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CCRPC Executive Committee re‑approves South Burlington BESS letter; recommends bylaws and handbook to board
Summary
At its Feb. 5 meeting the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Executive Committee re‑approved a Section 248 comment letter for a South Burlington battery storage project, recommended updated bylaws and a board handbook and code of conduct to the full Board, and approved routine minutes and adjournment motions.
The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) Executive Committee on Feb. 5 re‑approved the CCRPC comment letter on a South Burlington battery energy storage system and voted to forward updated bylaws and a revised board handbook and code of conduct to the full Board for adoption.
Taylor Newton, CCRPC planning program director, briefed the committee on the Section 248 45‑day notice for the South Burlington battery energy storage system (BESS, 25-0110-AN). Newton said the project "is in conformance with the ECOS Plan" but includes known and possible state constraints and a local constraint the applicant must address with state and municipal partners; he added the CCRPC letter notes the presence of a wetlands buffer. Andy Montroll moved to re‑approve the Section 248 letter; Jacki Murphy seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
The committee also recommended a revised set of bylaws to the Board. Charlie Baker, executive director, said the latest draft removes the mission and vision from Article 1 and replaces them with a purpose statement to reflect prior committee comments; he asked staff to check how to refer to the airport ("BIA" or "BTV"). Michael Bissonette moved to recommend the bylaws to the Board; Andy Montroll seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Anne Nelson Stoner presented three options for handling the conflict resolution process in the proposed Board and Committee Member Handbook and Code of Conduct: keep it in the main document with minor edits, place it in an appendix, or make it a separate companion document. The committee favored option two—moving the conflict resolution text into an appendix so it remains part of the handbook but can be more easily amended. Stoner and staff also identified and corrected wording on the officer election frequency; the committee agreed to remove an inaccurate phrase that suggested officers are elected every two years. Michael Bissonette moved to recommend the handbook and code of conduct to the Board; Jacki Murphy seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
The committee approved the January 2, 2025 draft minutes after a motion by Michael Bissonette and a second from Jacki Murphy; Catherine McMains abstained and the motion carried. Andy Montroll moved to adjourn at 6:41 p.m.; Michael Bissonette seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
The bylaws and the handbook and code of conduct will be shared with municipalities and considered by the full Board at a future meeting.
