Your water bill will go up, your sewer bills will go up, the town is buying a $73k car for the fire department, there will be a bit of free parking near the holidays, and a new sculpture park is being preliminarily proposed for the area near BMAC and he Amtrak station. All this and more at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.
Selectboard Meeting Notes – Water and Sewer Rates To Rise
Preliminaries
Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin – Amanda should be here soon. It’s nice to be here but nice to have two weeks since the last meeting, nice to have a break. The veto of H91 – I would be willing to discuss this and the impact on our town and have heard that I may talk to the Windham County delegation.
Town Manager John Potter – Thanks to dispatcher Kelsey Holliday (and others) for a long difficult shift. Juneteenth art show is on display at the Municipal Center. Brattleboro will get an award for wellness (ha.. spellcheck changed this to “wetness”…) by the Governor. Rt 5 and Putney Rd work will be going on at night. There will be weekly email updates from Vtrans. The Grand List has been lodged… up around 2%. School is out. Pool is opening June 21.
Oscar Heller – I rode the micro Moover on the last day of its service. That was the last night of the service. Moover micro transit will be missed. People used it to cover gaps from getting home from work on night shifts. Hopefully we can find ways to bring that service back. It will leave a gap for people who used it. The reason the May financial report is not on the meeting tonight is it will be the first meeting of July.
Isaac Evans-Frantz – proud of all the graduates, great exhibit for Juneteenth. It was 160 years ago slaves in Texas learned about the end of slavery two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s an opportunity to confront systematic racism. The struggle for Black liberation in Vermont continues. Also, on Saturday there was demonstration on the common – 3000 people attended and 5 million across the country – the largest demonstration in a single day. I want to applaud the civic engagement and activism of the people of Brattleboro.
Liz – come see the artwork, but the building is closed on Juneteenth.
Public
Heidi F – a reminder, that at RTM to vote on the budget, RTM voted to get a full accounting of the EMS revenue and expenses so taxpayers can see a clear impact – when might we get that information? Before the budget process?
Liz – After June 30th.
Kate O – I will break the rules – on behalf of the 4th of July parade, we want to hear from you if you ant to be in it – contact us.
Jean – I had a concern. My question is – I’ve been called upon about an alleged hanging at Groundworks. From my understanding there was nothing called upon, no police reporting. Because I’m getting so many phone calls, it is an alarming concern. Why isn’t there anything being done, like a temporary shutdown of Groundworks? Why am I getting calls? It happened a month ago and I;’m still getting calls. I want to bring it to your attention. It is an alleged hanging – nobody knows. Staff are alarmed.
Liz – we will look into it and perhaps get back to the community.
Timothy- I read an opinion piece regarding humanizing the unhoused until I saw humanizing criminals without acknowledging the victims of those criminals, including our elderly neighbor.
Susan B – there is info in you packet – I did a comparison of calls in 2024 – (1050 incidents in May – in 2025 there were 1343 – 43 calls a day that they are responding to. We aren’t out of the woods, we need to continue vigilance to fight the crimes. Property crimes stayed consistent – about 60. The other one of growing concern to me is the Assessors Office – they put out info about business licenses due April 1 – we lost 8 businesses and got only 3 new businesses. I wanted to dig deeper but we need to track what is going on with businesses – why are we losing them and why are they leaving?
Dick D – I want to follow up on the easement question on 142 – who did you contact and what was the repose. Also – no EMS update on the agenda – why didn’t that happen? And I am concerned about kicking the monthly finance report from June to July – we always got it the second week of each moth and have hired an efficient accountant… why an extra two weeks?
John – Town Atty is working with RR to get easement to do sidewalk construction. There has been turnover in staffing and that is part of the holdup, and we hope to get that. No timeline. I believe we are doing quarterly EMS updates and the next one is in July, and then the monthly finance reports. We were always cramming to get them done in time for memos, and because they are short staffed they asked for a cushion and we said ok for this month. If it doesn’t work we can try to do something different.
