One of the shortest and more convoluted Brattleboro Selectboard meetings in recent memory took place Tuesday night. Board members came and went, the agenda was trimmed and re-arranged, and some major discussion were postponed. Despite the obstacles, over a million dollars worth of projects were set in motion.
Liquor licenses were approved, bids awarded, grants applied for, and the board took their first steps down the path of repairs and renovations to the Municipal Center.
Pre-Preliminaries
Chair David Gartenstein began by announcing that opening remarks and public participation would come at the end of the meeting, and that many of the previously announced agenda items would be scratched from the night’s proceedings.
The reason for the agenda shuffling was that John Allen was absent, and David Schoales could only stay for a short while before attending a school meeting. A full board was desired for some of the agenda item discussions.
The skipped agenda items, Gartenstein said, would be moved to their next regular meeting, April 21.
The regular April 21st meeting, however, might need rescheduling due to missing board members, Gartenstein continued. The new date for the meeting will be announced later.
With the schedule re-arranged, the board raced into action with a goal of finishing, if possible, by 6:45.
Liquor Commissioners
An outside consumption permit was granted to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. It wasn’t so much granted as it was reinstated, as they have had this designation before, but didn’t renew their permit.
A festival permit was requested for the 4th Annual Brattleboro Brewer’s Festival. The May 16th event will be at VABEC in the afternoon.
Tim Johnson said that the growing niche market of brewers in Brattleboro and Vermont means “people are coming to Brattleboro to buy beer,” and that the festival wanted to encourage more of it.
Kelli Corbeil said they hoped for 1,000 people to attend. Their festival permit was approved.
Vermont Asian Gourmet/Panda West’s general manager Mark Raymond made an appearance before the board, at the request of the board, to answer questions and reassure the board that previous liquor-related problems at the establishment have been resolved.
Raymond provided the board with notices of hearings of liquor violations in July of 2014, a settlement agreement with the state liquor board, and follow-up correspondence between Liquor Control investigators and the restaurant.
Raymond said the violation didn’t really have anything to do with liquor, but about documentation, and everything is now in order. he said it has been a tough first year, but things have been picking up recently.
With everything now in order with the state, the Brattleboro board approved of a license for the restaurant.
Water & Sewer Commissioners
The Brattleboro Selectboard, acting as Water & Sewer Commissioners, awarded the bid for work on the Black Mountain gravity sewer line, one of the few remaining pieces in the wastewater treatment overhaul of recent years.
Steve Barrett, Director of Public Works, said that they requested two parts to the bid. The first part was for installing the new line and demolishing the old pump house, and the second part was for removing the old sewer line under I-91.
The $899,250 job goes to the low-bidder, Kingsbury Companies, LLC of Waitsfield, Vermont. They will install the gravity sewer main using trenchless (and open-cut) technology, remove the old pump station, and handle traffic control and rock removal. They’ll also demolish the current sewer main.
Town manager Peter Elwell said the total estimated waste water treatment project cost was just under $33 million. If this final piece is completed within budget, the town will come in under budget. After subsidies, Brattleboro will be paying back a total of just over $30 million in bond principal.
At this point, David Schoales departed for another meeting, leaving three Selectboard members. Gartenstein reminded them that they need three affirmative votes to pass remaining agenda items. He asked them to speak up and say something if they had plans to vote against anything.
Cemetery Seasonal Maintenance Contract
Turner & Renaud will be paid $17,800 for seasonal cemetery services. They were the only bidder.
Carol Lolatte, Director of Recreation & Parks, said that the project spans two fiscal years, so the budget also spans two fiscal years. It all works out in the end.
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (Air Pack) Loan
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved a three year loan of $222,000, with a 1.4% interest rate, for purchase and replacement of 34 air packs for the Brattleboro Fire Department. Merchant’s Bank gave the best rates and will be the loaner of funds.
This is part of the 2015 capital plan, approved by Town Meeting Representatives in 2014.
