Selectboard Meeting Notes: Retaining Green Street

How best to repair the Green Street retaining wall was a big topic for the Brattleboro Selectboard at their regular Tuesday meeting. Some intriguing options led to strong opinions before consensus was reached.

The board also did some planning to learn about planning, resulting in scheduling a series of meetings to highlight the changes coming to Brattleboro’s land use regulations. Some new energy efficiency efforts are now underway, departmental staffing level reviews have been replaced by a comprehensive staffing review, appointees were appointed, and more.

Preliminaries

John Allen was absent for a prior work commitment.

Representative Town Meeting will be held in the less expensive BAMS Multipurpose Room, and not in the gym as before. Both locations are pretty much the same place, but different rooms and different entrances. If you make it to the High School, you should find your way in.

Chair David Gartenstein thanked the Brattleboro Fire Department dive team for their rescue and life saving at the site of a vehicle that went into a pond in Vernon over the weekend.

Town Manager Peter Elwell reminded everyone to sign up for area emergency alerts at the www.vtalert.gov website.

Elwell also said that the town would be sending a letter to the NRC, for the official record, asking them to revisit the issue of ending the Emergency Planning Zone, and explaining why the area need extended coverage.

Kate O’Connor said that the 19-member state panel she is on, as a citizen, is hearing from witnesses and helping to get information out about decommissioning. “This will go on for 75 years or more, “ she said. She suggested the committee could become a good resource for the area.

David Schoales said that a solar array was going to be built on the landfill, there would be an operation to create organic fertilizer from waste, and the region could see more wood heating projects.

Schoales also suggested that everyone attend the upcoming performances of the BUHS chorus and madrigal choir, and the band. “You should go. The quality of these programs is astonishing.” The choirs perform March 18, and the band the following Tuesday.

Public Participation

Kathryn Turnas told the board about March for Meals, the nationwide program to build awareness and support for Meals on Wheels. She specifically drew attention to an upcoming benefit performance at the Latchis featuring the Windham Orchestra. Information and tickets can be had by calling Brattleboro Senior Meals at 257-1236, or the Brattleboro Music Center.

Liquor Commissioners

An outside consumption permit for the Fraternal Order of Eagles was withdrawn so that the application could be adjusted.

Schedule for Review of Zoning Amendments

At the last regular selectboard meeting, the board received an overview of the proposed changes to Brattleboro’s zoning and land use regulations.

At this meeting, the board approved a schedule of four presentations for deeper discussions and debates of the Land Use Regulations (LUR) at their regular meetings in April and May, in the following manner:

Meeting 1, April 7 – District Boundaries

Meeting 2, April 21 – Protecting Rural Character while Planning for Growth

Meeting 3, May 5 – Development Review Procedures

Meeting 4, May 19 – Design and Performance Standards.

Each presentation will take 20-30 minutes, and 20 minutes will be anticipated for questions at each session.

Planning Director Rod Francis said that the big picture was guided by the zoning districts, and that’s why they’d be the first item discussed.

David Gartenstein wanted to be sure there was ample public awareness of the proposed changes.

Francis agreed, reminding the board that a year or so of public meetings, information and press, and a project website, has been ongoing. He also made note of the public hearing the Planning Commission would hold, and the two meetings the Selectboard must hold, before adoption.

Gartenstein suggested emailing Town Meeting Representatives. Francis agreed, and told them of the existing 300 member email list they had been using thus far. Gartenstein suggested the consultant write an article to distribute to the press. Francis said they would have a display for Town Meeting Representatives.

He and Gartenstein agreed that the new Land Use Regulations could be adopted by July.

The plan for meetings was approved.

Monthly Finance Report with John O’Connor

Finance Director John O’Connor provided the board with the financial snapshot of the town budgets through February. 

With 66.7% of the fiscal year complete, the General Fund expenditures are at 68.5% of the annual budget. 

“We’re in good shape, spending less than anticipated,” said O’Connor.

The Utilities Fund expenditures are at 67.3% and the Parking Fund expenditures are at 66.1% of their respective budgets.

Police & Fire Facility project expenses this year total $13,247.

The town has loaned out just over $4 million and has just under $440,000 available for loans and grants.

The town has 44 active grants and 12 in the pipeline. “A very active grant program,” said O’Connor.

David Gartenstein asked about the costs of the difficult winter. Peter Elwell said that while certain items had gone over the budget, “We have underages in other places, so the overall budget is in good shape.” He expected to see a small surplus at the end of this fiscal year.

