Kathy Callan-Rondeau

The Black River Flood Resilience Plan, developed by the towns of Plymouth, Ludlow, and Cavendish, aims to identify and implement projects to reduce flood impacts and support long-term community resilience. The plan outlines prioritization criteria including flood hazard mitigation, cost, feasibility, co-benefits, community alignment, funding eligibility, and vulnerability considerations. Projects are categorized into Nature-Based Solutions, Design & Engineering, Land Use & Planning, and Operations & Management.

The committee discussed the status of the EMPG grant, noting that federal funding delays require temporary coordination changes between regional coordinators and the MARC. A workshop for Local Emergency Management Plans was highlighted, including access to interpreter services through the Red Cross. The meeting also featured a demonstration of the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool and outlined future training opportunities and potential presentations, specifically regarding animal sheltering and EOC workshops.

The board discussed the financial report and received an update on the upcoming budget process. Members were updated on personnel changes within the board, passed a fraud assessment, and initiated the formation of a nomination committee for future officers. The board approved the allocation of EPA funds for remediation plans at a local property. Additionally, the committee reviewed progress on the regional plan, including public feedback and upcoming hearings, and noted legislative updates regarding road rules and planning timelines.

This document outlines the draft regional plan for the Mount Ascutney Regional Planning Commission, updated in response to Act 181 of 2024. The plan establishes a consistent framework for regional development, emphasizing housing targets broken down by town based on factors like population, water/sewer capacity, and planned growth/village areas. It defines future land use categories as mandated by state law and incorporates state designation programs, identifying Tier 1A and 1B areas eligible for Act 250 exemptions to facilitate housing projects and development. Strategic housing targets are set from 2025 to 2050.

The meeting commenced with introductions from facilitators Tigga Christie of Vermont Emergency Management and Allison Hopkins of the Monuskutney Regional Commission. A significant topic discussed was the current uncertain funding situation regarding EMPG funding, which supports collaboration between VEM and regional planning commissions. John Goff, Senior Hydrologist from the National Weather Service, provided a presentation and training on the rollout of Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) based on the national water model. The discussion covered the importance of FIM for communicating flood impacts, deep diving into FIM overview methodology (including the HAND method utilizing Digital Elevation Models and relative elevation modeling), and how FIM and IDSS inform community decision-making. The session was noted to be informal, with provisions made for questions throughout the presentation.