News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Brattleboro Planning Commission Meeting: December 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

by planning | Town Plan

Guest: Dan Tyler, Public Works Director
• Discuss water and sewer mapping to understand constraints.
• Review and approve, if ready, proposed changes to the Land Use Regulations to bring areas with water and sewer into compliance with State statute.
• Discuss options for requiring sewer service area extensions/expansions to be supported by the Town Plan and applicable planning bylaws. Potentially approve one option to recommend to DPW and Selectboard.

Brattleboro Thanksgiving Closings

by Not Signed In | Town News

In Observance of Thanksgiving all Town Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28, 2024, and Friday, November 29, 2024, with the exception of emergency services.

Brooks Memorial Library will close at 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. They will be closed on Thursday, November 28, 2024 and open on Friday, November 29, 2024 from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Families First Giving Tuesday Fundraiser Auction

by LauraChapman | Other

Families First in Southern Vermont is a nonprofit organization that supports close to one hundred adults and youth with developmental disabilities to live their best lives. We recently bought and moved into the historic Bordertown Farm in Brattleboro. The campus now holds our programming, service coordination, nurses, administrative offices, and Banyan House, our residential program for DCF-engaged youth.

Unfortunately, the building flooded shortly after we moved in, damaging our programming spaces and offices and displacing us for months. We’re currently making repairs. While making these repairs, we discovered the need to upgrade our heating and cooling system. To help with these costs and support our ongoing programming needs, we’re holding a Giving Tuesday Auction Fundraiser that will end on Dec. 3rd, 2024.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Contract With Casella Adds Costs- Staff Told To Cut Costs

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard nov 17 2024

After much discussion, the Brattleboro Selectboard chose the only serious solid waste option presented to them: to have a 5 year contract with Casella to haul trash, recycling and compost for the Town. This decision added a significant amount to the budget and to Brattleboro property taxes.

The board told Town staff that the budget was too large now that the costs of their decisions this year have been factored in and asked to see a version reduced by 10%. This punted any significant FY26 decision-making away from the board until mid December.

Just about everyone had complaints for the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust and their planned “Chalet” development of affordable housing units.

Revised October 20, 2024 Brattleboro DRB Agenda

by bbannon@brattleboro.org | Town Plan

2024-84                BEEC & Earth Bridge Community Land Trust; Rural District; request for Site Plan & Local Act 250 Approval to construct a parking lot at 1219 Bonnyvale Road; Tax Map Parcel #100248.000 Continued from the meeting of October 16, 2024 Request to dismiss without prejudice.

2024-121              North Chair Brewing, LLC; Mixed Use District; request for Site Plan Approval to modify condition 16 of decision 201826 to allow outdoor consumption at 39 Frost Street; Tax Map Parcel #325045.000

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – November 19, 2024

by cgrotke | Town News

At their Tuesday evening regular meeting, Brattleboro Selectboard will make a solid waste decision. The board will choose the number 2 option, suggested by Town staff, and the costs associated will be officially dumped into the FY26 budget under review.

Review of FY26 budget open house feedback and budget alternatives will discussed. The board will also hear about the West Brattleboro (Dalem’s) Chalet Project from the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, will announce committee vacancies.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Winter Parking Ban

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Parking Department would like to advise everyone that the winter parking ban will go into effect, starting Friday, November 15, 2024. Overnight parking is forbidden on all streets in the town of Brattleboro. Vehicles parked for longer than one (1) hour between 11:00pm and 07:00am may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. 

THIS BAN IS IN EFFECT EVEN IF THERE IS NO SNOW ON TOWN STREETS. 

Reminder: District 9 (old 3) Forum

by fidel | Town News

Expanding on a practice of the last several years, Bob Oeser and David Levenbach have planned to host two forums for District 9 (formerly District 3) residents, the first once the Town Manager has issued a budget proposal for consideration by the Selectboard and the second shortly before Representative Town Meeting after the Selectboard has approved a recommended budget and the other warned items are known.

Town Manager Potter discussed the Administration’s “base budget” proposal at the Nov 5 Selectboard meeting (a base budget involves no new services and no new staff positions but does include normal adjustments for inflation, contract obligations for unionized employees, capital expenditures for equipment and projects, and lesser things). Funding that proposal would necessitate a 14% increase in property taxes. This base budget did not include municipal expenses associated with the new waste management program, an issue still to be resolved, but the Selectboard told Administration that it wanted the most costly possible outcome (to the tune of $1.4 million) included in the base budget. That would mean potentially a 22% increase in property taxes.

