project #50-00320) has been approved |
| October 23, 1979 | VT Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) Dept. discusses
need for year-round access with SB Chair Sargent |
| December 7, 1979 |
Town Attorney Otterman advises SB Chair Sargent regarding HCRS long-term obligations |
| January 3, 1980 |
Lease with Aloha Foundation for parking area at Brushwood Rd |
| January 3, 1980 | Insurance Underwriter
concerned about coverage for snowmobiles |
| January 4, 1980 | HCRS Grant Administrator advises SB Chair Sargent regarding federal regulations
governing use of HCRS-funded property |
| January 5, 1980 | Fairlee Selectmen outline a plan to avoid the “burden” of HCRS obligations
|
| January 28, 1980 | The Kee Committee rejects SB attempt to override the will of the voters
Same as above, but retyped for readability |
| January 30, 1980 | The
Kee Committee reviews actions completed to date and outlines ideas for managing the acquisition.
[The governance structure — an “elected by the voters” Recreational Board — for the HCRS Contract had been formally executed by the Town, the State of Vermont and the U.S. Department of the Interior earlier,
on August 28, 1979] |
| January 30, 1980 | Town's Insurance Agency Discusses Workers' Comp and Liability Insurance
with SB Chair Sargent |
| February 19, 1980 | County Forester responds to SB regarding the potential for marketable timber
on the Lange property |
| February 19, 1980 | Excerpt from the LWCF Forest Management Plan
Handwritten notes show that someone in the Town Hall refers to p.7 of the HCRS Recreation and Forest Management Plan “as submitted and approved.” This had occurred 6 months prior, on August 17, 1979.
|
| March 4, 1980 | SB explains delay
in accepting the deed from the Langes |
| March 10, 1980 | SB creates an appointed Lange Forest Board, contrary to the HCRS’ specified “elected by the voters” Recreation Board: "Within the next year the interim Kee Committee will hand over management of the
HCRS project to a permanent Board of Trustees of at least 5 members serving for a term of 5 years and elected by the town.” (See HCRS Management Plan of May 23, 1979) |
| March 15, 1980 | Fairlee SB Offers to purchase the Lange property at full cost of $158,500
without voter approval or notice of the proposed expenditure |
| March 17, 1980 | The Langes reject the SB's March 15th offer, insisting they wish to donate their property, as a memorial
to their son |
| March 17, 1980 | Deed for the Lange HCRS-acquired Land is Recorded in the Fairlee Town Land Records |
| March 17, 1980 | Map for the Lange HCRS-acquired Land is recorded in the Farlee Town Map Book 2 |
| March 17, 1980 | The Fairlee SB discusses appointing
the first 5 members to the Lange Forest Board, created 1 week earlier as an appointed board, contrary to the HCRS’ specified “elected by the voters” Boards |
| March 17, 1980 | SB Crafts a “Proclamation" from its motion of a week earlier, creating and authorizing an appointed Lange Forest Board.
This Proclamation will be published in the Agenda for the next year's Town Meeting entitled,
“RULES AND REGULATIONS OF FAIRLEE HERITAGE AND RECREATION SERVICE PROJECT (LANGE FOREST)" |
| April 23, 1980 | The SB officially appoints the first 5 members of the Lange Forest Board |
| March 3, 1981 | The Town Treasurer's Report includes the SB's Proclamation, "RULES and REGULATIONS ..." of March 17, 1980 |
| March 6, 2011 | Use of private consulting forester OK'd by Town vote |
| September 7, 2012 | Orange County Forester expresses frustration |
| December 21, 2012 | Forest Board agenda for Jan 16 meeting |
| January 16, 2013 | Forest Board minutes of Jan 16 meeting |
| January 29, 2013 | Forest Board Pre-Bid meeting agenda |
| February 6, 2013 | Forest Board Pre-Bid meeting minutes |
| June 24, 2013 | Contract with Redstart Forestry, Inc. |
| June 25, 2013 | Ecoforester letter to Town Clerk |
|
September 18, 2013 | FB discusses lack of budgets, defines member terms |