The End of Departmental Staffing Level Reviews 

Fire Department Lieutenant Marty Rancourt will retire on March 31 after thirty years of employment with the Town, and has been the case for a short while, the staffing change triggered the Brattleboro Selectboard to hold a staffing level review to learn more about the department.

Before that could happen, however, the board wanted to hear the recommendation of the Town Manager on the matter of reviews.

Town Manager Peter Elwell suggested that this practice of departmental analysis come to an end, to be replaced with a more comprehensive, overall staffing level review. He says this will allow for seeing staffing in a broader context of overall efficiency and effectiveness, rather than in isolated context.

“You undertook these for a good reason,” he told the board, but are seeing the same presentation when certain vacancies come up. “It has served its purpose.”

The selectboard agreed, and adopted his recommendation and the scheduled review of fire department staffing was cancelled.

Chief Bucossi, however, wanted everyone to know that the vacancy was caused by the retirement of a 30 year employee.

He told the board that there will be an open house at Central Station in Rancourt’s honor on Tuesday, March, 31, from 2 to 4 p.m., with presentations at 3:30 p.m. “I hope you can make it.”

Rancourt’s vacancy will likely be filled by promoting from within.

Green Street Retaining Wall

Much progress was made Tuesday night toward the repair of the 20 foot tall, 200 foot long Green Street retaining wall. The Brattleboro Selectboard approved a design, a grant application, and continued engineering on the project to fix the wall before it fails entirely.

The plan is to use Redi-Rock pre-cast concrete blocks with a geotextile fabric to do the fix, at a cost of $550,000. This is similar to how the Washington Street wall replacement was handled in 2013.

Steve Barrett and Hannah O’Connell gave a colorful slide presentation that showed, in detail, all the options they had considered, their associated costs, as well as notable considerations for each option.

For example, Barrett said he really liked the option of a new stone wall being built, like the wall on Church Street, but the cost was prohibitive. Still, he said, a wall like that could last hundreds of years. Newer materials haven’t always lasted quite as well as anticipated.

David Schoales was impressed by the idea of abandoning it altogether and creating a slope. “Who really will suffer if we don’t put this through? I don’t see a need to do it.”  He added,” There doesn’t seem to be a big constituency to retain this particular service. Let’s let this one go.”

This would create two dead-end streets, though, which was something the town promised not to do when it signed an agreement to build all roads and bridges to standards approved by the state, just a few meetings ago. In return, the town qualifies for grant  state funds.

Elwell said not building to the standards puts other town project funding at risk.

Schoales, one of the approvers of the road and bridge agreement, was nonetheless astonished. “We must adhere to the standards everywhere?” he said. “That’s a little to rigid for me to swallow. No exceptions?”

Barrett said the engineers report said that dead-end roads “do not conform and will not meet standards for new roads .” Other reasons for rejecting the dead-end approach included town vehicles, such as plows and fire trucks, needing access and/or turn-arounds.

Fire Chief Bucossi said he had big concerns about losing access to that part of downtown, and would want to be part of any plans to abandon the road. David Gartenstein agreed, saying that it would also potentially limit the use of nearby buildings.

His worries were short-lived. The Brattleboro Selectboard chose the Redi-Rock option that preserves the use of the road. Barrett said many local contractors are familiar with it and there should be many bids for the job.

Funding will come from a few sources. $175,000 will be applied for from the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s Structures Grant program. $300,000 will be applied for from an Urgent Needs fund, as well. The town will contribute about $100,000.

Stevens & Associates will be given up to $30,000 for engineering services for the project.

Elliot Street Bridge

The same Vermont Department of Transportation grant program will be applied to for another needed repair – the Elliot Street bridge. The total cost to replace the superstructure – the deck, rails, and slabs – is expected to be close to half a million dollars.

Hannah O’Connell said the original bridge was built in 1946.

Brattleboro approved a grant request of $175,000 to help cover the costs, but not until the risks of applying to the same fund for two projects was debated and discussed.

O’Connell said that the state encourages towns to apply for all they need. Barrett said there was still a risk. “We have been turned down.”

In the end, the risk was decided to be that perhaps only one project would be funded. The town will, however, apply for what it needs to do both projects.

Energy Efficiency

Town Manager Peter Elwell gave the board an update on the PACE program, telling them that concerns over implementation continue to exist, but that progress is being made. He suggested reporting back with regular updates, or when something changes.

