Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee
Thursday, June 23, 2022
 
To listen to a recording of the meeting please click this link.
 
Agenda
 
Present: A.J. Ruben (Select Board), Phil Lipari, Lynda Colton, Richard Gaston, Micheline
 
Open Meeting: AJ called the meeting to order at 6:04pm. Seconded by Phil.  
 
Agenda Modification: NA
 
Minutes Approval:  Phil moved to approve the meeting minutes at 6:23pm. Richard seconded.  
 
Public Present: none
 
Correspondence: None
 
Old Business

1. Review and wrap up all proposals to send to select board

 
New Business

1. Submit our ranking to the select board

 
Next Meeting: NA
 
New Business:

1. The committee reviewed all of the proposals sent and agreed on the following ranking as the top 8 project ideas:
   1. Replace rescue equipment for EMT and Firehouse (proposed $11,999 for a new snowmobile)
   2. Continue renovations to town hall for use as an emergency shelter ($100,000 already estimated. AC units add 16-18K, and a generator quote came in at $24,995 with stand)
   3. Assess water/septic system on town properties ($2,500 for a system assessment from Otter Creek Engineering; potential to spend a lot more to fix any septic issues)
   4. Update playground equipment: anywhere from $18,000-50,000 depending on the chosen equipment
   5. Village speed limit enforcement: $3,300 for one of those flashing speed limit signs
   6. Addition to firehouse: $7,500-10,000 to start working on design plans
   7. Big town hall sign to replace A-Frames: $500-17,000 depending on what we select
   8. Replace stanchions between fire department and post office: $400-1,000 per stanchion
2. All other ideas were ranked based on information gathered from the committee and included in the excel sheet
3. One idea brought to the committee that was not addressed for grant funds but deemed important to consider was adding Pittsfield to the Tri-Valley Transit bus route to take people from town to Killington. The committee agreed there was great benefit to the community to consider this, but also agreed this wasn’t an appropriate avenue for ARPA funding. AJ said he would discuss with the select board.
4. It was also mentioned that the repaving of the basketball courts (an idea suggested on the list) was already being addressed by a grant writer hired by the select board.

 
 
Adjournment:
AJ motioned to end the meeting at 7:42pm. Seconded by Lynda. All in favor.
 
Recorded by:
Katie Stiles
Approved:

 Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee
Thursday, May 12, 2022
 
To listen to a recording of the meeting please click below
​Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee Meeting-20220512_181908-Meeting Recording 
 
Agenda
 
Present: A.J. Ruben (Select Board), Phil Lipari via Zoom(Resident), Katie Stiles (PCC)
 
Open Meeting: AJ called the meeting to order. Seconded by Phil.  
 
Agenda Modification: NA
 
Minutes Approval:  Phil moved to approve the meeting minutes at 6:23pm. AJ seconded.  
 
Public Present: none
 
Correspondence: An email from Joyce Stevens about adding a tractor to the proposal list; an email forwarded by AJ about VT AOT and bike paths/pedestrian walkways.
 
Old Business

1. Review and discuss community outreach response
2. Review and discuss criteria for evaluation and existing and new proposals to evaluate
3. Review work plan for submission of findings to select board

 
New Business

1. Next Steps

 
Next Meeting: June 9 at 6pm at Town Hall
 
Correspondence: Joyce sent an email to add a tractor to the proposal list, its been added. AJ forwarded an email about VT AOT and bike paths/walkways and Phil is looking into it. It appears there is a June 9th deadline, which feels too soon to meet.
 
New Business:

1. Determine next steps: AJ suggested we try and get our proposal to the select board by September, 2022. To accomplish this, everyone on the committee needs to populate the google sheet with criteria information by next meeting. Applications for submission are due June 1, 2022.

 
Adjournment:
Katie Stiles motioned to end the meeting at 6:51pm. Seconded by Phil. All in favor.
 
Recorded by:
Katie Stiles
Approved: Phil Lapari June 23, 2022

To listen to a recording of the meeting please click this link: https://bit.ly/3OgfVaZ
Agenda
 
Present: A.J. Ruben (Select Board), Lynda Colton (Business owner), Phil Lipari (Resident) remotely, Richard Gaston (Resident) Micheline Bissell (Planning Commission)
 
Open Meeting: AJ motioned to open the meeting at 6:03pm. Seconded by Lynda.
 
Agenda Modification: NA
 
Minutes Approval:  Lynda moved to approve the minutes of March 31, 2022. Micheline seconded. all in favor.
 
