On May 25, the Valley News published a front-page article regarding the Quechee Green and the relationship between Quechee Lakes Landowners Association and the Town of Hartford.

We find the portrayal of the relationship and state of affairs between the town and QLLA to be quite unfair. We actually have a very good working relationship with many town officials, with the only item of contention being the pocket parks. Tad Nunez, Pat MacQueen, Lori Hirschfield, Rich Menge and others from the administration have always been great to work with, and I believe they would say the same about us. We’ve worked cooperatively with the town for years and met regularly with the town manager — it has been a very good relationship and I am looking forward to that continuing once Leo Pullar is on board. We regularly invite the Selectboard members to our board meetings and have good, productive dialogue with those that choose to attend.

The article implies that because we’d like to see a nice solution to the pocket parks that we are guilty of extorting the town. That is far from the truth. We believe our expectation level was set when we removed two properties from the association in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene so we could facilitate the process. A nice pocket park solution benefits everyone and has already been approved by the Selectboard and included with the annual budget approved by the voters of Hartford. We have resolved the use agreements to everyone’s apparent satisfaction, so only the pocket parks remain in discussion. As taxpayers, we are certainly entitled to voice our opinions. Our property values and continuity of roads and services are extremely important to us and to Hartford.

For the past 16 years, the town utilized the Quechee Green for events and special functions. As part of the agreement, it received rental revenues from third-party users while QLLA supported the cost of maintaining the park. In exchange for certain land of ours as part of the original agreement, the town installed a playground and walking path. The town had also committed to install an exercise course along the walking path but, because of budget constraints, never got around to that.

The article’s opening statement, which ties our dissatisfaction with the progress on the pocket parks to our decision to take ownership of the playground, requires clarification. Part of the original Quechee Green agreement required the town to remove the playground and trail at the expiration of the 15-year agreement (May 31, 2015). This would have caused additional investment by the town. Over the course of two short-term extensions requested by the town, provisions were added to allow QLLA to require either removal by the town or to take ownership at the end of the agreement. Our board of trustees opted for the latter. Financially, we view this as a win-win for the town and QLLA, and based on the comments by Selectboard Chairman Dick Grassi, town officials view it in the same light.

The Quechee Green will remain open to the public. We are working with the Chamber of Commerce to once again host the Quechee Balloon Festival on the Green. We have agreed to allow parking on the Green this year that will save the Chamber money as well as allow RV parking at our Polo Field. These changes will effectively reduce expenses and increase net revenues for the Chamber.

The rules that will be posted on the Green will be similar to those posted at other public park areas in Hartford and will be the same for all users of the property. The main difference is that we will now be responsible for renting the Green to interested parties and will utilize the revenue to offset our maintenance expenses.

The article mentions how the playground is “one small component of a large and complex series

of relationships” with the town. During the attempted renegotiation of the agreement on the Green, the children of Hartford regularly used our golf courses and ski area for free or at reduced rates. We anticipate no changes in that regard. Town officials certainly know how to reach us and we will continue trying to find ways to work together in a mutually beneficial spirit.

The bottom line is that the only noticeable difference in the Quechee Green this year versus previous years is the color of the signs and who you should contact with questions. QLLA and the town reduce operating costs, and public use continues as always.

Tim Lewis is the general manager and chief operating officer of the Quechee Lakes Landowners Association.