MINUTES
OF THE SHAFTSBURY PLANNING BOARD
NOVEMBER
25, 2008
COLE
HALL
SHAFTSBURY,
VERMONT
Others Present:
Tony Zazzaro (Zoning Administrator), Jim Sullivan (BCRC), Lon McClintock
(Select Board), Susan Swasta (Recording Secretary)
1. Call Meeting to
Order:
Chairman
October 14, 2008 Minutes
The following correction to the October 14, 2008
minutes was requested:
On page 2, paragraph two,
in the second sentence "id" is changed to "if."
Motion to approve October
14, 2008 minutes as amended carried 5-0-0.
Approval of the October 28 minutes was tabled until
later in the meeting.
3. Old Business:
A. BCRC
Presentation of Updates and Recommendations to Town Plan
Jim Sullivan of the Bennington County Regional Commission
(BCRC) came to the table for review of his Town Plan additions and revisions.
He stated that he had made no major structural changes. He said that he had
gone through the document, did some reorganizing within sections, and provided
updated statistics, mostly in chapter three. Mr. Sullivan said that he updated
all that he could in chapter three, but that much of it is census data, which
could not be further updated.
He said that the other section that required updating was
municipal finance. Most of the updates were on municipal expenditures from the
annual town report, and on tax rates. Mr. Sullivan said that he updated other
statistics throughout the Plan where numbers were available. He also put in
new maps and pictures.
Mr. Sullivan stated that he had added language to chapter
12, on housing. He suggested that additional information on affordable housing
prepared by a Bennington College intern could be cut and pasted in. The intern
did a study on the use of reclaimed gravel pit land for affordable housing. Mr.
Sullivan said that he had added a little language on child care services and on
energy so that the Plan lines up with Chapter 117 goals.
He stated that he will need to look at the Planning
Commission's new draft of the Plan. Chairman Bruder said that the new draft
only has some added information on water resources from Josh Gorman of the Agency
of Natural Resources Water Quality Division. They will go over that tonight.
Chairman Bruder asked if there are any questions for Mr. Sullivan. No one had
questions. Chairman Bruder stated that tonight they will review several pieces
added to the Plan by outside sources, and expect to leave the meeting with the
final draft.
B. Continued
Discussion/Compilation of Data and Final Review for Town Plan Revision
Chairman Bruder went over the additions and changes
suggested by Lon McClintock which had been emailed to Planning Commission
members. There was brief discussion of Mr. McClintock's addition to the section
on capital planning, and the new language was then adopted as written. It was
also agreed to adopt as written Mr. McClintock's new first paragraph for
section 2.1, and his new language for sections 2.10 and 2.11. Chairman Bruder
thanked Mr. McClintock for his input.
Chris Williams stated that he had met with School Board Chairwoman
Betty Benedict, and had updated the section on schools. He is still missing a
few pieces of data. Mr. McClintock recommended a person for Mr. Williams to
contact for the missing information. Mr. Williams stated that he wants to add
some recommendations to the section on schools. One would be to push
consolidation with the North Bennington School. Another would encourage
consolidation of SVSU school boards into a single governing body. A third
recommendation would be to break down the artificial dichotomy between the
Shaftsbury School Board and Select Board.
Mr. McClintock noted that the state has established two
different municipal entities -- one that runs towns, and one that runs schools.
These cannot be unified. Mr. Williams replied that even if the structure cannot
change, there can be better integration and communication. Mr. McClintock said
he is not sure how this would play out in the Town Plan. Mr. Williams
reiterated that, recognizing state strictures, they should still strive for
maximum cooperation and collaboration. Mr. McClintock said he could agree with
that.
Mr. McClintock said he would not approve of a consolidated
school board because it would not be sensitive to the needs and values of the
smaller school communities. He said that he will not comment on the issue of
consolidation of Shaftsbury and North Bennington schools. There was discussion
of school issues, including the possibility of allowing students from
Bennington to pay tuition to attend the Shaftsbury and North Bennington
schools.
Chairman Bruder asked what Planning Commission consensus is
with regard to recommendations on schools. Bob Carter suggested that one
recommendation include language on bringing in tuition-paying students from
surrounding communities. Mr. McClintock suggested a recommendation on more
collaboration between Town and School governments. Chairman Bruder suggested
language for a recommendation to the effect that as the situation with
decreased student population and increased costs persists, they will continue
to look closely at additional means of collaboration, and possible
consolidation, of the Shaftsbury and North Bennington schools.
There was discussion of the section on recreation submitted
by the Recreation Committee. Mr. St. Onge said he will blend their addition
into the current sections 11.1 and 11.4. It was agreed to add language
supporting snowmobiles to the first paragraph of 11.4.
Chairman Bruder asked if there is anything to be added to
the section on the historic district. Mr. Pennebaker replied that Historical
Society President Norm Gronning would like to see language added on expansion
of the historic district to the north, and on the addition of individual
buildings. After discussion, it was decided to add less specific wording on
identifying further properties for inclusion in the historic district.
Mr. Sullivan stated that he will integrate some of the
language on affordable housing tomorrow and get back to them right away. He
won't change anything on policy. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. McClintock left the
meeting at 8:50 PM.
C. Schedule Public Hearing Date for Plan Review
Chairman Bruder said that, in order to meet the thirty-day
warning requirement, they will need to set a public hearing date as soon as the
draft comes back from Mr. Sullivan. He will have Mr. Zazzaro warn a meeting
that day.
4. New Business:
Chairman Bruder stated that Mr. Carter wrote a
Planning Commission report for inclusion in the Town annual report. Chairman
Bruder said that he had made some additions. He will submit it to the Town
Clerk.
Chairman Bruder asked if anyone has issues to raise
on the Planning Commission budget as prepared by Mr. Zazzaro. No one did. The
budget will be submitted to the Select Board.
Chairman Bruder noted that the Planning Commission's
gravel pit study is on the Select Board agenda for this Monday. He asked that
all who can attend the meeting do so.
2. Minutes (cont'd.):
October 28, 2008 Minutes
Mr. Williams made motion to
approve the October 28, 2008 minutes. Mr. Pennebaker seconded.
Motion carried 4-0-1. (Mr.
Carter abstained because he had not attended that meeting.)
Meeting went into Executive
Session (Personnel) at 9:35 PM.
Meeting adjourned at
PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Swasta