The Brattleboro Selectboard learned what the Brattleboro Charter Commission has been working on regarding the form of town governance and other possible changes to the Charter. The Commission has put over two years of work into this and the Chair seemed quite interested in being able to edit whatever they present, such as the form of town government, when it comes before the board again in September.
The next big discussion was about the old Hinsdale bridges. Hinsdale sent some semi-unanticipated reps to read Brattleboro the riot act. They seemed to take special glee in pointing out just how terrible Brattleboro’s problems are, and wanted to know if the town would agree that the bridges should be destroyed or sold. A split vote at the end of the discussion means Brattleboro does not surrender in the battle of the bridge. Yet.
Preliminaries
Audio missing for a bit of the start… but no interpreters to get the BCTV attention
Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin – starting with this meeting, we will no longer have interpreters, due to budget cuts. We thank all interpreters that have served us. Feedback from the captions was that most users needs could be meet with captions. Town staff have worked with BCTV to show you how to use closed captions. You can enable them at home on zoom or at You Tube. In person, you have to have a phone and do it that way. Not available on the cable broadcast. Contact BCTV with comments or questions. I’d like to thank the Brattleboro Goes Fourth team that made the day a wonderful gift to the town. The selectboard wants to thank town staff, too.
Town Manager John Potter – I’ll thank more people on staff. And Rec and Parks wants to thank staff. Thanks to Joe M. and happy retirement from Town staff. BCTV went to an annual conference and got six media awards. Two were produced by the Town. BCTV also got an overall excellence award. Water & Sewer bills are going out soon. Tax bills, too.
Isaac Evans-Frantz – Congrats John Potter winning the race he was in on the 4th, and please sign in tonight. Helps us attribute comments in the minutes.
Amanda Ellis-Thurber – Happy 80th bday to a teacher – fearless leadership. Tom Costello has dedicated his life to the community. Thanks for serving Brattleboro and all you’ve done for us.
Public
Kate O’Connor – we want to thank everyone who helped make the parade possible. Couldn’t do it without town staff. See everyone next year.
Charles Monett – 45 year resident – I’d like to propose we discuss the proposed closing and gating of the bridges downtown.
Liz – that will be a matter open to discussion.
Silver – I’ve been here 3 years, on Main Street. The sound of motorcycles is overwhelmingly awful. Walls literally shake. It’s the pipes altered, and so cars do this, and those residents deserve better. We pay taxes and we have children and seniors in the building. Everyone really impacted by this issue. I hope something could be done about it. I spoke to Patrick a while back. He gave me the noise laws. I felt like nothing will ever happen. I would hope something could be done about it. Can’t we have a decibel level radar and he said we don’t put signs up in Brattleboro.
Liz – we are familiar with the problem.
Dick Degray – I’d like to thank people. I’m retired from flowers but I’m still doing the flowers. This are not funded by DBA or the town. The funders should get recognized – the Trust Company of VT, BSL, and Mark Richards of the Richards Group. Dan Yates and BSL helped us purchase the first water truck. Rashed has been a true partner. My wife, too, has been helpful. She’s a hell of a worker. Special thanks to DPW and Park & Recs.
Wendy – I serve on the transportation committee- we did some work on noise statutes. I’ll let the Town manager know what we did at the state level.
Susan – My chronic update is incidents and the police. The current six month period – 7k incidents so far. last year was 13,000 in the full year. At the current pace, we will out pace 2024. An ongoing problem. I live on Canal Street and across from me is a convenience store and someone tried to put fire to it. That’s a scary thing that happened in this town.
Lisa Marie – I want to say thanks for the flowers and thanks for the Bratt team. They are helpful and kind and respectful. We’ve been open for two months – mutual aid twice a week, then we opened two months ago, not just for homeless people. It’s for health assistance and free food and will be open 7 days a week. We need tents and cots and food and there are so many people out there that have been kicked out of hotels. The people we see, the children and elderly that come in, people who can’t breath or walk… we’re sick and dying and we need help from the town and the surrounding towns. People are cutting tents because they don’t want camping on their land. Stop damaging what they have. The women are getting raped constantly, ripped out of their tents. They are getting assaulted, and robbed. Please help us, help me help thm. I’m homeless, too. We get some food donations. Most comes out of my pocket or our lease holdr=er’s pocket. Even $5 or a can of bug spray.
