Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 19, 2013

Brattleboro’s historic train station is up for discussion again at the next Brattleboro Selectboard meeting. Fulcrum Arts has abandoned their plans for the space, taking the board back to planning how best to use the building.

The Brooks House team is expected to ask the board for a tax stabilization agreement, the board will consider the nearly $5 million FY14 Utilities budget which includes an over-$635,000 deficit There will also be multiple grants from Homeland Security for more training and equipment, annual liquor and tobacco licenses will be renewed and more.

You can watch it all on TV or attend in person at the Municipal Center on Main Street. If you do go, you can bring up other issues not on the agenda during Public Participation and speak to anything on the agenda.


Ask-a-Cop – Reporting Domestic Abuse

Welcome back to “Ask-a-Cop.” This is an official question and answer feature on ibrattleboro set up a few years ago. It is written by a Brattleboro police sergeant and all answers are approved by Chief Wrinn before posting. We haven’t had questions in a while but got this one the other day.

If you have a question for Ask-a-Cop, please email it to and put “Ask-a-Cop” in the subject line.

“If I’m aware of domestic abuse problems with another couple, am I required to report it? How can I tell if it is worth reporting?”


Curbside Compost – 500th Participant!

Jon Evans, Akley Rd. resident, was the 500th person to sign up for Curbside Compost!  Jon was awarded a year’s supply of GLAD compostable bags! 

Jon writes, 

“Thank you so much for the (year’s supply of GLAD compostable bags)! I am truly looking forward to participating in this composting project!  I will be looking forward to the email (saying) that I can come and get the container …  I will be sharing this project with everyone I know in town!”


Public Talk – Introduction to Psychosynthesis

There will be an introduction to psychosynthesis on the evening of Wednesday, March 27th, at 6:30 p.m. in Brattleboro. The program includes a brief presentation on the principles of psychosynthesis, along with some experiential exercises and an overview of training opportunities in the field.

Psychosynthesis literally refers to the synthesis of the many aspects of the self into a more complete and whole experience of being. Developed by Dr. Roberto Assagioli, a contemporary of Carl Jung, psychosynthesis is used in the fields of counseling, mental health, social work, education and other related fields of human development.


Registration is Open for Third Annual Tour de Heifer — Sunday, June 9

BRATTLEBORO, VT — The third annual Tour de Heifer — a trio of scenic farm-to-farm rides — will again challenge dirt-road cyclists on Sunday, June 9.

The Tour, organized by Strolling of the Heifers and taking place on Stroll Weekend, will include 15-mile, 30-mile and 60 mile options.

The longer routes are designed for seasoned riders: there’s an elevation gain of nearly 4,200 feet on the 60-mile route, and 2,100 feet on the 30-miler. The 15-mile route is a challenging one for beginner riders, with nearly 1,400 feet of elevation gain.


Beverage Service Training for Store Clerks, Cashiers, Restaurants, Clubs and Hotels Who Sell & Serve Alcohol & Tobacco

Beverage Service Trainings at the Marlboro College Graduate Center on Wednesday, March 13th and Thursday, March 14th. All employees who sell or serve liquor are required to be receive training every two years. Statistics show that employees who receive their required training directly from the DLC, rather than in-house, are less likely to fail a compliance check for selling tobacco or alcohol to minors.  The training is free and no registration is required, however, late attendees will not be admitted. 


Brattleboro Committee Vacancies

Several Brattleboro committees are looking for volunteers to serve. Following are committees with vacancies:

  • Agricultural Advisory Board
  • Arts Committee
  • BASIC (Brattleboro Area Skatepark is Coming)
  • CPCC (Citizen Police Communications Committee)
  • Conservation Commission

Brattleboro Committee Meetings Scheduled

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Police Fire Facility Project Manager

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 5:30pm at Academy School on Western Avenue in West Brattleboro in the gymnasium. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:30pm and reconvene the public meeting thereafter.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100


Farmers’ Market Seeks New Members

The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market is looking for applications from people who grow and/or create their own high-quality products, especially those working with local ingredients/materials, to bring variety to the Market’s offerings.

