Selectboard Meeting Notes: Our Town Finalists On Hold, Library Hours Restored, Businesses Fined

Artists wondering if they are finalists in the Our Town selection process will be waiting one more week for the final decision of the board, pending the review of one more legit-but-overlooked proposal. The Brattleboro Selectboard will approve the list of finalists at a meeting next week.

Instead, the board was given an overview of the selection process thus far, and a glimpse of the work of the Screening Committee. They approved the Brooks Memorial Library Trustees request to restore lost library hours on Thursdays and Saturdays, approved of a plan to fine local businesses, and accepted what is likely to be the last in a series of radiologically-related grants funded by Entergy.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 4, 2015

The NEA Our Town Grant Screening Committee has chosen finalists, and their list of screened proposals will be reviewed and approved by the by Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting, enabling the project to move to the next phase.

Brooks Memorial Library hours will be restored on Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons, the board will accept a grant, and allow the Assessors to fine more local businesses. You can bring up other items that aren’t on the agenda during Public Participation.


Cannabis Legalization Talk Set for Monday

From the Brattleboro Reformer-

“BRATTLEBORO >> A citizens’ group that is trying to develop a statewide strategic plan for the legalization of cannabis will hold its first public meeting in Brattleboro next week.

The Vermont Cannabis Collaborative, or VTCC, plans to hold a series of public forums around the state as it prepares to issue a report on cannabis legalization in time for the upcoming Legislative session.

The group will host a meeting Monday, July 27, at 5 p.m. at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden at 157 Main St.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 21, 2015

The Brattleboro Selectboard will discuss next steps for the Police-Fire facility project at their next regular Tuesday meeting at the Municipal Center.

They’ll appoint a screening committee for the NEA Our Town project, accept a number of grants for projects and purchases, continue with retaining wall repairs, and more.

Note: I’m unable to cover this meeting. If anyone cares to step up and write up a few notes from this meeting for others, in any style or format, it would be greatly appreciated.


Longtime Library Director Announces Retirement – Brattleboro’s Public Library to Seek New Leader

Brattleboro VT – The Brattleboro Town Manager and the Brooks Memorial Library Board of Trustees jointly announced today that Jerry Carbone, Library Director of Brooks Memorial Library, has submitted a letter of intention to retire in December 2015.

Carbone, 64, will be stepping down after 37 years at the venerable institution, 22 as director. He is the 13th library professional to hold the post at the library that bears the name of George J. Brooks, who built and gave the original library building to the citizens of his adopted town.


Power Outage in Brattleboro

We just had a nice four hour break from electricity here at headquarters on Cedar Street. Very peaceful, except for the generator running the entire time at a nearby property.

Looks like lots of people were taken offline:

A tree fell on a line snapping wires & poles in Brattleboro. Crews making repairs for 4500 out. Eta by 11:30 pm.” say GMP.


2015 Notice to Brattleboro Taxpayers

Notice to Taxpayers

The taxpayers of the Town of Brattleboro are hereby notified and warned that Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes assessed upon the Grand List of 2015 are now due and payable to the Town Treasurer at the Treasurer’s Office in the Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro, Vermont, in four equal installments as follows:

1st Installment due August 17, 2015
2nd Installment due November 16, 2015
3rd Installment due February 16, 2016
4th Installment due May 16, 2016


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Taxes, Trash, Tunnels, and Traffic

The Brattleboro Selectboard heard a range of reports at their first regular meeting of July, from preliminary experiences regarding Pay As You Throw, to the work of our designated downtown organization.

Brattleboro’s new tax rate was set, financing for recent vehicle purchases was approved, the formation of the Our Town Steering Committee was postponed to the next meeting, community members were appointed to a variety of other committees, and more.


Town of Brattleboro Approves $27,000 to Support Apartments In Homes

BRATTLEBORO – On May 19th, the Brattleboro Selectboard approved $27,000 for use over the next three years by the Apartments in Homes (AIH) program, an initiative of Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing (BAAH). The funds will be used to create nine new apartments in single family homes in Brattleboro by providing grants of up to $4,000 ($3,000 per unit from the Town and $1,000 from BAAH) to assist with the cost of constructing a separate living unit within their home.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 7, 2015

At their first regular meetiing in July, the Brattleboro Selectboard will hear from the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, (formerly the Downtown Alliance, formerly Building a Better Brattleboro,) about their plans for a proposed park in Harmony Lot.

The board will also set the tax rate for FY16 property taxes, appoint the Our Town phase III screening committee, get an update on Pay As You Throw, have a discussion about “Entergy money,” and more. You can attend in person or watch on BCTV. You can also bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Next West Brattelboro Association Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, July 9

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held at the New England House
(restaurant), 254 Marlboro Road, on Thursday, July 9th at 6:00 PM. After a review of the treasury report, the WBA will tackle organizational issues such as progress toward making the group officially non-profit.  There will also be discussion regarding notification to abutters when public hearings affect property owned by a co-operative or collective.  The group will also take up the idea of forming a West B Welcoming Program. Another topic will be how best to recognize beautification efforts.