COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Kate Gehring, Jane Douglas, James Bressor
OTHERS PRESENT: Dot Maggio

CALL TO ORDER
Kate called the meeting to order at 6:04 pm.

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Jane requested a brief executive session to discuss a personnel matter.

MINUTES
A motion was made by James and seconded by Jane to approve the 10/12/23 meeting minutes with one amended requested by Jane: to clarify that the Deerfield Valley Communications District is hoping to have Readsboro and Stamford completely wired by December, but completion is not certain. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
None.

OLD BUSINESS
Development Review Board (DRB) update:
None.

Broadband update, Deerfield Valley Communications District:
Jane noted that the DVCD is planning a November 9 noon event to celebrate the first Readsboro customers.

Report back from Town Meetings and/or Selectboard meetings:
Jane attended the most recent Selectboard meeting and reported there were no discussions relevant to the planning commission.

Bylaw Modernization Grant:
Commissioners discussed the December 2, 2023, Bylaw Modernization walking tour. Kate said she would develop a flyer to publicize the event, and the commission will warn the tour as a special planning commission meeting.

Short-term Rentals:
Jane circulated a revised draft short-term rental registration form and ordinance, which other commissioners will review prior to the next commission meeting. Commissioners discussed the possibility of including the authorizing statutes in the ordinance, as some towns have done. Jane said she would share more web links to other municipalities’ short-term rental ordinances. Jane said she would also share the latest version of the draft ordinance with Doris Mitchell.

NEW BUSINESS

Newfane/Townshend/Brookline Joint Planning Commission Brainstorm – update:
Kate said the Brookline Planning Commission had agreed to the November 9, 2023, multi-community meeting to discuss possible town collaboration.

Agenda setting for next meeting:
The next meeting is the tentative multi-town meeting.

Planning Commission vacancy:
No progress on filling the vacancy.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
The commission went into a brief executive session to discuss a personnel matter. There were no motions or actions taken.

CORRESPONDENCE
None.

ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Jane and seconded by James to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

Respectfully Submitted,
James Bressor