amenia town board

Amenia Comprehensive Plan update underway

AMENIA — An intensive review of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, last updated in 2007, began with discussion of procedure at a meeting of the town’s eight-member review committee on Tuesday, May 14. Seven committee members attended.

Committee members agreed to focus on more than cosmetic editorial changes by digging more deeply to consider town goals with a view toward sustainability. As a next step, each town board and committee will be asked to advise on goals, progress made toward those goals, and how they are working to achieve those goals.

The Comprehensive Plan functions as a policy planning document that is eventually to be adopted by vote of the Town Board.

“What do we as a community hope to be,” will be a guiding question for the review committee. Each town board and committee will be asked to report on ongoing priorities to achieve their goals.

A few residents attended the meeting and were invited to comment. Resident George Bistransin discussed agricultural easements and the importance of reducing assessments for farmers, as a means of protecting farm acreage.

“We need those farms and open land,” agreed committee member Paula Pelosi.

Seeing a conflict between local and state assessment procedures, committee member Nina Peek said that the town should look at farm-friendly policies.

“I don’t want to see any more farms lost,” Bistransin said, the committee noting a dwindling number of farms operating actively in the region.

“Who are we? Who do we want to be in four generations,” were questions posed by committee member Ken Topolsky. “How do we keep the character of the town,” he asked.

While the Comprehensive Plan cannot change the zoning laws, the committee agreed, no proposal can be approved by a town board that is contrary to the plan.

“We need to talk about farms, open space and people who need affordable housing,” Pelosi said, including attracting and supporting small business, and she added that the committee needs to talk about the commercial center.

Topolsky cautioned that the committee cannot add things that are terribly new.

Peek observed that the goal of the document is to address the needs of a diversified population.

Satisfied that a working philosophy in regard to the document had been established, the committee launched into editing the Introductory paragraphs and completed that section, scheduling its next meeting for Tuesday, June 11, to begin at 6:30 p.m.

amenia town board

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Amelia R. Wright

Amelia R. Wright

Falls Village – Amelia Rosalie (Betti) Wright, 91, of Falls Village died September 30, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Robert Kenneth Wright.

Amelia was born September 6, 1933 in Torrington, CT, daughter of the late Benjamin and Mary Eliza (Passini) Betti. Amelia worked at Camp Isabella Freedman as the Head Housekeeper. She was employed there for 35 years. She attended the Falls Village Congregational Church and had been very active at the Senior Center in Falls Village. She enjoyed collecting. She also enjoyed the craft classes offered by Adult Ed at the Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She enjoyed traveling, especially to the Cape, Vermont and New Hampshire. An avid flower person, Amelia had traveled to the major flower shows in both Boston and Philadelphia.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Osborn and her husband David of Falls Village, her son, Robert H. Wright of Falls Village and her son, Donald Wright and his wife Kate of Millbrook, NY; her sister, MaryAnn Betti of Falls Village; her grandchildren, Benjamin and Katie Osborn and Jacob Wright. Amelia is also survived by her great grandson, Gunner Osborn. Amelia was predeceased by her brother, Donald Betti.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in the Mountain View Cemetery, Sand Road, North Canaan, CT. Calling hours will be held at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, North Canaan, CT 06018 on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance Association, 188 US-7 South, Falls Village, CT. 06031

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