RTM

Windham County Senator Becca Balint and Lt. Governor David Zuckerman Endorse The Brattleboro Youth Vote

by Mark J. Tully | Town News

On Tuesday, March 5th’s Brattleboro town ballot (on the back side) is a ballot measure – “Article II” – that will grant 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote on town issues and candidates, be elected to and serve on local school boards (up to 2 on each), and be elected as Town Representatives. The measure has received the endorsement of Brattleboro resident and Senator Becca Balint, and Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman.

Lt. Governor Zuckerman endorsed the measure last Summer, before it had even gotten on the ballot. Writing an endorsement for the campaign’s website, he said “Engaging youth in local decisions is a great way to instill a commitment to their community, bring in new ideas and energy, and to recognize the value they add to the region.”

Brattleboro Town School Board Candidates Unanimously Endorse the Youth Vote Charter Amendment

by Mark J. Tully | Town News

In a candidates forum on Monday, February 25th, the candidates for Brattleboro Town School Board were asked how they felt about students being elected to school boards and having an equal vote to theirs. Every one of the five candidates voiced their support for it, and each expressed a different benefit of the change.

The Brattleboro Youth Vote is a town charter amendment that will be voted on as part of the March 5 election ballot. It will give 16 and 17-year old Brattleboro citizens the right to vote on town issues and candidates, be elected and serve on school boards (up to 2 on each), and be elected as a Town Representatives.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 5, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

Will Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell get a five year contract extension? Most likely, at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

A hearing on modified parking, some VCDP grants, and the scheduling of informational meetings for Representative Town Meeting representatives will occur. There is also one item on the agenda purely for the sake of not having it on the agenda any longer. You can, as always, bring up other matters not on the agenda during public participation.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Representative Town Meeting Meeting Warning, and Arts Fail To Get 2%

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard

The Brattleboro Selectboard sent an approved FY20 budget to Representative Town Meeting as part of the annual Representative Town Meeting Warning.

Representatives from the arts community, meanwhile, asked that an article requesting 2% of the Rooms & Meals tax be allocated for an Arts Fund for public arts projects, $8,424, be placed on the Representative Town Meeting Warning. The board said no, telling them it was hasty and didn’t have enough detail.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, January 28, 2019, at 5:30pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Conference Room.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 5:30pm at the Windham Regional Career Center (located at 80 Atwood Street) in the Cusick Conference Room (2ndfloor).

Petitions for March Elections – Deadline Monday, 1/28

by Not Signed In | Politics

As a reminder, petitions for Brattleboro Town and Town School District Officers and Town Meeting Members are now available at the Town Clerk’s office.  Town elections will be Tuesday, March 5 at the American Legion, and the Annual Representatives Town Meeting, Saturday, March 23 at Brattleboro Union High School.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – January 22, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hear their first request for an exemption from the relatively new Plastic Bag Ordinance. Zephyr Designs is making the request.

Culture Made Vermont will get lots of goodies, mileage will be certified, an EPA grant applied for, liquor permits approved, and nearly final FY20 budget thoughts presented.  You can weigh in on spending Rooms & Meals taxes on promotions and the precedent it sets, or bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, January 14, 2019, at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 5:30pm at the Windham Regional Career Center (80 Atwood Street) in the Cusick Conference Room (2ndfloor).

Brattleboro Town and Town School District Auditors’ Reports Available

by Not Signed In | Town News

 January 10, 2019 , Town of Brattleboro  Notice of Availability of Auditors’ Reports 

NOTICE is hereby given that the Brattleboro Town and Town School District Auditors’ Reports for fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, are available upon request and may be picked up at the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont. 

The Auditors’ Reports will also be available as part of the Town and School District Annual Report which will be available at the Town Clerk’s office no later than February 22, 2019. 

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 5:30pm in the Cusic Conference Room (2ndfloor) at the Windham Regional Career Center, located at 80 Atwood Street.

Suggested Representative Town Meeting Improvements

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

I’ve been watching Brattleboro budgets for quite a while, through multiple selectboards, three Town Managers and one Interim Town Manager. I’ve watched many Representative Town Meetings as well and participated in a few.  That’s a lot of meetings.

While I’ve come to the conclusion that Representative Town Meeting doesn’t really work, I know that it has become cherished and it is unlikely that abolishing it will be on the ballot anytime soon. Therefore, it should be improved.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 6:30pm in the Mezzanine Conference Room at Brooks Memorial Library.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 5:30pm in the Cusick conference room (2nd) floor at the Windham Regional Career Center located at 80 Atwood Street.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 9:00am in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Friday, December 7, 2018 at 1:00pm in the Holton Hall conference room (2ndfloor) on the Winston Prouty Campus located at 130 Austine Drive.

The Brattleboro Energy Committee meeting that was previously scheduled on Monday, December 3, 2018 has been CANCELLED.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, November 29, 2018, at 5:30pm at the Windham Regional Career Center (80 Atwood Street) in the Cusick Conference Room (2ndfloor).

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Friday, November 30, 2018, at 1:00pm at Holton Hall (in the 2ndfloor conference room) on the Winston Prouty Campus (130 Austine Drive).

The Brattleboro Budget Process and You

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard officially kicked off FY20 budget season at a meeting Tuesday night, in which they learned about the Police and Fire departments and where the Town expects to find revenue to pay for the budget.

It’s nice that the Selectboard reviews these matters, but this is really about you — the Brattleboro resident or visitor.

Representative Town Meeting 2018 Thoughts

by spoon | Town News

The following is an excerpt from some replies I made on an FBIbook thread.  I want to share them here in part to also mention an invitation to discuss Town Meeting more deeply.  you will see the invitation at the end.

…Without making any claims about whether or not we came up with the right or wrong answers, overall I believe the decisions (at this year’s Representative Town Meeting) closely reflected the knowledge, experience and traditions of this town meeting and its attendees. The citizens in this exercise of democracy gave a very honest, sincere and respectful rendering of what they knew and what was in their hearts. There was a very powerful sense of community present. Not all of it evaporates at the end when we scatter. A few of the new people will have left feeling like they have drawn closer to their neighbors. They will feel a stronger sense of belonging and responsibility. There are good reasons that many people return for ten and twenty and thirty years. In this way Representative Town Meeting is invaluable.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Ballot Results

by Not Signed In | Politics

At Representative Town Meeting today, March 25, the body voted through Australian Ballot on Article 11:

“To see if the Town will authorize the following capital purchase for the Fire Department: The purchase of an aerial ladder truck at an estimated cost of $950,000, and will authorize the issuance of notes and/or bonds in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000 at a rate of interest not to exceed 5% per annum for a term of 10 years to pay a portion of the cost of said aerial ladder truck. The vote on this article shall be by Australian Ballot as required by law. The question to be voted upon is as follows:

Representative Town Meeting 2018

by cgrotke | Town News
RTM 2018

It’s Representative Town Meeting Day in Brattleboro. 

Representatives are filing in and getting settled, as are those of us who plan on covering today’s event. I have to say, I’m pretty tired from all the work on the new site, so I especially apologize in advance for spelling errors and such.

Usually, however, as they get into the more interesting debates of the day, this becomes less of a chore and more fun. I’m counting on it today.