You must and reside and produce in Windham or Cheshire
Counties..

The Farmer’s Market is not-for-profit, membership organization located on Route 9  on Saturdays  for 26
consecutive weeks, May through October, 9am – 2pm. The Wednesday Market runs 20 consecutive weeks, June through October, 10am – 2pm.


AOT Putney Road Meeting Corrected Time

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that the AOT Meeting on the Putney Road redevelopment was erroneously listed as being tonight, March 6. It is, in fact, Thursday March 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

Thank you.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Compost Carts Coming, Sunday Parking Fee Idea Fizzles

The Selectboard completed this week’s business in near record time for a regular Tuesday evening meeting, ending the meeting just over an hour after it began.

A streamlined FY14 Parking Budget was approved, despite a less than glowing characterization as “an absence of failure” by town staff. Curbside compost carts are being purchased, the library is getting a new videoconferencing system, and the Town is going to refinance the Honeywell Project to realize savings with new, lower interest rates.

Pleas for fees for Sunday parking went unanswered, and the logic of sidewalk repairs was explained. Read on for all the Election eve Selectboard meeting excitement.

 


Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast – Home Energy Challenge – Invitation (RSVP)

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast – Home Energy Challenge

The next “Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast” will take place on Friday, March 15, 2013 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

Tad Montgomery will present on the Home Energy Challenge. For those that don’t know: The state of Vermont has set a goal of using 90% renewable energy by 2050, and a big part of the plan to achieve this involves conservation. The Home Energy Challenge is a new initiative this year to get homeowners to undertake substantial energy retrofits and cut their heating bills by 20-50% or even more.

Please do not hesitate to pass along this invitation to others who might be interested, but:


O’Connor, Allen, and Schoales Elected To Selectboard

In what some might term a win for the Old Guard, Kate O’Connor, John Allen, and David Schoales were elected to the Brattleboro Selectboard today.  O’Connor easily defeated Spoon Agave for the 3 year seat by a vote of 985 to 664. Allen was the highest vote getter for the 1 year Selectboard seat with 710 votes.  Schoales garnered 580 points, narrowly defeating Ian Kiehle who had 564.  

Kate O’Connor is daughter of former Selectperson Martha O’Connor who left the Selectboard in 2011.  John Allen served with Martha O’Connor during his time on the Selectboard but lost to Daryl Pillsbury and Jesse Corum in 2010.  


Neighborhood Potluck Frost, Elm, Elliot

Neighborhood Potluck – Free

What does this neighborhood mean to you?

Sunday, March 10, 5:00-7:00 pm at Elliot St Café, corner Elm and Elliot, 134 Elliot St.

Join your neighbors for a potluck and discussion to create a vision for this neighborhood.


Putney Road Project Public Hearing Scheduled

On March 7, 2013 at 6:00pm at the Brattleboro Municipal Center in the Selectboard Meeting Room Vermont Agency of Transportation will hold a Section 502 Public Hearing to review plans for improvements to Route 5 (Putney Road) from the Veterans Bridget to the Exit 3 Round-about.  

This project calls for a reconstruction of the roadway with construction of four roundabouts, retainage walls, landscaping, and sidewalks.  This is a major infrastructure project.  The Section 502 Hearing is the public’s opportunity to review, ask questions, and provide feedback on this project.   While construction is still several years off, this is the time for citizens to provide input into final design.  



Brattleboro Committee Meetings and Important Public Meetings Scheduled

The Brattleboro Agriculture Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:00am at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in the VCIL conference room.

Additional Public Meetings and Hearings:


Brattleboro Selectboard Agendas and Notes – March 5 and March7 , 2013

The Selectboard will be given a recommendation for hiring a Police-Fire Project Manager at their next regular Tuesday evening meeting. They will also select a project manager for the downtown sidewalk repair project.

There will be discussion of the FY14 Parking Budget, consideration of a videoconferencing system for the library, the purchase compost carts for the new composting pickup program,  Honeywell lease financing and more.

Catch it all on TV or in person at the Municipal Center on Main Street. You can bring up other issues not on the agenda during Public Participation, too.