For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
The Brattleboro Selectboard held their final regular meeting of 2022, taking up issues of finance, cannabis, and EMS services. The AP Triton report gave the board four options of EMS services. The top recommendation of the consultants, though, was to get Brattleboro Fire Department up to national performance standards asap.
The board also heard a well argued critique of their recent police budget discussions.
The Brattleboro Town Auditor’s report is currently available at the Town Manager’s Office at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street) and on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.org
In observance of the Christmas holiday:
Brattleboro Town offices will close at 12:00pm (noon) on Friday, December 23, 2022.
In observance of the Christmas holiday all Town Offices will be closed on Monday, December 26, 2022. Brooks Memorial Library will be open on Friday, December 23. The Library will be closed on Saturday, December 24 and Monday, December 26, 2022.
Trash, recycling and composting will NOT be affected by the holiday. Collections will be picked up on the regular schedule.
Due to a vehicle crash in the High Grove Parking Lot the overhead lights are not currently working. Local electricians will be working to secure and install replacement parts. Expect the lights to be out and the lot to be unlit until further notice.
As a result of the incident the pay-and-display stations have also been affected. Those stations are powered by solar with an electrical backup. Use of the pay-and-display stations may be interrupted occasionally during this time.
The AP Triton EMS Feasibility Study and its (expected) four options for Brattleboro EMS services will be made available for the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.
The board will also look at financial statements and audits, appoint members to the Charter Review Commission, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. 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.” The Selectboard will then meet in executive session at the conclusion of the meeting.
Notice of Water Service Interruption
Crews have discovered a leak in the water main on Walnut Street near the intersection with Terrace Street. Repairs will be made on Tuesday, December 13 beginning at 3:00pm and continuing through approximately, 7:00pm. During this work water service will be shut off to all residents and businesses on Walnut Street.
Once the water is restored, you may experience a short period of discolored water or air in the water lines after the repair is complete. Running the cold water for a few minutes should clear the lines if this happens.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. 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.” ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 11:30am over Zoom.
The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Hana Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).
Amidst all the hoopla and excitement of a contract with a new Town Manager at the Selectboard meeting Tuesday night, the board neglected to inform the public of any details of the contract.
Here’s your quick overview:
$120k salary
$5k for transportation
10 sick days
A long night of budget talk, with nods to McNeill’s. Plus, Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland admits he forgot to add in repayment of a bond in the preliminary budget.
Should we fill more potholes? Should we build a year-round pool? Will homes get re-assessed soon? Is it called global warming? These are the issues of the day.
One of our favorite places to hang out when we first moved to Brattleboro was McNeill’s on Eliot Street. Having moved up from Boston/Cambridge, home of many gritty, grubby Irish-style pubs that were not then or ever going to be fern bars (remember those?), we were happy to grab a pint at Brattleboro’s equivalent spot whenever we had a free evening. Although many of our new Brattleboro compatriots seemed to prefer fern bars, we never found the clean scene that inspiring. Despite pressure to transfer our allegiance to places shiny and new, we continued to frequent McNeill’s, where an affordable pint was always available and the ambience was right.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will continue their journey through the FY24 budget planning season at their next regular meeting. In this installment, they will hear from the DPW, Assessors, and Rec & Parks departments with a special mention of the Living Memorial Park project financing.
The board will approve the contract with new Town Manager John Potter and will discuss ARPA funds, Fossil Free Facility Funds, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation. Another reminder: you can run for office to become a member of the Selectboard. Contact the Town Clerk for details.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 5:45pm and is expected to enter immediately into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee. The Selectboard will reconvene the business part of the meeting at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street.
Brattleboro, VT—The Brattleboro Selectboard has chosen John R. Potter as the new Town Manager. Mr. Potter will assume his new responsibilities on December 30, 2022.
“On behalf of the Brattleboro Selectboard, I congratulate John Potter on being selected as our new Town Manager” said Ian Goodnow, Selectboard Chair. “We considered many well qualified candidates during our nationwide search. The Selectboard conducted this process with care and diligence, and we are very pleased with the result. We are confident that John Potter has an enthusiasm for good governance and for Brattleboro that he will bring to his new role. We look forward to working with John for the benefit of the people of Brattleboro.”
“I really appreciate the Selectboard offering me an opportunity to serve as Brattleboro’s next Town Manager and look forward to earning the trust of the town. My wife Marie Elena and I are excited to move back to New England and become active members of the Brattleboro community. Brattleboro’s reputation as a thoughtful and progressive community drew us to this special place, and it will be great to work together with the many active community leaders and partners in town.”
Petitions for Brattleboro Town Officers, Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Board Members, and Town Meeting Members are now available at the Town Clerk’s office. Town elections will be Tuesday, March 7 at the American Legion, located at 32 Linden St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
Annual Representative Town Meeting will begin on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The location and format will be announced at a later date.
Petitions for Town Officers and WSESD Board Members must contain at least 30 valid signatures of registered Brattleboro voters and be filed in the clerk’s office no later than Monday, January 30 at 5 P.M. to have their name placed on the ballot.
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, December 1st, 2022 at 4:14pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. 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.” ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 12:00pm over Zoom.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 11:00am over Zoom.
The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Brattleboro Co-op Meeting Room.
In Observance of Thanksgiving all Town Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2022, and Friday, November 25, 2022, with the exception of
emergency services.
Brooks Memorial Library will close at 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. They will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2022, but will remain open during normal business hours on Friday, November 25, 2022.
Trash and recycling WILL NOT be picked up on Thursday, November 24, 2022. All trash and recycling pick-up will be delayed by one day all week.