Liz – I’d rather not be rushed.
Consent Agenda
A. Crack Seal Bid – Award $59,768 Bid
B. Retreat Farm – Updated Outside Consumption Permit – Approve
C. Rail and River Tavern First and Third Class Liquor License – Approve
D. Appoint Interim Trustee to Library
E. Project Manager Services for Brooks Memorial Library Capital Improvement Grant – Authorize Not to Exceed $50,000 Contract
F. Retreat Farm Market Patio First Class Liquor License and Outside Consumption Permit – Approve
G. SKJ Sales II Corporation Second Class Liquor License, Tobacco License, and Tobacco Substitute Endorsement – Approve
H. Brattleboro Goes Forth (sic) Parade Permit Application – Approve
They like it, they really like it.
Consented!
(Amanda is here now, btw.)
FY26 Utility Budget Decision
Potter – I invite Dan Tyler and Pete Lynch to come up. We talked about the draft last week and they took the feedback and incorporated it.
Dan Tyler – the rate presentation a couple of months ago and the draft budget were based on a 9% water increase and 2% sewer. We went back and updated the numbers and tried to look at alternative rates to get us where we need to be. We give you three options – as is, and with different spreads over the years. The sewer side is in a stringer position – rates were adjusted and recent increases have made that side – it is where it needs to be – a 2% increase over the next period. That would put us above the rainy day fund amount. An alternate way of looking at it – rather than split them apart, if you look at combined expenses, if you look at water and sewer expenses combined, we could leverage some of the existing funds to keep the rate down – a slower projection to get there but the money would be there. It’s not a long term equitable solution – some customers are water or sewer only, but we could do it for a while. 7% for the first 2 years, then three 3% and stay with 2% on the sewer side.
Oscar – thanks. When you talk about combining – how literally are we talking about – transfers between funds, or literally combining?
Dan – different accounting.
Oscar – couldn’t we get to the same place by increasing the sewer rates less than 2%. I have an inclination to keep things separate – could we just bring down sewer rates and keep a clean separation.
Dan – I suppose – didn’t look at that.
Oscar – my big question – in the scenarios – the three pages with graphs – all show deficits – some capital offsets depreciation and it is double counted?
Dan – and lower capital years mean lower offsets.
Oscar – I’d rather keep the two funds separate – so 1.5% on sewer rather than take it from water.
Liz – the options are just for water, so they are separate. Oscar’s goal has been met?
Oscar – my understanding is the way alert ate 1 gets to be 7% instead of 9% is because we will allow a bit of a deficit? Do we want to use cash to bring the rates down a bit, and pay the price later, and I guess instead of bringing the water rates down we bring the sewer rates down so you don’t have the cross pollination.
Liz – I’m looking at it from ratepayer perspective – if you can share the wealth of the sewer fund with the water fund, then the rate payers are served because the sewer money is just sitting there.
Dan – some ratepayers contribute just to one side.
Liz – but the money is there, but there is an accounting differential. Ratepayers would be better served with a 7% increase in water rates. No one is being harmed.
Oscar – is it cleaner to do it the other way, so people who paid into sewer are helping the water rate payers.
Liz – most people pay both and the money is just sitting there… it is just there.
Peter Case – we’ve been throwing around the. word deficit… do we know how much it is in the first year?
Dan – it is an accounting mechanism, including depreciation.
Potter – $169k, excluding capital.
Dan – $7 hundred and…
Liz – is that a real deficit?
Dan – spend on how you look at depreciation – which is 2.5 million.
Pete – the first year is a harder swallow.
Dan – we are raising rates to save for future capital expenses and emergencies and cover costs… Oscar suggests we keep it at 9% but reduce the sewer number. If we go back you have the ordinance delayed.
Potter – we wanted to do that at the next meeting. We could target a revenue and bring back options in that first reading. You could approve the budget and set rates at next meeting.
