Notes for Pownal from BCRC

BCRC Annual Meeting May 17

Tom Murray, the CIO of the State of Vermont (Commissioner of the VT Department of Information and Innovation) presented information regarding the new Bill 248 and discussions of Act 248 (which are, ironically, not the same thing). Bill 248 was written to promote Gov. Douglas' eState initiative.

I presented two specific questions after the meeting which were not answered to my satisfaction by Commissioner Murray (especially when I read about the state promoting having 90% broadband coverage by the end of this year in today's Banner). Take a look at the map of broadband coverage in Vermont today and realize that all we are reading about is the press releases submitted by the State to the Banner:

http://publicservice.vermont.gov/Broadband/BB2006large.pdf

Remove the poorly populated sections from that map, add in the National Forest (where tourists, even Long Trail hikers and state forest campers want broadband) and realize that the majority of that missing 10% is in Bennington County.

My first question to the CIO was why he neglected to present the possibility of Broadband over Power Line (BPL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication) as one of the 5 methods of broadband service even though it is specifically included in the bill and why the State Public Service Board in conjunction with this new eState authority wasn't doing more to examine the possibilities of the new VELCO/CVPS request for line upgrades to either include BPL or allow for our community to solicit a provider to partner in that. His response was "if it was profitable, they would do it." That's not the story for the wireless grants they are giving out in the Northeast Kingdom - but that's another story. His great success story for Bennington County is Dorset where that town has managed over $20 million in private investment to bring DSL in partnership with Burlington Telcom to Dorset. My second question to the CIO was to clarify the governor's position on cell coverage - is it to bring any coverage of any quality to the state (ie 2nd generation digital) or to work toward 3rd and 4th generation digital that young consumers and spending tourists are expecting when they leave their homes and come to Vermont to live, work and play? His response is that the state is working to get the most basic coverage.

Mr. Murray also declared no one would ever be willing to pay more than $30 a month for broadband Internet.

Working with the BCRC's director, Rex Burke and our Rep. Bill Botzow, these questions will be pursued in Bennington County and Pownal. Mr. Burke has already begun a follow-up requesting the CIO have a position drafted on upgrades to power lines in regards to consideration of BPL. Bill is working on getting more direct answers from the State on these questions and concerns.

I was elected Chair of the Planning Commission. For the record, contrary to the Banner account, I have no personal position on retaining or demolishing the track building. My statements were only in regard to keeping the options for the planners of Pownal open in what that property could be used for. The context of those statements is that the new Regional Plan has wording in its "big box" section which could restrict possible uses for that property. The minutes now reflect it was agreed we would have wording which would take the track property into special consideration. I was looking for an absolute exemption. That request would meet some resistance but could have enough support in the whole commission to pass. The Regional Plan was passed (and yes, I did vote for it) because we needed an approved plan for our region to be eligible for community grants and funding. However, the option is open that a motion will be made to amend the Regional Plan to create exception provisions for the Green Mountain Race Track property. I would really appreciate input from the community on this, and hope to attend a Select Board meeting in the near future to request their guidance on this.

The next full meeting of the Commission will be some time in July or August and I am planning a "retreat" style meeting where the various towns will be given time to present their priorities for the region. Typically the commission doesn't meet in July/August, so this will be an informal meeting with no speaker.

BCRC should be getting an update to their web site soon so that it has more information and is accessible for all users and browsers.

As always, call or e-mail me ( A Moore at Internet Support Service dot com) if you have any questions or have input which would be helpful for me representing Pownal in the Regional Commission.

The next BCRC meeting is the Annual Meeting. It is May 17, 2007.

This is a dinner meeting held at the West Mountain Inn in Arlington.

The Agenda is as follows:

5:00 - 5:30 Social

5:30 - 6:15 "Expanding Broadband & Internet Services Throughout Vermont - Presentation of a major statewide initiative" by Tom Murray, Commissioner, VT Dept. of Information & Innovation

6:15 - 7:00 Dinner

7:00 - 7:30 Business meeting (which will include the approval of minutes, election of officers, Western Corridor Study Participation Resolution, Regional Plan, and other business)

Dinner is $12 - a real bargain. Pownal usually has a good turnout of citizens at this dinner.

As a note, Amy Moore has been recommended by the nominating committee to be the Chairman in the upcoming year. (I have served as vice-Chair for the past year)

Minutes of the last meeting are available electronically by contacting Claudette Galusha at BCRC. I will be making some modifications to the last meetings' minutes. Specifically, I was trying to keep wording regarding "big box stores" open to allow a wide range of possible uses for our track and it came up in the meeting that language would be inserted into the Regional Plan considering the Green Mountain Racetrack as a unique entity which would have special consideration in its future use.

Also added at that meeting - while our Select Board was hearing from the ATV group, was wording to add ATV in the list of supported designated trail systems and recognition of the Taconic Trail as a regional hiking trail resource (even though it is 'only' in Pownal).

Pownal may appoint two residents to serve as commissioners on the Bennington County Regional (Planning) Commission.

Amy Moore is currently serving in one of those appointments. You can reach her by phone at 823-0215 or e-mail amoore@internetsupportservice.com.

You can visit the BCRC web site at http://rpc.bennington.vt.us/ the site is best viewed in IE.

The regional plan is up for review and modifications. You can download it from the web. The page for the plan with the list of appendix not included in the downloadable document can be found at:

http://rpc.bennington.vt.us/page0006.htm

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All BCRC meetings are open to the public.