Enginer Gary King is retiring from the Department of Public Works after 30 years of service.
The West Brattleboro Scoping Study was accepted and endorsed, with five varying options described, ranging from nothing to new bike and people paths through the backyards of West Brattleboro properties. Likely, a more simple approach of bike lanes and sidewalks will be attempted.
Brattleboro signed on to help the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust apply for a grant to do energy improvements at five local properties that they own, Brattleboro will apply for brownfield site planning funds, and a sustainable energy program feasibility study vanished from the agenda without explanation, but with discussion.
Preliminaries
Brattleboro has received a number of documents relating to the decommissioning of Vermont Yankee. Chair David Gartenstein said the reports include information about post-shutdown activities and a site assessment, and that as a town with significant interest in the decommissioning process, Brattleboro can comment on the materials to the Public Service Board. The Planning Services Director will be preparing comments to submit by this Friday.
Gartenstein said that he has heard about suggestions that some of the funds go to cover emergency response costs, but said he felt the funds should stay whole. He mentioned that Kate O’Connor serves on the state decommissioning panel.
Gartenstein invited the public to two budget meetings next Monday and Tuesday nights. “We’ll hear from department heads about budget requests and budget issues, and we’ll discuss funding levels,” he said. Monday’s meeting will be from 5:30 pm to 8 pm. Tuesday’s will be from 5 to 8 pm. “It’s an open process and we want everyone to participate.”
He announced that the Town Meeting Finance Committee is down to a single member, and that anyone interested in lending their skills to that committee please contact Lawrin Crispe, Town Meeting Moderator, or the Town manager’s office.
The Chair’s final remark was praise for town departments. To the DPW for finishing up the last of Hurricane Irene projects and to the Fire Department staff that responded to the riots in Keene.
Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland had no comments.
Selectboard comments and committee reports included news from John Allen that the Police and Fire Facilities Project committee is looking at a number of locations to possibly use as new facilities for the Police. He also praised the work of the Renaud Brothers for their work on the Sunset Lake Bridge.
David Schoales announced a town school board meeting regarding testing and Common Core, to be held at Academy School Wednesday evening at 6 pm.
Public Participation
Tim Johnson told the board that Project Feed the Thousands has been underway for about a week and that it is off to a slow start. “The goal is $100,000 in cash and $200,000 worth of meals,” he said. The project now serves eight communities, and all contributions in a community serve that community.
Special Event and Educational Sampling Permits
As Liquor Commissioners, the Brattleboro Selectboard approved special event permits for Saxtons River Distillery and Whetstone Cider Works for the Cotton Mill open house weekend, December 6 and 7. They will be able to sell their products and offer tastings.
The Brattleboro Food Coop was granted an Educational Sampling Event Permit, so that they can serve wine and beer for the purposes of education and marketing at BMAC on December 12.
“What do you educate?” David Schoales asked Sabine Rhyne of the Co-op.
“About the varieties…” she answered.
“I love wine tastings,” said John Allen.
Water & Sewer Commissioners Staffing Level Review – Department of Public Works
The Brattleboro DPW has vacancies for both an Engineering Technician for the Highway and Utilities Divisions, and operators in the Water Treatment Division. As such, for now, they get a Brattleboro Selectboard Staffing Level Review.
First, the big news. Gary King will retire from the Water Treatment Facility in December after 30 years of service. Along with two other recent retirements, Brattleboro is losing close to 100 years of collective knowledge and experience, DPW Director Steve Barrett informed the board.
On to the open positions. The Engineer Technician is a specialized position requiring a background in engineering, mapping and GIS, as well as knowledge in water and sewer systems. He or she will need to know piping, vaults, pumping stations and have four years of experience plus an engineering degree. “They do all the large-scale project engineering for the department,” said Barrett. They also sometimes have to drive a dump truck. “The job has many hats.”
The Water Treatment position is more technical, requiring state certification for operating public water systems. This operator needs a Class 4 water treatment operator license, needs to know math, science, and have basic electrical system knowledge of treatment facilities. They also need to be available, on call, for weekend and emergency duties.
Brattleboro has four certified Water Treatment positions when fully staffed.
“Two quality job openings,” said David Gartenstein. “Good benefits, great employer…”
Monthly Financial Report with John O’Connor
Finance Director John O’Connor gave the Brattleboro Selectboard the numbers for the month of October, pronouncing them at or under their respective targets once pro-rated.
Thirty three and a third percent of the fiscal year is complete. General Fund expenses are at 36.1% of the budget. Utilities Fund is at 33.3% and the Parking Fund is at 30.9%.
$12,862 has been spent toward Police and Fire Facilities in the fiscal year.
