Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 6, 2024

Flood Plain Restoration is more expensive than originally thought. By hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s part of what the Brattleboro Selectboard will hear at the first regular meeting of February 2024.

The board will also create a new road for the Town to take care of, hear updates on town safety, sustainability, food, farms, and vacant buildings. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation, if the Chair allows.

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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom. Prior to the regular meeting, the Board will convene to conduct a site visit at  Dettman Drive. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board is expected to enter immediately into executive session to discuss contracts, pending or probable civil litigation or prosecution, to which the public body is or may be a party and the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee. 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. The backup materials for this will be available on the town Website Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard by the end of today.

 

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, FEBRUARY 6, 2024

SITE VISIT AT DETTMAN DRIVE – 4:00 PM

SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM

EXECUTIVE SESSION – TO COMMENCE

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SITE VISIT

REGULAR MEETING – 6:15 PM

The physical location for this meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center

at 230 Main Street.

Selectboard Meeting materials can be found on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard.

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 – January 16, 2024

3. CHAIR’S REMARKS

4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS

5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)

7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:30 PM)

A. Assessor’s Office Certificate of No Appeal – Accept

B. VTrans Certificate of Highway Mileage – Accept

C. Vermont Downtown Program Grant Application – Approve

D. Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development, Limited Event Permit for Bingo

Fundraiser – Approve

8. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)

A. Dettman Drive Public Hearing (6:35 PM)

B. Security Services and Town Safety Update (6:50 PM)

C. Sustainability Program Update (7:00 PM)

D. Food/Farm System Assessment Update (7:30 PM)

E. Vacant Building Ordinance (7:50 PM)

F. 250 Birge Street Project Contract Amendments (8:20 PM)

G. Announce Committee Vacancies (8:30 PM)

9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI

A. Warrants

10. MEETINGS

See Town Calendar

11. ADJOURNMENT (8:35 PM)

MEMORANDUM

To: Selectboard

From: John Potter, Town Manager

Re: Administrative Report

Date: January 12, 2023

———————————————————————————————————————————–

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

February 6, 2024. 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 (6:30 PM)

A. Assessor’s Office Certificate of No Appeal – Accept

B. VTrans Certificate of Highway Mileage – Accept

C. Vermont Downtown Program Grant Application – Approve

D. Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development, Limited Event Permit for Bingo Fundraiser – Approve

Town Assessor Jenepher Burnell has provided her certification that no appeals are pending from actions of the Listers, and no suits are pending to recover taxes paid under protest relating to the April 1, 2023 Grand List. Approval of this item as part of the Consent Agenda will constitute the Selectboard’s approval, in accordance with State statutes, of the “Town Assessor’s Certificate – No Appeal or Suit Pending” for this year.

The Board is asked to approve the annual Certificate of Highway Mileage that must be submitted to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) as part of what is required for the Town to qualify for State highway aid funding, as described in a memorandum dated January 17, 2024, from Public Works Director, Dan Tyler. DPW recommends that the Selectboard approve and sign the Certificate of Highway Mileage for 2024 with no changes. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will execute the annual Certificate of Highway Mileage verifying that there are no mileage or classification changes to Town highways.

In a memorandum dated January 25, 2024 Finance Director Kimberly Frost requests authorization to apply for a Vermont Downtown Transportation Grant in the amount of $114,290 for parking infrastructure improvements. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will adopt the municipal resolution for the Downtown Transportation Fund and to authorize the submission a grant application in the amount of $114,290 for parking infrastructure improvements.

In a memorandum dated February 6, 2024 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Limited Event Permit Application for Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development’s fundraiser. They are seeking approval of a Limited Event Permit for their bingo fundraising event to be held at the Winston Prouty Center, Thomas Hall, 209 Austine Drive. The event is scheduled for March 8 and will be open to the public from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, but they are requesting a permit from 8:00am to 10:00pm for delivery, set-up and clean-up time. Ms. Gussin will be at the meeting to answer any questions the Board or the public may have, if this is pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the Limited Event Permit for the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development’s bingo fundraising event scheduled for March 8, 2024.

ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.

8. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)

A. Dettman Drive Public Hearing (6:35 PM)

In a memorandum dated February 1, 2024 Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland explains that the Board set this date for a site visit and public hearing at their January 2, 2024 Regular Selectboard meeting to consider the taking of Dettman Drive. Dettman Drive is currently one of two privately owned bridges that are the only means of access to the Tri- Park Housing Cooperative Mountain Home Park, located off of Route 9 in West Brattleboro. Tri-Park recently learned that the condition of each bridge is dire. In order to utilize a Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) program to assist with a temporary bridge, the Town must first own one of the two failing bridges.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO LAY OUT AND ESTABLISH DETTMAN DRIVE AS A CLASS THREE (3) TOWN HIGHWAY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH VERMONT ROUTE 9 TO A POINT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, SAID POINT BEING THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF A SO-CALLED “HAMMERHEAD” TURN AROUND AT THE INTERSECTION OF DETTMAN DRIVE WITH VILLAGE DRIVE.

B. Security Services and Town Safety Update (6:50 PM)

Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Evans will provide an update on Security Services and Town Safety.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

C. Sustainability Program Update (7:00 PM)

Town Sustainability Coordinator Stephen Dotson will provide an update on the Town Sustainability program.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

D. Food/Farm System Assessment Update (7:30 PM)

Carissa Brewton and Emma Bliss, who are co-researchers on this project, will be in the meeting to give a presentation and to discuss their assessment of Brattleboro’s Farm and Food System. They will be available for questions and comments from the Board and the public.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

E. Vacant Building Ordinance (7:50 PM)

In a memorandum dated February 6, 2024 Planning Technician Steve Hayes provides a review of the existing vacant building regulation ordinances around Vermont.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

F. 250 Birge Street Project Contract Amendments (8:20 PM)

In a memorandum dated January 26, 2024 Zoning Coordinator Brian Bannon discusses the 250 Birge Street Flood Plain Restoration project’s history and funding sources and requests permission for two change orders for this project. He explains that due to additional Vermont Department of Historic Preservation and FEMA requirements a change order in the amount of $205,200 is requested for Archaeological services. Due to FEMA requirements and unexpected overages, a $35,000 change order is requested for Engineering services as well.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $205,132 TO CONTINUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR THE 250 BIRGE STREET FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION PROJECT AND TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CHANGE ORDER.

TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,000 FOR SLR TO CONTINUE PROVIDING ENGINEERING, PERMITTING, AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE 250 BIRGE STREET FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION PROJECT AND TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CHANGE ORDER.

G. Announce Committee Vacancies (8:30 PM)

The Board is asked to announce various Town Board and Committee vacancies. Selectboard Meeting 02/06/24

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

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