Liz – Thank you. Thank you… not a warned item.
Isaac – 107 Brattleboro residents lost their rooms on July 1. I was at EconLodge that day. They folks have stretched themselves to support – I echo the request for support. Drop of donations, camping supplies, financial donation. I talked to an elderly gentleman being evicted – with oxygen tank and an insulin pump. He expected to die in the woods.
Consent Agenda
A. VTrans Certification of Compliance – Approve
B. VTrans Annual Financial Plan – Approve
C. Greenleaf Street Paving – Award $122,176 Bid
D. Saint Michaels Corpus Christi Procession Parade Permit Application – Ratify
E. Highway #8 Dump Truck – Award Bid
F. Highway #63 Tractor – Award $151,167 Bid
G. Utility Division Excavator Purchase – Authorize $107,400.Purchase
H. Line Striping – Award Bid
I. Business Personal Property Tax Liens – Approve
J. Williams Street Retaining Wall – Award $476, 832.92 Bid
L Yazzy’s Market Second Class Liquor License, Tobacco License and Tobacco Substitute License – Approve
consented!
Charter Revision Process
Liz – let me invite the commission chair and her colleagues to the table.
Kate O’Connor – and Joy T is with us, Hannah is in the audience. Peter and Maya and Denis are all on the commission. We provided you with a memo and won’t go through it all, but give an overview. We were appointed in Dec 2022, per the Charter to recommend changes. We have been meeting regularly since. We went through the Charter. We went through each piece by article and subject. All meetings have been public. This isn’t the first set of changes – several came before us – but we looked at what has been done since 1984. We are 6 people but our role is to make recommendation, so ultimately voters will approve the Charter and then the legislators and the Governor has to sign off. We’ll be back in September. Hope to have a full set of recommendations for a town wide vote. We don’t have our recommendations all done. Some are small – making things gender neutral, taking out the school board language, and we will recommend moving to an open town meeting form of government. We feel comfortable and confident. Your role will be, in Sept, to adopt our changes and put them up for a Nov 4th vote. That will require two different questions on the ballot, the Town has to vote to stop RTM, and then to adopt the Charter changes as presented. Joy, Hannah and I can answer questions.
Liz – the Public needs to understand with the ballot options if they are voted up of down?
Hannah C – there is a statute that says towns have to vote to approve RTM and have to vote to discontinue it. The Charter changes have to get approved. So, if the town votes to quite RTM but not approve the Charter Changes – it would make moot all RTM provisions and we’d go to the default. In 2026 we might have approved the charter changes but they haven’t been approved yet, so we’d default to an Open Town Meeting.
Isaac – thanks for the process and all you are doing. I would like to learn more about our role in this. Are you looking for our input on any of this? What if voters want to stick with RTM but approve the charter changes, would that be a conflict?
Town Attorney Bob F. the job of the board will be to warn the meeting about the vote. If RTM is kept, you don’t get to the second article and the Charter Revision Commission would make new recommendations. Only if the vote to rescind passes do you get to the second article. If that passes , it has to be ratified by the legislature and signed but the Governor. Until then, the default would be Open Town Meeting.
Isaac – so if voters vote down article 1, and approve #2, ..
Hannah – it will be written so that if one is approved, the second can be the continuing question.
Kate – we’ll take your input and anyone else’s. We have made changes to selectboard section. We will come back to you to accept our changes and our recommendations on the ballot. You have ultimate input.
Oscar Heller – we are just getting an update on process tonight. This isn’t the time for a discussion of types of government.
Liz – but if people have questions about the process…
Randy – We have been part of the process and have written emails, answered the survey – we haven’t been heard. We want all town business to be voted on by voters. The more people who have a say, the better governance we’ll have.
Oscar – if there is a petition to put it on the ballot, it goes on the ballot, with no alterations.
Bob Fischer – yes. The board puts in on the next primary or election ballot, or the next annual meeting. That is a procedural question for the board to decide. Retain RTM? Yes, then B. the Charter changes, or C. the one person one vote alternative. I raid the question of the confusion factor or that.
