Welcome. It’s a lovely March 21st, 2015. It’s grey, cold, and snowing. Town Meeting Representatives have made their way to the south end of town for the annual Representative Town Meeting.
We’ll be doing ongoing updates throughout the day. As they begin, Moderator Lawrin Crispe is going through rules and some announcements, including a moment of silence for Dick Guthrie and Jesse Corum.
Schools goes first. We’ll have more for you soon.
(Apologies in advance for typing errors and spelling mistakes.)
Thanks Chris!
Wouldn’t be TM without you. 🙂
Articles 1-4
Official business got underway shortly before 9 am.
ARTICLE 1: To see what salaries the Town School District will pay its school board members.
$2,000 for members; $3,000 for chair was approved.
ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town School District will authorize its Town School Directors to borrow money in anticipation of taxes.
It is so authorized by the Representatives.
ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town School District will authorize the District to accept and expend categorical grants and aid received from the State of Vermont and the United States Government.
It is so authorized by the Representatives.
ARTICLE 4: To see how much money the Town School District will raise and appropriate to defray its expenses and liabilities.
The total number is just over $15million.
Jill Stahl-Tyler – We do look at the budget. We asked for a level-funded budget. It means some cuts get made, as budgets go up – teacher salaires, supplies, and health insurance. Health up over 4% this year. Trying to minimize tax impact. Zero percent increase was goal – this budget is even lower. Plus, it still delivers the programs of music, art, languages, and after school programs. We talked about the reserve fund and unexpected expenses, and were told not to spend it. We didn’t take from the reserve.
We decreased things by $55,000. Then the state calculates the school tax rate. All the numbers are out of our local control, so taxes go up 2.6%. We did go back and look again. To get to zero from this would require massive cuts to programs administrators feel are important.
We are seeing an increase in student numbers. Overall enrollment is down. About 724 in kindergarten. Equalized student numbers, a state process, calculates the need of our students.
My sone says I’m naive about Brattleboro being a happy little town. Town schools are over 70% for free and reduced lunches. 15 homeless children. Early ed services have problems of poverty and home issues.
Good things to report – reading levels increase, math getting better. Been raising everybody up, not pulling others down. This board thinks we do an excellent job educating children in this town. tax money is being invested well. WE feel this budget is fair.
A few numbers – teacher salaries up 1.7%, paraprofessionals down 12%. They balance out. Education services for special ed is down by $407k – our intervention programs are keeping numbers down.
Rusty Sage – over the years we cut money. I’m horrible with numbers. I’m a parent at BAMS. I’d like to see more discussion regarding the school budget and what would be cut if cuts were made.
Andy Davis – Just a clarification. Salary numbers in another section went down. Itinerant salaries plus regular salaries? What is included?
Ron Stahley – Phys ed and music teachers. It’s a reduction of changing staff due to retirement. It just worked out that they are down a little bit. Doesn’t impact overall increase/decrease too much. Pretty well contained.
Michael Bosworth – Thanks for budget restraint. One number popped out at me. The offsetting revenues seemed stable for three years, but just declined 22%, what is the reason and is it a blip or new reality?
Frank Rucker – State Acts require us to centralize special needs, for greater efficiency. That accounts for $200k reduction in special ed revenue. Other significant change is fund balance. In years past, a half million has been used to offset tax liability. This year, no use. Given variability in funding formula, and things out of our control in tax rate, we decided to keep the fund balance for contingencies.
Spoon Agave – Concerned about fund reserve. Shows half a million being used this year. So next year we start in the hole, perhaps I’m missing something but it looks like school board is skating on thin ice. I’m starting to question the notion of maintaining level-funded budgets, too. There is something we’re leaving out in our thinking. Inflation and prices go up each year. As we continue with never increasing the budget, we’re always faced with reducing something. There will be a limit.
Paula Melton – Rusty’s question. What scenarios did you look at to keep things at zero. What didn’t you like?
Frank Rucker – we looked at line items and ahead to the future. We expect utilities to go down, as energy efficiency initiatives take hold. We expect fuel and electric to go down. Staffing is significant. All board struggle with this. State funding formula changes to enrollment sooner than a school system can do. Academy school at 420 students, grades k-6, is 60 kids per grade level. So we’d need three teachers per grade – 20 students per teacher. The problem is that the funding formula for the state- a change of 10 students has an impact of 150k on the funding formula, but almost no impact on what we spend. The cost per student has an immediate effect in state formulas. It’s partially why the reserve is important. If we lost 100 students at Academy, doing the math, we’d still want three teachers per grade. Enrollment changes don’t translate into reductions in curricular requirements. A challenge and disconnect. We do a lot each year to keep costs down. Special ed down this year. Future expense cuts – utilities we can control a bit. Cuts in discretionary line items of supplies and equipment.
Paula Melton – great answer to question I didn’t ask. It explains costs going up when student numbers go down. I’m asking about other ugly scenarios you looked at.
Jill Stahl-Tyler – we’re more aware all the time. We try to brainstorm and think it through. We’ve hired folks who really know what they are doing. The more I work as a school board rep the more I admire who we’ve hired. Good at finding money and grants, and getting results. We ask administrators for their advice. We look at money spent, and result. Hard to quantify, but we look. Cutting the after school busses could save money – will kids still be able to come? No? We don’t cut the busses. Keep watching us on TV. It’s actually a good thing. Lively discussions are had. It would have been massive cuts – foreign language, music…. I’m not willing to go there. After school programs get what we need. I hear the complaints. Where do we meet the needs?
David Schoales – we ask questions about the budget. But more computers? More is done on computers now. Staff computers go to students after 3 years. What about books? Desks? Chairs? Carpets? Fuels costs? Professional development, travel, nurses, librarians.. we do need those positions. We talk about them because they cost money. A lot of staff. The reason we need them is every year more students come from impoverished backgrounds. Bigger deficits to get to grade level. This community wants those programs. Because of the poverty, those kids cost more. Poverty is driving these problems.
Steve Phillips – Glad to have more discussion. I’m terribly impressed with this group and the responsible presentation. Is it fair that there is no back up plan if we cut more here?
Stahley – As I think of the budget, I think of the programs. If $650k was cut, we’d look at staffing. There are some areas. Transportation – 80k on crossing guards. We need them. Afterschool transportation. Foreign language, asian studies. Our language programs at early ages help them in later years. High school kids get college credit. Can’t happen without elementary education, and $154k. Class sizes are still 16-18 per class. Itinerant teachers could be cut back, but we have great pride in the arts. That’s what some schools have to do. Gifted and talented program for enrichment programs, environmental programs, professional development… all tough to eliminate. Building maintenance is necessary. Computer equipment – we’re falling behind. So we’d be cutting teachers and would have a whole different school system.
Ralph Meima – commend school board for the time and effort. Valuable work for the community. I have three kids in schools. Growing issue of poverty and schools expanding role. My kids bring others home . School and family intersect. In addition to providing necessary education and service. At a higher level, they are bringing them into a model of an orderly society with civilized norms of courtesy, more than at home. It’s important. Regarding the budget – school improvement and curriculum development. What’s the 140k reduction?
Stahley – the federal grant program reduction. Out of our control, so we try to make it up with local services.
Judy Davidson – I appreciate the work you do. Talk about needs of paraprofessionals, since it is a high salary level. The need for them?
Andy Paciulli – paras in school provide a wide range of functions, mostly with students and classroom support. As poverty goes up, that increases the need. Starts in kindergarten with behavior. We work with those children and teach acceptable ways to respond, rathe tan, say, throwing chairs. Teachers can’t do that while they teach. They help in lunchrooms, recess. Lots of uses for para support. We did eliminate one para at Academy in this budget.
Becca Bailint – student teacher ration at academy – are support teachers included in ratios?
Stahley – yes, plus librarians, counselors, music and other professionals… classroom ratio is different.
Bailint – how does Green st compare?
Stahley – all about 17 to 1.
John Wilmerding – poverty in community is mounting, and students must have equitable access to education. Are Brattleboro payers or recipients into state system?
Frank Rucker – contentious topic in ski towns. Agency of Education sends document. 1% of our grand list is 11 million. We raise 14 million in tax revenue for education, and draw an additional 4.5 million… we raise 2/3 of what we spend locally and get assistance for the balance.
