With new meters and higher rates for parking in Brattleboro, let’s review some ways you can park for free and do errands downtown.
1. Patronize businesses with free parking
This one is obvious and easy. A few places downtown have parking lots that are free to use while doing business at the establishment. Shop at the Co-op? Free parking. Doing banking at BS&L? Free parking. Need something at Brown & Roberts? Free parking.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will review and reject bids for the skatepark at their next regular meeting. They all came in over the amount available in the budget for the project, so plans will need to be adjusted.
There will be quite a few Heifer permits, a public hearing on Water & Sewer rates, adoption of the Local Emergency Operations Plan, a report from the Windham Regional Commission, and adoption of a new whistleblower protection policy. You can, as always, bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The first meeting of the new configuration of the Brattleboro Selectboard went off without difficulty. New members Daniel Quipp and Elizabeth McCloughlin were initiated with a fill agenda including actions as Liquor Commissioners as well as Water & Sewer Commissioners.
The board considered issues raised at Representative Town Meeting, approved grants for a slight expansion to Red Clover Commons, helped renegotiate some loans due to the Town, and more.
Welcome to a new way to explore Brattleboro and Downtown Brattleboro.
The office of tourism revenue is introducing new one day and annual passes in an effort to encourage people to come to Brattleboro.
The One Day Fun Pass, $46.00 (plus tax) admits one, age 10+, to Brattleboro and Downtown Brattleboro for a full day.
The newly-formed Starr-led Selectboard will have their first regular meeting Tuesday evening. They’ll hold it right after their first Executive Session, which comes right after their first committee candidate interviews.
It won’t all be start-up stuff, though they will review Rules of Conduct and choose committees to attend. Red Clover Commons 2 will be applying for a grant, Representative Town Meeting items will be reviewed, historical markers, loans and knotweed will be discussed, and a new conflict of interest policy will be considered for adoption. You can, as always, bring up other items during public participation.
Brattleboro Representatives are holding their Representative Town Meeting. The crowd is slowly gathering at the gym, where those elected will be talking town and school business for most of the day. Will they approve an extra 1% local option tax? Will there be surprises, twists, and turns? We will find out.
The Town portion of business comes first, and there are a number of preliminary formalities to endure before actual business begins.
Time once again for the little list of little (and big) things anyone notices around Brattleboro.
BusyMom beat me to one of them – Burger King at Exit 1 appears closed.
Some others I’ve seen or heard about:
The Brattleboro Selectboard gathered for their last regular meeting under the current configuration of board members – Chair Kate O’Connor and Shanta Lee Gander are about to return to civilian life.
The Country Club was reprimanded for a liquor infraction, causing the board to offer them time to do some free promotion. (Note to other liquor license holders – minor infractions will lead to publicity!) Bids were accepted, the Energy Committee was reduced in size, and representative town meeting motions were assigned.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will wrap up its year with lease agreements and tire removal. They will also hear from the Brattleboro Country Club regarding a recent liquor violation before giving them a new liquor license.
The Energy Committee might be reduced in size, Experienced Goods will extend their lease at the parking garage, motions will be assigned, and you might be appointed to a committee. You can always bring up other matters during public participation.
The Brattleboro Selectboard met on Town Meeting Day 2019 and spent most of the time discussing issues of water and sewer.
This included a rather substantial presentation by an apartment owner requesting a reduction in an abnormally high water bill, some discussion of the Hinsdale Bridge, some notes on odors and energy, and a hint that water and sewer ates may hold steady for a year.
I attended my first “real” Town Meeting today. It was the Newfane, VT Town Meeting, held at Williamsville Hall. Previously, I’ve been both a representative and a constituent in Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting system. This is the first time I could attend, or not, without needing to be elected first.
Williamsville Hall is right down the road, so I took advantage of the sunny day and walked. Along the way a neighbor caught up with me and we arrived together, went inside and found seats.
Another in our series of 2019 selectboard candidate interviews, this time with Oscar Heller who is running for a one-year seat.
Give us a brief biography – who are you? What do you do?
Hi! I’m Oscar.
I was born in New York, but when I was 14 my parents picked a summer camp at random off the internet. That camp was Camp Waubanong in Brattleboro. I spent most of the next dozen summers in Vermont. In 2014 I moved here for good. I live on Elliot Street, just before the park, with my girlfriend Jessie and our two cats.
We continue our series of interviews with candidates for Selectboard, this time with Tim Wessel, the only incumbent and a three-year seat candidate.
Give us a brief biography – who are you? What do you do?
Hi, I’m Tim! I’m a father to a 29 year old AND a 13 month old, which is crazy and strange and pretty darned wonderful too. I work for myself running Vermont Films, a video production company here in Brattleboro, and I spend my work life shooting and editing films for many different clients, both local and national. Many people saw my appearance on House Hunters on HGTV a few years back, and I also work in production for that show about once a month, usually traveling to do so. My wife and I just celebrated our second wedding anniversary, and the first birthday of our son.
Water & Sewer issues will be the bulk of the Brattleboro Selectboard’s next meeting. They’ll talk about rates, repairs, reservoirs, energy use, odors, and improvements.
They’ll also approve liquor licenses, announce committee vacancies, apply for a grant and more. You can add other items during Public Participation.
Yesterday I popped in the River Garden to see the Brattleboro exhibit we helped design with BHS, and was met with a surprise. The historical society has been given a treasure trove of old Brattleboro films.
This is a new project for them and they are just getting started. Bill Holiday explained to me that they had been given a big box of family films, and are currently in the process of having them digitized. The goal is to get 4k transfers for high-quality digital use. A few test reels were on display and they were amazing.
iBrattleboro comes of age today. The site turns sixteen.
Sixteen means we can get a learner’s permit for driving. We can drop out of school. We can consent. We can get an adult passport, donate blood, and in some countries vote, drink or join an army.
Some other notable sixteens: Louis XVI, 16 personality types in the Myers-Briggs system, 16 pawns in a chess set, the F-16, and it’s the the age Sleeping Beauty pricks her finger and falls asleep.
Next in our series of interview with Brattleboro Selectboard candidates is Daniel Quipp, running for a one-year seat.
Give us a brief biography – who are you? What do you do?
I’m originally from Wales and married to a person who grew up in Newfane. I have been coming to Brattleboro since 2004 and have lived here since 2014. I’m currently a crisis fuel worker with SEVCA and just started a new job with Vermont Interfaith Action working in Windham and Bennington counties.
The Brattleboro Selectboard handed out annual liquor licenses then held an extended discussion about COSU, a collaborative community project to tear down silos and create connections between addiction and recovery programs in the community.
Read on for our selectboard candidate interview with Elizabeth McLoughlin, who is running for a one-year seat on the board.
Give us a brief biography – who are you? What do you do?
My husband, Tom and I moved to Brattleboro in 2007, after 20 years of visiting relatives here in town, and we opened two small businesses. The younger of our two daughters, Mary, attended BUHS. I opened a consulting business 10 years ago. With 30 years of experience, as an environmental planner, I prepare environmental permits, and write environmental impact statements.
It’s the last regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectrboard before elections in March, and the agenda is a light one.
The board will talk liquor and drugs, finances, an exemption to the plastic bag ordinance, and will review their goals and progress. They also pay attention when you bring up that other item not on the agenda, during public participation.
