FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montpelier Commission on Recovery and Resilience

October 24, 2023

October 2023 Update

Contact: Ben Doyle, Commission Chair
802-839-9914
montpelierfloodcommission@gmail.com

MONTPELIER—Building on the momentum of a series of local forums, the Montpelier Commission on Recovery and Resilience has begun meeting biweekly to work on the priorities established by the community to accelerate recovery from the July flooding and improve its ability to withstand future disasters. In addition to electing Ben Doyle as Chair and Richarda Ericson as Vice-Chair, the Commission organized priorities for action into the following categories:

• Watershed Management
• Infrastructure
• Adaptive Downtown and Critical Functions
• Immediate Response and Alert
• Housing and Land Us
• Fundraising

Initial efforts in support of a resilient downtown have included outreach to the General Services Administration, the U.S. Postal Service, and congressional delegation about the future of the Montpelier federal building and post office. Commission members have also reached out to the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services to understand current plans for state owned buildings downtown.
Finally, the Commission is coordinating with community members in the creation of a long-term recovery group to support individuals and households affected by the flood.

In the coming months, the Commission will gather additional community input on proposed actions as well as welcome volunteers. It is also working to secure funding to enable the hiring of an Executive Director to enhance the Commission’s ability to advance projects.

Questions and interest in volunteering can be directed to montpelierfloodcommission@gmail.com
Additional information can be found at www.montpelierstrong.org

Commission Members
Ben Doyle, Commission Chair, President of Preservation Trust of Vermont (Montpelier
Foundation)
Richarda Ericson, Commission Vice-Chair, Riverine and Conservation Expert
Paul Carnahan, Historian
Gregg Gossens, Partner, Gossens Bachman Architects
Marc Gwinn, Certified Financial Planner, Edward Jones
Lauren Hierl, Executive Director, Vermont Conservation Voters (Montpelier City Council)
Jennifer Hollar, Community Development and Housing Specialist
Aly Richards, Executive Director, Let’s Grow Kids
James Rea, Environment and Resilience Consultant
Nathan Suter, Consultant and Partner, BUILD
Ned Swanberg, Floodplain Manager, VT Department of Environmental Conservation
Stephanie Smith, Hazard Mitigation Officer, State of Vermont
Katie Trautz, Executive Director, Montpelier Alive
Peter Walke, Executive Director, Efficiency Vermont
Ben Wetherell, Montpelier High School