Photo Caption: Vershire. Source: John H. Knox
PROJECT UPDATES AND REMINDERS
Shared Town Services
TRORC is evaluating interest in expanding TRORC’s scope of services including Two Rivers helping towns secure additional staffing and expertise by creating a position at TRORC to be contracted to multiple towns, helping towns create joint or individual in-town positions, or obtaining services directly from TRORC on a one-off, contract-basis. Example positions include but are not limited to: Grants Manager, Zoning Administrator, and Town Administrator.
If you are a town official and would like to be contacted about future discussions and potential shared positions, please email Sydney at [email protected], and we will be in touch to get more information.
TRORC Leads RIVER Public Forum
TRORC hosted a public forum on Saturday, June 29th, for the Resilience Initiative For Vermont Empowerment and Recovery (RIVER) project. Residents of Woodstock, Bridgewater, and Plymouth came forward to discuss strategies on how to mitigate flooding in their towns. RIVER is an initiative for developing a list of priority projects to help address current and future flood risks in targeted communities throughout the State. If you’re interested, please contact Kyle ([email protected]) or Kevin ([email protected]) for more information, or visit the RIVER website.
Granville Corner School Resource Center Wins 2024 Preservation Award
In 2012, the nonprofit Corner School Resource Center acquired an historic one-room schoolhouse in Granville and successfully rehabilitated it, providing a renewed space for its residents and beyond. Originally a school house, the building transitioned into a library in the 1990s. This special building was the epitome of the community’s connections and creativity, but it needed considerable restorations to fulfill its potential.
By 2021, years of volunteerism and pro-bono services from dedicated community members paid off. The non-profit transformed the schoolhouse into a vibrant public space that hosts a variety of community events from food, storytelling, live music, annual art shows, and even offering a popular course in memoir writing. The revitalization of the Granville schoolhouse into a generative public space has not only deepened the connections between community members, but has also written Granville’s small-town values onto its foundations.
Read more and watch the video about the schoolhouse’s restoration process using this link here.
Village Center Designation Update: Good News, Renewal Just Got Easier
Several weeks ago, the legislature overrode Gov. Scott’s veto and H.687 became law. Consequently, the village center designation renewals will no longer be required post July 1. Towns that already have village center designations are automatically enrolled in Step 1 of the three-tier program, where each level contains different requirements and benefits. The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is still assessing the implications of the law on the current designations. Read more about the steps by clicking on this link here.
TRORC Announces Winners of the 2024 TRORC Scholarships!
TRORC is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s TRORC Scholarship Program! This year marked the highest level of competitiveness since the program’s inception. The TRORC Scholarship Committee meticulously selected the awardees based on rigorous criteria matching our Region’s vision, which includes individuals pursuing careers and fields of study that enhance our vibrant and sustainable communities. Below are the names of the students who received the scholarship:
- Jordan Davis - Hartford High School & Vermont Department of Education
- Gracelyn Lapeerle - Woodstock Union High School
- Mia Lock Bagnato - Hanover High School
- Elisia Sonsalia - Rivendell Academy
- Anna Marie Stratton - White River Valley High School
- Catherine Austin - Woodstock Union High School
- Logan Knox - Woodstock Union High School
- Emma Ostrau - Rivendell Academy
- Zofia Kosalowski - Rivendell Academy
- Liam Welch - Rivendell Academy
We look forward to seeing their names associated with the interesting things that they accomplish!
Reminder: Open Meeting Law Updates
Vermont’s Open Meeting Law underwent changes that took effect July 1, 2024 (Act 133 (S.55)). The purpose of Open Meeting Law is to ensure a transparent and accountable government. Changes are outlined below:
- The law distinguishes between “non advisory” and “advisory” bodies as follows. A non advisory, or decision-making, body has supervision, control, or jurisdiction over legislative, quasi-judicial, tax, or budgetary matters. An “advisory” body does not have any of the above powers, but does provide advice to the decision-making bodies.
- Selectboards, Development Review Boards, Boards of Abatement and other non advisory bodies must state a physical location for their meetings.
