A discussion of matching funds for a new yogurt processing plant promising 50 new jobs in Brattleboro, parade permits, monthly financial updates, a contract with the Firefighter Bargaining Unit, a new taxi permit, a Clean Energy Fund Grant application, and more will be on the agenda for this final Tuesday night meeting of the Selectyear. (The next meeting is after the election in March). You can also bring up other items not on the agenda during the public participation portion.

Watch on BCTV or attend in person at the Municipal Center on Main Street.

....

Brattleboro Selectboard
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009
REGULAR MEETING - 6:15PM
AGENDA

1. Convene regular meeting

2. Confirm meeting officially warned

3. Approve minutes from the meeting on February 3, 2009

4. CHAIR’S REMARKS

5. MANAGER’S COMMENTS

6. SELECTBOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

8. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA

9. INTERNAL BUSINESS

A. Monthly Financial Report
B. Review of Town Financial Audit FY08
C. TriPark Alternate Representative – Approval
D. VCDP Public Hearing and Application – Commonwealth Yogurt
E. CEDF Grant Application - BTU
F. Firefighter Bargaining Unit Contract - Approval
G. Certificate of Attestation – Board of Listers
H. Taxi Driver’s Permit – Approval
I. Parade Permit - Girls on the Run Parade Permit Approval
J. Parade Permit - Windham County Humane Society Walk-a-thon Approval
K. Proclamation – Ratification of Harris Hill Proclamation
L. Employee Suggestion

10. OLD/OTHER BUSINESS

11. NEW BUSINESS

A. Informational Town Meeting – Set Date and Time

12. CORRESPONDENCE

13. MEETINGS

AG Advisory Committee
February 18, 2009 1pm
Hanna Cosman Room

Development Review Board
February 18, 2009 7pm
Selectboard Meeting Room

Arts Committee
February 19, 2009 4pm
Hanna Cosman Room

Candidates Forum
February 19, 2009 6pm
Selectboard Meeting Room

Charter Review Commission
February 19, 2009 6:30pm
The High Rise 107 Elliot Street 4th floor

Planning Commission
February 23, 2009 6pm
Hanna Cosman Room

Preliminary Review Committee
February 24, 2009 11am
Hanna Cosman Room

Conservation Commission
February 24, 2009 5:15pm
Hanna Cosman Room

Traffic Safety Committee
February 24, 2009 8:30pm
Selectboard Meeting Room

Selectboard Organizational Meeting
March 4, 2009 6:15pm
Selectboard Meeting Room

14. ADJOURNMENT

......

The following will summarize those items on the Agenda for the Tuesday February 17, 2009 Selectboard Meeting. The regular meeting will begin at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room.

9A. Monthly Financial Report – Finance Director John Leisenring will present the finance reports for the month ending January 2009.

Requested Action: None.

9B. Review of Town Financial Audit Fy08 – John Leisenring will present the Board with the Financial Audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.

Requested Action: None.

9C. TriPark Alternate Representative - The Board is asked to approve the appointment of John Leisenring as Alternate Authorized Representative for the Tri-Park Water-Sewer Project. Currently the Town Manager is the only authorized representative for the project – that is the only person authorized to sign documents related to the project. As alternate John would be authorized to sign all documents, including payment requests when the Town Manager is unavailable. This request comes as a recommendation by the State ANR personnel.

Requested Action: To authorize John Leisenring to act as alternate authorized representative for the Tri-Park water/sewer project.

9D. VCDP Public Hearing and Application – Commonwealth Yogurt. The Board is asked to hold a public hearing on a Vermont Community Development Program application in the amount of up to $750,000 to purchase specialized equipment for a new yogurt processing plant. Commonwealth Yogurt is interested in developing a plant in Brattleboro that would manufacture Class II dairy products. All R&D, warehousing, shipping and the head office would be located in Brattleboro and would result in 50 new, good paying jobs. Staff recommends that the Town provide a $100,000 match in the form of a fifteen year loan at 2% interest (Terms of the loan are stipulated by VCDP). The $100,000 match would come from the Program Income fund associated with the Town’s CDBG program.

Requested Action: To approve the VCDP application for Commonwealth Yogurt in an amount not to exceed $750,000 with a Town match in the amount of a $100,000 fifteen year loan at 2% interest.

Requested Action: To approve the Resolution for the VCDP Grant Application Authority form associated with the Commonwealth Yogurt VCDP application.

9E. CEDF Grant Application – The Board is asked to approve an application from Brattleboro Thermal Utility (BTU) for $20,000 form the Clean Energy Development Fund. In September 2008 the Board approved a similar grant application with a corresponding Town match of $5,000. While BTU was not successful in that application, they have made several changes to the application and are requesting again Board approval of the application and the corresponding $5,000 match from the VCDP Program Income fund.

Requested Action: To approve Brattleboro Thermal Utility’s $20,000 grant application to the Clean Energy Development Fund and to allocate $5,000 from the Program Income fund as match.

9F. Firefighter Bargaining Unit Contract – The Board is asked to approve the Firefighter Bargaining Unit Contract for the period beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2010.

Requested Action: To approve the Contract agreement between the Town of Brattleboro and the Bargaining Unit representing Brattleboro Professional Firefighters.

9G. Certificate of Attestation No Appeal or Suit Pending – The Board is asked to approve and sign the Certification of Attestation No Appeal or Suit Pending for the listed years of 2007 and 2008. This certifies that there are no statutory appeals pending from the appraisals on the Grand List of 2007 or 2008, and that there are no unsettled suits for the same years.

Requested Action: To approve the Certificate of Attestation No Appeal or Suit Pending for the listed years of 2007 and 2008.

9H. Taxi Driver Permit – The Board is asked to approve the Taxi Driver Permit for Kellie Poplawski. The application has been approved by Police Chief Gene Wrinn after review of the application and background check.

Requested Action: To approve the Taxi Driver Permit for Kellie Poplawski.

9I. Parade Permit – Girls on the Run The Board is asked to approve a parade permit for the 10th annual Girls on the Run event scheduled for May 16, 2009 beginning at 9:30am and ending 11:00am.

Requested Action: To approve the Girls on the Run parade permit scheduled for May 16, 2009 from 9:30am to 11:00am.

9J. Parade Permit – Windham County Humane Society The Board is asked to approve the parade permit for the annual Windham County Humane Society Walk for Animals on September 26, 2009 beginning at 9:00am and ending at 2:00pm.

Requested Action: To approve the Windham County Humane Society Walk for Animals scheduled for September 26, 2009 from 9:00am to 2:00pm.

9K. Proclamation – Harris Hill The Board is asked to ratify the proclamation naming February 14, 2009 Harris Hill Day.

Requested Action: To ratify the proclamation naming February 14, 2009 Harris Hill Day.

9L. Employee Suggestion – The January Employee Suggestion Award goes to Eric Johnson of the Police Department for his idea of utilizing data/work stations. These units save money and energy and are currently being utilized in the Police Department. Working with our IT professional the Town is looking into expanding this technology into other departments. Please note the February suggestion time will be announced at the meeting as the close date for accepting ideas is Sunday the 15th.

Requested Action: To award the January Employee Suggestion to Eric Johnson.

11A. Informational Town Meeting – The Board is asked to schedule Informational Town Meeting for March 11th 7:00pm at Academy School.