News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Whetstone Woes, WRC Wows, and Playgrounds

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard march 16 2021

Water leaks and collapsing walls were part of  the first post-Daylight Savings Time regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.  The Department of Public Works reported on a couple of recent and ongoing emergency repairs downtown involving water.

The board heard an update on the work of the Windham Regional Commission, found out more about how poorly parking revenues are going this year, hired a company to do cemetery maintenance, and purchased some new playground equipment. And board members said goodbye to Brandie Starr and Jan Anderson, thanking them for their service.

Big Sticks

by tomaidh | Other

Einstein theorized that Matter and Energy were just two forms of the same thing. However, the numerical value of energy was the equivalent of the numerical value of matter, multiplied by an enormous number (186,000 x 186,000 or nearly 35 Billion times). That’s a lot of energy!

Achieving this quantity of energy in a bomb motivated scientists in the early years of WWII to figure out how to do it. In July of 1945, they achieved this goal.

Preston Lot Closed Wednesday 6 am – 3 pm

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

On Wednesday, March 17 the Preston Lot will be closed beginning at 6:00 am and will remain closed until approximately 3:00 pm.  Crews will be working to remove the Whetstone Pathway Bridge in preparation for repairing the failing retaining wall along the Whetstone Brook.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Public Works at 254-4255

Lower Main Street Traffic Restrictions, Water Service Interruption

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

On Wednesday, March 17, Utilities Crews will be working in the junction of lower Main Street and Canal Street.  The work will begin at 9:00 pm and continue through approximately 6:00 am Thursday morning, March 18.  Traffic will be restricted in that area during the scheduled time while the Utilities Division works to repair a water main leak.  

Motorists should plan to use alternate routes during this time period.

Whetstone Pathway Closed

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Effective immediately, the Whetstone Pathway Bridge connecting the Whetstone Pathway and the Preston Lot on Flat Street is closed.  

A section of the retaining wall beneath the Whetstone Pathway Bridge has failed.  The Department of Public Works is working with engineers,  contractors and the State’s Stream Alteration Engineer to develop a plan for repairing the retaining wall.  The bridge will be closed until the repairs are made and the safety of the bridge is restored.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 16, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

Playground equipment, cemetery maintenance, and Representative Town meeting loose ends will be on the agenda for the next regular meeting for the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The board will also buy an insertion valve, hear updates on recent projects at the Windham Regional Commission, and appoint a new health officer, WRC delegates, and committee members.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Safety Items Move Forward, Carbon Neutral, and New Energy Fund

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved of moving forward with the recommendations of the Town manager regarding the Community Safety Review Committee recommendations. Everything that can be underway is underway.

The board decided to go for a 6% investment in Cow Power and created a new fund with $70k  to help reduce emissions and consumption.

Washington Street Road Closure

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

On Thursday, March 4, Utilities crews will be working in the area of 80 Washington Street for a sewer repair.  The road will be closed to through traffic in that area from 7:00am until approximately 3:00pm.  Please seek an alternate route.  

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Department of Public Works at 802-254-4255 or email Mike Earle at mearle@brattleboro.org

Brattleboro Town Manager Press Release – Bucossi and Howard

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

Brattleboro Fire Chief Mike Bucossi has announced his retirement, effective April 1, 2021. Bucossi has served the community in the Brattleboro Fire Department (BFD) for literally his entire adult life. He became a call firefighter in 1975 during his senior year at BUHS and became a full-time firefighter two years later. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1984, to Captain in 1985, and to Assistant Chief in 2000. He became Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator in July of 2007 upon the retirement of Fire Chief / EMC Chief David Emery. 

During his 43-year career full-time with BFD, Bucossi provided leadership at countless incidents. At two of the most memorable and significant, he was the Incident Commander at the Wilder Block fire on December 4, 2004, and at the Brooks House block fire on April 17, 2011. He also was the Operations Officer (second in command under then Town Manager Barbara Sondag) during the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene on August 28, 2011. 

Brattleboro Town Staff Response To Community Safety Review Recommendations

by cgrotke | Town News

I’m attaching two PDF files here that are part of the upcoming Brattleboro Selectboard meeting.

