Title: Valley Realty & Development, Inc. v. Town of Hartford

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

Valley Realty & Development, Inc. v. Town of Hartford  (95-412); 165 Vt 463;
685 A.2d 292

[Opinion Filed 02-Aug-1996]

[Motion for Reargument Denied 25-Sep-1996]


       NOTICE:  This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under
  V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal revision before publication in the Vermont
  Reports.  Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions,
  Vermont Supreme Court, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801 of
  any errors in order that corrections may be made before this opinion goes
  to press.


                                 No. 95-412


Valley Realty & Development, Inc.                 Supreme Court

                                                  On Appeal from
    v.                                            Windsor Superior Court

Town of Hartford, et al.                          April Term, 1996


Alan W. Cheever, J.

Christopher Dye, Bradford, for plaintiff-appellant

Maureen Ragan of Welch, Graham & Manby, White River Junction, for
  defendants-appellees


PRESENT:  Allen, C.J., Gibson, Dooley, Morse and Johnson, JJ.


       DOOLEY, J.   Plaintiff Valley Realty & Development, Inc. brought this
  action against the Town of Hartford, alleging that the board of selectmen
  violated the open meeting law, 1 V.S.A. § 313, by deciding to purchase a
  parcel of land in an illegal executive session.  The Windsor Superior Court
  dismissed the claim, holding that plaintiff lacked standing to pursue his
  open meeting claim because he was not aggrieved by the violation.  We hold
  that the action taken in executive session was ratified by later action of
  the board taken in public session, and affirm.

       The context for this case is set out in Robes v. Town of Hartford, 161
  Vt. 187,