Selectboard Meeting Notes: PACE in Brattleboro, and Grants

Remember the Brattleboro Selectboard? It’s been a while.

At Tuesday’s meeting Brattleboro’s PACE district was finally set into action after nearly two years of contract questions and negotiations. The program allows for new ways of financing energy improvements to homes in town.

A Local Emergency Operations Plan was endorsed, rules and goals were approved, the Ebola truck was acknowledged, and many grants and grant applications were approved or accepted.

Preliminaries

Chair David Gartenstein began the meeting by noting that while the board had not met as a full Selectboard in some time, they would be holding meetings every week for the next four weeks.

He also said that while their meeting schedule had been sparse, many projects and activities in town were moving along. He encouraged anyone interested to participate in the civic life of the town.

Town Manager Peter Elwell used his introductory remarks to talk about the congestion caused by the closure of I-91 for repairs and inspections. “The impacts were worse than expected,” he told the board. “Businesses along that route did almost no business that day.” He said he has discussed this with the state and any planned closure in the future would be timed to create less of an impact, such as early on a Sunday morning.

Elwell also wanted everyone to be forewarned about a fire department training exercise  happening on Upper Dummerston Road on Sunday. It’s a drill involving neighboring towns, to help calculate what tanker truck needs would be required in an actual emergency.

Stores are agreeing to stock Pay As You Throw bags, and info sessions will be held about town very soon to explain the system to residents.

There were no Selectboard comments or committee reports.

Public Participation

John Wilmerding had three announcements for the board. The first was notice of an upcoming Gallery Walk art exhibit featuring images by William Hays. The second was notice that the Town Finance Committee would be organizing on May 20. The third was that he was looking for board members for his new fall festival, Fantastic Wantastiquet.

Paul Cameron told the board about Brattleboro Solar Summer and the goal of getting 100 residents to install solar panels or purchase shares in community solar projects.  He read a resolution he had prepared about the program, and the Brattleboro Selectboard endorsed it.

Wilmerding noted that he had spearheaded solar projects while on the Finance Committee, but wasn’t speaking on their behalf. His own group, Campaign for Community Solar, endorsed the program.

Liquor Commissioners

The Brattleboro Selectboard, acting as liquor commissioners, granted a handful of liquor permits at Tuesday’s meeting.

Hermit Thrush Brewing Co received a special events permit for a beer-based wedding welcome party on May 29. The brewmaster is getting married. “He’s getting married, and needs a permit for his wedding,” chuckled David Gartenstein

Ramuntos received permission for outside consumption, so customers enjoying the sights and sounds of the Exit 3 roundabout can imbibe. The view for patrons might not be the goal, though. Manager Paul Reading said having people out on the deck enjoying a drink would be a “great asset” for the business, as 29,000 cars go around the circle each day, and would see them.

Whetstone Cider Works received a special event permit for a Night of the Ukulele fundraiser on May 30. David Schoales endorsed the event with a confession. “I do play ukulele. It would be a better world if we all did,” he said. “Play the ukulele, and come to the event.”

“Didn’t Tiny Tim play ukulele?” inquired John Allen.

“Look up Amanda Palmer,” suggested Schoales.

And Milagros, born again, was granted a first class liquor license. They plan to re-open around May 1.

Water & Sewer Commissioners

Acting as Water & Sewer commissioners, the Brattleboro Selectboard made the necessary approvals to receive a loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.  The $985,000 will be used for the completion of the Black Mountain gravity sewer main project. The loan is zero interest but has a 2% administration fee. The term is for 20 years, but can be paid back early if we so desire.

Steve Barrett estimated that the project would be completed by July.

Town Manager Elwell was appointed the official alternative authorized representative for the project. John O’Connor is the official representative.

PACE Passes

Completing a nearly two year process, The Brattleboro Selectboard was finally able to adopt the Property Assessed Clean Energy program known as PACE. 

Patrick Moreland, Assistant Town Manager, said that unlike the previous five times the issue had come up, “this time we recommend it be adopted.”

