Upcoming Events

Regional Selectboard Meet-Up

July 17, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:30 pm | Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St, Montpelier, VT 05602

On July 17^th, selectboard members, city councilors, and village trustees from across the Central Vermont region are invited to meet each other, network, and share successes and challenges in their municipalities. The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) and Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) are hosting this informal gathering at the Montpelier Senior Activity Center – 58 Barre Street in Montpelier. Complimentary pizza and soft drinks will be served starting at 5:30 pm

Christian Meyer, Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission Executive Director, and Abby Friedman, VLCT Municipal Assistance Center Director, will be on hand to facilitate discussion, answer questions, and provide updates. This event is free, but registration is necessary to plan for space and refreshments.

Registration link – Central Vermont Selectboard Meet-Up  (Anyone who needs help with online registration can contact 802-262-1926 or afriedman@vlct.org)

No Cost Cybersecurity Trainings

Cyber incidents are increasingly disrupting local services, and Norwich University has prepared two different training topics at no cost for municipalities to participate in at no cost.

• Integrating Cyber Hazard Response into Exercise Planning
• Cybersecurity Risk Awareness for Officials and Senior Management

Full details on these trainings and dates of availability here >>

SAVE THE DATE - 2025 VCRD Leadership Summit

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) has announced their 2025 Vermont Community Leadership Summit: Communities in Action! The event will take place on Monday, August 11th at Vermont State University in Randolph, Vermont.

Join hundreds of community builders from across the state to gain skills and cultivate connections for a vibrant future. Workshops, panels, and networking sessions will explore how we work together to get things done, even when times are tough and resources are limited. There will be many topics to choose from including this year’s optional Participation Pathways: Community Leadership Skills; Arts and Culture: Building Community, Solving Problems; From Idea to Action; or Navigating Change and Uncertainty.

All who want to support their community and the future of the state are welcome and encouraged to attend! Visit vtrural.org/summit to learn more.

Community News

Regional Future Land Use Mapping - Municipal Meetings

In 2024 the Vermont Legislature passed Act 181 which updated Act 250 (Vermont’s statewide land use permitting) to create a tiered framework for location-based jurisdiction. Act 181 requires Regional Planning Commissions to develop future land use maps as part of the regional planning process. The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission is currently working on a draft future land use map and updates to the Regional Plan. Our Land Use Planning Team would like to schedule a time to meet with your Selectboard, Planning Commission, representatives of other municipal Boards and Commissions and the public to discuss Act 181’s tiered framework, future land use areas and the draft Regional Future Land Use Map. We are asking for 30 minutes of time on an upcoming Selectboard or Planning Commission agenda to engage your community on this topic. We aim to visit with all 23 of our member municipalities by November 2025 and anticipate submitting the Regional Future Land Use Map for state approval by January 2026. For more information or to schedule a meeting in your community please contact Brian Voigt (voigt@cvregion.com) and Niki Sabado (sabado@cvregion.com). We look forward to meeting with you!

Open Meeting Law Updates 2025

Act 51 of 2025 made permanent changes to the Open Meeting Law. Updates that took effect recently:

·    Require the posting of meeting recordings when the minutes are posted, as opposed to when the minutes are approved.

·    Change the definition of “undue hardship”.

·    Add an exception to the law’s recording requirements for non-advisory public bodies’ site inspections or field visits.

·    Allow meeting notices to be posted in a neighboring town if there are not enough public places within the municipality’s borders.

·    Require meeting agendas to include sufficient details on the specific business to be discussed and details on proposed executive session, if included.

·    Add a requirement to vote to exit executive session (not just enter it).

·    Add two allowances for executive session (one being cybersecurity if jeopardizing public safety).

Define “disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons” for purposes of managing meetings, consistent with our past guidance. 

Additional Details Here>>

Notice of Public Hearing

The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on July 8th beginning at 5:00 pm. This hearing will be held at the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, 29 Main Street, Suite 4, Montpelier, Vermont, and can be also accessed via Zoom at: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84926319973?pwd=ZhxT3cl8aXkiBf2cpB0binubQeRM45.1

Meeting ID: 849 2631 9973| Passcode: 287551 | Dial in # 1 (301) 715- 8592

The purpose of this hearing is to consider approval of the Montpelier City Plan 2025, and to make recommendations whether to confirm the City of Montpelier’s planning process under 24 VSA Section §4350.

A copy of the plan can be viewed on the municipality’s website or at the offices of Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, 29 Main Street, Suite 4, Montpelier, during normal business hours.  Phone: 802-229-0389.

RFPs & Grant Information

VTrans Bike & Ped Grants

VTrans is now accepting applications for the 2025 Bicycle & Pedestrian Program, which funds planning, design, and construction projects that improve safety and accessibility for people walking and biking. Eligible projects include sidewalks, shared-use paths, crosswalks, bike lanes, and safety improvements. Municipalities, regional planning commissions, and other public entities are encouraged to apply. A 20% local match is typically required. Applications are due by July 11, 2025. For more information and to access application materials, visit vtrans.vermont.gov.

Village Trust Initiative - 2nd application round opens July 7th

VTI is pleased to announce that a new application round will open July 7th for towns with fewer than 2,500 people as of the 2020 Census. Each community will receive financial and technical support for their initial project to ensure it successfully meets a community identified need, contributes to a thriving village, and acts as a catalyst for future projects within the village.

“One of the goals of this initiative is to build community,” said Ben Doyle, President of Preservation Trust of Vermont. “We are thrilled with the results from the first cohort: village trusts have identified transformational projects, formed strong working groups, and strengthened community capacity and confidence. All of us are excited to support the next round of projects—whether that involves saving a general store, adaptively reusing a church to start a child care facility, or restoring village-scale multifamily housing.” 

An informational webinar about VTI and the application is available here. Visit our website after July 7th for a link to the application: vtrural.org/village-trust.