Pittsfield Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes


To watch* to a recording of the meeting click here:  https://bit.ly/4cxw8Gh 


Date:  August 18, 2026

Present:  Mark Stugart, Rose O’Brien, Craig Westling
(Also present: Ann K, Herb K, Patty and Vern)

AGENDA

1. Call to order 
   
2. Approval of minutes from previous meeting
   
3. Hazard Mitigation Plan process update
   
4. Regional Planning discussion
   
5. Ideas to recruit Planning Commission members
   
6. Conduct any other required business
   
7. Set next meeting date
   
8. Adjournment
   

Mark called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm. Rose motioned, Craig seconded. All in favor.

1. Minutes from past meeting were reviewed and approved.  A signed copy of the minutes will be delivered to Town Hall for filing.
   
2. The draft Local Hazard Mitigation plan (LHMP) is with Vermont Emergency Management for review. Ari expect we should hear back in about a month. 
   
3. Two Rivers Regional Plan discussion
   
   1. TRORC has received a lot of feedback online and in community meetings re. The draft Regional Plan. Most of the feedback is related to the use of authoritative language such as “must” and “shall” instead of recommendations and guidelines.
      
   2. People who live in rural areas, especially, are pushing back because the plan seems to focus on densely populated areas with public water and sewer. The road rules are also contentious. 
      
   3. Maps of the zones do match property lines, which could cause confusion.
      
   4. It is also unclear whether regional or town plans take precedent when assessing Act 250 triggers.
      
   5. A community member has suggested that Pittsfield leave TRORC and join the Rutland Regional planning (we are the only town in Rutland County that is not a part of it). That would require a change to Rutland Regional’s bylaws, and we have have contracts with TRORC through next year.
      
4. Discussion around finding new members. One name was mentioned as a possibility.
   
5. Next meeting date set for November 10, 2026
   

Mark called the meeting to a close at 6:45 pm. Craig motioned, Rose seconded.  All in favor.

Next meeting date:  Tuesday August 11, 2026 at 6pm in the Pittsfield Town Hall         
Minutes by: Craig Westling
Approved:

​

Pittsfield Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
 
To watch* to a recording of the meeting click here:  Pittsfield Planning Commission-20260512_215442UTC-Meeting Recording.mp4
 
*Audio of meeting was unfortunately not captured
 
Date:  May 12, 2026
 
Present:  Mark Stugart, Rose O’Brien
 
AGENDA

1. Call to order
2. Approval of minutes from previous meetings, including LHMP review sessions
3. LHMP Draft Review
4. Ideas to recruit Planning Commission members
5. Conduct any other required business
6. Set next meeting date
7. Adjournment

 
Mark called the meeting to order at 5:59 pm. Rose seconded. All in favor.

1. Minutes from past meetings, both regular PC and special LHMP Committee meetings, were reviewed and approved.  A signed copy of the minutes will be delivered to Town Hall for filing.
2. Review the draft Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).
   1. Feedback from all participants in the process was positive, after a brief discussion, it was agreed to notify Ari at TRORC that we approved submission of the draft plan.

 

1. Confirm next steps:
   1. Ari notified that the plan has been approved by the committee
   2. Ari to submit the plan to the state and await feedback.
2. Discussion around finding new members for the PC landed on direct recruiting versus signage or social media posts.  It was noted that the renewal process of the Town Plan is not in the too distant future, and we would like to have a minimum of 5 regularly participating members for that process.
3. Next meeting date set for August 11, 2026

 
Mark called the meeting to a close at 6:05 pm.  Rose seconded.  All in favor.
 
Next meeting date:  Tuesday Augst 11, 2026 at 6pm in the Pittsfield Town Hall            
Minutes by: Mark Stugart
Approved: 

​Pittsfield Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
DRAFT
 
 
To listen to a recording of the meeting click here:  https://bit.ly/4kZ689G
 
Date:  February 24, 2026
 
Present:  Mark Stugart, Rose O’Brien, Tim Hunt, Ann Kuendig, Ari Lattanzi-TRORC 
 
AGENDA

1. Review outreach materials and assign outreach tasks
2. Confirm Top Hazards
3. Review status of 2020 LHMP Actions
4. Review Town capabilities and vulnerabilities
5. Set next meeting date
6. Adjournment

 
Tim called the meeting to order at 6:07pm. Mark  seconded. All in favor.

