Here is the agenda and town manager notes for the next Selectboard meeting. It will be held August 17, 2004 at the Municipal Center on Main Street. The public, as always, is invited.
BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2004
4:30PM Deliberative Session
5:40PM Interview School Board Candidate
6:15PM Regular Meeting
AGENDA
1. Convene deliberative session in Hanna Cosman Room, Municipal Center
2. Conduct Interview of School Board Candidate in Selectboard Meeting Room
3. Convene regular portion of meeting
4. Confirm Meeting Officially Warned
5. Approve Minutes from the meetings of August 3, 2004
6. CHAIR'S REMARKS
7. MANAGER'S COMMENTS
8. SELECTBOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
9. CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION
10. Adjustments to the Agenda
11. INTERNAL BUSINESS
A. BCTV -- Update by Town Representative -- Michael Billingsley (10 min.)
B. Senior Meals --Update on Takeover -- Greg Propster (15 min.)
C. Brattleboro Climate Protection -- Annual Report -- Paul Cameron (15 min.)
D. Efficiency Vermont Town Energy Audit --Review and Discussion -- Neil Curtis (15 min.)
E. Zoning Amendments --Public Hearing & Approval -- Alice Herrick (10 min.)
F. Local Law Enforcement Block Grant -- Approve Application -- John Martin (5 min.)
G. BFD _ Ton Pickup & Drop In Foam Skid Unit -- Approve Bid -- David Emery (5 min.)
H. DPW Engineering --Approve Bid for Sunset Lake Road Bridge -- Jerry Remillard (5 min.)
I. Emergency Ordinance --Approve One-Way Traffic, Green St. from High to Whipple (5 min.)
J. Emergency Ordinance -- Extend Emergency Ordinance Creating a Temporary Three-Way Stop at the Intersection of Maple and Guilford Street -- (5 min.)
K. Ordinance Amendment-- First Reading -- One-Way Traffic on Green, from High to Whipple St. (5 min.)
L. Ordinance Amendment -- First Reading - Establish Three-Way Stop on South Main Street (5 min.)
12. OLD/OTHER BUSINESS
A. Civilian/Police Review Board Feasibility Committee --Discuss and Approve Appointments (15 min.)
13. NEW BUSINESS
A. School Board --Appoint Vacancy (5 min.)
B. Verizon -- Approve Pole Petition (5 min.)
C. Annual Town Fair -- Appoint Voting Delegate (5 min.)
14. CORRESPONDENCE
15. MEETINGS
Planning Commission/VTrans Scoping Study
Putney Road -- Kickoff Meeting
Monday, August 23, 8:30am
Bickford's Restaurant
Planning Commission
Monday, August 23, 6pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Traffic Safety Committee
Tuesday, August 24, 8:30am
Selectboard Meeting Room
Brattleboro Substance Abuse Action Team
Wednesday, September 1, 6pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Selectboard Meeting
Tuesday, September 7, 6:15pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
16. WARRANTS FOR APPROVAL
17. It is anticipated that the Board will enter Executive Session to discuss a pending contract matter pursuant to 1 V.S.A. 313(a)(1).
18. ADJOURNMENT
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The following will summarize those items on the Agenda for the Tuesday, August 17, 2004 Selectboard Meeting
9A. BCTV. Brattleboro Representative Michael Billingsley will update the Board on our local cable station.
9B. Brattleboro Senior Meals. Members of the newly-formed Brattleboro Senior Meals, Inc. will update the Selectboard on their pending takeover of the meals program at the Brattleboro Senior Center. The Council on Aging has operated the program for many years; however, changes in Federal regulations now prevent COA from continuing to be the service provider for the meals program. Given the choice of a contracted meals program, members of the Senior Center have formed a non-profit entity to continue the existing program, under local control and management. Greg Propster of Brattleboro Senior Meals, will update the Selectboard on the changes in meals program management. Due to the changes in leaseholders, and reduction in space leased by COA, the Town is currently reviewing current and potential lease agreements, at the Senior Center facility. Brattleboro Senior Meals has received financial support from both the federal and state levels, to allow the meals program to continue under local control. Their Grand Opening is scheduled for October 1st.
9C. Brattleboro Climate Protection. BCP Director Paul Cameron and members of the group will review the organizations work and accomplishments in the last year and review goals for the coming year.
9D. Efficiency Vermont - Town Energy Audit. Project Manager Neil Curtis, of Efficiency Vermont, will meet with the Selectboard to discuss the recently-completed Audit of all municipal and school facilities in Brattleboro. The Audit was secured through the efforts of Brattleboro Climate Protection, in order to determine potential reductions in carbon emissions, electricity usage, fossil fuel consumption, and overall energy costs to the Town of Brattleboro. The report details recommended energy improvements that could result in a combined net municipal and school savings $32,000 per year, ($24,800 municipal) based on current energy costs. The report also suggests that the preliminary cost benefit analysis does not justify a Performance Contract model of project financing.