Liz – the selectboard can edit the commissions’ language to be equal with the petition?
Bob – the Charter Commission is their own thing. You can’t change the petition language.
Liz – We can edit the commission’s language?
Bob – legally yes it is possible.
Degray – what is the standard for it be a binding vote. I always thought the standard was higher for a binding vote – more than just getting on the ballot.
Bob – 5% for a charter petition charge. Registered voters.
Kate O – we have been working for two and half years, taking public comment on the form of town meeting since the beginning. We have been listening to what people have been saying, and we have all had our own evolutions on this. We all feel really comfortable recommending open town meeting is what people want, and we wouldn’t recommend it if it wasn’t what they want. Issues overlap. We have been hearing from people for multiple years, and we’ll recommend what we are hearing – that people want the Open Town Meeting. And if the other petition passes, it has to go to the legislature, too, so there might be two.
Hannah – a lot of the changes work together so we hope the selectboard won’t make edits. We wa a functional foundational document. If you take out little pieces it gets messy.
Bob F – it boils down to retaining RTM. or not. Depending on how that goes, you could be going in different directions. – open town meeting or the petition language. Do you retain RTM? Once that is decided other things fall into place.
Ronnie – I understand the process, two articles. Assuming yes, the recommendation would be to go to Open Town Meeting?
Kate – if it is yes we don’t want RTM, you’ll vote on the whole host of recommendations.
Ronnie – voting yes is for an open town government, but if we vote no we also get it? Article 2 is also to approve it?
Bob – if question 1 is yes, then you vote on the recommendations in #2. If the answer is No, then the default for 2026 will be an open town meeting. But if there is a position, depending on when that is, then you’d vote on whether to do Australian ballots.
Alyssa – I have a concern – there is a discussion of pivoting away from RTM, will it be harder for the disabled and elderly – that would defeat the purpose. That’s my concern.
Randy – our purpose for doing this now is to gather the signatures, but we wanted to give everyone a chance to see what they want in Brattleboro. Everyone will know where we are at and that’s why we did it now.
John – my question – assuming the petitions are turned in Sept 1… is there a time that is triggered for the election for the petition? Is there a statutory reason the board can’t put it on the same election as the Charter recommendations?
Hannah – no requirement to have it within a set number of days – the next annual meeting. The board could warn it as a special town meeting.
Silver – how do we access that information about what an open public meeting is?
Kate – got to the town web site and the Charter Revision Commission has a whole section with all our information. And we have upcoming meetings.
Susan – I’m feeling like if the support is for Australian ballot, there seems to be a set up for failure around the will of the people. We are hearing we can’t get it done for the 2026 vote because the state won’t act quickly enough. I’m an optimist on that. We could request them to take immediate action. The petition should get a vote before 2026. I have mobility issues and can’t sit and town meetings for 10 hours. I’m not the only one who feels disenfranchised. I want to bring my voice. I really feel this process. I’d like everyone to step back and allow everyone in the community have a right to have a say in how the town is run and financed.
Timothy – I’d like to put forward that any sort of town meeting is automatically excluding the most vulnerable – those who can’t take off a day, those working shifts, those with mobility issues, anyone taking local transportation, people who can’t drive at night, and stamina – for a 14 hour meeting. We are excluding a large portion of the community, individuals that deserve to be heard.
Jackie R – you can change the wording from the commit to anything that you want? Can it be can aged from Oppen Town Meeting to Australian Baloot?
Liz – I don’t see why not.
Bob – this sill be a discussion for the board. Under the current charter there are four ways to amend the charter – by petition, another for the selectboard, you could do it next week!, one for RTM, and one for the Charter Commission. They want to take their recommendations and put it to the ballot, otherwise it goes to RTM. If that was the only vote, it could continue with its recommendations, but that would need the hearing process and a special RTM… it could go two different paths. We’ll need to put together a flow chart.. we did that for two proposals, but now we have a third.
Jacki – so the only way for Australian ballot is to accept it in as-is.
Bob – the selectboard could make its own recommendations.
Hannah – they can make any proposed changes.
Jacki – can they edit the recommendations and then put it to Australian ballot?