| March 4, 2014 | Forest Board 2014 Annual Report |
| March 17, 2014 | FB Chair Matthews advises the Selectboard that :
"I only caution that the March 17, 1980 guidelines, prepared and signed by three
select board members and published in the 1980 annual report not be used as
a number of items contradict the conditions of the grant." |
| April 2014 | Forest Management Plan (2014) |
| April 16, 2014 | Forest Board Chair Matthews research confirms the Selectboard contradicted the terms of the HCRS grant |
|
June 18, 2015 |
VT FPR: Creating and Maintaining Resilient Forests in Vermont |
|
July 15, 2015 |
VT FPR lists all LWCF Grants in Vermont |
|
May 27, 2016 | FB cleans up after Beaver dams fail |
| July 13, 2016 | Forest Board Chair again confirms that the Forest Board should be elected |
|
March 2, 2017 | FB not happy with the SB |
|
March 15, 2018 | Accounting Ledger - Timber Trust |
|
March 15, 2018 | Accounting Ledger - Gravel Pit |
|
September 25, 2018 | Knox Rd Timber Sale contract |
|
December 31, 2018 | Fairlee Independent Auditors' Audit report |
|
April 4, 2019 | FB Chair assures T-A that AMPs are being followed |
|
November 7, 2019 | Redstart Timber Sales summary, and more |
|
December 31, 2019 | Fairlee Independent Auditors' Review report |
| June 3, 2020 |
Voters have never had budget control of Forest Sales and Expenses |
| June 15, 2020 |
First (ever) contact with VT FPR about the Lange Contract
|
| June 23, 2020 | Selectboard Chair acknowledges Forest Board problems
|
|
June 24, 2020 | Knox Rd timber sale and road building contract |
|
June 30, 2020 | Town's Gravel Pit accounting details |
|
June 30, 2020 | Town's Lange Forest accounting details |
|
June 30, 2020 | Town's Timber Trust accounting details |
|
July 1, 2020 | Town's payments to Redstart through June, 2020 |
|
July 2, 2020 | Selectboard Chair Berger wants secrecy |
|
July 8, 2020 |
T-A notified about logging without a contract |
| July 8, 2020 | T-A given financial details about recent logging |
|
July 8, 2020 | T-A and Treasurer receive 20-year analysis of the Forest accounts |
|
July 10, 2020 | County Forester: Damage from ATVs and trucks spilling over into Brushwood Forest |
|
July 13, 2020 | Should Knox Road logging be stopped? |
|
July 15, 2020 | Eroded Howdy's Trail breaks through into brook |
| July 16, 2020 |
Town Administrator unable to refuse a Technical Assist request to ANR
|
| July 16, 2020 | County Forester explains benefits of Technical Assist
|
| July 16, 2020 | Town Administrator asks ANR for a Technical Assist
|
| July 16, 2020 | T-A also asks VT FPR for a Technical Assist
|
| July 16, 2020 | Citizen thanks T-A for self-reporting to ANR and FPR
|
| July 27, 2020 | State AMP (Acceptable Management Practices) Forester reports to Town |
|
August 10, 2020 | County Forester reports findings of Knox Rd visit
|
|
August 10, 2020 | Selectboard considers a new Forest Board
|
|
August 28, 2020 | Town Administrator and Selectboard thank concerned Citizen
|
|
September 29, 2020 | Fairlee Town Administrator convenes secret, thus illegal, Forest Board meeting, contrives
off-budget method to pay for repairs for environmental damages |
|
October 15, 2020 | State AMPs Forester not happy |
|
November 10, 2020 | Town Administrator blocks continuing effort to assist Town Treasurer |
| November 18, 2020 | Citizens create Trail Inventory |
|
November 29, 2020 | ANR Engineer explains recommendations from his site visit |
| December 3, 2020 | Rivers Program Engineer reports need to replace culverts |
| December 9, 2020 | Town Road Foreman estimates cost of forest trail repairs |
| December 31, 2020 | Fairlee Independent Auditors Transmittal Letter |
| December 31, 2020 | Fairlee Independent Auditors Audit Report |
|
February 9, 2021 | Forest Forest Board not open to new members |
|
February 12, 2021 | Town of Fairlee submits grant application
to Recreational Trails Program |
|
February 12, 2021 | SB Supports trails repair grant |
|
February 23, 2021 | FB opposes trails repair grant |
