Town of Pittsfield, Vermont
Planning Commission
Minutes of August 11, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT: Suana Rubin, Marsha Hopkins, Sarah Gray and Jennifer Howard
from the Planning Commission and Patty Haskins, Town Clerk.
1. Meeting called to order at 6:30pm.
2. Agenda Modifications:
Patty Haskins, Town Clerk, brought over one email from Erica Hurd and a note from
George Deblon with their views of the proposed park. Erica liked the natural look of
the land as is. George gave several suggestions: trees could potentially block site
lines, no tables or benches should be placed there, flat rocks implanted on the bank
would enable easy access and seating by river.
Patty said town communication was an issue discussed at the last Select Board meeting
and she gave the Commission the rules on Open Town Meeting Minutes from the VT
League of Cities and Towns, and the Vermont Statutes. Marsha said she would review
them, but briefly scanned and said she was putting the required information in the
Minutes within the required time frames.
3. Minutes:
The minutes from the June 9th meeting were read, motion to approve Jen, seconded by
Suana, all in favor. The minutes from the July 14th meeting were read, motion to
approve by Sarah, seconded by Jen, all in favor.
4. Correspondence:
Suana read the letter dated August 4th from the Select Board recognizing the
hard work, effort and commitment of the Planning Commission in updating
the Town Plan
Letter from Two Rivers thanking the Town for paying their annual dues and
retaining their membership
Letter from the VT League of Cities and Towns announcing the annual Town
Fair at the Grand Hotel on October 8, 2015
Draft town plan received from Killington for review
5. Proposed Park:
The commission discussed in depth the requests from the last Select Board meeting
and the comments received at the last Planning Commission meeting. After much
discussion; the Commission came up with the following options for the buy out
properties:
1. Do absolutely nothing.
2. Brush hog two times annually and leave land as is.
3. Shore up the bank, brush hog two times annually.
4. Shore up bank, plant low maintenance grasses and brush hog as needed
5. Shore up bank, plant low maintenance grasses, brush hog as needed and plant two
rows of trees (the first row at least 10 feet from road to ensure good sight lines,
the second row near the river bank.
6. Do everything in #5 plus create 2-3 parking spots using hard pack material and
construct historical sign with history and dedication to Donald Flynn.
Jen said she would draft the letter for the Select Board.
6. New Planning Commission Member;
It was decided that Marsha would contact Shawn and have him submit a letter of
resignation so the Commission could start recruiting a new member. The
Commission felt some of the people that came to the last meeting might be a good
place to start.
7. Meeting Schedule:
After discussion, the Commission set the following schedule for the upcoming months
Since the Town Plan was completed and the only large project was the park which
would most likely have to wait until after town meeting.
September 8, 2015 6:30pm
December 8, 2015 6:30pm
February 9, 2016 6:30pm
8. Comments from public:
NONE - no one attended meeting; even after a call for suggestions from the Select
Board.
9. Adjournment
Respectfully Submitted,
Marsha Hopkins
Secretary
Planning Commission
Minutes of August 11, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT: Suana Rubin, Marsha Hopkins, Sarah Gray and Jennifer Howard
from the Planning Commission and Patty Haskins, Town Clerk.
1. Meeting called to order at 6:30pm.
2. Agenda Modifications:
Patty Haskins, Town Clerk, brought over one email from Erica Hurd and a note from
George Deblon with their views of the proposed park. Erica liked the natural look of
the land as is. George gave several suggestions: trees could potentially block site
lines, no tables or benches should be placed there, flat rocks implanted on the bank
would enable easy access and seating by river.
Patty said town communication was an issue discussed at the last Select Board meeting
and she gave the Commission the rules on Open Town Meeting Minutes from the VT
League of Cities and Towns, and the Vermont Statutes. Marsha said she would review
them, but briefly scanned and said she was putting the required information in the
Minutes within the required time frames.
3. Minutes:
The minutes from the June 9th meeting were read, motion to approve Jen, seconded by
Suana, all in favor. The minutes from the July 14th meeting were read, motion to
approve by Sarah, seconded by Jen, all in favor.
4. Correspondence:
Suana read the letter dated August 4th from the Select Board recognizing the
hard work, effort and commitment of the Planning Commission in updating
the Town Plan
Letter from Two Rivers thanking the Town for paying their annual dues and
retaining their membership
Letter from the VT League of Cities and Towns announcing the annual Town
Fair at the Grand Hotel on October 8, 2015
Draft town plan received from Killington for review
5. Proposed Park:
The commission discussed in depth the requests from the last Select Board meeting
and the comments received at the last Planning Commission meeting. After much
discussion; the Commission came up with the following options for the buy out
properties:
1. Do absolutely nothing.
2. Brush hog two times annually and leave land as is.
3. Shore up the bank, brush hog two times annually.
4. Shore up bank, plant low maintenance grasses and brush hog as needed
5. Shore up bank, plant low maintenance grasses, brush hog as needed and plant two
rows of trees (the first row at least 10 feet from road to ensure good sight lines,
the second row near the river bank.
6. Do everything in #5 plus create 2-3 parking spots using hard pack material and
construct historical sign with history and dedication to Donald Flynn.
Jen said she would draft the letter for the Select Board.
6. New Planning Commission Member;
It was decided that Marsha would contact Shawn and have him submit a letter of
resignation so the Commission could start recruiting a new member. The
Commission felt some of the people that came to the last meeting might be a good
place to start.
7. Meeting Schedule:
After discussion, the Commission set the following schedule for the upcoming months
Since the Town Plan was completed and the only large project was the park which
would most likely have to wait until after town meeting.
September 8, 2015 6:30pm
December 8, 2015 6:30pm
February 9, 2016 6:30pm
8. Comments from public:
NONE - no one attended meeting; even after a call for suggestions from the Select
Board.
9. Adjournment
Respectfully Submitted,
Marsha Hopkins
Secretary
RSS Feed