1. Review Outreach materials and assign outreach tasks-Ari Lattanzi reviewed the poster she put together to publicize the public meeting. It was agreed to add color and the word Flood to the poster. Mark offered to print and distribute posters around town. Ann offered to have posted on the town website, social media FB page and Front Porch Forum. The group reviewed the community survey Ari drafted. It was agreed to add different locations to submit the completed survey and a March 12 deadline. Ann offered to have the survey’s printed and distribute to Town offices, Library, Pit Stop and Town Meeting as well as post the online version to the Town website, and social media FB page and Front Porch Forum.  Ann will provide the TEAMS remote access link to the public meeting which will be on the Agenda for the regular Select board Meeting on March 19 to begin at 6pm. Ari agreed to provide the group with the public meeting presentation by Monday March 9.The survey link is https://forms.office.com/g/evz37VibZW
2. Confirm Top Hazards-Based on several hazard ranking exercises from the group, Ari presented the following:

 
PCC LHMP Sub-Committee Meeting                                           pg 2
February 24, 2026
 
 
Probability of Significant Event
Impact to People
Impact to Built Env
Impact to Natural Env
Impact to Economy
Average Impact
Score

Fluvial Erosion 
4
3.0
4.0
4.0
3.0
3.5
14.0

Flooding
4
3.0
4.0
3.0
3.0
3.3
13.0

Ice
4
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
12.0

Heat
4
4.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
2.3
9.0

Drought
3
2.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.8
8.3

Wind
4
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
8.0

Snow
4
2.0
2.0
1.0
2.0
1.8
7.0

Infectious Disease 
2.5
4.0
1.0
1.0
4.0
2.5
6.3

Invasive Species
2.5
1.0
2.0
4.0
3.0
2.5
6.3

Cold
3
2.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.5
4.5

Hail
2.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
2.0
1.3
3.1

Wildfire
2.25
1.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.3
2.8

Landslides
1.75
1.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
1.5
2.6

Earthquake
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.5

 
She said if we keep this ranking, the top five would be the priority hazards for the 2026 LHMP. The Community Survey results could also impact priority ranking. Hazards can be combined based on similar causes/effects, so Pittsfield could prioritize the following for mitigation strategies:

1. Flooding & Fluvial Erosion
2. Ice / Snow
3. Heat
4. Drought
5. Wind

 

1. Review Status of 2020 LHMP Actions- The group reviewed status of 2020 actions and made changes. The Actions pertaining to roads and highway department will be sent to George for review.
2. Review Town capabilities and vulnerabilities-the group discussed the ways vulnerable populations and their contacts are identified. A list of at-risk residents is included in the town’s Emergency Management Plan.  Because of the growing number of rental properties, there is no way to know the number of vulnerable people who may be residing in Pittsfield during an emergency. The group discussed putting together a what to do in an emergency and local contacts to be provided as a resource to homeowner associations and air bnb or VRBO properties. Abandoned structures that might be at risk of falling into the river during a flood emergency were also discussed.

 
PCC LHMP Sub-Committee Meeting                                           pg 3
February 24, 2026
 
Ari was thanked for her presentation and Mark adjourned the meeting at 7:50pm. Tim seconded. All in favor,
 
Next meeting date:  Thursday March 19, 2026. 6:00pm at Pittsfield Town Hall
                                                                      Minutes by
Approved:                                                       s.Ann Kuendig
 
Mark Stugart, Rose O’Brien, Craig Westling, Tim Hunt, Tim Thody, George Deblon, Dave Colton, Ann Kuendig
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pittsfield Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
DRAFT
 
 
To listen to a recording of the meeting click here:  https://bit.ly/4aP8iV5
 
Date:  February 10, 2026
 
Present:  Mark Stugart, Rose O’Brien, Ann Kuendig, Ari Lattanzi-TRORC 
 
AGENDA

1. Call to order 
2. Approval of minutes from November 18, 2025
3. Local Hazard Mitigation Plan kickoff meeting
4. Conduct any other required business
5. Set next meeting date
6. Adjournment

 
Mark called the meeting to order at 6:06pm. Mark moved to table approval of the November Meeting minutes to the next Planning Commission meeting and proceed to the kick-off meeting of updating the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).
Ari Lattanzi gave an overview of the state mandated process to update the LHMP and provided a handout outlining the schedule and tasks that TRORC will provide and committee members are responsible for.  LHMP Schedule& To Dos.
Ari outlined the outreach component and ways to provide opportunities for the public to weigh in on updating the LHMP through a survey, public meeting, posters, newspaper notices and other social media postings. The Committee agreed that Ari will draft a survey to be presented at Town Meeting for discussion and action. Ari will also research previous hazardous incidents over the last five years, any physical damage and economic impact and actions that were taken to mitigate future potential incidents.
The LHMP committee will have internal tasks to conduct such as determining the status of previously identified hazard mitigation actions in the current LHMP and actions to propose in the new updated plan.
 