|
March 5, 2021 | FB Chair explanation of opposition to grant application |
|
March 8, 2021 | SB decides to withdraw grant application |
|
March 9, 2021 |
State accepts withdrawal of grant application |
|
March 11, 2021 |
SB Chair Berger suggests Grover Boutin (2 days after his passing) responsible for missing records
SB Chair Berger offers false information regarding Compliance with State and a new Forest Plan |
|
March 19, 2021 |
Was our Town Administrator telling the truth? |
|
April 26, 2021 |
Correspondence from General Counsel, VT Secretary of State |
| June 11, 2021 |
Hartford conducts legal timber sale |
| June 7, 2021 | VT State Watershed Planner reports problems in the Forest
|
| July 26, 2021 |
VT State AMPs Forester reports many problems; lists actions to be taken immediately |
| August 18, 2021 |
SB again rejects financial assist for trail repairs |
| November 5, 2021 |
VT Dept of Forests, Parks and Recreation Issues Report after inspection on November 5, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2021 | Forest Financial Results 2000 - 2009 |
| December 31, 2021 | Forest Financial Results 2010 - 2021 |
| January 4, 2022 | Annual Budget Meeting Hearing - Forest ignored by Budget Committee |
| January 7, 2022 | Annual Budget Committee Meeting - no mention of forest costs |
| February 11, 2022 | County Forester clarifies his role (none) regarding Lange Grant compliance report |
| February 11, 2022 | DEC Wetlands Ecologist reports problems and lists actions to be taken |
| February 18, 2022 | Letter from Selectboard to Bill Weale ceasing collaboration |
| March 1, 2022 | Fairlee's CPA, Michael Segale, fails to apply important accounting (GASB) rules in his audits for the Town of Fairlee; Fails to recognize and report fraudulent sale of Town property |
| March 8, 2022 | Letter sent by L. Fitzhugh to FB in response to Letter of Feb 23, 2021 |
| March 29, 2022 | FB Chair Ludwig misleads the public about use of trust funds |
| March 29, 2022 | Fairlee FB meeting: Forester Markus Bradley reports illegal ATV use and " ...lack of management, and lack of maintenance over a long period of time." |
| March 29, 2022 | Forest Trails Map accompanying Redstart Forestry's 3/29/2022 public report |
| April 8, 2022 | VLCT Explains Legal Requirements for a Vermont Town to Conduct a Timber Sale |
| July 3, 2022 | Valley News Covers W.H. Lange/Town Forest Issues |
| July 8, 2022 |
VT Digger also publishes the Fairlee Town Forest Story |
| July 27, 2022 | VT Attorney General Charges Fairlee's Logger with Multiple Deceptive Acts, Unfair Practices and VT DMV Overweight Violations During past 15 years |
| July 31, 2022 | Legal Jeopardy: Open Letter to Town Attorney, Paul Gillies |
| August 1, 2022 |
Fairlee's Logger agrees to Consent Judgment and Final Judgment Order |
| August 5, 2022 | VT Attorney General Summarizes Limlaw Case |
| September 7, 2022 | Complaint to the U.S. Department of the Interior |
| November 14, 2022 |
Environmental Violations Complaint filed with the VT Dept of Environmental Conservation (DEC) |
| February 21, 2023 |
Possible legal jeopardy of Fairlee's elected and appointed officials |
| February 24, 2023 |
Fairlee Town Forest: Open letter to Selectboard Chair Berger
|
| March 6, 2023 |
Fairlee Town Forest: Open Letter to Forest Board Chair Ludwig
|
| April 6, 2023 |
Criminal Complaint and Notice of Claim for Damages to Town Property
|
| June 16, 2023 |
U.S. Department of the Interior Provides Original Copies of the Lange Forest Grant
|
| December 4, 2023 |
Office of the Inspector General report: "National Park Service Should Increase Monitoring and Oversight To Protect the Integrity and Recreational Value of the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Side Program"
|
| December 15, 2023 |
Governance of the Fairlee Town Forest:
SelectBoard Asked to Consider its Mistakes
|
| December 18, 2023 |
Governance of the Fairlee Town Forest:
Questions that the Fairlee SelectBoard Must Answer Publicly
|