News and information sections, from near to far
Brattleboro Planning Commission
Monday, September 14, 2020
6:00 P.M.
NOTE: Per the “Stay Home – Stay Safe” order issued by Governor Scott, this meeting will be held with no physical location using Zoom.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
The Brattleboro Selectboard discussed affordable housing at length Tuesday evening. A new affordable housing project downtown on Flat Street, a town-wide zoning change to create more rentable units, and a discussion of an ordinance to limit what landlords can collect up front from tenants all indicated difficulties for the 60% of residents who rent in Brattleboro.
The DPW also shared a bit of the spotlight, with road grants and a new mower attachment.
In observance of Labor Day, all Town Offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2020, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, September 6, and Monday, September 7. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday, September 6, and Monday, September 7.
Trash, recycling, and composting WILL NOT be picked up on Monday, September 7, 2020.
All curbside collections will be delayed by one day all week.
Housing and getting around will be discussed at the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. There is a new affordable housing project planned for Flat Street, the Tenant’s Union is asking for an ordinance to regulate security deposits, the DPW needs some vehicles and will apply for some road erosion grants, and there is a “interim zoning bylaw public hearing.”
It’s all on Zoom and you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Agenda items:
Approve minutes
Free tree program update
Fall maintenance
The Brattleboro Citizen Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 5:30pm via GoToMeeting (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
5:15 P.M.
Site Visit – West River Trail – River Stone Preserve
Participants should meet at the at the Marina Trail Head on the West River Trail (see attached map). Participants will then walk approximately 1 mile to the River Stone Preserve.
Note on social distancing: All participants must wear a mask and social distance by maintaining at least a 6-foot separation from others.
The Town of Brattleboro invites all interested people to apply for appointment to serve on a community advisory committee that will be conducting a thorough review of community safety in Brattleboro. The application form can be found on the Town’s website at www.brattleboro.org under: Boards & Committees tab > Boards and Committees Application, or at the following link:
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved an edited version of the community RFP for police review and public safety at their Tuesday meeting. The Town-edited proposal was discussed at length and a few final tweaks were made before it was unanimously approved. Next steps: facilitator proposals and the formation of a committee.
The revised Request for Proposals for a Facilitator of Community Safety Review will return to the board’s agenda at their next regular meeting. It has gone through a revision process by Town staff and should be ready for approval, but the possibility of a long discussion remains.
The board will consider revising the Agricultural Advisory Committee and talk about local and regional food planning, a new hazard mitigation plan committee might be formed, summer paving bids will be approved, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during Public participation.
Starting Monday, August 17th, The Department of Public Works will begin stormwater improvements on Bonnyvale Road. The work will take place between number 1043 and 1219. As a result, this section of Bonnyvale Road will be closed to through traffic between the hours of 7:00 AM and 2:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Local traffic will be able to access the driveways within the project area. Weather permitting, the project is anticipated to be completed by August 28th. Advanced warning signs will be in place to warn of the closure.
The Town of Brattleboro utility bills are due on August 17, 2020. Payments made after August 17, 2020 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty, added to the unpaid balance.
The first installment of the 2020 Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on September 15, 2020. Payments made after September 15, 2020 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.
AGENDA
A. Meeting Called to Order (Planning Commission Chair)
B. Announcements (Planning Commission Chair)
C. Public Comment (Planning Commission Chair)
Notice to Taxpayers
The taxpayers of the Town of Brattleboro are hereby notified and warned that Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes assessed upon the Grand List of 2020 are now due and payable to the Town Treasurer at the Treasurer’s Office in the Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro, Vermont, in four equal installments as follows:
The Brattleboro Selectboard is holding another meeting, and you are invited to catch up on town business such as financial reports, water and sewer improvements, purchase of winter sand, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Selectboard held another special meeting via Zoom to discuss an RFP for review of police and community safety. It was long meeting that resulted in sending the draft RFP to town staff for further changes and possible approval at the August 18 meeting.
Warning: Offensive Descriptions Below!
Tuesday’s meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard was unusual in multiple respects. The remnants of a hurricane passed overhead, causing power outages and damage across the region, it was the first time the board tried a meeting using Zoom rather than GoToMeeting, and the meeting was hijacked by someone.
The weather event the board was ready for. They met on Zoom as scheduled, using a phone version of the Zoom app because power was lost as the wind and rain picked up.
About 16 minutes into the meeting an unidentified male joined and “zoom bombed” the meeting.
Return your ballots now! Be sure your vote is counted!
The safest practice is to either bring ballots to the collection box in the Municipal Building parking lot or to bring them in person to the American Legion by 7:00 on Tuesday, August 11.
Stay safe!
Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Department of Taxes today announced expanded eligibility for Economic Recovery Grants for Vermont businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the original eligibility criteria, a business was required to have at least one W-2 employee who was not an owner of that business. Starting today, August 3, businesses with at least one W-2 employee – now including those who are an owner – are also eligible and encouraged to apply.
“Businesses of all sizes are doing everything they can to survive under the difficult circumstances caused by this pandemic, and it’s our responsibility to step up and support them in the recovery,” said Governor Scott. “We are hopeful these new requirements will provide some additional relief as we continue to rebuild together and emerge from this crisis stronger than before.”
Good Morning –
Attached is the proposed RFP submitted by the community members for review at this Thursday’s Selectboard meeting. This document has been posted in the section of the Town’s website where Selectboard meeting backup materials are posted. Also posted there for easy reference are the related documents that the Selectboard has reviewed at its meetings on July 7 and July 21.
Please assist us in advising the public that these documents are all available for review in advance of the August 6 Selectboard meeting.
