Here is your regular Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes for the upcoming September 6, 2005 meeting.
Your input on the Creamery Bridge plan is requested. There will also be some appointments to some committees, a look at Municipal Policies and Codes, a planning grant for West Brattleboro, MATRIX implementation plans, town refinancing, and even the possibility of a new street name in our fair 'boro.
If you can afford the gas, you can drive to the Muncipal Center on Main Street to participate in person. Otherwise, grab a bike, horse, or walk down. You can watch the proceedings on BCTV, too.
BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, 6:15PM
AGENDA
1. Convene Meeting
2. Confirm Meeting Officially Warned
3. Approve Minutes from the meeting of August 16, 2005
4. CHAIR'S REMARKS
5. MANAGER'S COMMENTS
6. SELECTBOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
7. CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION
8. Adjustments to the Agenda
9. INTERNAL BUSINESS
A. Public Hearing - Creamery Bridge Rehabilitation Project - Steve Barrett (10 min.)
B. VCDP Form MP-1 - Approval of Required Municipal Policies and Codes - Sarah Friedman (5 min.)
C. West Brattleboro Municipal Planning Grant - Authorize Application for funding for Master Plan - Sarah Friedman (5 min.)
D. MATRIX Report - Discuss Implementation Plan - Barb Sondag (15 min.)
E. Municipal Bonds - Ratify Refinancing - Barb Vinci (5 min.)
F. Street Name - Request to Name Private Drive Off Putney Road Noahs Lane (5 min.)
10. OLD/OTHER BUSINESS
A. Appointment - Bus Advisory Committee (5 min.)
11. NEW BUSINESS
A. Appointment - Putney Road Scoping Committee (5 min.)
B. Appointments - Solid Waste/Recycling Committee (5 min.)
12. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Michelle Wright - Support for Strict Limits for Big Box Stores (8/10/05)
B. West River Watershed Alliance - Water Testing Results on the West, Williams and Saxton's River Watersheds ((8/12/05)
C. Division for Historic Preservation - Dickinson Estate Historic District on the World Learning campus to be considered by the VT Advisory Council on Historic Preservation for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.( (8/17/05)
D. Matt Cunningham-Cook - Request to Include Youth on Civilian Police Communication Committee ((8/29/05)
13. MEETINGS
Brattleboro Substance Abuse Action Team
Wednesday, September 7, 5-7pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Development Review Board
Wednesday, September 7, 7pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Planning Commission - Store Size Caps
Thursday, September 8, 5-6pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Planning Commission - VTrans Scoping
Thursday, September 8, 6-6:30pm
Hanna Cosman/Selectboard Room
Planning Comm - Putney Rd. Master Plan
Thursday, September 8, 6:30-9pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Selectboard/Planning Commission/Store Size Caps Committee Worksession
Monday, September 12, 6pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Tree Advisory Committee
Tuesday, September 13, 7pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Brattleboro Climate Protection
Wednesday, September 14, 5:30pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Bus Advisory Committee
Wednesday, September 14, 2:30pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Putney Road - VTrans Public Concerns
Thursday, September 15, 7-9pm
Hanna Cosman/Selectboard Room
Development Review Board
Monday, September 19, 7pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Selectboard Meeting
Tuesday, September 20, 6:15pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
14. WARRANTS FOR APPROVAL
15. ADJOURNMENT
..............
The following will summarize those items on the Agenda for the Tuesday, September 6, 2005 Selectboard Meeting.
9A. Public Hearing. As part of the planned rehabilitation of the Creamery Covered Bridge that will be funded by the Vermont Agency of Transportation in 2006, the Agency has asked that a public hearing be held to solicit final public input on the project. The scope of the project will involve total rehabilitation of the historic bridge and will involve closing of the bridge during the reconstruction work. The project is now estimated to cost $392,000 by VTrans.
Requested Action: To authorize approval of the final conceptual plans for the rehabilitation of Creamery Bridge and to authorize the Chair of the Selectboard to sign the comment and approval form as required by the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
9B. VCDP Form MP-1. As a recipient of Vermont Community Development Program,(VCDP) funds, the Town of Brattleboro is required to have in place a series of policies such as Equal Employment Opportunity, Fair Housing, Code of Ethics, etc, that comply with Federal regulations. The policies have been in place since June of 1999 and are now required to be re-approved.
Requested Action: to renew the Town of Brattleboro's adoption of the policies as outlined above in accordance with the Vermont Community Development Program.
9C. West Brattleboro Municipal Planning Grant. Per a unanimous request of the Planning commission, the Selectboard is asked to approve a Grant application, in the amount of $15,000, to the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs, for development of a Master Plan for West Brattleboro. Although the area has been part of several transportation corridor studies, and part of a growth center study, a comprehensive long-term Master Plan has never been developed to address issues such as prioritizing future development and preservation efforts.
Requested Action: To authorize the Town of Brattleboro to apply for funding through the Vermont Municipal Planning Grant Program to support the development of a Master Plan for West Brattleboro.
9D. MATRIX Report. The Selectboard has completed review of recommendations made by the Matrix Organizational Study, and will discuss and approve their final recommendations and priorities for implementation of proposed changes. While some organizational changes have already been put into effect, others will require more study and funding in future budgets.
Requested Action: To approve the proposed Selectboard Implementation Plan for the Matrix Organizational Study.
9E. Municipal Bonds. Finance Director Barbara Vinci seeks approval to refinance an existing general obligation bond to take advantage of lower financing rates obtained by the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank at the July 20th Bond Sale. The bond principal is currently $140,000 per year comprised of $90,000 Utilities and $50,000 General Fund obligation. The refinancing will mean a current year General Fund budget savings of $3,660.
Requested Action: To approve re-financing of the Town of Brattleboro, Vermont Municipal Bond Bank General Obligation Bond 1995-2.
9F. Street Name. The owners of the private drive currently serving 687 and 695 Putney Road (Windham Vet Clinic and Howard Printing) have requested that their private drive be named Noahs Lane. The proposed street name has been reviewed by Town Staff and does not present a conflict with any current Brattleboro street names.
Requested Action: to name the private drive that is located off Putney Road as Noahs Lane.
10A. Appointment - Bus Advisory Committee. Jennifer Gagliardi, a current member of the Bus Advisory Committee, has submitted a letter of interest to continue serving on the committee. Since there is still a need for two more members, her appointment is recommended.
Requested Action: to appoint Jennifer Gagliardi to a two-year term on the Bus Advisory Committee.
11A. Appointment. At its meeting on Tuesday, August 23rd, members of the Traffic Safety Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Selectboard appoint a member of the Committee to the VTrans Putney Road Scoping Committee, subject to the approval of VTrans. Committee member David Thompson volunteered to serve in this capacity.
Requested Action: to appoint David Thompson, as the Traffic Safety Committee representative to the VTrans Putney Road Scoping Committee.
11B. Appointments - Solid Waste/Recycling Committee. As of this writing, only one citizen has submitted a letter of interest for this committee. The deadline for submittal was August 19th. Given the lack of citizen response and short timeframe available for Committee work, approval of the applicant is requested. The Board is also asked to approve the following as committee members. The Brattleboro Representative to Windham Municipal Solid Waste District, Representation from the Waste District, and staff as designated.
Requested Action: Approve the membership of the Solid Waste/Recycling Committee to review and make recommendations for the next Municipal Solid Waste/Recycling Contract.