The first is Town Manager Peter Elwell’s memo to the board regarding implementing the community safety recommendations. He gives some background information, acknowledges harm and a commitment to reckoning and collaboration, has some notes about the pace and timeframe of changes, accountability, and a bit about the way they annotated the recommendations.

The second is the list of the recommendations, now annotated by the Town with remarks. Of the 41 recommendations, 30 are marked with a “Yes” indicating that the Town can take unilateral action to accomplish the goal. Those marked “No” aren’t out of the question, but they are out of the Town’s direct control. State or federal changes would be required.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – March 2, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will take up Community Safety Review recommendations at their next regular meeting, which happens to fall on Town Meeting day. Town staff has provided the board with a path for adopting recommendations, if they so choose.

The board will also pick up on their conversation about Cow Power, get grant money for the new train station parking lot, and some possible money for eligible households impacted by COVID. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Fire Chief Mike Bucossi Announces Retirement

by cgrotke | Police & Fire

Brattleboro Fire Chief Mike Bucossi announced his retirement via twitter this afternoon:

“After 43 years the end has arrived. I have retired from the Brattleboro Fire Department, effective April 1. It has been a fabulous career and a great honor to work with such a talented, dedicated group. I look forward to quality time with my beautiful wife!”

March 17, 2021 Brattleboro Development Review Board Agenda

by bbannon@brattleboro.org | Town Plan

AGENDA

Call to Order
Review and Approve Minutes of previous meeting.
On the record review of Cases/Public Hearings to be reviewed under the Brattleboro Land Use Regulations. Pursuant to 24 VSA §§ 4464(a)(1)(C) and 4471(a), participation in this local proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal.

Brattleboro Purple Garbage Bags – Clearing Up Confusion

by Not Signed In | Town News

 The manufacturer of the Town’s Pay-As-You-Throw garbage bags recently sent purple bags intended for Portland, Maine, to Brattleboro retailers. That has caused some understandable confusion for customers and for Triple-T, the Town’s solid waste hauler. Compounding this confusion is the fact that the Portland bags (30.6 gallons) are slightly smaller than the Brattleboro bags (33.5 gallons). Customers who have ended up with Portland bags instead of Brattleboro bags have two options: 

Selectboard Meeting Notes – 100% Renewable? Maybe Later…Soon. Really.

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard feb 2021

An extended discussion about Brattleboro becoming the largest purchaser of Cow Power ended with explanations of feelings and confusions, but no purchase agreement. The Brattleboro Selectboard was saved from making a decision by Town Manager Elwell’s suggestion to gather more data.

Lots of water and sewer improvements and activity, a thank you from Boys & Girls, and a new name for a short street rounded things out.

A Statement from the Brattleboro Planning Commission Regarding Retail Cannabis and Zoning

by planning | Town Plan

In October 2020, S.54, Act 164 became law. This legislation outlines how Vermont will establish retail cannabis sales. The implementation of the legislation is still very much a work in progress. The Act empowers communities to create a local cannabis control commission and for such commission to condition issuance of a local license on any zoning bylaw adopted pursuant to 24 V.S.A §4414.

The purpose of this memo is to provide information on what zoning controls are authorized under the legislation. Many details have been left to be decided on by the State Cannabis Control Board which will be formed in 2021. As currently written, the law allows the following types of zoning regulations:

Guilford Pre-Town Meeting via Zoom Feb 18

by DonInGuilford | Town News

Broad Brook Grange will hold its annual Pre-Town Meeting on Thursday, February 18, 7:00 pm. This year’s event will be online, via Zoom. Info on how to join the meeting is on the websites of Broad Brook Community Center, and on the Town of Guilford site, which have links below.

Town Meeting will be different this year, due to COVID, with no actual meeting. Instead, voting on articles will be by Australian ballot on Town Meeting Day.

Thus, this traditional Pre-Town Meeting — and an official informational meeting to be held by the selectboard online a week later — are the only opportunities for voters to hear details of the articles which will be voted on March 2, and to meet and discuss issues with the selectboard in advance of voting.