Hartford — As a legislative effort to address a suicide hot spot in Quechee continues to make its way through the Vermont Statehouse, Hartford officials have offered a resolution that thanks the state for its interest but also expresses concerns about a top-down approach.

Rep. Teo Zagar, D-Barnard, said on Wednesday that H. 593, the bill he wrote to address a pattern of suicides at the Quechee Gorge Bridge, received a boost last week when its language was incorporated into a must-pass transportation bill.

“It will be on the (House) floor, I believe, next week,” he said.

The language in the transportation bill is a little different than what Zagar originally envisioned — where H. 593 had established a deadline of October 2017 for the Agency of Transportation to implement a solution, the current language in the transportation bill instead instructs the agency to review the situation and produce a report outlining options by January 2017.

Despite the changes, Zagar, who was motivated to write the bill following the death of a friend at the bridge, said he was satisfied with the progress.

“I’m pleased with it, I am,” he said. “The way the bill was (originally) written, we would have been asking the agency to do something without knowing what that something is and how much it would cost.”

Zagar, whose district includes Barnard, Pomfret, West Hartford and part of Quechee, noted that the new language instructs the agency to implement some low-cost, short-term measures, including signage, by this summer.

Eight people have died since 2008 in suicides at Quechee Gorge, which is spanned by a 285-foot-long bridge built 165 feet above the Ottauquechee River. The scenic overlook draws more than 250,000 visitors each year.

“There are a number of families who have lost loved ones in the Gorge who are traumatized every time it happens,” Zagar said, “and it happens every year.”

In addition to those who have lost their lives at the Gorge, those who are concerned about the bridge have also expressed concern about the risk and mental toll exacted on first responders.

Over the past eight years, Hartford police have responded to people in crisis 34 times over the past eight years, according to Police Chief Phil Kasten.

On March 15, the Hartford Selectboard voted, 6-1, to approve a resolution that offered support of the state effort, but also expressed reservations.

“The Selectboard … greatly supports the concern of the Legislature… ,” it reads.

But the bulk of the resolution’s language urged state lawmakers to listen to town staff, business and property owners in the neighborhood, and other stakeholders in the Hartford community.

“Further it urges that any effort undertaken of passage of H. 593 take full and careful account of all of the Town staff concerns and the several studies that have occurred to date of the bridge,” it reads, “and further, that care be taken in any such planning and design process to fully involve and hear from the businesses and property owners in the neighborhood and general citizenry and any and all individuals who have been affected relative to their concerns and ideas.”

The resolution also included, at the request of Selectman Simon Dennis, language that “the Selectboard reserves the right to take a further position on this matter,” a clause intended to more easily allow the Selectboard to express opposition to a solution proposed by the state.

Vice Chairwoman Rebecca White cast the sole opposing vote, which she said did not go far enough in expressing support for the state’s efforts.

“I think we need to take a firmer stand in support,” she said.

One possible concern in Hartford is that a renovation plan would obscure or undermine the views from the bridge, thereby possibly threatening its status as a tourist destination.

Zagar said the language in the state transportation bill specifically names the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce and local business owners as groups that the Agency of Transportation is directed to work with.

“I think on some level it’s a reasonable concern, but I think on other levels there are more important concerns like human life, the safety of the first responders and the long-term reputation of the bridge,” he said. 

Selectman Alan Johnson said during the meeting the public problem of suicides at the bridge has deep roots that won’t be addressed by a renovation.

“I see that as a lesser of two problems,” he said. “The much bigger one is that we have people standing on the bridge thinking of jumping off. Once they’ve reached that point, we as a community have already failed them.”

 Zagar said that, while he supports broader efforts to address mental health issues that contribute to suicide, making changes at the bridge that foil suicide attempts will make a difference.

“The evidence is very strong that prevented suicides are not always repeated,” he said. “If someone is prevented from committing suicide, 90 percent of those people will not make another attempt. It bothers me a lot to hear people say that (a renovation would not prevent death) because I think it’s pretty callous and shows a misunderstanding.”

Zagar said it is too early to say what a solution might look like, but that adding nets to the sides of the bridge would be one option. 

A full draft of the transportation bill is available on the website of the Vermont Legislature. 

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling can be reached at mhonghet@vnews.com or 603-727-3211.