9E. Zoning Amendments. Several Town Zoning Ordinance Amendments, approved by the Planning Commission, have been forwarded back to the Selectboard for a second Public Hearing and final approval. Changes include a revision to Section 4502.d.iii.A of the Zoning Ordinances, which increases the allowed minimum time for electronic copy signs to change from 30 seconds to 15 minutes to bring the Town Ordinance into compliance with Vermont State Statute. A change is also being made to Section 2610.g allowing Accessory Dwellings in order to eliminate current confusing language and bring Town Ordinance language into compliance with State Permit Reform Legislation that became effective July 1, 2004. The Planning Commission has also forwarded amendment changes for Burden of Proof; Rights of Way; Curb Cuts; Parking in Village Center; Access Permit; Excavation/Quarry; restrictions on Animals; and Definitions in Appendices A and D.
9F. Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. The Selectboard is asked to accept the 2004 LLEBG from the Federal government in the amount of $12,186. The amount of funding continues the trend of gradual reduction in the yearly amount of funding available from this program which has resulted in an influx of over $200,00 to police department since 1999. An enclosed memo from Police Chief John Martin reviews spending criteria for the Federal Grant that an informal citizen advisory committee will follow in making recommendations to the department for the 2004 LLEBG.
9G. BFD Pickup/Foam Skid Unit. As a result of a Homeland Security Grant awarded to the Brattleboro Fire Department in June of this year, the Department has solicited and received bids for a tow vehicle and drop-in skid unit for class A foam, per conditions of the Grant. The Selectboard is asked to ratify the low bid of $28, 099.00 of six bids received for a 2005 Ford F350 Super Duty Pickup from Sweeney Ford of Greenfield, Ma. Two bids were received for a skid-mounted Class A Foam Unit, with the recommended bid being awarded to Fire Tech and Safety in the amount of $10,130.00. No municipal funds are involved in the purchases that were subject to competitive grant review and allocation of funding at the State level.
9H. DPW Engineering Services. The Public Works Department seeks approval for acceptance of the low bid of four bids received for engineering design services for replacement of Town Bridge #7 on Sunset Lake Road near the junction of Regina Vista Drive. Acceptance of a bid of $28,733, from Dubois & King Inc. of Randolph, Vt. is requested.
9I. Emergency Ordinance. An emergency ordinance re-implementing the one-way traffic pattern on Green Street from High to Whipple during school drop off and pick up times is before the Board for approval. The emergency ordinance is valid for 30 days, so an additional emergency ordinance will have to be considered will allow time for a permanent ordinance to be put in place.
9J. Emergency Ordinance. The emergency ordinance establishing a three-way stop on Guilford Street at the intersection of Maple for an additional 30 days is back before the Board for approval. The three-way stop was put in place for the safety of both pedestrians and vehicles in the area of the washout at the junction of Guilford Street.
9K. Ordinance Amendment. The permanent ordinance establishing one-way traffic on Green Street from the junction of High Street easterly to Whipple Street, during school dropoff and pickup times, is before the Board for its first reading. School officials met with the Traffic Safety Committee in July after the trial period was conducted in May/June. Consensus of both the Committee and school officials was to implement the one-way traffic on a permanent basis. The proposed ordinance also includes language to allow one-way traffic in the event of early school closing or emergency situations.
9L. Ordinance Amendment. An ordinance creating a three-way stop at the intersection of South Main and Cotton Mill Hill is before the Board for its first reading. The Traffic Safety Committee has monitored the intersection since its reconstruction several years ago and has discussed the many near-misses at the intersection due to the speed of northbound traffic on South Main and the resulting line of sight distances. Although the Committee has been reluctant to install stop signs, the consensus is that it is the only way to improve safety at the intersection.
12A. Civilian/Police Review Board Feasibility Committee. Members of the Selectboard completed interviews of ten residents who have indicated interest in filling five citizen positions on the Citizen Police Review Board Feasibility Committee. The Board will enter Deliberative Session at 4:30pm on prior to the regular Selectboard meeting, and then discuss and vote on the five appointments during the meeting. In addition to the citizen appointees, the committee will be comprised of two Selectboard members, a member of the Police Department management, a representative from the Police Department Collective Bargaining Unit.
13A. School Board Vacancy. After interviewing the lone candidate for the School Board vacancy earlier in the evening, it is anticipated that the Board will appoint the vacancy.
13B. Verizon Pole Petition. A petition has been submitted by the phone utility seeking approval for placement of new poles and wires with the Town right of way on Brattle St.
13C. Annual Town Fair. VLCT has requested the appointment of a voting delegate to their annual business meeting. Although historically, the delegate has been the Town Manager, it is conceivable that the Board could appoint the Assistant Town Manager in his place.