Selectboard

Brattleboro Selectboard Meetings To Be Held Via Zoom

by Not Signed In | Town News

“After our recent discussion about the advantages of using Zoom for Representative Town Meeting,” said Brattleboro Selectboard Chair Tim Wessel, “I realized there are several reasons to go ahead and try Zoom now for Selectboard meetings. It’s more well-known to regular users than GoToMeeting, more user-friendly, and we will have time to ‘break-in’ the service as both a host and as users well in advance of RTM.” Wessel added that “the security concerns we had in March that swayed us toward GoToMeeting are no longer present.” 

Affordable Housing in Brattleboro

by spoon | Op/Ed

It is very revealing that in all the comments of sympathy and advice about one family’s difficulties in finding affordable housing, a post and thread appearing very recently on fbook, not one asks if it is possible for us, as a community, to house ourselves.

The population of Brattleboro has decreased slightly from what it was in 1960. Although there is a relatively small number of new units built every year there is a very large number over that span. As far as I know not one Selectboard in all these years has tried to deal with affordable housing other than approving federally funded projects when one happened to be brought before them. Most of that money dried up long ago. Sixty years have passed and we have more people struggling with housing than ever before.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda – July 21, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

The next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard will be devoted to a single topic – the continued discussion of a potential police review process. 

The previous conversation left off with two competing proposals – one from the board and one from community groups working with these issues – and a request that the selectboard’s proposal be withdrawn. The board wanted time to consider merging the two proposals.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Collaborative Proposal for Police Reform Presented To Board, RTM Remains On Hold

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard july 7, 2020

The Brattleboro Selectboard didn’t get to new business until after 11 pm. Old business of Representative Town Meeting scheduling, second thoughts on an already-approved budget, and competing proposals for police reforms filled the lengthy meeting.

In the end, no new RTM was set, the board was told the budget cannot be changed but can be ignored selectively, and competing proposals for police reforms will fill a new meeting schedule for July 21.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 7, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will consider a re-imagined, two-part Representative Town Meeting at their next regular virtual meeting. The plan calls for an online portion on one day, and voting by Australian ballot on another.

A “police review” process is being proposed to look at funding and whether social services might be able to relieve the police of some responsibilities, new bike lanes and pedestrian safety measures will be discussed for Putney Rd., a new Exit 2 to downtown bike lane possibility will be studied, the board will offer up thoughts on the rebuilding of Rt 9 to Wilmington, and you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Where Are We Going? Does It Matter?

by spoon | Op/Ed

Spoon Agave: There are no obvious signs of leadership in Brattleboro so I can only conclude that the collective vision in the Municipal building is that the pandemic will end someday and everything will be OK. If anyone reading this has seen something different please share what it is. At the moment it feels like the town is simply marking time (just filling potholes) until whatever happens happens and we’ll deal with it then. That is one strategy, anyway.

Dot Lenhart: Do you have any suggestions?

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at 6:15pm. It is anticipated that the Board will enter Executive Session at that time.  In keeping with Governor Scott’s “Stay Home – Stay Safe” order, this meeting will be held with no physical location using GoToMeeting.  The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely. 

Jan Anderson

Executive Secretary

Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office

Brattleboro Amended Face Covering Emergency Order

by Not Signed In | Town News

At its meeting last night, the Brattleboro Selectboard reaffirmed and slightly modified its Emergency Order requiring that face coverings be worn by all employees, customers, and visitors in any store, office, or other indoor setting where business is conducted. 

The modification clarified that children under 5 “are not required” to wear face coverings. The original order stated that masks “should not be placed on” children under 5. The remainder of the order is unchanged and it continues to apply equally to businesses, non-profit organizations, and governmental facilities anywhere in Brattleboro. 

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Water and Sewer Rate Increases, and Face Mask Review

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard Virtual Meeting

The Brattleboro Selectboard had a long discussion about their long discussion last week about face coverings. Is it too strict? Not stick enough? What about the children? They then moved on to a discussion of raising water and sewer rates to help pay for the new water filtration plant. Is 6% a year too much? Is 2% too low?

The final discussion was of the parking system, and how with no income and continued expenses, the budget doesn’t look so good. Should the Parking Fund remain an enterprise fund or be rolled back into the General Fund? And who has the best ceiling?

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – FY21 Utility and Parking Funds

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 6:15pm.  In keeping with Governor Scott’s “Stay Home – Stay Safe” order, this meeting will be held with no physical location using GoToMeeting.  The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely.   ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Representative Town Meeting On Hold, Staff Furloughs

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard april 7

The Brattleboro Selectboard met virtually to discuss updates regarding COVID-19, staff furloughs, putting Representative Town Meeting on further hold, and other matters. Board members urged landlords to pause rents and banks to pause mortgage payments. And licensed electricians may be required for most rental properties repairs.

It wasn’t the smoothest technological feat, and it took a while to get things working semi-smoothly, but it sufficed.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – April 7, 2020

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 6:15pm.  In keeping with Governor Scott’s “Stay Home – Stay Safe” order, this meeting will be held with no physical location using GoToMeeting.  Copies of the agenda and administrative report are attached.  Both documents contain information about how to access the meeting remotely.   ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.  We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.  

Town of Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status – March 31, 2020, 1:15pm

by cgrotke | Town News

WHAT’S NEW TODAY:
-There will be a special Selectboard meeting this coming Thursday, April 2, at 6:15pm on GoToMeeting.
Meetings of Town boards, commissions, and committees will resume on a case-by-case basis. All will use the GoToMeeting platform for remote-only meetings (with no physical location) until after the COVID-19 emergency has passed.

-The State has advised the Town that we cannot temporarily suspend the pay-as-you-throw program.

– In keeping with the closure of all Town Recreation facilities and programs, the Recreation and Parks Department announces the cancellation of the following seasonal special events: