Here’s the April 2023 dashboard summary. We continue semi-regular COVID-19 dashboard numbers from the Vermont Department of Health, and MA and NH counties that surround Brattleboro, as long as they continue providing them. That won’t be much longer. All seem to be wrapping up in the next month or so. Scroll down the new comments for the latest.
VT, NH, and MA all seem to be doing weekly updates now, near the end of the week.
The contractor has finished the tree clearing operation. Covering the existing retaining wall on the west side of VT 142 is ongoing.
On the east side of VT 142, the north MSE wall near Abutment 1 work has begun and will continue next week. In addition, work is scheduled to begin on the gravel wetland located just to the south of Abutment 1 on Monday.
As noted before, pile driving operations will continue at Pier locations 2 and 1 and intermittent pounding of diesel pile hammers is anticipated through the Summer of 2023 with Saturday work anticipated from 7 AM – 7 PM.
If you want to have the experience of being powerless and victimized by an elite corps of professionals simply seek dental care. I have watched the prices of dental care soar to obscene limits over the years and have felt helpless and hopeless because I know there is nothing I can do to change the situation.
The dental profession’s expertise is not in question. Practitioners are extremely well trained and they provide a high level of care. The problem is the business model that controls the delivery of dental care.
Most dentists are either private business owners or work for entities that are private businesses. While there are a number of health related regulations that dental practices must follow, when it comes to cost it is the wild west.
Hello, Brattleboro. Last evening I attended my first meeting as a member of the Brattleboro Selectboard. As has been discussed in various forums recently, openness of the Selectboard proceedings and the active solicitation of input from members of the community will be of paramount concern for the Board and the town administration in the coming year.
As one part of this process, beginning next week on April 12 and for the next six weeks, I will station myself in one of the meeting rooms on the mezzanine level of Brooks Memorial Library each Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. During this time, everyone is invited to come for conversation on pretty much any topic having to do with the town and its government.
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.
As the Town of Brattleboro continues to explore the future of Emergency Medical Services there is discussion happening in the State Assembly.
On March 22, 2023, beginning at 10:00 am, the Vermont House Health Care Committee took testimony on H. 263. [1] The recording of that over one and a half hour session is available for review on YouTube. [2] I highly recommend listening to the testimony. One of the details of the bill provides for the creation of a Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordination Study Committee. [3] Overall the testimony itself provides excellent context for further discussion.
New Brattleboro Selectboard members Peter Case and Franz Reichsman attended their first regular meeting since swearing-in. They were treated to discussions of rules and goals, the Windham Regional Commission, Representative Town Meeting, hazard mitigation, and more.
Town Manager John Potter suggested the board have a retreat to discuss short-term and longer-term goals and budgets, to which the board readily agreed.
Chair Ian Goodnow had an unusally rough night. He was 40 minutes past his usual 8 pm break time as he explained to the board his new goals for keeping the meeting on schedule. This included his new desire to limit public comments to just two minutes per person, per agenda item.
CALL TO ORDER: 4:44 PM – Mark Speno, Superintendent
Anne Beekman was elected chair on a motion by Kerry Amidon.
Kim Price was elected vice-chair on a motion by Kerry Amidon.
Kerry Amidon was elected clerk on a motion by Anne Beekman.
Dear Vermont Friends and Neighbors (and Bernie Sanders constituents),
The Vermont Peace/Anti-War Coalition launched in January 2023. This Petition Letter to Senator Bernie Sanders is our first effort at gathering widespread Vermonters’ support for ending U.S. war making. Many of us in Vermont believe it is time to unite on this issue–and not be divided. No matter what your views or affiliation, please join us in signing the letter to Senator Sanders asking him to review his foreign policy of writing blank checks to Ukraine and the weapons manufacturers. We are also asking for an in-person meeting to discuss Sanders bringing our views to Washington.
Blow outs. Mire. Oncoming. Cyclists. Many the hazards. Jerk the wheel. A bent rim. Muffler shot. Slalom run. Swerve, sway, swing.
Mind you these are split second decisions we’re discussing. What Would A Self Driving Car Do? Here is my workable strategy for negotiating mud- charge the ridges, go, keep going, ride the humps, steer like baby chimp with a rattle. Bit of gas is our friend. Some bogs better not to enter.
Brattleboro is in the Final Four this week and we need your vote to help us make it to the Finals!
Please vote before Thursday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. at: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2023/4/3/stc2023-r3-jackson-brattleboro.
The Town of Brattleboro Water Department’s annual Consumer Confidence Report / Water Quality Report for 2022 is now available. This report can be viewed on line at https://www.brattleboro.org/ccreport and printed copies are available at the Department of Public Works, Tri-Park CO-OP Office, Guilford Country Store, Town Clerk’s Office and Treasurer’s office (both located in the Brattleboro Municipal Center) and at the I-91 Welcome Center in Guilford.
BCTV Channel 1079 Weekly Listing for 4/3/23
Monday, April 3, 2023
4:30 am Windham Southeast School District – WSESD Bd Mtg 3/28/23
7:00 am Brattleboro Housing Partnerships Board – BHP Bd Mtg 3/27/23
8:00 am The David Pakman Show – The David Pakman Show – Weekly Broadcast
9:00 am Guilford Selectboard – Guilford SB Mtg 3/27/23
At last New York is cracking down on crime!
Brattleboro’s music scene is thriving – and HANNAH HOFFMAN takes center stage!
Tune in for stories of songwriting, performing, and the roads she’s traveled to get here today.
April 3 Salisbury Steak
Roasted Red Potatoes
Green Beans w/Peppers & Onions
Tropical Fruit
The creators of iBrattleboro have announced a new direction for the citizen journalism site. “With 20 years of citizen-generated archived local digital media , we realized that iBrattleboro no longer requires citizens to write about where they live.” The new site will be 100% driven by artificial intelligence ChatGPT code and will generate stories and comments on behalf of former users of the site.
“We just feed the old site content in as prompts, and it generates fresh new content that seems similar to local news and information,” said the owners. “It’s almost like people are having conversations locally with one another again.”
Vermont Public’s President and CEO Scott Finn has announced that the station’s name has been shortened from “Vermont Public” to “Vermont.”
The first regular meeting of the new Brattleboro Selectboard will feature discussions of possible opioid lawsuit settlements, tax increment financing, loose ends from Representative Town meeting, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.
Agenda Items
Approve Minutes
Public Participation
Spring Planting
Spring Maintenance
