Selectboard Meeting Notes: Are Essential Municipal Center Repairs Worth It?

The Brattleboro Selectboard began a preliminary discussion of the future of the Municipal Center, somewhat unintentionally, while discussing necessary repairs to bring the building up to current fire safety codes. It began with John Allen questioning the large investment in the structure, meandered through talk of responsibility and stewardship, and ended with a plan to spend the necessary funds one way or another.

Parking ordinance changes were approved. Most of the rest of the evening involved discussions of money. 

Preliminaries

David Schoales was absent without explanation.

Chair David Gartenstein noted the sidewalk improvements underway in downtown Brattleboro, then introduced Darah Kehnemuyi, Brattleboro’s newest director of the Community Justice Center.

Kehnemuyi said that the program is run mostly with outside grants, costing the town almost nothing. They run reparative justice panels as an alternative form of justice, and run circles of support for people released from prison. He said he hoped to increase and improve what the Brattleboro Community Justice Center can do.

Town Manager Peter Elwell, along with his new beard, said that the downtown sidewalk repairs were in full swing, and still on schedule to be substantially complete by early October. He said the reason the Main street lights were blinking was due to an accident between a truck and a controller box. He reminded people not to drive on sidewalks.

Both John Allen and Donna Macomber noted that traffic flowed more easily when the lights permanently blink, except perhaps for drivers turning north from High or Elliot, and pedestrians.

Other selectboard comments and committee reports included a Town Arts Committee update from Macomber. She said there would be a public meeting on Tuesday the 22nd to discuss using Brattleboro’s cultural resources to promote the town, and new forms of collaboration. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

There was no one from the public for Public Participation, the lack of which elicited some giggles from the board.

2015 Year End Financial Report

Finance Director John O’Connor shared the unaudited, June 2015 year-end financial report  with the board at Tuesday’s meeting. “The results were very good,” he said. “All funds closed better than budgeted.”

The report shows complete financial activity for the previous year (FY15) for the General Fund, Utilities Fund, and Parking Fund.

The General Fund ended the year with a $176,168 deficit, which is $23,832 better than budgeted. This is in spite of nearly $550,000 of unbudgeted transfers, and was offset in part by savings in the Town Manager’s office, risk management, and the Police and Fire Departments.

The General Fund closed the fiscal year with an unassigned fund balance of $2,136,744, which is over the 10% (at 13.8%) recommended to have on hand for emergencies.

“It’s on the backs of our taxpayers,” John Allen grumbled.

David Gartenstein said that the goal was to “levy taxes in an amount that is intended to cover obligations,” unless there was a need to build up the fund balance. Right now, there is no need.

“i anticipate the next budgeting round will be even more rigorous, to look to see what we need to run the daily operations of the town, and not to maintain the fund balance,” he said.

“I agree with that,” said Allen. He stated that the town should have an unassigned reserve, but if a project comes up and the town could reduce the amount needed by bonds, he’d like to be able to use the fund balance. “I like having it, but like using it if we have to.”

The Utilities Fund closed the year with a deficit of $337,370, which is $410,679 better than budgeted. Revenue was up more than expected.

The Parking Fund closed the year with a surplus of $44,809. Higher revenues contributed to the fund’s surplus.

Monthly Finance Report with John O’Connor

Finance Director John O’Connor also gave the board the monthly update on finances for August 2015.

“Very good shape for the first two months,” he reported.

With 16.7% of the fiscal year complete, the General Fund expenditures stand at 17.2% of the budget. Some large annual payments for insurance, human services, and a lease contributed to the slight increase.

The Utilities Fund expenditures are at 17.3% (up due to sludge removal), and the Parking Fund stands at 12.8% of its annual budget.

The new Solid Waste Disposal Fund revenue is at 17.5% of its annual budget, and expenditures stand at 12.8%. This includes bag revenue, curbside collection costs and tipping fees through July. O’Connor said that, unlike the other funds, the accounting for this fund is delayed by a month.

The delay is partly due to the outsourced accounting used. Retailers write checks to Brattleboro, but the town sends them to Waste Zero for processing and accounting. “A pleasure working with them,” noted O’Connor.

He said that hundreds of compost carts had been sold.

David Gartenstein inquired as to the quality of the compost at the district level, and suggested a meeting to hear from the solid waste district representatives. Patrick Moreland said he had spoken with Bob Spencer on that very issue, and had been assured that the quality of the compost hadn’t diminished at all. “It speaks to the citizens of Brattleboro taking this as a serious interest.”

Brattleboro had just under $4 million loaned out and just under $500,000 available to loan at the end of August. O’Connor said that a loan to Commonwealth Dairy was beginning to be paid back, and available funds to loan should rise for a while.

Brattleboro has 33 active grants and 9 grants in the pipeline.

Ordinance Amendments

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a second public reading of proposed changes to the town’s parking ordinances. They tittered at the lack of participation when the public hearing was opened.

Changes to loading and unloading zones on Flat street, removal of a parking space on Flat street, and the addition of a more formal parking ticket appeal process were explained, then adopted by the board.

Municipal Center Repairs

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved plans to pay for the second and third phases of municipal center repairs, required to bring the building in compliance with state fire codes. Funding for phase two work will be included in the FY17 budget, or, perhaps, as part of a police station renovation and addition.