Rusty Sage – cost cuts. You looked at after school busses being cut. Afterschool programs are great for social life but not always academic. I’d cut 12k from budget to pick up kids from social program, since he doesn’t get the buss for staying late for academics.
Stahl-Tyler – majority of afterschool programs are tutoring, with some drama, musc, computers.
Moderator Lawrin Crispe reads the motion one more time. We might be getting close to a vote. $15,402,178 seems to be the amount.
Article 4 passes without much opposition at all.
Thanks for this very
Thanks for this very comprehensive report, Chris. You are a better person than I to be able to sit through all of this and still be able to compose articulate sentences. One of the things I found most interesting (read: frustrating) is that there is STILL so much discussion over the skatepark with yet more suggestions about where it should be built. It seemed as though more than a few of the members talking about it had not really been following the arduous journey to finally get to LMP as a probable site. It’s been dragging on so long it seems that anyone involved in town politics in any way, shape or form should have a good idea about where the process is. Anyway, admirable job. I hope you’re going to treat yourself to a delicious meal and a tall glass of something!
Article 5-10
A short break for microphone switching.
On to the Town portion of the program.
David Gartenstein introduces the new Town Manager Peter Elwell (applause), and thanks Patrick Moreland for interim service (applause).
ARTICLE 5: To act on the Auditors’ reports (Town and Town School District).
No debate. It passes.
ARTICLE 6: To see if the Town and Town School District will authorize its Selectboard and School Directors to employ a certified public accountant or public accountants.
No debate. So authorized by Town Meeting Representatives.
ARTICLE 7: To see if the Town will ratify, approve and confirm the Selectboard’s appointment of a Town and Town School District Clerk for a term of one year.
Annette Cappy reappointed for one year. No debate.
ARTICLE 8: To see if the Town will ratify, approve and confirm the Selectboard’s appointment of a Town and Town School District Treasurer for a term of one year.
John O’Connor re-appointed for another year. No debate.
ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will ratify, approve and confirm the Selectboard’s appointment of a Town Attorney for a term of one year.
Fisher & Fisher was re-appointed for another year. No debate. (I expected some.)
ARTICLE 10: To elect two representatives to the Capital Grant Review Board for a term of one year from March 22, 2015. (Two members will be nominated from the floor.)
Crispe takes nominations from the floor.
Georges Herzog volunteers.
Crispe reads the duties of the members of the review board.
John Wilmerding volunteers.
Herzog and Wilmerding appointed.
Spelling correction: 'Georges Herzog'
Spelling correction: ‘Georges Herzog’
Article 11 - Finance Committee
ARTICLE 11: To see if the Town will elect or appoint members to the Town Finance Committee for a term of one year from March 22, 2015. Members to be nominated from the floor.
Crispe take nominations from the floor. So many people raise their hands that I can’t keep track. Just kidding. Crispe reads the duties of the committee.
Paula Melton volunteers.
Franz Reischman volunteers.
John Wilmerding volunteers to continue. This past year I was the only member and it was hard to meet and study. We got a lot of work when Spoon was chair. We don’t need 30 meetings to create a good report.
Arlene Distler – it could be a conflict for John W. to be on both committees?
Crispe – don’t believe it is, but town attorney?
Fisher – no conflict between the boards as long as he had no financial matters that will come up.
Orion Barber – sorry to disappoint you and get your hopes up. I’ve done it before. Can people volunteer during the year?
Crispe – town attorney? Article says to elect or appoint for a term of one year. You could amend to accept later applications, maybe.
Fisher – Page 3 of the charter says the appointment shall be made at each annual town meeting. It is town meeting’s duty to make those decisions today, not during the year.
Don Webster – is it possible for us to authorize the moderator to make appointments?
Fisher – yes, but at this town meeting by the end of the day.
Crispe – further volunteers?
Kathryn Turnas – I’ll take a shot at it again.
Wilmerding – Clarifying question – people have stepped forward, one does not have to be an elected member to serve on this committee.
Fisher – correct.
Wilmerding – we should encourage others to attend the meetings throughout the year.
J. Stromberg – I’ll volunteer.
Crispe leads the reps on a vote through all four nominations, then on a vote. (Schoales tries to sneak on Orion Barber’s name, but it doesn’t work.)
All four appointed.
Spelling correction: 'Reichsman'
Spelling correction: ‘Reichsman’
Article 12-14
ARTICLE 12: To elect three Trustees for the Brooks Memorial Library to serve three years, and
one Trustee to fill an unexpired term of two years. The names for consideration for three year terms
(2015-2018) are: Adam Franklin-Lyons, Robert Stack, and one to be named. The name for consideration
for the unexpired term (2015-2017) is: Debra Loevy-Reyes.
Approved
ARTICLE 13: To see what salaries the Town will pay its officers.
$3,000 for members; $5,000 for chair.
ARTICLE 14: To see if the Town will authorize its Selectboard to borrow money in anticipation of
taxes, grants and other revenue.
They shall.
Article 15
ARTICLE 15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $78,000
through special assessments on properties within the Downtown Improvement District (as approved by
Town Meeting March 19, 2005 and as delineated in the Town Ordinance entitled “Municipal Act to
Establish and Regulate the Downtown Improvement District”) to be used for capital and operating costs of
projects of the Town’s duly designated downtown organization as reflected in its work plan and budget.
This is money for the organization formerly known as BaBB: The Downtown Alliance.
Kate O’Connor – a brief explanation. We have a designated downtown, through a state program, that allows for grants, loans, and tax credits to do improvements downtown. Not a tax on everybody, just on property owners in the district. About 80 property owners. Goes to BaBB/Downtown Alliance. Budget approved by selectboard. The Reader’s Digest version…
Peter Fallion – tell us about some of the results. This is the 10th year or so. Didn’t we have to agree in 2005 to join in?
Kate O’Connor – we get tax credits, loans, and grants. The Brooks House was a recent recipient. Sidewalk project this summer benefits. The downtown organization also does the flower program, holiday lights, facade program for new signs. Town itself designates the downtown organization. State requires it.
Tom Franks – I served as BaBB executive director. Not sour grapes, but as exec director I busted my butt creating a report for you. Every year I look for it in the meeting packet and don’t see it. I see the value of the organization. It is immense. As a member of this board, I’d like to see a report from the downtown organization in the report. (Applause).
Gartenstein – good point. We’ll do that in coming years.
Steve Phillips – when the district map was created, it was arbitrary. I’ve suggested that it be reviewed and enlarged. It should be reviewed and adjusted so the burden falls upon everyone in downtown. What efforts has the selectboard made to review and enlarge the district?
Rod Francis – Planning Director. State designation is for a five year period. At last reapplication boundaries were reviewed. Park Place boundary is behind courthouse from Putney Rd to about Chapin. Boundaries haven’t changed since inception. I wasn’t here when it was established. We can revise them anytime. We’re open to being involved in that. 2019 will be next regular review.
John Wilmerding – we voted to extend the boundaries. Maybe someone remembers that? Also, I am on the Town Arts Committee, another fine committee, and I’ve found myself the band-aid on the Latchis. I’d like to express that the Downtown Improvement program could look into repairing the Latchis facade. It could cost a million dollars.
Ben Underhill – Any administrative fee by town or state taken?
Kate O’Connor – no. It goes directly to the organization.
Orion Barber – suggestion – as part of the coming reports in following years, there should be a map in there.
Hyam Siegel – I also recall us debating extending the district northward. With the absence of contention here today my mind has gone soft, though.
The article passes.
Article 16
ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $223,276.48
through special assessments on property within the “Mountain Home Park Special Benefit Assessment
Tax District” (as approved by Town Meeting, March 24, 2007 and as delineated in the Town Ordinance
entitled, “Municipal Act to Establish and Regulate the Mountain Home Park Special Benefit Assessment
Tax District”) for the purpose of paying debt service on the capital improvements to the water and sewer
lines serving the Mountain Home and Deepwood Mobile Home Parks.
This is continued payment for water and sewer improvements made years ago in this district.
It passes with no debate.
The reps are taking a 10 minute recess. I am, too.
Article 17
Crispe calls the representatives back to their seats. It takes a few moments.
ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed $10,000 to
assist in funding Brattleboro Climate Protection for Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016).
John Allen – when this first came to being, I was on the fence, but Paul Cameron and his group has done a great job. The best $10,000 we can spend.