Bob – the selectboard could do it, but the board could pull their request. The first question is whether to rescind RTM.
Fric – there are close to 50 people in each district that any citizen has access to for any concerns about how things are decide at RTM. The idea that we don’t have access is a little far fetched. The commission is appointed and makes recommendations. I’d love to weigh in on many subjects in many venues – to be at the state house full time. The beauty of RTM is if what else we do is better, or a knee jerk reaction to change. before we make radical changes, appreciate what we already have. Hope people don;’t show up at a ballot box with no information.
Melle – I think all of us are used to talk about representation when it swings in our favor. About 1/10 of voters showed up at th last election. I don’t think any of us can represent we are re[presenting the people. A petition of 400 people is not a majority in town, but bigger than RTM. WE should be careful of language. It would be a disservice to change the commission’s recommendations. I have a preference for Open Town Meeting and the discussion that happens there. If you won’t come to a meeting or the ballot box, what will we do.
Degray – I became a RTM member in the 90s and felt people in town were not being represented. No one knew who I was. I want to thank the Charter Commission’s work … people have had a chance to contribute for 2.5 years. People wait until 2 outs and the bottom of the 9th. I don’t know if we’ll do Open Town Meeting or Australian Ballot, but the current meetings are working. If you haven’t gotten in touch with the committee yet, then shame on you. Town Meeting hasn’t been working for a really long time. People working on Saturdays – that’s a problem now. Same with disabilities. There are ways to work this out. We need to be careful about criticizing the review committee. I appreciate the citizen petition. Access has been open for 2.5 years. I applaud them. We don need to change the form of government to beat what’s going on right now.
Kate – we are hearing a lot of people tonight that want Australian ballot, we’ve heard every view – change RTM by fixing it, go Open Town Meeting, go Australian Ballot. People want a chance to talk to one another and want to be able to make changes to things. We’ve heard it all and are making the recommendation we are making. The Charter Changes are more than the form of government, but we’ve … read the Charter. It outlines how the town functions. We’ve tried to put a document together that makes us function is a way that is people-oriented, and I think we’re doing that.We are listening and can tell you every which way people want the town to function. It will go to a vote.
Aaron – thanks to the commission. How can you argue with one person one vote if we want the entire communities voices out there? RTM hasn’t been working, and Open Town Meeting will have issues. A ballot can be mailed to everyone in the community.
Liz – thanks for all you are doing.
Kate – look at the Charter Revision page on the town site and come to meetings.
Hinsdale Bridges Update
John Potter – earlier the board met with the Hinsdale Selectboard and you learned of the project for NH to deal with bridges over the Connecticut. Brattleboro discussed it at their meetings and you proposed a letter to the board and we sent the draft letter to the Hinsdale Board and asked if they’d like to sign on. We’ve heard that Hinsdale that they are not interested but they offered tow suggestions – either support to petition to take the bridges down, or that Brattleboro somehow acquire and manage the property. That’s where it has come back to this board – what is your pleasure?
Amanda – it was the previous selectboard…. we now have three new members. You met our other board.
Liz – that doesn’t change my request to these people…
Hinsdale Police – ongoing concerns – only 7% is in VT. The new bridge is open, but no plan for the old bridges. They were going to be repaired with a grant – there is no plan for the state to maintain those bridges after that. Someone needs to do maintenance and upkeep. Hinsdale didn’t want the liability. Unfortunately they would be dormant for an extended period – for up to two years. The structure are closed, without a feasible plan. There are issues – increased problems in the area – we have been patrolling the area and issues have escalated with lack of vehicle traffic. People are using the space dangerously and have had numerous arrests – camping, drugs, crack, fentanyl – the sidewalks are unsafe. We pushed to close the bridges to traffic. The trash is not acceptable. A group has cleaned it, but the criminal activity continues. The island could be good for recreation, but theta burden will fall on the people of Hinsdale. The level of policing would require two more officers. Even if Brattleboro. bought the bridges, they’d still be in NH and you’d pay for policing. A lot of misinformation has been put out there.
