Town of Brattleboro Storm Alert

The Brattleboro area continues to be in line for a series of very strong thunderstorms, and we continue to be under a severe thunderstorm watch from the National Weather Service. Several areas of minor to moderate damage have occurred across town. Elm Street between Flat and Canal is closed, with a significant washout near the intersection of Canal Street. A section of Guilford Street near Frog Hill Road is covered with water due to plugged culverts. A small wash out has occurred near Bridge Street, the area is blocked off with barrels and the road is not closed at this time.

We ask that you pay close attention to the weather and monitor WTSA and the National Weather Service for future statements. Please report any significant damages to Brattleboro Central Dispatch at 257-7946.


No Vengeance No Prosecution of Deadlier CIA 9/11 Attack on Chile 1973

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No calls for vengeance or justice for Chileans murdered on the 9/11 arranged, funded, and facilitated in 1973 by the Nixon-Kissinger, administration to benefit and protect vast US corporate investments in that country. No attempts through courts for compensation for wrongful death, injury and suffering. More than 2 million innocent Muslims lives taken and hailed as payback for 9/11/2001. Prosecutable crime against humanity!

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I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update

We’re going to begin publishing the I-91 Bridge Replacement Project updates here each week. They come from Cindy Cooke, who is acting as Public Relations Officer for the project.

Week of September 15, 2013

I-91 – On Thursday, September 19th and Friday, September 20th , there will short duration lane closures on I-91 Northbound and I-91 Southbound while work zone signs are installed.

Route 30 – No impacts anticipated for the week of September 15.

Upper Dummerston Road – No impacts anticipated for the week of September 15.


VY Numbers – The Known and Unknown

I have heard quite a few numbers thrown around regarding the eventual closing of VY. Will Brattleboro really have 630 homes on the market, and lose an equal number of well-paid residents?

I decided to ask Jeff Lewis of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. He, along with Pat Moutlon Powden, Director of Workplace Development, answered questions about what they currently know and don’t know about the impact on Brattleboro.

They said that the data that BDCC and SeVEDS has thus far is somewhat limited.


Wanted: Feasibility Study Support and Resources

WANTED: Looking for people to call on for support and resources as I complete my graduate capstone which is a feasibility study to determine if a community resource center in Brattleboro should and could be created and if it would be sustainable. The center would provide a shared office space for small social service organizations in order to reduce administrative expenses and to increase communication and collaboration among them. Additionally this center would offer community members access to many services and resources in one location. .


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – BaBB and Downtown

At the invitation of Building a Better Brattleboro (BaBB), the Brattleboro Selectboard will meet with representatives from BaBB and VT Department of Housing and Community Development on Monday, September 9, 2013 at 9:00am at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden to discuss the Brattleboro Downtown.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Friday, September 13, 2013 at 3:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 3:00pm to discuss a personnel matter, and that no business will be conducted.


West Brattleboro Association Monthly Meeting – Planning the Chicken BBQ!

On Thursday, September 12, 6:00-7:30 pm, the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will hold its monthly meeting at The New England House, 254 Marlboro Road. The Association will review the treasury, traffic
safety including the new bollards on the stretch of Route 9 from Academy School to Greenleaf Street, the ‘Neighborhoods Project’, and any news regarding Glen Park and Mountain Home Park.

In addition, Association members will review the work plan for the remainder of the year starting with Columbus Day weekend Chicken Barbecue to be held near the West Brattleboro common in front of the First
Congregational Church. The group will discuss quantities of chicken and baked beans to be made for the event and ways to publicize it.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Dark Clouds on Budget Horizon

Conjuring visions of budgets past, the Brattleboro Selectboard discussed pay As You Throw and the 1% local sales tax as possible revenue-raisers for the town. This was in reaction to Tuesday evening’s dire forecasts for the FY15 budget and associated taxes that property owners will likely encounter.

ASL interpreters gave an account of the meeting to the hearing impaired for the first time, both the Planning Services and Library department reports were presented to the board, Strand Avenue will eventually be repaired, and the cost for using a tower on Wantastiquet jumps from $10 to $12,000 per year. And, of course, much more.


Career Expo – Sept. 26 at Quality Inn, Brattleboro: Top Employers Coming Together to Promote Careers in Southeast VT

Working professionals, jobseekers, and students are encouraged to stop by the Quality Inn in Brattleboro, Sept. 26, to learn about the variety of careers that Southeastern Vermont businesses have to offer. Twenty five employers, along with several colleges, technical schools, and employment services agencies, will be staffing informational tables from 2 to 6 p.m. as part of Windham County’s first ever Career Expo.

The Expo will showcase several of the county’s largest employers in health care, hospitality, manufacturing, wholesale trade, food production, and energy, among other industry sectors. A complete list of exhibitors is available at www.vermontcareerexpo.com/exhibitors.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 3, 2013

Two departmental reports are scheduled for the first September meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. Planning Services’s Rod Francis and Brooks Memorial Library’s Jerry Carbone will update the board and the public about their respective departments and answer the question of what they would do with a 5% increase or decrease in their budgets.

ASL interpreters will begin translating each meeting beginning Tuesaday evening. This will allow even more members of the public to find out about repairs to Williams Street and the Cooke Road Bridge, preliminary budget discussions, the communications tower on Wantastiquet, the Town Manager search, and more.

You can attend in person at the Municipal Center or watch on BCTV via cable or stream, or read about it here the next day. Feel free to bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.


Community Meeting on Revitalizing Brattleboro’s Downtown

The public is invited to take part in a town hall meeting on revitalizing Brattleboro’s downtown. The meeting will take place on Monday, September 9th at 5 p.m. at the Latchis Theater.

Because of the hardships downtown Brattleboro suffered as a result of Tropical Storm Irene, the State of Vermont has chosen Brattleboro, along with six other towns, to receive consulting assistance through a federal Disaster Relief Grant. As the designated downtown organization, Building a Better Brattleboro has been asked to help implement the project.


West Brattleboro Power Outage?

People have been calling to see what’s going on in West Brattleboro. Power went out a while ago.

Green Mountain Power’s outage center says Brattleboro has 3 separate problems, affecting 3252 customers. Not much other information to share.


Windham Regional Commission Statement on Announcement by Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee That the Plant Will Close in 2014

The Windham Regional Commission has always maintained a neutral position as to whether or not the Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee power station located in Vernon should continue operation. We have taken this position so we could facilitate discussions among those on all sides of the issue. The Commission has, however, been very involved in Vermont Public Service Board dockets since 2007, arguing not for whether or not the plant should continue operation, but rather for what is in the best interest of the region when the plant does eventually cease operation, whenever and for whatever reason that occurs.


Brattleboro Labor Day Closings

In observance of Labor Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2013, with the exception of emergency services.

The Brattleboro Treasurer’s office will also be closed for renovations on Tuesday, September 3. Anyone wanting to make a payment will be asked to see the Finance Director in Suite 208 on the second floor of the Municipal Center.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, September 1 and 2, 2013. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday, September 1 and 2, 2013.

Trash, recycling and composting WILL NOT be picked up on Monday, September 2, 2013. All pick-ups will be delayed by one day all week.