Brattleboro Representative Town Mtg Ride?
I need a ride to the Representative Town mtg on March 12th. I live in District 3. Contact: newjerseyred@gmail.com.
News & Information
News and information sections, from near to far
Help A New Town Meeting Rep Decide How To Vote?
Hey folks,
So the elected district 1 reps were kind enough make me to be a town meeting rep, despite arriving at the last moment.
I came into the meeting tonight supportive of moving the police department to the reformer building though extremely concerned about the financial considerations. During the course of the meeting I rediscovered that I am rather nervous public speaker but more importantly I now have doubts such that I am unsure of how to cast my vote at the next meeting.
Notes From The Senate – S.241 Marijuana Legalization and Regulation
Last week the Senate voted to pass a bill that would allow legalization and regulation of marijuana. It will be posted on the Legislative website by the end of the week. It is S.241 as passed by the Senate. Here are some of the reasons I sponsored and voted for the bill, and some of the highlights – what it is and what it isn’t.
For many years I have felt that our policy of prohibition has not worked – not for youth, for law enforcement and not for the citizens who have become criminals because of it. In 2014 the Rand group was commissioned to report on the potential for legalization in Vermont. In 2015 the Government Operations committee, which I chair, took testimony on the report and how it should be done in Vermont if it was to be done. We heard from everyone who had something to say – no one was denied a voice. From those hearings, Senator Benning (who is also on the committee) and I cosponsored S241. In January 2016 it went to the Judiciary Committee where testimony was taken. At the beginning of the session, Senator Sears, Chair, stated that there was no way he would vote for legalization. After hearing all the testimony and the facts, he changed his mind and became a strong supporter of legalization and regulation. As happens with all bills, it is different than it was as introduced.
BS&L Blog
Hi there! We at BS&L are refreshing our blog, beginning with a good piece on a mail scam that a few of our customers have fallen victim to. Please take a moment and read:
Upper Dummerston Road Open Tuesday
Due to permitting restrictions associated with Town Meeting Day, we will not be closing Upper Dummerston today to erect bridge girders. Tomorrow’s forecasted weather will likely restrict this work as well. It is anticipated that the next closure of Upper Dummerston will be Thursday.
Caleb Linn, P.E.
Project Manager
PCL Civil Constructors, Inc.
Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of February 28
Brattleboro Time Trade: Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time. See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade can do for you!
How Time Trade Works: You do something for someone and earn time credits for your “bank,” which you can then put towards someone else doing something for you! It’s that simple – and amazing!
This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from the arctic depths:
Now anyone can see a listing of all our Offers and Requests: https://brattleboro.timebanks.org/ads?type=1
OFFERS (i.e. things people could do for you):
Vegan Raw Cookbook
Genealogy Tutoring/Mentoring
Carfax Reports (to Use When Buying a Used Car)
Horse-keeping and Training
Garden designGlorious Gardens of Vermont
Upper Dummerston Road Closures: Mon, Tues, and One More Day This Coming Week
The project team is now planning to close Upper Dummerston Road from 7:00 am-5:00 pm on Monday 2/29, and from 7:00 am to 5:00 PM Tuesday, 3/1 for beam erection.
At approx. 9:00 am on Monday, 2/29, two tractor trailer loads are scheduled to come from I-91 Exit 3 south on Putney Road around the Retreat Park to VT 30 and then to Upper Dummerston Road. This is may cause some minor delays in the downtown area. The remaining loads are expected to come from US RT 7 and VT RT 30 to Upper Dummerston Road, thereby avoiding downtown Brattleboro.
A total of three work days with Upper Dummerston Road closed are needed this coming week to complete the work.
This work will be rescheduled if there is any precipitation or adverse road conditions.
I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of February 28
I-91
To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Sunday, February 28, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open.
Sunday afternoon closures of the Exit 3 on ramps will continue each weekend through the end of the ski season.
Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.
Correction
The risk of talking publicly before you have all the facts. Apologies for jumping to conclusions about Sen. Balint’s vote. She supported final Senate passage.
Upper Dummerston Road Closure Friday
Upper Dummerston Road Closure tomorrow (Friday) 7:00AM to 5:00PM for Beam Erection.
Upper Dummerston Road will be closed for two more days, perhaps starting Monday, if weather permits.
Cindy Cook
Principal, Adamant Accord, Inc.
