Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Discusses Downtown Crime

selectboard nov 1 2022

Quite a few business and organization directors had harsh words for the Brattleboro Selectboard regarding downtown crimes, especially at the Transportation Center. Almost all mentioned break-ins or thefts, and quite a few reminded the board that the Transportation Center is town-owned and municipally- controlled. In other words – it’s your problem.

After many hours, the board voted to get price quotes on a new camera system for the Transportation Center, and possible consider some other steps, maybe, after we do a timeline and budget season is coming up, y’know. Can’t promise anything, but we feel your pain.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – November 1, 2022

Camera options for the parking garage will be up for discussion at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. The Interim Town Manager has some preliminary cost estimates for them to review.

The board will hear from SeVEDS, get an update on EMS services, pass those bike ordinance changes, buy winter fuel, talk about ARPA fund spending rules, and consider a 6.7% increase in health insurance premiums. They’ll also kick off FY24 budget season with a look at revenue and expenses in the General Fund. Quite possibly they’ll talk of postponing some of these items when the meeting runs on too long. You can make the meeting longer by bringing up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


November 16, 2022 Brattleboro Development Review Board Agenda

Call to Order
Review and Approve Minutes of previous meeting.
Review of Cases/Public Hearings to be reviewed under the Brattleboro Land Use.
2022-145              Town of Brattleboro for Vermont River Conservancy; Waterfront District; request for renewal of Site Plan, Local Act 250, Flood Hazard, Riparian Buffer & Wetland Conditional Use Approval


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 3:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. The Board will convene at 3:15pm and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee. The Board will reconvene after the executive session and immediately adjourn. No action will be taken.


Make the Best Decisions on Saturday Oct. 22, 2022 at 10 PM

I rarely make astrological predictions, but I was looking for a new subject to make a new youtube video, and my brain is stuck. At the moment, Oct. 21, 2022 the moon is in Virgo. Virgo is too analytical, I need to let my mind flow freely.

Good news is that tomorrow, Saturday night Oct. 22, 2022 at (ten) 10 P.M. there are four positions all in Libra, which is rare, and brings a fresh breeze of thought to the mind. But, it only lasts for a moment!


Join The Brattleboro Charter Revision Commission

The Brattleboro Selectboard is pleased to announce its intention to establish a seven (7) member Charter Revision Commission before the end of this calendar year. Article 4, Section 5(H) of the Brattleboro Charter requires, “At least as often as every fifteen (15) years, the selectboard shall appoint from among the voters a charter revision commission to review the language of the charter and the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities specified therein. The commission may propose amendments and may redraft the charter in whole or in part.”

Voters are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, either in hard copy to 230 Main Street, Suite 208, Brattleboro, VT 05301 or by email to
jsticklor@brattleboro.org. Please describe why you would like to be appointed to the Commission, along with your qualifications and what you hope to achieve. Your submission must be received in the in the Town Manager’s Office no later than 5:00pm on Friday November 11, 2022.


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

The Brattleboro RTM Human Services Review Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 5:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center and over Zoom.

The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Community Room at the Brattleboro Co-op.

The Brattleboro Town Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 5:00pm in the Community Room at the Brooks Memorial Library.


Ask the Broker: Rents, Home Price Downturn?

Newly listed home sales down as sellers explore options: Realtor.com economist – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ7sQ8gUOOE

Realtor.com economists are typically cheer-leaders for an endlessly rising market. But this video with Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale talking about a market turnaround came out today. If you google “housing market” or use that as a youtube search term, you will get lots of recent real estate crash warnings.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – AP Triton, Charter Commission, and Bikes

selectboard october 18, 2022

The new bike ordinance was almost adopted by the Brattleboro Selectboard, but it looked strange upon a second review, and was delayed until the next meeting.

Reps from AP Triton said they, too, would not be giving much weight to community input gather by their own community survey on EMS feasibility. They will present four options, but not a preferred choice, and will leave it to the board to come to their own conclusions. They are also 75% done with their work, but would love to hear from the public at their Wednesday night meeting.

The board bought their simulation machine, and started a Charter Review Commission at the last moment possible, despite earlier requests to get the process going multiple times in the past few years.


Oct 18 Select Board Meeting & Oct 19 Public Forum on EMS

This study has been described a way to assess the feasibility of a Fire/EMS service within the
Brattleboro Fire Department. It might be noted that $25k of the money set aside for this study was approved as part of the Town Budget on a vote of 100-6 (5 abstentions) by members at a March 19, 2022 Representative Town Meeting. At that time the line item for the appropriation was for a ”strategic plan” to help with “community expectations, concerns, positive feedback, help identifying critical issues, service gaps as well as give … guiding values and principles on how we move forward ….” 2021-2022 Annual Report, p. 48

There was no mention of Fire/EMS at that time.


Vernon Street Closure on Thursday

On Thursday, October 20, the Town of Brattleboro and Green Mountain Power will be working on Vernon Street near the intersection of Vernon Street and Bridge Street.  The work will take place between 9:00am and 11:00am.  During this work, Vernon Street will be closed from Main Street to Royal Road.  Motorists should seek alternate routes.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 18, 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard will approve the purchase of a simulation machine at their next regular meeting.

They’ll also update the bike section of the Code of Ordinances, hear a presentation on preliminary findings of feasibility of a Fire/EMS service within the Brattleboro Fire Department, and will begin a Charter review process. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meetings Scheduled

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 9:00am in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. The Board will convene at 9:00am and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee. The Board will reconvene after the executive session and immediately adjourn. No action will be taken.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Domestic Violence Resolution Adopted

selectboard oct 11 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard adopted a resolution recognizing freedom from domestic violence as a human right. They heard a presentation and had a discussion about the impact and effects of domestic violence in the community, and talked about making changes to end it. Men were encouraged to get involved.

The board was also zoom-bombed a few times, which hadn’t happened in a while. They bought police equipment, heard about changes to bike regulations, and got more questions about EMS in Brattleboro.