Just over $4.1 million has been loaned out, and just under $400,000 remains loanable.
There are 43 active grants and 11 more in the application process.
David Gartenstein asked O’Connor to talk about abatements, and the status of the audit.
O’Connor said that abatements were requests that occur when there is a fire or family tragedy that makes paying taxes difficult. A taxpayer would fill out a form with the Town Clerk, the case would be reviewed, and a request granted (or denied.) he encouraged anyone facing difficulties to file an abatement request. The amount of abatements each year, he said, varied greatly and was hard to predict.
O’Connor said the audit process was almost complete and final reports would be in hand by the end of December. Of special interest to the board was the amount that will be in the Unassigned Fund balance. O’Connor said it would be around $2.1 million. Gartenstein suggested the board might want to dip into that fund to fund various budget items this year.
Kate O’Connor asked about an item in the monthly loan report under the name “Leslie Prop” that had a $242,000 default.
John O’Connor said it was a loan from the 80’s to Leslie Properties that wasn’t repaid, but is kept on the books because the town still retains an interest in the building.
West Brattleboro Bicycle Pedestrian Scoping Study – Public Comment and Discussion
Brattleboro received a grant in 2013 from the Vermont Agency of Transportation to study a portion of Western Avenue in West Brattleboro, from Academy School to Greenleaf. At issue was whether improvements could be made for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
A firm was hired, public meetings were held, input was gathered, and a preliminary scoping study report was generated. The firm, RSG of White River, did the planning exercise and created the study.
Dirk Grotenhuis of RSG, along with Hannah O’Connell and Steve Barrett of the DPW, explained the process and the possibilities to the board during a public hearing.
O’Connell explained that a scoping study tells the town what can be done and what limitations exist. “It’s big picture,” she said. “Not a design. Not a set of plans.”
Grotenhuis said that with an approved plan, Brattleboro would be in a better position to apply for funds to complete aspects of the plan. “Funding is competitive,” he said. “A document like this helps you get larger awards.”
Much public input was gathered, from abutters, the West Brattleboro Association, Academy School, parents, teachers, the Fire Department, and others.
RSG also considered restraints and requirements stemming from the road being a Class 1 highway. Close to 13,000 vehicles ride on it each day, according to their report. The group looked at crash reports in the area, and Brattleboro zoning requirements.
Five possible plans were then outlined for the stretch between Melrose and Greenleaf.
One was to do nothing, a no-build version.
Another, Alternative 1, calls for five foot wide, continuous bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks on both sides of the street. Part of South Street would be closed to make green space and reduce traffic troubles. There might be changes to on-street parking, and a pedestrian sidewalk at the bridge by the Whetstone.
Alternative 2 slows traffic with planters and curbed islands, and other little changes.
Alternative 3 suggests shared use by bikes and pedestrians along a path behind existing buildings.
The Preferred Alternative, said Grotenhuis, was mostly like Alternative 1, favoring continuous sidewalks and bike lanes. He said the speed limit should be made to be 30 mph for all vehicles. This plan would also close South Street entirely, creating a maximum of green space.
Grotenhuis said the project could be done in phases based on funding received. The total cost for the Preferred Alternative is under $1 million.
One member of the public asked about improvements for pedestrians at the 7-11 intersection. She said adding a turn lane there made traffic go faster. “It didn’t use to be there.”
Grotenhuis said they looked at the 7-11 area and thought more curbing to better define the entry and exit into the lot could help.
Michael Bosworth, of West Brattleboro, said the process had been public and open, and that he supported many of the report’s conclusions, though wanted a bit more parking near Stockwell’s.
Stewart McDermott, also of West Brattleboro, said that the West Brattleboro Association was very pleased with their participation in the process so far. He said that 15 years ago he was involved in a study to possibly re-route Rt9. to connect directly with Rt. 30. “This isn’t plans. It’s a step in the right direction.”
Tad Montgomery said that as an avid bicyclist, the hardest part of Rt. 9 isn’t the area described in this study, but to the east of it, toward I-91.
John Allen asked if funding this in phases would make the whole project take longer.
“No one will fund $940,000 at once,” said O’Connell, “… unless it was municipally-funded.” There were many chuckles about that possibility.
Donna Macomber asked where the town should start if a grant for a few hundred thousand came through. Grotenhuis said “Start at either end. Start at an end and work toward the other end.”
Barrett said they might consider starting where the greatest current risks are documented, near Greenleaf.
Kate O’Connor asked what would happen if the board supported the study? O’Connell said they could begin applying for project funding.
David Gartenstein said that he had concerns about removing turn lanes, and about compelling curbs at 7-11 on private property. He agreed with Tad Montgomery that the town should be looking at the entire corridor to make it safer, and that a continuous sidewalk on one side on Rt. 9 would really change the character in that area. Even with these concerns and ideas, he was in favor of accepting and endorsing the scoping study.