Public Present: Ann Kuendig who agreed to record meeting minutes
 
Correspondence: 
 
Old Business:

1. Review and discuss ARPA Criteria and guidance: AJ informed committee members that the Select Board was going to take the Standard Allowance and utilize the entire award of $165,306.10 under the Revenue Loss Category so the Committee did not need to review the eligibility of any of the spending proposals.
2. Review and discuss Community outreach and timeline workplan: Flyers have been posted around town and on the Town website soliciting spending proposals from the public with a June 1st deadline for submitting ideas to the Committee. Micheline will reach out to Sarah Gallagher for posting on the Face book Page (Pittsfield Vermont News) and will ask Trish Fryer to print 50 of the flyers along with the list of any spending proposals that will be developed by AJ to be handed out at Town Meeting.
3. Review and discuss categories for determining how to assess proposal worthiness. members reviewed the criteria categories for evaluating the spending proposals. The category of eligibility under ARPA rules was eliminated.
4. Review and discuss proposals received so far and work plan to assess each proposal within the determined criteria:

Lynda:  Emergency Equipment for Highway-She discussed with George and there is nothing that highways needs right now.
WRVA donation: Town pays a monthly fee based on population.
Richard: Emergency Shelter: He spoke with Town Hall Building committee about estimates received to date. Committee estimated it would take up to $100,000 for putting in a generator; insta-hot water heater; treat and seal wood beams and paint steel for exposed ceiling, frame & drywall walls; buy and install new kitchen cabinets, countertops and sinks & refrigerator, demo old electrical in basement and install new wiring and fixtures, and install, plumb shower stall upstairs in bathroom. Richard questioned whether the building committee has considered heat pumps for a/c to make the shelter a cooling center as well.
Gazebo: He will discuss details with Caleb but priced a 20 X12 structure at $6,500 with $2,000 for labor and a 30 X 10 wood structure at $33,000. the concrete pad for the structure could run $40,000.
Phil:  Public Transportation: He spoke with Tri-Valley  (Mike Reidner) about a route from Pittsfield to the Welcome Center in Killington on Route 4.
Bicycle/Pedestrian Walkways: He received information regarding grants for scoping sidewalk projects.
Re-paving Basketball Court: He received a 2016 quote for repaving and was told that the Select board will begin soliciting updated quotes this summer.
Micheline:  Broad band/connection fee help:  she will talk with Martha about getting info on determining the need for help.
Developing outdoor events: Again, she will talk with PCC regarding events they are developoing.
AJ:  Cell phone tower: Lynda suggested AJ talk with Stockbridge resident who contracted with AT&T
FEMA properties: He will tour properties to see if they are appropriate for holding events.
 
 
New Business

1. Next Steps: AJ suggested that members be prepared to write a brief paragraph about the spending proposals they have been assigned under each criteria box so the committee can then assign a value of 1-30 in scoring each proposal.  Members agreed to meet again after Town meeting on may 12 at 6pm at Town Hall.

 
 
Adjournment:
Lynda Colton motioned to end the meeting at 7:12pm. Seconded by Richard Gaston. All in favor.
 
Recorded by:
Ann Kuendig


 
Approved:
 
AJ Ruben              

​ 
Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee
Thursday, March 31, 2022
 
To listen to a recording of the meeting please click this link: https://bit.ly/3NUwEAk

 
Agenda
 
Present: A.J. Ruben (Select Board), Lynda Colton (Business owner), Phil Lipari (Resident), Richard Gaston (Resident),  Katie Stiles (PCC) with members of the public Ann Kuendig (Select board) and Mike Moran (via zoom)
 
Open Meeting: AJ motioned to open the meeting at 6:05pm. Seconded by Lynda.
 
Agenda Modification: NA
 
Minutes Approval:  Lynda approved the minutes at 6:07pm, Phil seconded.
 
Public Present: Ann Kuendig and Mike Moran (via zoom)
 
Correspondence: Amy Alton email
 
Old Business


1.    Organize committee
2.    Discuss responsibilities
3.    Review spending proposals
4.    Discuss criteria
5.    Next steps & meeting dates
 
New Business


1.    Community outreach to gather more ideas and instruct town on timeline
2.    Determine criteria for judgement  
3.    Continue researching proposed ideas
4.    Determine how we will score ideas
 
Next Meeting: April 14th at 6pm at the Town Hall
 
Correspondence: Amy Alton sent an email to the committee urging all to consider taking a pause on rushing allocation of the funds. The committee read the letter out loud and a concern about inflation was voiced in support of spending funding sooner rather than later. The committee determined a June 1st, 2022 deadline for suggestions from the town.
 
New Business:


1.    Community Outreach: The committee agreed it is critical to gather all ideas from residents for consideration. In addition to discussing at the Town Hall Meeting May 3rd, AJ also drafted a flyer to be posted in all public buildings asking for ideas to be submitted for consideration by 6/1/22.
2.    Determine Criteria for Judgement: The committee evaluated the proposed criteria for allocation judgement and determined the following were critical in the decision-making process:
1.    Timeline/Timeframe
2.    Estimated Cost/Percentage of the full award that the project would use
3.    Biggest bang for the buck to the overall community
4.    Impact on disproportionately impacted households
5.    Staff capacity to manage project
6.    Future financial or administrative burdens created by the project
7.    If additional state or federal funds can be leveraged to complete the proposed project
8.    If alternative funding is available for the project
3.    Continue researching proposed ideas: the committee discussed all current proposed ideas and relevant considerations gathered in initial investigation. It was agreed that everyone would continue to do their due diligence to gather more information about each idea so they could be run through the proposed criteria.
4.    Determine how we will score ideas: The committee decided it would score projects against each other within in each criteria category on a 1-X basis and calculate a final score to present to the select board.
 