Tad Montgomery – I hope you got our handout. The town has accrued savings as a result of the group. The selectboard should consider this being a paid staff position. It’s basically full time work, and he has to fundraise for it. The responsibilities have grown, we’ve saved, and could save more.
Approved.
Article 18 - Human Services
Time for the social services portion of the program.
ARTICLE 18: To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $120,000 to support
human service programs and facilities for the residents of Brattleboro to be allocated among service
providers in the following manner: AIDS Project of Southern Vermont – $2,000; American Red Cross –
VT and NH Upper Valley Region – $4,000; Boys & Girls Club – $13,220; Brattleboro Area Adult Day
(Gathering Place) – $2,000; Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center – $9,600; Brattleboro Area Hospice – $1,700; Brattleboro Senior Meals – $7,000; Family Garden – $2,000; Green Mountain RSVP – $700; Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) – $2,000; KidsPLAYce – $3,500; Meeting Waters-YMCA – $5,000; Morningside House – $9,000; Phoenix House RISE – $3,000; Prevent Child Abuse Vermont – $1,000; Senior Solutions – $2,800; Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Inc. (SEVCA) – $9,000; Turning Point – $6,500; Vermont Adult Learning – $700; Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired – $680; Vermont Center for Independent Living – $1,600; Visiting Nurse & Hospice of VT & NH – $10,000; Windham Child Care Association – $5,500; Windham County Safe Place Child Advocacy Center and Southeastern Unit for Special Investigations – $1,500; Brattleboro Town School District (℅ Windham Southeast Supervisory Union) Summer Lunch Program – $6,000; Youth Services – Big Brothers/Big Sisters – $10,000.
David Gartenstein – town is authorized to support human services throughout the community. The process was developed at town meeting. A study group was established and set up a process for reviewing applications. The Human Services Committee suggested a committee be formed to receive and review the funding requests. Annually, they make funding requests, they are forwarded to the committee. Until last year we didn’t coordinate the amount. We now settle on an amount with them, and they present the recommendations here.
Emilie Kornheiser — committee is made up of professionals. We meet over many months and review applications in depth. Looking at meeting basic needs of hunger and homelessness, that Brattleboro citizens were being served, and some organizations can leverage other funds. Poverty in school, homelessness. We can’t push the issues under. We looked at loss of Vermont Yankee funding this year, too, which was sometimes anonymous and significant.
Kathryn Turnas – as chair of Senior meals, I thank the town for the money. Lunch at Latchis coming up to support the program.
Andy Davis – In favor of article. Somewhat brought up private fundraising, but I’m wondering if there is a way to think of a human services fund that people can donate to, to help these organizations. Not to give to the general fund, but to a human services fund. It relieves taxes. There are people who are eager to give above levels of taxation. Tap into the good will of the people fo Brattleboro.
Judy Davidson – It might be an interesting idea. How would it work with United Way? Can the font size be increased on these graphs?
John Wilmerding – Mr. Davis speaks my mind, and Chris Chapman, for work on charitable contributions. They can be raised. We see it in the rec department. Two numbers for FY15 and FY16 – a 10k difference. A discrepancy?
Gartenstein – the line item in the budget has additional allocations – 140k includes human services, plus climate protection, money to museum for maintenance, and crisis center. We asked to keep the line item level funded, but there was a misunderstanding, and we asked for 120k this year rather than 110k. Our mistake. 10k more than last year.
Dennis Newman – Meals on Wheels does great work. Many benefits. keeps people out of the hospital, provides human contact, and it needs funding. I suggest the committee some of the groups get state funding and don’t need our local support as much.
Spoon Agave – Regret we don’t have more. Got a dose of reality from school board about enormous amount of kids on free and reduced lunch. Poverty is increasing. I wish we could spend more. I support developing a community chest. There are town in with plenty of money in this town. Looking up those making over 100 and 150K of declared income. There are Withingtons who can build skate rinks and Brooks to build libraries. Whether they will or not. We can put their name on things. It is important to develop a mechanism by which they can.
Ralph Meima – the money we allocate to human services is leveraged many times over with other grants and volunteers hours. Enormous value from this spending. Maybe in coming years, in most developed countries, there would be a human services department. More government with more public funding. We should debate if it is more or less efficient. A question to consider – are we doing things as efficiently as we can be doing? How many of these grant recipients are duplicating efforts, at admin level or sharing facilities? or are they already as efficient as can be. Is there a way for the committee to look at requests, but also if a community loan fund, or if this sector is as efficient as possible. Also, article 20 coming up, of 20k for development of the skatepark. The skatepark effort might go ahead with or without the allocation. Some press over absence of … maybe we can move that 20k….
Crispe – skatepark not germane at this point. Article 18, please.
Article 19
ARTICLE 19: To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not to exceed $375,000 from the
Unassigned General Fund Balance as of June 30, 2014 to fund in whole or in part the following capital
projects: Green Street retaining wall, Elliot Street bridge, Municipal Center life safety improvements, and
Union Street/Western Avenue intersection improvements.
Donna Macomber – amend to increase to $485k.
David Gartenstein – We have a policy which calls on town to maintain unassigned fund balance of about 10% of operating budget. That amount is recommended. Fund came in useful when we faced Irene. Surrounding towns didn’t have it in the bank. Same with Elm Street bridge and other damage. We could make repairs immediately. Try to keep 10% as a goal. I’ll have Town Manager explain his approach to using the balance. Sometimes there is pressure to lower tax rate. We want to spend the money on unanticipated capital projects. A lot of big projects we’re facing – Green street wall, Elliot St bridge, outflow pipe at railroad tracks, retaining wall on Bonnyvale, Municipal Center, and Police and Fire stations. We have a lot of capital needs. Town Manager says we should spend unassigned funds on capital needs. We will ask for 95k to lower taxes. The reason it is higher than 375k is we saw 200k extra in the unassigned fund balance from last year that we thought was in another account.
Peter Elwell – You heard an accurate summary of my recommendation. I think it is especially important, given the magnitude of the unplanned urgent needs of the town, that these are they type of projects we spend on the account. Like sitting around kitchen table deciding – it will be importnat that we reserve for these one time expenses so that we avoid relying on surplus funds in daily operations. That drains resources from capital needs but also put town in precarious position when we don’t have a surplus, we’d raise taxes or cut services. Reserve use of unassigned fund balance for one time capital expenses.
Paul Rounds – by stating the projects, are we tying your hands? Should we just give money and you use best judgement?
Crispe – we can only act on the actual warning, and here there are four specified projects.
Peter Elwell – these four projects cost more than the 485k being requested. Good suggestion for future warnings, but this year, we won’t be able to spend all necessary to do all four projects. Significant needs, and this will cover a portion of these projects.
Paula Melton – discussing the amendment or article?
Crispe – amendment, but it relates and crosses over, but it is on the amendement.
Kathy Urffer – info in capital improvement plan has some listed, but there are more projects than in this article. How were these projects chosen?
Gartenstein – if you look at FY16 cap improvement plan, none of these items are included there. There has been planning for some of these items reflected in other years, but cap items don’t include any of the items in this article.
Eli Gould – I want to vote for this, but talking about three of one and one of another. A bridge washing out, but we as a government need to solve problems in life-safety issues in facilities. Start allocating funds for that sort of thing, going forward.
Peter Elwell – That point is very well taken, but at the moment we are at we have these needs that must be addressed. Going forward, we will work on comprehensive reviewing town budget and operations. Maintenance and operating costs, size of facility… we need to make sure things are properly calibrated, or recalibrate. Other ways beyond the health and safety issues. We’ll create a plan and work on it – to set aside funds for different needs that need to be addressed.
John Wilmerding – the finance committee recommended the policy of having a 10% reserve. Glad we have an executive branch that can make flexible decisions as they come up. We do have a policy. It was a guideline, not a policy.
Hyam Siegel – I don’t see these as unanticipated. They were easy to anticipate and there will be others like them going forward. Could have been anticipated 2-3 years ago. We’ll never get out from under if we continue this way.
Andy Davis – is there an estimate of the total cost of the projects, compared to what we’re contributing? Does adding 110k change requests for grants?
Gartenstein – the project cost isn’t driving the request, the request is the amount available over the 10% that we can apply. We’ll need money for other sources to complete the projects.
