Rebecca Elder

The business meeting focused on several key agenda items. Discussions included a presentation and request for support from the Vermont Land Trust regarding the acquisition of the Quenel Property in Weybridge, noting its conservation and water quality benefits. The Treasurer's Report indicated that the organization is catching up on invoicing and payroll, with a full audit expected by March or April. Committee reports covered updates on the Regional Energy Plan, the State Wildlife Action Plan (with a request approved for the Executive Board to review comments due to time constraints), and transportation matters including ROW acquisition presentations. In old business, a significant update on Maple Broadband highlighted securing the BEAD award totaling $13M for buildout, along with plans for customer subsidy programs. New business included a presentation on Act 181 regarding Tier III areas and the Road Rule regulations. The Commission also initiated the process to create a Nominating Committee for the election of the Executive Board officers at the annual meeting.

The meeting involved discussions and votes on project proposals, primarily concerning two applications from the Otter Creek Natural Resources Conservation District (Corkerin and Rolo projects), including discussions on conflicts of interest and the management of invasive species like honeysuckle and poison parsnip. A budget update was presented for the Mendbury College project, requiring approval for additional funding, largely due to increased costs associated with archaeological review and general construction cost escalations since the initial budgeting. The date for the subsequent April meeting was moved from the 22nd to the 15th to accommodate a member's absence. A funded project status update noted the closure of the Mendin Forest project despite budget overruns and the cancellation of the TUS Crossing River riparian planting project because the landowner withdrew support.

The meeting commenced with introductions for new committee members. The primary discussion involved a presentation on town highway bridge program information, detailing bridge classifications (good, fair, poor) based on inspection scores of deck, superstructure, and substructure. The presenter demonstrated how to access and interpret bridge inspection reports and project statuses via the public information portal, using examples from Goan and Lincoln, including a bridge in poor condition on York Hill Road. The committee also reviewed statistics on town highway bridge conditions, noting that currently 3% of bridges are rated poor, and discussed the long lead time required for bridge construction projects.

This document outlines the new requirements for regional and municipal plans to include housing targets for 2029 and 2050, as mandated by the HOME Act. It details the process for Regional Planning Commissions to disaggregate state-level housing targets from the Vermont Statewide Housing Needs Assessment. The targets serve as aspirational goals to guide communities in planning for new homes, ensuring an adequate supply of safe, affordable, and environmentally responsible housing. The plan provides specific housing targets for Addison County and its municipalities for the periods of 2025-2030 and 2025-2050, requiring municipalities to plan for strategic housing growth, analyze regulations, and take action towards meeting these objectives.

Key discussions included an update on financial operations, noting ongoing data entry to correct historical accounting issues, and an update on the external audit timeline. Committee reports covered the regional energy plan, interest in sponsoring a training on 'Substantial Deference' versus 'Due Consideration' for utility commission reviews, updates on the Basin Water Quality Council approving new water quality projects, and VTrans presenting on Right of Way planning. Old Business focused on the Regional Plan Update, noting that the draft was filed with the Land Use Review Board (LURB) and public hearings are scheduled for the spring, aiming for adoption by the July meeting. Staffing updates involved extending the contract for the regional plan consultant through June 30th instead of hiring a new staff planner due to continued financial uncertainty regarding bookkeeping support.