WSESD Finance Committee Meeting Agenda and Minutes
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Budget Development Process Overview & Timeline
3. Recommendation to Board to Approve Warrants and Payrolls
4. Other
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Budget Development Process Overview & Timeline
3. Recommendation to Board to Approve Warrants and Payrolls
4. Other
The Brattleboro Selectboard adopted a resolution recognizing freedom from domestic violence as a human right. They heard a presentation and had a discussion about the impact and effects of domestic violence in the community, and talked about making changes to end it. Men were encouraged to get involved.
The board was also zoom-bombed a few times, which hadn’t happened in a while. They bought police equipment, heard about changes to bike regulations, and got more questions about EMS in Brattleboro.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will purchase almost $24,000 worth of 9mm pistols at their next regular meeting.
The board will also discuss a domestic violence resolution, extend a loan to Metalarts, begin modification of the Code of Ordinances regarding bicycles, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
It was a really long Brattleboro Selectboard meeting with not much getting done! They heard about downtown safety issues, but took no action. They approved a mural design they couldn’t see. There will be more places to buy liquor. The preferred bridge design was selected. And then it was 10:30 pm with discussions of a woman right to choose and EMT issues, among other things, still awaiting ample discussion. They ended up postponing much of the agenda to a future meeting.
A packed agenda of important items awaits the Brattleboro Selectboard for their first regular meeting of July. It’s going to be a long meeting.
There will be new liquor licenses, Commonwealtth Dairy wants to nearly double its water and sewer use, rental housing fines will be set, and the board will choose a bridge design for Melrose. There will be a discussion of downtown safety and a new mural for High Street. The board will discuss a woman’s right to choose. There are emergency repairs to authorize.
The firefighters get a “recently concluded additional collective bargaining agreement,” and the Fire Chief would like the board to approve additional funds to meet requirements of becoming a paramedic-level service.
But wait, there’s more! There will be a first reading of a new ordinance regarding wastewater allocation approvals, there will be a new contract for the Interim Town manager, a new street name will be approved, and the FY23 tax rate will be set.
The Brattleboro Selectboard held one of their longer meetings in some time. The public was active! Complaints about downtown crime, lack of action on climate change, and open meetings kept the board busy until after 10:30pm.
Of note, the Town acknowledged their violation of open meeting protocols and adopted a new two-part process to make sure it won’t happen again. This wasn’t enough for most people, who wanted a more detailed accounting of the EMS decision making process.
The board changed RTM districts to conform with state updates, adopted Utility and Parking budgets, and poured luke-warm water on a suggestion to bring back the electric trolley.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will emerge from another Executive Session to do something that isn’t done very often – update the boundaries of the voting districts in town, which will change representation at Representative Town meeting. This update is to conform with adjustments recently made by the state.
The board will also take up the Utility Fund, Parking Fund Budget, raises, and the Depot Street parking lot project. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
It is sometimes helpful to look at information in a timeline format. Thanks to everyone who assisted in piecing this together this list of Brattleboro Fire, Rescue, and EMS items from the past year or so.**
Please note any additions or corrections you feel would clarify in the comments if you’d like. This is an in-progress project and will likely be updated. I’ll note any edits to the main timeline list in the comments.
2021
March 22 – Elizabeth McLoughlin becomes Chair of the Selectboard.
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. FY22 Fiscal Year End Revenue Projections
3. Capital Project Implementation update (Oak Grove & Dummerston School Improvements, Guilford/Academy HVAC project/bid award)
The 2022 Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee Report on the Town FY23 Budget is currently available online on the Town website, Brattleboro.org. Paper copies are also available at the Town Manager’s Office at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Suite 208).
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. INFORMATIONAL MEETING – PROPOSED FY ’23 BUDGET
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – December 14 (pending) and
January 25, 2022
• FINANCES
Warrants of January 18, 2022
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Fiscal Year to Date Financial Statement Review
3. FY23 Budget Planning & Development
• Preparation for Public Information Meeting & Annual Report
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes
III. Preparing/Editing Report
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved an FY23 budget to send to Representative Town Meeting. They also warned that meeting, so representatives will get to vote on the budget and other items.
There was a bit of discussion about the value of holding Representative Town Meeting once again by Zoom, but the option to do it that way was approved unanimously.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. FY ’23 Budget – Follow-Up / Next Steps / Timeline
The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 6:15pm in the Second Floor Meeting Room at the Central Fire Station (103 Elliot Street). Everyone will be required to wear a face covering and maintain social distance. The public is encouraged to participate in the meeting over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. Executive Session (approximately 20-30 minutes) – 1 V.S.A. §313(F) – Confidential attorney-client communications made for the purpose of providing professional legal services to the body.
III. Unfinished Business
• Sexual Abuse Investigation Update
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Executive Session: Title 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)1B – Labor Relations with Employees (if needed)
3. FY23 Budget Planning & Development
• Budget assumption updates
• Preparation for Public Information Meeting & Annual Report
The Brattleboro Selectboard did some final tinkering with remaining FY23 budget items, with a discussion about bike paths and whether waiting six months is worth $16,000.
They approved some sidewalk improvements, Human Services requests, and a tax stabilization idea to encourage solar projects on already-developed land was discussed and sent along to RTM.