iBrattleboro.com | RobertOeser | Activity

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Deliberation - A Virtue of Town Meeting

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:52:26 +0000

Recently, I stumbled upon some inadvertent endorsements for a Town Meeting style of governance I thought I would share. These are excerpts from several podcasts: The first is entitled “I Drove To The Worst Place I […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, District 9 Forum

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:06:32 +0000

Now that the Brattleboro Selectboard has begun budget development for the next fiscal year, it’s time for a District 9 forum. Bob Oeser and David Levenbach are organizing this opportunity for district residents t […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Soup Supper to Support a New Brattleboro Winter Shelter

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 13:18:09 +0000

As winter approaches, a new community-led initiative aims to ensure that there are open doors to anyone who needs a warm and welcoming overnight shelter. You are invited to a free Soup Supper on Thursday, November […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Dialogue with State Representatiove Ian Goodnow

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:10:32 +0000

All are invited to this community dialogue with featured guest Brattleboro (Windham District 9) State Rep. Ian Goodnow on Wednesday October 15, 2025 – 6:30 pm in the Community Room at Brooks Memorial […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Save the Dates - October 15, September 21

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:38:56 +0000

SAVE THE DATE: October 15, 2025 – 6:30 pm – Community Room – Brooks Memorial Library

A conversation with State Representative Ian Goodnow

While there is no formal agenda for this meeting, one might say it is […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, On The Way To a Meeting

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:26:04 +0000

This LTE appeared in The Reformer on Sept 2, 2025:

On the way to a meeting …

To the Editor: On the way to a meeting, I encountered a 90-year-old retired businessman.

We talked about shoes and he talked […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Town Charter Revision Commission & Open Town Meeting

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:43:09 +0000

I seem to recall that a Town Meeting Member told me that in the “old days” (when?) the Finance Committee sat on the dais with the Selectboard when the budget was up for a vote and commented in real time as the […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Town Charter Revision Commission & Open Town Meeting

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:28:06 +0000

Chris,

I really liked your comment: “In Milton, MA, reps would work with town departments to create a budget. Selectboard would sign off on it.”

I am wondering if you have a citation to that. What I found on […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Town Charter Revision Commission & Open Town Meeting

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:34:02 +0000

Thanks, Chris.

I find your comments insightful.

Personally, I was agnostic as to RTM and OTM. The downside of OTM is how many people will want to attend and speak. Will frustration result? Will “call the […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Town Charter Revision Commission & Open Town Meeting

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 17:36:10 +0000

The next Charter Revision Commission [1] will meet Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and also on Zoom (the agenda [2] contains the Zoom link) Meetings are also being planned for […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Medicaid Monday Speak-out

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:47:10 +0000

Did all receive this email from Sen Peter Welch?

Right now, Republicans are trying to advance President Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which will take health care away from 16 million Americans, mak […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agendas

Sat, 31 May 2025 18:35:01 +0000

RobertOeser commented on the post, Selectboard Meeting Notes - Chair Encourages Civility For Herself; Loses It Over Rescue Comment; Budget Passes

Fri, 02 May 2025 13:58:27 +0000

What I wrote after the meeting:

Did you watch last night. After the fracas between Will Kraham & Liz McLoughlin, I (unfortunately?) asked a question which was answered by John Potter by saying we are making […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Cat Licensing

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 01:59:51 +0000

In case you thought cat licensing wasn’t a thing.

RobertOeser commented on the post, Attack From The Left

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:20:55 +0000

Pardon my typos 🙁

RobertOeser commented on the post, Attack From The Left

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:08:41 +0000

Last night, March 19, there was an informal meeting of residents and RTM members from Disatrict 9.

Concerns expressed were that $1M was taken from the Unassigned Fund Balance and $2M from the Revolving Loan […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Selectboard Special Meeting Notes - Human Services Advisory Poll On Ballot

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:51:57 +0000

The decision as to whether or not something is germane is often governed by the political position of the decider.

For example, if the matter for discussion is the form of a question as opposed to its […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Do Voters Voting as a Group Support Democracy?

