By Curt Peterson
The Killington Select Board officially accepted Chuck Claffey’s resignation as selectman at its July 20 meeting. Claffey had served about 2 1/2 years of the 3-year term for which he was elected in 2019.
His resignation letter read, in part: “This letter is my notification of resignation from the Selectboard, as I am no longer a resident of the town. I have enjoyed working with you and everyone in the town office.
“With the dedicated and capable people managing the town, Killington has a bright future ahead of it.”
In an email to the Mountain Times, Claffey added, “Killington has great roots and even better days ahead.”
The 51-year-old recently moved to Mendon, which disqualifies him for the Killington Select Board position. He continues as interim zoning administrator, which does not require residency.
After a discussion in executive session board member Jim Haff and Chairman Steve Finneran came back to the meeting and decided to solicit interest among residents for serving out Claffey’s term until it expires at Town Meeting 2022.
“Please express your interest in being considered for this position by emailing Chet Hagenbarth, town manager, at chet@killingtontown.com no later than noon Friday, July 30,” the posting reads. “Letters of interest will be reviewed at the Selectboard Meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 3.”
A computer code writer for Nat West Financial, Claffey campaigned on his qualifications and promised to invest in Killington’s infrastructure, to organize and enhance reserves on which the town could rely in the future, and on bringing sustainability to the Green Mountain National Golf Course.
“It’s better to continue to find ways to have this golf course sustain itself without costing taxpayers any more money,” Claffey wrote in a campaign letter to the Mountain Times.
Claffey, his wife Rebecca, and their two sons moved in 2015 from Connecticut to a ski house they’d purchased in 2001 in Killington.
Among his noted accomplishments on the board, Claffey championed building the new emergency services building, and has successfully shepherded Killington’s Short-Term Rental Registration Program, designed to protect renters, landlords, neighbors and the town from abuses to state and local zoning laws.
“The town is in better shape, fiscally, than when I started,” Claffey wrote. “The golf course is on a positive trajectory, and its future capital needs are being taken into account. [The] short term rental ordinance was the right thing to do and is eminently fair to all parties.”
Claffey said he plans to continue his involvement in the community “through the mountain bike club, the parks and recreation department, KMS [Killington Mountain School], the ski club and other activities.”
