police

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro To Expand Police and Surveillance

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard aug 20 2024

The Brattleboro Selectboard voted in favor of many suggestions by Police Chief Norma Hardy at their regular Tuesday meeting: using community safety funds to purchase surveillance cameras, plus authorizing a move forward on un-budgeted hiring of three more officers, hiring two unarmed police staff, and one police data technician. They also will move ahead with locating a police satellite office downtown.

This came after a presentation on police data that showed that the majority of police calls in town were not for crimes, and many incidents with police involve a handful of known actors.

Will Jail Time Be A Deterrent?

by RDavis | Activism

A lot of people in Brattleboro are agonizing over how to make our downtown safer. There has been no lack of suggestions. I have done a little bit of research into how other communities deal with similar problems and, once again, there are no simple solutions.

Yet, I am beginning to think that we need to use a tool that has been rejected by most communities as being too cruel. That is having police and the court system lock people up who are breaking the law, no matter what level they are operating on.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – August 20, 2024

by cgrotke | Town News

 Safety has a price and the Brattleboro Selectboard will begin to hear some of the new costs for downtown safety at their next regular meeting. Brattleboro Police will request hiring of additional staff and officers plus the creation of a parking garage satellite office for police use. It is part of their downtown safety action plan. They will also discuss their HEAT mapping and how this impacts deploying resources to problem areas.

Esteyville bandstand plans will be discussed. The result of the public input is that people want the bandstand, but not way up in the air as it currently sits.  The selectboard will also set a plan for this year’s budget process. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes July 23, 2024

by cgrotke | Town News

Community Safety will be one of the major topics at the next Brattleboro Selectboard meeting. The Town will give an update on current and future community safety initiatives, including a Brattleboro Police data project and convening a “Brattleboro Collaborative.”

EMS billing policies will change.  The Town will buy a new sand and salt shed, HVAC system, improvements at Living Memorial Park, a new Fire Bucket Truck replacement, and more! You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Discusses Big Issues with State Delegation

by cgrotke | Town News
Repeat Offenders

The Brattleboro Selectboard held an extended conversation with members of the state legislative delegation, handing them a long list of things that Brattleboro would like help with – money, staff, changes to laws, and so on.

Reps said they were working on many items already, but were eager to stay involved and work together to find solutions to housing, justice, addiction, mental health, crime, and other issues plaguing the ‘boro.

Brattleboro Selectboard – Agenda and Notes – November 7, 2023

by cgrotke | Town News

Downtown Brattleboro surveillance is on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. New $45,000 police cameras will be purchased for the intersection of High and Main so that the Town can watch everything you do there, in addition to watching everything you do at the Transportation Center. Some local stores will join in and add their cameras to the surveillance system, too.

Brattleboro’s sludge removal has become more expensive and the board will approve nearly $45,000 contract increase for just six months of disposal costs.  The board will also discuss their new Legislative Agenda (things they want the State to help fix), a bike path proposal for Rt. 5, discontinuing part of Melrose Street, ordinance changes, and more.

You can request other items not on the agenda during public participation, as long as you don’t bring up something that annoys the Chair.

Vermont Edition Features Brattleboro Security Firm Hiring Decision

by cgrotke | Media

Everyone in Brattleboro was on the public radio station that is in Vermont today. Well, maybe not everyone, but lots of people. More than usual!

Everyone in Brattleboro was on the public radio station that is in Vermont today. Well, maybe not everyone, but lots of people. More than usual!

The discussion was about the hiring of security firms to help patrol parts of downtown. The Town Manager, Police Chief, Librarian and others asked and answered questions during Vermont Edition on VP(R).  Town officials seemed optimistic; members of public not so sure.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – June 6, 2023

by cgrotke | Town News

At their first regular June meeting, the Brattleboro Selectboard will hire two outside security firms to patrol parts of downtown.

They will also discuss utility budgets, financial software, traffic safety, and committee vacancies.  You might be able to bring up other items not on the agenda if the Chair allows. 

Two Short Selectboard Comments from BCS – April 4, 2023

by Kurt Daims | Activism

We thank Mr. Potter for the update on the litigation over our emergency homeless shelter.

We had two comments tonight: first on the EHRV emergency shelter, and second, on the Fair Evictions and Rents amendment . One issue comes from the other.

In a selectboard meeting January 2021 we offered free housing for a police officer or substation at BCS corporate headquarters on Washington Street. It was part of our SAFE Policing project to start community policing. One of the vehicles in our emergency shelter is actually a mobile office, and quite suited as a substation or as a dental lab.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda and Notes – December 13, 2022

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. The public may also 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.

Brattleboro Interim Town Manager Press Release on Recent Events

by Not Signed In | Town News

By now many of you have seen the news. The body of a young woman was found dead in a vehicle on Elliot Street. A search for a suspect ended later that same day with a man shot dead. Our community has been witness to a slowly unfolding tragedy. While we are all still stunned by what has happened, the Town of Brattleboro wants to acknowledge this heartbreaking moment on behalf of this community

As is standard protocol for these events, all of the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. Evidence, including body camera video, will be carefully reviewed as part of a thorough investigation being performed by the Vermont State Police. No further comments about the investigation are appropriate at this time. We place our trust in this independent process.

State Police Press Release(s) on West Brattleboro Shooting

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

BRATTLEBORO, Vermont (Wednesday, July 20, 2022) — The Vermont State Police is continuing its investigation early Wednesday morning into the fatal police shooting of the person of interest in the disappearance and death of a missing Massachusetts woman, 23-year-old Mary Anderson.

Following notification of next of kin, the state police is able to release the preliminary identification of the deceased man: Matthew Davis, 34, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. His body will be transported to the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to confirm the cause and manner of his death.

The fatal shooting occurred in a wooded area between Bonnyvale Road and South Street southwest of Western Avenue in West Brattleboro.

Brattleboro Police Department Budget

by rick | Police & Fire

Tuesday’s Select Board meeting and an article in today’s Brattleboro Reformer brought to the surface a major issue with crime, especially in the downtown area. Various Select Board members chimed in both in the meeting and in the press. It rather hurt to see a friend of mine with his picture on the front page this morning given the circumstances.

Tim Wessel is quoted in the Reformer as saying:
“I live downtown and I have to say there’s an increase in the feeling of lawlessness occurring,” he said at Tuesday’s board meeting. “Whether it’s flower pots being overturned, business windows being smashed, unlocked cars being rifled through, or loud cars speeding recklessly through family neighborhoods, a lot of folks have been reaching out to me to say that it feels a little more like the Wild West in Brattleboro, and I agree.”

But, little known to many, actually including some Select Board members, Chief Hardy was a victim of the rapid shift away from Rescue Inc as well and she had no part in that decision that I am aware of.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Whiskey and Water

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard feb 2 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard met to discuss liquor license renewals and a safe drinking water system loan Tuesday evening

They granted licenses and accepted free money in record time, withholding most commentary and cutting right to the chase. This qualifies the evening as one of the shortest regular meetings.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – November 23, 2021

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at 6:15pm over Zoom. The Municipal Center (230 Main Street) will be open to the public with limited seating spaced six feet apart and face coverings will be required. 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.