Here are the agenda and notes for the April 4, 2006 Selectboard Meeting. Attend in person at the Municipal Center or watch it on BCTV. If you do, you will hear about police dogs, climate protection, the utilities fund, CDBG grants and proceedures, new appointments, and much more. Read on for full details.
BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2006,
Interviews -- 4:35PM / Regular Meeting- 6:15PM
AGENDA
1. Interviews for Planning Commission, ADA Advisory Committee, and Brattleboro Rep. to the Windham Solid Waste Management District will begin at 4:35pm.
2. Convene Regular Portion of Meeting
3. Confirm Meeting Officially Warned
4. Approve Minutes from the meeting of March 21 and March 24, 2006
5. CHAIR'S REMARKS
6. MANAGER'S COMMENTS
7. SELECTBOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
8. CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION
9. Adjustments to the Agenda
10. Recess to Liquor Commissioners
A. First Class Liquor License - Annual Renewals
B. Second Class Liquor License - Annual Renewals
C. Tobacco License - Annual Renewals
D. Entertainment License - Annual Renewals
E. Other Business
F. Adjourn
11. Recess to Water and Sewer Commissioners
A. Utilities Fund -- Update -- Barb Sondag (10 min.)
B. Other Business
C. Adjourn
12. INTERNAL BUSINESS
A. Brattleboro Climate Protection/ICLEI/4 Other NE Cities -- Paul Cameron (10 min.)
B. Estey Organ Factory Heritage Tourism Master Plan -- Request for CDBG Planning Grant Application for Master Plan -- Sarah Friedman (10 min.)
C. BACLT Birge Street Project -- Request for CDBG Implementation Grant Application -- Sarah Friedman/Jim Mullen (10 min.)
D. BACLT Birge Street Project -- Public Hearing -- Sarah Friedman (5 min.)
E. VCDP/CD Block Grants -- Prioritization of Requests -- Sarah Friedman (15 min.)
F. Shelter Plus Care -- Request for Five-Year Extension -- Sarah Friedman (5 min.)
G. Withington Trust/Vermont Community Foundation/Thompson Trust -- Ratification of Grants -- Carol Lolatte (5 min.)
H. WSWMD -- Discussion on Recycling Igloos - George Murray/ (10 min.)
I. VT Radiological Emergency Response Program (RERP) -- Offer of Training (5 min.)
J. Solid Waste/Recycling -- Approve Bid -- Barb Sondag (10 min.)
13. OLD/OTHER BUSINESS
A. Brattleboro Police Department -- Proposed Canine Program -- John Martin (10 min.)
B. Municipal Appraiser -- Update -- Barb Sondag (10 min.)
14. NEW BUSINESS
A. Appointments (10 min.)
1) Planning Commissioner
2) ADA Committee
3) Brattleboro Rep. to the WSWMD
15. CORRESPONDENCE
A. West River Watershed Alliance -- Information Requested by member of Rep. Town Meeting.
B. Vermont Emergency Management -- Request for Backup Information for Purchases from Grant funding
16. MEETINGS
Bus Advisory Committee
Wednesday, April 5, 2:30-3:30pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Substance Abuse Action Team
Wednesday, April 5, 5-6:30pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Selectboard Worksession (Goals/Rules)
Thursday, April 6, 8am
Hanna Cosman Room
Planning Commission
Monday, April 10, 6pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Civilian Police Communications Committee
Monday, April 10, 5:30-7:30pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Development Review Board
Monday, April 17, 7pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Civilian Police Communications Committee
Monday, April 17, 5:30-7:30pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Estey Organ CDBG Public Hearing
Tuesday, April 18, 6pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Police/Fire Facility Study Committee
Wednesday, April 19, 12 noon
Hanna Cosman Room
Planning Commission
Monday, April 24, 6pm
Hanna Cosman Room
Civilian Police Communications Committee
Monday, April 24, 5:30-7:30pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
Selectboard Meeting
Tuesday, April 25, 6:15pm
Selectboard Meeting Room
17. WARRANTS FOR APPROVAL
18. It is anticipated that the Board will enter Executive Session to discuss issues with one of the Town's Collective Bargaining units, two pending civil matters and a pending contract matter.
19. ADJOURNMENT
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The following will summarize those items on the Agenda for the Tuesday, April 4, 2006 Selectboard Meeting.
10A-D. First Class Liquor Licenses. Annual Renewals for First & Second Class Liquor Licenses, Tobacco Licenses, and Entertainment Licenses.
Requested Motions: 1) To approve the First Class Liquor Licenses as Listed on 9A. 2) To approve the Second Class Liquor Licenses as Listed on 9B. 3) To approve the Tobacco Licenses as Listed on 9C; and 4) To approve the Entertainment Licenses as Listed on 9D.
11A. Utilities Fund Update.
