Town News

For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 16, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

There will be an emergency discussion of a Muffin Monster at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. They’ll also discuss a new Cow Power agreement, water treatment facility funding and security, and hear an update about Brattleboro’s Boys and Girls Club operations during COVID.

The board will wrap up their meeting with a renaming of a portion of Elm Street in honor of Stanley Lynde, the well-know motorcycle shop owner. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Taxes & Utilities Due

by Not Signed In | Town News

The third installment of the 2020 Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on February 16, 2021.  Payments made after February 16, 2021 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The Town of Brattleboro utility bills are also due on February 16, 2021. Payments made after February 16, 2021 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty, added to the unpaid balance.

Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will hold a special meeting on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 4:00pm using Zoom (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.

Brattleboro Presidents’ Day Closures

by Not Signed In | Town News

 In observance of Presidents’ Day, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2021, with the exception of emergency services. 

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, February 14 and February 15. All other violations will be enforced. 

For information on Brooks Memorial Library curbside service see the Town’s website. 

Brattleboro Downtown Snow Removal

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro would like to remind everyone that the snow emergency ban is in effect.   

Snow and ice will be removed from the streets in the downtown area this evening.   

Parked vehicles in the downtown district must be removed by 11:00pm or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Stroud Drops Out; Parking, Liquor, + Elections

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a meeting to set dates for three Representative Town Meeting informational sessions. They approved liquor licenses, made appointments, certified highway mileage, and began design work on a shiny new parking lot.

Candidate for Selectboard Gary Stroud dropped out of the race, citing health issues that would prevent him from doing all that was necessary to be on the board.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – 2-2-2021

by cgrotke | Town News

A smattering of small items awaits the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting. They’ll approve dates for informational meetings, make a committee appointment, approve of annual liquor permits, and kick off the design of the new train station parking lot.

You can add small or large items not otherwise on this agenda during public participation.