- In an emergency, a non advisory body’s meeting may be held fully remotely without a physical location if the highest ranking elected/appointed officer declares a “local incident.”
- Advisory bodies can hold regular fully-remote meetings without an in-person meeting location.
- Non-advisory bodies are required to record their meetings (video or audio form) and post the recording for at least 30 days following the approval and posting of meeting minutes.
- Beginning January 1, 2025, all chairs of legislative bodies, town managers, and mayors will need to take an annual Open Meeting Law training.
Read more about Open Meeting Law on our website here, or read this year’s legislative summary here.
Working on Town Plans: Substance Misuse Prevention
TRORC has funding to assist communities in integrating language about substance misuse prevention into Town Plans. If a community is working on a Town Plan or Town Plan Update and is interested in hearing more about this effort, please reach out to Sarah ([email protected]) for more details.
Update to the TRORC Regional Plan
TRORC wants to know what issues that are currently bothering your town. We are holding the following public forum sessions to inform our regional planning efforts. Please drop by and share with us about what is important to you! Below is the meeting schedule:
- Thursday, July 18, 6-8 PM – Virtual forum
- Sunday, July 21, 9-11 AM – Bugbee Senior Center, White River Junction
The TRORC Regional Plan sets goals, policies, and recommendations to guide the orderly development of the Region. Come share your vision! If you are unable to attend, comments can be sent to Geena ([email protected]). A formal hearing process is planned for Fall 2024 as part of the Plan’s adoption.
Caption: Front cover of TRORC Regional Plan 2020.
Upcoming Events
Learn and Share Your Ideas About Your Community's Healthcare System
In-person meetings run from July 9 to August 1, with one virtual meeting on August 5 | Various locations
You’re invited to a Healthcare Community Meeting in your region to hear the results of a months-long analysis of Vermont’s healthcare system. Over 1,800 Vermonters have shared input on their experiences providing, utilizing, and paying for healthcare in Vermont. Dr. Bruce Hamory, an expert in health system transformation, will facilitate a discussion on options your local hospital and community can take to create a sustainable and affordable healthcare system in Vermont. Visit the meeting schedule: https://bit.ly/Healthcare-Community-Meetings
Vermont Community Leadership Summit 2024
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | Vermont State University Randolph
Registration has opened for the 2024 Vermont Community Leadership Summit: Forge Forward, Thrive Together.The event will take place on Tuesday, August 6th at Vermont State University in Randolph, Vermont, and is hosted by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD).
Join hundreds of community builders from across the state to build skills, capacity, and connections - and forge forward towards a thriving and resilient future for all. This year’s event offers a range of topics tailored to support people working on all aspects of local vitality and resilience - capacity, economic vitality, emergency preparedness, youth engagement, inclusion, and more. Attendees can participate in any session, or follow optional “Participation Pathways” of Climate Resilience and Long-term Recovery; Youth Leadership and Engagement; or Understanding and Solving Our Persistent Challenges.
See the full agenda and sliding-scale registration (including signing up for lunch and accessibility accommodations) at vtrural.org/summit. All who are interested in supporting their community and the future of the state are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Upcoming Grants
Downtown and Village Tax Credits
Deadline: August 1, 2024 | 4:30 PM
The Downtown and Village Center tax credit program stimulates private investment, creates jobs, and develops rental housing. Tax credits can restore buildings and revitalize Vermont communities. Successful projects range from modest renovations in small centers to multimillion-dollar downtown redevelopments. Projects must be within a Designated Downtown or Village Center. Credits support general rehabilitation and code compliance work. The program also funds flood mitigation improvements and exterior facade improvements. Applications are due August 1st before 4:30 PM.
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants
Deadline: December 6, 2024
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides annual federal funding to Vermont communities for developing and restoring public recreational trails. Administered by Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR), RTP grants have supported over $9 million in trail projects since 2008. For the 2024-2025 RTP community grant round, details are now available on FPR's website. In light of the recent rainstorm, this program cannot support emergency response work. However, any long-term trail projects are preferred.
Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission · 128 King Farm Road · Woodstock · Vermont · 05091
