Town of Pittsfield Planning Commission
Minutes of January 12, 2021
Members Present: Sarah Gallagher, Jen Howard, Tim Carter, Micheline Bissell and Marsha Hopkins, along with AJ Ruben. Kimberly Gilbert from TRORC.
Chapter 1 Town History- updates for local private businesses will be inserted on page 9. Sarah said she would be happy to craft language.
Page 11 will be updated to reflect Plan Life Cycle, group will revisit Purpose and Objectives of Plan later with more chapters complete, page 11
Chapter II- Demographics- Need the new census data
Chapter III – Housing - Waiting on new census data as well as the new Community Survey for Housing Data, the group concluded more Air BNB’s in the area should be noted. Tax Dept will provide new census data for affordability section. Elderly housing needs updating if anyone from Pittsfield resides at Park House, Sarah will call. Kimberly will rearrange some of the goals, policies and recommendations in this section. Discussion ensued regarding some of the goals listed, will revisit.
Chapter IV - Education and Child Care Services- census data on local school attendance will be published in town report at the end of January for the updates needed for this section. Discussed adding OSHA Lifelong Learning and UVM Extension for post-secondary education in Adult Learning section. Under Policies, changed “provide access” to “encourage”.
Chapter V - Utilities and Facilities- Town Garage section and Town Hall updates will be updated from the Town Report due out at the end of the month. Parks and Public Lands will be updated to reflect Velomont project and other biking trails. Communication Facilities will be updated to reflect current options for residents of Pittsfield, Municipal Solid Waste may be changing, need to wait to update until after Town meeting.
Chapter VI – Health and Emergency Services – Tim will update Fire Dept section. Police protection services will be updated to reflect Pittsfield’s decision to end contracts with Rutland County Sheriff’s Dept. Hazard Mitigation Plan was updated last fall and will be reflected in this section.
New Forestry Grant funding for this new section of the plan needs to be expended by May. Kimberly suggested we hold the required public forum on this at our April meeting. Members were concerned that holding a forum without sufficient background information would not be beneficial. Kimberly suggested we communicate through email in February and if we felt we needed to discuss further we will hold another meeting prior to the forum. The Town does have the option to change corridors in this section. All agreed to proceed on these terms.
Micheline asked about other forums for Town Plan. Kimberly said the Planning Commission will hold one when we have a finalized draft and then the Select Board will need to hold an additional public forum before it the plan is approved.
Respectively Submitted,
Marsha Hopkins
Secretary
The Minutes of January 12, 2021 were duly APPROVED on March 16, 2021
By Jen Howard and Tim Carter.
Minutes of January 12, 2021
Members Present: Sarah Gallagher, Jen Howard, Tim Carter, Micheline Bissell and Marsha Hopkins, along with AJ Ruben. Kimberly Gilbert from TRORC.
- Call to Order
- Agenda Modifications
- Correspondence:
- FY21 Better Connections Grant Info- Sarah is waiting on more info from Tory Littlefield and Stephanie Smith (VEM) to present to the Select Board.
- Planning Commission did receive the Planning Grant. The grant does hold a stipulation for a public forum regarding Land Use.
- Approval of Minutes from October 13, 2020 meeting.
- Public Present
- Commission Appointments
- Grant Application for Generator
- Town Plan Update, Review of Chapters 1-6
Chapter 1 Town History- updates for local private businesses will be inserted on page 9. Sarah said she would be happy to craft language.
Page 11 will be updated to reflect Plan Life Cycle, group will revisit Purpose and Objectives of Plan later with more chapters complete, page 11
Chapter II- Demographics- Need the new census data
Chapter III – Housing - Waiting on new census data as well as the new Community Survey for Housing Data, the group concluded more Air BNB’s in the area should be noted. Tax Dept will provide new census data for affordability section. Elderly housing needs updating if anyone from Pittsfield resides at Park House, Sarah will call. Kimberly will rearrange some of the goals, policies and recommendations in this section. Discussion ensued regarding some of the goals listed, will revisit.
Chapter IV - Education and Child Care Services- census data on local school attendance will be published in town report at the end of January for the updates needed for this section. Discussed adding OSHA Lifelong Learning and UVM Extension for post-secondary education in Adult Learning section. Under Policies, changed “provide access” to “encourage”.
Chapter V - Utilities and Facilities- Town Garage section and Town Hall updates will be updated from the Town Report due out at the end of the month. Parks and Public Lands will be updated to reflect Velomont project and other biking trails. Communication Facilities will be updated to reflect current options for residents of Pittsfield, Municipal Solid Waste may be changing, need to wait to update until after Town meeting.
Chapter VI – Health and Emergency Services – Tim will update Fire Dept section. Police protection services will be updated to reflect Pittsfield’s decision to end contracts with Rutland County Sheriff’s Dept. Hazard Mitigation Plan was updated last fall and will be reflected in this section.
New Forestry Grant funding for this new section of the plan needs to be expended by May. Kimberly suggested we hold the required public forum on this at our April meeting. Members were concerned that holding a forum without sufficient background information would not be beneficial. Kimberly suggested we communicate through email in February and if we felt we needed to discuss further we will hold another meeting prior to the forum. The Town does have the option to change corridors in this section. All agreed to proceed on these terms.
Micheline asked about other forums for Town Plan. Kimberly said the Planning Commission will hold one when we have a finalized draft and then the Select Board will need to hold an additional public forum before it the plan is approved.
- Next meeting April 13, 2021
- Adjournment
Respectively Submitted,
Marsha Hopkins
Secretary
The Minutes of January 12, 2021 were duly APPROVED on March 16, 2021
By Jen Howard and Tim Carter.
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