This week's meeting features liquor and tobacco (licenses, that is), the Justice Center joining the town employee list, grant reports and requests, another line of credit, and more.
You can attend in person at the Municipal Center, or watch the meeting on BCTV.
BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2005, 6:15PM
AGENDA
Convene Meeting
Confirm Meeting Officially Warned
Approve Minutes from the meeting of November 15, 2005
CHAIR'S REMARKS
MANAGER'S COMMENTS
SELECTBOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION
Adjustments to the Agenda
Board of Liquor Commissioners
Recess to Liquor Commissioners
Second Class Liquor License -- Defalco Corporation, d/b/a Brattleboro OTR, 564 Canal Street, Brattleboro
Tobacco License -- Defalco Corporation, d/b/a Brattleboro OTR, 564 Canal Street, Brattleboro
Other Business
Adjourn
INTERNAL BUSINESS
Justice Center Employees -- Discuss Contract -- Barb Sondag (10 min.)
Latchis Building -- Public Hearing on Use of CDBG Funds -- Gail Nunziata/Sarah Friedman (10 min.)
Omega Optical -- Public Hearing on Use of CDBG Funds -- Gordon Bristol/Sarah Friedman (10 min.)
Estey Organ Museum -- Authorize Application for Preserve America Grant -- Sarah Friedman (10 min.)
Brattleboro Climate Protection -- Discuss Annual Appropriation -- Paul Cameron (10 min.)
Tax Anticipation Line of Credit -- Approve -- Barb Vinci (5 min.)
OLD/OTHER BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Announce Planning Commission Vacancy/Set Deadline for Letters of Interest (5 min.)
Deputy Health Officer -- Appointment (5 min.)
CORRESPONDENCE
VT Department of Buildings & General Services -- Seeking Letters of Interest for Work Camp Facility -- Deadline of December 15th.
MEETINGS
Brattleboro Substance Abuse Action Team
Wednesday, December 7, 5-7pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Wednesday, December 7, 7pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Planning Commission
Monday, December 12, 6pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Tree Advisory Committee
Tuesday, December 13, 7pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Annual Employee Breakfast
Friday, December 16, 7am-8:15am
Central Fire Station
Selectboard Meeting
Tuesday, December 20, 6:15pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
WARRANTS FOR APPROVAL
It is anticipated that the Board will enter Executive Session to discuss issues with one of the Town's collective bargaining units.
ADJOURNMENT
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The following will summarize those items on the Agenda for the Tuesday, December 6, 2005 Selectboard Meeting.
Second Class Liquor License/Tobacco License. Applications have been submitted by DeFalco Corp. d/b/a Brattleboro OTR, 564 Canal Street, Brattleboro, for a Second Class Liquor License and Tobacco License. Approval will be contingent on a clear record check.
Requested Action: To approve the Second Class Liquor License and the Tobacco License for DeFalco Corp. d/b/a Brattleboro OTR as presented contingent on the receipt of a clear record check.
Justice Center Employees. The Brattleboro Community Justice Center currently operates by agreement between the Town of Brattleboro and Vermont Department of Corrections. As part of the agreement, the Town is the Grant recipient for funding and in-turn contracts with BCJC professionals to perform the work. The Grant agreement further stipulates that the Justice Center is not allowed to be its own non-profit entity, but is required to be part of Town government. The Town had originally hired Justice Center employees as independent contractors, but Assistant Town Manager/Human Resources Director Barbara Sondag has become concerned that the contractor status is a risk because of guidance and employment decisions made by the Town. After review of independent contractor requirements criteria of the Internal Revenue Service, Town Attorney Robert Fisher has recommended that the three employees be made Town employees. Staff recommendation is that the employees be hired as Limited-Term according to our Personnel Handbook, with the positions contingent on Grant funding for support.
Requested Action: To approve the hiring of three Brattleboro Community Justice Center Employees as full-time Limited Term employees, subject to the availability of Grant money to fund the positions.
Latchis Building. The Selectboard will hold a public hearing to review results of a $200,000 Vermont Community Development Implementation Block Grant that was used to assist the Brattleboro Arts Initiative in the purchase of the historic Latchis Block on Main St. Grant conditions included the retention of 40 jobs of businesses in the building and insuring that 24 of the jobs were held by low to moderate income. Gail Nunziata of BAI will attend the meeting to answer any questions during the public hearing.
Requested Action: None
Omega Optical. A public hearing will also be held to review the Community Development Block Grant awarded to Omega Optical in 2003 to assist with new Omega Optical building at the Delta Business Campus on Paul's Road in Brattleboro. As part of the Grant stipulation, Omega was required to retain 25 existing jobs of which 13 are to be low to moderate income. The $200,000 in funding toward the project was made available to Omega in the form of a 15--year loan.
Requested Action: None
Estey Organ Museum. Members of the Estey Organ Museum seek authorization from the Selectboard to apply for Grant funding that is available as a result of Brattleboro's newly-awarded ěPreserve Americaî designation. The grant would be used to develop a Master Plan for building assessments, adaptive re-use of facilities, and rehabilitation at the former Estey Organs Complex on Birge St. The project will be coordinated with plans developed by property owner Barbara George who will also manage the Master Plan Grant Project. Although a final budget is not completed for the Grant request, Selectboard approval of the application and signature of authorizing official is requested due to an application deadline that is prior to the next Selectboard Meeting.
Requested Action; To approve the request of the Estey Organ Museum to apply for Preserve America Grant funding to develop a Master Plan for the Estey Organ Museum, and former Estey Organ complex.
Brattleboro Climate Protection. We have received an annual funding request from Brattleboro Climate Protection, (BCP) in the amount of $7,500. The amount represents an increase of $2,500 from the current year budget amount granted to BCP via Special Article 17 at the 2005 Representative Town meeting. Since BCP does not fit into Human Service Funding criteria, and is outside criteria established by last year's Secretary of State ruling regarding funding requests that are outside the Town budget, it is recommended that the request again be placed on the Warning, as a Special Article at March Representative Town Meeting.
Requested Action: To approve placing a funding request of $7,500 by Brattleboro Climate Protection on the March Representative Town Meeting Warning as a Special Article.
Tax Anticipation Line of Credit. As of December 1, 2005, our cash flow position has improved, but will not carry us to the February 5, 2006 third quarter tax due date. We are currently expecting reimbursement of $300,000 in reimbursements from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, for paving and the Maple ST. Culvert replacement. Tax delinquencies have now dropped to $390,000 or 3.75% for the first two quarters of the fiscal year. Finance Director Barbara Vinci will review budget status and amount of funds to be borrowed with the Selectboard.
Requested Action: To approve borrowing in anticipation of taxes for up to $2,000,000 at an interest rate of ___% from _____.
Deputy Health Officer. The three-year term of Deputy Health Officer Cathy Barrows expires on December 31st. Your recommendation for the renewal of her appointment is requested.
Requested Action: To approve the recommendation to the State to renew the appointment of Deputy Health Officer Cathy Barrows for another three-year term.
Announce Planning Commission Vacancy/Set Deadline for Letters of Interest. We are in receipt of the resignation of Planning Commissioner Susan Tancredi who was recently appointed to a five-year term on the Planning Commission.