For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
The RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Brattleboro Co-op Meeting Room and over Zoom. Information regarding how to access the meeting remotely are included in the attached agenda.
I had the opportunity to talk with Brattleboro’s new Town Manager, Yoshi Manale, last week via Zoom. What follows is a rough transcription of our conversation which wanders through topics such as Brattleboro’s downtown space, NJ politics, DC, Vermont, climate, housing, moving to a new place and fitting in, celebrities, and more.
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I thought I’d do a little introductory story about you since you are new to to most people in Brattleboro. I thought I’d start with your name. Octavian is a really cool name. How did you get that name?
The Brattleboro Selectboard did some final tinkering with remaining FY23 budget items, with a discussion about bike paths and whether waiting six months is worth $16,000.
They approved some sidewalk improvements, Human Services requests, and a tax stabilization idea to encourage solar projects on already-developed land was discussed and sent along to RTM.
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.
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 Treasurer’s Office will be closed on Thursday, January 20th, 2022 from 1:00pm to
3:00pm so that staff can attend training. All other officers in the Municipal Center will be open
during normal business hours.
Good afternoon,
Please post the attached Representative Town Meeting Steering Committee agenda in warning for a meeting.
Thank you,
Hilary
Speak now or forever hold your peace – on the FY23 budget. The Brattboro selectboard will be doing a final look at the FY23 budget they plan to send to Representative Town Meeting for consideration. Also for RTM, they will also review the annual Human Services funding request, consider an article to allow tax stabilization for alternative energy projects, appoint officers, and review draft warnings for upcoming elections and meetings.
The board will also have a public hearing for some safety improvements and hire a company to do some sidewalk repair. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 8:00am in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street) and over Zoom.
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all Brattleboro Town Offices will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2022, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Monday, January 17. All other violations will be enforced.
NOTICE is hereby given that the Brattleboro Town Auditors’ Report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, is available upon request and may be picked up at the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont.
The Auditors’ Report will also be available as part of the Town Annual Report which will be available at the Town Clerk’s Office no later than February 19, 2022.
The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 5:30pm in the Brattleboro Co-op Community Meeting Room.
Jessica Sticklor (she/her)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
Agenda
• Call to order
• Agenda review
• Approve last meeting minutes
• Robert’s Rules training pilot with Andy, followed by feedback and discussion
(approximately 60-90 minutes)
Add the little things you’ve noticed around town in the comments below. No experience necessary!
• It’s January 6 and there are still no ice huts on the Retreat meadows.
The Brattleboro Selectboard began 2022 with new Town Manager Octavian Yoshi Manale at the helm. He remained relatively quiet, letting staff do most of the explaining while he adjusted to the new surroundings.
The board made a few FY’23 decisions, punted a few others to another meeting, and helped approve some articles to go before RTM at what they cautioned might be another virtual town meeting.
Two folks who have made huge contributions to our town are stepping down from their jobs : PETER ELWELL as our Town Manager, and SABINE RHYNE as General Manager of the Brattleboro Food Coop are moving on to their next adventures.
Each was a guest on “Here We Are” and we thought it would be nice to re-post their shows as way of saying Farewell and Thank You!
The first regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard in 2022 is also the start of Yoshi Manale’s tenure as Town Manager. Welcome, Yoshi!
Changes to the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund will be discussed. The board will also consider feeding and providing childcare for Representative Town Meeting, they’ll review goals, and consider some traffic safety items. And, as always, you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at the 6:30pm at the Brattleboro Co-op Community Room.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 6:15pm in the Second Floor Meeting Room at the Central Fire Station (103 Elliot Street) and over Zoom. Everyone will be required to wear a face covering and maintain social distance. The public is encouraged to participate in the meeting over Zoom. The Board will convene at 6:15pm and is expected to enter immediately into executive session. It is expected that the public portions of this meeting (before and after the executive session) will be very brief. However, as noted on the agenda, the Selectboard may take action upon adjourning the executive session and resuming the public session. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”
It’s the final regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard for 2021, (if any meeting this year could be called “regular.”)
The board reconsidered the mask mandate, reviewed FY’23 matters, looked at annual audit results, considered financial reports, and bought some trucks and equipment repairs. More interesting to me, though, was that this was the last “regular” meeting for outgoing Town Manager Peter Elwell. That’s kind of where my thoughts are tonight, more than on budgets and such.
And, for that reason, I don’t plan to transcribe everything word for word tonight. Instead some thoughts…and a bit of the meeting.
