Court Opinion

ID: 4268112
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-24 00:08:18.666929+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:14.488749
License: Public Domain

State of Vermont
                             Superior Court—Environmental Division

======================================================================
                   ENTRY REGARDING MOTION
======================================================================

In re Chaves Londonderry Gravel Pit, LLC and David Chaves        Docket No. 60-4-11 Vtec
(Appeal of Act 250 District 2 Environmental Commission Decision)

Title: Motion to Dismiss Thomas Ettinger (Filing No. 1)
Filed: August 15, 2011
Filed By: Appellants Chaves Londonderry Gravel Pit, LLC and David Chaves

Response in opposition filed on 8/30/11 by Cross-Appellant Thomas Ettinger
Reply filed on 9/9/11 by Appellants Chaves Londonderry Gravel Pit, LLC and David Chaves
Additional Response filed on 12/9/11 by Cross-Appellant Riverside Farm

    X Granted                    ___ Denied                      ___ Other

       Chaves Londonderry Gravel Pit, LLC and David Chaves (“Appellants”) appeal certain
findings contained in the District 2 Environmental Commission’s (“the District Commission”)
March 4, 2011 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Order concerning an Act 250 permit
issued for the expanded operation of a pre-existing quarry in the Town of Londonderry,
Vermont. They also appeal the District Commission’s subsequent April 11, 2011 Memorandum
of Decision on Motion to Alter. Thomas Ettinger, individually and as a representative of
Riverside Farm, cross-appeals,1 as does Nancy Kemper.
        Appellants have now filed a motion to dismiss Thomas Ettinger, individually, as a party
to this matter. They contend that he neither requested nor obtained individual party status
before the District Commission, but rather was granted party status solely as a representative of
Riverside Farm. In response, Mr. Ettinger quotes portions of the District Commission’s April
11, 2011 Memorandum of Decision on the Motion to Alter its original March 4, 2011 decision.
       In an Entry Order dated November 23, 2011, this Court asked Mr. Ettinger, as a
representative of Riverside Farm, to provide the Court with documentation addressing
Riverside Farm’s status, Mr. Ettinger’s relationship to Riverside Farm, and whether Mr. Ettinger
possesses authority to speak on behalf of and bind Riverside Farm.
       In response to our Entry Order, Mr. Ettinger submitted documentation indicating that
Riverside Farm was once, although it may not still be, incorporated. The documentation also
indicates that Mr. Ettinger is a board member of Riverside Farm.

1  We note that the issue before this Court on the pending motion to dismiss is whether Thomas Ettinger
is a party to this action individually or solely as a representative of Riverside Farm. We use both terms
here because his statement of questions and his cross-appeal address him as such.
In re Chaves Londonderry Gravel Pit, No. 60-4-11 Vtec (EO on Mot. Dismiss) (12-22-11)          Pg. 2 of 2

       This documentation does not alter our previous conclusion that it is Riverside Farm, not
Mr. Ettinger individually, that is a party to this action. In our November 23, 2011 Entry Order,
we stated the following:
         The District Commission’s April 11, 2011 decision references Mr. Ettinger’s
         motion as “a party” in the District Commission proceedings, but the referenced
         provisions in no way announced a new party status determination. The only
         relevant party status determination announced by the District Commission is
         that “Thomas Ettinger, representing Riverside Farm,” was granted party status.
         In re Chaves Londonderry Gravel Pit, LLC, and David Chaves, Findings of Fact
         and Conclusion of Law and Order, at 4, ¶ 3 (District 2 Envtl. Comm’n Mar. 4,
         2011). The District Commission never specifically granted party status to Mr.
         Ettinger individually in its April 11, 2011 decision.
The documentation that Mr. Ettinger provided does not change our conclusion that, in light of
the District Commission’s party status determination, Mr. Ettinger was granted party status
only as a representative of Riverside Farm. We therefore GRANT Appellants’ motion to
dismiss Thomas Ettinger, individually, as a party to this matter.
        Moreover, we note that the documentation filed on behalf of Riverside Farm thus far
does not adequately address our question of what authority Mr. Ettinger possesses to speak on
behalf of and bind Riverside Farm. We are not aware of legal authority that allows for an
individual to speak on behalf of and bind another entity merely because the individual serves
on the entity’s board. Thus, to the extent that Riverside Farm, the entity bestowed with party
status by the District Commission, wishes to have Mr. Ettinger speak on its behalf and be bound
by his representations, it must file an authorization resolution or other document upon which
this Court and the other parties to this proceeding may rely. If a sufficient document is not filed
by Friday, January 13, 2012, then we will be left to conclude that Riverside Farm has not chosen
Mr. Ettinger to speak on its behalf in these appeal proceedings.

_________________________________________                                           December 22, 2011
       Thomas S. Durkin, Judge                                                          Date
=============================================================================
Date copies sent to: ____________                                            Clerk's Initials _______
Copies sent to:
  C. Daniel Hershenson, Attorney for Appellants Chaves Londonderry Gravel Pit and David Chaves
  David Grayck, Attorney for Cross-Appellants Riverside Farm and Thomas Ettinger
  Hans Huessy, Attorney for Interested Persons Kraig Hart and Doreena Hart
  Cross-Appellant Nancy Kemper
  Interested Person Angelique Jarvis
  Interested Person David A. Jarvis
  Interested Person David M. Rathburn
  For Informational Purposes Only Natural Resources Board
  For Informational Purposes Only Agency of Natural Resources