News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Energy Audit SEEDS, A Cell Tower, & A Structure To Climb Upon

by cgrotke | Town News

Brattleboro’s municipal properties will be receiving energy audits now that an energy-auditing firm has been selected for the task. The Brattleboro Selectboard approved the work to look at 14 different structures, to see what additional work could be done to save money long-term.

The board heard an interesting pair of contrasting presentations regarding a proposed 140 foot cell tower for Putney Road. One presentation showed it to be essential to the life of our community; the other questioned its necessity as proposed.

A new playground structure has been approved for purchase for West River park, town finances are on schedule one month into the fiscal year, and a complaint about a closed pool leads to a discussion of who cut the hours in the first place.

Brattleboro Committee Vacancies

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:

Agricultural Advisory Board
ADA Advisory Committee
Arts Committee
Citizens Police Communications Committee (CPCC)

$150 Reward for Return of Computer

by Rolf | Other

Here is the short version.

I will pay $150 to anyone who brings me my computer, no questions asked.

It was removed from my car late Friday or early Saturday , and I need it for work and to communicate with my brother who moved over seas. 

There is work I cannot finish without that computer, including movie scenes shot here in Brattleboro, concerning alcohol addiction.

Noticed Around Brattleboro – Summer 2015

by cgrotke | Town News

Ready for another “Noticed Around Brattleboro” list? This is you chance to point out things that have caught your eye in recent months.

To get you started, here are a few things I’ve noticed recently:

– New, large Steve Proctor vases at the front door of Brattleboro Savings & Loan to welcome bank customers.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 18, 2015

by cgrotke | Town News

Playground equipment for the West River Park, muncipal buildings’ energy audits, and a proposed new telecommunications tower for Putney Road are all on the next agenda of the Brattleboro Selectboard, set for Tuesday evening at the Municipal Center on Main Street.

You can attend in person, or watch on BCTV. You can also bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Public Hearings On Proposed Brattleboro Land Use Regulations

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Notice of Brattleboro Planning Commission Public Hearings Proposed Brattleboro Land Use Regulations
Monday, August 31, 2015, Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Brattleboro Municipal Center

Pursuant to 24 VSA Section 4444, notice is hereby given that the Brattleboro Planning Commission will hold public two public hearings in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center, 230 Main Street in Brattleboro, Vermont on:

Monday, August 31, 2015 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 – 6:00 PM

Brattleboro Our Town Selection Committee Application Deadline Extended

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard is accepting applications for interested people to become a part of an ad hoc Selection Committee to review the final proposals submitted by artists in conjunction with funding through the Town’s NEA “Our Town” grant. The Selection Committee will consist of several local residents and other members with expertise in the arts.

The Selectboard has approved a group of 13 proposals for final consideration. The artists have been asked to refine their proposals and will submit a final proposal for the Selection Committee to review. It is anticipated that the Selection Committee’s work will occur between September 14 and September 25. It will make a recommendation to the Selectboard regarding which project(s) should be selected for implementation.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of August 16

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Blasting operations on the north side of the new bridge will continue this week, and for approx the following two weeks. The target time for the blasts is weekdays between 1:30-2:00 pm. To ensure travelers’ safety, rolling roadblocks will be implemented on I-91, and the Exit 2 northbound on-ramp and the Exit 3 on-ramps in both directions will be closed for approximately 15 minutes. Sound impacts associated with the blasting will be minimal.

I-91

See above re blasting scheduled for this week.

The World Trade Center – The Lonely One and Only

by Vidda | Other

When Tower One and Tower Two stood in the same location for nearly thirty years the immensity of them was palpable, in height and breadth. In 2001 several months before 911 my sister-in-law and I were riding in a moving van on a June night on the highway on the New Jersey shoreline of the Hudson River when lower Manhattan came into view. She exclaimed, “My God, look at those two buildings. What are they for?” I told her they were the World Trade Center Towers. She couldn’t take her eyes off of them until they were no longer in view. I too took a long look at them wondering when I would see them again.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Arts Projects, Green Street Retaining Wall Bids

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting Tuesday evening to consider and endorse the work of the NEA Our Town Arts Screening Committee, as well as to award a bid for the Green Street retaining wall work to be done.