Planning Commission Meeting                                                    page 2
February 19, 2026
Ari suggested that the experts on the committee, the fire department, road commissioner, and emergency management coordinators and planning commission members take the hazard ranking exercise to rank the top hazards and potential impact on the town. https://bit.ly/4awqsKV  
Mark, Rose and Ann scored the likelihood of a significant event happening in Pittsfield. The exercise form will be sent to other committee members for their input. The average of the tabulated scores will determine the top five hazards that will be discussed at the next LHMP committee meeting that was set for Tuesday, February 24 at 6pm at Town Hall.
Ari said that after Town Meeting, the next meeting should be a heavily noticed (paid newspaper ads, posters, website and social media postings) public meeting to finalize the top hazards and updated mitigation actions. The Committee agreed that this could be an agenda item for the Thursday, March 19th Select Board meeting at 5:30pm at Town Hall.
The Draft review can be conducted at the next Select Board meeting on Thursday, April 2 at 5:30pm at Town Hall.  Ari said if there were not a lot of substantial edits needed it’s possible the Select Board could approve the draft plan but it’s likely final approval will be placed on the Agenda for the next Select Board meeting on Thursday, April 16 at 5:30pm at Town Hall.
Ari said the draft will also need to be shared with neighboring communities to solicit any input they may have. TRORC will submit the draft to VT Emergency Management which will have 45 days to review and secure FEMA approval. The final action is for the Select Board to formally adopt the plan.
Ari was thanked for her presentation and Mark adjourned the meeting at 7:07pm.
 
Next meeting date:  Tuesday February 24, 2026. 6:00pm at Town Hall
                                                            Minutes by
Approved:                                                       (s.)Ann Kuendig
 
Mark Stugart Rose O’Brien  Craig Westling Pete Timpone Vaughn Micciche
 

Pittsfield Planning Commission meeting
February 4, 2025
Attendees:

• Vaughan Micciche
• Mark Stugart
• Rose O’Brien
• Craig Westling

1. Meeting called to order at 6.00p
2. Approval of minutes from August 20, 2024 and November 12, 2024

• August meeting minutes approval. Vaughan motion to approve minutes. Rose second. All in favor, no opposed.
• November meeting minutes. Vaughan motion to approve minutes. Rose second. All in favor, no opposed.

3. Review town plan matrix and update actions on items assigned to PC

• We need an odd number of committee members. (Is Peter T. still serving?)
• What is the role of the committee? Act 250 involvement? 
  • We are an advisory committee to the select board. 
• 7 years from now we will need to produce another town plan.

4. Review Act 250 Update Memo from TRORC

• Mark will keep sending TRORC updates since we are not all on the distribution list.
• The latest communication summarized changes. Towns without zoning – some guidance re. loosening rules to convert hotels to housing.

5. Conduct any other required business

• None

6. Set next meeting date

• May 6 @6p

7. Adjournment

• Vaughan motions to adjourn. Rose seconds. All in favor, no opposed. 6.17p

To listen to a recording of the meeting click here:”   https://bit.ly/4jOCnHN

These minutes were approved:  May 6, 2025

By: Craig Westling and Mark Stugart


​

​[Draft] Town of Pittsfield Planning Commission Minutes 
 
Public Meeting: November 12, 2024
To listen to a recording of the meeting click:  https://bit.ly/4fu88mU
Attendees: Mark Stugart, Vaughn Micciche, Rose O’Brien, A.J. Ruben 

1. Mark called the meeting to order at  6:05  p.m.
2. Agenda Modifications: None
3. Mark motioned to propose to the Select Board to appoint Rose O’Brien as a member of the PC, Vaughn seconded, all in favor.
4. Approval of Prior Minutes: Public Attendees: None

Approval of August minutes was postponed until next meeting. 
Discussed – Mark gave an overview of the TRORC Regional Plan meeting that he had attended and confirmed that there didn’t appear to be any material changes to the plan that would affect or conflict with the Pittsfield  plan.
Discussed – Updates to progress on the matrix.  Mark attended TRORC meeting as recommended by the matrix.  No other specific progress identified.  Group discussed an approach of multiple people helping with one or more matrix items instead of one person assigned to an item solo.  Suggestion was made to set up a location in a high traffic area to achieve matrix goals such as informing residents about energy efficiency and polling residents about related topics.
Discussed – We agreed to try to attend virtually the Vermont Climate Council’s Climate Action Plan meetings being held on November 19.
6.Next Meeting Date/Time: 2/4/25 6:00 p.m. 
7.Adjourned: 6:38  Vaughn motioned, Mark seconded, all in favor
 
These minutes were approved:  February 4, 2024
 
By: Vaughn Micciche and Rose O'Brien