By Curt Peterson
Selectman Jim Haff said he was completely surprised by his nomination for the permanent zoning administrator position in Killington on Monday, May 6. Select Board chair Steve Finneron read the Planning Commission’s recommendation for the appointment.
“I wasn’t at the Planning Commission meeting when they decided on this recommendation,” Haff said. “So this is new to me.”
Haff has been acting as interim zoning administrator for more than 18 months after Chuck Claffey left town, vacating the position. Prior to Claffey, Preston Bristow served as zoning administrator.
The job also comes with the additional title of Zoning Administrator for Act 250 Representative, which Haff said is basically acting as the email addressee for anything related to Act 250 in Killington.
Haff, as acting zoning administrator, was instrumental in organizing and implementing Killington’s short term rental (STR) registration system that was begun by his predecessors. When he assumed the project there were more than 700-800 properties being used as STRs; it was created to bring properties into compliance with occupancy limits, parking regulations, noise controls and fire regulations, etc.
Haff said if all STRs had to be registered, the town would receive registration fees enough to administer the program. A third-party contractor monitors the STR advertisement websites to find ads that offer accommodations for which the properties aren’t approved and registered.
The registration program has been a success, with other towns looking to Killington for help setting up similar programs.
The zoning administrator position has always been a full-time job, Haff told the Mountain Times.
“It’s a lot more than managing the STR program,” he said. “Zoning issues make up the majority of the work. I handle all permits — signs, additions, new construction. I write up violation reports. And I perform all site plan reviews, including subdivisions.”
While the interim position was a part-time position paid hourly, Haff says he often worked late at night and on Saturdays to get the jobs complete. The full-time position more accurately reflects the true number of hours the job takes, he stated.
Other board appointments
On Monday, May 6 the Select Board appointed Dave McComb and Guy Keefe to the planning commission.
An alternate for the development review board has not yet been selected. Interested candidates should email Town Manager Michael Ramsey.
Candidates interested in filling the remaining term on the Select Board seat vacated recently by Steve Finneron through next Town Meeting Day, March 4, 2025, must send in letters of interest not later than Monday, May 12 at noon.
For more information visit: KillingtonTown.com.
