cgrotke

iBrattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Daniel Quipp

by cgrotke | Politics

Daniel Quipp is an incumbent running for a three year seat.

Tell us a bit about yourself and why you are running for a three year seat…

Hello iBrattleboro! I’ve been on the board for the last three years and have decided to take the plunge for the 3-year seat. I’m proud of the work we have done in the last three years and am up for the challenge of the next three. Hopefully we’ll finally move out of the pandemic and into a period of recovery for all people. There are many opportunities ahead and with a new town manager at the helm, I’m excited to see what we can accomplish for the good of the town.

RTM increased compensation to make it easier for more people to serve, yet you are running unopposed. Did RTM make a mistake? Increasing compensation did not increase candidates…

Running unopposed certainly feels quite strange. In my previous three elections I think the smallest field was four candidates vying for two seats. Whether the lack of candidates is related to compensation, I cannot say. The $8000 stipend did not really figure in my decision to run again. I think the work of being on the board for the last two years might not have looked super appealing and with all of the incumbents choosing to run again perhaps potential candidates decided to wait until next year? 

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – March 1, 2022

by cgrotke | Town News

A potentially short regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard is scheduled for Town Meeting Day (election day). They will hear about new plans for liquor for the Latchis Pub & Underground, they’ll talk about wearing masks a while longer, and they’ll amend the ordinance change regarding downtown snow removal. You can add to the meeting by bringing up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

2022 Brattleboro Election Information

by cgrotke | Politics

We sent out interviews to all the Selectboard candidates, as we always do, almost a month ago. None have returned them yet. (Why bother when there is no competition, eh?)

We sent out interview questions to candidates for Representative Town Meeting Moderator.  David Gartenstein returned his and you can find it here. (Update:) Kurt Daims’ answers are here.

Brattleboro Food Coop Hires New General Manager

by cgrotke | Business

This just in from the Co-op:

“The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Lee Bradford will be our Co-op’s next General Manager.

Lee will start on March 21st following his move back east from Fresno, California, where he has been Vice President of Customer Service/Customer Experience, as well as the General Manager of FreshKo Produce Services, dual roles for C&S Wholesale Grocers. Lee had previously served C&S from its Brattleboro and Keene locations, and he and his family are eager to return to the area.

iBrattleboro Turns 19

by cgrotke | iBrattleboro

If you like the number 2, today is a good day: 02-20-2022. It’s also the 19th birthday of iBrattleboro.com. Can you imagine?

For those new to town, iBrattleboro is citizen journalism. It’s a local, free publishing platform for you to share your news, events, comments, and other Brattleboro things. We have free classifieds and free advertising. Anything you publish gets promoted to over 1600 twitter followers as well.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – No Business Likes Snow Business

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard february 15, 2022

The Brattleboro selectboard had strong words for downtown property owners over sidewalk snow removal. It was a good old-fashioned Selectboard -DBA battle for a while there, when the downtown organization tried to pass responsibility for clearing snow to the Town.  No, insisted the board. Building owners have always been required to clear it, and if the downtown organization feels it is a shabby job, perhaps they should pay to use a more professional service. Take that.

They also raced through some public hearings, updates and reports.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes February 15, 2022

by cgrotke | Town News

At their next regular meeting the Brattleboro Selectboard will consider changing the rules about downtown snow removal, possibly ending the practice of removing snow for building owners and charging them after for the work.

The board will revisit the mask mandate, take care of some grants, appoint some people, and consider use of ARPA funds to replenish the parking fund. You can, as always, bring up pther items not on the agenda during public participation.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Whiskey and Water

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard feb 2 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard met to discuss liquor license renewals and a safe drinking water system loan Tuesday evening

They granted licenses and accepted free money in record time, withholding most commentary and cutting right to the chase. This qualifies the evening as one of the shortest regular meetings.

iBrattleboro Representative Town Meeting Moderator Interview – David Gartenstein

by cgrotke | Politics

David Gartenstein is running for Moderator for Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting.

…..

Tell us about yourself and why you’d like to be Moderator of Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting.

I’d like to serve the public good by moderating Town Meeting in a way that is fair to all, with governing procedures followed, all persons having a chance to engage, and decisions made after full debate and consideration of all available information.  

Antiques Roadshow Coming To Other End of Vermont

by cgrotke | Entertainment

A press release announces the fun:

“Antiques Roadshow is Coming to Shelburne Museum!

Time to rummage through your attic! ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will make its first visit to Vermont on July 12 at the Shelburne Museum for an all-day appraisal event as part of the series’ 27th production tour.

1916 Tech Mystery in Downtown Brattleboro

by cgrotke | History

As I sometimes do, I was reading the old newspapers of Brattleboro and came across this little bit of tech news from 1916 in the Phoenix. It’s a story of a mysterious sound that was interfering with a downtown Brattleboro business.  Vaughan & Burnett had a jewelry store on Main Street and were innovators in that they installed special equipment to accurately set clocks and watches.

How A Book Led Me To Release My First Album

by cgrotke | Creative
2022 cover

I released an album.

“But Chris, you aren’t a musician and don’t play in any bands.” Well, yes, technically that’s true, but let me explain.

Last year I read a book called “Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984” by Duane Tudahl. The author goes day by day through studio logs and band member’s recollections and notes of every recording, rehearsal, and performance by Prince and his band the Revolution.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – FY23 Budget Approval & Zoom RTM

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard jan 25 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved an FY23 budget to send to Representative Town Meeting. They also warned that meeting, so representatives will get to vote on the budget and other items. 

There was a bit of discussion about the value of holding Representative Town Meeting once again by Zoom, but the option to do it that way was approved unanimously.

No Challengers For Brattleboro Selectboard

by cgrotke | Politics

Everyone in Brattleboro who planned on running for Selectboard has returned petitions to the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office. The big surprise this year? No surprises at all. All the names are familiar incumbents.

Daniel Quipp will run for a three year seat. Jessica Gelter and Tim Wessel will run for one year seats.

A Conversation with Brattleboro Town Manager Yoshi Manale

by cgrotke | Town News

I had the opportunity to talk with Brattleboro’s new Town Manager, Yoshi Manale, last week via Zoom. What follows is a rough transcription of our conversation which wanders through topics such as Brattleboro’s downtown space, NJ politics, DC, Vermont, climate, housing, moving to a new place and fitting in, celebrities, and more.

….

I thought I’d do a little introductory story about you since you are new to to most people in Brattleboro. I thought I’d start with your name. Octavian is a really cool name. How did you get that name?

Selectboard Meeting Notes – FY23 Budget Finishing Touches, Bike Paths, Tax Stabilization for Alternative Energy

by cgrotke | Town News
sb january 18 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard did some final tinkering with remaining FY23 budget items, with a discussion about bike paths and whether waiting six months is worth $16,000.

They approved some sidewalk improvements, Human Services requests, and a tax stabilization idea to encourage solar projects on already-developed land was discussed and sent along to RTM.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – January 18, 2022

by cgrotke | Town News

Speak now or forever hold your peace – on the FY23 budget.  The Brattboro selectboard will be doing a final look at the FY23 budget they plan to send to Representative Town Meeting for consideration. Also for RTM, they will also review the annual Human Services funding request, consider an article to allow tax stabilization for alternative energy projects, appoint officers, and review draft warnings for upcoming elections and meetings.

The board will also have a public hearing for some safety improvements and hire a company to do some sidewalk repair. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.