The Selectboard continue to support universal internet coverage within Stockbridge, such as the East Central Vermont Fiber Project. The town should create and maintain a municipal web site to: improve communication; enhance emergency preparedness; provide residents with access to municipal data; and educate visitors and residents to local events and opportunities. The Town should make meeting the requirements of state solid waste regulations a priority, focusing on cost-effective methods of compliance. Health and Emergency Services Health Care Facilities Health care facilities are essential in the prevention, treatment, and management of illness, and in the preservation of mental and physical well-being. Rural locations such as Stockbridge are served by small facilities that can assist residents with general health care needs but are not equipped to provide complex acute care services that require specialized services and equipment. The lower population density of Vermont's rural countryside and the larger the area over which the population is distributed can make providing adequate health care more difficult, particularly for the elderly who may not be able to drive themselves to major health care facilities. Likewise in rural areas, emergency care for severe trauma or major acute illnesses such as stroke and heart attack may take longer to arrive than in more populated locations, risking potential loss of life. Although there are no town-based health care services in Stockbridge, local and regional health care services are available throughout the region, including: Gifford Medical Center and smaller health centers in Randolph, VT; large-scale community hospitals in Rutland and Berlin, VT; and a tertiary care facility in Lebanon, NH. Fire Protection Services Stockbridge is serviced by the Stockbridge Volunteer Fire Department. Funding of the department is provided by the Town and by department fund raising activities. Stockbridge has a mutual aid agreement with the towns of Pittsfield and Bethel whereby assistance is provided in the event of a serious fire. The Stockbridge Fire Department is operated exclusively by volunteers. There is always a need for additional volunteers to serve as firefighters, to help raise money, and to help care for the equipment. Because a vast majority of Stockbridge's residents work outside of the community, and because of the added challenge of the many State and Federal requirements for training, it can be challenging to find volunteers and maintain their training credentials. In particular, day coverage is spotty because many residents work out of town.
requesting the trips is unable to drive on the day of the trip. Ticket to Ride is available for a broad array of destinations, such as medical services, shopping, errands, and social purposes. Given that Stockbridge's elderly population is growing, the need for an affordable source of public transportation that can bring the elderly to major medical facilities like Dartmouth Hitchcock and larger commercial centers for day-to-day shopping needs is important. Policies and Recommendations Goals To provide and maintain a safe, energy efficient and well maintained transportation network, in a cost-effective manner, integrating all modes of travel (auto, pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transit) and meeting the needs of the public in a manner consistent with the other goals, policies and recommendations of this Town Plan. To maintain the and scenic character of the back roads and byways thereby protecting the rural scenic quality of the town whenever possible. Policies It is the policy of the Town to maintain the existing road system, discouraging the expansion or addition of new roads. It is the policy of the town to consider public input prior to a decision to substantially change the maintenance level, surface treatment, or class of a town road. When determining roads to pave and when, it is the policy of the town to evaluate traffic volume and maintenance costs against other factors, such as the up-front cost of paving and base improvements that may be necessary to support a paved surface and the potential quality-of-life impacts to residents. When addressing road improvements on Class 3 roads, particularly roads that are prone to flood or erosion damage during hazard events, it is the policy of the town to replace undersized culverts and bridges with appropriately sized infrastructure whenever financially feasible. It is the policy of the town to integrate land use and transportation planning by encouraging concentrated growth in served by an adequate highway system, utilizing land use regulations and appropriate highway access management techniques to control the impacts of development on the transportation system, and making transportation improvements in areas where growth is desired. It is the policy of the town to encourage access management techniques that limit the number of access points during new development along highways to reduce driver confusion and traffic congestion and to minimize conflicts between through and local (turning) traffic via provisions on further subdivision in new access permits. It is the policy of the town to cooperate with other communities in the region through the TRORC and its Transportation Advisory Committee to ensure that the region's transportation system is