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Message From Executive Director Kennedy
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Sadly for us, on December 1, 2016, Dan Potter started his new position with the Vermont Public Service Department and we wish him well in his new employment adventure. With Dan's departure, we have reassigned project responsibilities in the office.
Chris Yurek and
Cindy Ingersoll will be responsible for activities associated with the water quality program. Allison Hopkins will be handling the brownfield's program with assistance from Cindy Ingersoll. If you have any questions about these program, feel free to call or email them.
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Red Cross Presents at LEPC #3 and Brings ERV!
Red Cross representatives - David Muse, Kristen Binau, and Karen Dudley - recently presented at a meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee #3 (LEPC 3). Along with discussing the mission and values of the ARC, they brought news of two major programs currently underway and asked for the LEPC's help in getting the word out: The Pillowcase Project and the Home Fire Campaign. Details for both of these projects can be found
Participants at the meeting were also able to tour an ARC Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) that can quickly transform so that volunteers can either serve thousands of meals a day or meet one-on-one with families and individuals displaced by a disaster event. For more information and to be added to the LEPC distribution list, please contact
Allison
.
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Inside the ARC Emergency Response Vehicle
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ARC Emergency Response Vehicle
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February 15th Federal Procurement Training Course
A training session about FEMA procurement requirements is being held on Wednesday, February 15th from 10 am to 12 noon in Room 312 at 171 Bridge Street, White River Junction. This course is titled Procurement Under FEMA Awards:
Requirements for Recipients and Subrecipients When Procuring Services and Supplies with Funding under Stafford Act Grant Programs.
It is designed for State, Local, and Tribal emergency management personnel, and private non-profit entities who procure services that may be reimbursable under the FEMA program. For more information and to RSVP which is required, click
here
. For more information, please contact
Allison.
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Interagency Regional Spring Flooding Briefings
The purpose of these briefings is to provide local jurisdictions and regional entities with information about conditions that may result in spring flooding and proactive measures to prepare for, respond to, and recovery from flooding events. A briefing will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 171 Bridge Street in White River Junction. Please contact
Allison
to learn more about the briefing and to RSVP.
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Local Emergency Operations Plans Due By May 1st
It's that time of year again to update your Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP), and submit it to SWCRPC between Town Meeting Day and May 1, 2017. There have been no modifications to the Base Plan for 2017, so municipalities should continue to use the Base Plan template that was released in 2016. Appendices are optional, but they serve as an additional resource for your municipality to enhance emergency preparedness. The following appendices have been added for 2017:
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B8 Continuity of Operations Plan;
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B9 Evacuation Plan;
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B10 Debris Management Plan;
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C6 Shelter Inspections; and,
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C7 Municipal Guidance for Flood Emergencies.
The LEOP requires the certifying individual to take ICS 402 or ICS 100. DEMHS is offering ICS 402 around the state this spring. Course offerings are available on the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
website
. Please contact
Allison
to learn more about the updates and for assistance updating the document.
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Land Use Advisory Committee Established
This year we will be working to refine the Land Use Chapter and the Future Land Use Map in the Southern Windsor County Regional Plan. We want to invite greater participation into the process. A Land Use Advisory Committee was recently created to inform this update process and make recommendations to the SWCRPC Board. Being a committee member will involve reviewing draft documents and attending a handful of meetings. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact
Jason
.
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Better Roads Grant
A new round of Better Roads grants has been announced. This is a funding opportunity for construction projects that correct roadway-related erosion or water quality issues. Examples of eligible projects include stone lined ditch installation, stream bank stabilization, or culvert replacement. Applications are due on March 17, 2017. For more information contact
Katharine
or visit the Better Roads Program
website
.
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Downtown Transportation Funds Available
The Department of Housing and Community Development is pleased to announce the availability of approximately $330,000 in Downtown Transportation Fund Grants to support revitalization efforts in Designated Downtowns. The Downtown Transportation Fund assists municipalities in paying for transportation-related capital improvements within or serving a Designated Downtown. Past projects include streetscape improvements, bicycle and pedestrian paths, rail or bus facilities, utility relocation, street lighting, way-finding signage and other transportation related projects.
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Draft Framework for Municipal Roads General Permit Now Available
By the end of 2017, the Agency of Natural Resources will release the Final Municipal Roads General Permit which will apply to all town roads. A draft framework for what this permit may contain is now available for review. It includes draft requirements for roadway inventories, 20-year implementation plans, application fee, annual operating fees, and semi-annual reporting. This is an important opportunity to review the draft details. For more information, contact Katharine or download the "Draft Framework" from this
website
.
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A defunct concrete stream crossing to be removed as part of the Andover flood resilience project.
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SWCRPC to Lead Flood Resiliency Effort in Andover
The SWCRPC was recently awarded $26,520 through the Department of Environmental Conservation's Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) to conduct a series of small flood resiliency projects along the confluence of Andover Branch and Trout Brook in Andover. This effort is intended to reestablish floodplain access and stabilize stream banks to reduce sedimentation in the stream. The SWCRPC is partnering with the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District and the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance on this effort. For more information contact
Cindy Ingersoll or
Chris Yurek.
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Please refer to our
Grants Website
for up to date information about existing grants relevant for our towns and region.
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Town Plans That Matter
Vermont's Community Planning and Revitalization Division is hosting a webinar on Wednesday February 15, 2017 from 12:15 pm to 1:00 pm. If you are working on your town plan, please join us for a conversation about planning that achieves the results desired by the community. The
Vermont Planning Manual
will be introduced during the webinar, and the host and guest presenters will discuss ways to create an inclusive process and a plan that meets statutory requirements while providing the town with clear and strategic direction.
Register here to participate.
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Southern Windsor Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District
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Household Hazardous Waste Collections Are Coming!
Mark your calendars now, spring will be here before we know it. On Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Springfield Transfer Station, the District will host a collection. On the following Saturday, May 20, the District will host a second collection at the Ludlow Transfer Station - same hours. Go to our website for a list of accepted materials.
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Don't forget about us!
When there are personnel changes on your boards or in the office, please help us by sending your updates to us promptly. We use your contact information for a variety of purposes including:
grant opportunities;
upcoming road construction projects (including road and bridge closures);
trainings and events
and many other things!
If you have any updates for town staff or volunteers, please send them to
Chris Titus
.
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Are you on Front Porch Forum?
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The towns of Cavendish, Reading, Weathersfield, West Windsor, and Windsor have all joined. The mission of Front Porch Forum is to help neighbors connect and build community. It does that by hosting regional networks of online neighborhood forums. Common sense and a growing body of research tell us that well-connected neighborhoods are friendlier places to live, with less crime, healthier residents, higher property values, and better service from local government and public utilities.
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