Rutland select board adopts local hazard mitigation plan

Rutland select board Chair Sharon Russell on Sept. 23 announced the board’s unanimous adoption of the town’s updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan following minor state comments and revisions. The board voted 5-0 to adopt the plan and authorized the chair to sign the certification.

The plan update was returned from the state with “very minor comments,” according to Bill Sweet, town administrator, which the town addressed in an appendix. Adoption formalizes the town’s mitigation priorities and keeps Rutland eligible for some state and federal mitigation grants.

Why it matters: A formally adopted local mitigation plan is a prerequisite for many hazard mitigation grants and helps align town projects — such as culvert replacements and road work — with identified risks. The board’s action preserves those funding and planning options.

Board procedure and next steps: The board moved, seconded and approved the adoption during its Sept. 23 meeting; the chair signed the certification immediately after the vote. The town administrator and staff will file the adopted plan with state officials and monitor grant opportunities tied to the plan.