CPAC MINUTES 

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Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Minutes

 - Meeting #1-

 

 

 

 

5/10/2022  6:30 P.M. Exeter Public Library

773 Ten Rod Road Rt, 102, Exeter, RI 02822

Approved: June 12, 2022

CPAC Members		Member Present Y – Yes N – No	PB Members	Member Present Y – Yes N – No	Other Staff/Consultant
Christopher	Ausura	Y			Peter Flinker Consultant Dodson & Flinker
Tom	McMillan	Y			M. Dixie Foisy, Plan Clerk
Janelle	Bonn	N	Scott Millar	Y
Ben	Coerper	N	Michael P. DeFrancesco	Y
Rachael	Slattery	Y	Bill Haas	Y
Robert	Corriea	Y	Gina Thurn	Y
Jenna	Cragan	Y	Donna DiDonato	Y
Jess	DeMartino	Y	Michael Viveiros	Y
Waverly	Findlay	Y	Joseph St Lawrence	y
Charles	Franklin	N
Tracy	Hartman	Y
Maggie	LaPrise	Y
Claudia	Massa	Y
Ray	Morrissey	Y
Ted	Nataly	Y
Noah	Thurn	Y
Paul	Ward	N

 

Facilitator(s):                        Larissa Brown, Consultant Larissa Brown + Associates LLC

William DePasquale Jr., Town Planner

Time begins: 6:30 pm  

Time end:      7:53 pm

 

MINUTES:

1.         William DePasquale Jr., Town Planner, opened the first meeting with brief opening remarks before introducing Lynn Hawkins Town Clerk.

2.     Lynn Hawkins Town Clerk distributes certificates swore in the CPAC members.

3.     Introductory remarks from Town Council President Dan Patterson, followed by Scott Millar Chair Planning Board William Depasquale Town Planner. 

4.     William Depasquale Town Planner welcomed the committee volunteers and consultants Larissa Brown and Peter Flinker. Mr. DePasquale then turned the meeting over to Facilitator Ms. Larissa Brown (Consultant) who began the PowerPoint presentation slideshow which covered the following:

 

 

a.   What is Exeter 2044?

b.  Comp Plan- managing change with vision, a strategy and action plan.

a.     What will be in it?

b.     Required Content

c.      Themes of statewide importance.

d.     Review process – imagine plan and act.

e.     Engage the public in a transparent way.

f.       Build consensus

g.      Create Comp plan website

h.     Library display and repository.

i.       Time frames.

j.       Public hearings

k.      From plan to action

l.       What’s Next?

 

5.     The facilitator detailed the PowerPoint presentation slideshow “What is a Comprehensive Plan?”, “Timeline”, “public input’, “procedure” and “requirements of the plan”. The basic schedule and process was explained lasting 24 months summer 2022 through summer/fall of 2023.

6.     Ms. Brown reviewed the expectations of the committee explaining a critical issue would be attendance and gaining assistance from CPAC members to help engage public participation. During the introductions, Ms. Brown and Mr. Depasquale noted that they would be the primary contact for any questions or concerns the committee may have.

7.         Community surveys were discussed as was hard copy mailings as a means of reaching out to the public this is addition to establishing a repository in the public library.

8.         CPAC member Jenna Cragan questioned the anticipated participation of the online survey by percent of population. Ms. Brown indicated that at this point it’s not an answerable question as community responses are impacted by many factors and it varies from community to community. Ms. Brown goes on to explain the importance of all CPAC members to spread the word about the comp plan and moreover how the public can and should engage in the process.

9.         Other discussion items included the Town Council President Dan Patterson asked about the additional requirements of the State as elements in the Plan and that meeting space in Town was limited. Scott Millar Planning Board Chair noted on the issue of meetings and the possibility of virtual access to the consultant as a cost savings to the project.

10.  CPAC member Morrissey asked about the status of the current plan and the difference in a state approved plan and one that is not approved and out of date. Mike. DeFrancesco questioned how the CPAC group would be officially organized under the Open Meetings Act. The Council President Dan Patterson asked about the presentation of the comp plan and supported an easy-to-read plan as opposed a thick technical document. Ms. Brown explained that the plan will be designed with rich graphics including an executive summary that is easy to understand the policies and actions of which would be “backed up” in the larger document for reference and statuary requirements. William DePasquale Town Planner stated the CPAC advisory group would comply with the open meeting statute and follow the facilitator model for discussions and group decision-making.

 

11.                   CPAC member Ted Nataly asked for introductions wherein every member in the room introduced themselves and discussed their interests in the project.

12.                   A discussion with Mr. Peter Flinker (consultant) ensued with Planning Board Chairman Millar speaking to issues and concerning land owners that own large parcels and how they will pass the land without the land being carved up into house lots. A general conversation followed.

13.                   Facilitator Larissa Brown (Consultant) then asked for public comment for which there was none.

14.                   There was a discussion about the best times for this group to meet considering the budget meetings in June but the topic went unresolves.

15.                   Completing the posted agenda facilitator Larissa Brown (Consultant) adjourned the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Town Planner and Contact for the Comprehensive Plan Update

 

 

 

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