The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting to continue their discussion of the proposed FY2018 town budget. In the very short meeting we learned of two big announcements – a first mention of a $2 million DPW facility being pencilled in as a placeholder in the 2021 budget, and news that Brattleboro’s downtown crosswalks and intersections would be cleared of snow by the DPW this winter.
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In a series of meetings each November and December, department heads present their budgets and plans in hope of approval, and the board asks questions if anything is unclear. This week, the Department of Public Works’ Steve Barrett and Hanna Tyler were in the spotlight to explain the reasoning behind their budgets and plans.
It’s a big department so their operating expenses are broken out by category in the FY18 budget, and Barrett walked the board through each section.
(DPW revenue, of which there is very little, is expected to remain the same.)
• DPW administrative expenses such as salaries are expected to rise 3.79% to $1,017,872, an increase of $37,149. Some of the increase comes from agreements made during collective bargaining.
• Bridges up 2.5% to $8,200, an increase of $200. “A slight increase for maintenance of all the bridges in town,” said Barrett.
• Drainage up $1,600 to $21,100, an increase of 8.21%. “For pipes, supplies, and materials to fix drainage problems.”
• Equipment up 2.97% to $107,600, an increase of $3,100. “Not many changes.”
• Gas and Oil costs are expected to remain flat at $95,000.
• Summer Roads up by 12.94% to $100,400, an increase of $11,500. There is additional money for gravel, and “guard rails are back in the budget.”
• Sidewalks up 150% to $25,000, an increase of $15,000. To make small repairs on the almost 30 miles of sidewalks in town. “Spot replacement.”
• Misc Streets up 14.85% to $75,800, an increase of $9,800.
• Winter Roads down 4.83% to $185,600, a decrease of $7,400
• Yard expenses up 9.87% to $50,100, an increase of $4,500. These are costs of running the DPW facility. “The facility is from 1950 and needs repair. We’re challenged with lots of garage doors and windows that need repair and replacement.”
• DPW Traffic Lights up 2.29% to $7,160, an increase of $160. For various devices and traffic slowing in town.
The selectboard had a few small questions, mostly clearing up issues for themselves and not in terms of the budget total or plan for using the funds.
With operating expenses out of the way, Barrett moved on to capital expenses and projects – the big ticket items.
Expected capital expenses include a new dump truck at $115,000 and a new street sweeper at $265,000.
The dump truck is “about 1.5 ton” and is used, in part, to put gravel on the back roads. “An important, heavy-duty item” that will replace a 2003 model now out of service.
The sweeper replaces a 2005 model. that is used three seasons of the year, cleans the downtown area and parking lots, and provides us with “credits” for water quality for removing silt and debris.
DeGray felt if the parking lots used the sweeper, the Parking Fund should contribute more to the replacement cost. Town Manager Elwell said he’d look into it.
Capital projects include engineering evaluations of DPW buildings including the old salt shed, intersection improvements, bridge repairs, retaining walls, sidewalk repairs, and work on Main Street drainage.
Elwell explained that doing engineering studies for known future projects would enable Brattleboro to be ready when grants become available. Put another way, “In absence of planning and engineering, we’re not eligible for grants to improve intersections.” He explained that there were five major intersection projects anticipated over the next five years that required engineering and design work.
The DPW engineering survey would allow a new salt or sand shed to be built and properly placed on the property to allow future site development. The old shed was converted in the early 1900’s from a fairground building for use as storage. It’s likely to be documented and demolished.
Future site development? Why yes, there’s a multi-million dollar DPW facility pencilled in for sometime around 2021 or so.
Kate O’Connor asked which sidewalks would be repaired. “I always get asked about it.”
The department is currently compiling an inventory of all sidewalks in town, and rating them based on a variety of criteria. This list will be completed soon and available for everyone to see priorities.
“We want to commit more resources to making good sidewalks,” said Elwell.
Terry Carter asked about the specific area from downtown to Vermont Ave along Route 5/Putney Road, and whether traffic slowing along that stretch was in the budget.
It wasn’t specifically in the budget, explained Elwell, but there were funds for general traffic safety.
David Gartenstein said that the town had many priorities, and solutions to problems in that area are difficult to find and engineer. “I hear your concerns,” he said but cautioned her to keep her expectations low.
A question from John Allen about winter sidewalks led to another interesting announcement – the Town will be clearing all snow from downtown intersections and crosswalks this winter.
Barrett explained that when he first started, the town had three sidewalk tractors, used firemen for overtime work, and had more staff with shovels. “Over time, we’ve reduced it, and are lean and mean, at a reduced level of service.”
O’Connor wanted to remind property owners that it was their responsibility to clear sidewalks. The town would just be doing downtown crosswalks and intersections.
Barrett had a word of thanks for people in town who voluntarily pitch in, grab a shovel, and help dig out tough spots, around fire hydrants, and in places they can’t get to. “Much appreciated.”
