Selectman's Illness Delays Decision on Divided Powder Ridge Parcel

Less than four weeks after Middlefield sold Powder Ridge ski area to Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort, the town received an offer from a resident interested in purchasing the town owned 19.6 acre parcel divided from the ski area earlier this year.

But town officials have yet to act on the offer because selectman Dave Burgess — the board's lone Democrat — is ill, according to First Selectman Jon Brayshaw.

"It's wrong for two of us to make a decision on this thing," Brayshaw said at Monday's board meeting. "I really want all three, it's a big thing."

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The seriousness of Burgess' illness or when he might return is unclear but on two occasions, including Monday, the offer was scheduled to be discussed by the board in executive session but instead was taken off the agenda because Burgess was not at the meeting.

"Anything that requires the wisdom of three rather than two, we'll put off until he's better," Brayshaw said.

Attorney John Corona, who represents the interested buyer and attended Monday's meeting, in part, to discuss the offer, said his client's $300,000 offer to buy the property is only valid if the sale can be closed by the end of the year.

"I think we need to make a good faith effort here," selectman Ed Bailey said in response to the request.

Bailey said he would not be in attendance at the next meeting but suggested that Corona meet with Burgess personally to get him up to speed on the offer so that the board might make a decision in early December.

In June, Middlefield's Planning and Zoning Commission approved the town's request to divide the property. At the time, Burgess did not support selling the remaining 226-acre property to Brownstone owner Sean Hayes because he said the $700,000 sale price was too low. He also questioned the the valuation of the divided property.

Under terms of the sales agreement between Hayes and the town, Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort has right of first refusal to the 19.6 acre parcel although it's unclear whether the company would attempt to buy the property.

The decision to sell the land, Brayshaw said, would ultimately be up to residents.

"It's going to take a town meeting," he said.