Lynch – I have a letter – dear board – I was on the bridge committee and learned renovations wouldn’t occur for two years, and then Hinsdale would have to take care of all the bad behavior. The Hinsdale police does daily walkthroughs of the island. The construction company helps while on site. There have been dog fights, drug use, and multiple incidents. An obvious uptick in the warm weather. We found a male under the bridge. He stepped out and refused to state his name. It is not legal to camp on state property. This man said he had permission from the Brattleboro Police to be there. Then he tried to run. He fell within officer’s reach. He was ID’s. He had an electric bench warrant, and had drug equipment and through zip pouch in the river. Each person causing an issue has an address in Brattleboro. This is an issue with enabling folks. It is a crime. We can keep up with policing the island. We won’t let it become what the Brattleboro Transportation Center became. It’s a serious issue and we’re overburdened. This is an issue that should have already been addressed. Selectboard member sheller – you wrote a great letter and promise of little or no cost. Hinsdale can’t do the same. It is already costing Hinsdale. And the picture shows a truck on the island where it shouldn’t be. And cleaning the island doesn’t deal with poison ivy, tents, combative people, drug activity, needles…
Isaac – is it appropriate for comments to be directed to letters of the public? It’s supposed to be to the Chair…
Oscar I agree…
Liz – just say the gentleman,,,
Lynch – I found an email. … (confusing). The town of Hinsdale will continue to try to demolish the bridge – either buy the bridge and island, or support us with removing it. WE can’t entertain any other decisions.
Liz – who would like to begin.
Oscar – I understand that your role is to advocate for your town. What we need to discuss is Brattleboro’s interest and what position we want to take. There are things I disagree with in your statement, but our job is to be a bit more big picture. This has been a ten year project. The premise that it would. be maintained has been baked in. No one here wants Hinsdale disadvantaged . I hope the result is something everyone feels good about. I feel strongly about advocating to keep the bridges open. The details of the new bridge included promises about the other bridge. I find it a bit frustrating to get to this late stage and this was foreseen . To have this at the 11th hour to hear it is a big liability and have to come down. I’ll propose that we ask town staff advocate for our position.
Amanda – I was not informed you’d be at the meeting. Thanks for the direct information. I heard some incongruities – I heard the bridge would be up for 10-20 years? I heard close to 50 years. I also wonder how quickly would you be able to get the federal jurisdiction to take them down.
Lynch – the prior board had contacted the NH commissioner agreeing the bridges should be taken down. he contacted me. All it takes is a letter from Hinsdale and Brattleboro. It goes back to NEPA, and it comes down to, gets a historic marker, and a loss of money to maintain the bridges.
Liz – Hinsdale has asked a simple question – buy it or support us. Some of us have an option that is not on the table. Hinsdale can and will act without us and it would be nice to work with them. The reasons they are hesitating are real. Other towns don’t have the problems Brattleboro has. The state of Vermont placed a thorny problem on our streets. Other towns don’t have that responsibility. I’ve been to other towns – Hinsdale, Greenwood, Bellows Falls – they do not have out problems. I feel the shock and awe that Hinsdale is experiencing when they see what we deal with on a daily basis. That’s why we can’t have nice things. I’m a NEPA expert. It will be not hard for Hisndale to make the case that the situation has changed and there are issues with what was originally proposed, and the new bridge has public access that wasn’t envisioned. It would be easy for Hinsdale to do this without our consent. I do see an opportunity to have a nice waterfront park. The presentation a few weeks ago.
Isaac – welcome to Brattleboro. Also surprised you are here. We are here to discuss a suggestion in the packet about a letter to the NH Dept of Transportation. If you declined to join us we would send the letter ourselves. there are certainly concerns about safety on the bridge and island, but one thing… when there was a lot of traffic we didn’t have these concerns. I don’t think a lot of people knowing that it is open. Once you have more people down there the crime will drop. That is an incredible resource for our community. It’s beautiful to be up on the water. A limited place to enjoy the river. Great place for a picnic. Could VT purchase this bridge? Or purchasing the island? Would it require an act of congress? It would be good to get RFP’s to see what people want to do to fulfill the vision as a pedestrian and bike bridge.
