Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – January 16, 2024

At their next regular meeting , the Brattleboro Selectboard will approve budgets for FY25 to send along to Representative Town Meeting, including their plans to use what remains of ARPA funds.

The board will also hear from the Downtown Alliance and Chamber of Commerce  (two of several organizations that foster economic growth, attract new business, and enhance the overall economic well-being of the community) for new funding to pay for someone to “foster economic growth, attract new business, and enhance the overall economic well-being of the community.”

You can bring up other items not on the agenda, if the Chair allows, during Public Participation.


Brattleboro Martin Luther King Jr. Day Closings

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all Brattleboro Town Offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2024, with the exception of emergency services.

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

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 15.


802 Credit Union Vice President Ethan Grimes Joins Youth Services Board

Ethan Grimes, the Vice President of mortgage lending at 802 Credit Union, recently joined 12 other community members in serving on Youth Services’ board of directors. With twenty programs ranging from court diversion, to trauma-informed after-school groups, counseling, mediation and case management to name but a few, Youth Services has built community throughout Windham County for over 50 years.

Since 2009, Grimes has worked in mortgages at River Valley Credit Union, now 802 Credit Union. Starting as a mortgage processor, he eventually became a mortgage originator and finally Vice President of the credit union’s mortgage department in 2016.

Grimes has deep roots in Windham County, having grown up and attended public school in Newfane, VT and graduating fourth in his class from Leland & Gray Union High School in Townshend.  Grimes attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, where he majored in Economics, with a minor in both Business Administration and Communications. He came home each summer to work with his father Marty Grimes with Southern Vermont Telephone and recalls even doing some wiring on occasion at Youth Services during those visits. After graduation, Grimes moved to Orlando, FL where he obtained his mortgage broker license and worked as a mortgage broker there for four years during which time he married his college sweetheart.


Brattleboro Winter Weather Watch – Week of January 8, 2024

The Brattleboro Emergency Management group is watching two storms this week that could impact our area. On Tuesday evening into midday Wednesday, the National Weather Service is forecasting snow followed by 1.5 to 2 inches of rainfall with temperatures in the 40s and gusty winds.

Expect hazardous travel conditions, with icing on roads and then minor flooding along waterways. High winds are in the forecast with gusts at 40 to 50 mph, which could result in downed power lines and power outages.

Please prepare for:
Hazardous travel and some sporadic road closures
Power outages
Flooding with the potential for evacuations


Brattleboro Street Parking During a Snow Emergency

A winter storm watch has been issued for southern Vermont from the afternoon of Saturday, January 6 through the evening of Sunday, January 7. Heavy snow and high winds are in the forecast. During this time, the Town of Brattleboro anticipates road crews and equipment will be working around the clock to keep roadways open and free of hazards. 

Vehicles parked on Town streets create dangerous obstacles for all during a storm and are susceptible to being towed at the owner’s expense, per Brattleboro Town Ordinance. Please attempt to utilize off-street parking. Free overnight parking is available in the Brattleboro Transportation Center between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. in UNRESERVED parking spaces. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Dettman Drive

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 3:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212). The public may also participate in the meeting over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  Either ASL interpreters or closed captioning will be available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: The Last UDAG

selectboard jan 2 2024

The Brattleboro Selectboard were, until Tuesday night, the last keepers in the United States of something called an Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) Program grant. Before them was $2.3 million that has matured, and the board voted to transfer all of it away from UDAG into the Town’s Revolving Loan Fund.

The board was also pleased with their progress on a number of issues, and happy to hear the monthly fire department report.


Goodenough Road Closure

On Wednesday, January 3, the Highway Division will be replacing a failed culvert on Goodenough Road.  The closure will be near 342 Goodenough Road.  Residents and Emergency Services can access 42 – 342 Goodenough Road via Hinesburg Road and 446 – 528 via Akley Road.  Please plan accordingly and avoid the area if possible. 