Past Vice President, Association for Conflict Resolution
S. 241 First Senate Vote
Windham County voters- Please look up the first vote on Wed by the Senate on S.241, the marijuana legalization bill. Our Senator, Becca Balint, voted against it. Jeanette White voted in favor and she has championed this bill from the start. We need to remember this at election time
Brattleboro Rain Storm Damage
The section of Black Mountain Road that is between Kipling Road and Dickenson Road is closed and will remain closed until further notice. That section was damaged during last night’s storm and the damage worsened significantly this morning. State and Town personnel are assessing the extent of the damage and will develop a plan for addressing it. In the meantime, all Black Mountain Road traffic will use Kipling Road and Dickenson Road as a short detour around the closed area.
While the very heavy rain and wind last night kept Fire Department and DPW crews busy throughout the night, all other damage to public infrastructure was minor.
Vermont Senate Update- Marijauna Vote Today
Dear Friends,
I have been working on reforming our cannabis laws for over a decade, including leading the efforts to allow its use for medical purposes. Today S.241, “An act relating to personal possession and cultivation of cannabis and the regulation of commercial cannabis establishments,” heads to the Senate floor for debate and a vote.
This bill has passed through many senate committees and been amended many times. While it may not completely represent our goals for cannabis reform it represents a huge shift from no regulation to a regulated and managed product.
Several amendments will be offered today as the bill is debated on the Senate floor. I will be offering one, co-sponsored by Senator Rogers, which would allow for individuals to cultivate for personal use.
Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office Closed March 1
The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be closed Tuesday, March 1 for elections. Elections will be held in the Selectboard Meeting Room of the Municipal Center. Polling hours are 7 am – 7 pm.
Annette L. Cappy
Brattleboro Town Clerk
230 Main Street, Suite 108
Brattleboro. VT 05301
acappy@brattleboro.org
ph 802-251-8129
fax 802-257-2312
Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Selectboard Candidates’ Forum 2016
In lieu of notes, please see the BCTV video link to the Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Selectboard Forum held Feb 12, 2016 and related media coverage, .
Upper Dummerston Road Closings
The project team is planning to close Upper Dummerston Road tomorrow morning, February 22 at 8:00 am. Due to the weather that may be coming tomorrow night and lasting through Thursday, we MAY open the Upper Dummerston Road tomorrow night and then close it again for a day or two when we can resume erection later this week or early next week. We will keep you posted as plans develop.
Cindy Cook
Principal, Adamant Accord, Inc.
Past Vice President, Association for Conflict Resolution
Police/Fire Project
Town Meeting Members will be asked to vote on a question that asks if they are willing to spend $4,500,000 on the relocation of the police station to Black Mountain Road. The vote will in fact authorize the spending of about $13,000,000 above the five million dollar loan already taken out.
The actual loan, which will include work on the West B. fire station, is in fact anticipated to be $7,760,000. Interest on the loan, for a twenty year option, is an additional $2,740,000. What is not calculated into the final figure is the cost of having the station on the far north end of town. Nearly all the police business and activity occurs in the central, south and west end of town. Not surprising. There is almost no residential population at all in the north end.
Consequent to that location it is therefore necessary for every town vehicle that either originates from or is destined to the police station (every cop on duty, every administrator going to a meeting from or to there, every DPW trip etc etc) is traveling four extra miles and ten minutes every roundtrip. Take out a pencil and paper.
I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of February 21
I-91
To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Sunday, February 21, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open.
Sunday afternoon closures of the Exit 3 on ramps will continue each weekend through the end of the ski season.
Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.
Brattleboro Committee Meetings and Agendas
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Monday, February 22, 2016, at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.
The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, February 22, 2016, at 5:30pm at Brooks Memorial Library in the community room.
The Brattleboro Regional Economic Hub Study Group will meet on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.
Selectboard Meeting Notes: Brattleboro Skatepark Grant and VY Decommissioning Schedule
Our local skatepark project got a boost with approval of a $230,000 grant application by the Brattleboro Selectboard at Tuesday’s meeting. If granted, the money will be used for design and construction of the skatepark at Living Memorial Park.
Emergency plans for Vermont Yankee are set to change as the storage situation in Vernon evolves. Maybe. The board also delat with annual approvals of liquor licenses, a Grand List certification, parade permits, and the adoption of a new ordinance for pets.
