Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status – March 20, 2020 – 12:20 pm

by Not Signed In | Town News

WHAT IS NEW TODAY

A special Selectboard meeting will be held on Monday, March 23, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.  The Selectboard will appoint Ian Goodnow to the seat that became vacant upon Dave Schoales’ resignation and will elect Selectboard officers.  Please note that the Municipal Building will be open to the public on March 23 from 5:15pm until 15 minutes after the special Selectboard meeting is adjourned.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Scheduled

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, March 23, 2020, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.  An ASL interpreter will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.  The building will be open to the public at 5:15pm on that day.

There’s Something Very Unifying About A Global Crisis

by Lise | Health, Op/Ed
Cruise Ship

There’s something very unifying about a global crisis — a great inescapable event that affects us all at the same time.  Such crises seem rare but in modern times, they happen often.  We have world economic crises, a global climate crisis, and a crisis of faith in our leaders that’s led to widespread social uprisings around the world.  These sorts of crises affect everyone to some extent, but the effects are hard to gauge.  Some people are affected disproportionately, others not at all.

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

by Not Signed In | Town News

WHAT IS NEW TODAY 

• Selectboard member Dave Schoales has resigned so that Selectboard member-elect Ian Goodnow can be appointed. This will allow the composition of the Selectboard to change in the manner decided by the voters at the same time when that transition normally would take place. The Town’s Charter states that “newly elected Selectboard members’ terms shall begin on the first Monday following the final adjournment of the annual Representative Town Meeting.” Due to the postponement of this year’s Representative Town Meeting, the commencement of Ian Goodnow’s service would have been delayed indefinitely. Instead, a special Selectboard meeting will be held soon so that the continuing 4 Selectboard members can appoint Ian Goodnow to fill the vacancy created by Dave Schoales’ resignation. 

David Schoales Resigns Selectboard – Ian Goodnow To Take Seat

by cgrotke | Politics

“WHAT IS NEW TODAY • Selectboard member Dave Schoales has resigned so that Selectboard member-elect Ian Goodnow can be appointed. This will allow the composition of the Selectboard to change in the manner decided by the voters at the same time when that transition normally would take place. The Town’s Charter states that “newly elected Selectboard members’ terms shall begin on the first Monday following the final adjournment of the annual Representative Town Meeting.” Due to the postponement of this year’s Representative Town Meeting, the commencement of Ian Goodnow’s service would have been delayed indefinitely. Instead, a special Selectboard meeting will be held soon so that the continuing 4 Selectboard members can appoint Ian Goodnow to fill the vacancy created by Dave Schoales’ resignation.”

Tips For Working At Home

by cgrotke | Business

Some of you may be new to working at home. Lise and I have been running our web design business like this for over 20 years, and it took some getting used to.  Here are a few tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years:

Have a dedicated work area

If you can keep your work and play separate, it helps. Try to find a bit of space that can be for “work” so that you can get away from it later on.

Brattleboro COVID-19 Update March 18, 2020

by Not Signed In | Town News

WHAT IS NEW TODAY

Due to the Governor’s order prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) scheduled for March 21 has been canceled. It will be re-warned when it becomes legal and prudent to do so. The current plan is to re-warn RTM on April 7 and to hold RTM on May 9.

• The Selectboard voted last night to allow businesses who are repaying loans to the Town’s Small Business Assistance Program to defer their monthly payments until further notice.

• The Selectboard also voted last night that until further notice the Town will not shut-off water service to any customer as a result of that customer becoming delinquent on payment of water+sewer fees.

BDCC COVID-19 Invitation to Businesses for Weekly Webinars

by Not Signed In | Business

Dear Business owners and employers, 
 
We understand that news is coming in fast as the circumstances around COVID-19 change. In order to make sure the region’s businesses have access to vital information necessary to navigate a turbulent economy, BDCC is making the most up-to-date information available on our website

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Cancellation

by Not Signed In | Town News

Due to the COVID-19 health concerns, and the guidance from Governor Scott to limit gatherings to 50 people, the Brattleboro Selectboard decided at the March 17 Selectboard meeting to cancel the March 21, 2020 Representative Town Meeting. The goal is to reschedule this meeting when it is safe to do so. The public will be informed when a new date is set.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – COVID-19, Skatepark To Be Built, RTM Postponed

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard mar 17 2020

The Brattleboro Selectboard held their regular meeting, but it was anything but “regular” Tuesday. Board members were absent. Those attending sat apart from one another (not quite 6 feet…). COVID-19 was influencing almost every article on the agenda. And Brattleboro’s Skatepark was approved to begin construction. 

