Middlefield Resident Files Lien Against Powder Ridge Property

Susan Maloney, of 121 Powder Hill Road, Middlefield, has filed a lien against the town owned Powder Ridge property, located at 99 Powder Hill Road.

According to the lien, which was filed on May 20 at Middlefield Town Hall, Maloney accuses the town of 'giving away' the property.

"I don't feel we should be giving a prime piece of property away for one million dollars," said Maloney, who said she will vote against a sales agreement between the Town of Middlefield and Alpine Ridge LLC.

A town meeting is scheduled to follow a public hearing on the matter tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Memorial Middle School.

"I used to ski up there. I'm not against a ski area opening up. I don't feel we were given a fair deal. It's very foolish," she added.

The filing will not delay the public hearing or the town meeting, according to town officials.

"It has been forwarded to the title insurance company and they will determine the legal basis for such a claim," the town's finance director, Joe Geruch, said.

First Selectman Jon Brayshaw responded to Maloney's claim that the public had not been given an opportunity to have questions answered.

"There [have been] plenty of meetings and hearings where Powder Ridge was discussed, many of them. We had special Board of Selectman meetings, so people who wanted to avail themselves of all the different issues had many, many opportunities to do that," explained Brayshaw.

Town Clerk Donna Golub told Patch a deadline to submit a petition to send the vote to a referendum had passed without any developments.

Brayshaw said he expected between 300-400 people to attend Tuesday's public hearing and town meeting.