Town News

The selectboard got through a long meeting, accomplishing much but under strained and tense moments at times. They chastisted one of their own for poor judgement and actions, explored a change in Rt 30 as it approaches and leaves Brattleboro, voted to go forward with a switch to single stream recycling, killed the MRF at the WSWMD, offered suggestions to organizations over workplans and budget requests, and more.

It’s going to be a long meeting Tuesday night when the Brattleboro Selectboard takes up an agenda covering just about everything.

There will be an update on the Police and Fire facilities, a presentation on the Rt 30 “gateway,” a decision on what to do about recycling and the Town Representative voting against Town wishes, and more budget discussion. And…

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 10:00am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be closed Tuesday, December 13, as staff will be conducting the Town School Vote in the Municipal Center, room 212. Polling hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 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

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting to continue their discussion of the proposed FY2018 town budget. In the very short meeting we learned of two big announcements – a first mention of a $2 million DPW facility being pencilled in as a placeholder in the 2021 budget, and news that Brattleboro’s downtown crosswalks and intersections would be cleared of snow by the DPW this winter.

On Thursday, December 8th, at 5:30 pm, the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will host its annual Holiday Party at Dalem’s Chalet, 78 South Street. This is a time for people and businesses in West Brattleboro to get together socially and to celebrate the Association’s numerous accomplishments in this past year. The evening will feature a cash bar with hors d’oeuvres prepared by the restaurant. The WBA suggests a voluntary donation of $5 toward the food, although no one will be turned away.

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, November 28, 2016 at 5:30pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 4:30pm in the Brattleboro Food Co-Op community room.

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

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 5:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. NOTE the revised time of the meeting.

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

The Brattleboro Selectboard, sans John Allen, held a special meeting regarding the FY18 budget, focusing on the numbers for the Police and Fire departments.

With no preliminary announcements, the meeting got right down to business.

Public Participation

Rich Holschuh returned to the Selectboard with a petition signed by 540 voters, over 5% of the registered voters in town. The petition asks to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day in Brattleboro, and for the question to be placed on the 2016 Representative Town Meeting warning for a vote.

Tonight we will be presenting to the Brattleboro Selectboard, at their 5:30 meeting, a full complement of signed petitions to place an article on the 2016 RTM Warning for a permanent changein the Town from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Following the action at the Board’s Oct. 4th meeting, at which they (through a failed motion) declined to take direct action themselves on such an initiative, the remaining course of action was a petition drive. Five percent of the registered voter list is required, currently at about 8,760, thus 438 signatures are needed. While procedurally the signatures will be proofed by the Town Clerk, we are taking the step of formally notifying the Selectboard that we have reached the threshold and followed through on the original intention.

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25, 2016, with the exception of emergency services.

Brooks Memorial Library will close at 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 23, and will be closed on Thursday, November 24. It will be open for regular hours on Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. Note the revised time of the meeting. ASL interpreters will NOT be available at this meeting.

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

The Brattleboro Parking Department would like to advise everyone that the winter parking ban will go into effect, starting Friday, November 18, 2016. 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 owners expense.

David Schoales’ recent vote as Brattleboro’s representative to the Windham Solid Waste District was called into question by fellow board members who were shocked to learn that he had voted in favor of something the Brattleboro Selectboard had recently resolved to be against.  His vote has now been scheduled as a discussion topic for a December meeting, and he may be facing removal from his position as representative.

FY18 budget revenues, projects and expenses were the kick-off topics in the annual budget setting process. The board is learning what town staff propose, and are beginning to question and push back on items. Do we really need to replace the fire truck that failed inspection? Budget meetings will continue into January.

The skatepark and dog park projects were approved by the state, with permits granted for work to get underway. Brattleboro may have some permanent micro housing for the homeless, and the new West Brattleboro fire station walls will have better moisture control thanks in part to someone noticing and asking questions.

Brattleboro’s budget season kicks off in earnest at the next regular Tuesday night meeting of the selectboard at the Municipal Center. They begin with a discussion of revenues as well as capital projects and equipment planned for FY18.

A facilities project update, October finances, a permanenent housing project, a liquor license for Dollar General, and business loans and grants will also be on the agenda. You can also bring up other items during public participation.

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 7:00pm at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op in the community room.

The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The second installment of the 2016 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on November 15th, 2016 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after November 15th, 2016 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on November 15th, 2016 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after November 15th, 2016 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

Payments can be mailed to the Town of Brattleboro, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro VT 05301. An official postmark of November 15th, 2016 will be considered as an on time payment. Please include the quarterly payment stub to ensure your payment is applied properly.

In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro town offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2016, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Friday, November 11. All other violations will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2016.

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, November 7, 2016, at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting, site visit, and public hearing on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, starting at 4:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center, followed by a site visit at Bittersweet Lane, and a public hearing at approximately 5:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room. ASL interpreters will be available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.

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