This week at the WRC: 7/22 - 7/26
- July 24, 12:00 pm: Finance Committee
Full Meetings and Events Calendar, and Warnings | Current Newsletter | June 2024 Staff Report
**All Committee meetings take place virtually via Zoom and at the WRC office unless otherwise noted.
From the Director, Spring 2024: Housing: What can towns, and the region, really do about creating more?
We’re deep in a housing crisis that was decades in the making. What can towns, and the Windham Regional Commission, do about it? Towns can actually take concrete steps to create favorable conditions for more housing. Regions can help with higher-level planning and support of municipal efforts, but we don’t have the authority to take the actions that towns are empowered to take like planning and building infrastructure, streamlining zoning and permitting, and even providing access to land. To that end it's often supporting the work of towns where we can make the most difference.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Funding Opportunity – Build Resilience!
Following the July 2023 flooding, an unprecedented amount of FEMA hazard mitigation funding is available to Vermont towns and other eligible applicants for projects that reduce the risk of flooding or other hazards. Entities interested in applying do not need to have damages from that event. Towns and other eligible applicants seeking funding for hazard mitigation projects must complete the Pre-Application Form by June 21, 2024. Pre-Applications will be evaluated for eligibility, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness. Projects found to meet these requirements will then be invited to apply, provided technical assistance (if requested), and submitted to FEMA once completed, by late 2024.
Resilience Initiative for Vermont Empowerment and Recovery (RIVER)
RIVER is a project dedicated to developing locally supported ideas for reducing flood damage in several municipalities around the state that were hit hard in July 2023. In the WRC Region, that includes Jamaica, Londonderry and Weston. Community discussions for this project are being led by the WRC in concert with the affected towns. Information about the project overall is available on the project website.
WRC Hosting Basics of Land Use Planning Training & Planners Roundtable!
The WRC will be hosting two events in May for Planning Commission, ZBA, and DRB members, and municipal planners and zoning administrators.
Basics of Land Use Planning and Regulation Training
Thursday, May 2nd from 12 – 1:30 p.m. via Zoom
The Basics of Land Use Planning and Regulation training provides an overview of the statutory authority for planning and zoning in Vermont, and best practices for meetings, public hearings, and the decision-making process. The training is geared towards Planning Commission, ZBA, and DRB members, but municipal staff are also welcome to attend.
- View a recording of the training by clicking here
- Download the presentation by clicking here
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.
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.
From the Director, January 2024: Understanding the Story of Town Government & Its Limitations
In October the WRC co-hosted with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns a convening in Townshend of selectboard members from throughout the region for them to have a conversation with one another, and for us to hear what they have to say about the things they’re dealing with. Many of these volunteer elected municipal leaders give dozens of hours of their time each week to the needs of their respective towns, and it’s still not enough. Their work has become more complex. They’re navigating damage done by storm after storm, navigating state and federal requirements across multiple programs, trying to hire and retain personnel hiring, coping with a diminishing town service volunteer pool, managing major infrastructure planning and investment, and, in cases, dealing with personal attacks and intentional obstruction of public proceedings. Everyone who attended wanted to keep the conversation going, so we’ll make sure that happens.
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.
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.