For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
Correction to 03-15-22 Selectboard agenda: The agenda for the 03-15-22 Selectboard meeting states that the Organizational Meeting will take place on Monday, March 21, 2022 at 6:15pm at the Central Fire Station. The time of the meeting has been changed from 6:15pm to 9:00am. It will no longer take place at the Central Fire Station but will instead take place in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.
AGENDA
1. Minutes – February 17, 2022
2. Public Participation
3. Monthly Report on Pedestrian and Bicycle Incidents – for February: No Incidents to Report
4. Monthly Report on Traffic Data Collection – for February
5. Street and Sidewalk Safety Policy Safety Action Requests
The long-anticipated housing plan will be presented to the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting. This comes after Steve Barrett and Peter Elwell receive special ceremonial recognition from the board and the State of Vermont.
They’ll also hear a discuss work at the Windham Regional Commission, appoint some committee members, approve the brewer’s festival permits for an alcoholic beverage celebration, and start the process of prohibiting alcoholic beverages on Town property. You can discuss how we aren’t conflicted, or bring up other items not on the agenda, during public participation.
The Brattleboro Treasure’s Office, located in the Municipal Center (230 Main Street), will be closed on Friday, March 11, 2022 from 11:00am to 1:00pm for a meeting.
Complying with a vote of Representative Town Meeting in 2021, RTM’s Finance Committee has prepared a “Guide to the Brattleboro Town Budget.” The guide is posted on the Town’s website under the Finance Committee’s page and the RTM Resources section, both of which are accessible from the Representative Town Meeting tab on the left menu bar. Also newly posted is the annual report for RTM’s consideration of the FY23 budget.
Brattleboro Town Selectboard will hold a pre-town meeting information forum on Wednesday, March 9 via Zoom beginning at 7:30pm. Representative Town Meeting articles will be discussed, including the budget.
Beginning at 5:15pm (District 1), 6:00pm (District 2), and 6:45pm (District 3), town meeting members of each district will be available to meet with constituents to offer residents an opportunity to share their views and discuss articles to be voted on at the annual meeting. Also, at those times, each district will be accepting nominations to fill meeting member vacancies for 1 year.
The water main break near Brattleboro Museum and Art Center has been repaired and water service has been restored to all customers as of 1:00 am.
Vernon St. has also been opened. Crews will be working to make temporary repairs to the side of the roadway today. There may be some traffic disruption, but everything is open.
Due to a water main break near the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center, Vernon Street will be closed
until further notice. Water will be out for Bridge Street customers until further notice. Town staff is aware
of the situation and they are working to safely resolve it.
The Brattleboro Selectboard lifted town rules requiring masks. People and businesses are free to once again do as they please with caution. The mask rules can come back if things get bad again.
The board also passed a new rule requiring downtown property owners to clear their sidewalks of snow within 24 hours of a snowstorm or face fines and costs. It may be a while before this is tested, though, as winter is wrapping up for the season.
The 2022 Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee Report on the Town FY23 Budget is currently available online on the Town website, Brattleboro.org. Paper copies are also available at the Town Manager’s Office at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Suite 208).
A potentially short regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard is scheduled for Town Meeting Day (election day). They will hear about new plans for liquor for the Latchis Pub & Underground, they’ll talk about wearing masks a while longer, and they’ll amend the ordinance change regarding downtown snow removal. You can add to the meeting by bringing up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
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 parking lots in the downtown area this evening.
Parked vehicles in the downtown parking lots must be removed by 1:00am or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.
The Brattleboro Citizens Police Communications Committee will meet on Monday, February 28, 2022 at 5:30pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room.
The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 6:00pm at the Co-op Café.
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 4:15pm at the Hanna Cosman Room at the Municipal Center.
Agenda:
1. Approval of minutes
2. Announcements
3. Review of Town Finance Committee Report draft
4. Other Business
Good Afternoon,
Attached is a letter that the Brattleboro Selectboard Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin sent today to Governor Phil Scott regarding the Youth Vote Charter Change.
In observance of Presidents’ Day, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Monday, February 21, 2022, 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 20 and February 21. All other violations will be enforced.
The Brattleboro selectboard had strong words for downtown property owners over sidewalk snow removal. It was a good old-fashioned Selectboard -DBA battle for a while there, when the downtown organization tried to pass responsibility for clearing snow to the Town. No, insisted the board. Building owners have always been required to clear it, and if the downtown organization feels it is a shabby job, perhaps they should pay to use a more professional service. Take that.
They also raced through some public hearings, updates and reports.
Agenda
• Call to order
• Agenda review
• Approve last meeting minutes
• Announcements
AGENDA
1. Minutes – January 20, 2022
2. Public Participation
3. Street and Sidewalk Safety Policy Safety Action Requests
(a) Failures to Stop at Myrtle Street – David Mark Erickson
(b) Speed Concerns Along Cedar Street – David Mark Erickson
At their next regular meeting the Brattleboro Selectboard will consider changing the rules about downtown snow removal, possibly ending the practice of removing snow for building owners and charging them after for the work.
The board will revisit the mask mandate, take care of some grants, appoint some people, and consider use of ARPA funds to replenish the parking fund. You can, as always, bring up pther items not on the agenda during public participation.
