AGENDA
Mission: Foster learning environments in which all members of the school community are safe, feel valued, and are appreciated, as well as promote policies and procedures that value equity and diversity in our schools.
I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors
GunSense VT is holding a candlelight vigil in Brattleboro this Thursday, November 2nd at Pliny Park, 5 p.m. in support of the people of Lewiston, Maine, banning assault weapons, and passing common sense legislation to save innocent lives. It is one of several that are planned for the same day around the State.
As GunSense VT board member Laura Subin, whose daughter was in lockdown at Bates College in Lewiston last week, said, “The chilling proximity of the tragedy in Maine shatters any illusion of safety we might have previously felt here in Vermont. It is a harrowing reminder that no community is immune to this sort of heartache.”
2023-121 Jennifer Shay; Historic Resource Overlay District & Residential Neighborhood 3600; request for Design Review Approval to demolish a contributing structure in the Homestead Home Historic District at 198 Canal Street; Tax Map Parcel #325182.000
2023-129 Wesley Babb & Stacy Salpietro-Babb; Residential Neighborhood District; request for Conditional Use Approval to construct an enclosure and keep a rehabbed raven at 31 Christie Lane; Tax Map Parcel #110326.220
U.S. Congressperson Becca Balint of Vermont is using her time in the U.S. House of Representatives, time which costs us taxpayer dollars, to have a girly cat fight with U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of the State of Georgia.
BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 10/30/23
Monday, October 30, 2023
4:00 am BDCC presents – SoVT Get on Board
5:30 am 1st Wednesdays Presents – The Joy of Lex with the Co-Host of “A Way with Words”
6:45 am Stained Glass Windows of St. Michaels – Week 8: St. John the Baptist
The annual fall Medicare Advantage media blitz is in full swing. Private insurance companies are raking in billions of dollars on the backs of unwitting seniors who think they are getting a good deal but in fact are being robbed of not only benefits but money.
Here’s the quick rundown. In 2003 it was decided that the private insurance industry should share in the profits of the government’s Medicare program. It was a calculated political move to privatize Medicare and eventually turn it into an entirely private insurance product.
Keep in mind that Medicare’s administrative expenses run at about 2 percent while private insurance company administrative costs run as high as 20 percent or more.
6:10 – 6:15 Announcements
• Guilford Town Plan revisions
• Dummerston Zoning Amendments
• Other
The Brattleboro RTM Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Suite 212.
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 4:14 in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room. This agenda contains the zoom information.
The last Brattleboro Walking History tours of the season will be held this Friday, October 27 at 4 pm (NOT 10/28 at 11 am as advertised on the calendar) AND next Saturday, November 4 at 11 am.
Designed as a fundraiser, volunteers from the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club have created a walking history tour of downtown Brattleboro. With the help of the Brattleboro Historical Society and the Brattleboro Words Project, Sunrise Rotary volunteers pooled their collective knowledge to put together a great introduction to Brattleboro, Vermont’s illustrious history.
A most delightful and fascinating show with filmmaker Willow O’Feral. An award winning documentary filmmaker, Willow’s films focus on social justice and human interest. Co-founder of Haptic Pictures she leads with finely tuned cinematic skills and curiosity – her approach is “fiercely heart-forward”. Her film “Break the Silence” features local Brattleboro women.
Industry Recognized Credentials were discussed as a main priority. The Forestry program has The Game of Logging, Tractor Safety, First Aid/CPR, LEAP (Logger Education to Advance Professionalism) and OSHA 10. One member spoke up as to his observations in the field. The IRCs, in particular, Game of Logging are great for a Forestry student’s basic knowledge on the job but what seems to be lacking most is 21st Century skills desperately needed in the workplace. Students may know how to cut down a tree but if they cannot talk to the homeowner, make suggestions, plan alternatives, or figure out a budget for the job, then they will still fail, regardless of how many IRCs are in hand.
Crews have finished removing the foundations of the old tank system at the site where Pier 1 of the new bridge is to be built. A large crane and other equipment and materials have been mobilized to the site. Next week, driving the 30″ diameter steel pipe to bedrock using a diesel hammer, or pile driver, will begin. This very loud pounding is authorized from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and may last from three to five weeks. This is the last of the foundation work for this project
No work is currently scheduled up on the VT 142 corridor.
The Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department is inviting the community to participate in an interactive session to share ideas about improvements to the pool and aquatics facilities at Living Memorial Park.
The session will occur on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street, Brattleboro, in the Selectboard Meeting Room.
This upcoming session, which will be led by the Town’s contracted design consultant team, builds upon the work of a previous session that took place during the summer of 2023.
Brattleboro is undergoing a major shift, with many long-running and well-known entities exiting stage left, and some new projects are bubbling up. Here are just a few examples:
– Sam’s closing.
– MT Bank closing.
– Josh Davis leaving Groundworks.
– Cor Trowbridge leaving BCTV.
– Lee Bradford leaving Co-op.
BRATTLEBORO—Josh Davis, Executive Director of Groundworks Collaborative for the past 11+ years, has announced that he will be leaving the organization in the coming weeks to become the Executive Director of SEVCA—Southeastern Vermont Community Action—at the start of the new year.
“Groundworks has been incredibly fortunate to have Josh at the helm for over a decade; during which the organization has grown tremendously to meet the increasing needs of our state and community,” said Board Chair Rita Ramirez. “Although this news is difficult and bittersweet, we are happy for Josh and excited about this next phase for Groundworks. With the dedication of the Board and our Leadership Team and staff, we will move into this next phase from a position of calm and strength.”
“Josh is leaving Groundworks with a vibrant and impactful legacy, felt most deeply through the leadership and organizational culture he has built together with staff,” said Director of Development & Communications Libby Bennett. “We will miss Josh immensely, but his presence will always be felt here alongside evidence of all we’ve built together.”
BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 10/23/23
Monday, October 23, 2023
6:00 am BCTV Annuals – BCTV Members Meeting 2023
6:45 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – On Patriarchy– Angela Saini & Carrie Baker
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am Energy Week with George Harvey – Energy Week #545 – 10/19/2023
If you live in the Northeast chances are pretty good you have been using oil, propane or wood to heat your home for a few weeks. There are some people that set a date for turning on their furnace and they suffer through until then, partly as a matter of principle and partly because of the cost of fuel.
Then there are those among us, a growing number, who struggle to heat their homes. They rely on federal and state fuel assistance programs which do not start until late November. The politics of that have always troubled me and politicians say they understand the timing is not realistic, but the allocation doesn’t happen until well after the need for heat starts.
This is where the Windham County Heat Fund comes in. We try to have a reserve of funds at the start of the heating season so we can fill that gap for people who rely on government fuel assistance to keep warm. Our busiest times are now until late November and near the end of the heating season when people have used up their fuel assistance allocations.
The Brattleboro Citizens Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 5:30pm at the Brooks Memorial Library.
The Brattleboro Charter Review Commission will meet on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street) and over Zoom.
SUMMARY:
● Students expressed the need to increase attendance at Working Toward Justice Day.
● A new representative from Brattleboro, Matt Schibley, was appointed to the board by unanimous vote.
● The Superintendent gave a summary of the day’s professional development activities, which focused on executive function and student engagement.
● District Literacy Coaches gave a presentation on the science of reading and how that informs district practices.
● The Board adopted an updated policy on Personnel Recruitment, Selection, Appointment and Background Checks.
● The board heard updates from the Academy School and BAMS Leadership Councils.