Elwell – Green St should cost 100k of town funds. Close to 600k total cost. If so, then we can do Elliot street and Municipal Center improvements, depending on funding. A lot of uncertainty here. We’re trying to find other people’s money to pay for these, but it will need this request.
Motion to amend passes. (To $485K)
Amended motion passes.
Misleading Account
Your comment (quoting me) “It was a guideline, not a policy” is misleading. Not by intention, I’m sure.
What I said was that the Finance Committee had recommended the 10%-of-annual-budget figure as a policy for maintaining adequate Unassigned Fund Balance, and that when we did this, the Selectboard approved our initiative, but clarified that they regarded it as a guideline, not a policy.
I should have also clarified that the Selectboard does not set policy — the RTM does.
Article 20 - Skatepark
ARTICLE 20: To see if the Town will appropriate $20,000 from the Unassigned General Fund
Balance to assist with investigating feasibility and assist in development of a skatepark at Living Memorial
Park.
John Allen – I’ve supported the skatepark for many years. This would move them forward. It is necessary at this point and I hope everybody approves this.
Rusty Sage – a number of issues come up. A skateboard park isn’t an emergency, so I question using the unassigned fund in this manner. We have an infrastructure in Brattleboro that is falling apart. Now we’re bringing forth 20k toward a skatepark? There will be upkeep and maintenance costs. Also, what is the liability and oversight of the park? These could be foreseen expenses. $20k to give to a group to do what they want in the future?
John Wilmerding – I’ve generally supported plans for the skatepark, but we were told it would be built with funds outside of the tax base. How much has been raised, current balance, current pledges? And why are we turning to the treasury to do this? We’ve invested a lot of staff time (and money) so far.
Jed Leslie – I question Living Memorial Park location. Skating is an urban activity. It won’t move out of downtown. Nice if we could still consider downtown as an option.
Crispe – not germane to the question.
Leslie – If we vote no does it kill the park at LMP?
Ben Underhill – Was there a feasibility study for Crowell lot location? Quid pro quo?
Judy Davidson – I’m in favor and have donated. I question whether we should take money from unassigned fund. It was a goodwill gesture, but is it appropriate considering voters were told it would be all privately funded.
Paula Melton – I’ve never understood why skateboarding is segregated out of our Parks and Rec budget. Somehow it is separate. I don’t agree. I don’t think the group needs to raise special funds for a public good.
David Gartenstein – a lengthy process to try to get it developed. Location has been an ongoing process and resulted with Upper LMP being the location. Thus far, 28k in grants and donations raised thus far. Haven’t been spending more than administrative costs on this project. Most new development of recreation is from private donation – like West River Park. Liability issues have been investigating. The suggestion to take the 20k came before the new Town Manager made his recommendation. It’s a show of goodwill toward the development of the park.
Elizabeth McLoughlin – committee would appreciate and need this money. It would help us begin fundraising for the new location in earnest, with a plan to take to fundraisers. It would be helpful in raising the additional funds.
Dora Bouboulis – not a big fan of using the unassigned fund balance for this type of thing, but I do think we have used it for these kinds of things, and until we have an absolute policy, we need to do this. We’ve helped with other projects. It is a town owned park and a recreational need, and not a large amount of money.
Christian Stromberg – skiing is not part of Park and Recs. If skateboarding becomes part of Parks and Rec we should discuss skiing.
Eli Gould – if those want to support the skatepark, is this too specific to limit it to Living Memorial Park. If they need to keep looking… should we amend to not limit to the park?
Wilmerding – this will decide that we build a skatepark at LMP.
Kurt Daims – Mr. Sage’s point about appropriateness… this is not the proper way to pay. Other items on the budget getting less – human services. There are people who earn less than 20k a year. It is not insignificant.
Peter Fallion – as part of the feasibility, are there real possibilities that we support this but the site is rejected. Have those conversations taken place? Permits?
Elwell – The process is not complete but the prospects are good.
Hyam Siegel – support the idea to amend to make it broader than just LMP.
Crispe – you could delete the location in an amendment.
Siegel – any concern about that change? I’d like to make that amendment. To eliminate “at Living Memorial Park”
John Allen – is it okay with BASIC?
McLoughlin – as far as I know we’re set. Let’s begin at this site. There aren’t any impediments. No need to alter it.
Joe Bushey – I agree. We don’t see any further impediments. My personal 2 cents is I’d hate to see any limitations on what we do going forward. If the amendment helps us move forward, we’d take it. If it restricts us at all, I’d be in favor of striking the location and adhering to the amendment.
John Allen – More than happy to amend it, if that moves it along. Happy to support the motion.
John Wilmerding – i don’t think the amendment is necessary to preserve flexibility. It’s a movement to build the skatepark, and I support original wording.
Don Webster – I agree. If the feasibility study finds problems it did it’s job. I’d encourage rejection of amendment and proceed as warned.
Crispe – shall you amend….
Chair is in doubt so there is a division. Reps remain standing until counted. 66 in favor, 55 opposed.
The amendment to strike the name of the location passes. On to the motion itself, now amended…
Chris Chapman – I’d like to point out that we’ve made huge financial decisions. We’re voting to make an investment in our town and our children. It does hold this town up to a mirror and we want to see our good side. It is not insignificant, but in town’s best interest, in the children’s best interest, to vote for this. There is a pent up demand for this. Our indoor skate rink is heavily used. It’s a fun, wonderful sport and I hope they teach me to skateboard. It’s in our 12,000 member society to move ahead with this, even if it seem symbolic. Let’s vote on this and go to lunch.
George Reed-Savory – we often have conversations about how much time we spend on town and school budget. Much longer on 20k than millions. Let’s go ahead an approve it.
It is approved!
Crispe calls a one hour recess for lunch, for Article 21, at 1:45 p.m.
Part Two
As we wait for the Representatives to reassemble, a few notes:
– the sun has come out, the temperature has risen, and the snow has stopped.
– the meeting in the Multipurpose Room, rather than the gym, looks more comfortable for a meeting of this size. It will be interesting to hear reactions from those attending on the change of venue.
If you’d like to read about the origins of Representative Town Meeting, you can do so here.
If you’d like to contribute to the sandwich and peanut fund for your writer, you can Feed The Kitty on this page, down on the right.
Thanks for tuning in. We’ll be back with more soon.
Article 21
Representatives make their way back in, a few minutes late. They have to be checked in, officially, before taking their seats.
Moderator Crispe welcomes the Representatives and calls them back to order. We have a quorum.
ARTICLE 21: To see if the Town will authorize the following acquisition of capital assets, to wit: (a) replacement of a 2008 Police cruiser and a 2011 Police cruiser (combined cost of approximately $84,000), (b) replacement of a 1995 726A grader (approximately $340,000), and (c) replacement of a 2003 dump truck (approximately $208,000), at an estimated total cost of $632,000, and to finance the same through debt instruments other than bonds for a term not to exceed five (5) years.
Kate O’Connor – the selectboard is recommending the replacement of these as they’ve reached the end of their life-cycle. These are some of the most compelling replacements needed.
Emilie Kornheiser – the explanation for the need for replacing makes sense, but why don’t the police walk more?
David Gartenstein – the goal of increasing community policing, officers must patrol downtown. It’s part of every shift.
Dora Bouboulis – these are all needed, but in 2017 we need many things. Things keep being put off. How long can we keep doing that before it comes to a head? This year we have items we put off until they were emergencies. This looks ominous looking at 2017. Do we need more in this article, to prevent an emergency down the road?
Peter Elwell – Those kind of questions we hope to answer when we complete the comprehensive review and a financial plan. We can’t go forward year after year like that. Not necessary to put more in here at this meeting, though. We need to go through the exercise over the next several months to address long term needs.
Bill McKinnon – police and fire vehicles? If they are sold where does the money go?
Elwell – generally the trade in value of equipment is part of the transaction. When it is sold, it is revenue to the general fund.
John Wilmerding – when I read about the need for cruisers, I saw Vernon was selling cruisers. Has anyone looked at that?
Chief Fitzgerald – good question. Emergency vehicles idle time. Idling adds to wear and tear. odometer might say 60,000, but life could be at 200,000, so we stay away from used vehicles. It could be a safety issue.
(Someone)- what debt instrument is used to fund these?
Elwell – bank notes. Banks bid on them and we go with lowest interest rate.
Steve Phillips – I haven’t seen warned items written like this. It’s an estimated cost? Is it not to exceed? Why was it worded this way, that you can spend whatever you want?