A question as to whether it is legal for the town to borrow this money, the Town Attorney said to go right ahead. The purchase was identified, and was approved by the representatives.
The purchase has been desired by the Fire Department since 2013.
Chief Bucossi said that the vendor would also provide free mask fittings for career staff, as well as 34 spare cylinders for the air packs.
Highway Safety Law Enforcement Grant Application
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved a grant application by the Brattleboro Police Department to the Vermont Department of Public Safety. The nearly $32,000 grant, if received, would pay for highway safety enforcement activities.
Chief Fitzgerald told the board that the grant covers two categories of highway safety, DUI and occupant protection. “This goes to a good cause, making roads safer for all.”
Buckle up, and don’t drive drunk!
Comprehensive Review of Town Operations and Financial Planning
Town Manager Peter Elwell was looking forward to getting a discussion of the comprehensive review of town operations and long range financial planning, and provided a good overview in the meeting materials.
Even though the board skipped over him this week, we can spend a moment and look at the highlights of the project. There are basically four things to know at the moment:
1. Elwell has already had each town department supply a list of their broad programmatic functions, and the proportion of their budget assigned to each program.
You can read the departmental notes here, about halfway through the materials.
2. Pending Selectboard approval, staff will next undertake a more comprehensive review by summarizing each programmatic area in more detail. They will also list a variety of ways in which town government can be more effective, efficient, or both.
3. Low hanging fruit will simply be implemented. More noticeable, larger improvements will result in policy discussions and approvals by the Selectboard.
4. Town staff hope to return with those recommendations in July.
This will all be covered in greater detail at the April 21st meeting, which may be rescheduled.
Municipal Center Life Safety Improvements
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved the first of a series of improvement to the Municipal Center. $80,000 will be spent to upgrade the fire alarm system, and to develop a plan to address the remaining safety issues with the building before the end of September.
Funding will come from the Unassigned General Fund Balance, authorized at Representative Town Meeting this year.
This work is the result of a Vermont Division of Fire Safety inspection of the building in anticipation of Police facility improvements. The inspector found violations that needed immediate remedy. The town will do the work in phases, but must make progress on the improvements or face enforcement actions, such as loss of an occupancy permit.
Town Manager Peter Elwell gave the board an overview, and told them that the alarm system was the most urgent of the repairs, as a functioning alarm system would impact the ability of people to leave the building in event of a fire.
Elwell said the town was working closely with the DFS to make sure we comply, but also to see if any cost saving measures can be undertaken. As such, the bids for the work will be in two parts. One bid detailing installation of a completely new system will be required. Bidders will also have the option of providing a second bid that outlines potential cost savings from doing upgrades rather than replacements of some components.
The state DFS will look over the bids before the town accepts them, to be certain that the work will bring us into compliance.
David Gartenstein said that they should look beyond temporary cost savings. “It may save money in the short term, but long-term life cycle costs should be considered.” He said we don’t want to pay for an upgrade then be in a position to re-do the work in a decade.
Other remaining work to be done includes new sprinkler system and construction of building improvements, such as enclosing the stairs and fixing holes. Total cost for all is expected to be about a half a million dollars.
Preliminaries, Reprise
Chair David Gartenstein began the ending of the meeting with Public Participation. There was none.
Town Manager Peter Elwell had no comments.
Selectboard comments and committee reports were non-existent.
Gartenstein wrapped up by thanking everyone for their participation at Representative Town Meeting, calling it thought-provoking and respectful, and praising the work accomplished.
He also thanked three long-time Brattleboro employees that were retiring. Marty Rancourt, for 30 years with the Fire Department; Bob Kirkpatrick, for 24 years on the police force; and Tom Barrows, for 35 years at the Fire Department. “It is a comment of the dedication of Brattleboro employees and the community we live in.”
The meeting then adjourned, at slightly past 7 o’clock.
