REGIONAL NOTES
June 2016
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CCRPC Calendar of Events


JUNE

6/23, 6:00pm: Chittenden County Regional Energy Forum

6/29, 6:00pm: All Hazards Mitigation Plan Public Meeting

JULY

7/4: CCRPC Office Closed

7/5, 9:00am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee

7/5, 11:00am: CCRPC Clean Water Advisory Committee

7/6, 5:45pm: CCRPC Executive Committee Meeting

7/13, 2:30pm: CCRPC Planning Advisory Committee

7/20, 6:00pm: CCRPC Board Meeting & TIP Public Hearing

 

Traffic Alerts

Stay informed about roadway construction and other traffic alerts in Chittenden County by signing up for the Chittenden County Traffic Alert, a weekly email service.

 
CCRPC 
Commission Representatives

Bolton: Joss Besse

Buel's Gore: Garret Mott

Burlington: Andy Montroll, Chair

Charlotte: Jim Donovan

Colchester: Marc Landry

Essex: Jeff Carr

Essex Junction: Dan Kerin

Hinesburg: Andrea Morgante

Huntington: Barbara Elliott

Jericho: Catherine McMains

Milton: Lou Mossey

Richmond: Bard Hill

Shelburne: John Zicconi

South Burlington: Chris Shaw

St. George: Jeff Pillsbury

Underhill: Brian Bigelow

Westford: Dave Tilton

Williston: Chris Roy, Vice Chair

Winooski: Michael O'Brien

For more information, including Commission agendas and minutes, schedule and resources, click here.
 
Around the County: Photo of the Month
Click photo to enlarge.
 
Residents review information at the third Chamberlin Neighborhood community meeting on June 7th in South Burlington
 
Photo by Lee Krohn
 
CCRPC Staff

Charlie Baker, Executive Director

Dan Albrecht, Senior Planner

Cathy Aikman, Chittenden County Opioid Alliance Project Director

Pam Brangan, GIS Data & IT Manager

Jason Charest, Senior Transportation Planning Engineer

Eleni Churchill, Transportation Program Manager

Forest Cohen, Business Manager

Bryan Davis, Senior Transportation Planner

Marshall Distel, Transportation Planner

Chris Dubin, Transportation Planner

Bernie Ferenc, Transportation Business Manager

Christine Forde, Senior Transportation Planner

Peter Keating, Senior Transportation Planner

Lee Krohn, AICP, Senior Planner

Regina Mahony, Planning Program Manager

Melanie Needle, Senior Planner

Emily Nosse-Leirer, Planner

Sai Sarepalli, Transportation Planning Engineer

Emma Vaughn, Communications Manager

For bios and contact information, click here.
 

United Way Volunteer Opportunities: Summer 2016

Looking for ways to volunteer this summer? Check out short-term and special event volunteer opportunities with the United Way for the coming months.

 

Volunteer with Neighbor Rides

Neighbor Rides is a strategic initiative of United Way of Chittenden County supported by a dynamic group of community partners that brings people and places together to help meet the transportation needs of seniors and persons with disabilities. This partnership uses volunteer drivers to leverage government and community-funded transportation programs and help more people by decreasing the cost per ride.

 
Good afternoon,

The CCRPC celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 15th with over 80 guests including municipal officials, State representatives and senators, current and previous CCRPC Board members and staff, and more. Guest speakers included Donald Laackman, President of Champlain College; Chris Cole, Vermont Secretary of Transportation; and Governor Peter Shumlin.

As part of the June 15th meeting, elections of new officers were also held. Chris Roy, former Selectboard member for the Town of Williston, was elected as CCRPC Chair. Michael O'Brien, former Mayor of Winooski, was elected as CCRPC Vice-Chair. Brian Bigelow, Town Administrator for the Town of Underhill, was elected CCRPC Treasurer. John Zicconi, representative for the Town of Shelburne, and Barbara Elliott, Town Administrator for the Town of Huntington, were elected to the CCRPC Executive Committee to represent large and small municipalities respectively.

As we reflect on past accomplishments and challenges and look forward to the next 50 years, we'd like to thank our municipalities, partners, and residents who believe in Chittenden County and the high quality of life we seek to preserve and enhance through our work.

Best regards,

Charlie Baker
Executive Director
 
Of Note
Andy Montroll, CCRPC Chair, welcomes Governor Peter Shumlin at the CCRPC's 50th Annual Meeting and Celebration on June 15th.
Cathy Aikman Hired as Chittenden County Opioid Alliance Project Director
Cathy Aikman, who previously worked at Washington County Mental Health Services as the Quality Assurance Coordinator, is the newly hired Project Director for the Chittenden County Opioid Alliance. Cathy has a Masters degree in Public Policy, and her background is in project management, marketing, program evaluation, and Results Based Accountability. In her new role as the backbone support for the Alliance, she will facilitate, communicate and provide the overall infrastructure to this multi-sector collective impact approach to reduce the burden of opioids on the Chittenden County community.
 
