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by mark.gould

Vermont lawyer in “home occupation” scandal

                         Vermont lawyer in “home occupation” flap

BURLINGTON, VT. – The vice chairman of the city’s Planning Commission has been cited for allegedly running an unlawful home occupation in his residence.
Bruce Baker – an attorney – was issued the citation by the code office. The records of the citation are on file and can be viewed by the public because they are public records.
In a response to the charge, Baker denied allowing his wife, Mary Lee, to operate an illegal “home occupation” – her consulting firm known as HallerLee Human Resources Consulting LLC.
Baker persuaded Peter Potts, chairman of the Planning Commission, to swear an “affidavit” claiming no home occupation was run from Baker’s residence – with or without a permit – at 842 South Prospect Street.
Baker’s denial contained no explanation as to how he can deny allowing a home occupation to be operated from his residence even though HallerLee’s office was advertised in the Yellow Pages of the phone book showing its location as 842 South Prospect Street.
Potts’ “affidavit” also fails whatsoever to address this glaring inconsistency.
Using his political connections, Baker persuaded city zoning officials to “withdraw” the notice of violation, telling them his efforts to refinance his home mortgage could be “damaged” by the citation. He intimated that he would bring a lawsuit if the violation was not expunged from city records.
City officials have refused to explain how they can “withdraw” a notice of violation without putting the citation through the regular appeals process.
Mayor Robert Kiss has declined to review whether Baker should be removed from the Planning Commission – the very panel that enforces city zoning rules. Kiss has also made no comment on whether Potts has compromised his position on the commission by signing an “affidavit” that bears no connection to the irrefutable facts of the case against Baker.
Baker, besides passing judgment on whether others are violating city zoning rules, runs a law practice [Clarke Demas & Baker] that he advertises as specializing in zoning litigation.
Former associates of Lee – including her former business partner – have refused to confirm or deny that she ran an office from her home. Dean Haller, who ran the consulting firm at one time with Lee, referred all questions surrounding the case to Lee. Haller, who now runs his own firm HR Sentry, refused to respond when asked about when the office opened in the Baker/Lee home. “Your issues are with Mary,” he said.
Martha Panton, a former HallerLee human-resources project coordinator who is now human-resources manager at Vermont Housing Finance Agency, said when asked about the establishment of the HallerLee office at the Baker/Lee home, “Please contact Mary Lee directly for this information.” Panton, as did Haller, refused also to respond directly when asked when HallerLee opened the office in the Lee home.
The Burlington Free Press is aware of the citation against Baker but has refused to publicize the case without explaining why.
Baker or Lee or both are welcome to comment on this article.

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