At the special meeting on March 24, staff alerted the Selectboard to a potential shortfall of $350,000 in the current year Utilities budget. The need to reduce and/or eliminate expenditures this year to reduce that shortfall was discussed. After several staff meetings, approximately $200,000 in cuts have been identified. These cuts include hiring freezes as well as elimination of all non-essential purchases. Staff will update the Selectboard on cuts as well the need to finance the remaining shortfall. No action is required at this time.
12A. Brattleboro Climate Protection/ICLEI/4 Other NE Cities -- Paul Cameron.
Paul Cameron will be on hand to update the Selectboard on the Town's participation in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). In 2002 Brattleboro decided to join the ICLEI. Since that time, the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP), has done a variety of tasks to address the issue of pollution related to transportation. The ICLEI is now coordinating a multi-state and multi-town project -- five towns along I-91 will be developing local action plans to address the pollution coming from their jurisdiction and a regional recommendation plan to encourage sustainable development along the corridor.
Requested Motion: None
Items 12B, 12C, 12D, and 12E - CDBG Grant Applications and Procedure
At the regular March 21st meeting, the Selectboard heard about two separate projects interested in applying for CDBG Planning Grant monies. The Selectboard was also asked to hold a worksession to develop a procedure, to be used in the future, for evaluating such applications. As was explained at the time, the Town can only support one project per grant round. In the past this was not an issue, as the number of applications was smaller. However, the number of applications has grown and the Town finds itself in the position of having to choose which projects will be sponsored.
A worksession was held on March 27 to identify the criteria to be used by staff when evaluating potential projects. Under item 11E, staff will be presenting for approval the draft procedure. This still leaves the Town with the issue of two projects currently vying for Town support to proceed in the upcoming grant round.
Staff initially planned to proceed with evaluating the two projects using the draft criteria. Staff would then present this information at the April 4 meeting, allowing the Selectboard to make a decision on the two competing projects. Staff was unable to proceed in this manner, because the projects did not have all the information prepared. With only 2-3 days available for staff and the projects to gather the new information and the possibility that at the April 4 meeting, the criteria could still be changed, it seemed unfair to the two organizations to proceed with the draft procedure.
In hopes of being fair to everyone, staff makes the following recommendation: approve funding the Estey Organ Factory Heritage Tourism project through miscellaneous income; approve supporting the BACLT Birge Street project through the CDBG Grant Application process; and finally approve a final evaluation procedure with immediate implementation.
Staff is also prepared to move forward Tuesday night, if the Selectboard decides it will not use miscellaneous income to support a project and will instead choose one project to support through the CDBG process. If the Selectboard approves the Birge Street project, a public hearing has been advertised for April 4 (during the Selectboard meeting). If the Selectboard approves the Estey Organ project, a public hearing has been advertised for April 18 (a separate hearing).
12B. Estey Organ Factory Heritage Tourism Master Plan -- Request for CDBG Planning Grant Application -- Sarah Friedman (10 min.)
The organizers of the Estey Organ Museum on Birge Street will meet with the Selectboard to request a Vermont Community Development planning grant to fund half of a Heritage Museum Master Planning study for the original Estey Organ complex which was an important part of Brattleboro's historical development. Our recent designation as a Preserve America Community has resulted in the award of a $32,500 Federal Grant from Preserve America, which will fund the balance of the study. The planning grant will consider a master plan for the entire Estey Organ complex, focusing on adaptive reuse of the buildings to encourage appreciation of our heritage, adaptive reuse of building to encourage economic development, and creation of a sustainable business plan for the Estey Organ Museum. Other participants in the Master Planning Study include Barbara George, owner of many of the Estey complex buildings, and funding for the Museum provided by the Thomas Thompson Trust.
Alternative Motion A: To allocate an amount no greater than $30,000 from Miscellaneous Income to the Estey Organ Museum to develop the Estey Organ Factory Heritage Tourism Master Plan, the amount to be reduced by any other funding that the Museum may receive for this project.
Alternative Motion B: To authorize the Town of Brattleboro to apply for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $30,000 to support the Estey Organ Factory Heritage Tourism Master Plan.
12C. BACLT Birge Street Project --Request for CDBG Implementation Grant Application -- Sarah Friedman/Jim Mullen (10 min.)
BACLT is requesting authorization to apply for a Community Development Block Grant in an amount not to exceed $650,000. This project involves redevelopment of the Basketville warehouse at 34 & 68 Birge Street into a mixed used facility containing approximately 28 rental apartments as well as office space. The accompanying staff memorandum describes in detail the project as well as highlighting how the project meets goals established in the Town Plan
Requested Motion: To authorize the Town of Brattleboro to apply for a Community Development Block Grant in an amount not to exceed $650,000 in support of the BACLT Birge Street project.
12D. BACLT Birge Street Project -- Public Hearing -- Sarah Friedman
If 12C is approved, the Selectboard is asked to hold a Public Hearing on the Birge Street Project.
12E. CDBG Grants -- Project Evaluation Process -- Sarah Friedman (10 min.)