The meeting wasn’t televised, though, so your report is based on their meeting materials.

According to meeting materials…

Brattleboro Main Street Sidewalk Update #3

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

This is the third project update for the Town of Brattleboro’s Main Street Sidewalk Reconstruction Project. This update is getting sent out a little bit early this week to let you all know that on Wednesday, August 12, 2015, there will be a little bit of sawcutting taking place in the area near the Grove Street intersection (but still on the east side of Main Street).

Brattleboro Taxes and Utilities First Installment Due

by Not Signed In | Town News

The first installment of the 2015 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on August 17th, 2015 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after August 17th, 2015 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on August 17th, 2015 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after August 17th, 2015 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

Payments can be mailed to the Town of Brattleboro, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro VT 05301. An official postmark of August 17th, 2015 will be considered as an on time payment. Please include the quarterly payment stub to ensure your payment is applied properly.

I-91 and Exits 2 & 3 On-Ramp Closures for Blasting: Today and Weekdays for Next 3 Weeks

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Blasting Today

· The first blast will be at approximately 1:30 today.

· To ensure travelers’ safety, rolling roadblocks will be implemented on I-91 in each direction, and the on-ramps at Exits 2 Northbound and 3 in both directions will be closed for approximately 15 minutes.

· Traffic attempting to use Exits 2 and 3 on-ramps will be detoured to VT Route 5.

· Sound impacts associated with the blasting will be minimal.

BENE Group Bringing rCredits Alternative Currency to Vermont

by tomaidh | Business

The Vermont BENE Group (Better Economics for Neighbors Everywhere) has been meeting in Brattleboro since January to discuss and plan for bringing the rCredits alternative currency to Vermont.rCredits is an online exchange of credits that can be spent instead of dollars at participating businesses or for making payments to other participating individuals. It has been operating successfully in the Greenfield Massachusetts area since the Fall of 2013.

The credits can be earned and spent locally, which encourages local circulation thus stimulating the local economy. In addition, both businesses and individuals receive incentive bonuses rewarding use of the system.

Reminder of I-91 Ramp Closings

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Reminder: To help reduce congestion on I-91 during high traffic periods, VTrans will close both the Exit 3 on-ramps next three Sundays from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM: August 9, August 16, and August 23. Southbound traffic will be routed to Exit 1, and northbound traffic attempting to use the Exit 3 on ramp will be routed north on Route 5 to Exit 4. Officers will be on hand to control traffic. I-91 will remain open.

Cindy Cook
Principal, Adamant Accord, Inc.
Past Vice President, Association for Conflict Resolution

Thank You From Vermont Workers’ Center

by ESchwartz | Other

The Vermont Workers’ Center  would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their generous food and resource donations to support the Solidarity School held on July 26th & 27th 2015 in Brattleboro: Against the Grain Gourmet, Mocha Joe’s Roasting Company, Amy’s Bakery Arts Cafe, the Brattleboro Food Co-op, the Vermont Country Deli, The Works Bakery Cafe, Brattleboro Time Trade, Price Chopper, Subway, Top of the Hill Grill, Superfresh! Organic Cafe, The Root Social Justice Center, Ellen Schwartz,​ and Spoon Agave. Special thanks to Kipton Tewksbury for his generous logistical support and and help in keeping  the workshop running seamlessly.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Our Town, Retaining Wall

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 5:30pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session immediately following the business meeting to discuss contracts and the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options.

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

Main Street Sidewalk Update

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

This is the second update for the Main Street Sidewalk Reconstruction Project. This week we continued preparatory work for the major construction by installing advanced warning signage around town and also by sawcutting the roadway and sidewalk. Although this may seem like a noisy and messy operation, it actually allows the contractor to remove the sidewalk in a much neater fashion. This will really help get those big slabs of concrete out smoothly in the tight locations.