Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 17, 2015

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will take action on a number of issues related to the implementation of Pay As You Throw at their next regular Tuesday meeting. The decisions were delayed to this meeting in part to give the public time to weigh in.

The board will take up the matter of their special mailing to all residents in opposition to proposed Charter change amendments on the March ballot, learn about the Union Hill improvements at the Western Ave intersection, approve homeland security and terrorism prevention grants, and more.

You can attend in person at the Municipal Center, even participate in the meeting, or watch on BCTV and read about it here when it is over. If you are really ambitious, you can do all of those things.

5:45: 2/13/15

by BrattleboroTV | Media

Kia Bailey returns to the news desk for a Friday the 13th Valentines Day Harris Hill weekend edition of BCTV’s weekly news round-up that breaks down the board’s special PAYT meeting from Thursday, TransCanada’s plan to cash out on tax obligations all up and down the CT river, and much much more.
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Weekend Comedy Series: Steven Wright

by cgrotke | Entertainment

A 1985 performance by Steven Wright. Droll, dead-pan one-liners delivered rapid-fire. His humor twists things around and requires some assembly, but he gives you the parts, and asks the questions.

“Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?”

I-91 To Close Between Exits 2 and 3 Overnight February 18, 19

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91 between Exits 3 and 2 and the Exit 3 on ramps will be closed to both Northbound and and Southbound traffic so that crews can install a glare screen that will help shield the glare from on-coming headlights. The closure is scheduled for the nights of Wednesday 2/18 and Thursday 2/19 from 7:00 PM to 6:00AM. Traffic will use Route 5 as a detour.

Brattleboro Early/Absentee Ballots, Voter Registration and Town Clerk Hours

by Not Signed In | Politics

Early/absentee ballots for Annual Town and Town School District election to be held on March 3, are now available in the Brattleboro town clerk’s office. Anyone wishing to vote prior to March 3, may apply for an early/absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2.

Early/absentee ballots may be voted in person in the clerk’s office, mailed to the voter by the clerk’s office, picked up by the voter or delivered to the voter’s residence by two justices of the peace. All voted ballots must be received by the clerk before the polls close on election day in order to be counted.

SeVEDS Request for Proposals for Windham Higher Education Cooperative Website Project

by SeVEDS | Education

Request for Proposals for Project Design and Intern Mentoring

The Windham Higher Education Cooperative (WHEC), which includes Community College of Vermont (Brattleboro), Landmark College, Marlboro College, SIT Graduate Institute, Vermont Technical College, and Union Institute and University, is seeking proposals for their Consortium’s Website Design.

Expect President’s Day Weekend Traffic Delays on I-91 in Brattleboro Area

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The traveling public is advised to expect traffic delays on I-91 northbound between Exits 2 and 3 in the Brattleboro area. These delays are likely to occur during periods of high traffic volume. Expect delays on I-91 Northbound on Friday afternoon and evening, and on I-91 Southbound on Sunday and Monday afternoon of President’s Day Weekend. Motorists are encouraged to use Route 5 as an alternate route between Exits 2 and 3, and those with flexible travel plans are encouraged to schedule their travel to avoid high travel periods.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting: Pay As You Throw

by cgrotke | Town News

An abbreviated Brattleboro Selectboard had an extended special meeting to primarily discuss Pay As You Throw. Donna Macomber was absent, and David Schoales left midway through.

New information revealed that our new trash bags will be color coded (colors undisclosed) with drawstring enclosures at top.

Also new, that bags will be sold about town in packs of five or ten. A 5-pack of small, 15 gallon bags will cost, at $2 each, ten dollars. For the larger 32 gallon bags, a 5-pack will cost, at $3 each, fifteen dollars. Ten packs will then cost $20 and $30.

Individual bags will be sold at the Municipal Center and at the Gibson-Aiken Center.

Obama Signs Bill on Veterans Suicides

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was at the White House today when President Barack Obama signed legislation to address suicides among veterans.

“This bill says loudly and clearly that we understand suicide among veterans is a national tragedy and it begins the process of addressing the problem,” said Sanders, who headed the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee when the panel late last year passed the measure.

Twenty-two veterans a day, on average, take their own lives. “The suicide rate, especially among young veterans, is tragically high and we have to do everything we can get these veterans timely access to the quality of care they have earned and deserve,” Sanders said.

Brattleboro Closures for Presidents’ Day

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of President’s Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2015, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, February 15 and February 16. All other violations, including extended parking will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday, February 15 and February 16, 2015.

Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee Meeting Cancelled

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee meeting previously scheduled on February 13 is cancelled due to the expected extreme cold and difficult travel conditions. The next scheduled meeting is 03/13/2015.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

New White House Petition: Make Marijuana Legal

by CrisEricson2016 | Activism

There have been so many marijuana legalization petitions at the White House, and none have succeeded in the ultimate objective, so it is important to keep signing more peititions.   The squeaky wheel is the one that gets greased; right?

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project: Detour Thursday

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Tomorrow, 2/12/15, I-91 Southbound between Exits 3 and 2 will be closed to all traffic from 10 AM to 2 PM. The Exit 3 on ramp will be closed to both NB and SB traffic. The interstate will be closed so crews may complete necessary repairs to developing pot holes. Traffic will use Route 5 as a detour.

Interest in Pre-Brattleboro

by richholschuh | History

I’m a local fellow with a great interest in the context and culture of this area prior to its becoming the Brattleboro we know today. Meaning, the vast sweep of 12,000 years preceding the past 250 or so; the Sokoki of the Western Abenaki were here for centuries and their ancestors for millenia before them. And, it must be affirmed, their descendants are still among us.

By way of honoring this land and its people, I would like to help acknowledge and document this heritage and raise awareness to engender respect. It struck me that this gathering of the minds might be a reasonable venue within which to inquire about likemindedness. Anyone else with such an inclination?

Welch Responds to President’s War Authorization Request

by Not Signed In | Politics

Washington, DC – This morning, President Obama sent Congress a plan to authorize the use of force against ISIS. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) gave the following response after reviewing the proposal:

“Congress has been ducking its Constitutional responsibility to authorize this war so I am pleased that the President is now forcing Congress to do its job. However, I cannot support this authorization as written. It leaves in place the Bush-era open ended authorization that led to so much harm.

Sanders Statement on War Powers Resolution

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after President Barack Obama formally asked Congress to authorize a military campaign against the Islamic State terrorist group:

“The Islamic State is a brutal and dangerous terrorist organization which has murdered thousands of innocent men, women and children, including Americans. It must be defeated.

“I voted against the war in Iraq because I feared very much the destabilizing impact it would have on the region. Today, after 13 years in Afghanistan and 12 years in Iraq, after the loss of almost 7,000 troops and the expenditure of trillions of dollars, I very much fear U.S. involvement in an expanding and never-ending quagmire in that region of the world.

Next Brattleboro Area Techies Meet Scheduled for February 19 at 5:30 pm

by Not Signed In | Sci-Tech

The next meeting of the Brattleboro Area Techies, the fast-growing networking group for tech users, will be on Thursday, February 19, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, at the office of Mondo Mediaworks in Brattleboro. Everyone who works with technology in the Brattleboro area, from programmers to designers to makers, is welcome.

Recent developments in shared working space in Brattleboro will be discussed, together with other topics. As is the habit, most of the meeting will be devoted to introductions and informal networking. Over 750 people have attended Brattleboro Area Techie meetings in the past few months.