Amanda – what percentage use one or the other – less that 1%?
Dan – there are some places that are too high to supply water.
Pete – where I live. I have a well but use town sewer.
Amanda – why would separating them be better for sustainability?
Dan – sewer side is more expensive than water. More cost to treat it.
Liz – so the equity between sewer and water users – it is a small amount.
Oscar – I’m not passionate about it. Just wanted to raise it. So, we will end up with more in the bank but the depreciation is more than that… the only other question. We are basically saying, in the original proposal we would expect those rates would pay for themselves. We’d spend some cash to get rates lower. I’m a little ambivalent about that. I want to make sure we are intentional about it.
Liz – can I have a motion..
Amanda -(moves alternate 1…)
Potter – revenues of 7 million+ and expenses of 7 million+… as presented in alternate #1.
Isaac – I liked the idea of spreading out the increases, but after speaking with he Town manager and looking at this, it is a big increase but it protects us against unforeseen events and, with us taking risks not contributing to come funds, it would be prudent to go with the original proposal of 9% over the first couple of years then 3% for the next three years.
Peter – I’ll probably land there.
Amanda – I don’t use water or sewer from the town. 7% sounds reasonable.
Oscar – how far – I know water is under and sewer is over – how much over is were? A million?
Dan – I don’t want to guess – it’s not great.
Oscar – maybe $50k….
Liz – and I think the account mechanism being used is fine but I’d like to give ratepayers a break. Let’s have a vote!
Oscar – the public?
Liz – public?
Tony D – I was hear about the sustainability coordinator… is it in this budget? yes? About seeing if money could be found.
Liz – it is in the budget.
Tony – revenue from water runoff on impermeable surface…
Dick D – I missed the last meeting and had a question – the sustainability coordinator got passed to the rate payers here.
Liz – half of it
Dick – what projects will he be doing 2.5 days a week. I’ll be looking for a report in the monthly reports on the projects being worked on.
Liz – the sustainability coordinator is diligent about his duties.
Dan – we have been working on projects – potential solar additions, biogas capture and generation of power or heating, grant opportunities, the reporting that goes along with grants. Having him on board will add capacity – things that align with sustainability that we can’t usually get to… small hydro generator in pipes – there are opportunities to reduce emissions, have a more efficient fleet, biosolids reports and projects, forest management at the watershed.
Liz – ready to vote?
approved alternate 1
FY26 Parking Budget Decision
Potter – same as with Utility, they are back after incorporating your feedback, with several options.
Jeremy E. – over the past year we made progress – new payment system, now in a critical phase collecting data, and the budget has three balanced options – differences are in the amount of free parking at holidays – 14 days, 7 days, or none. We looked at data – 14 days would mean $500 loss, while 7 days would keep a surplus. We are looking at improvements to the system. Staff are working on draft ordinances . We ask for your approval of one of the three options.
Amanda – thanks for the options. Have you looked at four weekends, rather than 14 continuous days. Just 12 days, then.
Darren – the data I pulled from Dec 11 to the 24th. We can get a little more revenue- I could pull those numbers. Trying to get a rough idea of what we might lose, so we compare with last year. I could get you the estimates.
Liz – I had a similar thought – the three weekends before Xmas – 9 days of F-S-S. It might be a happy medium for everybody.
Pete – If I hear my fellow merchants downtown, if we jockey with this, we should factor in Black Friday after thanksgiving. The 5th and 6th…
Liz – that’s HollyDays. I can tell you it is always the first weekend of December.
Pete – that would be the big weekend, then… so 12 days
Liz – 4 x 3.
Isaac – what have we done in past years?
Liz – last year it was new, but in previous years it was just Holly Days weekend. The first weekend in December.
Darren – last year was longer…
Isaac – now that the parking system is not new and we are running a deficit… why do free parking?
Pete – to increase business downtown.
Liz – more shoppers means more 1% tax.
Potter – it is not a deficit regardless of the 9 or 12 days.