Elwell – The reason for the wording is they will be purchased from the capital fund. And there are other items. Some will be over and some under. If these four come a little over, we won’t spend more than the total . Other items will be bought with cash, from this fiscal year.
The article is adopted.
Article 22- Local Option Sales Tax
Egad. The 1% tax again.
ARTICLE 22: To see if the Town will assess a one percent (1%) local option sales tax in
accordance with 24 V.S.A. Section 138.
Kurt Daims – asks to cease debate.
Crispe – that takes priority over any debate. All in favor of ceasing debate. Debate will continue. Is there any debate?
Peter Cooper – there has been a fair amount of publicity to not support this. I’d like to run through reasons to support it. Brattleboro’s property tax is extremely high. Number 5 of 240 towns. We pay too much in property tax. The Local Option Tax would get us $600k after we send a third to Montpelier. We could get the whole amount. Some say that the 1% is a regressive tax. It is in some ways, but not very regressive. The Chamber lists 46 items that won’t be taxed – a safety net for the lowest income. heating, fuel, food, nonprescription drugs, medical devices. Finally, who would pay this? The 30,000 people in town very day using our services, and tourists from Heifers, Gallery Walk, arts events. They don’t pay any tax. I hear that burden.
Jane Southworth – I second all that he said. Andy Davis sent a letter to the reps that I support.
Kevin McElhinney – there might be worse ideas. We will be paying for this tax. There has been discussion of family budgets. I’m still looking for the financial recovery. We don’t usually say we have extra money to give to the town government. We heard this morning of problems of poverty in the community. Wouldn’t we want to encourage a business to stay here or come here that would contribute to economic growth and create jobs and lift some out of poverty. This isn’t in a vacuum. Our competition is a state across the river with zero sales tax, and one to the south with lower taxes. Do we want, when we lost a major employer, to add to the burden of local job creators by increasing their costs. I urge a vote against this tax.
Chris Chapman – I was on the selectboard to try to get this passed years ago. Thought it was a great idea. I’ve changed my mind. I had not realized the extent of internet competition. Arguments for this are strong, but we need a downtown retail community. Brooks House, brand new with great space, has vacancies. One merchant I do a lot of business with says they try things on then buy on the internet. It would be a mistake to see this as low hanging fruit. Short term, yes, long term no. We have to look at the 100 yard line. It’s been defeated. We’d be wise to turn it down.
Kathryn Turnas – how many times will we kick this can around the block? It’s been voted down. I work with very vulnerable people living on social security, some have pensions. They don’t shop downtown. They go across the river because it is cheaper. They can’t afford to shop her now. Do this and they won’t be here at all. I’ve lived around the country – each sales tax hurts the poor people.
Morgan – maybe some people aren’t making the right comparison. The issue is 1%. This means on $75, that’s 75 cents. On a big refrigerator, that’s $17. Is someone otherwise inclined to shop here going to shop online for 75 cents and a shipping fee?
Orion Barber – scary proposition for all of us. Downtown merchants are understandably concerned. We live primarily on social security. I used to be a book publisher in this town. The big problem, still, is how to make a profit. When a project would be proposed by an author, I would ask to think like a publisher. Self publishers do this. I’ll get to the point. Any entrepreneur should ask who is the market? What kinds of people will look for your book. identify the interest of those people. Every time BDCC has a business proposal contest and awards grants – if someone comes and says my market is local community and tourists- are they fickle, or maybe not? People come to town from elsewhere to spend their money. I asked for an estimate of costs to this town if a tax was instituted, to administer in-house and save the state’s fee. This town is not resilient. Nobody knows how the weather works anymore. We have first responders under poor conditions and we have to do something about it. What if we were to institute this tax, but not send any money to Montpelier. I bet we could do it cheaper.
Peter Elwell – Thanks for the heads up so we could have an answer. For today, we can’t. Under the statute for the LOST, the provisions are fixed. You have to work through the state and they keep the large share. two cities have instituted a rooms, meals, and entertainment tax on their own. Just found out, but can look into it more. Don’t know that our charter would be approved to locally collect the tax, but both of the others are cities. Today, though, it will be under the state and the state will collect their fee.
Christian Stromberg – I’m a business that relocated after a BDCC prize. I have a retail store. People tell me they’ll go to NH to buy my product, because of taxes. It keeps coming up. We need to look at the large chunk of property not paying any taxes. They demand services. This needs to be a legislative issue. They need to pay something for roads, police, and fire. It needs to change. It’s a shared burden.
Dora Bouboulis – There was a town wide vote where the idea was voted down. Want to mention that. We have a fragile retail economy. There are other places with stronger economies and they are losing businesses, like Northhampton. Much large population,. money, and tourists. The idea that we can sustain an increase is ludicrous, on the border of a non-tax state. What you gain has to be measured. If property owners lower rent, they ask for a property reassessment. What do you gain vs. what do you lose? If you have an empty downtown, the tourists stop coming. It can disappear quickly if options aren’t here. Finally, I have heard the list of things that are and aren’t taxable, and that poor people only buy necessities. People have needs to buy things that will be taxed. Many don’t have other options other than to shop in town. Offensive to think they should have to buy those things.
Emily Megas- Russell – suspicious of argument around people leaving town over 1% increase in tax. Walmart doesn’t compare to Sam’s. It’s difficult to buy things you need downtown. The town needs to help people to shop locally and how a 1% tax invests in the town. Taxes are for services we need. It’s a loop we aren’t fully connecting. We can advertise “buy locally” to drive business. Whether we vote this in or not we should do it.
Prudence McKinney – It’s the wrong meeting to have the debate. We thought there would be new police and fire expenses. We have a new Town Manager – we may have other ways to look at our budget. Will 1% change behavior? I don’t think we need to vote this in right now.
Anne Senni – I want to echo what was said. I voted against it but support it today. I was a merchant here. I felt the situation was precarious, but there is some hysteria. Some aren’t aware of sales tax. The psychological effect is big. This town has a poverty issue, and no disposable income, and a property tax issue. It’s hard to sell my home. So, I support this tax. We have expenditures we have to make and need money. We need to manage and sell this tax.
George Harvey – 30 years ago I was a single parent. We never came to Brattleboro, because the tax was 5.5%. Our tax has gone up and NH has not. Wehen you compare 6 or 7% to nothing, it is a lot for someone with no money. I only leave when I can’t find something here. I’m poor. I don’t have a car. I’ve heard about poverty today and it is scary. We need to get an income as a community and stop people from being poor. By bringing money in. Having taxes means people goes elsewhere. I can’t support this. I’ve been there. It’s always cheaper in Keene. Every year $24 million is spent on electricity, and it goes out of this area. We could generate it here. We can do it. We have the resources to get money coming into Brattleboro. A 1% tax will not get us out of poverty.
Marshall Wheelock – I’m torn because each side has good arguments and I can poke holes. This is the annual representative meeting, the citizens voted against it and that will control how I vote.
Mollie Burke – I’m opposed to the tax. It’s a fragile economy. Property taxes are a state issue being worked on. There are bigger issues – budgets, health care costs, and more feeds in to this.
George Roberge – 1959 was when RTM started. I can’t imagine what they’d think of us voting against what the people voted a few weeks ago. Like Jenga. This is another block. If we push it it will crumble.
Andy Davis – I wrote something to some of you in email, and I think this is an important discussion. We’re discussing the issue, not just voting it down. We hear we aren’t overspending, and have heard of expenses coming. Rents are high. We need property tax relief. I voted against this in the past, but changed my mind. I have seen packed houses at the Latchis, but they come and don’t leave much behind for us. We have a local option tax on food. I pay it because I need the food. I get value for my dollar. The reasons people don’t shop downtown isn’t the sales tax. I’ve bought bikes on Main Street. People go to Walmart because of low cost, not sales tax. I’m so tired of hearing of it referred to as tax-free New Hampshire. They raise money by getting us to cross their border. Businesses pay business tax with customer’s money. We have state law to pay a use tax in Vermont. Many arguments are against the sales tax. It’s not going away. Many towns adopt it. They aren’t right on the border. We are a destination town, and we need to find a way to have them help to support it.
The question is called. Debate ceases.
On the main motion, the 1% Local Option Sales Tax appears to be defeated but… needs a division. They rise and are counted.
