Budget season is underway at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. Reports and budget requests from BDCC, SeVEDS, and the DBA are scheduled, as is the draft FY25 budget. There will also be ordinance changes, software explanations, and an update from the fire department.
You can bring up other issues not on the agenda during public participation. (Except that one issue, whatever it is, that the Chair will not allow discussion of at the meeting.)
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212). Prior to the regular meeting, at 5:45pm, the Board will convene and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss real estate contracts. Invited into executive session are Town Attorney Bob Fisher, Town Manager John Potter and Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland. No action will be taken in executive session. The public may also participate in the meeting over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
Jessica Sticklor (she/her/hers)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
230 Main Street, Suite 208
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 251 – 8115
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BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:45 PM
REGULAR MEETING – 6:15PM
The physical location for this meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center
at 230 Main Street.
If you join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, please use this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659
The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:
860 6789 2659
Passcode: 12261753
You also can call in using your telephone
by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the United States:
833-548-0282
877-853-5247
888-788-0099
833-548-0276
(*6 Mute/Unmute – *9 Raise Hand)
The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV:
On Cable TV: Channel 1079
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv
AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
(please note that all times are approximate)
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)
2. APPROVE MINUTES – November 7, 2023
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)
7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:40 PM)
A. 2024 Urban and Community Forestry Grant for the Tree Committee – Approve Application
B. Jingle Bell Jog– Approve Parade Permit
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (6:45 PM)
A. Entertainment, Liquor, and Open-Air Ordinance Changes – Second Reading\
9. NEW BUSINESS (7:00 PM)
A. BDCC/SeVEDS Update (7:00 PM)
B. Downtown Brattleboro Alliance Update (7:20 PM)
C. Fire Department Monthly Update (7:40 PM)
D. Open Gov Project Update (7:50 PM)
E. Draft FY25 General Fund Budget (8:10 PM)
10. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants and Department Reports
11. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
12. ADJOURNMENT (9:30 PM)
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: November 17, 2023
———————————————————————————————————————————–
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday,
November 21, 2023. The Board will convene the regular meeting at 6:15pm in the Selectboard
Meeting Room and on Zoom. All times listed below are approximate, and interested parties should
monitor the meeting if they do not want to miss an agenda item.
Join the meeting from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659
The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:
860 6789 2659
Passcode: 12261753
You also can call in using your telephone
by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the United States:
833-548-0282
877-853-5247
888-788-0099
833-548-0276
(use *6 to Mute/Unmute, *9 to raise Hand)
The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV:
On Cable TV: Channel 1079
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv
7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:40 PM)
A. 2024 Urban and Community Forestry Application for the Tree Committee – Approve Application
B. Jingle Bell Jog – Approve Parade Permit
In a memorandum dated November 10, 2023, Public Works Superintendent Peter Lynch discusses the Town Tree Advisory Board’s application for a 2024 Urban and Community Forestry Grant in the amount of $45,675. The Tree Advisory Board plans to use these funds for various projects related to the health and further development of Town trees. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Department of Public Works,
on behalf of the Tree Advisory Board, to apply for a 2024 Urban and Community Forestry Grant through the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program.
In a memorandum dated November 17, 2023 Town Manager John Potter discusses the Parade Permit application for the Chamber of Commerce’s Jingle Bell Jog, scheduled to take place on December 2, 2023. No road closures are necessary. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve a parade permit for the Jingle Bell Jog on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (6:45 PM)
A. Entertainment, Liquor, and Open Meeting Ordinance Changes – Second Reading
In a memorandum dated November 21, 2023 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses proposed changes to the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances Chapter 3, Article II (Dogs, Wolf- Hybrids) Chapter 11, Articles I (General Provisions), VII (Entertainment), VIII (Liquor), and X (Parades and Open-Air Meetings); and Chapter 13 Article VII (Entertainment Clubs and Restaurants). This is a second reading. The Board is asked to consider, and possibly adopt the proposed ordinance changes.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE ORDINANCE CHANGES TO THE BRATTLEBORO CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 3, ARTICLE II (DOGS, WOLF- HYBRIDS) CHAPTER 11, ARTICLES I (GENERAL PROVISIONS), VII (ENTERTAINMENT), VIII (LIQUOR), AND X (PARADES AND OPEN-AIR MEETINGS); AND CHAPTER 13 ARTICLE VII (ENTERTAINMENT CLUBS AND RESTAURANTS), AS PRESENTED.
9. NEW BUSINESS (7:00 PM)
A. BDCC.SeVEDS Update (7:00pm)
Representatives of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) will present BDCC’s annual request for a Town funding contribution to the Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS). The Selectboard’s backup materials include a letter dated August 10, 2023, in which BDCC Executive Director Adam Grinold asks the Selectboard to include $36,147 for SeVEDS in the Town’s FY25 budget. The Town’s past practice on this matter has been to include an item on the warning for Representative Town Meeting to decide whether to make such a contribution from Program Income (not through the General Fund budget). Included in the Board’s materials is an impact statement that discusses the work SeVEDS accomplished in 2023.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE WARNING FOR THE 2024 REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING TO ALLOCATE $36,147 OF PROGRAM INCOME TO SEVEDS IN FY25.
C. Downtown Brattleboro Alliance Update (7:20 PM)
Representatives of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance (DBA) will present the DBA’s annual budget and workplan and will ask the Selectboard to include the standard annual item on the warning for the 2024 Representative Town Meeting to authorize the collection of an assessment on properties in the Downtown District in the total amount of $80,000.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE WARNING FOR THE 2024 REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING TO AUTHORIZE THE COLLECTION OF AN ASSESSMENT ON PROPERTIES IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $80,000
D. Fire Department Monthly Update (7:40 PM)
In a memorandum dated October 2023 Fire Chief Leonard Howard discusses the Fire-EMS update for the month of September. Going forward, the Fire Department’s Monthly Report, and the EMS Update, will be included in a single document and will be provided in the Selectboard materials.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT, AS
PRESENTED.
E. Open Gov Project Update (7:50 PM)
In a memorandum dated November 11, 2023, Finance Director Kimberly Frost discusses the Town’s transition to new financial software, Open Gov.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
F. Draft FY25 General Fund and Capital Fund Budgets (8:10 PM)
Town Staff will present aspects of the DRAFT FY25 General Fund and Capital Fund Budgets. A memo on this item will be distributed before or during the Selectboard meeting.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
Brattleboro Website
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(1:40 PM, 11-17-23)