News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Award-Winning Game Designer Comes to Southern Vermont

by Not Signed In | Other

Kathryn Blume, co-founder and Executive Director of Vermontivate!, an award-winning sustainability game, will be coming to Brattleboro on Wednesday, November 6th hosted by the Brattleboro Energy Committee. She’ll be sharing the story of creating a frolicsome on-line/real-world competition which infuses joy and creativity into the serious and important work of tackling the global climate crisis.

Launched in May 2012, Vermontivate! has had players from towns all over the state racking up points for everything from changing lightbulbs and starting compost piles to writing energy-related poetry, decorating bicycles and reaching out to people around the world who’ve been affected by climate change.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee is Accepting Applications

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee is accepting applications for FY15 Human Services Funding. The Application, as well as Instructions and Guidelines, are on the Brattleboro website – www.brattleboro.org. The Human Services Review Committee Informational Meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. The deadline to submit applications to the Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office is Monday, November 18, 2013 at 4:00pm. For information regarding the application process, contact Jan Anderson in the Brattleboro Town Manager’s at 802-251-8151

Upcoming Windham Regional Plan Public Forums: We’ve Got Questions

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) is approximately halfway through the two-year update process for the 2014 Windham Regional Plan. The Plan reflects shared values and concerns of the people who live in the 27-towns and discusses current and future issues facing the Region. The Windham Region consists of the 23 towns of Windham County, Readsboro, Searsburg and Winhall in Bennington County, and Weston in Windsor County. The Windham Regional Plan is updated on an eight year cycle during which the information and statistics presented in the Plan, the Plan text which describes both historical and developing trends and values, and the resulting Plan policies will be reviewed and updated based on current information and conditions.

Brattleboro Town Manager Citizen Search Committee Meeting and Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Manager Citizen Search Committee will meet on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.  It is anticipated that the Committee will enter into executive session at 4:00pm to discuss a personnel matter.

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

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Personnel Matter

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 5:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:00pm to discuss a personnel matter.

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

Brattleboro Parking Garage Closing for Maintenance

by Not Signed In | Town News

A portion of the first level of the parking garage will be closed for regular maintenance from Monday, October 21 at 3:00am thru Wednesday, October 23 at 3:00am. Entrances on Elliot Street and Flat Street will remain open; however, thru traffic will not be allowed.

Any questions please contact Carol at the Parking Department 257-2305 xt178

-Town Manager’s Office
230 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 254-4541
FAX (802) 257-2322

Town of Brattleboro Committee and Board 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
Arts Committee
CPCC (Citizen Police Communications Committee)
Development Review Board Alternate
Energy Committee
Honor Roll Committee
Inspector, Lumber Shingles & Wood
Senior Solutions Representative
SEVCA Representative
Town Service Officer
Tree Advisory Committee

Elliot St. Fire

by annikee | Other

There is a huge fire in one of the Elliot St buildings, near Union Hill. I’m hearing skuttlebutt but so far nothing confirmed except that the fire is more than one floor. By the vid Joe Bushey posted on FB, it looks like most of the back of the building is involved. I hope everyone is safe, pets included.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of October 20, 2013

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

Single lane closure of the passing lanes on I-91 Northbound and Southbound will continue for the week of October 20. The lanes will remain closed over the weekend.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through August 2016. Truck activity on Route 30 will continue for the week of October 20. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently. Flaggers will regulate traffic flow.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – PACE Slows, Liquidated Damages Likely For Waste Water Treatment Project

by cgrotke | Town News

A trio of Brattleboro Selectboard members kept town business flowing while simultaneously monitoring the scores of a Red Sox game Tuesday night.

The board heard that liquidated damages might be considered for the Waste Water Treatment Plant project delays, the proposed PACE program guidelines have lingering legal and accounting questions, and signs of climate change might be showing up during public participation.

This plus the latest scores and more, below.

Smart Zone Tools Will Provide Public with Real Time Information re Travel Conditions for 1-91 Bridge Replacement in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

MONTPELIER, Vt.—October 14, 2013–

The PCL+FIGG Team that is working under contract to the Vermont Agency of Transportation to reconstruct I-91 bridges in Brattleboro is using a full array of “Smart Zone” tools, including Portable Changeable Message Signs (PCMS), Wavetronics radar traffic sensors, and video cameras that will broadcast live data to a public website devoted to the project. The site’s traffic sensors will continuously monitor traffic volumes in the work zone. This information will be used to automatically post messages on project signs regarding potential delays and expected travel times.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 15 and 18, 2013

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will have another discussion about the PACE program with at their next regular Tuesday meeting. This discussion will focus on adopting the program guidelines.

The board will continue their discussions about negotiations with the Waste Water Treatment Plant contractor, PC, over unapproved change orders, and will hear about the results of the environmental review of the plans for the Black Mountain gravity sewer.

A number of grants will be approved and/or accepted and spent, including a Windham and Windsor Housing Trust grant, and funds for fixing the retaining wall on Washington Street. The Police would also like to apply for a last-minute grant to help prevent terrorism – by getting new radio and dispatch equipment. There will also be second readings of ordinance changes to parking on Elliot and Linden Streets.

You can attend in person or watch on BCTV. If you go, you can speak to any issue, and bring up other topics not on the agenda during public participation. Full coverage here, too, the very next day.

Brattleboro Town Manager Citizen Search Committee Meeting and Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Manager Citizen Search Committee will meet on Friday, October 18, 2013 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Committee will enter into executive session at 4:00pm to discuss a personnel matter.

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

Interstate Lanes Associated with I-91 Bridge Reconstruction to be Reopened for Columbus Day Weekend

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

MONTPELIER, Vt.—October 11, 2013–The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will remove the temporary lane closures on Interstate 91 in Brattleboro over Columbus Day weekend to accommodate holiday traffic. The temporary closures are associated with construction to replace the interstate bridges between exits 2 and 3.

The northbound passing lane that is currently closed will be opened for the weekend starting at approximately 1:00 PM Friday, and the southbound passing lane will be opened at approximately 5:00 PM Friday. The northbound lane closures will go back in effect on Monday morning and the southbound lane closures will be re-established Tuesday morning.

Elm Street Bridge Re-Opened

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Department of Public Works has now re-opened the Elm Street Bridge to regular traffic effective immediately. Motorists may now use this street without restrictions.

Cheryl Petrin
Office Manager
Dept of Public Works
Town of Brattleboro
802-254-4255
fax 802-257-2316

Sunnyside Solar Returns! The Gentle Electric Company is Back, Bringing Good Things From Light!

by MichaelB | Business

By Dave Bonta, President of USA Solar Store

Carol Levin and Richard Gottlieb ran Sunnyside Solar for 30 years out of their home in Guilford selling their first PV panel in 1983! They have helped over 600 folks get solar; either as students, installers or customers.

Their remarkable story started in the Chelsea House Folklore Center, a Red Barn on the edge of West Brattleboro where Richard met Carol during  one of her famous country dances. Back in 1979 folks used to come from all over to “promenade” the night away at the Chelsea house. Today the Chelsea Royal diner still sports the name, which Carol used, inspired by the Joni Mitchell song of the 1960’s. Carol & Richard married at the Chelsea House in 1979.