For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
Agenda (start time / minutes)
• Call to order (6:00 / 2)
• Agenda review (6:02 / 5)
• Approve last meeting minutes (6:07 / 3)
• Announcements (6:10 / 5)
• Topic: Officer elections (6:15 / 20)
• Topic: Committee policy to discuss or not discuss charter change items – vote, from John Kennedy (6:35 / 5)
• Topic: Sub-committee on finance – vote, from Rikki Risatti (6:40 / 5)
The Brattleboro Selectboard is easing into budget season while wrestling with the safety of retuning to in-person meetings. They got an update on the Water Treatment Plant upgrade, paid for some emergency repairs, gave out a liquor license, and discussed Town Manager Elwell’s final Long Term Financial Plan.
There was more – there will be new stop signs coming to some corners, a discussion of ARPA fund possibilities was quick, and a discussion of blinking crosswalks took quite a while.
1. Minutes – August 18, 2021
2. Public Participation
3. Monthly Report on Pedestrian and Bicycle Incidents
4. Monthly Report on Traffic Data Collection
5. Street and Sidewalk Safety Policy Safety Action Requests
(a) Speed Concerns on Elliot Street
(b) Speed Concerns on Grove Street
(c) Speed Concerns on Pine Street
(d) Request to Close Bullock and Whipple Streets + Provide Downtown Pedestrian-Only Zones
The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:
ADA Committee
Agricultural Advisory committee
Arts Committee
Cemetery Committee
Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC)
Agenda:
Announcements
Meeting Minutes Review
Agenda Updates
Delegating Tasks
The Brattleboro Selectboard willl take up a number of water treatment plant issues at their next regular meeting. This includes emergency replacement of a blower and other emergency repairs for wells, a project update, and a loan application. The board will continue discussion of adjusting COVID rules, hear an update on ARPA funding, consider some traffic safety measures, and contemplate Town Manager Elwell’s final Long Term Financial Plan, FY23-27.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 7:45am at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). The Board will convene at 7:45am and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 8:00am. The Board will convene at 8:00am and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 1:00pm. The Board will convene at 1:00pm and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee, collective bargaining agreements with employees, the negotiation of a real estate purchase or lease and contracts.
On Friday, September 10, 2021, all Town offices in the Brattleboro Municipal Center will be closed from 10:00am until 11:00am for a staff meeting. This closure includes the Assessor’s Office, Finance Department, Planning Department, Town Clerk’s Office, Town Manager’s Office, and Treasurer’s Office.
RE: Overgrown Vegetation
Please be advised. Property owners are responsible for trimming and maintaining vegetation on their property if it may interfere with the public right of way. Overgrown vegetation creates an unsafe situation for pedestrians who may have to walk in the roadway to get by. It also impacts the sight distance for vehicular traffic. Please inspect and trim your vegetation accordingly. The town ordinance reads as follows:
The members of the Agenda Subcommittee are hereby notified and warned to meet in the Hannah Cosman Room of the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 8:00 AM to consider the articles listed below.
approval of minutes from August 25 (5 minutes)
amendment to our terms of reference re: PURPOSE of the subcommittee (5 minutes)
remarks of the chair (5 minutes)
law and bylaw re handling and control of agenda and scheduling (60 minutes) reducing restrictions on people’s initiatives Article III
FALL WATER MAIN FLUSHING TO START
Utilities Division crews will start Fall Flushing of the Town water mains on Thursday September 23, 2021, at 10:00 p.m. and continue through Saturday October 9, 2021
Some users have recently noticed discoloration of their water. Unprecedented rainfall has added color from dissolved organics in the source water. Additional organics accumulated in the distribution system is the cause of the discoloration. The water is safe to drink. Public Works tests the water throughout the distribution system daily. Flushing the water mains will improve the situation. Brattleboro is currently constructing a new water treatment facility which will improve our ability to treat the water supply during unusual conditions in the future.
Please note that water main flushing will occur at night and during the day.
In observance of Labor Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, September 6, 2021, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, September 5, and Monday, September 6. All other violations will be enforced.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 5:30pm. The Selectboard will be participating in this meeting via Zoom and also encourages the public to participate via Zoom. The physical location of this meeting will be the Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street). There will be limited public seating. Seats will be spaced six feet apart. Everyone in the room will be required to wear face coverings. The Board will convene at 5:30pm and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee and to discuss labor relations with employees. The Board will reconvene after the executive session and immediately adjourn. No action will be taken.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). The public is encouraged to participate in the meeting over Zoom. The Municipal Center will be open to the public with limited seating spaced six feet apart and face coverings will be required in the meeting. 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 Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 6:30pm at 9 Southern Avenue.
Agenda
• Call to order
• Agenda review
• Announcements
• Review our previous work regarding problems identified for RTM day
The Whetstone Pathway Bridge connecting the Whetstone Pathway and the Preston Lot on Flat Street has been reopened. The retaining wall has been replaced and the bridge has been reset. There is more restoration work on the bridge and electrical work on the Pathway remaining.
Thanks to the local residents, patrons and staff of the Brattleboro Food Co-Op for your patience and understanding during this closure.
In observance of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the previously scheduled Tuesday, September 7, 2021, Brattleboro Selectboard Regular Meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 6:15pm.
The physical location of the meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).Due to continued concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in our area, the public is encouraged to attend the meeting on Zoom. Consistent with the Town’s standard practice, the Zoom link for this meeting will be printed at the top of the agenda.
The members of the Agenda Subcommittee are hereby notified and warned to meet in the Hannah Cosman Room of the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 8:00 AM to consider the articles listed below.
Approval of minutes from August 11 (5 minutes)
Amendments to terms of reference (5 minutes)
Initial discussion: a joint committee of townspeople, TMM and selectperson re RTM agenda (10 minutes)
Comments on Spoon’s resignation (15 minutes)
Lenny Derby, Vermont Chapter president of Vietnam Veterans of America, discussed plans to bring the Vietnam Moving Wall to Brattleboro from September 16-20, 2021 at a recent meeting of Brattleboro Rotary Club. The presentation can be seen on the Brattleboro Community TV show, “Brattleboro Rotary Club Speaker Series.
