News & Information

Following on the thread here at iBratt concerning energy efficiency at the West Brattleboro fire station, this article is on life-cycle cost analysis as an alternative, many would say better, decision making tool for major capital expenses like fire stations.  Versions of this should appear in the Reformer and Commons soon as well.  Info on assumptions, modeling tools, etc. will be added in the comments section.

The (truer) Cost of Things (like buildings)

When a large building is built the owner usually bends over backwards to keep construction costs as low as possible.  What would happen if the primary objective were not to minimize up-front costs but rather to keep the cost of operating the building over its lifetime as low as possible?  This is called a life-cycle cost analysis.  Let’s apply it to the West Brattleboro fire station that is currently under construction, in particular its heating energy use.

At their next Tuesday meeting at the Municipal Center, the Brattleboro Selectboard will likely approve of the $2,773,336 guaranteed maximum price for the work to be done for the new police station.

Ten more areas of the FY18 budget will be reviewed, a downtown parking study will get underway, parking lots will be discussed, and single stream transition issues will be reviewed.

All this and more, and you can attend and participate! Bring up anything else not already on the agenda during Public Participation.

Brattleboro’s Finance Director, John O’Connor, announced that he might retire during FY18.  Vacation buybacks were a frequent topic and planners are using fewer ballpoint pens.

All this and more, at a special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard from a remote but familiar location across the street from their usual meeting room.

The Town of Brattleboro would like to remind everyone that the snow emergency ban is in effect.

Snow and ice will be removed from the streets in the downtown area this evening.

Parked vehicles in the downtown district must be removed by 10:30pm or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

The Town of Brattleboro would like to remind everyone that the snow emergency ban is in effect.

Snow and ice will be removed from the parking lots in the downtown area this evening.

Parked vehicles in the downtown parking lots must be removed by 10:30pm or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at 5:30pm at the Gibson Aiken Center in the Senior Center Room. NOTE THE CHANGE IN LOCATION AND TIME. ASL interpreters will be available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing members of the community. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into deliberative session at the end of the business meeting to discuss reclassification of Bittersweet Lane.

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

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

On Thursday, December 8th, at 5:30 pm, the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will host its annual Holiday Party at Dalem’s Chalet, 78 South Street. This is a time for people and businesses in West Brattleboro to get together socially and to celebrate the Association’s numerous accomplishments in this past year. The evening will feature a cash bar with hors d’oeuvres prepared by the restaurant. The WBA suggests a voluntary donation of $5 toward the food, although no one will be turned away.

The selectboard got through a long meeting, accomplishing much but under strained and tense moments at times. They chastisted one of their own for poor judgement and actions, explored a change in Rt 30 as it approaches and leaves Brattleboro, voted to go forward with a switch to single stream recycling, killed the MRF at the WSWMD, offered suggestions to organizations over workplans and budget requests, and more.

It’s going to be a long meeting Tuesday night when the Brattleboro Selectboard takes up an agenda covering just about everything.

There will be an update on the Police and Fire facilities, a presentation on the Rt 30 “gateway,” a decision on what to do about recycling and the Town Representative voting against Town wishes, and more budget discussion. And…

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 10:00am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be closed Tuesday, December 13, as staff will be conducting the Town School Vote in the Municipal Center, room 212. Polling hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Annette L. Cappy
Brattleboro Town Clerk
230 Main Street, Suite 108
Brattleboro. VT 05301

acappy@brattleboro.org
ph 802-251-8129
fax 802-257-2312

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting to continue their discussion of the proposed FY2018 town budget. In the very short meeting we learned of two big announcements – a first mention of a $2 million DPW facility being pencilled in as a placeholder in the 2021 budget, and news that Brattleboro’s downtown crosswalks and intersections would be cleared of snow by the DPW this winter.

On Thursday, December 8th, at 5:30 pm, the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will host its annual Holiday Party at Dalem’s Chalet, 78 South Street. This is a time for people and businesses in West Brattleboro to get together socially and to celebrate the Association’s numerous accomplishments in this past year. The evening will feature a cash bar with hors d’oeuvres prepared by the restaurant. The WBA suggests a voluntary donation of $5 toward the food, although no one will be turned away.

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, November 28, 2016 at 5:30pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 4:30pm in the Brattleboro Food Co-Op community room.

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