Selectboard Meeting Notes: Single Stream Coming, MRF Killed, RT 30 Planned, Budgets Examined

The selectboard got through a long meeting, accomplishing much but under strained and tense moments at times. They chastisted one of their own for poor judgement and actions, explored a change in Rt 30 as it approaches and leaves Brattleboro, voted to go forward with a switch to single stream recycling, killed the MRF at the WSWMD, offered suggestions to organizations over workplans and budget requests, and more.

Preliminaries

Chair David Gartenstein said that there was a packed agenda, and there would be a lively discussion of a range of items. 

Town Manager Peter Elwell said the water tank near SIT would be back on line within the next week, and also that next week’s special meeting would be held at 5:30 pm at the Gibson-Aiken Center, as the Selectboard Meeting Room would be used for Act 46 voting.

For selectboard comments and committee reports, David Schoales said that everyone should have received a postcard about the Act 46 vote regarding Vernon leaving the high school district.

John Allen had a request to the community to come up with ideas for how to return the star shaped light to the top of Wantastiquet. “We’ve had it for decades and people really miss it,” he said., adding that the Town Manager would love to take calls with suggestions.

Public Participation was limited to a question about filling a slot on the Arts Committee. In response, the Town will announce vacancies at the next regular meeting of the selectboard on December 20th.

Liquor Commissioners

The Brattleboro Selectboard, acting as Liquor Commissioners, approved of a first class and outside consumption permit for Echo Restaurant & Lounge. The new business is located at 69-73 Main Street.

Does that location sound familiar? It’s the “former” Fireworks Restaurant, which is being sold to Erin Sprandel. The plan is for up to 30 outdoor seats, with a restaurant that has a similar but updated menu. “A bit more lively and fun” than what is currently offered. The pizza oven will remain.

Police and Fire Facilites Update

West Brattleboro Fire Station remains on schedule. The interior rough-in of electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems is complete, exterior doors, the cupola is up on top, siding and trim has been added. Upcoming work includes interior insulation and the vapor barrier (as modified), and interior drywall. Construction is expected to be finished in time for the Fire Department to move in during February.

Central Fire Station is on schedule with no issues to report. Work on the foundations will continue for a while.

The Police Station at Black Mountain Road has hit a slight delay. The competitive bidding for subcontracting resulted in a construction cost estimate “materially over budget,” so project manager Steve Horton is leading a review with the architects, construction manager, and subcontractors to try to lower costs. They hope to complete the review and have a guaranteed maximum price by December 20. 

Elwell told the board the original numbers were about a half a million dollars over what was expected, and since then it has been reduced by about $400,000. More details will be forthcoming, he said, but the extra costs seem to relate to newer plans for the parking lot.

The building itself has been purchased. The closing was December 2.  One new implication has arisen: Brattleboro will have to pay taxes on the property for the remainder of FY17, because it is on the Grand List as a taxable property, and the State requires it.

Two unanticipated quarterly payments will be due. 

Errors and Omissions to the Grand List

Town Assessor Russell Rice gave the board his annual list of corrections to the 2016 Grand List report. This is the final report fixing all errors and omissions.

There were three changes in value of real estate properties and five changes to Business Personal Property files. Overall, the Grand List dropped $220,270.

That’s a lot of money, or is it? Gartenstein asked for context. Rice said the total grand list stands at about $1.2 billion dollars.

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved of the list and sent it along to the state.

Route 30 Gateway Presentation

Susan McMahon of the Windham Regional Commission, Brandy Saxton  from PlaceSense  and David Saladino from VHB presented the board with preliminary plans for a Vermont Route 30 Multi-Modal Gateway Plan. 

McMahon said the work began last January and involved advisory committees helping out. VTrans and the Department of Environmental Conservation advised. They all looked at exploring different options for enhancing the stretch between Cedar Street and the I-91 overpass.

Saladino said 6,000 cars drive that route each day, and 5% of that is trucks. The lanes were wider than necessary, he said, which encouraged speeding. He told the board that the state owns the road, and has a right of way pretty much to the water edge.

Saxton said that after much research into the natural resources of endangered plants and animals, it was clear that the best plan was to stay on existing land, and even within the existing roadway.

To create a nice entry in and out of town with slower speeds for cars, many ideas were proposed. Most narrowed and moved the lanes of traffic away from the water, adding a buffer, then having a wide shared space for pedestrians and bikes closer to the water. All of this would be pretty much within the existing 42 foot wide road path, just rearranged a bit.

A new million-dollar bridge for bikes and pedestrians to cross the West River to connect to the West River Trail, more signage, and possibly improved boat access to the meadows were all presented as possibilities to consider for the long range. Saxton stressed that any or all could be done in stages, and some of it could be funded with grants.

She said the first opportunity to act would come when the state wants to resurface the roadway, sometime before 2020. That would be the time to have the state narrow lanes and shift where people drive.