Isaac – any data that increasing free parking increases revenue to businesses?
Liz – yes
Isaac – then why do Christmas and why not have free parking all year round.
Liz – we heard how important the winter holidays are to merchants. So that’s why we take this action…
Pete – that time of year – a majority do 30-40% of their income for the year. Making that easier would maybe even increase that number.
Kate T – DBA – I agree. I would also say that the majority merchants say shopping happens at the end of the month, so consider that. National Main Street America did a survey – business confidence in business is down more than they have ever seen. Costs are up and spending is down. It’s the slowest 1st quarter for many businesses downtown. That holiday shopping time really carries a few of our folks. Anything we can do I would support.
Isaac – one thing we hear before – one reason to have parking enforcement is to stimulate turnover in parking – if we have free parking, will there be no parking enforcement those days?
Liz – I would anticipate residents and visitors at holidays would not abuse it.
Isaac – business owners said residents will clog up spots. So if the concern was about Sundays, why not days near holidays?
Kate T – a recent survey of downtown businesses – unanimously they would like free parking on Sundays. The idea of turnover in the downtown – it is a benefit to have parking turnover, but we have heard locals are not coming downtown and are upset about Sunday parking costs. We need to weigh all of this. Maybe just Main Street, or certain lots. Merchants unanimously want free parking on Sundays.
Ivan H – I want to caution you not to go by what merchants say… don’t presume they can speak for customers. People who would be using the parking aren’t in this room. Most won’t see a marketing campaign. They will arrive and see that they have to pay or not.
Susan – tenants are parking in the parking garage for covered parking. The. aren’t on the street or on Harmony Lot overnight.
Peter – when is the winter parking ban?
Degray – the enterprise fund is underwater. I’m a consumer. I don’t base things on free parking. I base it on shops I want to go to. Portsmouth was 2 per hour and parking tickets were $35. Concentrate on the enterprise fund and the condition it is in. Sunday parking came up because this budget is under water. Keep Sunday parking and add more hours. Up in Maine it was 9 to 9 pm at $6 an hour. If this goes underwater, taxpayers have to pay the debt. The substation should generate rent if this is an enterprise fund. A big things is weather – we lose money with every big snowstorm. You have to take all the variable in. I laugh when I hear you talk of free parking. Tourists have no idea if we have free parking or not. Look at the enterprise fund before we give away the store.
Oscar – I think we may be overcomplicating this – parking is a small piece of the pustule. Free parking won’t make or break a business. We are talking of maintaining Sunday parking and adding other hours. 40 businesses wanted Sunday fee parking. We have to trust the budget projections. A $500 deficit in a million dollar budget… that’s OK. Let’s go with option 1 – 14 days that we can spend wisely throughout the year and decide when the time comes up.
Pete – I want to a dress a few things – asking merchants their opinions a bad idea? I get so many people talking to me about parking. I think downtown merchants have the pulse on parking. Give me a multimillion dollar budget everyone will get everyone to know about it. And yes, we are running an underwater enterprise fund, and out of town folks don’t care how much they pay for parking. What we are extending is goodwill to make things easier for downtown life. A bit of gratitude for merchants keeping their doors open. Merchants want free Sunday parking – I like Oscar’s idea of a slush fund of 14 days.
Liz – 12 days to break even.
Darren – it is a projection… it is a bit over $1000 a day you will lose.
Liz – I hope we understand projections.
Amanda – the Messiah Sing – you go, there is mobility issues. It takes time to go, and go for coffee. To not worry about feeding the meter is generous, at the holidays. Let’s invest in our reputation for holiday weekends.
Isaac – I appreciate you saying merchants know what they are hearing about the parking system.
Pete – the new kiosks system – can that be programmed to not accept money on days?
Darren – we can program the machine to say Free Parking the display. It might take coins…
Isaac – I like the data over the last 5 years. Why did we earn more last year?
