Friends and Neighbors,

There is a meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for tonight at 7:00 PM at the Town offices. The meeting will address proposed changes to our East Montpelier Land Use and Development Regulations. It appears that a result of this meeting will be proposed changes to our Land Use and Development Regulations. The significance of this meeting might be emphasized by the official meeting notice "WARNING" to the citizens of East Montpelier.

There are two different files related to this meeting on the Town web site. The files are at the following links:

http://eastmontpeliervt.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PC-Agenda-060514.pdf

http://eastmontpeliervt.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PC-LUDR-Amends-June-2014-Hearing-Notice.pdf

One observation that I've made is that in both documents, wherein proposed changes are addressed, there exists both very specific detail of the proposed changes as well as very vague detail. Specifically; there are several instances where "clarification" will be proposed. However, I can't find any language that indicates what that clarification (or clarifying language) will be. The devil's always in the details and I find it more than troubling that the language of these several "clarifications" is missing from the public documents leading up to this meeting. While researching this further on the Town's web site I was similarly unable to find the detail.

Changing "clarifying" language seems to me much like changing the intent of a regulation, A few different words, deletions and editorial changes can produce dramatic and damaging results -- results that would change a regulation that was adopted by a vote of the people in 2009. I continue to be concerned by our local governmental processes that fail to provide complete and clear access to proposed changes to our regulations, especially when doing so seems like such a simple, open and honest act.

I will be unable attend this meeting tonight because of my work schedule. I am preparing to be disappointed by the results this "clarification" effort and by another governing process that fails to provide sufficient sunshine on our Town governance for those who are unable to attend the meetings.

One other note: On Monday, the 16th of June, there will be a Special East Montpelier Town School District meeting to consider the question of voting the EMES budget by Australian Ballot. By Adopting an Australian Ballot, the taxpayers will be able to participate in the democratic process of voting on the School budget even when their work schedule or personal situation denies them the opportunity to attend the traditional Town Meeting Day activities where, historically, the only vote on this budget has taken place.

Thanks for your time,

Bill Pollock
East Montpelier
bill.pollock.vt@comcast.net

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