All of this has a price tag, and the board was reluctant to take any of it on, though they did appreciate the planning.

One option, having the Town take over this bit of highway, was deemed too expensive, at least for now. If the state does some of the work, though, a takeover might seem more attractive.

The complete report is rather exhaustive, covering natural resources in the area, of which there are many, and other issues such as traffic flow. There are lots of maps for map lovers, too. Get it at the town’s website, www.brattleboro.org

The board did take one action. They voted to request the reduced speed limit of 40 mph remain after the work on the I-91 bridge is complete, and will ask VTrans to let it happen.

Solid Waste WSWMD Representation

At the last meeting of the selectboard, members learned that their representative to the Windham Solid Waste Management District, David Schoales, did not vote on district budget matters as expected. Rather than vote to close the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), he voted to keep it open. And rather than vote for a 50-50 assessment based on population and grand list, he voted for a 20% assessment on outer districts.

David Gartenstein explained what had happend, and that it had caused him to lose faith in the representative. He had no confidence that the Town’s wishes would be voted correctly at a meeting coming in a couple of days.

“It saddens me to no end,” he said, as he moved to remove David Schoales as representative.

Schoales offered up his defense. “Looking at the numbers and listening to the conversation, our goal of not having the MRF would not be achieved,” he said. He felt best judgement would be to compromise and try to save the town some money. He said he’d vote the same way again.

“You have to do as instructed and let the chips fall where they may, “said John Allen.

“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose,” said Kate O’Connor. “We voted to go a certain way, and take a stand. That was our message.  I feel bad, but that you’d vote the same way, that concerns me.”

Dick DeGray suggested he gracefully resign instead of being voted out of the position. “Exit with some dignity rather than the firing squad.”

They voted 4-0-1 (Schoales abstaining) to remove him. They then appointed John Allen. But it might not matter much.  Because…

Transition to Single Stream Recycling and Private Processing

The selectboard made another change to Brattleboro’s waste collection system Tuesday night by deciding to abandon the WSWMD for recycling services. Instead, Brattleboro will work out a new deal with Triple T to switch to single stream collection at the curb, and to dispose of recyclables in Rutland at the Casella facility. The vote was 5-0 to make the change.

Town Manager Elwell explained that the costs would be the same or likely lower, we could go to single stream (plastics and paper in the same container, if you want,) and full recycling of plastics 3-7.

Dropping out will have significant implications for the WSWMD, of which Brattleboro was the largest customer. Bob Spencer told them that making this decision “kills the MRF” but that he hoped the Town would work with the district to continue to deliver compost to them, and the board generally agreed with that concept.

Details related to the decision will be worked out in coming weeks and months, to plan for a smooth transition for all parties.

Before leaving waste issues, Gartenstein reminded Allen of  what to do at the WSWMD meeting later this week. “If budget has the MRF, you vote against it, John.”

FY18 Budget – Town Clerk

Town Clerk Annette Cappy was joined by new Town Clerk Hilary Francis to present the selectboard with their FY18 plans and budget for the department. This is part of the ongoing look at the FY18 budget, department by department.

Overall, the Town Clerk’s office is predicting a 1.74% increase in revenue, $2,300, for a FY18 budget revenue estimate of $134,500.

Expenses are anticipated to drop 7.45%, or $13,941, that gives us FY18 estimated expenses of $173,199.

The office has two full-time and one part-time employee.

How did you reduce the budget by so much this year, asked Schoales.

“It’s because I’m leaving,” replied Cappy, who also said she would miss her job after retiring (egad!) this month.

Arts Committee Proposal – Transportation Center Mural

The board approved of a new art installation at the Transportation Center, with conditions. It’s a mural, on permanent loan from Murray Ngoima, who was on hand to describe the details of how the project evolved and where she got the inspiration.

The mural is based on photos from a 1997 Ford dealership, specifically where mechanics worked. She took photos of the workspaces, then used them for mural inspiration, in colors from the business landscape near Woodstock VT.

Scott Borofsky saw it and thought it would be perfect for the Transportation Center in Brattleboro, she said.

It will be inside in the lobby downstairs.

Downtown Brattleboro Alliance Annual Workplan and Budget

Ahh, the annual Downtown Organization Selectboard Dance. 

Each year at this time, the designated downtown organization, currently known as the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, presents the selectboard with a budget and plans for the coming year, to be placed on the warning for Representative Town Meeting. And most years, the selectboard gives provides feedback causing the organization to scramble and re-do things before approval.

In the last year, they’ve planted more flowers, added more lights, used social media, did some advertising, and made a video. Grants were given to downtown businesses and events. Meetings were held with merchants, they collaborated with other groups, and increased their membership. Michelle Simpson-Siegel and Alex Beck presented the organization’s work and budget.

