Diane Snelling, Chair of the Natural Resources Board (NRB), announced today the appointment of Aaron Brondyke to the position of State Coordinator and the hiring of Joshua Donabedian as the organization’s new Coordinator, with responsibilities for Districts 5, 6 and 9.
Brondyke served the NRB as its Permit Enforcement Officer since 2013 – a position that familiarized him with staff in both the Central Office as well as throughout the organization’s nine District offices and instilled a thorough understanding of Act 250’s requirements into his everyday work. The State Coordinator position requires administrative, legal and advisory work, preparation and delivery of state-wide training, distribution of technical and legal information to district commissions and staff and functioning as a District Coordinator. The State Coordinator may also assist with coordination of Act 250 enforcement activities.
Diane Snelling acknowledged the value of Boydyke’s history with the NRB in relation to his new position. “We’ve been impressed with Aaron’s capabilities in dealing with the public, his ability to interface collaboratively with the NRB’s legal team while also working respectfully with District staff on sensitive issues. His success in resolving issues of enforcement through careful negotiation is a skill that will continue to benefit the organization. We are delighted to have him bring this history and knowledge to the State Coordinator position.”
In related news, Joshua Donabedian has been named to the position previously held by Geoffrey Green, who recently retired. Josh will work closely with District Coordinator Susan Baird, sharing responsibilities for work in the three Districts previously identified. Josh comes to the Natural Resources Board after three and a half years with the Addison County Regional Planning Commission where he led ACRPC's transportation planning program. A graduate of Colby College, Josh arrived in Vermont in 2009 to attend Vermont Law School, graduating with a Masters and J.D. in environmental law and policy. Josh serves on the Board of Directors for the Vermont Community Garden Network.
“We noticed Joshua’s enthusiasm, environmental commitment and knowledge of Act 250 immediately upon meeting him, noted Snelling. His skills and the experience acquired through his regional planning work quickly became evident and, the fact that he is also well trained in and prepared for the legal aspects of this position including permitting, policy review and development, and analysis of relevant case law will be valuable in his new position.”
The NRB’s central office location in Montpelier will be Aaron Brondyke’s, Joshua Donabedian’s and Susan Baird’s primary workspace, and each will have a regular schedule in Essex where they share an office. Sharing workload and offices is a recent innovation for the Natural Resources Board. This new practice maintains a high level of service and brings a depth of Coordinator experience to regional offices, while providing access to NRB staff for applicants.
The Essex office and the NRB’s Central office in Montpelier represent two of the five locations in the State that support nine District Environmental Commissions staffed by the State Coordinator plus seven District Coordinators and six technicians.