Calendar

This is an outreach meeting on new statutory requirements surrounding forest blocks and habitat connectors. TRORC is in the process of updating their Regional Plan to include these new requirements and are also revising the Natural Resources Chapter. All are welcome to join and give their feedback on these elements of the TRORC Regional Plan.

Introductions.
2. Approval of Nov. 14 Minutes.
3. MRGP Road Maintenance Presentation – Mike Storace, TRORC (45 mins)
• How much will the MRGP standards cost to implement?
• What are the best strategies to maintain stone-lined-ditches?
• Budget and maintenance schedule
4. NUTS (Not up to standard) and other nuggets – Pete Fellows, TRORC (15 mins)
5. Other business – Rita
• PeopleForBikes Applications for Spring 2018 Community Grant Program
• 2018 VT Walk Bike Summit – May 4, 2018 in WRJ

Future meeting topics? Next meeting on Thursday Mar. 8, 2018. Bethel Town Office

This training provides an introduction on how towns can update their municipal policies to improve housing opportunities. “Homes for All” is a training that will be useful for members of local planning commissions, zoning and development review boards, selectboards and other town officials as they seek to meet the housing needs of residents.

The four main areas that this training will cover are 1) Understanding current housing needs and documents, 2) Regulatory Solutions for Affordable Housing, 3) Non- Regulatory Solutions for Affordable Housing, and 4) Resources. We will also have Ted Wimpey, Director of the Fair Housing Program at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity to discuss a statewide perspective on ways to address affordable housing in the Greater Upper Valley. Chairs please pass the training information along to other members on your boards. Please let me know if you plan on attending the meeting.

See details below for Meeting information:

Homes for All Affordable Housing Training

Date: January 23, 2018

Where: Upper Valley Haven- The Beverly Fowle Fiertz Community Center (713 Hartford Ave White River Junction, VT 05001)

When: 6:30 p.m.

This training provides an introduction for members of local planning commissions, zoning and development review boards, selectboard and other town officials. The four main areas that will be covered in this training are:

1. Planning for a Vibrant Sustainable Community
2. Roles and Responsibilities of Various Municipal Boards
3. Ways to Implement the Town Plan
4. Overview of Meetings, Hearings, and Due Process

Agenda

1. Introductions
2. Approval of Jan. 11 Minutes
3. FY2020 Project Prioritization / Pre-Candidate Bridges presentation/discussion and TAC final ranking – Rita
4. Better Road awards / upcoming field season
5. Other business
   1. Woodstock Village bridge 51 closure – 21 day closure in April/May 2018
      https://southcentralvtbridges.vtransprojects.vermont.gov/bridge_projects/woodstock_village/
   2. ADA Transition Plans – Why its important for your Town

Future meeting topics? Next meeting on Thursday May 10, 2018

Snow Date Thursday, March 22, 2018

Carbon Work-Study Discussion

Kevin Geiger – Senior Planner with TRORC and Monica Przyperhart, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

This is part of an 8 month long series focused on managing forests for carbon storage and sequestration sponsored by Sustainable Woodstock and the National Park Service. Everyone is welcome and the workshop is free. RSVP with Zach Ralph (info in panel) to receive the suggested reading materials or to learn about the other upcoming discussion topics on carbon in 2018. 

The Vermont Walk/Bike Summit is an excellent opportunity to connect with community members, employers, planners and researchers from throughout the state for in-depth sharing on current efforts, new ideas, and networking to advance more livable communities.

This year’s Summit will include interactive demo workshops, peer exchanges, a highly-acclaimed keynote, and a variety of dynamic presentations and topics including advocacy and education, safe and healthy communities, economic development, and the built environment.

More information is here: https://vtwalkbikesummit.com/

1. Introductions
2. Approval of March 8 Minutes
3. Annual Chair/Vice Chair election
4. VTrans Safety Series
   1. WebQuery Crash Tool – Many White
   2. Low cost bike ped improvements – Jon Kaplan
   3. Work zone safety and brush clearing for safety – Nancy Avery
5. DEC Municipal Grants in Aid Year 1 and Year 2 – Rita
6. Other business
   1. VTrans Bike Ped Grant Application open

1. Introductions.
2. Approval of May 10 Minutes.
3. VTrans Long Range Plan update – Dave Pelletier, VTrans (45 mins)
4. DEC MRGP and Municipal Grants in Aid Year 2 update – Rita
5. Other business
• VTrans Bike Ped Grant application recap
• 2018 VTrans Construction Spec Book
• Road Foreman meeting with Jim Barlow – legal questions on MRGP

Future meeting topics? Next meeting on Thursday Sept. 13, 2018 – Woodstock Town Office

The third forum will be held in South Royalton, VT on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 PM in the Chase Community Center at Vermont Law School. 

Unlike typical town hall style forums, this one is designed to invite conversation and engage citizens in small group discussions with facilitators. After a brief presentation highlighting the key points of Act 250, community members will have a chance to talk about what matters most to them. The public input will inform the Legislative Commission’s report and any potential legislation to modernize the statutes. Act 250 grew out of citizen involvement fifty years ago and it will be strengthened through citizen involvement now.

To register and for more information, click HERE.