David Schoales and Donna Macomber asked for regular updates. Schoales made note that it had been two years since Town Meeting Representatives voted to establish the PACE district, thereby qualifying them for energy-improving loans.

“It’s been a long wait,” said Schoales. Burlington got through it it, and resolved their hurdles.” He said that energy efficiency jobs were a big part of Vermont’s economy. “I’ve never seen the liability. If there is a concrete example of how Brattleboro makes it hard for business, this is it. I’m frustrated and venting.”

Elwell assured him that since the issue had been raised with him, there was renewed activity in trying to make it happen. He said town concerns related to taxes and delinquency. “We’d like to make it work.”

The BCTV Break

“I was asked two weeks ago to take a break for BCTV after two hours,” announced David Gartenstein.

With about 20 minutes left, the control room cleared the board to continue. And so they did.

More Energy Efficiency

Low cost energy improvements not to exceed $8,000 were proposed by the Energy Committee and explained by Patrick Moreland.

The work would mostly be replacing lights with LED fixtures, but there would also be some low-flow shower heads for Living Memorial Park and a daylight controller for the parking garage lobby.  Money for the projects would come from the $45,000 of seed money in the energy efficiency fund established by Representative Town Meeting, and a grant.

Moreland said all the projects could be easily implemented right away.

Energy Audits of some municipal buildings was another recommendation, and the Energy Committee would like to use a request of qualifications process, which allows the vendor to participate in developing the scope of work for these unique, old buildings. This would allow them to work with an expert to decide the true scope of work required for each property.

The buildings being considered are the Freshwater Treatment Plant, the Retreat Wells Pump Station, Gibson-Aiken Center, Nelson Withington Skating Rink, Brattleboro Transportation Center, Public Works Garage, Brooks Memorial Library, and the Municipal Center.

Once a scope of work is identified, the committee will return to the Selectboard with specific proposals to do the identified projects.

Tad Montgomery said the intention was to create proposals based on audits, to give the town the ability to see what renovations cost, and what savings could be realized.

Regarding the PACE district, he said he had been working toward its establishment for four years. “I’ve been very frustrated by how this has been handled by the Town Attorney,” he told the selectboard. He said he had given him information and access to people, but the process drags on. “I’m against reinstating him as counsel because of that,” he said, adding that he’d bring it up at Representative Town Meeting.

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved the audit RFQ and the low cost improvements.

Ordinance Amendments – Second Reading and Public Hearings

Changes to ordinances covering Pay As You Throw and metered parking areas each got a second reading and public hearing on Tuesday night.

“Reading” is somewhat misleading, as the text of the changes was never read. It was referred to and summarized, and the full text will be printed and posted as required.

“Public Hearing” is also a bit of an exaggeration. There wasn’t much public there to hear, and no comments were offered.

All ordinance changes were then voted for approval.

Windham Regional Commission Appointments

Planning Commission Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin and Planning Director Rod Francis served as the Town’s representatives to the Windham Regional Commission last year, and by a new appointment of the Brattleboro Selectboard, will serve in that capacity for another year.

Mr. Francis, according to the official documents, lives at the Municipal Center.

Town Service Officer Appointment

Leon C. Boyd, Brattleboro’s long-time Town Service Officer, has asked to be re-appointed to the position for another year, and the Brattleboro Selectboard made it happen. He has been re-appointed for another term.

Signing of Warrants

Brattleboro’s Selectboard divides the duties of signing paperwork among members of the board, giving each a three month period to wield the pen. At Tuesday’s meeting, David Gartenstein asked Town Manager Secretary Jan Anderson to coordinate with board members to assign equal amounts of the calendar to each.

Assignment of Town Meeting Articles

The Brattleboro Selectboard also divided up the task of reading Representative Town Meeting article motions. Rather than ruin the surprise of who reads what, I’ll leave it to you to watch the meeting to see who gets the task of reading all the names of social service agencies, and other motions.

The board plans to ask for town staff to speak against the Committee on the Future.

Selectboard Organizational Meeting

On March 23 at 5:15 pm, the Brattleboro Selectboard will hold an organizational meeting. Typically, the chair and other positions are decided, and there is some talk of setting goals at a future date. This time there will be a hearing prior to a grant submission for Green Street repairs.

Other

DPW says the cold year and deep frost is leading to expectations of a “very severe mud season.”

Work is continuing to preserve and protect Brattleboro’s drinking water sources via support of a bill in the Vermont House, H.33, which would give local control and authority to regulate and access Sunset Lake and Pleasant Valley Reservoir.