It is defeated. 44 yes, 78 no.
Article 23 - The Town Budget
ARTICLE 23: To see how much money the Town will raise, appropriate and expend to defray its expenses and liabilities.
I move that the Selectboard be authorized to raise, appropriate and expend the sum not to exceed $15,307,899 (fifteen million, three hundred seven thousand, eight hundred nine-nine dollars) in order to defray to that extent all general fund expenses for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, including all highway and Windham County taxes, and that the Selectboard be authorized to expend, in addition, any sum authorized for special purpose under any article contained in the warning for this meeting or any special Representative Town Meeting. This motion includes the following funding sources: $96,265 (ninety-six thousand, two hundred sixty-five dollars) to be appropriated from the Unassigned General Fund Balance, $13,473,675 (thirteen million, four hundred seventy-three thousand, six hundred seventy-five dollars) to be collected in property taxes, and the balance to be comprised of all other sources of revenue collected by the Town. This motion also provides that the Town taxes assessed on the Grand List as April 1, 2015, shall be due and payable in four (4) equal installments payable to the Town Treasurer until overdue, then to the Collector of Taxes; that such payment of the installments shall be made on or before 5:00pm on August 17, 2015, November 16, 2015, February 16, 2016, and May 16, 2016; and that interest at a rate of one percent (1%) per month be charged from the due date of payment on any overdue payment of the town tax, installment, or portion thereof; and that a penalty of eight percent (8%) be charged on any overdue payment that remains due and owing on May 17, 2016.
David Gartenstein – some overview, sorry if I’m boring you. The Town Report contains the total budget of $15 million plus, and the motion is for $15.5 or so. We aimed for a level service budget this year. Went through potential service cuts last year, the community wasn’t prepared to make serious cuts in services. We knew a new town manager was coming on board, and looked forward to a comprehensive review of town services. We’ve spoken of the need to look at all services and look to see they are effective and cost effective. We will review services and try to save money. This year provides for the same as last year in almost all areas of town government. Much is personnel – 65% – employees and benefits. The big ticket items like insurance. Then fixed and supporting costs, like postage, sand, salt, etc. There are some changes in our approach. One is the transition to PAYT in July. We anticipate 385k from bag sales. It will be its own enterprise fund. Other changes, too. Last year we spent $500k to lower taxes. We have about 200k more for salaries this year. Collective bargaining agreements are up for renewal this year. Since the annual report was printed, numbers changed. There was 140k to pay for borrowing for Police Fire project. Bond counsel said we need to get new permission to borrow if project changed, and plans have changed, so we can’t borrow more right now. So we took the 140k out. We also saved $100k by getting good price on fuel for next year. Since we had some real savings, we’re passing that through. Very close to a budget with no increase in real estate taxes in the coming year. Schools will be up. We’re taking 96k from unassigned fund balance to put toward next year expenses. Also, there is a difference between the the number above, and the total spending. Other expenses have already been approved at today’s meeting and gets added in to the total expenditures.
David Schoales – waste management and PAYT – there is a new enterprise fund with 550k. The total is less than we spent last year.
Paula Melton – what is tax effect if we don’t take from the fund?
Gartenstein – tax increase of 2/3 of a penny.
Georgia Morgan – FY15 and 16 there is no money for sidewalk repair and replacement? But then big numbers in 2017? Will they be repaired in 2017?
Gartenstein – we have a carry over from this year to next, so we anticipate to make some repairs with money already in the bank. Significant grant funds to entirely rebuild east side of Main Street sidewalks from bridge to Walnut street. Some disruption this coming year. It will be torn up.
Peter Fallion – sidewalks. What material will be used? Permeable to rain water? When it first came up… there’s a difference between sidewalks that run off and those that take in the water.
Steve Barrett – they will be replaced with concrete, but will have a brick edge.
John Wilmerding – last year we approved a budget that was rejected by referendum, then we voted again and it passed. Thereby, the failure of the first budget was taken as a public disfavor of the project. This year, a plan to relocate the police station is a significant change, resubmitted for a vote. Not ready to proceed. Another choice is to build it as originally planned. Has a decision been made to not use the Municipal Center?
Gartenstein – final decision hasn’t been made. Big item we will deal with.
Wilmerding – another question. Has the Selectboard begun to set policy in regard to this item?
Gartenstein – the budget was rejected. new budget didn’t have authority for borrowing. They need to be fixed, but how to do that has not been determined. We’ll be coming back with a proposal.
? – is the number what we’re paying on the bond?
John O’Connor – bond interest is going down. We’ve taken it out of the budget.
Tad Montgomery – At the info session, Orion Barber expressed consternation with reading this budget. I love the annual report but the budget is ancient greek. I don’t have the training to read a budget like this. There should be an info session on how to read the budget.
Georges Herzog – we are close to level funded budget. Don’t like taking money from reserve to make it look even. Next year, it will go up because we won’t have the money from the reserve fund. Money should be used for needs, not to make the budget look good.
Walter Slowinski – offers amendment that the budget be increased and money not be taken from unreserved fund.
Gartenstein – we’d have to strike some language about $96,265 from unassigned fund balance and increase other total to $13,569,940.
John Wilmerding – unlike most if us, I met with the new Town Manager. The changes made in the budget would preserve our fund balance of 10%. Is the amendment necessary?
Peter Elwell – The number proposed today would adhere to the policy and preserve 10%. The amendment would preserve 10% plus 96k.
Paul Rounds – by moving this around, this increases taxes to be collected by 3/4 to 8/10ths of a percent? An increase of taxes. So I’d vote no on the amendment.
Spoon Agave – probably good to return the money but not critical. Finance Committee had recommendations of how to deal with excess. The Selectboard didn’t want to be constrained by a policy.
Bob Tortolani – it would look bad. Not a good time to raise taxes.
Paula Melton – what’s the dollar amount to a 100k house if this increased?
Gartenstein – six or seven dollars.
Amendment fails.
The main motion, Article 23, passes.
Article 24 and 25
A pair of Town Charter Articles are up next.
ARTICLE 24: To see if the Town shall pass a resolution to amend the Brattleboro Town Charter
Addendum A, Acts of 1959, No. 302, Section 4a to change the deadline for incumbent Town Meeting
members to submit their notice of intent to have their name placed on the ballot as presented.
Leo Schiff – What is the change from? Can you give a summary?
Annette Cappy – the change would change incumbents deadline from the 7th to 6th Monday. A housekeeping issue, and not in conflict with MLK day. You’d approve a resolution, but another representative town meeting would be required for the resolution to be adopted.
It is approved.
ARTICLE 25: To see if the Town shall pass a resolution to amend the Brattleboro Town Charter
Article II, Section 3 to allow mechanical tabulation of ballots from citizens that use early voting as
presented.
Annette Cappy – This change is for early voters choosing to vote in the office. You can vote early. This would mean ballots are counted immediately rather than being put into an envelope and opened later. Many would like to vote early, but don’t want to use envelopes. If it makes people more comfortable then I think it is a good thing. It makes it easier, streamlines the process. Some have concerns of security. Now, ballot envelopes are stored in the vault. These would be in the voting bins under the tabulator, with a numbered seal, verified.
Tom Franks – it says a record shall be maintained, and numbers shall match. What if it doesn’t.
Annette Cappy – they will balance. We do this now, and have never not balanced. We work hard, like in a bank. You work until it is balanced. Good question, and a sincere answer.
Dora Bouboulis – the issue fo the feel addresses part, but what about hacking these machines?
Cappy – the physical security of the machine? Hacking isn’t an issue any more than it is now. It won’t be out of our site. If it is tampered with it locks up. I don’t see increased risk of tampering. This isn’t a voting machine, just a tabulator. We test it. Every election, we’re confident. An ender card produces the tally.
It is approved.
Article 26 - Future
ARTICLE 26: To see if the Town will vote to establish a committee of Representative Town Meeting to be known as the Committee of the Future.
David Schoales – seemed clear cut until we looked into it.
Rod Francis – when this came up, I prepared a memo discussing potential for conflict and duplication with Planning Commission. There is a system for communities to plan across a arrange of areas through the Planning Commission. Single most important is…
Daims – proposition being argued against? In negative?
Crispe – it has been moved…
Francis – just providing info. Town Plan is significant work and has a public process of review. It sets future development. From talking with Mr. Agave, it goes broader than land use and deals with issues such as democratic process and participation of the community. It’s important to clarify is my concern is roles, and roles should not overlap with established Planning Commission.
