Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – Dec 1, 2023

Ooops. A “previously overlooked item” will require an estimated base increase in Brattleboro property taxes for FY25 of 3.6%. It’s on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The Brattleboro Fire Department would like $3000 a month to pay an outside company for EMS billing services. Doing everything in-house is no longer an option.

The board will also hear about a strategic plan for Brooks Memorial Library, and update on how their housing plan has been going, talk of acquiring the McNeill’s property in exchange for the demolition costs, and another discussion of things that can be done about panhandling.

You can bring up almost anything else during public participation unless it is some issue the Chair doesn’t want discussed in public.

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The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 6:15pm in the  Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and 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

…

BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023

SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM

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

(please note that all times are approximate)

1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)

2. APPROVE MINUTES – November 21, 2023

3. CHAIR’S REMARKS

4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS

5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)

7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:35 PM)

A. Transportation Alternative Program Grant– Authorize $138,080 Application

B. Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Program Grant – Authorize $60,000

Application

C. Homeland Security Program Grant – Authorize $84,355.77 Application

8. NEW BUSINESS (6:45 PM)

A. Phase I Utility Project FONSI Public Hearing (6:45 PM)

B. Brooks Memorial Library Strategic Plan (7:00)

C. Ambulance Billing Services (7:15 PM)

D. Housing Plan Update (7:30)

E. McNeill’s Property Acquisition (7:45 PM)

F. FY25 Budget Update (7:55 PM)

G. Options to Address Panhandling (8:25 PM)

9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI

A. Warrants

10. MEETINGS

See Town Calendar

11. ADJOURNMENT (8:45 PM)

….

MEMORANDUM

To: Selectboard

From: John Potter, Town Manager

Re: Administrative Report

Date: December 5, 2023

———————

The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday,

December 5, 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. Transportation Alternative Program Grant– Authorize $138,080 Application

B. Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Program Grant – Authorize $60,000

Application

C. Homeland Security Program Grant – Authorize $84,355.77 Application

In a memorandum dated November 27, 2023 Planning Director Sue Fillion requests authorization to apply for a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant. This will go toward the design and construction of a new segment of sidewalk on Fairground Road to connect the existing sidewalk at Red Clover Commons south towards an existing sidewalk at the high school. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Planning Department to apply for a Transportation Alternative Program grant for design/construction of an approximately 450-foot-long new sidewalk on Fairgrounds Road.

In a memorandum dated November 27, 2023 Planning Director Sue Fillion requests authorization for the Planning Department to apply for a Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Program grant to conduct a scoping study of Black Mountain Road. This proposed project would discontinue a portion of the highway from the intersection of Dickinson Road to the intersection of Kipling Road. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Planning Department to apply for a Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Program grant to conduct a scoping study of Black Mountain Road.

In a memorandum dated November 27, 2023 Public Works Superintendent Peter Lynch requests authorization to apply to the Vermont State Homeland Security Grant Program. This grant will help the Town place entry access systems on exterior doors and a few interior doors at five Town facilities. This will increase safety on Town owned property. The project is estimated to cost $85,000. This grant requires no match from the Town, however, if installed there is a recurring yearly service fee of $3,420 per year spread over the five facilities. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Department of Public Works to apply for Vermont’s 2021 State homeland Security Grant Program November 2023 re-release.

ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.

8. NEW BUSINESS (7:00 PM)

A. Phase I Utility Project FONSI Public Hearing (6:45 PM)

The Board will conduct a public hearing on a Phase 1 Water System Improvement project,in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act regarding federally funded projects. The hearing will include a short presentation by the DuFresne Group summarizing the project and the potential environmental impacts. The hearing will be open to Board and public comment.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

B. Brooks Memorial Library Strategic Plan (7:00)

In a memorandum dated November 29, 2023, Library Director Starr LaTronica presents the Strategic Plan for the Brooks Memorial Library. She or a member of the Board of Trustees will be present in the meeting to discuss aspects of the plan with the Board and the Public. The Strategic Plan can be found at: https://brookslibraryvt.org/about- us/our-vision-mission-and-plan/

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

C. Ambulance Billing Services (7:15 PM)

In a memorandum dated November 7, 2023 Fire Chief Leonard Howard compares the cost of in-house billing for ambulance services with that of using an outside agency. After considering the costs, along with the benefits and possible complications with each service, Town staff recommend using an outside agency for medical billing. Chief Howard compares several outside billing options and informs the Board that Town staff have determined that EMS Billing Solutions is the best option for the Town at $3,000 a month.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO CONTRACT WITH EMS BILLING SERVICES AS THE AMBULANCE BILLING PROVIDER AT A COST OF $3,000 DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR A THREE (3) YEAR TIME PERIOD.

D. Housing Plan Update (7:30 PM)

In a memorandum dated November 28, 2023 Planning Director Sue Fillion provides a progress report on the Housing Action Plan. She discusses the Town’s housing supply needs and the Town’s progress on several housing-related goals.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

E. McNeill’s Property Acquisition (7:45 PM)

In a memorandum dated November 29, 2023 Town Attorney Bob Fisher explains that after the McNeill’s property at 90 Elliot Street was demolished after a fire, the Brattleboro Fire Department deemed the structure unsafe and therefore ordered its demolition. The Town incurred an expense of $117,879 for the demolition. The Town filed a claim in the probate estate of Clyde Reagin McNeill in that amount, however, the estate’s assets would not make the Town whole and so the estate’s council has proposed the conveyance of the real property (the vacant lot) in full satisfaction of the Town’s claim. Town Attorney Bob Fisher recommends that the Town accept this proposal.

POTENTIAL MOTION: THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SIGN THE PURCHASE AND SALE CONTRACT TO PURCHASE 90 ELLIOT STREET FROM THE ESTATE OF CLYDE REAGIN MCNEILL IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE TOWN’S CLAIM AGAINST THE ESTATE.

F. FY25 Budget Update (7:55 PM)

In a memorandum dated November 30, 2023 Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses the FY25 General Fund Base Budget, including the inclusion of a previously overlooked item that belongs in the General Fund Base Budget, for the Living Memorial Park Generational Improvements. This will create an estimated base increase in property taxes for FY25 of 3.6%. A detailed base budget breakdown is included in the backup materials.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

G. Options to Address Panhandling (8:25 PM)

In a memorandum dated December 1, 2023 Town Manager John Potter discusses community-expressed concerns with, and the current status of, panhandling in Town. He explains that the Town’s panhandling ordinance was eliminated five years ago after a Supreme Court case (Reed v. Town of Gilbert) found panhandling to be regarded as free speech. He discusses several options the Town could use to respond to panhandling.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.