WSESD Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes

AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Kelly Young, Board Chair

II. CONSENT AGENDA

• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – December 14 (pending), January 25 (pending), March 8, March 10, March 15 (pending)


Windham Regional Commission – One Year Seat Open

The Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office is currently accepting applications for one seat on the Windham Regional Commission. Information regarding the Windham Regional Commission can be found on the Town’s website under the heading Other Town Boards and Committees.


Winter Sunshine Puppetry Series presents Oma by Sandglass Theater

Putney, VT- Sandglass will present their own newest show for families, Oma, with a special musical score composed by Molly Gawler and the Gawler Family Band. Oma says that knitting is not just pom pom hats and sweaters. Oma’s knitting contains whole stories! This new family show by Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller is an intergenerational tale that revolves around Grandma or “Oma.” It is her birthday and all are preparing for the celebration. While the grown-ups manage work phone calls, playdate logistics and other such tasks, the children get into mischief with party decorating, present wrapping, cake baking. Finally they all gather around for one of Oma’s stories told in yarn. One character emerges from the tangle of wool and nearly ruins the party. But not to worry, all ends well at Oma’s house.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro’s Severe Housing Crisis

selectboard march 15 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard heard details of the Windham Regional Commission’s past year work as well as an overview of Brattleboro’s new Housing Action Plan, which tells us that Brattleboro is in a housing crisis. 500 units or more are needed immediately just to catch up with current needs. More if Brattleboro want to grow.

Peter Elwell and Steve Barrett were both commended for their years of municipal public service, the Brewer’s Fest got their annual permit, and liquor on town property rules are being tweaked.


WSESU Board Meeting Agenda – March 16, 2022

AGENDA
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 _____________________
D. Establish Meeting Days/Time _____________________


John Caldwell on “Here We Are”

With great humor, good will, and terrific stories, local legend John Caldwell talks about how he came to cross country skiing and coaching, the Olympics and the Caldwell family’s Nordic skiing legacy.

What a guy!


Join the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus!

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new members to sing with us either virtually or in-person. We will be singing on Thursdays this spring starting with a Zoom “Open Rehearsal” on Thursday, March 17 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, after which singers may register to continue singing via Zoom or join one of our in-person rehearsals. 

In-person rehearsals begin on March 24th and will be held either Thursday mornings at the Brattleboro Music Center from 10 – 11:30 am or Thursday evenings at All Souls Church from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Proof of vaccination and singers masks with a filter or N95/KN95 masks are required for in-person rehearsals this spring. Zoom rehearsals will take place weekly on Fridays from 10 – 11:30 am. We hope to conclude our season with an outdoor concert in June, but you do not have to participate in the concert to sing in chorus.


Road Construction Projects in the West River Valley

Travelers in the West River Valley might be both pleased and dismayed to know that there will be Route 30 paving and other road projects going on soon. Expect some delays and alternative routes in the near future.

The big plan is to re-surface VT Rt. 30 in Brattleboro, Dummerston and Newfane. You may have seen people out taking measurements last year.:

“Project Location: Beginning on VT Route 30 in the Town of Brattleboro, at mile marker 0.326 (just north of the intersection of VT-30 and Cedar St.) and extending north for 9.948 miles and ending at mile marker 1.597 in Newfane (just past the intersection of VT-30 and Hemlock Hill Rd).


BCTV Schedules – Week of March 14, 2022

BCTV Channel 1075 schedule for the week of 3/14/22

Monday, March 14, 2022

4:32 am The News Project – Treatment Courts, Roots and Wings
5:00 am At BMAC – Lunar New Year Cooking Demo 2/1/22
7:00 am Landmark College Presents – Alexandria Peary, M.F.A., Ph.D. 2/23/22
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am Brattleboro Democracy Forum – Redefining Democracy 1/31/22


Brattleboro Selectboard Organizational Meeting Correction

Correction to 03-15-22 Selectboard agenda: The agenda for the 03-15-22 Selectboard meeting states that the Organizational Meeting will take place on Monday, March 21, 2022 at 6:15pm at the Central Fire Station. The time of the meeting has been changed from 6:15pm to 9:00am. It will no longer take place at the Central Fire Station but will instead take place in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 15, 2022

The long-anticipated housing plan will be presented to the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting. This comes after Steve Barrett and Peter Elwell receive special ceremonial recognition from the board and the State of Vermont.

They’ll also hear a discuss work at the Windham Regional Commission, appoint some committee members, approve the brewer’s festival permits for an alcoholic beverage celebration, and start the process of prohibiting alcoholic beverages on Town property. You can discuss how we aren’t conflicted, or bring up other items not on the agenda, during public participation.


New Community Solar Array

Brattleboro, VT – Integrated Solar Applications (ISA) has announced a limited opportunity to join a new community solar array entitled “ISA Exit 1 Solar”. The array is located on 13.8 acres owned by the company, on Canal Street in Brattleboro, serviced by Green Mountain Power. It will provide direct access to renewable energy, enabling members to reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprint, without having to install or own a solar array on their property.


Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market Seeks New Vendors

The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market is now accepting applications for the 2022 market season. We’re open to agricultural, prepared food, specialty food, and craft producers from Windham County VT and Cheshire County NH, and will consider out-of-county applicants on a case by case basis.

Our lovely brook-side market, now going on its 48th year, runs from May 7 to October 29 from 9am to 2pm every Saturday at 570 Western Ave., just west of the covered bridge on Route 9 in Brattleboro. We have openings for full season, half season, and daily vendors.


Did Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Make A Mistake Raising Selectboard Stipends?

For many years it was assumed that the pool of selectboard candidates could be increased by increasing the compensation for the position. The idea was that maybe people who are single parents or working multiple jobs would run if only there was enough compensation to make it worthwhile. A corollary was that perhaps the board has been dominated by only people well-off enough to have the free time to serve.

Representatives at Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting would have this discussion at each RTM when the compensation article would come up. Eventually the arguments prevailed and the stipends went up. A board member now gets $8000 plus money to pay for child or other care during meetings. The chair gets more.


Winter Sunshine Puppetry Series presents Urban Wizard Academy, by Scotty Swan

Come witness magic maker and puppeteer, Scotty Swan with Urban Wizards Academy March 12th at 11am and 2pm. Swan’s work is a unique blend of sleight-of-hand magic, puppetry and improvisation that is woven together in an exhilarating show that gets the audience up off its feet to become part of the performance. This show is for family audiences ages 6 to 12 and sure to be a thrilling delight for parents as well.

Scotty Swan is a well-regarded artist and teacher who has been performing throughout the region since 1999. His shows are a unique blend of comedy, magic, 80s pop culture references, silly puppets, amazing illusions and hysterical audience participation, that keep his audiences laughing.