Brattleboro Parking Rates Increase, No Free Parking On Sundays

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro will be transitioning to a new parking system beginning November 21, 2024, marking a significant shift in how parking is managed. Key features include:

–  A Pay by Plate system, eliminating the former Pay and Display method
– The removal of all on-street parking meters
– The installation of parking kiosks throughout the downtown area
– A Pay by Text option, in addition to the existing mobile app
– New signage throughout town that will display instructions, including how to use the app and text service

Melchen Road Closure

by Not Signed In | Town News

On Monday November 18th, Green Mountain Power will be relocating an overhead power line to be buried under Melchen Road. Crews will start at the top of Melchen Road and work their way down towards Hinesburg Road. A full closure is expected within their working area from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday the 18th through Friday the 22nd. Residents should plan accordingly and seek alternate routes. Emergency services are aware of this closure and will implement a plan to continue to provide any services needed beyond this closure.

Brattleboro Brush Fire on Kelly Road Contained

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

Crews were dispatched to 671 Kelly Road in Brattleboro at 07:37 on Nov. 13, 2024, for a reported brush fire. On arrival, crews reported approximately 5 acres burning.

The fire has since been contained, and crews will be on the scene for an extended period of time to extinguish the blaze. Fire Department crews from Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, Newbrook, along with the Brattleboro Department of Public Works, are on the scene. Keene is providing coverage for the Brattleboro Central Station.

Brattleboro Road Closure Notice for Canal Street on November 12, 2024

by Not Signed In | Town News

Brattleboro, VT — The southbound lane of Canal Street will be closed from South Main Street to Elm Street on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, from 09:30 to 12:30. The closure will facilitate ongoing debris removal following the recent fire at 45 Canal Street. Demolition crews will be on-site throughout the day to safely clear the affected area which could create traffic delays in the area.

Southbound traffic on Canal Street will be detoured via Flat & Elm Streets or South Main & Washington Streets. The northbound lane will remain open, but drivers should anticipate periodic delays to accommodate trucks and equipment entering and exiting the site.

Brush Fire Contained, State’s Burn Ban Extended to Nov. 18

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

On Friday, November 8, Station Two was dispatched at 14:34 hours to the area of 357 Melchen Road for a reported power line down. Engine 1 arrived in the area to report a power line down in the woods with a brush fire. Crews reported 1-2 acres burning and requested to upgrade to a first alarm. The fire spread quickly due to high winds, and the incident was upgraded to three alarms.

The response involved all Brattleboro Fire units and staff, as well as personnel, brush trucks, all-terrain vehicles, and tankers from neighboring departments, including from Guilford, Dummerston, Putney, Westminster, Halifax, Newbrook, Townshend, Wilmington, Keene, Spofford, Walpole, Chesterfield, Westmoreland, North Walpole, Swanzey, and Greenfield. Chesterfield, Walpole, Westminster, and Cheshire EMS provided coverage for the Brattleboro stations.

Brattleboro Road Closure Notice for Canal Street on November 11, 2024

by Not Signed In | Town News

Brattleboro, VT — The southbound lane of Canal Street will be closed from South Main Street to Elm Street on Monday, November 11, 2024, due to ongoing debris removal following the recent fire at 45 Canal Street. Demolition crews will be on-site throughout most of the day to safely clear the affected area.

Southbound traffic on Canal Street will be detoured via Flat & Elm Streets or South Main & Washington Streets. The northbound lane will remain open, but drivers should anticipate periodic delays to accommodate trucks and equipment entering and exiting the site.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda and Notes – November 12, 2024

by cgrotke | Town News

As the budget process gets going, Town staff will ask the Brattleboro Selectboard to approve a $700,000 police substation at a special meeting on November 12.  The board will also be asked to put the Esteyville Gazebo project out to bid, and will tinker with the Parking Ordinance.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Road Closure Notice for Canal Street on November 8, 2024

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

Brattleboro, VT —Canal Street will be closed from South Main Street to Elm Street on Friday, November 8, 2024, due to ongoing emergency services operations and debris removal following the recent fire at 45 Canal Street. Demolition crews will be on-site throughout most of the day to safely clear the affected area.

Southbound traffic on Canal Street will be detoured via Flat & Elm Streets or South Main & Washington Streets. The northbound lane will be detoured down Elm St and onto Flat St, but drivers should anticipate periodic delays to accommodate trucks and equipment entering and exiting the site.