Spoon Agave – the futre is very uncertain and we have enormous problems ahead of us. Lowest household income in state. Another harmful trade agreement. Climate issue. It’s possible we won’t be able to burn fossil fuels. How do we address or talk about it. A lot of problems need a place to be talked about. If we are to respond and prepare, we need to examine the future in as much detail and knowledge as we want. Bowling Alone book, on socio economic issues. Looks at ways in which our communities began to come apart. Myriads of ways. A level of participation critical to maintaining a democracy and function as a strong community. Only by being a strong community can we hope to come out in the future. Only 15% of our voters went out to vote. Our leadership was elected by 10%. If you look at percent of adults voting for Selectboard is 7-8%. Do we still have a government of which we consent? Couldn’t find candidates to run. Hard to find people for RTM and committees. Could find a boy scout to carry the flag at our own meeting. Across the board – involvement in all boards, houses of worship, everywhere you look, community participation is declining and it needs to be rebuilt. We need to examine it. What’s real and what isn’t? We need to go back an understand. We have to deal with poverty. Almost 50% of income is unearned – from welfare and section 8, and social security. Town is not working. If any or all of it dried up, we’re in real trouble. There was a time this community supported itself. It built its own, raised it owns. If a wire breaks we are now incapacitated. Why are so few people interested in participating in civic life? It is the result of choices we have been making without realizing consequences. Not questions for a town plan, or state’s mandate for a town plan. Town plan supports policies, but how do we determine policies? Are they good and beneficial? Where is it leading us? Everyone has ideas. It used to be that half the town read the newspaper. Now, how do you do it? Reformer, Commons? iBrattleboro? BCTV? Facebook? If a community cannot communicate, how it will solve problems? If we are going to pull together as a community, we need to face ourselves and ask hard questions to find solutions. That’s what I hope we can achieve.
George Harvey – already volunteered to be on this committee. Every day I try to be up by 4, looking at news for research on renewable energy, assemble them, and share them. Over 11,000 links. Some articles are very frightening. We could lose species. The US military says it is our #1 security risk. We are running our of fossil fuels. Estimates aren’t holding up. Natural gas sites are failing or breaking even. I put this stuff up every day. Are you searching for optimistic material? No , just what I find. So much is optimistic. We have economists and bankers working on these problems. Producing amazing things. Much money behind it, too. Demanding we stop funding fossil fuel subsidies. The point is that amazing things are happening. One utility is spinning off nuclear and fossil fuels in favor of renewables. Barclays Bank warned investors of downgraded bonds of US utilities. GMP is doing amazing things, but we need in this town someone who has two flags, red and green. To raise problems, or point out opportunities. It will be a sudden discovery. When it happens, the opportunity is there. We don’t want to take something away from the Planning Board. We want to provide information, so we make better decisions?
Judy Davidson – I appreciate the passion. I’m in favor and volunteered to be on this and we can add to the work being done currently and not intrude.
Elizabeth McLoughlin – there are finite set of volunteers, and we need to protect how many people are called upon to volunteer for various things. In revitalizing civic life start with what we already have in place. It seems that revitalization would be best in the existing things rather than create another committee.
Steve Phillips – I suspect the work will continue even if a committee isn’t formed. I didn’t get this last year and voted against it. The ad hoc committee was to propose bylaws and a statement of goals. I don’t think we’ve gotten any further. I think we send the ad hoc committee back to work out the details. A committee without a goal is worrisome. What is our charge to them?
Chris Chapman – I hear an echo from the distant past. the first blog was Poor Richard’s Almanac – a genius publication. Mr. Harvey is talking about really important topics. Not appropriate for us to create a committee to publicize a blog. It would help to have our librarian help, to make it possible for us to have access to the information that is found. So we can eliminate the problem, and not sacrifice access to important information. I’m always amazed to hear original thought and new things. We have such media profusion is that it is so importnat an interesting. Not a committee of the town. Yes, use the library. Let the library facilitate the transmission of that knowledge.
Bob Bady – not sure what the committee will do or if it will be valuable. It won’t cost any money, and volunteers aren’t finite. It comes out of inspiration, and people are inspired to do this. Let’s see what they can do? Why sit on something and not let it happen? Not costing any money and god knows we need some help.
Don Webster – my concern is governance. Things usually are set up with a purpose, accountability and responsibility. These are usually independent of government. Is this committee speaking for anyone? Someone needs to be responsible to the public. Why be an official part of government? I can’t support it.
Ralph Meima – previous experiments along these lines. Rod will recall that this came up before, and a meeting on sustainability was called. The value was in the conversation at that time. People said interesting things. Value was in being part of the conversation at that point in time. Two years ago, George Harvey suggested we study how other communities handle climate adaptation. An energy committee subcommittee was formed – it was difficult and broad, and had no resources – it created a partnership with science teachers that informed student projects. value came from the conversations. Careful abou forming a committee, in isolation without a mandate or follow up process- can be the most effective way to address the issues Spoon brought up. I’d like to propose that rather than being a committee, that this be amended to be a regular conference. So no duplication, but the conversation occurs on a regular basis.
Crispe – you are offering an amendment, not a committee, but a conference.
Meima – a town sanctioned conversation.
Crispe – not sure how you reword this.
Meima – pull out “committee’ and say “regular conference” There is value in us hearing from knowledgable people in a way the whole town knows about.
John Wilmerding – we gave the committee a charge to brig back a recommedation. Do they consider this a friendly amendment?
Crispe – a regular amendment. Town Atty?
Fisher – I defer to you, but the warned article was to establish a committee. Town Meeting can establish special committees. Does not use other words. Overall germaneness, you’ll have to rule.
Crispe – it departs too much from method that was warned, so the amendment is out of order. It’s a close call, but out of order in context of warning and town charter.
Dora Bouboulis – this isn’t a governmental body, it is representative, It is oversight of the government. We get overconfident and think we’re more than what we are. Not sure about the committee, but know that many citizens have good ideas that don’t like the formality of town government. I’m not concerned with overlap. Planning can’t deal with all that’s before them as is. I’d hope that the committee would work with and conjunction with existing structures. Anything that offers a less formalized structure… what harm does it do. maybe some good ideas will emerge. I don’t know if they can be improved. Anything that can bring new ideas and thoughts I find welcome.
Wilmerding – we voted to commission this group to report back to us. I don’t think there is a readiness to hear what they might bring back, and think we should table this motion for further consideration at another meeting.
Crispe – not allowed to do that in Vermont. We must act on every warned article. Can’t table it.
Fisher – I agree.
Wilmerding – we spend extra on education for those who learn differently – we have people like that among us as adults. They think differently. They ask questions. A precious treasure in the community. If we dismiss this we dismiss that kind of treasure among us.
Judy Davidson – There is some confusion over goals. We do have a purpose and goals. There is a guideline and sense of accountability.
Emilie Kornheiser – I agree that we have a participation crisis. I’m differently brained. Involved in town boards and committees. My friends think committees don’t get anything done. Without a purpose and accountability – more will come and join then be frustrated. A generational shift needs to happen. Look at the median age of this room – we need some new blood.
Mark Truhan – I’ve listened to the discussion of a group to discuss new ideas. I see a non-governmental organization. Doesn’t need the government. They can publish information. No need for community committee beyond planning commission.
Bob Tortolani – I’d like to hear from new Town Manager about this being part of town gov’t.
David Schoales – great idea, but don’t see how it fits with government structure.
Peter Elwell – I hadn’t planned to speak, but I’ll answer it with some context. It’s not a secret that I’ve come back home. This conversation is part of why I came home. Brattleboro is special. These kinds of conversations and passions for looking at thing in a different way, and why I’m optimistic. It’s your conversation. I think it is unequivocally clear that the work of local government right now is much more about nuts and bolts to stay in order, and the value of this process could bring is real and powerful – but on their private time then bring it to the town arena. Not best foot forward to include it in current town work.
Paula Melton – No money involved? What about town officials meeting or scheduling?
Sage – should we look at the supplied statement or not? It mentions planning. How will this go forward to the governing body? How will they hold representatives accountable?