Darren – that from the rate increase. If you look at projections this winter it would be kore. The number of transactions was down in December of last year.
Isaac – how about making it so people with disabilities have to pay?
Darren – if you have the placard you can park anywhere for free.
Isaac – I’d like seniors to get permits for free parking. Invest in equity. What can people afford, and what can we do to make it affordable for locals? I have concerns with precendent. It’s harder to take something away once you’ve done it. I’d like us to see what we did in the past – Holly Days only.
Liz – if all of the seniors have free parking the system would be meaningless.
Pete – the December rates were just meters?
Darren – just meters, not permit income.
Option 1 is proposed to be Option 4, with 12 days of free parking in December.
$1,018,780.30
4-1 with Isaac against.
Darren – we will come back with some policy changes that you’ve spoken about – permits and appeals process , etc. More to come.
Oscar – if the board wanted to make rate changes, that can happen independent of an ordinance? (Yes)
Darren – you can make changes but they should create an increase in revenue overall.
Liz – I thought we decided not to make rate changes for a year?
Potter – there wasn’t a vote.
Darren – you need an ordinance for the holidays, maybe.
Oscar – we need an ordinance change to establish a free parking day?
Liz – we have a vote when it is holidays. It is the first weekend of December.
5 minute break then... Fire Car #2 Decision
Potter – essentially we had an incident with Car 2 that made it inoperable…
Fire Chief Jay Symonds – sad news. We deferred the car 2 purchase, and we went to a call on 91 and it broke down. And engine failure – a complete rebuild was $7k. Other option is to replace the engine – $13k plus a warranty. A new vehicle is $43k + uplifting, so $72k. As the truck sits, trade in value is $1500. If we do repairs it would be $12k. If we repair the engine, what else might fail. AutoMall said it need brakes, suspension… total cost to bringing it back is $11k, just doing repairs. So, looking at these options – least costly is to repair. This isn’t in our budget. Choose one of these options, then borrow from the fire truck replacement fund now, then pay it back.
Potter – as Chief said, we’d use the funds we already put there to do one of these options, then backfill that in the FY27 budget.
Jay – DPW is also replacing vehicles, so maybe we could get a better price by buying in bulk.
Isaac – if we were to replace the engine with a three year warranty to save money, why not use that if there is a three year warranty for three more years?
Jay – trade in value would drop. These small vehicles – we are holding them too long. Trade in at 5 years it is worth 28k, three years later it is 12k. That’s across the board. There is some rust on the frame. What will that look like? Would we have a frame failure and be completely inoperable?
Amanda – I’m a fan of replacing the engine – use it up and wear it out.
Jay – I might be back next year with another failure…
Oscar – I’m leaning toward Option 3 to replace the car. If we try for 3 years, we still pay $5500 a year for three years, vs $72k over 10 years… even though it is most expensive, this was the plan….
Liz – I agree with Oscar.
Pete – I agree with you on replacing an engine is fine if you are private or a homeowner. We rely on these to respond to emergencies, so I’m more comfy with Option 3 and a new vehicle.
Dick – the three new board members talked of the future – and taking money for a future ambulance will hurt us. Replace the engine – the vehicle is worth $1500 now. New brakes are normal, and rear suspension are maintenance things. Awe might be in a better financial situation in a year – why spend $72k now, when we could have a new engine and a warranty. Look at it differently – save some money and look at this down the road.
Oscar – can you.. I’m open to that logic…., and using it until it wears out… to make the numbers work, if we buy a new vehicle it is $7200 a year. You think the expensive maintenance would be better?
Dick – wouldn’t have to refit it… why go do that now. People put in new engines all the time. We have to say it is ok to do. If it has rust, get it fixed. taxpayers said uncle. Show them you are being prudent. This is okay to do, and send s message to taxpayers that we’re going in a bit of a different direction and won’t have to make up that money.
Liz – cars will cost more in coming years and strike while the iron is hot and get the right car.
