BRPC Meeting - Nov. 20th, 2025

Agenda

I. Opening (7:00-7:05)
a) Call to Order and Open Meeting Law Statement
b) Roll Call of Commission Members Attending the Meeting
c) Vote to Approve Minutes of the September 18, 2025 Full Commission Meeting
II. Comments from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Delegates and Alternates (7:05-7:10)
BRPC Delegates & Alternates may offer comments on any item not on the agenda. Discussion or action will be referred to a future meeting and not discussed at this meeting.
III. Comments from the Public (7:10-7:15)
Members of the public may offer comments regarding topics on the agenda or other matters they wish to bring to the Commission’s attention. Comments are to be directed to the Commission. Commenters must state their names and the city or town they are from. Any discussion or action will be referred to a future meeting and not discussed at this meeting.
IV. Presentation & Discussion of Executive Committee Actions (7:15-7:20)
Executive Committee actions taken on the Commission’s behalf during the October 2, 2025, and November 6, 2025, meetings are presented for information and discussion.
V. Vote to Elect Sam Haupt as BRPC Treasurer for FY 2026 (7:20-7:25)
John Duval, the then Alternate Delegate from Adams who was elected in July 2025 as BRPC Treasurer for FY 26, has resigned. A new Treasurer needs to be elected. The BRPC Commission Development Committee has recommended Sam Haupt as Treasurer.
VI. Vote to Approve Mary McGurn as an At-Large Member of the Executive Committee as Appointed by the Commission Chair (7:25-7:30)
BRPC has adopted the BRPC website www.berkshireplanning.org as its official posting method as allowed by 940 CMR29.00 section 29.03 (3) (b) since November 2010.
The BRPC Bylaws require the Commission to approve the Chair’s appointment of at-large members of the BRPC Executive Committee. The Commission Chair has appointed Mary McGurn, the Delegate from Egremont, to replace Sam Haupt for the remainder of FY 26.
VII. Vote to Allow Non-Commission Members to Make up a Majority of the Membership of the BRPC Environmental Review Committee, BRPC Regional Issues Committee, Berkshire Brownfields Committee, and Berkshire Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee (7:30–7:40)
The BRPC Bylaws allow the Commission to exempt the requirement that standing and special committees of the Commission do not allow Non-Commission members to make up a majority of the membership of a committee. Greater participation by Non-Commission members would enhance the activities of these committees.
VIII. Vote to Establish the Special BRPC Executive Director Search Committee, whose Duties shall be to Establish and Conduct the Initial Hiring Process, make Recommendations to the Executive Committee and Commission about Candidates for Interviews, and make a Recommendation to the Executive Committee and the Commission on the Hiring of a New BRPC Executive Director and whose members shall be Buck Donovan, the Committee Chair,( subject to approval by the Commission), Malcolm Fick, Sheila Irvin, Kyle Hanlon, John Duval, Laura Kittross, and Marybeth Mitts (7:40-7:50)
In preparation for the current Executive Director’s upcoming retirement in March 2026, the Commission needs to establish a process to select a replacement. The Executive Committee recommended a process that includes conducting the search in-house with a 7-member search committee. The BRPC bylaws require the members and duties of newly created committees be clearly defined and recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which such a committee is authorized.
IX. Vote to Approve Buck Donovan as Chair of the BRPC Executive Director Search Committee as Appointed by the Commission Chair (7:50-7:55)
The BRPC Bylaws require the Commission to approve the appointment of Committee Chairs. The Commission Chair has appointed Buck Donovan as Chair of the BRPC Executive Director Search Committee.
X. Presentation and Discussion about the BRPC Energy and Environmental Program (7:55-8:05)
BRPC Energy and Environmental Program Manager Melissa Provencher will provide a brief overview of the work of the BRPC Energy and Environmental Planning Program
XI. Open Discussion by Commission Members about Current Items of Interest in their City or Town (8:05 – 8:25)
Delegates and Alternates are encouraged to discuss key items of interest in their City or Town, such as town meeting updates, development proposals, changes in municipal leadership, proposed development projects, etc.
XII. Report and Discussion of the Executive Director’s Report (8:25 – 8:30)
XIII. Adjournment (8:30)