Peter – I knew you’d be here. It’s an interesting dilemma. I feel an ownership of those bridges, but we don’t own them. We can’t tell you want to do. I’d hope we could come to an arrangement to take another look at it. I like the ideas I’ve heard presented. The energy is different than the Chesterfield bridge. I am sensitive to your police budget, but my quick question is … that letter final? You won’t entertain any other ideas – a little more time?
Lynch – the Hinsdale Selectboard is pretty firm.
Peter – we have 75 of the conversation. It’s your backyard.
Oscar – makes motion that we affirm tat the bridges be restroom and kept open as described in the interstate agreements and want the Town Manager to advocate for that position, and to work for a mutually satisfactory. You have been blunt tonight. We ned to say what we want and what we will advocate with. If we say take ’em down, that will happen. By voting for this, we’ll assert what rights we have over what promises were made and have a longer conversation. A necessary step to keep open the future for the bridges.
Liz – a select person in Hinsdale a few years ago. Wanted to talk about naming the bridge. Wasn’t crazy about the name. We’re asking you but we’re telling you. You have cards and I respect that. I don’t really see where this motion would go other than being difficult.
Oscar – we can agree to disagree.
Michael F – I grew up here. I attended the earliest meetings about the bridges, in Hinsdale, From the start I proposed them to take it down. Liz encouraged me to come tonight. I can see the homeless situation. There are tents under the Chesterfield bridges. When traffic stopped, crimes would go up. The day after the clean up by volunteers, the homeless groups under there now. Isaac you said it would be nice for a picnic. There were four people lying by the bridge by the coop, and in the park across from the coop there were more people. My concern is safety and what we are hearing is it is not a safe place. Benches and pavilions out there? I know who will be sitting on them. There was a reporting in the paper that a woman had an incident on Flat street.
Amanda – madame chair are you looking at your flashing light?
Liz – I am. Wrap it up Michael.
Robert O – I want to give some points of information. I was in the picture when we helped clean up the area. The two areas I cleaned up both appeared to be washed out prior encampments. The blankets and stuff was soaked. I found one intact needle. I found pieces of other needles. On July 1, many who had hotel vouchers were put on the street. On July 2 new encampments were found by the Hinsdale PD. I saw no Trespass signage on July 3 and heard about secure wire. On the 4th an elderly man was arrested – do we know details? I saw a grocery bag. On July 8 the signs and chains were torn down. There is an overflow of people in Plaza Park. Both communities need to talk through options, with a mediator.
Liz – let’s take a break…
More
Ivan – …. collectively we have taken a place and removed all the desirable traffic and told respectable people to not be there. It is attractive to everything we claim we don’t want around. It is shocking how poorly this was managed and what the fuck did you expect to happen?
Charles – thanks for telling us your Hinsdale POV. Someone mentioned communities coming together to solve a problem. The first part of the river spells Connect… we connect over the river. Early documents say NH and VT will build a bridge over the CT river… the new bridge will serve existing traffic and the existing bridges will be repurposed to host pedestrian and bike – to reimagine our connection to one another. An advisory committee was formed to advise VT and NH, and Brattleboro and Hinsdale. To focus on the historic bridges and island and connection to the towns- look into issues, gather ideas…
Liz – I will interrupt you before Amanda does…
Charles – what happened to the plan?
Dick Degray – I applaud you for coming with a black and white proposal. I’m an advocate for taxpayers – just got a 12% increase on taxes and talking of buying property and taking it over. I don’t want to see it go through and hope you follow through and take them down. Don’t sell it to a private entity. We ahem other underutilized areas of town. Plaza Park… what’s going on there and there is a no vacancy sign there there are so many people. The money and time developing this property – it would be a new summer home for vacationers here right now. I don;t want the burden. taxes are high enough. There are enough recreational areas in town. Don’t need another one.
Claire – I can walk to the bridge from my house. When it was open I did it all the time. My understand was that the old bridge would be for pedestrians and bikes… for 10 years there was a discussion and agreement. I find it utterly disingenuous to say we have problems at this time. We’ve had problems fr a long time. We provide social services, so those people are here.
