ARPA Committee Minutes 08.03.22
Guilford ARPA Committee Meeting Minutes, 8.03.22, 5:30 PM-6:30 PM
Present ARPA Committee Members: Jaime Durham, Julie Holland, Vickie Sterling, Patty Bullock, Dan Killay
Selectboard Representatives: Zon Eastes, Verandah Porche
I. Call to Order
II. Recognition of Public
Michael Becker (Selectboard), Ellie
III. Approval of 7.13.22 Minutes
Meeting minutes approved
IV. Changes to Agenda Order
No changes needed
V. New Business
a. Discussion of Proposed 3-Phase ARPA Process
i. Phase I – Identify Categories (8/1 – 8/31)
Discussion on the focus of what this committee should be doing vs the FAC. Our charge is surrounding identifying opportunities. Our short-term focus through August would be to identify categories for potential dissemination of ARPA funds. Ellie mentioned that the Rec Club is looking for funding for the tennis courts and baseball field at the fairgrounds. We would want to create categories of ideas to date to be able to survey the community.
ii. Phase II – Survey on Category Preferences (9/1 – 10/15)
Once the categories are created we would survey the town to get input on how they would spend $100 imaginary dollars towards these categories, not on specific ideas, but rather the categories.
iii. Phase III – Report on Survey Results (10/15 – 11/30)
Take survey related data to bring category preferences to the Selectboard/Planning Commission/FAC. Motion passed to adopt this three phase approach.
b. Work on Categorizing Ideas if Approved
Potential categories: Emergency preparedness, community sustainability and enhancement, housing and residential needs, movement and mobilization
c. Brainstorm on How to Gather More Ideas
Want to include information surrounding gathering ideas on categories/projects the town could utilize the ARPA funds for. One way is talking to people (potentially canvassing people at the polls or providing them informational letter with email address). Jaime to create an email address to gather ideas from community. This could be posted on Front Porch Forum and Facebook, pending approval from Zon on use of email address. Potentially share information at the Guilford Fair. Informational piece to be created to describe ARPA goals. Informational letter to contain announcement of what process is, explanation of what ARPA dollars can be spent on, and an explanation of why we are gathering information/data, providing link for feedback and next steps for the committee. Next meeting to focus on categorization of submitted ideas (note: these are not applications, just ideas – the charge of this committee does not include taking/approving applications).
d. Next Steps – Website
e. Advise on Financial Management Funding
V. New Business
Next meeting to be scheduled: August 24th, at 6:30 PM. Agenda focused on categorization of submitted ideas. Call to action on informational letter for 8/9.
VI. Adjournment