Board Member Spotlights
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year, we will be featuring a few CCRPC Commissioners in each newsletter to get a behind-the-scenes look at who they are and how they contribute to our communities.
Brian Bigelow, CCRPC Underhill Representative (2013-Present)
Brian has been the Town Administrator for the Town of Underhill since 2013, wearing many hats and providing staff support to the Selectboard, Conservation Committee, Energy Commission, and other committees and task forces, as well as day-to-day contact with residents. Brian has a great respect for all the volunteers that serve on the county's municipal boards and commissions and wants to learn more ways to help make it easier to serve - and serve multiple terms. Brian has also worked for the Towns of St. Albans, Shelburne, and Essex in various capacities in the past. He is a member of the Vermont Air National Guard (1983-present) and has had deployments to Bosnia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Japan, and South Korea. Brian enjoys traveling to different countries and walking the family dog at the Essex Reservoir with his wife Amy and daughters Sarah and Ellen. Golden Rims basketball is one thing he'd do more of with any found time; he's also aged into over-50 rugby and daydreams about the Expos returning to Montreal.
Dan Kerin, CCRPC Essex Junction Representative (2011-Present)
Dan joined the CCRPC as the Essex Junction alternate in 2011, then took over as the primary representative in 2013. He is a native Vermonter, and was employed with the Vermont State Police as a trooper from 1987 to 2013 when he retired. He's currently employed as a court security officer at the Federal Court House in Burlington. Dan has a 20-year-old daughter who is currently attending college. In his spare time, Dan's interests include skiing, fishing, golfing and riding his motorcycle.
Jeff Pillsbury, CCRPC St. George Representative (2015-Present)
Jeff joined the CCRPC shortly after joining the St. George selectboard in March 2015. He has resided in St. George for 45 years, growing up on the family farm. After obtaining a degree in agri-business from VTC, Jeff put in 15 years of full-time dairy farming. Once the cows left in May 2006, Jeff got on board with P&P Septic. Farming brought Jeff to fields throughout Chittenden County, but P&P afforded him the opportunity to meet its many residences and municipalities. He currently works for the Town of Shelburne in the wastewater department and loves it, having been there for two years. When he's not at work, Jeff pursues all the outdoor activities he can including kayaking, canoeing, snowboarding, and hiking. Jeff believes the Champlain Valley is a great place to work and play, and he joined the selectboard and RPC with the hope of making a positive difference.
 
Transportation News
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Program: Applications due July 15
VTrans has announced $3.6 million in grants to municipalities to fund scoping, design or construction projects that increase walking and bicycling. Learn More � 
FHWA Road Diet Webinar: July 28
As one of the initiatives included in the Every Day Counts program, a Road Diet is a low-cost measure that improves safety, calms traffic, and takes into account the needs of all roadway users. FHWA is currently focusing on increasing awareness of Road Diets and their benefits through training, technical assistance, and outreach. Join the FHWA on Thursday, July 28 from 1:30-3:00pm to learn more about determining candidate roads for Road Diets, feasibility/evaluation criteria, design aspects, and other unique considerations. Learn More �
2017 Municipal Park-and-Ride Grant Program: Applications due Aug 31
VTrans has announced the latest round of grants for municipal park-and-ride facilities. The objective of the Park-and-Rides Program is to provide safe and convenient parking facilities to encourage the consolidation of travelers and the reduction of single occupancy vehicles on the roads. Learn More � 
Final Report: Economic and Technical Analysis of Key Employee Commute TDM Strategies (City of Burlington)
This project allowed the City of Burlington to study in more detail the economic costs, technological issues, and other details and logistics associated with the design and implementation of a Universal/Unlimited Access Transit Pass program, and a complementary Parking-Cash Out/ Commute Allowance Program for City employees, as two recommended strategies from the 2015 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Action Plan. Learn More �
Transportation Project News & Updates
For a full list of transportation projects, visit the CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee website; a full project list is provided in every TAC agenda and is updated regularly. View the latest TAC agenda �
 
Economy
Implementing ECOS Strategy 1
City Market Says Sales Are Driving Further Expansion Plans
Onion River Co-op, which began in the 1970s as a small buying club, will extend its retail presence throughout Burlington by the end of next year if its plans to open a third City Market move forward. Learn More �
VT Economic Development Marketing Plan
The Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development released a 3-year Economic Development Marketing Plan to retain residents and businesses to the state. Learn More �
 