Adjournment:
Lynda Colton motioned to end the meeting at 7:41pm. Seconded by Richard Gaston. All in favor.
 
Recorded by:
Katie Stiles
Approved: Lynda Colton 
 

​ 
Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee
Thursday, March 24, 2022
 
To listen to a recording of the meeting please click this link:  https://bit.ly/3qJW1e4
 
Agenda
 
Present: A.J. Ruben (Select Board), Lynda Colton (Business owner), Phil Lipari (Resident), Richard Gaston (Resident),   Katie Stiles (PCC), Micheline Bissell (by phone), with members of the public Ann Kuendig (Select board) and Amy Alton (resident) also present.
 
New Business

1. Organize committee
2. Discuss responsibilities
3. Review spending proposals
4. Discuss criteria
5. Next steps & meeting dates

 

• A.J. called the meeting to order at 6:05pm. Seconded by Lynda. All in favor.
• Lynda Colton nominated to be vice chair at 6:08pm. Seconded by Phil. All in favor.  
• A letter to the town from citizen Vaughn Micchiche was read asking for an end to the rush to make a decision about how we spend the funding. 

 
Agenda Modification: NA
 
Minutes Approval:  NA 
 
Public Present: Ann Kuendig and Amy Alton
 
New Business:

1. Organize Committee:Lynda was nominated by A.J. to be the vice chair of the committee. Seconded by Phil. All in favor. Katie agreed to be the secretary. 
2. Discuss Responsibilities:The committee determined the critical steps to allocating the $165,306.10 ARPA funds as the following:
   1. Developing a timeline and program of outreach to gather community-sourced ideas
   2. Creating an evaluation system to rate and score ideas suggested by Pittsfield community members
   3. Providing a list of “rated” ideas to the Select Board for consideration
3. Review Spending Proposals:The committee read through the current proposed ideas and added the following suggestions to be considered:
   1. Take no action and hold the funds until necessity dictates spending (within the timeline given by ARPA) (Citizen Vaughn Micchiche—not present)
   2. Add a sidewalk in town on Route 100 (Phil)
   3. Purchase gym equipment for the town hall for community use (Phil)
   4. Set up a food pantry in town for those in need (Phil)
   5. Set up a shuttle to Route 4 (Phil)
   6. Replace stanchions between the fire house and the post office (Phil)
   7. Get a big town hall sign (a la Killington’s) to replace the multiple a-frame signs currently used (Phil)
   8. Repave the basketball court (Phil)
   9. Invest in a contractor to research grants Pittsfield is eligible to pursue. (Katie)
4. Discuss Criteria:It was determined the committee should all spend the week thinking about applicable criteria (including but not limited to ideas listed on “Suggested Ideas Spreadsheet”) to weigh ideas and reconvene to discuss at the next meeting
5. Next Steps: A.J. suggested the committee review the current proposed ideas and divvy them up to begin evaluating them for eligibility/viability against the basic criteria outlined on the “Suggested Ideas spreadsheet”. Ideas were divvyed up as follows:
   1. PHIL: 
      1. Add a sidewalk in town on Route 100 (Phil)
      2. Purchase gym equipment for the town hall for community use (Phil)
      3. Set up a food pantry in town for those in need (Phil)
      4. Set up a shuttle to Route 4 (Phil)
      5. Replace stanchions between the fire house and the post office (Phil)
      6. Get a big town hall sign (a la Killington’s) to replace the multiple a-frame signs currently used (Phil)
      7. Repave the basketball court (Phil)
   2. RICHARD:
      1. Renovations to town hall
      2. Recreational gazebo for picnicking
      3. Addition to fire house: shower washer dryer
      4. Generator for town office
      5. Inta-hot water heater for town office
   3. LYNDA:
      1. Replace rescue equipment for fire department
      2. Emergency equipment for highway department
      3. Donation to WRVA
      4. Village speed limit enforcement
      5. Trash & Recycling truck
   4. A.J.:
      1. “Do nothing”
      2. Turn FEMA properties into parks
      3. Cell phone tower for all carrier to improve coverage
   5. MICHELINE:
      1. Developing community events/creating community outdoor gathering places
      2. Subsidies for households with financial need to have high-speed internet
      3. Help with broadband connection fees
   6. KATIE:
      1. Iceskating in ball field
      2. Updating playground with new equipment
      3. Creating town listserv, refreshing town website, online tax payments
      4. Contribute to mandatory storm water relief project at Rutland County Solid Waste
      5. Assess water/septic on public buildings in town
      6. Grant research

 
Next Meeting Date:  March 31, 2022 at 6pm (Town Hall)
 
Adjournment:
Lynda Colton motioned to end the meeting at 7:25pm. Seconded by Richard Gaston. All in favor. 
.
 
Recorded by:
Katie Stiles
Approved: 3/31/22