Selectboard Meeting Notes: We Don’t Like the Cost of the Bridge We Ordered

selectboard april 2 2024

The Brattleboro Selectboard took issue with new costs of a bridge project requested by an earlier board, and sent VTrans back to their offices without an approval for their design of the Western Ave bridge replacement near Melrose. VTrans is invited back when the project won’t cost the Town quite so much. No one mentioned the increases that will inevitably occur between now and 2028 when the bridge is scheduled to be completed.

The board also took up some start-up and general housekeeping issues. New Chair Daniel Quipp pledged earlier meeting end times and more public participation in the coming year.


Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – April 2, 2024

A relatively easy first official Brattleboro Selectboard meeting for new Chair Daniel Quipp is scheduled for Tuesday. The Consent Agenda is ample, there are some board rules and assignments to take care of, and there will be some discussion of the recent Representative Town Meeting.

The big discussion could be that the board might use property taxes to pay for matching costs associated with replacing the Rt 9 bridge at Melrose Place.  The Town’s share has risen from half a million to $1.6 million since 2021.

You can once again, one assumes, bring up any other item not on the agenda during public participation.


Public Forum on November 29 About the Green Street at High Street Intersection

The Town of Brattleboro is considering improvements to the intersection of Green Street and High Street. We’ve engaged an engineering team to support this effort and are inviting you to join a public forum on the matter later this month.

This forum will be an opportunity to review the preliminary concept and offer comments or potential improvements. Please join us on November 29, 2023 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Selectboard Meeting Room.


Brattleboro Installs Bike Lanes on Western Avenue

The Town of Brattleboro is in the process of striping bike lanes onto Western Avenue from the intersection with High Street to Allerton Avenue. The project is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed this fall. Drivers should pay attention to the lane shifts and are reminded that no parking is allowed in bicycle lanes.

Starting on Sept. 19, the Department of Public Works began the process of marking bike lanes, installing signage, and adding new crosswalks on Western Avenue at Greenhill Parkway and on Western Avenue at Green Street. A rectangular rapid-flashing beacon will
also be added near Allerton Avenue.


Green Street Closure

PRESS RELEASE

On Monday, August 28, the Utilities Division will be installing a manhole at the intersection of Green Street, Garden Drive and Church Street.  During this project, Church Street will be closed and Green Street will be closed from Bullock Street to High Street.  Residents will be able to access their homes and may choose to utilize Retting Place for access, also.  The work is scheduled between the hours of 6:30 am and 4:00 pm. Motorists should seek alternate routes.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – DV Fiber Presentation

selectboard Sept 6 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard got into a rather detailed discussion of DV Fiber’s plans to provide high speed internet throughout southeastern Vermont. It stated out as a simple request for some closet space, but expanded into a description of the network and coming plans for service.

The board also approved a grant application for housing assistance and accepted a grant for bike paths.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Acknowledges Executive Session Open Meeting Violations

selectboard june 7 2022

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.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – June 7, 2022

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.


High Street Paving Rescheduled

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 26, beginning at 6:00 pm, DMI Paving (a contractor of the town) will be paving High ST from Main Street to Green Street.  The work will take place overnight and is expected to be completed by Friday morning at 7:00 am.  There will be no on street parking during this project and motorists should expect delays in the area and seek alternate routes.  


High Street Paving

On Thursday, May 19, beginning at 6:00 pm, DMI Paving (a contractor of the town) will be paving High ST from Main Street to Green Street.  The work will take place overnight and is expected to be completed by Friday morning at 7:00 am.  There will be no on street parking during this project and motorists should expect delays in the area and seek alternate routes.  

The rain date for this project is Thursday, May 26th.


Green Street Utility Work

On Wednesday, October 28, Utilities crews will be working at the intersection of High ST and Green ST.  There will be restricted two lane traffic on High ST and there will be no parking at the metered spaces on High ST beginning at 6:00am.  Vehicles parked in these spaces after 6:00am may be towed.  Green ST will be closed between Retting PL and High ST on Wednesday and will reopen Thursday morning.  

Water service will be shut down on Wednesday night from 10:00 pm until at least 7:00am.   


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Agenda Placed On Next Agenda

selectboard nov 5 2019

The Brattleboro Selectboard started their meeting a bit late and ended it quite early, with a rare move of taking nearly everything major off of the agenda and moving it to next week. The reason? Two absent board members.

Almost the entire agenda will be added to next week’s agenda, making next week’s special meeting a whopper.


Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – November 5, 2019

Town Manager Peter Elwell will give the board a first look at the proposed FY21 budget at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The  board will also hear an update on the community marketing plan, learn about the downtown alliance work plan for the next year, join a opioid-related lawsuit, consider changes for Green Street traffic safety, upfit a pair of police vehicles, and more. You can bring up other things not currently on the agenda during public participation.


Brattleboro Paving Schedule

Starting Tuesday, September 17, Northeast Paving (a contractor of the Town) will begin the paving portion of our annual capital paving project. Weather permitting, the following schedule is anticipated:

Tuesday, September 17
Old Guilford Road – One-way alternating traffic. Expect traffic disturbances.


Updated Brattleboro Paving Schedule

 Starting Thursday, September 12th, Northeast Paving (a contractor of the town) will begin the cold planing portion of our annual capital paving project. Weather permitting, the following schedule is anticipated: 

Thursday, September 12 

Cold planing: Estey St. (Birge St. to Pleasant St.), Fairview St. (#51 Fairview St. to Maple St.) 

Friday, September 13 

Cold planing: Oak St. (Chapin St. to High St.), Green St. (Church St. to #164 Green St.) 


Green Street Drainage Work

Starting on Wednesday, July 24, the Highway Division will be installing new drainage on Green Street from the intersection of School Street to 120 Green Street and from the top of Church Street to the west side of the intersection with Bullock Street. During this work, sections of Green Street will be closed from approximately 7:00am to 2:30pm. At times, Bullock Street will also be closed at the intersection with Green Street.