Pete – yes – if this is a DPW vehicle. But this is for first response and might need to ge there quickly. If it were mine, I’d replace the engine. But if I needed it for emergency deliveries, I’d need a new car.
Dick – we are buying a new engine…
Pete – in a used vehicle.
Heidi – what is the vehicle used for? It is not a fire truck.
Liz – there is a memo…
Heidi – I’d like to understand.
Jay – it is used as a command vehicle and tows trailers, used by Assistant Fire Chief .
Heidi – can another vehicle be used, or could we buy a used car? We bought used vehicles for Rescue and it was great.
Potter – if you approve the new vehicle we could look into used vehicles.
Gemma – I have a couple of questions. I am unfamiliar with the process of preaching a vehicle like this. Pay cash or financing? If we pay cash, why not finance it? It would split out the cost over many years, rather than $72k in one year.
Nelle – 7k for a rebuild, 13k for a new engine, 11k for brakes and suspension _ rebuild? I agree with what Dick said.
Susan B – I really think you should vote for a full truck replacement. If I were a first responder and the truck was necessary for communications and it broke down? It’s an older truck . An electrical failure or transmission failure – a fixit on an essential vehicle reduces the department’s confidence in the vehicle.
Jay – we aren’t asking for additional money, just to use the already approved capital fund to pay for it, then pay it back next year.
Motion to get a new car + unfit and radios, etc. $72k
Isaac – f course we want adequate equipment for first responders and we wouldn’t be given any options here =that would be unsafe. We made a decision a few weeks ago to not put money in for this car 2. We should stick with the decision we made, and I support Option 2 and replacing the engine.
Amanda – it’s a new vehicle, then, and don’t need to do the update. if we can hang on for a couple more years it would be more fiscally prudent.
Oscar – the capital plan is there to pay cash and not pay the extra financing costs. I hear you all. This is a truck that was due for replacement and we were going to replace it. If I knew option 2 will hold out, maybe.. but we were thinking of getting by for a year. The savings not quite there. I’m still 3 for now.
Amanda – you just said catastrophic failure – a significant mechanical failure isn’t that…
Liz – I was struck by this being first response vehicle. It was used at the SIT fire. I know it is important and it is used for important work. use the capital fund. That is what it is for. Let’s vote.
Oscar – At 11:59 in its lifespan we got a 5 digit repair bill… but I hear what you are saying.
Option 3 – 3-2 – Amanda and Isaac against.
And the zoom feed freezes up… and unfreezes.
Selectboard Retreat Planning
Potter – this is the first step to put together a retreat. It has been an important part of selectboard leadership . Sue Fillion can be facilitator, the main purpose would be to identify Selectboard priorities for 2025 and through 2027. July 17 at 2-6 pm offsite that is better for an informal discussion, but public invited and it should be filmed and broadcast. We have a draft agenda for you to give us feedback, – a warm up activity, a review of the town plan, a look at previous priorities, a discussion of what to focus on, what the board suggests for budget development, discussion of process improvements, discussion of priorities for legislators, review of action items, and some public participation.
Liz – I appreciate the innovation of the Selectboard Retreat – this is the third year. Sue is an excellent facilitator. I support the process.
Oscar – the day and time work for me… I’d like to be able to go long.
Peter – I promise we won’t enjoy it.
Amanda – works for me, and the public should mark the date and be a part of it. Constac us.
Isaac – excellent idea, I’m teaching on the 17th. I could do the following week.
Peter if the 24th works…
Liz – it’s my daughter’s birthday… everyone is in favor.
Isaac – two things – start earlier and if we could have a 5 minute break every hour to keep it easy. And also – there have been policy decisions that past board have made that I wouldn’t have know about… could we have a review of polices we have regarding budgets and financial planning? Are there other policies?
Liz – we can review what the Charter say our duties are.
