This week at the WRC: 12/11 - 12/15
- December 11, 4:00 pm: Transportation Committee, via Zoom
- December 12, 6:00 pm: Executive Board, via Zoom CANCELLED
- December 13, 4:00 pm Brownfields Committee, via Zoom
Full Meetings and Events Calendar, and Warnings | Current Newsletter | October 2023 Staff Report
From the Director, Fall 2023: Preparing for the Next Disaster – Lessons Learned
It’s been an eventful several months, beginning with the first damaging snow followed by flooding just before Christmas (we’ve had flooding the last 3 Christmases). Other heavy, damaging snows followed that one, culminating in one for the record books in March in terms of damage to trees, power infrastructure, and homes. We can also add roads as they never really froze and were difficult if not impossible to plow without plowing up the road bed itself. We then had a dry period with red flag warnings, and excessive heat warnings. Then the rains began, reminiscent of the pattern that set us up for the disastrous flooding in 2021. July brought the big flood – as damaging or more so than Irene for some, and less so for others – followed by a parade of watched or warned fronts. As of this writing we have dodged the direct impact of two tropical systems. Let’s hope our luck continues, but recognize that hope is no basis for preparation and resilience. Having and acting on a plan can help us respond when the time comes and, for the many traumatized by these events, provide some comfort.
Disasters and WRC Support for Towns
Dear Towns and WRC Commissioners:
Both before a disaster and after we strive to help towns through the response and recovery process. This is an overview of our role and who on our staff to contact about what. We’ve worked hard both within the region and with the state in the years since tropical storm Irene to put processes in place to help avoid confusion and duplication of effort. Unfortunately we’ve had multiple disasters since Irene that have helped us hone lines of communication and distribution of guidance, and build relationships with our staff so your emergency management directors, road foremen, town administrators and managers, and selectboard chairs know who to go to with questions. Because there’s constant change among selectboards, they may be less familiar with our role in support of towns.
Have a Say in Vermont’s Electricity Future, September 26 & 27
Are you interested in weighing in on where Vermont’s electricity comes from? The Public Service Department is currently reviewing the policies and programs related to renewable electricity to determine what changes are necessary to achieve state energy and climate goals. They’ve teamed up with Vermont’s Regional Planning Commissions to ensure your voice is heard as these critical energy policies are updated.
Vermont HOME Act of 2023 (Act 47)
Governor Scott signed Act 47, also known as the HOME Act, into law in June making changes to the Planning & Development statute, Act 250, and other laws to enable new opportunities for housing development within local, regional, and state planning and development regulations. Most significant for Windham region towns are the municipal zoning reforms that address new requirements for allowed residential uses, minimum density allowances, and off-street parking. Some of these provisions went into effect on July 1 and others will be phased in. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has created a Resources Page that includes a summary of the Act and an online form for towns to submit questions. DHCD will be issuing answers to frequently asked questions on this website and will provide more detailed guidance later this summer.
WRC Transportation Committee to Make Structural Changes
The Windham Regional Commission has begun the process of transitioning our Transportation Committee to a Transportation Advisory Committee. The change in structure of the WRC Transportation Committee will give all towns the option to appoint a dedicated representative to the Transportation Advisory Committee outside of the normal commissioner structure of the Windham Regional Commission. The goal of the process is to expand regional representation on the Committee, include more towns in the regional transportation planning process and create a broader regional forum to discuss shared transportation challenges and the impact of statewide transportation policy.
An Update On The Municipal Energy Resilience Program
The Municipal Energy Resiliency Program (MERP) is underway with the capacity building mini grants being distributed to municipalities who applied throughout the end of May into June. Towns are using these funds to educate their communities on energy and resilience topics, state and federal programs that residents can leverage to make their homes more efficient, Americans with Disabilities Act audits of municipal buildings and a host of other approved uses. The Town of Wilmington is using the mini grant funds to host an energy fair at the new public safety complex.
