Pittsfield All Chairmen Meeting
June 11, 2014

1. Meeting opened at 6:35 P.M.

2. Attendees: Bill Elkins (Housing), Clayton Wood (Planning
Board), Carole Dodge (Zoning Board), Chris Hill (Conservation)
Ted Mitchell (EDC), and Ellen Barbasso (EDC).

3. Minutes from May 14, 2014 will be voted on at next meeting.

4. Minutes from the All Board/Committee Forum from CNHRPC needed to correct
the date.

5. Discussion about Deb Godin, who wants to have a farmers’ market
Previous farmers’ markets did not have to get a variance when they were at Exit
Realty or at Dustin’s Park
Do need to have proof that abutters are notified
If there is a complaint and procedures are not followed it would have to be
stopped
A variance for a farmers’ market was just granted to someone using back of the
old Weaving Factory building
If she is going to be the only one selling things, she just needs a vendor’s license
from the Select Board
Need approval from Earth as well.
Need a public hearing 10 days after the application for a variance from the zoning
board

6. Updates
Planning Board-Bob Wharem had a site plan review for multi use at one of the
buildings at Atlantic Safety.
Will take place when Atlantic is not open so there will be plenty of parking
At night will use portable lights
Housing Standards
New administrator has been assigned-Ammy Ramsey)

5. All Board/Committee Forum on May 31, 2014
Overview from CNHRPC available and minutes from EDC.

Improving downtown area
Clayton spoke to Stuart Arnett about contacting someone in Claremont
They had problems similar to Pittsfield. Want to know what they did
Try to have an open session with people from the town
Need to narrow focus-What can we do this year and maybe next year?
Start now to make a less comfortable “race to the bottom”
Ted Mitchell wants to talk to Volpe about the hole in the ground on Main St.
What can be done to fill it?
Need to look at all the little pieces to make downtown work.

Greater Regional Chamber of Commerce (Pitsfield, Chichester and Epsom)
Try to get them involved

Possibly be able to get a table at Old Home Day-get diagram of downtown
Ask people what changes they think should be made. Have them take a
questionaire or comment sheet.

Housing Standards
Changed inspectors. 100% turnaround, working with people, not against them.
Help them to know we are not adversarial, but do want to uphold the laws, and be
reasonable.
We need parameters and standards. We can work with them, within the limits

Build a plan that all boards can buy into. Use the Master Plan as a guide.

Good education is important. Our school is two times as good as in the past. As
word gets out more people will want to come here for their children.
It would be helpful to get tuition students coming to the school to help with taxes

Bill Elkins said the Pittsfield Development Corp owns two buildings. They charge
a couple hundred more, but people who move in, have a tendency to stay
longer. In the past apartments were vacant 1-2 times a year.

Ted Mitchell is looking for flow charts from other boards (3 have been submitted –
EDC, Planning Board and Master Plan)

Clayton Wood is working on the next forum. Wants to keep the momentum going
over the summer
Master Plan committee will run it, and probably use the auditorium at PMHS

Legal fees have used up money that could be used for something else. May
need to increase line item on budget for legal fees. Try to use lawyers
only when we are being sued or to force businesses to act responsibly.
Some lawyers have given bad advice in the past.

9. Next meeting July 9, 2014 at 6:30 P.M.

10. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 P.M.

Submitted by:
Ted Mitchell, Chairman EDC
Minutes taken by: Ellen Barbasso, Secretary EDC