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 17:06:31 +0000

The Planet Hank Live Show streamed live on January 16, 2025 and is available on YouTube

Starting around 33 minutes, there is a section which I would like to point out. Here is the text, courtesy of the YouTube […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Homelessness Press Conference

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:51:00 +0000

In the event you did not get the opportunity to hear the Homelessness Press Conference held Dec 23, 2024, a video is now available courtesy of Town Meeting TV.

RobertOeser commented on the post, Vermont Homelessness Press Release For Monday 12 23 2024

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 22:57:28 +0000

… and the response of the Governor …

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Vermont Homelessness Press Release For Monday 12 23 2024

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:20:08 +0000

Please see below and at the link below for further detail.

From: Vince Illuzzi
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2024 3:07 PM
To: Vince Illuzzi
Subject: NOTICE OF PRESS EVENT, MONDAY, DEC. 23, 10:30 A. M.; DELTA […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, "My Yehudi Friend"

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 01:42:18 +0000

Thus writing reminded me of a statement by the (Arab) Lutheran Pastor Mitri Raheb from the West Bank:

“We are cousins! Don’t you know?”

RobertOeser commented on the post, Will Jail Time Be A Deterrent?

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:40:59 +0000

Just a few thoughts on this, drawn from a number sources:

I do think that harm reduction is a worthwhile endeavor. By analogy, we may have learned through alcohol prohibition that “bathtub gin” was an even gre […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, "Thinking Outside The Box"

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:13:52 +0000

We often talk about the merits of “thinking outside the box,” yet the reality is, we live within the confines of culture, experience, tradition and . . . the law.

But there are some unique individuals who can […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Healthcare Community Meetings

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 21:28:16 +0000

Healthcare access and affordability affects every single Vermonter—regardless of your insurance. Join local community leaders, hospital leaders, legislators, state officials, and your neighbors at your local […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Selectboard Meeting Notes - Vacant Building Permits and Municipal Housing

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:08:01 +0000

For details on the Town of Vernon’s May 29 informational meeting, see the following link:

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes - Dec 1, 2023

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 01:21:35 +0000

“The Brattleboro Fire Department would like $3000 a month to pay an outside company for EMS billing services. Doing everything in-house is no longer an option.”

“However, EMS and ambulance billing are some of […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Can You Recommend a Handyperson for Very Small Jobs in Brattleboro?

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:42:55 +0000

This ad appears on Front Porch Forum:

Flying Man Handy Services
Brattleboro, VT
802-999-6006
Teo Senni
teo@sennidesign.com

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Regional Emergency Medical Services Coordination Study

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:19:54 +0000

** Virtual Meeting – October 30, 2023 **

The State of Vermont, Department of Health, Division of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Injury Prevention has engaged Emergency Management Matters, LLC (EMM,) to […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, VT Regional Emergency Medical Services Coordination Study

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 12:31:33 +0000

The “Big Bill,” also known as the state’s funding bill, directed the VT Department of Health to conduct a study on coordinating local and regional emergency medical services. They have hired Emergency Manag […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, “It's Not Over 'Til It's Over; It's Not Over 'Til We Get It Right.”

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 13:02:36 +0000

Remember the quote attributed to Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Now, consider the Starship’s lyrics, “It’s not over ’til it’s over; It’s not over ’til we get it right.”

Please review the foll […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, About The Meeting to Reveal Brattleboro EMS Issues

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:08:58 +0000

The McLoughlin motion was made in a warned SelectBoard meeting.
The statement provided by the HR Director was delivered, without rebuttal, in an unwarned forum.
At very least the three SelectBoard members who […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Questions for Sep 19 Brattleboro SelectBoard Meeting

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:34:53 +0000

The SelectBoard meeting scheduled for Tue, Sep. 19 promises to be of great significance … Details regarding attendance are here: https://www.brattleboro.org/

The Sep. 5 SelectBoard meeting recessed to Sep. 7 d […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro Selectboard's EMS Surprise

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 01:10:05 +0000

What more can I say?

