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Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 4, 2018

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will declare the Police-Fire Facilities project complete at their next regular meeting, even though more work may be done using bond funds.

The parking garage will get a wood pellet heating system, the library an upgrade to the air handling system, and an art project will become permanent. The big changes, though, are ordinance amendments merging the concept of taxi and vehicle for hire, and a discussion of changes to parking rates, rules, and safety.

You can, as always, participate by attending.

Lots of Out of Town Plates

by cgrotke | Other

Just an observation. This summer it seems like we’ve had a lot of out of state visitors, judging by license plates.

I’ve seen South Carolina, Florida, all of new England, California, Kansas, Alaska, and even Hawaii. Many more, too.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Municipal Center Deal Dead, Bus Changes, Odors, and Dump Trucks

by cgrotke | Town News

Brattleboro’s hoped-for deal with the State of Vermont for long-term lease and improvements to the Municipal Center has officially fallen through, according to the Town Manager. New options are being explored.

The Youth Vote will get a special meeting, Brattleboro’s bus schedule and routes are changing, two new dump trucks are being ordered, odors will be studied, and more. Plus disclosures.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 21, 2018

by cgrotke | Town News

A new Brattleboro ordinance for Uber and Lyft types of vehicles for hire will get a First Reading at the next meeting of the Selectboard. There are also changes to parking in front of the Boys and Girls Club to be discussed.

The board will hear about changes to Brattleboro’s bus routes, the Fire Department will recieve an award, multiple dump trucks will be purchased, a bridge will be scheduled for repair, and odors shall be tested. You can also bring up other items or smells not already on the agenda during Public Participation.

Arguments For Free Parking In Brattleboro

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

I’m going to argue for free parking in Brattleboro.

The main reason we have to pay for parking here and not in most other towns in Vermont is to pay for our parking meters, parking enforcement, and parking infrastructure. Other than helping to pay for parking lot paving and snow removal, this is a silly, unnecessary burden for locals and visitors, and could instead be money spent in downtown stores.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, August 6, 2018 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 9:00am in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 7, 2018

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will be altering the parking system at their next regular meeting at the Municipal Center. Rates are going to go up to help cover the costs of credit card service fees. Parking changes comes after a parking survey that gave them feedback on parking-related issues, and special requests by the downtown organization.

The board will also consider licensing of transportation network companies, requiring app-based ride services to comply with modified local taxi regulations.

Brattleboro will also buy a bunch of trucks, protect us all from the evils of liquor, buy heating oil, and replace Rod Francis on various boards and commissions.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Big August Ad Deal from iBrattleboro

by cgrotke | iBrattleboro

From now until the end of August, all year-long ads on iBrattleboro are half price! That’s right, a one-time chance to be featured for an entire 12 month year, saving you five hundred dollars.

This is a big, color ad (300x300px) with a link to any web page you want, on a site that thousands check regularly to see what’s going on in Brattleboro and southern Vermont.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Write-In Procedures Questioned; Body Cams Coming

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard began discussing a repeal of a 2011 Town Charter change to stop counting local write-in votes unless the write-in candidate had declared an intention to serve. 

The board heard a semi-annual update from the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, approved of paving, police cars, body cameras for police officiers, and disc golf improvements. Snow sports at Living Memorial Park will continue, we have a new road in town, and new members were appointed to committees.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 17, 2018

by cgrotke | Town News

At the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard, the police will ask for approval of a contract for body worn cameras. Axon, of Scottsdale, AZ is the proposed vendor.

The board will buy some police cruisers, hear a semi-annual report from the designated downtown organization, approve of grants for disc golf improvements and paving, review goals, and name a road. They will also begin a discussion election write-in procedures, and more.

As always, you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro So-So For Tech

by cgrotke | Sci-Tech

Brattleboro could do much better with technology, and as a result do better as a Town. There are some obstacles in the way, though:

Poor Internet Choices

Brattleboro choices for Internet are rather poor. Hardly anyone here gets 25 megabits down and 3 megabits up, a standard definition of broadband. To approach those speeds one must pay a small monthly fortune.

Women Run Brattleboro

by cgrotke | Town News

With Sue Fillion’s appointment to become Planning Director, I got to thinking about just how many women are in key postions of Town government. I took a look. The majority of town offices in Brattleboro now have women heading them.

Town Assessor – Jenepher Burnell
Library – Starr Latronica

Noticed Around Brattleboro – Summer 2018

by cgrotke | Town News

Time for another “Noticed Around Brattleboro,” where little things about the town are noticed and recorded for posterity. This edition starts off with some special nature-loving observations:

– Nude man walking.  On Tuesday afternoon I was on my way to the train station to pick up a visitor. Coming down Canal Street I caught sight of a naked man walking up the hill. He was probably in his late 60’s, had a beard, and was walking happily, confidently, and totally naked.

Selectboard Meeting Notes:  Brattleboro Municipal Property Tax Rate at $1.2762, Project CARE Community Cookout Announced

by cgrotke | Town News

Taxes are going up, as they always seem to do. The Brattleboro Selectboard adopted the FY19 tax rates for property owners that were approved by Representative Town Meeting representatives earlier this year.  The $14.8 million budget includes both the essential items suggested by the Selectboard as well as some optional extras added in by the representatives.

There’s also a new community collaboration that you can be a part of. Project Care is a new effort in Brattleboro to help addicts recover and do well.

And, in case you are curious, setting the tax rate during a heat wave calls for casual attire.

Oligarchs and Entrepreneurs

by cgrotke | Philosophy

Ever notice how wealthy Russians are oligarchs and tycoons, but wealthy Americans are entrepreneurs and magnates?

Oligarch comes from the Greek, meaning “rule by the few”.

A Russian oligarch is a businessperson who rapidly accumulated wealth after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

It’s So Hot In Brattleboro…

by cgrotke | Nature

…Brattleboro chickens are laying omlettes and the cows are giving powdered milk.

It’s day three of the heat wave. The forecast shows 90+ degree days all week until Friday, with heat indexes even higher. As I type this, there is a Heat Advisory, Hazardous Weather Outlook, and Air Quality Alert underway.

A Brattleboro History Exhibit

by cgrotke | History

I thought it might be fun to tell you about a project (in-progress!) I’m working on with the Brattleboro Historical Society. It’s an exhibit all about Brattleboro that will be on display at the Vermont Historical Society in Montpelier, from August to January.

BHS hired me on to do exhibit design and project manage, two things I enjoy doing. I also love Brattleboro history.

Four Vermont Towns on Preservation Trust Historic Places Watch List

by cgrotke | State News

Four Vermont towns – Royalton, Sharon, Strafford, and Tunbridge – have been placed on the latest list of endangered historic places.

“America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places is an annual list that spotlights important examples of our nation’s architectural and cultural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage” says their announcement.  Route 66, Mount Vernon, and other sites are on the list.