By Guy Page

Two Orange County lawmakers are calling on the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission to halt its regional planning process, citing what they describe as repeated violations of Vermont’s Open Meeting Law and inadequate public participation.

The regional planning commission is holding hearings on its proposed update of the regional plan, as required by law. The update caused a furor not only because of its perceived infringement on property rights, but because regional planning officials have been less than receptive to public input, members of the Rural Vermont Rising group say.

In August, the commission admitted it had failed to follow the Open Meeting Law by not taking comments from attendees at a meeting in March. Six other violations have since been admitted, the lawmakers say.

Sen. John Benson and Rep. Mike Tagliavia sent a formal request to the commission’s chair asking that the process be stopped “until rural Vermont municipalities and residents are truly given a voice.”

Tagliavia will be a guest on Chronicle Conversations, WVMT AM 620, FM 101.3, and wvmtradio.com at 12:30 PM today, Friday October 2. Callers are welcome at 888-414-0303.

Benson said TRORC has acknowledged six Open Meeting Law violations within the past week, in addition to another violation acknowledged in August.

“I am very concerned by the pattern of conduct by the Two-Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) during their regional plan update,” Benson said in a public statement.

TRORC itself states in its regional planning materials that its board is subject to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law. The law generally requires meetings of public bodies to be open to the public, subject to statutory exceptions.

Benson and Tagliavia contend the problems go beyond individual meeting violations and extend to the public’s role in the regional plan update.

“Instead of following Vermont statute that mandates regional planning commissions solicit public participation, TRORC has narrowed the public’s access and role throughout the entire regional plan update process,” Benson said.

The lawmakers said they would prefer that the dispute be resolved by the TRORC board but also plan to seek legislation next year aimed at increasing accountability for regional planning commissions.

“Our regional planning bodies need to not just uphold the law, but to lead by example,” Benson said.

TRORC is involved in regional land-use planning affecting communities in east-central Vermont. Its regional plan addresses subjects including land use, housing, transportation, economic development, natural resources, energy and public facilities.

Benson said the request to halt the process is intended to give towns and residents a greater opportunity to participate before the regional plan moves forward.

“Rural Vermonters deserve to be heard,” he said.