Agave – I think what was meant is that it would create accountability by bring questions out and creating the conversation. AS people hear more, they will ask questions, which is the crux. Everyone knows I will ask questions. We are not ready to hear what they bring back, said Wilmerding. This should be a committee of town meeting to have the independence of town government. Everything else is technicalities. Are you ready to look at yourself and all the difficulties, warts, history… are you ready to hear who we are? Should it be private or with town? A part of town means it might have more cooperation from town. Not so sure listening now. It is easier to work outside of government. Easier to meet. But, I was seeking a statement or support of this body, that represents the town, to sanction the work we would do.
Steve Rowell calls the question.
Debate is ceased.
Main motion to establish RTM committee of the future? The chair is in doubt and there is a division.
The future is no longer in doubt, the committee has not been formed. 52 -67, defeated.
Other business
Other business.
Schoales resolution – a resolution that members of RTM do not support plans for state board of education to determine existence of town school district. If approved, the town school district would be eliminated, as with all others in state. They’d be combined into a larger district, unless we go through an undefined process to convince state board that we’re okay. It takes away local control. We’d vote on one large budget. A terrible idea and goes against basic democratic principle of making local decisions.
Stewart Copans – I think what Spoon said was eloquent on community. Community is being destroyed and this would further destroy community.
Don Webster – I had similar resolution last year asking them to hold off. We have a well-presented budget … it wouldn’t happen anymore. Town meeting would stop dealing with education. Different needs for different communities. Policy decisions will move up to state level. It’s bad in so many ways. Small towns help our state economy. What will it do to town meeting and community?
Resolution is adopted. Hands off our local schools!
Jill Stahl-Tyler – I thought I’d hear of next steps of Police and Fire? Am I the only one who wants to know what happens next? Everyone else OK walking out of here?
Gartenstein – In october 2012, town meeting authorized the three facilities. SB borrowed the first $5 million. We started. Fire stations ready; police station almost ready. Budget last year had borrowing for the project, but it was rejected. Committee reconsidered options, came back with plan to move police station to Putney RD. Board approved concept. Bond counsel says RTM must weigh in. When there are full plans we’ll schedule a special RTM. Not everyone agrees, but that’s where I understand that we stand.
Tad Montgomery – 8.4 vehicles pass through Brattleboro each year on 91. I’m working with town arts committee to turn that coordidor into an art corridor, with creativity in that zone. There is a proposal on a table in the room. The intention is to create an experience so people say “what was that?” We want more input. Could be many types of art. Many issues, such as billboard law, costs, maintenance, deciding which art to install. Needs whole town to support project. Take copies and ponder it, and let us know your thoughts.
Megas-Russell – thank Police Dept. I work in mental health agency and work with police. Remarkable approach they have been taking with people struggling with safety. Safe interventions has minimized, and they take feedback from those they are serving. Thanks Chief and officers.
Kate Anderson – Town Arts Committee – we support this initiative. Brattleboro has an interesting story to tell. This is what art does.
Judy Davidson – Regarding police and fire project – begin by having public meetings what has happened so far. Oversight committee has been working, but people don’t know this information. We don’t know why the police station plan changed. Let’s have informational meetings before making plans.
Gary Carrier – concerned with trouble finding people to fill spots for this meeting. It’s like a round-up trying to fill slots. It speaks badly of democracy. I would hope that the selectmen would look at different systems for operating their democracy. We have a problem. We need to get these slots filled with people prepared to be educated in problems of this town.
Wilmerding – a proposal to offer. That the town should study the possibility to making more, smaller neighborhood wards.
Dylan McKinnon – I’m democratic cattle from the roundup. I may be the youngest member here. My signatures were from within sight of my house. They were concerned about roads.
Chris Chapman – I’d like to stress my hope that there will be a big distinction between quality and quantity of members. No, not all are here, but issues aere well ventilated in a civilized manner of which we are all proud. Are we willing to sacrifice quality for quantity?
Crispe – The resolution does not carry.
Wilmerding – Getting the idea out there. Here’s another. The town consider a community foundation for local human services and non-profits.
Elizabeth McCloughlin – bad idea. we’d eventual not fund them and it would be up to an arbitrary fund.
Paula Melton – if there was a rich person who wanted to donate could they now do so?
Elwell – yes, and it is tax deductible like a 501(c)3.
Jill Stahl-Tyler – what’s the purpose if we can give as individuals right now?
Wilmerding – if a rich person can get a deduction, can taxpayers get deduction for charitable deduction through taxes. There should be a division, and we mix business here by giving tax money to charitable organizations. This is like prior proposals. Town gov’t needs to focus on nuts and bolts. Just worth looking into. Not to decide it now.
Emilie Kornheiser – you used the word devolved. The states have devolved this to towns from the feds. There is the problem. Everyone devolves responsibility.
Chris Chapman – I’d like to see this discussed at a different time with more information. Town is not a 501(c)3. IRS Code Sec 170 lets us deduct contributions through municipalities. I have been hoping for a way to ask people to give more in their tax bills. We have a generous society. There is a transfer of wealth going on between generations. I’d like very much to help us transform the nature of taxation. Government has been demonized. Local government is effective. Town should simply welcome contributions beyond tax obligations. People love Brattleboro. We can’t budget on it. It comes unexpectedly. Everybody – who here wouldn’t give a little more than they are obligated if we welcome this. Don’t need a foundation or group. We should rethink roles beyond taxation, rich in volunteers and thinkers. How I would love to have this conversation with the Selectboard (again).
Dora Bouboulis – I agree with Chris. Some of the funding in human services budget is by request but some is matching funds required by federal and state grants. That would probably still need to come from taxes. A special fund wouldn’t cover it.
Debate has ceased.
Crispe – The resolution does not carry.
Moss Kahler – I’m fascinated by Town Meeting. I also want to say that PAYT is coming. Working hard on it. There will be sale of compost carts and public meetings and information here on tables for you. We welcome questions or comments.
Stewart Copans – no resolution, but would suggest that child care be provided at RTM so younger people could attend.
Kurt Daims – glad so many have stayed late this year to hear proposals. It’s the best part of RTM, and it is part of our mission to have new ideas and guidance for the town. We did that well today.
Spoon Agave – neither Selectboard’s report or Planning Dept report spoke of accomplishments of town plan. I’d like to point out it is state statute to report on it.
Eli Gould – we have to do our job and cover a policy for Police and Fire next steps. D1 had a meeting and there was unanimous support for – to resolve to share unanimous West Brattleboro perception that prove that some combination of existing land cannot be used before considering other sites, need more transparency, don’t separate police and fire, and set a budget we can manage.
Crispe – want the body to adopt a resolution? I need the text.
McLoughlin – we should give most flexibility to the committee
Sage – what do you mean by not separating Police and Fire?
Gould – some talk of moving forward on Fire before Police. We should do both.
Orion Barber – I agree. It was a good meeting in west B. We should take a step back and think of these projects as all first responders, and go to same events together often. Equally exposed to PTSD type events. Much stress with what they have to do. Both are served by men and women. Both need facilities. We hear of Police and Fire cultures. I’d bet under their skin, cop or firefighter, you are comrades in arms and both step forward to keep us safe. But we can’t afford the moon. May be opportunities to save some money by using one facility. It should be looked at.
Schoales – some points are contradictory in the resolution. We may need to go forward with one or two projects right away. Not sure how to proceed. We’ll come up with a plan. This isn’t binding, but we’re going to do the best job to do this as quickly as we can, regardless of resolutions.
Gartenstein – a core question for the town is how to upgrade emergency services consistent with taxpayers ability to pay. Interesting questions proposed, but we need to look at more. It’s on the selectboard’s plate to look at and present back to you a plan.
Don Webster – I don’t know enough to vote on this. We shouldn’t micromanage or set guidelines.
The resolution fails.
Sage – Frustrated. We do get updates from town so thanks to selectboard for work on this project.
Motion to adjourn approved.
So ends 2015 Representative Town Meeting at 5:51 p.m.
Spelling correction: 'Guthrie'
Spelling correction: ‘Guthrie’
Thanks
Thanks for doing this, Chris.
RTM
Chris, you preformed a grate service for the readers of iBratt and its apreciated. Personally I could kare less about any spelling mistaks and totalee understand the difficulty of doing somethin like this blogg.
Thank you again!
Spelling Priority: Names
Notice the only corrections I offered were for the spellings of peoples’ names, one of them deceased. We need to be careful about that.