A Selectboard worksession was held on March 27 to discuss the formulation of written criteria and process for evaluation of CDBG projects. The written policy will aid the Selectboard in making informed decisions, as well as provide applicants a clear guide of the CDBG application process.
Nine criteria were identified for use in evaluating projects. As the criteria is similar to that utilized by VCDP, this process will insure that those projects with the greatest chance for success will be forwarded to VCPD.
If projects receive comparable scores by Staff in the nine areas, projects will be taken on a first come, first serve basis. However, three types of projects may take precedence over projects already "in the pipeline". Those are emergencies, town-owned projects, and continuation of on-going projects.
Requested Motion: To approve the process for evaluation of Community Development Block Grant applications with immediate implementation by staff.
12F. Shelter Plus Care -- Request for Five-Year Ex tension -- Sarah Friedman
Last year the Selectboard authorized the Shelter Plus Care Committee to apply for a five year extension from HUD which would allow more time to fully expend the award. In early March the Town received an amended grant agreement, which acknowledges and approves this extension request. Staff requests authorization to the amended grant agreement, thus enabling this vital program to continue.
Requested Motion: To approve a five-year extension of the Shelter Plus Care program and authorize the Town Manager to sign the necessary documents.
12G. Withington Trust/Vermont Community Foundation -- Ratification of Grant Received -- Carol Lolatte
Recreation and Parks Director Carol Lolatte will be available to inform the Selectboard on grant monies recently awarded by the Withington Trust/Vermont Community Foundation. Awards such as this allow the Town to re-invest in it capital resources.
Requested Motion: to ratify the receipt of $25,825.00 from the Vermont Community Foundation to be expended on improvements on the Living Memorial Park's Basketball Court, Brattleboro Common beautification, and repairs to the Fred Harris Memorial Tennis Courts.
12H. WSWMD -- Discussion on Recycling Igloos
For the past few years, we have received on-going complaints about the recycling igloos. Each time the issue has been discussed, the consensus has been that it would cost more money to have them removed because the recycling would just go into the trash and tipping fees would increase. There have also been issues with the cost of DPW staff having to maintain both sites. During the many meetings held over the issue, discussions included moving the igloos to different locations, monitoring them with cameras, removing one of them, or simply removing both. At their meeting of 9-20-05, the Board moved to have a camera installed and monitored by the District at the West Brattleboro site and the camera's effectiveness would be determined and brought back to the Board at a later meeting.
We have been getting more complaints lately from residents living in the West Brattleboro area about the igloos. The West Brattleboro Association has offered to work on cleaning up the area and putting up a stockade fence to make it look more attractive; however, they were told by DPW Director Steve Barrett that the property was owned by the school department. The Association is in the process of checking with the School Department to get their approval.
Executive Director George Murray will be attending the meeting to provide an update of what the District has been doing for the past two weeks and what their intent is for the West Brattleboro site.
12I. VT Radiological Emergency Response Program (RERP) -- Offer of Training
The Selectboard received a letter from the Vermont Emergency Management Radiological Emergency Response Program offering training to communities of the EPZ. Training will be provided on both basics of radiation science and the elements of the VRERP plan. This three hour training will be provided on a date convenient to the Board.
Requested Action: To set a date for training by the Vermont Emergency Management Radiological Emergency Response Program.
12J. Solid Waste Contract
At its March 21st meeting the Selectboard was informed of the bids received in response to the request for proposals. At that time no action was taken by the Board as the Solid Waste Committee had not yet met to discuss the bids. At the time of this writing a meeting of that committee is scheduled for March 31st. Staff will update the board on the committee's response to the bid proposals, as well as a plan for future action on the solid waste contract.
Requested Motion: To approve the Solid Waste contract as presented by the Solid Waste committee.
13A. Brattleboro Police Department -- Proposed Canine Program.
The Department will again discuss a request to purchase and maintain a canine for use in narcotics detection and tracking of missing persons. Purchase of a trained canine is an eligible cost from the Federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program, as is required training for the Canine handler. Funding for the team of handlers, and maintenance would be raised by community donations. A similar fund raising program was used years ago when the department had a canine that was used for patrol. Although the canine would require an officer an hour per day dog maintenance, the Chief believes that time saved in drug and missing person searches would offset the animal's personnel care time requirements.
Requested Motion: To approve the purchase of a trained canine for use as a narcotics and tracking with the understanding that funding for officer training and canine care be raised through donations.
13B. Municipal Appraiser Update
Staff will provide an update on the Town's search for a Municipal Appraiser to replace Phil Turner, who is retiring on July 1, 2006.
Requested Motion: None
13A. Appointments. After interviewing candidates for the Planning Commission and the ADA Advisory Committee, it is anticipated that the Board will be making one appointment to the Planning Commission to fill the remainder of Audrey Garfield's term which expires June 30th and up to three appointments to the ADA Advisory Committee.
Requested Motion: To appoint one candidate to the Planning Commission, up to three candidates to the ADA Advisory Committee, and one candidate as the Brattleboro Rep. to the Windham Solid Waste Management District.