The PACE program creates a program for loans to fund the costs of energy efficiency improvements, which are then paid back through assessments on the improved property. The money is managed through a partnership with Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), which has designated Efficiency Vermont as the loan documentation agency. Delinquent payments can be collected via tax sales, if necessary.

Moreland said that in 2013, Representative Town meeting established the town-wide Property Assessed Clean Energy district, and VEIC was to administer the program.

Brattleboro’s Town Attorney and Finance Director, however, had had concerns. High on his list was language related to collecting on delinquent accounts.

With time passing, Moreland said, the concerns shifted a bit, as did the program management at VEIC.

Town Attorney Bob Fisher, Finance Director John O’Connor, and Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland went to Burlington recently and met officials from VEIC to express Brattleboro’s concerns with contract language. With those concerns addressed to their satisfaction, they now approve of creating the program.

VEIC allowed for Brattleboro to issue a tax bill for a delinquent VEIC payment after 90 days, and treat it as an unpaid tax. VEIC also allowed Brattleboro to have PACE applicants self-certify a property form, eliminating the need for the town to do a title search.

The minimum amount of financing available is $3,500. The maximum is 15% of an assessed property value, or $30,000.

Kate O’Connor wanted to make sure the town didn’t have any costs associated with the program. She was reassured.

The Energy Committee, led by Lester Humphreys, was excited by the program’s possibilities of providing local energy jobs, as well as by the low and no interest loans available to lower income levels.

“I hope I’m the first to sign up,” said David Schoales.

Net Metering Amendment

Brattleboro has a net metering agreement with NextSun, formerly Green Lantern Capital. The Selectboard approved of authorizing the Town Manager to execute an amendment to the agreement, but only after a bit of questioning.

Patrick Moreland explained that due to new state laws, and new ownership of the company the town contracts with, our agreement to purchase solar could be amended to save the town money, and solve some problems for the new owners.

David Gartenstein was skeptical. “Why are we getting a proposal from them to amend to save us money?”

Lester Humphreys said it was party due to their need to make changes to their business structure, but also to give a good impression as they reach out and try to do business in Vermont.

The amendment, Moreland explained, addresses structural requirements of NextSun and results in more favorable financial terms for Brattleboro. Brattleboro retains a contract for 800,000kWh, but it will come from two arrays rather than one.

Humphreys did calculations that showed projections of additional savings, looking at the project over 20 years. He cautioned that they were just projections and numbers could change, but numerous people had reviewed his work and considered his estimates conservative.

John Allen wondered if projects like this would cause electricity from Green Mountain Power to go up in the future. Humphreys said that for a while, GMP is helped by being able to get solar energy at peak energy use times, such as daytime. “There is a limit,” he said. “There are technical challenges for sure.”

Monthly Finance Report with John O’Connor

As of March, and 75% of the fiscal year complete, Finance Director John O’Connor informed the Selectboard that the total General Fund expenses stood at 77.7% of the annual budget.

The Utilities Fund expenses are at 73.8% and the Parking Fund expenses at 75.6% of their respective budgets. The Police and Fire project has spent $13,412 this fiscal year.

Just over $4 million has been loaned out, and just under $450,000 remains available to be loaned or granted.

The town has 44 active grants and 15 in the pipeline.

Both Davids, Schoales and Gartenstein, had questions about unbudgeted transfers.

Schoales wondered what the transfers were for, and O’Connor said a Representative Town Meeting Transfer to capital projects, a Representative Town Meeting transfer for the skatepark, and a repair at Cook Road bridge.

Gartenstein wondered why they were in the budget now, since the projects are for the next fiscal year. O’Connor said they were taken from the fund balance of 2014, hence they were available now.

Gartenstein also asked about the winter costs of the Department of Public Works, and whether the town would have a surplus this year.

Peter Elwell said that it had been a terrible winter, but the Department of Public Works did what they needed to do. “We are anticipating cost overruns,” he said, but still expected to end the year “not so much with a surplus, but we expect to finish better than budgeted.”

“Except for the unbudgeted transfers,” added John O’Connor.

John Allen thought the DPW had done “a heck of a job.”

