CORRECTION: The officer did not falsify evidence. To falsify evidence means to alter it after it is admitted into a court record. That’s really serious and worse than what happened. Here’s what happened.
The Brattleboro “health officer” came to our emergency homeless shelter February 7 2023. We had three RVs for free shelter. He had been told that there were no sewer connections to the RVs. See the video. at brmse.org .
The Brattleboro Selectboard organized themselves with the assistance of Brattleboro’s Town Clerk, swearing in members, electing a new Chair, Vice-Chair, and Clerk.
Daniel Quipp is the new Chair, Liz McCloughlin is Vice Chair, and Richard Davis is the Clerk.
I have been trying to understand why having a visible population of people who either appear homeless or, who look as though their body or their mind is in a troubled state, cause people to react strongly to their presence. I don’t think there is a simple answer to this question, but I do believe that if we try to look at “those people” from different perspectives we just might be able to soften the fear and anger that is aroused.
It is frightening to many people to have to walk in close proximity to people they believe to be homeless or troubled. Part of the problem is that panhandling has become a common activity and when people are asked for money they feel violated and they may fear that they will be accosted if they don’t give people what they are asking for.
We live in a free society and that means that all of us have rights to pursue a vocation, whether or not it is socially acceptable, as long as it does not break any laws. Some places have tried to outlaw panhandling. Panhandling is a confrontational act and some people might say they have the right to walk in their own town without experiencing the fear that panhandling arouses in them. A lot of people react when they see a panhandler by assuming they are too lazy to get a job.
March 25 Shepherd’s Pie
Summer Squash
Peas & Carrots
Apple Sauce
6:15 – 6:50 Downtown Economic Development
Guest: Kate Traszkos, Downtown Brattleboro Alliance Executive Director
Presentation about downtown economic development efforts, data, and opportunities for the Planning Commission to engage in inventory efforts.
6:50 – 7:05 Vernon Dam Relicensing
Endorse comment letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the Vernon Dam relicensing.
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – ADMINISTRATION
A. Nominations/Election of Board Chair __________________________
B. Nominations/Election of Board Vice-Chair _________________________
C. Nominations/Election of Board Clerk _________________________
Please be advised that the top floor of the Transportation Center has been closed for maintenance starting March 22, 2024. The closure will remain in effect throughout the next few weeks as a fence is installed around a portion of the top deck.
To prioritize safety, a temporary fence will be erected while preparations and construction of a permanent installation are underway.
Annual Brattleboro dog and wolf-hybrid licenses are available for the 2024 licensing period. All current dog owners were mailed a renewal notice in early February. To renew an existing dog license, return your payment and renewal notice with updated rabies vaccine information by April 1, 2024.
The Brattleboro Selectboard’s Organizational Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 6:15pm, in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street, RM 212) and over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” Closed captioning will be available for the deaf and hard of hearing.
AGENDA
I. Convene, quorum check
II. Approve Minutes of February, 2023 Meeting
III. Welcome & Introductions/Check-in [10 mins]
IV. Purpose and Priorities [40 mins]
Work has continued on the cap for Pier 1 with the rebar being flown into place and tied atop the stem. Form work for the cap will be completed, bearing seats fully constructed, detail work finished, and everything fully adjusted to match plan location and elevation prior to the scheduled concrete placement next Tuesday.
Additional crews may begin work on the drainage installation required in the Barrows and Fisher yard late next week.
I. Approval of Minutes from 2/28/24 (5 minutes)
Update: 3/12/24 SD Meeting
Re-Adoption (Action Required):
G8 Continuous Improvement Plan
Am feeling some slight pangs of hunger as I sit down to my dinner, and the thought automatically arises, ‘how could a starving person take the immeasurably more severe hunger pain caused by the strong contractions of the stomach when it’s empty,’and that makes me think of the poor desperately hungry children being starved in Gaza. Am still aware of the good taste of the food in my mouth but suddenly am not enjoying eating.
A place to make note of little things you see in and around Brattleboro, such as:
New bigger stronger electric poles going in along Rt 30 between the Retreat farm area and the bakery.
Work taking apart the motel in West B continues.
Potholes! Some are so big the Rec & Parks Department will begin maintaining them as swimming pools.
CALL TO ORDER—6:03 p.m. – Anne Beekman – Chair
The chair thanked Mo Hart for her work at the previous night’s meeting with zoom links and technology.
On a motion by Deborah Stanford the board moved to approve the minutes of February 14, 2024.
Agenda
1. What the end of the year looks like:
a. Numbers of students (first year/second year)
b. Senior goals
c. Completion of Pre-Apprenticeship
Now that Spring is here, we can talk freely. We didn’t seem to get very much snow this winter. Felt pretty warm, too. Is the end of snow near?
This is very much like the weather used to be in the mid-Atlantic. When I was in DC in the late 80’s and early 90’s, it would get cold, but there was barely any snow. A half an inch would surprise people and shut things down. We got much more slush, and that would freeze into ruts because there wasn’t a good plow system in place.
I just went through the process of buying a used car from a local dealership – twice! I thought I’d share what happened in case you are considering getting yourself something new or used to drive.
The Realization
Last summer I came to a point in the proverbial road where a choice had to be made – spend some money fixing up my older car, or look for something newer. Both options had pros and cons.
Join Next Stage for an evening of discussion and music inspired by the climate crisis and environmental activism. New York Times bestselling author and historian Douglas Brinkley and environmentalist and author Bill McKibben will talk about their writings on climate action and environmental history, in a discussion moderated by Vanessa Vadim.
The evening will open with music from traveling composer-performer Ben Cosgrove, whose music explores themes of landscape, place, and environment. The event will take place at Next Stage on Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 pm at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. Tickets are $15.
A first person account of running for your freedom and safety as a non-binary person from Russia. After much red tape, detainment and hardship, Ember Rebrina is now in Brattleboro, receiving help and support through CASP, and volunteers in the community.