Jason – I live on Main and look at the bridges and island. The social situation has been a real struggle in town. There are encampments on the river. I see homeless encampments on wantastiquet. I’m not sure the island is a focal point. It’s just one additional point. I’m concerned – if those bridges were taken down, it would be more attractive to homeless people. The social problem is a different issue than the island as a resource. I started 15 years ago to get access to the West Rive trail – there were half a dozen homeless camps. Upon us cleaning up and making it a trail, there is no problems on that trail. It’s a great amenity. The island can be the same. Hinsdale is not the primary beneficiary. I don’t think the town could pay for it. There is enough private interest and it could be done so it would not be attractive to the current crowd. We used to walk that loop every evening. It will enhance the benefit for our town. How can we take care of Hinsdale? A private entity can make it happen, not using town resource money and not burdening Hinsdale. The bridges need renovation – and they could last 50 years due to low traffic. But it needs to not be a nuisance so everyone can take advantage of it. Let volunteer organizations take a look at this before we jump on tearing them down.
Rep Mollie B – I’m on the Transportation Committee – we used to have a grand opera house here and it was demolished. Now we think what if it were here? Once something is gone, that’s it. Once the bridges are gone, any opportunity will be gone. West Rover park used to have undesired people… now it is all families. Think broadly with some vision instead of thinking about just cutting it off.
Nelle – I’ll ask question we might not have the answers to. What is the cost? And would it add the cost of two police officers for Hinsdale? If the town wants to consider purchasing it, you need to know the initial costs and what the jurisdictional challenges would be worked out. Is Hinsdale obliged to respond?
Bob F – Hinsdale owns the island so they have jurisdiction to respond.
Nelle – if Hinsdale want to not respond, could they?
Hinsdale PO – we’d still respond.
Nelle – we’re talking about a concern for public spaces with people living rough. We’ll see those concerns until people’s needs are met. You’ll still see encampments on the banks without bridges.
Jacki – I’m hearing from the people wanting to keep the bridge, but not about the problem we have in Brattleboro that we can’t contain. If we can contain the problem in Brattleboro, and have a downtown police station hub, that would lessen the number of people going over the bridge. I kind of feel that aside from the maintenance, that would solve a good deal of Hinsdale’s problem – fewer trespassers if more tourist/shoppers are there. If they are in town they will be on the island. The protection of the police department will keep us downtown. If we have a downtown police station it would eliminate a lot of it.
Amanda – I apologize, but…
Liz – let her finish… just finish up Jacki
Jacki – if you make it more uncomfortable in town they’ll go to the island.
Lissa W – I’d like the board to vote in favor of Oscar’s motion. I understand Hinsdale’s problems. We get people from Hinsdale here. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. NH has encampments, too. The island is more of a problem because it is being closed up. It sold like they want to keep their bridge to the island and have us remove our side to the island. All the time and energy to get grants to make trails leading to this spot. It’s a great gateway to New Hampshire and would lead people over to NH. Great River Hydro owns the island, from what I understand. There is a failure of imagination. U[set to hear our Chair say such negative things about Brattleboro and we can’t have nice things? Liz – you are here to promote what might be good for Brattleboro. We have the new station opening up,
Liz – thank you Lisa.
Lissa – why can’t we work together..
Liz – I am advocating for a nice waterfront park as presented a few weeks ago.
Dave C – I agree with everything Lissa just said. I agree with Oscar and his motion. This is a complex issue… funding, policing. I want to speak to having a car free space and an attraction. What would Shelburne be without the Bridge of Flowers. This could be really beautiful if we get creative. A car-free space for children, elderly… we are inundated with cars and trucks. Great place for kids to learn to ride bikes, and there are other issues. I think there is a potential with private interests. We can form a committee to figure it all out. This would be an incredible attraction for Hinsdale and Brattleboro if we make it viable and clean. I understand the concerns and we can work together to find a solution.
Lindsay – I’m starting med school in the fall. I can’t think of a more beautiful place to raise a family. I’ll come back here. What’s the cost of the bridge. Hinsdale want to tear it down or sell it – it would be nice to know the cost. Also, could we buy the bridges and the island and take on responsibility for policing the island. And, from public health POV – this increases walking and exercise space outdoors so it is a big public health improvement as well.
