D. New Business (5:30 – 6:55)
1. Discussion: Report out on Site Visit to Pleasant Valley Reservoir (5:30 – 5:45)
2. Discussion: Request from Public for Commission’s Input re: Invasives Management Day (5:45 – 6:00)
3. Presentation: Marie Caduto & Ryan O’Donnell: Whetstone Brook E. coli, 2022 water quality monitoring
Mindy Haskins Rogers of Northampton (MA) and an alumna of BUHS, mentioned the policy of reporting unprofessional conduct by a licensed teacher to the Vermont Agency of Education, which has a state-level review panel. She cited the statute supporting this. Ms. Haskins Rogers asked Superintendent Mark Speno if he was aware of this requirement, and if he had issued these reports in a timely fashion. Mr. Speno replied “yes” to both questions.
• Mr. Schoales asked if the investigator had received more support to complete the interviews and research. KY responded: she was unsure but will follow up. Mr. Speno noted the investigator has not requested more support.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 5:30pm and is expected to enter immediately into executive session to discuss contracts and labor relations agreements with employees. The Selectboard will reconvene the business part of the meeting 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.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott gave his FY24 Budget Address. In it, he explained the enormous cash infusion coming our way from the Federal government, and what he thought would be the best way to handle all the money.
A full transcript of Governor Scott’s address is included below:
“Mr. President, Madam Speaker, Mr. Pro Tem, members of the General Assembly, and fellow Vermonters:
Two weeks ago, I asked that we focus on the fundamentals in order to seize upon the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we have before us.
The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 6:15pm at the Brattleboro Co-op.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, January 30, 2023 at 11:30am over Zoom.
The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 5:00pm at the Brooks Memorial Library.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Attend WSESD Finance Committee FY ’24 Budget Meeting
• The total FY24 proposed budget is $62.9 million, which is up 3.2-percent.
• Revenues are expected to be $11,181,775, and Mr. Rucker mentioned some revenue sources.
• The budget minus revenues equals the education spending figure, which is $51.7 million.
• The equalized pupils figure — 2,206.9 — is very close to last year’s figure.
• The education spending per pupil figure is $23,455.
Town Meeting Day and Windham Southeast School District Director elections are coming up on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Absentee ballots MUST be requested. Unlike the November General Election, ballots for Town Meeting Day in Brattleboro are NOT automatically mailed to all active registered voters. Ballots will be available on February 15, 2023.
I have a friend, who wishes to rent an apartment in Windham County. His name is Mark Laurence. I have known him for about 5 or 6 years. Through a VA program, Mark’s rent can be up to $1,000 per month. He currently lives and rents in Massachusetts.
I think that Mark’s good character makes him a desirable tenant. He is guided by an internal compass, so that he can be counted on to meet his obligations. In fact, Mark goes beyond his obligations. When he visits me and Donna, he cannot stop himself from noticing something that needs to be fixed, and insists on taking care of it. He is skilled, and has a knack for knowing exactly what needs to be done. (He even fixed a clothes dryer for us which we thought needed to be junked, and now works perfectly) At his present residence, Mark has made repairs at no charge to his landlady.
As we have had little snowfall this winter and there are storms predicted in the coming days, the Department of Public Works would like to remind everyone that the winter parking ban is in effect.
*Overnight parking is forbidden on all streets in the town of Brattleboro.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes from January 13, 2023
III. Review Work to Date on Sections and Give Feedback
IV. Other Business (as required)
V. Adjournment
In case it is of interest, fyi:
Commentary (of mine): No Public Relief?:
AGENDA
I Approval of Minutes from 1/3/23
II Update
F38 Prevention of Sexual Harassment as Prohibited by Title IX (Readopted 1/10/23)
Policy for full Board Re-adoption on 1/24/23:
F21 – Policy on the use of Restraint and Seclusion (2nd Reading 1/10/23)
Public restrooms were a major topic of discussion for the board at the regular Tuesday meeting. Nothing, of course, was decided. The board also allowed the Assessors ask Representative Town Meeting Representatives to agree to a town-wide re-appraisal of taxable properties.
There were financial and EMS updates, and a discussion of further revising meeting agenda formats to reflect anticipated times of agenda items. (Good luck with that… says this reporter.)
The Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office will be emailing out a poll to Representative Town Meeting Members regarding their interest in Town provided childcare for RTM. This email will come from executive assistant Jessica Sticklor (email address: jsticklor@brattleboro.org). Please be on the lookout for this email and please return the poll as soon as possible, especially if you are interested in Town provided childcare for RTM.
The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office would like to notify the public that on January 24, 2023, our land records system will be down for maintenance, both on-site and remote. This will impact all recording and land records searching capabilities through the system. We will be back up and running on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please reach out with any questions – 802-251-8157 or townclerk@brattleboro.org
We took some time to ask Brattleboro’s new Town Manager, John Potter, a few questions about his return to New England and thoughts about the town and his new job.
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Welcome to Brattleboro! It’s always fun to catalog initial impressions. When you look around Brattleboro, what do you see and how does it look to you?
The last time I was in Brattleboro before interviewing for the Town Manager position was around thirty years ago when I came to town to buy a couple of draft horses for a woodlot operation I was running in Massachusetts. When returning this winter, the town looks very similar to what I remembered from years ago — a classic Vermont river town with kind and welcoming people who really care about their community.
1. Call to order
2. Approve minutes
3. Review existing charter with town attorney
4. Follow up discussion
In case it is of interest, fyi:
Advocacy Retirement:
BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Schedule for 1/16/23
Monday, January 16, 2023
5:00 am Brooks Memorial Library Events – The Buddha’s Politics as a Religious Leader 11/16/22
6:40 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – Janice Nimura & Allison Gilbert
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am The Talk, Vermont – Hopes and Challenges of Black Democrats