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – January 2, 2024

The Brattleboro Selectboard kicks off the new year with another error. The paving project was under-estimated by 3211 tons of asphalt. Oops, and $32,000.

The Fire Department will read their monthly report – for November of last year, the board will revisit their retreat and goal-setting, and the Town Manager will request a transfer of over $2 million to the Revolving Loan Fund.  You can attempt to bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation if the Chair deems you worthy.


Brattleboro Committee Warnings

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 4:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).

The RTM Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).


Noticed Around Brattleboro – Winter 2023-2024 Edition

Time again for Noticed, where you add little things you notice. Did you see a bird? How’s the rose bush? What’s that new thing over there?  That sort of stuff.

For me, I’ve noticed that it doesn’t really seem like winter very much. It’s warm, foggy, rainy and we haven’t seen snow in quite a while. Also:

No ice on Retreat Meadows.
No ice huts on the ice at Retreat Meadows.


Ames Hill Road Closure

On Friday, December 22, a contractor will be working in the roadway on Ames Hill at the Robb Farm. The road will be open with restricted traffic and occasional short delays. Please plan accordingly and avoid the area if possible. All emergency services will have free access to Ames Hill with no delays. 


Brattleboro’s Collection Correction

For Immediate Release:
The Town of Brattleboro would like to correct our previous press release, which stated that there will be trash pick up on Christmas Day. There WILL NOT be trash pickup on Christmas Day. All trash pickups will be delayed by one day that week.


Brattleboro Storm Update – Dec 18 Evening

According to recent estimates, Brattleboro received more than 4 inches of rain during the storm. West Brattleboro was the most heavily impacted area. Earlier in the day, 12 residents from Mountain Home Park, located along Village, Valley, and Edgewood Drive, were evacuated but have since been allowed to return home.

The Department of Public Works has reported that 19 roads have sustained damage.

Currently, Hescock Road, George F. Miller Drive, and Dettman Drive are closed, while six others have reduced lanes. Crews are expected to work on all affected roads on Tuesday.


Brattleboro Monday Morning Storm Update

Since the rain storm began late in the day on Dec. 17, Brattleboro has received 2 inches of rain. Towns west of Brattleboro have received up to 3 inches of rain. With the amount of rain and snow melt from higher elevations, Brattleboro is experiencing flooding prominently in the West Brattleboro area.

The Department of Public Works, Fire Department, and Brattleboro Police are working diligently to keep roads passable and safe for travel. Town staff have notified and are assisting residents in the Mountain Home Trailer Park, along Valley Road and Edgewood Road, with evacuation.

The bridges on Dettman Drive, George F. Miller Drive, and Meadow Brook Road are currently closed because of water going over them. Other roads have minor water flows, and our team will continue to monitor the situation. Please use caution when you encounter water passing over roadways and use alternate routes.


Brattleboro Holiday Closings

In observance of the Christmas holiday:

Brattleboro Town offices will close at 12:00pm (noon) on Friday, December 22, 2023.

In observance of the Christmas holiday all Town Offices will be closed on Monday, December 25, 2023.


Brattleboro Weather Advisory: Potential River Flooding, High Winds and Power Outages Expected

Town staff is monitoring a weather event that is expected to begin later in the day on Dec. 17. Weather forecasts indicate an expected rainfall of 1-3 inches starting this evening and extending possibly through tomorrow and into Tuesday.

This precipitation may result in river flooding due to a combination of rain and snowmelt in higher elevations. Currently, there is no concern for flash flooding. There is also potential for high winds and wind gusts. Residents should be prepared for potential power outages.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – December 19, 2023

The Brattleboro Selectboard will take up reviewing the revised FY25 budgets at the final regular meeting of the year. They will be examining the general fund, the capital fund, and the ARPA budgets – the only agenda item they plan to discuss in detail.

The consent agenda, however, has some interesting items. Notice the small grant to add EV charging stations to town properties, the grand list errors, and 47 lost land record binders, among other things.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.