If a well crafted statement is presented by the Town on Tuesday night, it would be hard not to comment on it or question it’s underlying assumptions.

Unfortunately it does not appear […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Selectboard Meeting Notes - Former Chair Decides Now Is Time To Reveal Longstanding Fire-Rescue Relationship Issues

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 16:14:03 +0000

“Liz – . . . Elwell took me to the meeting to alert me to the conflict and alert me it was brewing . . .

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro Emergency Medical Services

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 15:00:52 +0000

The Town has added information to the RFP process that:

“Each Technical Proposal must include a complete billing rate fee schedule by type of call and payer for the first year, as well as the […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro Emergency Medical Services

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 14:55:51 +0000

PS: The Google link, which goes to my drive, contains hyperlinks to documents supporting what I have written.

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Brattleboro Emergency Medical Services

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 02:12:42 +0000

A taxpayer asked SelectBoard members a question: “What is the actual dollar cost for the Fire Department to respond with one fire truck, one ladder truck, and one ambulance to a medical call?”

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Brattleboro Firefighter Departures

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 17:24:51 +0000

If you missed the recent article , “Brattleboro faces blaze of firefighter departures amid town EMS takeover debate,” here is the link:

The takeaway quote, I believe, is: “ …since … June of last year, 16 staffe […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro EMS Request for Information

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:47:07 +0000

As the Brattleboro Select Board considers the operating costs of Fire Dept based EMS service this coming week, here is a quote from the archives of the International Association of Fire Chiefs:

“The majority […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Brattleboro EMS Request for Information

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 01:09:04 +0000

The town proposed a Request for Information (RFI) process on May 12, 2023 to identify potential EMS providers for Brattleboro. Vendors can provide input on the RFP’s structure, criteria, and requirements.

The […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Fire - EMS Transition - Thoughts and Questions for 6/20/2023

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 18:28:46 +0000

The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on June 20 at 5 p.m. (rather than the usual start time of 6:15 p.m.) in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, and on Zoom.

EMS Revenue […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro EMS - An Open Public Process Made Murky

Sat, 13 May 2023 14:52:15 +0000

…. especially the headline says it all.

I’ll only add a quote from recent reading:

” . . . how one understands the causes of a problem affects what seems logical and correct in efforts to fix it.” […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Do the Math!

Mon, 01 May 2023 13:08:57 +0000

I was advised the link in the other story does not open. Here is the copy I submitted to The Commons which was published 4/26/2023:

An April 7, 2023 Commentary in the Reformer, Brattleboro EMS: Fact vs fiction, […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Do The Math!

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 12:59:10 +0000

In The Commond this week

April 26, 2023

Need to do the math on Brattleboro EMS funding

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes - April 18, 2023

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 13:15:43 +0000

The EMS Update will be considered under New Business Item 9D. [P. 185 in the Supporting Documents]

New this month is a breakdown of the payor mix by percentage for the first nine months of billing. The terms […]

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Evaluating EMS Delivery

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:17:23 +0000

As the Town of Brattleboro continues to explore the future of Emergency Medical Services there is discussion happening in the State Assembly.

On March 22, 2023, beginning at 10:00 am, the Vermont House Health […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, April First Announcement

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 17:53:32 +0000

Joel Najman on My Place aired on Vermont Public last night and introduced the following song by saying he once had to admonish an announcer for dedicating the piece to a member of Vermont’s Congressional delegation:

RobertOeser wrote a new post, Vote In New Selectboard Members To Mend EMS Relationships

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 13:47:17 +0000

The currently sitting Selectboard in Brattleboro has unfinished business … and it cannot be accomplished by the currently sitting members.

For there to be honest and real “transparency,” three members of the […]

RobertOeser commented on the post, Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview - Elizabeth McLoughlin

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 02:50:27 +0000

With respect to the paragraph beginning with the statement, “In September 2021, Peter Elwell asked me, as Chair of the Selectboard, to attend the Rescue Inc. Annual Meeting. He wanted me to see first-hand how […]