Energy & Natural Resources
Implementing ECOS Strategies 3 & 4
EPA Finalizes Lake Champlain Pollution Targets
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued the final, legally binding version of its "Total Maximum Daily Load" (TMDL) plan, which sets required pollution reduction targets for Lake Champlain. Learn More �
Clean Water Infrastructure Asset Management Grants: Proposals due Aug 1
The aim of these grants is to help municipalities develop asset management plans to better finance and schedule improvement and continued maintenance of clean water infrastructure. Learn More �
New Firewood Rule Prohibits Untreated Firewood from Entering VT
A new Vermont rule effective May 1st prevents invasive insects from piggybacking into the state on untreated firewood. As summer camping season arrives, visitors to Vermont should be prepared to buy firewood in-state or be able to verify that imported firewood is heat-treated to USDA-approved standards. Learn More �
 
Quality of Place
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Vote by June 26! Burlington Nominated by World Wildlife Fund "We Love Cities" Campaign
Burlington was nominated by the World Wildlife Fund's "We Love Cities" Campaign as one of America's most sustainable cities. Take a moment to vote today! Learn More �
Burlington Town Center Visuals and Other Resources Available
The proposed redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center Mall is a transformative project in Burlington's downtown. Many resources are available online, including photo simulations, a 3D flyover, and FAQs. Learn More �
 
Social Community
Implementing ECOS Strategies 5, 6 & 8
Gubernatorial Forum on Public Health: June 27, 6:30pm
The forum will address key issues about how resources can best be directed to strengthen and sustain home and community based services, and will include gubernatorial candidates Matt Dunne, Peter Galbraith, Bruce Lisman, Sue Minter, and Lt. Governor Phil Scott. It will be moderated by Peter Mallary and televised on Vermont Public Television.
UVM Medical Center Releases 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment
The Community Health Needs Assessment highlights the issues that need special focus in order to improve people's lives in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. The report is issued every three years, and serves as a guide for targeting funding and other resources. Learn More �
Free Open Summer Meal Sites in Chittenden County
1 in 5 Vermont children live in families that can't always afford to put food on the table, and that problem is even worse over school breaks. Open summer meal sites help children get healthy food when school is out.
No application, no registration, no fee - all children 18 and under eat for free! Find open summer sites in your area. Learn More �
New Analysis of the Supply and Demand for Regulated Infant and Toddler Care in Vermont
Let's Grow Kids recently released an analysis of the supply of and demand for regulated infant and toddler care in Vermont. The study found that, statewide, Vermont lacks sufficient regulated child care to meet the needs of infants and toddlers likely to need care. In Chittenden County, 71% of infants and toddlers likely to need care in Chittenden County do not have access to high quality programs. Learn More �
Health Dept. Launches 3-4-50 Vermont to Reverse Epidemic of Chronic Disease
Vermonters are more likely to die from preventable chronic diseases than from all other causes of death combined. To reverse this epidemic, Health Commissioner Harry Chen launched a new statewide initiative called 3-4-50, which signifies the fact that three behaviors - lack of physical activity, poor diet and tobacco use - contribute to four chronic diseases - cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and lung disease - resulting in more than 50 percent of all deaths. Learn More �
 
Emergency Preparedness
Implementing ECOS Strategy 5
Draft All Hazards Mitigation Plan Available for Review and Comment; Public Meeting to be Held June 29
The first draft of the County-wide 2016 All Hazards Mitigation Plan is available for review and public comment. A public meeting will be held on June 29, and comments will be accepted until July 11. Learn More �
 
Save the Date
Upcoming events in Chittenden County and beyond
Municipal Day at National Life: September 9, 2016
This all-day event will offer poster presentations, workshops, technical assistance, and the opportunity to engage with Agency staff members and municipal colleagues from across the state. More information about presentation and workshop content will be coming soon.
Way to Go! Challenge: September 26-October 7, 2016
In an effort to make this year's Way to Go! Challenge even more accessible, we've moved the dates from the Spring to the Fall. Just like last year, any trip counts, not just your commute to work. Join the 2 week Way to Go! Challenge this September 26th through October 7th. Sign up early and pledge to participate on as many days as you can.  Learn More �
2016 Vermont Collective Impact Conference: November 2-3, 2016
This statewide, two-day conference will build on the momentum of the 2015 Collective Impact Conference and will provide opportunities for teams of stakeholders to learn and work together in furthering emerging or existing Collective Impact efforts. Learn More �
 
If you have any questions, feedback, or suggested content for upcoming issues, please contact Emma Vaughn, CCRPC Communications Manager: [email protected] or (802) 846-4490 x *21.