Planning Commission Minutes 8-1-19

Planning Commission 8-1-19

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TOWN OF RUTLAND PLANNING COMMISSION

MEETING MINUTES

 

 

DATE: August 1^st, 2019

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL HALL

OPEN MEETING 7:00 P.M.

 

Present: Chair Person Barbara Noyes-Pulling, Dana Peterson, Howard Burgess, Sherman Hunter, Norman Cohen, Andy McKane, Mary Beth Poli, James Hall

Approval of the Agenda:

• Peterson moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Hunter seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0.

Old Business:

• Discussion of next steps for additional outreach and education regarding Storm Water Ordinance
  1. Reviewed and discussed the recent public information meeting.
  2. Discussed ways to better disseminate the information to affected resident and property owners
     1. going door to door
     2. reviewing the list of affected parcels and sending out another mailing, possibly certified mail

• having an additional public meeting, using the school for the next meeting possibly in October, with Andres Torizzo attending again

1. Discussed strategies to handle property transfers and notifying new land owners
2. Discussed having information sent with the upcoming property tax bill
3. Creating a new 1 page document to provide to land owners

• The full list of parcel owners within the river corridor area, which is estimated to be around 100, will be determined with the help of Andres to target a new mailing.

• Update on Select Board’s next public hearing on enhanced energy plan
  1. Mary Ashcroft and Bill Sweet met and discussed some of the language changes that needed to be made.
     1. Identified the 4 view sheds which were dropped.
     2. Created the language of the 10^th criterion based on the language provided by Norman Cohen during the 1^st public hearing.

• Updated and specified some details

1. The Select Board did not indicate they wanted to appoint a new energy committee as the plan discusses.
   • Discussed how best to communicate with the Select Board the importance of the energy committee as described in the energy plan
   • Discuss with the Select Board committee roles, including doing community outreach to give information on weatherization and other efficiency projects.
2. The changes the Select Board is going to review will require 1 additional public hearing before it can be adopted, if the changes are passed.

• Update on Planning Commission’s Guidelines for Debate and Transparency
  1. Peterson compared the Code of Ethics document he created with the Town Policy on Conflict of Interest, which was passed in June of this year.
  2. Peterson handed out the draft document he created.
  3. A copy of the Conflict of Interest policy from the Select Board was also provided to the commission members.
  4. Peterson will review the policy passed by the Select Board and compare it with the document he created and report back to the Commission with his comparison.
  5. Follow up will be provided for the meeting on August 22^nd.

Approval of minutes July 11^th, 2019:

• Peterson moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion. After some revisions the motion passed 7-0.

Adjournment:

• Hunter moved to adjourn. Mr. Peterson seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:19 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet

______________________________________

Barbara Noyes-Pulling

Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair