LEPC 3 to Host DisasterLAN Training!
March 6, 2014
On Wednesday, March 26th the Local Emergency Planning Committee will be hosting a free training in the statewide disaster management software DisasterLAN. This software program is intended for town emergency management staff and allows them to submit resource requests or monitor the statewide situation in the event of a disaster or emergency, e.g. Tropical Storm Irene.
The intended audience for the training includes:
- Emergency Management Directors
- Town Managers
- Town Clerks
- Zoning/Planning Officers
- Town Treasurers
- Public Works Directors
- Selectboard Members
- Fire Chiefs
- Police Chiefs
The training will be held at the River Valley Technical Center from 5:00 – 8:30pm with the SWCRPC providing dinner and refreshments. For more information or to register, please contact John Broker-Campbell at 802/674-9201 or jcampbell@swcrpc.org.
State Rail Plan Update meetings – 3/24 and 3/25
March 5, 2014
VTrans is starting work on the State Rail Plan Update. An inventory of the state’s existing rail system has been completed and goals and objectives have been drafted. VTrans will seek public review of both topics at public information meetings planned for late March:
- March 24 at 6:30 pm: Fox Room, Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St, Rutland, VT
- March 25 at 6:30 pm: Community Room, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, 221 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT
If you would like more information this project please contact Katharine Otto.
Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund (ERAF) Rule Change
February 4, 2014
Following presidentially declared disasters, the State of Vermont and FEMA provide Public Assistance (PA) funding to towns to assist in rebuilding and repairing municipal infrastructure. Under this program, FEMA provides 75% funding with the remaining 25% being split between the State of Vermont and towns. In 2012, the State modified the rules that determine the proportion of this State/local cost share. Attached is a letter from Vermont Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding, that addresses these and other changes to Vermont’s Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund (ERAF) that will take effect on Oct. 23, 2014. Please also see our Winter 2014 Newsletter for more information.
Click here to view letter
East Central Vermont (ECV) Consortium Outreach Plan
November 25, 2013
SWCRPC is joining efforts with the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) to develop a regional plan for East Central Vermont (ECV) that will guide decision-making and investments aimed at maintaining the place we call home. Several of the towns in our region have already signed up as Consortium members and, as this is a public process, we are attempting to put out the word that involvement is desired. Several draft documents and information about working groups is available athttp://ecvermont.org/news/ Please contact Dan Potter at dpotter@swcrpc.org for additional information.
In early 2012, the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission began to develop a housing and transportation affordability model. As a rural area, the RPC has long recognized the significant distances that the region’s residents travel for essential tasks such as work, buying groceries and medical appointments. The RPC also recognized in their 2009 Regional Plan the significant increases in housing prices in the region over the last few years.
New Neighborhood Development Area Designations
September 15, 2013
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has just introduced a new community designation. The Neighborhood Development Area designation encourages municipalities and/or developers to plan for new and infill housing in the area within walking distance of its designated downtown, village center, new tow center, or within its designated growth center and incentivizes needed housing, further supporting the commercial establishments in the designated centers.
More information and the complete application packet can be downloaded here: http://accd.vermont.gov/strong_communities/opportunities