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SWRPC |
January 2009 |
| Commission Highlights |
Vol. 15 - No. 1 |
Training Session Planned for Public Officials on February 17th
The Planning Commission, in conjunction with the City of Keene, is sponsoring a training session entitled, Public Meetings: Everything You Wanted To Know, and More. The session will cover topics including: conducting a meeting, public hearing procedures, right-to-know law basics concerning meetings and public records, recent amendments regarding use of email and other electronic media, conflict of interest and disqualification standards and procedures, adopting a written decision, and reconsideration of a decision. The session will be held at the Keene Public Library on February 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend the session but pre-registration is requested. To register, please contact Hope Lothrop of Commission staff.
Work Completed for Route 10 Corridor Job Access Study
Since March 2008, the Planning Commission has been conducting a study to examine the feasibility of utilizing Federal Transit Administration Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) funding for residents living on the Route 10 Corridor in West Swanzey and Winchester. The JARC program recognizes that the cost of transportation is a major barrier to lower income labor force households. The Commission study uncovered national and local data corroborating that transportation cost is a significant challenge in our Region. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey reported last year that people representing the lowest quintile of income, pay on average 30 cents of every dollar of income on transportation. Commission staff conducted surveys in assisted living complexes and mobile home parks along the Route 10 Corridor and found that the cost of gas and maintaining an older vehicle were among the top transportation challenges of those households. Survey respondents show strong support for alternative transportation options on the corridor that will save them money. The Commission is in the process of working with area partners to develop applications for JARC funding in the late Winter/early Spring. The Route 10 Job Access Study is in draft form and is expected to be released in February 2009. For more information about this study, please contact J. B. Mack of Commission staff.
Economic Stimulus Package Project Inventory
The United States Congress began considering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, also known as the Economic Stimulus Package, during the month of January. The package contains funding for targeted efforts including: energy efficiency, expansion of broadband in rural areas and infrastructure (including roads, bridges, water, wastewater and storm-drainage related infrastructure). The Planning Commission has taken the initiative to develop a region-wide inventory of projects that might be eligible under this initiative. Although details of the program are still being developed, it has been noted that priority is being given to "ready-to-go" projects, defined as those projects that can be contracted within 120 days of funds being made available. If you know of a project in your community that should be included in the inventory, please contact Eric R. Smith, AICP, of Commission staff.
Monadnock Region Land Summit
Over 150 attendees representing 32 municipalities within the Southwest Region attended the Monadnock Region Land Summit on Janaury 31, 2009. The summit was hosted by the Community Conservation Partnership that is comprised of The Monadnock Conservancy, Southwest Region Planning Commission, Antioch New England Institute, The Center for Land Conservation, UNH Cooperative Extension, and The Harris Center for Conservation Education. Workshops and discussion groups focused on issues such as community development, benefits of open space, strategies for conservation outreach, and conservation finance. Planning Commission staff led a session on conservation subdivisions. For more information, please contact Neel Patel or Lisa Murphy of Commission staff.
Municipal Hazard Mitigation Planning
The Planning Commission has received support from the New Hampshire Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) to begin the development of hazard mitigation plans for the towns of Gilsum, Sharon and Windsor. Hazard mitigation plans are required to be updated every five years and, as a result, many towns in the Southwest Region who adopted their first hazard mitigation plans in 2004 will be due to have their updated hazard mitigation plan submitted to FEMA in 2009. The current round of HSEM funding will allow the Commission to prepare updated plans for the towns of Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Surry and Swanzey. Kick-off meetings to begin these hazard mitigation planning activities took place in several of these towns during January. For more information, please contact Eric R. Smith, AICP, of Commission staff.
NHARPC Legislative Activity
With the 2009 NH Legislative Session upon us, the NH Association of Regional Planning Commissions (NHARPC) has been active in reviewing a wide range of legislative initiatives that have been put forward. Among those receiving interest are a number of bills which focus on ways to increase revenues for transportation infrastructure, providing guidance to towns in determining developments of regional impact and bills focused on energy, workforce housing and growth management. NHARPC is in the process of determining which bills it will take a position on. For more information, please contact Tim Murphy or Rebeckah Bullock of Commission staff.
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Southwest Region Planning Commission
20 Central Square, 2nd Floor, Keene, NH 03431
Ph: (603) 357-0557, Fax: (603) 357-7440
General E-mail: admin@swrpc.org
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