The board voted to accept and endorse, and the public hearing was closed, which might be backward, but seemed to please all concerned.
Community Development Block Grant Resolution
At the previous meeting of the Selectboard, the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust came to explain a plan to get a $425,000 Community Development Block Grant loan to be used to rehabilitate five existing Brattleboro properties owned by the non-profit organization. Brattleboro would apply for the funds, and pass them through, with WWHT managing the grant.
Isaac Wagner of the WWHT returned to officially request support for the grant from the town. He reminded the board that much of the work would be to make energy improvements to the old buildings. He also said the grant would include $6,000 for out-of-pocket expenses that could cover any town-incurred costs related to the grant, such as legal fees.
Patrick Moreland said they had done the math and $6,000 would easily cover the Town’s role. “The Town’s good,” he reported to the board.
David Gartenstein asked about mention of debt-retiring in the materials given to the Selectboard. Wagner said the application requires the information, bu that these funds would be used only for construction costs. Other funds would be raised to retire debt.
Gartenstein mentioned a memo outlining a comparison of the state-mandated assessments vs. market assessments for the five properties that was given to the board by the Assessor. He said WWHT pays taxes on about $1.25 million value for these five properties.
The Assessor Memo makes the point that “since privately-owned apartment stock in the area carries value in the 30,000 to $70,000 range, it is not difficult to understand why many of these private landlords resent the WWHT’s ability to spend far more than their units could command on the open sales market.” Gartenstein said “it is how the funding system works, but bears pointing out.”
Tad Montgomery asked if the WWHT has specific energy reduction goals. Wagner said they did, but didn’t have the details with him. He offered by way of example a goal to cut oil use in some units to 200 gallons per year. “We have BTU objectives.”
Montgomery said that he and other “energy geeks” would find the additional details of interest.
The Brattleboro Selectboard voted to approve a resolution to participate in the grant application.
Brownfields Assessment Grant Application
Planning Services asked the Brattleboro Selectboard to approve a $400,000 grant to fund a local Brownfields program of environmental reviews at redevelopment sites in town. The grant would cover costs of Phase 1 & 2 Environmental reviews, develop remediation plans, and cover other associated costs.
If granted, the money would come via the Environmental Protection Agency.
The money will be applied for, sayeth the Selectboard.
Sustainable Energy Funding Program
A non-profit charitable organization from Belmont, MA wanted to give the Town of Brattleboro a gift – a feasibility study. Larry Sprague, Executive Director of Sustainable Energy Funding Program for Health and Education Facilities was to tell us all about it.
The study would be free of charge and would look into the possibility of creating a small wood-chip heating plant to supply heat to Westgate Housing Community, and the creating of a larger biomass plant to supply customers in or near downtown, mostly governmental or non-profit customers. This is a plan contemplated by the Brattleboro Energy Committee. It would also include a wood chip supply infrastructure.
If the project turns out to indeed be feasible, the non-profit would have wanted to establish a public-private partnership to develop and finance the project.
All the Selectboard needed to do was adopt a resolution supporting the study, and financing could get underway.
But, that’s not what happend.
The agenda item got underway with Tad Montgomery rising to address the board. “I assumed it was withdrawn from the agenda, but being that as it may…” he began.
David Gartenstein stopped him. “Wait a second,” he said. “Having called this item, I and others think this proposal presents a huge range of issues.” He said it would be a massive undertaking that seems out of the range of services that the town provides.
Montgomery stopped him. “It was withdrawn.” He said that he wanted to let the board know that this funding entity had the ability to fund all sorts of energy-related town projects, and that the board should know about their organization, even though the offer was withdrawn this evening.
John Allen asked an obvious question. “Why was it withdrawn?” No one really could say.
“It was withdrawn?” said Patrick Moreland, learning of the status change for seemingly the first time. He asked if Montgomery was acting as an official representative of the organization.
Montgomery said no, he wasn’t a formal message-bearer, but he thought the organization had contacted Moreland.
Some board members were annoyed that they had spent time reviewing all the materials associated with the proposal, and no one showed up to the meeting or got in touch.
David Schoales was upset that his fellow board members had rejected the idea of the district heating feasibility study before allowing the board to discuss it. Gartenstein pointed out that he and Kate had put this on the agenda for board discussion. “Had they been here, we would have voted on it. I don’t know why they didn’t show. We spent time reviewing this proposal.” He added that his own efforts made it so all board members would be notified if something failed to make it on the agenda.
“As is often the case,” said Schoales, “ I over-reacted.”
