For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
Agenda
A. Introductions and announcements
B. Approve minutes
C. Election of New Chair
D. Continue planning and set budget review schedule
E. Review Draft of Budget Intro document
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 5:00pm at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). The Board will convene at 5:00pm and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee.
Promotion of Brattleboro was a primary topic at the regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard Tuesday. Blue Whale Public Relations had some typical Zoom-related delays but otherwise gave a solid report on their early efforts to reach out to the media.
Hybrid meetings will continue for a while longer, favorable financing for the water treatment facility was announced, new stop signs are official, and Union Station might be sold for a dollar in order to save as much as $100,000.
In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, October 11, 2021, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, October 10 and 11, 2021. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday, October 10 and 11, 2021.
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee is accepting applications for FY23 Human Services Funding. The Application, as well as Instructions and Guidelines, are posted on the Brattleboro Town website – www.brattleboro.org. The deadline to submit applications to the Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office via e-mail is Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 5:00pm.
A look at how Brattleboro’s annual town meeting is planned and put together each year, with guests Peter Elwell and Bob Fisher, sponsored by the Brattleboro RTM Steering Committee
Wednesday October 13, 2021 from 6:00 until 7:30pm
Hybrid meeting in-person in the Select Board meeting room and on Zoom at
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, October 4, 2021 at 2:30pm at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). The Board will convene at 2:30pm and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer.
The Board will reconvene after the executive session and immediately adjourn. No action will be taken.
Agenda items:
Approve minutes
Public participation
Planting sites
Fall Maintenance
Agenda
• Call to order
• Agenda review
• Announcements
• Review and improve report for the Steering Committee on our sub-committee work to this point.
The continuing thread for the little things that are worthy of noting, but maybe not worth writing a full paragraph to explain. What have you noticed around Brattleboro this fall?
Construction at Amy’s – the former bakery space is getting a makeover.
The following dates have been scheduled for Brattleboro’s curbside Fall Leaf Collection. All locations will be picked up each Friday:
Leaf Pick Up Date
ALL RESIDENTS Friday, October 22, 2021
ALL RESIDENTS Friday, November 5, 2021
Questions for Peter Elwell, Bob Fisher, and Lawrin Crispe for 10/13/21 Meeting 6-7:30pm (allcounted.com)
The elected district represenatives of Brattleboro’s Steering Committee members are asking the municipal manager, lawyer, and moderator about the annual representative municipal meeting. Which of the following questions do you prioritize our collective hour and half of time together being focused on?
BRATTLEBORO, VT—As the third and final phase of Groundworks Collaborative’s South Main Street capital project, the former Groundworks Drop-In Center at 60 South Main Street will be deconstructed this fall in preparation for the construction of a new building in its place. The design will allow for adequate space for Groundworks’ growing program staff, many of whom have worked without offices since the start of the pandemic.
The new 60 South Main Street building will be home to Groundworks’ Case Management team, Representative Payee program, and the team of embedded providers from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the Brattleboro Retreat, and HCRS—known as Healthworks.
The Brattleboro Citizens Police Communication Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, September 27, 2021 at 5:30pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Main Reading Room.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at 1:00pm in the Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).
Utilities Division crews will start Fall Flushing of the Town water mains on Thursday September 23, 2021, at 10:00 p.m. and continue through Saturday October 9, 2021.
Some users have recently noticed discoloration of their water. Unprecedented rainfall has added color from dissolved organics in the source water. Additional organics accumulated in the distribution system is the cause of the discoloration. The water is safe to drink. Public Works tests the water throughout the distribution system daily. Flushing the water mains will improve the situation. Brattleboro is currently constructing a new water treatment facility which will improve our ability to treat the water supply during unusual conditions in the future.
The Brattleboro Selectboard met on the last evening of summer, and heard big news. Steve Barrett, long-time employee of the Town, will be retiring and Dan Tyler will be taking his place. The switch happens in December.
There was discussion of racism in the community, COVID safety at the Stone Church, stormwater plans, designs for and objections to a new bridge on Western Ave, and more.
A new bridge near Melrose Street will be one focus of attention for the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next meeting. VTrans reps will be on hand to explain the details and answer questions.
The board will also hear more about the creation of a stormwater utility and master plan for the town, will renegotiate tax payments for the Retreat, explore grants for a health program and for a water and sewer capacity study, and more. You can always bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Agenda (start time / minutes)
• Call to order (6:00 / 2)
• Agenda review (6:02 / 5)
• Approve last meeting minutes (6:07 / 3)
• Announcements (6:10 / 5)
• Topic: Officer elections (6:15 / 20)
• Topic: Committee policy to discuss or not discuss charter change items – vote, from John Kennedy (6:35 / 5)
• Topic: Sub-committee on finance – vote, from Rikki Risatti (6:40 / 5)
The Brattleboro Selectboard is easing into budget season while wrestling with the safety of retuning to in-person meetings. They got an update on the Water Treatment Plant upgrade, paid for some emergency repairs, gave out a liquor license, and discussed Town Manager Elwell’s final Long Term Financial Plan.
There was more – there will be new stop signs coming to some corners, a discussion of ARPA fund possibilities was quick, and a discussion of blinking crosswalks took quite a while.
1. Minutes – August 18, 2021
2. Public Participation
3. Monthly Report on Pedestrian and Bicycle Incidents
4. Monthly Report on Traffic Data Collection
5. Street and Sidewalk Safety Policy Safety Action Requests
(a) Speed Concerns on Elliot Street
(b) Speed Concerns on Grove Street
(c) Speed Concerns on Pine Street
(d) Request to Close Bullock and Whipple Streets + Provide Downtown Pedestrian-Only Zones