The repairs became necessary after an inspection related to early plans for possible police facilities found numerous fire safety violations. The first phase of work, a new fire alarm system, began earlier this year and is nearly complete. The plan for the remaining work is due September 30.

Town Manager Elwell asked the board to commit to funding the repairs, on the record, to show the state of our good intentions for finishing the work.

He explained that Phase Two will be the installation of a complete fire sprinkling system, and a corresponding upgrade to the water system to provide a more powerful connection of sufficient pressure. The Utility Fund will cover the $25,000 water system upgrade.  The sprinkling system is estimated to cost $140,000.

Phase Three will involve sealing off walls, ceilings, and stairwells to be able to meet the fire code by isolating the open areas of the building, and preventing the spread of any fire. The early estimate for this work is $280,000.

Two possible approaches to the work will be presented to the state, depending on whether work is coordinated with new Police and Fire facility work or not.

If it comes to be that there is no police project at the Municipal Center, Phase 2 & 3 would be paid for as capital improvements and incorporated into the FY17 and FY18 budgets, with the work being complete by June 30, 2018.

If it is decided to proceed with renovations and additions to the Municipal Center for the police project, Phase 2 & 3 will be incorporated into that project. If work on a new police station begins within three months of Representative Town Meeting in March 2016, the town would expect to complete Phase 2 & 3 by December of 2017, within the 18 months expected for any police renovations and additions.

The plan being put forth allows for a transition from the first approach to the second, if it becomes possible.

John Allen expressed reservation about spending so much money on the Municipal Center, especially if the police station is moved out of the building. “Can we buy some time somehow? I don’t want to move too quickly if we really don’t have to.”

David Gartenstein explained that the work was required because of current fire code violations, regardless of future plans for the building. He said “maybe a time will come to consider moving out, but until that happens, we have a firm obligation to make sure the building meets the fire code.” He noted, too, that the building was historic and wouldn’t be knocked down or vacated.

Allen countered that the new fire alarms would save human lives, but sprinklers would save the property. “This building has been like this for 60 years,” he said. “If we can buy some time and not spend it…”

Elwell said that the state fire officials consider sprinklers part of saving lives as well as property. He said it wasn’t a choice, and wasn’t optional.

“In relation to town offices being relocated, that is a longer conversation to have another time,” said Elwell.

Donna Macomber said she thought the Municipal Center could be used for many purposes, for the benefit of the town. “It’s worth investing in the safety improvements,” she said. “It doesn’t have to go to waste.”

Allen doubled down. “At some point, we have to realize we can’t afford this building as a town. There are other possibilites. Someone could turn this into a showplace. I just don’t think we can afford it. It needs too much,” he said.

“I love old buildings, “ he continued. “I like renovating rather than new construction, but we can’t afford this. Half a million every few years. It never makes this building any better. We’re throwing good money after bad.”

He said he had to “stay true to myself about this lovely, lovely building.”

Kate O’Connor said the conversation “about this building is premature. I’d chain myself to the building before anyone could take a wrecking ball to it. We’re obligated to spend this. We have to.”

Board members then started speaking in non-specific terms.

“In light of what hopefully happens,” said Allen.

“It doesn’t ride on a new police-fire project,” answered O’Connor.

Gartenstein stepped in to say that the board would make an announcement about potential steps forward and additional alternatives for the police and fire project at their next meeting, on the 29th of September.

The board gave their endorsement of Phase 2 & 3 as presented.

VDEMHS Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program Grant

Brattleboro will be continue to prevent terrorism with the purchase of a mobile computer terminal for the police department. The computer terminal will allow officers to perform terrorism prevention and administrative work while in their anti-terrorism patrol vehicles.

One Panasonic Toughbook model CF-53, a vehicle mount, MS Office professional software, and NetMotion software are included in the purchase. NetMotion says their mobile communications software is used by law enforcement for “computer-aided dispatch; viewing maps and turn-by-turn directions; accessing Criminal Justice Information System data; running plates and more.”

Funding comes from the Vermont Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security’s Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program. Elwell noted that this is federal funding passed through to the state, and because of the small amounts, does not require any matching funds by the town.

VDEMHS Special Operations Capabilities Enforcement Grant

The board approved accepting and spending $6,263 from the Vermont Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to purchase safety equipment for the fire department. 

The money will be used to buy a Husqvarna K970 cut off saw with 14” Black Diamond and Bullet blades, a strut jack, 25 rope rescue gloves, and LED tripod light with a mounting bracket, and two portable lights.

VCOMM grant

Brattleboro accepted and appropriated $7,572 in grant funds from VCOMM, to purchase two digital, mobile radios for Brattleboro Fire Department command vehicles, to aid in monitoring of Brattleboro police activity.

Specifically, the funds will go toward two Motorola APX 6500 dual head mobile radios.

Committee Appointment

The Brattleboro Selectboard appointed Christine Linn to the Citizen Police Communications Committee, with a term ending in June of 2017.

Other

Meeting was completed by 7:10, in just under an hour.

Fun Facts: In August, Brattleboro police responded to 1019 calls, made 60 arrests resulting in 80 criminal charges. 43 tickets were issued and 233 verbal warnings were given. Officers spent 207 hours on walking patrols.