Depot Street Riverfront
Sue Fillion – Bob B is here with me to present a proposal for the green space on Depot Street. Currently used for storing soils for the Amtrak projects. Over the years many have come with ideas for the space. Bob has done some projects around town and around the country where he sculpts the land. He applied for a VT Arst Council grant and came up with a design. No action needed but want you feedback if we should look for funding to implement. many have talked about the space. We had a meeting with stakeholders (about 30) and shared the vision with them and was positively received. Monroe W came in to do additional planning, got additional planning.
Bob (shows two images of layouts – Some more trees and plantings near the museum and train crossing, then a green space with levels and plantings by the river.) – a sculptured park at the gateway to VT at the new station. This would make a comfy seating area for people waiting. This sill be the first thing they see as they enter Vermont. The BMAC is onboard. It is a perfect opportunity for them to expand their outdoor events and exhibition space. Three spaces for large outdoor sculptures that can be viewed from many points in town. The more lively the area, the less trouble in that area. You can view this from the museum. It’s a great seating area for waiting for the train. Sculptures will rotate. There can be music events, poetry readings. Many organizations would use it and it would help the restaurant. For the money Sue has found to redo Bridge Street, we have a good plan here. We will widen sidewalks near museum, make safe sidewalks to proper width so two wheelchairs can pass. Change the grade of the road to be an ADA crosswalk. Plant ivy on the wall so no graffiti. There are spaces for the park to expand with smaller sculptures. It will draw people to Brattleboro with a great deal of activity. It could be a destination for New England. A bit like MassMoca. The museum has great plans. This is a golden opportunity to do something with it.
Sue – this is a site owned by the site. A brownfield site. We would need to do more to see if the design could be permitted, so this is preliminary.
Liz – could EPA brownfield funds be used for this?
Sue – I don’t think so because we have used EPA funds on the site already. The downtown Transportation grant could do much of this. AARP making places grants. There are possibilities.
Liz – thank you and the VT Arts Council.
Amanda – really exciting. One question – who will maintain it – the museum, DPW?
Sue – we’d have to have those conversations. I spoke with Carol Lolatte… it would take some more mowing if it has terraces or sculptures.
Oscar – Exciting – the cost estimate can be shared with us?
Bob – about 330k for the green area
Sue – not the street.
Isaac – I just came home on the train and there is noting like this at any of the other stops. That would be great to see. It’s aligned with the Town Plan. It is such a beautiful area and is a dead space right now. I could imagine the being really nice to have a waterfront park in our community. away from traffic. That would be great. And celebrate the arts. This brings appreciation for arts and natural beauty. A real asset. I’m glad an organization – BMAC – that is interested in curating public art.
Bob – with this we have also talked up the bottom of the BMAC – planting more ivy to cut down on graffiti – we want both side of the track to be green for the first time.
Pete – It would be great. This stop would tend out. Glad there are opportunities for artists to swap things in and out – a dynamic feel.
Amanda – it would be cool to have a bike rack there.
Bob – we have talked about the BMAC doing something where the old station was… we talked of bike rentals in the space, so you could get off the train and head up through town or through trails around town.
Gemma – I love the idea of doing something to make a new public park, but I have a number of concerns. I don’t see any way for a disable person to access the interior of the park – no wheelchair or ramp access. I don’t see any lighting or seating or tables, or trash receptacles and I would like to see some performance space. There is ample room for a small stage for people to perform. Lighting and electrical needs to go in. I don’t see any of that. I’d like to see it added. It is a public park, not part of the museum. It should be more than just sculpture.
Peter. – we just didn’t explain it. It is ADA accessible. There is lighting and power. The larger circle near the river is 40 ft in diameter. WE could have performances there.
Bob – we have provisions for electric and water and will be graded for ADA accessible to the top circle.
Sue – it is a concept and some things will need to change – brownfield issues and regulations.
Liz – thanks and we are all happy with this plan. Keep working.
Sue – their collective experience is quite a donation to the town.
More committee appointments… so, g’night.