The COVID-19 update and discussion was the main item. Groundworks got an additional grant to begin construction on their new building, the town finance report looks good up until last week but may show deficits before the fiscal year is over, and Representative Town Meeting is postponed.

Mitchell-Giddings Fine Arts Responds to COVID 19

by Mitchell • Giddings FIne Arts | Arts

Following advice and common sense, Mitchell-Giddings has made the difficult decision to temporarily close our doors until further notice even as we remain open online for purchases and gallery activities (or at 802-251-8290).

We gladly welcome scheduled gallery visits by appointment.

Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall Coming to Brattleboro in September

by cohnpr | History

I recently had the honor of hosting BCTV Open Studio with Lenny Derby, Vermont Chapter president of Vietnam Veterans of America.  Lenny is spearheading an effort to bring the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall to Brattleboro in September. This is a very important undertaking and deserves the support of the community. Please watch the show and find a way to support this worthy endeavor. Thank you.

COVID-19 Temporary Free Parking in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town News

As a precautionary measure the Town of Brattleboro will immediately suspend the collection of all parking fees and cease issuing parking fines until further notice. All meters and parking kiosks will message “Free Parking”. No further permits will be sold until paid parking is resumed. All previously issued citations must be paid by mail or online at www.brattleboro.org. The Parking Enforcement Office at 77 Flat Street is also closed until further notice. 

This measure is intended to be temporary and will be reviewed as COVID-19 conditions change. Once a decision to reinstate parking fines and fees is made, the public will be notified well in advance of the renewed enforcement activities. 

Town of Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status March 16, 2020, 4:30pm 

by Not Signed In | Town News

An Update to the Community from Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell: 

The United States Government and the State of Vermont are operating under State of Emergency declarations issued by President Trump and Governor Scott related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The Town of Brattleboro, as a subdivision of the State of Vermont, is taking emergency actions in accordance with Governor Scott’s declaration of a State of Emergency for all of Vermont. 

Fire Chief Mike Bucossi, who also is the Town’s Emergency Management Director, is in close ongoing communication with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Rescue Inc., and other emergency health service providers. Chief Bucossi and Town Manager Peter Elwell are in daily communication with the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Emergency Management. Through this coordination, they are not only ensuring the preparedness of Brattleboro town government but also assisting in the preparedness of first responders throughout southeastern Vermont. All other members of the Town’s senior management team are maintaining similarly close contact with their colleagues in State government and others to ensure that the Town’s actions are taken in concert with similar actions to protect the public throughout Vermont and beyond. 

WHAT IS NEW TODAY 

• All Town facilities will be closed to the public beginning Wednesday, March 18. 
• All Town departments will continue to be available to the public via telephone and email. 
• Some employees will work from home. Other employees will continue to report to work. 
• All regularly scheduled Town board, committee, and commission meetings are cancelled until further notice. 

Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office Closing To Public

by Not Signed In | Town News

As a precaution, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office will be closed to the public effective Wednesday morning, March 18 and until further notice. The Town Clerk’s Office staff will remain available to assist you by phone and email.

Town Clerk’s Office hours remain the same, Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

How Are You Holding Up?

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

Strange times, eh? And such a quick, sudden shift for just about everything. Aside from whiplash, how are you holding up?

I find myself going back and forth between trying to continue some semblance of business as usual, and being in shock at how this is not business as usual at all.

BCTV Schedules – Week of 3/16/20

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 / 1075 schedule for the week of 3/16/20

Monday, March 16, 2020

4:15 am Current Topics in Science Series – Ginger Nickerson, Ph. D.
5:30 am Community Forum – Public Forum on Vehicle Break-Ins 2/29/20
7:35 am Yestermorrow – Tiny House VT 2019 – Vermont Solar Installers
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am Couch Potatoe Productions – Holocaust Survivor Mr. Elly Gotz 2/26/20