Local Emergency Operations Plan

Every Vermont municipality must update and amend their emergency operation plans each year. In Brattleboro, the Fire Department takes the lead on this project, and creates a plan with resources, forms, and specific instructions for emergencies at schools or during floods. 

Fire Chief Bucossi told the Selectboard that new this year is information about sheltering pets, emergency medical preparedness, and an emergency access plan for Westgate Apartments and Sherwood Circle if the bridge is damaged or destroyed.

The board adopted the plan, but not before David Gartenstein was able to clarify an important question.

“I was recently interviewed by a high school student, who shares my last name, and he asked what planning the town has done for a medical emergency, such as a disease outbreak,” he explained. “I was at a loss, and it was then quoted among students that the town has done nothing.” He said he didn’t see anything in the emergency plan, and asked if any outbreak planning had happened.

Bucossi said that yes, the town has medical emergency plans, and that he had missed including it in the emergency plan. He said the town works closely with the health department to respond and react to anything local.

“My kid thinks we have an Ebola truck,” said Gartenstein.

“We do,” said Bucossi. “Rescue Inc. had a stripped down truck that was ready to transport someone.”

Grants, Act I

The Brattleboro  Selectboard entered a brave new era in grant approvals Tuesday night, sailing into the uncharted territory of attempting to save time through consolidation.

Rather than read and discuss each grant in detail, the Town Manager suggested they approve them with less discussion, unless someone has questions.

They got off to a good start:

DEMHS Special Operations Training Grant

The Brattleboro Selectboard accepted a $7,667.70 grant from the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for “special operations training.” In this case, the special operations will be swift water rescue and USAR training refreshment for members of the Fire Department.

Grants, Act II

“I thought we were going to do this in a different way,” said John Allen. “I thought someone would read them all and we’d approve as a whole. It goes quicker. This money is coming to us.”

The board then approves the following two grants, en masse:

DUI Enforcement Grant Amendment

The selectboard also accepted an additional $3,600 for police enforcement activities directly related to DUI and impaired driving. The grant money comes from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and is in addition to the $8,400 previously awarded.

Occupant Protection Grant Amendment

On a roll with grants, the selectboard approved a 2015 Occupant Protection (OP) Enforcement Grant Amendment and accepted $4,800 from the Vermont Agency of Transportation for enforcement activities related to speeding, seat belts, and aggressive or distracted driving. This is an additional amount over the $6,000 already awarded.

Grants, Act III

Did someone say grants? 

“You could have read item G, too,” said Allen.

“No, that’s an application,” said Gartenstein.

David Schoales volunteered to combine the following four:

Bulletproof Vest Grant

The Brattleboro selectboard approved of an application of a grant for just under $2,100 for bulletproof vests. This money would come from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Town Highway Class 2 Roadway Grants

You really never can have enough grants.

Brattleboro applied for two grants from the Town Highway Class 2 Roadway Program. The first is a request of about $90,000 to pave Old Guilford Road, and the second is for about $95,000 to help pave Greenleaf Street from Western Avenue to Abbot Road.

Better Back Roads Grant

And, a grant. A new planning grant from the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved of a grant application for $4,000 from the Better Back Roads program of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. If granted, the money will be used to develop a capital budget plan for road erosion problems affecting water quality, as well as permitting and right-of-way issues.

This would require a 20% match, which will be done in-kind.

Grants, Finale

“I don’t recall seeing these big paving grants before,” said Gartenstein.

“We’ve done them before,” said Steve Barrett. “Upper Dummerston was done this way.” He said the grants were for Class 2 collector roads, and the likelihood of getting the money was pretty good.

“If we don’t get the money we don’t pave?” asked Gartenstein.

“Probably not,”s aid Barrett. “This is supplemental. If not, we’ll back off and seek it next year.”

VTrans Annual Financial Plan

The Vermont Department of Transportation (VTrans) creates a financial plan each year to assist with town highways. This financial plan is used to determine the funds received from the State for construction and repair of town roads.