Protecting Unique Wetlands and Rivers through Reclassification
WRC has received funding support to work with municipalities to learn about reclassification of surface waters meeting a high level of water quality. WRC will be focusing on wetlands that meet the Class 1 criteria and rivers that are eligible for a higher level of classification. This work is supported through a grant provided by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Activities will begin this Summer and will continue through Fall 2024. Does your town have a unique wetland or a river that is exceptional for aquatic habitat, fishing, or is used as a public water source? Reclassification might be a great tool for protecting the quality of these waters into the future.
From the Director, Summer 2023: Municipal Assistance Project Gets Underway
The WRC has received funding to support 6 towns in the Windham Region identified by the Agency of Administration as being “high need.” Those towns are Athens, Brookline, Halifax, Readsboro, Searsburg, and Wardsboro. Other towns have the opportunity to request funding from the state by making a request to the Agency of Administration here. It’s been a pleasure to begin meeting with Selectboards.
WRC Hosts Natural Resources Board Staff for a “Getting to know Act 250” Presentation
On the evening of May 1st 2023, WRC hosted Vermont Natural Resources Board staff for a “Getting to Know Act 250” presentation. In attendance from the NRB were: Sabina Haskell, Chair; Peter Gill, Executive Director; Aaron Brondyke, State Coordinator; Stephanie Gile, District 2 Coordinator; and Quin Mann, District Coordinator. It was a great opportunity for attendees to learn more about such things as: the structure and workings of Act 250; how to effectively field questions from the public regarding the need for an Act 250 permit; how to engage in the process; and how to look projects up on the Act 250 database. If you ever have specific questions about Act 250, you can reach out to either Alyssa Sabetto at WRC or to Act 250 District Coordinator, Stephanie Gile at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
WRC Hosted Informational Session on Floodplain Map Update Starting Soon
On the evening of May 8th 2023, WRC hosted Ned Swanberg, Vermont Flood Hazard Mapping Coordinator with the VT DEC Rivers Program, for a “NFIP Map Update Informational Session”. The Session provided region specific detail about the coming FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) map update process. This update process will be taking place for all Vermont counties and information is available here. The Session was a great opportunity to learn more about: the map update process, the timing of the updates for each county in the region, basics of the data behind the map update and how the new maps will alter the Special Flood Hazard Area. Many town flood hazard bylaws will need to be updated in conjunction with the new FEMA maps going effective. If you’d like to get that process started, reach out to Alyssa Sabetto. Questions about the map update process can be directed to either Ned Swanberg via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or John Broker-Campbell via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A copy of the presentation is here, an informational flyer for the region is here, and the link to the recording is here.
WRC Hosts Webinar on Regional Plan Update Project
WRC staff hosted a webinar on the Windham Regional Plan update project on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023. WRC Committees have spent the last several months working with staff to review the current Regional Plan and identify sections and policies that need to be updated based on issues and challenges the region is facing and future areas of concern. This webinar provided towns, local organizations, and members of the public with an overview of the purpose of the Regional Plan, updated demographic data for the region, and some of the priority areas the update will focus on. The presentation slides can be downloaded here and the link to the recording is here.
WRC Hires New Senior Planner!
Hello! My name is Mike McConnell, a new Senior Planner with the WRC. I began in earnest on December 12, 2022 after previous stops in Colorado Springs, CO, Benton County AR and most recently Helena, Montana. My primary tasks in those locations were site plan, subdivision and annexation review, specialized reviews in hillside development projects, and all manner of comprehensive planning projects. Fairly typical for a municipal planner. I hope that this next challenge with the WRC is as rewarding for our member towns as it will be for me.
Windham Region Electricity Resiliency Zone Project – A Partnership With Green Mountain Power
The WRC has received Congressionally Directed Spending (earmark) through Senator Sanders to work in partnership with Green Mountain Power to develop resiliency zones. These zones are community-scale custom energy storage projects that pair clean power generation with utility-scale batteries to provide community resilience in the face of increasing storm-related grid outages. The WRC’s role is to work with towns to discuss community needs and work with them to develop resiliency zone plans.
