Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee Meeting Minutes-March 24, 2022

​ 
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