The Selectboard endorsed the financial plan, which totals $1,637,880. In doing so, they certified that funds raised by municipal taxes are equivalent to or greater than a sum of $300 per mile of Class 1, 2, and 3 Town Highways. Barrett said we spend much more than the $300 per mile.

Proposed Town Plan Amendment

Two public hearings have been scheduled to review and discuss proposed amendments to the Brattleboro Town Plan, May 19 and June 2. Brattleboro Planning Services will lead the discussions.

The amendment is to place into the Town Plan new and updated information about the West Brattleboro’s Village Center Designation, including how it supports community goals, as well as a map showing all boundaries.  New state law requires this to be in a Town Plan, and to put it there requires a series of public hearings.

Somewhat related, Kate O’Connor told the board that the Downtown Alliance, formerly known as Building a Better Brattleboro, has a new name. It is now the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance.

Annual Selectboard Assignments

In a major Selectboard Committee Assignment upset, Donna Macomber politely asked to be on the Traffic Safety Committee.

Ooohs and ahhhs from the crowd.

David Gartenstein agreed to step aside from his long-held position and take a turn at the Rental Housing Improvement Program Loan Committee, instead. “I love change,” he said. “It works for me.”

“This is big,” said John Allen. “he’s been on it forever.”

New appointments for the year are:

Capital Grant Review Board – Kate O’Connor, David Gartenstein

Rental Housing Improvement Program Loan Committee – David Gartenstein

Small Business assistance Program Loan Committee – David Schoales

Traffic Safety Committee – Donna Macomber

Windham Solid Waste Management District – David Schoales, John Allen

Police Fire Facility Building Committee Liaison – John Allen

Rules for Conduct of Meetings and Hearings

Rules for meetings and hearings are reviewed and approved each year. This year, new Town Manager Peter Elwell offered up a change, as well as some suggestions for keeping meetings a reasonable length. 

The change is that there is a new procedure that “Town Manager also independently reviews and approves all warrant(s) weekly.”

Suggestions for shortening meetings include scheduling short breaks to help people stay alert, using a consent agenda, and to try to limit special meetings outside of the ordinary Tuesday meetings so that administrative preparation for meetings can stay manageable.

These were all in his memo, but none were discussed. Possibly because the meeting was moving along at a good clip and they could get out near 8 p.m. if all went well.

The board approved of the new rules.

Selectboard Goals

Town Manager Peter Elwell consulted with the department heads to prepare a list of suggested goals for the Brattleboro Selectboard to consider. In years past, the Selectboard would simply use their best judgement, or imagination.

Elwell’s collected suggestions include obvious items, such as the Police Fire facility project, and the comprehensive review of town operations and finances. He suggested they work on job creation and economic development issues, adopt the new land use regulations, plan and construct the dog park and skateboard park, and review and update various handbooks and manuals.

The Selectboard, of course, sets their own goals. They did, however, like the suggestions offered.

David Gartenstein thanked the staff for an excellent list of goals that “reflect our priorities.”

Donna Macomber suggested putting the goals to a timeline. David Schoales thought they should prioritize them.

Gartenstein thought they showed “a multi-pronged front on which we are advancing in many areas at the same time. We’re all moving together.” He agreed that a timeline could be added and they could attempt to prioritize.

The big questions came up regarding economic development.

“I continue to be unclear in the role of the town in economic development. We need to have a discussion about what this means for the town,” said Gartenstein.

John Allen agreed. “It is a broad subject and long range thing, we can’t really qualify . We do economic development constantly. It seems like a catch phrase.”

“It would be good to have discussion about the town’s involvement ,” said Gartenstein. “More about what does it mean for the town to be involved, and what are the possibilites?

Peter Elwell asked that they schedule this conversation for late summer or early fall, to allow his staff to do a good job gathering useful information.

The goals were approved.

Adjust Selectboard Meeting Schedule

To end, the Brattleboro Selectboard scheduled their upcoming series of weekly meetings as follows:

– Special meeting for Financial and Budget matters on May 12.

– Regular meetings on May 5 and 19, and June 2 and 16.

– Proposed amendments to Town Zoning code on May 5 and June 2.