Paul Belogou – owner of Whetstone – the irony is we need al participants to keep this project moving – NH needs to do repairs, that buys us 50 years of the use of bridges, need to satisfy the Hinsdale police department, and totally understand what an incredible opportunity to have those bridges and the island. It could be a destination. It can be developed in conjunction with the restauruant, We can extend onto the bridge and have tables and chairs and serve food on the bridge. We could lease the bridges and perhaps lease the island as well. We can hire a private security service to maintain order. Things go up and things go down…problems can be fixed. Losing this chance would be a massive detriment for Brattleboro, and if we work together we can make it happen.
Liz – set the timer to 2 minutes for the rest…
Susan – I’d like to suggest Oscar amend the motion to make it private individuals rather than Town staff and Town manager to investigate making the spaces more usable. Staff already has tons to do and are short significant personnel, and there is private interest that can move this along.
Oscar – I hear you, but no..
Stae Sen. Wendy H – the build grant funded all three bridges – the new and restoring the old ones. NH has the grant and VT is party to it. $10 million for 50 years. I’ll advocate for the town of Brattleboro with the State of Brattleboro to get the renovation started sooner. I din’t hear about the 2 year wait until tonight. I think we can be deliberate about how the police work with each other. There are some other possibilities. NH training so the Brat team could be a part of it, private sector folks, downtown merchants are split on it. We need to see what the options are. And the town manager can incorporate private individuals.
Gemma S – I’ve been car free for 4 years in town. The plan for the new bridge always kept the old bridges in there to allow the new bridge to be built. NH tricked us into thinking we’d have the access. Brattleboro should leave it to Hinsdale. We should do nothing and let it remain Hinsdale’s problem, or NH cedes that land to VT and we get to do what we want with it. The $10million for renovations will never be spent. They were not designed for pedestrians. The money would be better spent demolishing them.
Liz – ready to vote?
Oscar – I move we affirm the official position be that the bridges be restored and kept open as described in the previous applications and agreements and have Brattleboro advocate for that position, etc.
John Potter – I understand that. If we don’t bring something to the table… no resources, it is a long shot.
Oscar – I disagree – for the last 6 months-ish that Brattleboro has not taken an official position. And things have just been happening. I’ve been told Vtrans thinks we Dion’t care so they don’t have an interest. This is just saying is that this is what we want to happen, and we have a position to talk about. This accomplishes what we are looking for.
Liz – It doesn’t answer Hinsdale’s questions.
Oscar – that’s not on our agenda today.
Liz – and the financial problems?
Oscar – if we take no position or say take it down, the bridges come down. If we take this position, we have options.
Peter – as someone who attended that meeting with Hinsdale. The gentleman from the state of NH, every few minutes – after refurb it becomes a low priority. Someone will be saddled with the cost. I appreciate the motion. I don’t like that it puts our town and staff in this position. It’s not our bridge. It’s not our bridge. I’m a bike guy. But I’m realistic. It is NH’s property. I feel as though the bridge is our property – we look at it. If this all works out, we reap the reward while it still costs Hinsdale money. I want your idea but it is just not our bridge. This puts us in an uncomfortable position with our neighbors Hinsdale.
Amanda – what I care about is economic development. I see incredible possibilities for NH and VT in this area. You have George’s field, and 100 condos with Paul Belgour. Future tax revenue – these are real possibilities. I hears the immediate dire issues, but want to envision a better future. I don’t think it is prudent tot throw this out, We want to work with you to solve this problem. We have two great communities. Let’s work together.
Isaac – I think we should vote on the motion.
Degray – is there a precedent in the state for us to buy a parcel from another state? Anything that allows this? There are implications to that.
Liz – act of congress?
Bob F – didn’t Killington try to buy some land in NH? I’d have to research it..
Oscar – the motion says nothing of purchasing it…
Liz – you aren’t really answering their question…
Amanda – Peter Welch is aware of this and it might not be so difficult.
3-1-1 in favor of affirming an official position that the old bridges be restored and kept open… (Liz no and Peter abstains)
This item was supposed to be done by 7:35 pm. It is 9:20pm.
They have a few other items – tax rate, awarding a bid, hearing a budget update, and helping people stay cool. I’m calling it quits, though. : )