Untangling weeds in Twin Lakes

SALISBURY — Voters who own property around West Twin Lake rejected a plan that would have established a special tax district.

The vote was held at an unusual meeting at Town Hall Saturday, Dec. 12.

The West Twin Lake Project, a group led by Peter Menikoff and Thomas Medvecky, organized and on Nov. 6 submitted a petition to the Board of Selectmen. The petition called for a meeting to vote on establishing a tax district to provide a steady source of funding to deal with weeds and sediment in the lake.

First Selectman Curtis Rand convened the meeting, Town Clerk Patty Williams read the call, and then things were turned over to Menikoff, who began by saying, “I told Curtis Rand I would never again bring a petition to him.� The audience laughed.

At an informational meeting Nov. 27, sentiment ran high against the establishment of a tax district, with many residents suggesting working through the Twin Lakes Association to address the problems at West Twin.

Menikoff said Saturday, “We concluded there was probably not enough support to move forward at this time,� and added that the Twin Lakes Association has now formed a committee for West Twin, with Steve Klein, one of the more vocal opponents of the tax district idea, as chairman.

But, Menikoff said, “We can’t just take the petition off the tracks.� The meeting of electors, having been legally called, had to proceed.

So Menikoff was elected moderator, the petition was called to a vote and, to nobody’s surprise, it failed  — 23 against and eight in favor.

In a phone interview Monday, Menikoff told The Journal that the petitioners would support the Twin Lakes Association  committee. “We’ve done a lot of work that we are prepared to turn over.â€�

He said he was glad things are moving forward amicably. “We’re a small community, and I hope the committee is successful.