AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – September 14, 2021
III. Public Comment on Non-agenda Items (10 minutes)
IV. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
• Summer Enrichment Program; Family Outreach and Engagement in the First Month of this School Year
V. COVID Q&A – Dr. Elizabeth Richards
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.
The ‘Taking a Knee’ Phenomenon Shows Celebrities have extraordinary power to influence public protest against injustice.
The wide spread effectiveness of the ‘Taking the Knee’ phenomenon is proof that celebrities have extraordinary power to influence public action in protest of social injustice
(This would seem to imply, by the way, that a celebrity’s power to influence brings a higher level of citizen responsibility to speak out – yet so few do.)
Northeast Kingdom, VERMONT: Today the progressive UNITED! Slate overwhelmingly won their third straight election for leadership positions within the Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO at their annual Convention. United! prevailed in winning 18 of 19 Executive Board positions including David Van Deusen for President (2nd term), Dwight Brown for Executive Vice President (1st term), and Danielle Bombardier for Secretary-Treasurer (2nd term). United! also won elections for the Chair of the Rank & File Presidential Advisory Committee (Damion Gilbert), and for President of the Green Mountain Riders Union Motorcycle Club (Dan Brush). The election results are viewed as a mandate by the incoming leadership to keep moving in a more progressive direction.
UNITED! was formed in 2019 in response to the continuing decline of the labor movement happening all over the country, including right here in Vermont. Union density — the percentage of workers who belong to a labor union — has been hovering around 10% nationally, a record low. In Vermont, union density is 11.8% as of 2020, but has climbed in 2021 due to new organizing by UFCW, AFSCME, and AFT. The Vermont State Labor Council now has over 11,000 members.
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 5:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. Executive Session – Title 1 § 313(a)(7) the academic records or suspension or discipline of students
The West River Railroad was established in 1880, ran from Brattleboro, Vermont, to South Londonderry, Vermont, and was discontinued in 1936. The Newfane Depot was one of ten on the line and had been used for different purposes through the years until the Historical Society of Windham County was given the opportunity to purchase the Depot in 2014.
The Historical Society set about to restore the Depot and make it a museum for the West River Railroad. The Museum opened in 2017 and has been open every year to the public free-of-charge on weekends from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
Breakfast at the VFW every Wednesday and Saturday from 6 am – 10 am. Public welcome to our meals!
Remember, breakfast will be served on our hall side from now on for more spacing. Slight differences between our Wednesday and Saturday breakfast. Every Wednesday there is a breakfast special offered, and Saturday has sausage gravy and biscuits.
It’s back! Friday September 24th at the Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road. Hand breaded fried haddock with fries and coleslaw for $13 a person. Also having burgers for those of you who don’t like fish. Public is welcome. Serving 4pm-6pm. Please be aware we have one fish fryer, and this is a big piece of haddock that takes time to cook. In other words, you could be waiting for your meal. Have some patience. Sit and stay awhile.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MENU
Sept. 20 Quiche Lorraine
Tater Tots
Asparagus
Cantaloupe
Monday, September 20, 2021
4:30 am Senator Bernie Sanders – Virtual Town Hall on Climate Crisis 8/25/21
5:30 am Guilford Selectboard – Guilford SB Mtg 9/13/21
6:55 am Vermont Cannabis Control Board – 9/10/21
8:00 am The David Pakman Show – The David Pakman Show – Weekly Broadcast
9:00 am Energy Week with George Harvey – This Week’s Energy News
10:00 am Brattleboro Planning Commission – Brattleboro PC Mtg 9/8/21
Here is disturbing information to show how serious the climate emergency is for youth, our communities and the world. People should take a hard look at this and take action. Not knowing what to do is not an option. The people need to to take action NOW. Be SAFE. Be well. Be Warned. Leave your thoughts below.
Here is a link to the article:
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.
The longevity of the political life of Bernie Sanders is nothing short of amazing. I think too many of us tend to take him for granted as our lone voice in the wilderness for what is just and fair for the American people.
Bernie is a political anomaly because he does what he says he will do and he has never wavered from his core principles over the decades of his political career. There are not too many Washington politicians who fit that profile and Vermonters, as well as the rest of the country, are lucky to have such a mensch in office.
We need to remind ourselves from time to time just how valuable Bernie has become to the national political process, especially during these times of political rancor and turmoil. I have always been amazed at Bernie’s ability to stay above the fray and forge straight ahead, despite the fact that Washington power brokers have tried to marginalize him at every turn.
Another SHOPPING ONLY DAY at Swap Shop at WSWMD on Old Ferry Road, Brattleboro! Saturday, September 18, 8:30 am to noon. ALL ITEMS ARE FREE
SCHEDULE & HOURS:
Shopping Days- 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month
Donation Days- 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month
If a month contains 5 weeks, the Swap will be closed
Hours are 8:30am-12pm. (Large donation loads may not be accepted after 11:30am)
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)
Elayne always has her finger on the pulse of social justice, women’s rights and gender issues, and she keeps us up-to-date with her clear and incisive writing and commentary. She also talks about the joys of being a birth Doula and how travel connects her with others world-wide in powerful ways.
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
On Friday September 17th, the Brattleboro VFW Post #1034 located at 40 Black Mountain Road will be offering free hamburgers, natural casing hotdogs, chips and sodas for any Vietnam veteran who come to the VFW from 5pm -7pm. The public is also welcome to come in and purchase burgers and dogs. Again, if you are a Vietnam Vet, this will be free. All others are welcome to come in and purchase food. You do not have to be a member.
