cgrotke

Brattleboro Should Invest In Gigabit Fiber Internet

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

We moved our web design business to Brattleboro in 2001. People around Brattleboro were mostly using modems, and Sovernet was just beginning to sign people up for (relatively slow) DSL connections. We limped by, overpaid, and designed local web sites for low bandwidth knowing most people were stuck at low speeds around here.

As time went on, things didn’t really speed up much here, but friends (and competitors) in bigger cities were leaping ahead. While we were lucky to get 3-7 Mbps here, they were enjoying 200 Mbps or more.

Proposal: Direct Public Vote Of a Municipality Data Currency Matrix

by cgrotke | Economics

This proposal was sent our way with a request for criticisms. What say ye? (I kinda like the age-based escrow account idea….)

“Proposal: Direct Public Vote Of a Municipality Data Currency Matrix 

Agenda:  Developing software program codes as an alternative currency of equal international exchange value for fair trade economies 

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Opioid Lawsuit May Include Local Pharmacies

by cgrotke | Town News

A Brattleboro Selectboard quartet decided Tuesday night to proceed on a path toward suing opioid manufacturers and providers. The board didn’t see any need to spare local pharmacies from potential litigation, and wasn’t sure about suing local doctors.

The board continued their discussion of municipal broadband, bought winter salt and sand, heard a report on progress at WSWMD, and got a final financial report from retiring John O’Connor.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 15, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

At their next meeting, the Brattleboro Selectboard will decide if the Town will be joining Bennington in a lawsuit “to recover costs and damages from manufacturers, distributers, and retailers who have profited from the sale of opioids.” Town Attorney Bob Fisher will summarize the 175 page complaint and answer questions.

Health Insurance will be renewed for 2020, winter sand and road salt will be purchased, bulletproof vests will be funded, goals will be reviewed and an update from the solid waste district will be delivered. You can deliver your own items, not already on the agenda, during public participation.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Broadband, A Tale of Five Cities

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard oct 1 2019

The Brattleboro Selectboard learned the tales of five nearby municipal broadband projects and expressed varying levels of support for something local, along with many questions. Some answers will come at their next meeting.

The Work Today program is being delayed until spring 2020, the parking garage will get a new elevator cab, the DPW will get their generator, and the Town hopes to get some volunteers for committees.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 1, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

An unusually-short agenda awaits the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting. Short agendas sometimes imply absent board members.

They will get an update on the Work Today program at Youth Services and hear results of staff research into a potential new utility, municipal broadband. There are just two other items – buying a generator and announcing committee vacancies. You can extend this meeting by bringing up other items not on this tiny agenda during Public Participation.

Some Thoughts On Climate Strike Day

by cgrotke | Nature

Today there is a world Climate Strike. It is amazing, and amazing that it took this long.

As kids almost 50 years ago, we were already concerned about the environment. Earth Day got started, we read Ranger Rick and National Geographic World, and we knew that littering made an old Native American by the side of the road cry. We knew about animals going extinct from hunting and pollution. We used to plant trees on Arbor Day each June. We read the Lorax.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Climate Still Not An Emergency

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard meeting

The Brattleboro Selectboard decided once again that there is no climate emergency worth declaring. The proposed declaration was “a mess” and existing efforts were deemed ample.

The board had their expectations managed about possibilities of self governing anytime soon, budget season is lurking, and the possibility of a bike lane on Western Ave will be further investigated.

Putney’s New Jetport for the Elite

by cgrotke | Putney
putney planes ad

Don’t you just love ‘personalized’ ads? I came across this one today and it made me laugh. It’s for reduced-price private personal planes in [location] and that location is Putney, VT.

Just look at the gorgeous plane parked in [Putney]. It certainly looks like [Putney] to all of us who live around here, right?

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 17, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

The postponed Declaration of Climate Emergency will once again be on the agenda for the Brattleboro Selectboard, but the bigger focus for the board will be town finances. There will be a review of the Long Term Financial Plan, scheduling of FY20 budget meetings, yearly and monthly financial reports, and more.

Municipal self-governance, third class liquor licenses, renewable energy projects,  grants, and committee appointments will round things out. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Martha O’Connor Memories

by cgrotke | Obituaries

I once had a discussion with Martha O’Connor about fence viewing. I had applied and been appointed to the position, and ran into Martha at the grocery store (a frequent spot for us to run into one another). The topic was always related to Brattleboro or governing, and today it was Fence Viewing.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Goodbye, Martha RIP

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard

With just three members, the Brattleboro Selectboard said farewell and thank you to Martha O’Connor, who passed away earlier this week.

The reduced  board discussed the small issue of rising waters with the Hinsdale Bridge project, the failed search for a marketing firm, and efforts to become more compassionate in town. The Windham and Windsor Housing Trust got the go-ahead for a grant application to help homeowners, a citizen volunteered to shadow the Town Manager at state meetings of VLCT, and the meeting was done by a very reasonable hour.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 3, 2019

by cgrotke | Uncategorized

The Hinsdale Bridge project inches forward at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. The board will also learn details of the $40k plan to market some aspects of Brattleboro to some other people somewhere.

Compassionate Brattleboro will give an update on their progress, winter heating oil will be bought, grants will be applied for, and more. You can always bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Shop Offers New West River Poster

by cgrotke | Business
west river 91 bridge

We have a new poster in the Brattleboro Shop – a stylized view of the West River and I-91 bridge. It’s the latest addition to our original art series of Brattleboro travel posters and postcards, and the Brattleboro Shop is the only place you’ll find them.

Declaration of Climate Emergency – Full Text and Comments

by cgrotke | Politics

Here is the full text and comments of the proposed “Declaration of Climate Emergency” from Brattleboro Common Sense. The issue is on the agenda for the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

….

Whereas this article, to be known as the Declaration of Climate Emergency, is in accordance with a resolution promoted by the selectboard in 2003, and with resolutions on energy and climate change promoted by Brattleboro Common Sense through votes of the people in 2010, 2014, and of town representatives in 2018; and whereas the youth of Brattleboro are calling on today’s town leaders to formally acknowledge the truth of the emergency;

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 20, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

A climate emergency declaration, sustainability issues, and the celebration of the police are all on the next agenda of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

There will be a discussion of a Charter Review commission being re-formed, business loans, and talk of public art proposals. Continuing the focus on police, the board will approve a police carport, new fingerprint scanners, and new police vehicles. You can, as always, bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.

Nickel and Dime Bags – More Cost Shifting To Consumers

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

The plastic bag ban in Brattleboro banned plastic shopping bags. Grocery stores immediately complied, removing them from the available options to shoppers. Reusable bags were offered for sale. 

Paper bags, always a free convenience for shoppers, suddenly had a price tag. Depending on the store, paper bags to carry purchases from a store now cost 5 or 10 cents. I’m speaking primarily of grocery stores and supermarkets.

Ask cashiers why a previously-free store amenity suddenly costs money, the answer is often “You have to blame to Town of Brattleboro.”  But this isn’t true. Brattleboro did not mandate charging for paper bags.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Climate Emergency, Homelessness, Addiction, and Flowers

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard

Before the Brattleboro Selectboard could get to regular business, they heard from many agitated citizens on issues such as the homeless, flowers, and librarians getting paid less than homeless day work program employees. This was interrupted by a climate emergency protest, adding to the list of grievances.

Eventually the board got tho their scheduled business of updates on the DBA and Project CARE, approving of contracts, a short discussion of childcare at public meetings, and more. It was quite an outpouring of interest in local government, from many angles.