David Gartenstein said they couldn’t support the budget, and Dick DeGray wasn’t sure he could, either. The issue was $15,000 in the budget as a payment from a private organization developing an outdoor park area, Harmony Park, on private land downtown.

Gartenstein wanted the park team to hire their own person to do work rather than enter into a contract with the downtown organization.

Simpson-Siegel said he misunderstood, and that public -provate partnerships were effective ways to collaborate and benefit the community. Gartenstein disagreed again, saying that a private contribution of that size was a risk.

That led to Jim Verzino joining in to explain that if the Town didn’t fund a full-time position for the downtown organization, money would have to be raised in other ways. Gartenstein said they never asked for a full-time position.

DeGray felt that providing a job description for the contracted parks promotion might be helpful.

Total budget for FY18 is $93,000, with a $75,000 request to Downtown Improvement District members. It was approved to be on the Representative Town Meeting agenda 3-1-1, with Gartenstein voting no and O’Connor abstaining.

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) Request for Town Funding FY18

SeVEDS asked for $3 per person, or $36,147, for their organization from Brattleboro taxpayers. The selectboard decided to lower that to $2 a person, and send it to Representative Town Meeting for a vote. Maybe.

Laura Sibilia of SeVEDS did most of the presenting, going over plans for the new year such as expanding the CEDS, looking at the relationship between SeVEDS and BDCC (their parent organization), expanding partnerships, possibly collaborating with Bennington County, workforce development, training of high schools students and more. It was an impressive list, but being hour four for the board counting their pre-meeting executive session, energy was draining from the room.

John Allen asked how many towns gave money, and Sibilia read a list that included more towns than ever before. 

DeGray asked about employees, of which there are three at BDCC working directly on the project. He also said he was having a hard time seeing the value of this to taxpayers.

O’Connor agreed. She wanted to support their work at a lower level, given that the Town gave over $400,000 in business related loans in the last year.

Schoales asked about the youth training, and discussion turned to factory and business tours, training, and placement opportunities. “The program is not possible without your funding” said Sibilia.

Gartenstein agreed with O’Connor that Brattleboro taxpayers already subsidize much economic development work. He said Montpelier doesn’t help with regional hub issues, either. 

Sibilia wanted to take it to the voters, and asked that the request be put on the Representative Town Meeting warning.

There was some disagreement over whether petitioning for the $3 rate would be better than warning the $2 rate and arguing for an increase.

Right at the key moment where they worked it all out… BCTV cut out for a couple of minutes.

Energy Committee Annual Report, Climate Protection Funding, Energy Coordinator Position

And when BCTV resumed the Energy Committee was giving their annual report. Michael Bosworth was reviewing the previous year’s accomplishments, such as energy audits, workshops for powerwall batteries, a new High-Grove charging station, and a program called Zero Energy Now.

Other than streetlight costs going down, most energy costs in town were constant or rising, according to data collected over the last four years. The Committee felt the town should take further action, such as doing energy audit suggested improvements, more solar projects in the near term to get the best bang for the buck, more conversion to wood heat, using storage batteries in public buildings, and improving passenger train access in town.

The committee requested the annual $10,000 funding at Representative Town Meeting for Brattleboro Climate Protection, which the selectboard wanted more time to consider. Gartenstein expressed concern for funding committees. “It’s not the way committees work.”

The Energy Committee also requested that the position of Energy Coordinator be filled. The vacancy was caused by Paul Cameron’s resignation.

Municipal Center Sprinkler System

Southern Vermont Sprinkler will receive $110,000 to design and install a new sprinkler system for the building, to bring it into compliance with state code.

FY17 Capital Purchase of Two Police Vehicles

Two new police vehicles were approved for purchase. They are part of the FY2017 plan for vehicle upgrades.

We’ll be buying them using a State of Vermont contract with Formula Ford of Montpelier, at a cost of $48,859. One is a 2017 Ford Explorer Interceptor and the other a 2017 Ford Taurus Interceptor.

Up-fits will be done later.

Sale of 21 Chapin for $1

The house and property at 21 Chapin has been approved by the selectboard for sale to the Woman’s Community Center, LLC, for $1.

The property was bought for this purpose by the Town with a grant in 1981, and Brattleboro held the title and been responsible for routine maintenance. As more repairs are needed, Town staff believes long-term ownership of the property is an ever-increasing liability for taxpayers.

Since the Women’s Community Center would like to purchase it, the transaction seems to be in everyone’s interest.

The sale will be noticed in the Reformer, and if there are no objections it will be completed.

Hinsdale Bridge Advisory Committee

The State of New Hampshire is preparing to replace the Hinsdale bridge, and is forming an advisory committee

The board appointed Rod Francis and Peter Elwell to be the first two representatives to the Hinsdale Bridge Advisory Committee.

Gartenstein thanked Elwell for creating the agenda, and they adjourned.