For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Funding Committee will meet on Friday, September 25, 2020, at 1:00pm by GoToMeeting (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely.
The Town of Brattleboro just sent out this announcement:
“Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell has announced that Finance Director Andre Jaeger did not successfully complete his probationary period and is no longer employed by the Town of Brattleboro. Elwell said the Town will contract with the accounting/auditing firm of Melanson Heath to provide interim finance director services, just as during January-May of 2020 after the retirement of former Finance Director John O’Connor.”
I can’t recall another hire not successfully completing their probationary period…
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Monday, September 21, 2020, at 4:00pm on Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, on Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:30pm to discuss the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options and the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee. The Board will reconvene the business meeting at 6:15pm. The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” Information about how to connect to the meeting is also posted on the homepage of the Town’s website. ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved a proposal for a Community Safety Review facilitation team. They chose a local proposal, created a committee, and decided on how much to pay for stipends.
Other issues before the board involved the Department of Public Works, some grants, and gathering data on housing to aid town planning.
Utilities Division crews will start Fall Flushing of the Town water mains on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 10:00 p.m. and continue through Saturday, October 10, 2020
NOTE: Some daytime flushing will continue throughout the week of October 13th and 19th
Customers are asked to check the flushing schedule closely as flushing causes water discoloration, low water pressure and in some areas, intervals of no water.
Please note that water main flushing will occur at night and during the day.
Five proposals for community safety review facilitation have been received, twenty six applications to be on the committee are in hand, and the perhaps re-organized Brattleboro Selectboard will decide next steps at their next Tuesday meeting. Committee members will be interviewed and appointed at a special meeting.
Grants and bid awards are also on the agenda, as is the purchase of a new salt shed. You can add other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Watch Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting on BCTV’s cable and online channels
Saturday, September 12, 2020
8:30 AM – 5 PM???
On cable:
-Channel 1085 on Comcast
-Channel 10 on Southern Vermont Cable
The first installment of the 2020 Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on September 15, 2020. Payments made after September 15, 2020 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.
Payments can be mailed to the Town of Brattleboro, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro VT 05301. Payments can also be made by dropping an envelope containing your check (no cash) into a locked “mailbox” labeled “Town Business” in the parking lot behind the Municipal Center. An official postmark of September 15, 2020 will be considered on time for tax payments. Please include the quarterly payment stub to ensure your payment is applied properly
The Brattleboro Selectboard discussed affordable housing at length Tuesday evening. A new affordable housing project downtown on Flat Street, a town-wide zoning change to create more rentable units, and a discussion of an ordinance to limit what landlords can collect up front from tenants all indicated difficulties for the 60% of residents who rent in Brattleboro.
The DPW also shared a bit of the spotlight, with road grants and a new mower attachment.
In observance of Labor Day, all Town Offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2020, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, September 6, and Monday, September 7. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday, September 6, and Monday, September 7.
Trash, recycling, and composting WILL NOT be picked up on Monday, September 7, 2020.
All curbside collections will be delayed by one day all week.
Housing and getting around will be discussed at the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. There is a new affordable housing project planned for Flat Street, the Tenant’s Union is asking for an ordinance to regulate security deposits, the DPW needs some vehicles and will apply for some road erosion grants, and there is a “interim zoning bylaw public hearing.”
It’s all on Zoom and you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Agenda items:
Approve minutes
Free tree program update
Fall maintenance
The Brattleboro Citizen Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 5:30pm via GoToMeeting (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
The Town of Brattleboro invites all interested people to apply for appointment to serve on a community advisory committee that will be conducting a thorough review of community safety in Brattleboro. The application form can be found on the Town’s website at www.brattleboro.org under: Boards & Committees tab > Boards and Committees Application, or at the following link:
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved an edited version of the community RFP for police review and public safety at their Tuesday meeting. The Town-edited proposal was discussed at length and a few final tweaks were made before it was unanimously approved. Next steps: facilitator proposals and the formation of a committee.
The revised Request for Proposals for a Facilitator of Community Safety Review will return to the board’s agenda at their next regular meeting. It has gone through a revision process by Town staff and should be ready for approval, but the possibility of a long discussion remains.
The board will consider revising the Agricultural Advisory Committee and talk about local and regional food planning, a new hazard mitigation plan committee might be formed, summer paving bids will be approved, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during Public participation.
The Town of Brattleboro utility bills are due on August 17, 2020. Payments made after August 17, 2020 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty, added to the unpaid balance.
The first installment of the 2020 Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on September 15, 2020. Payments made after September 15, 2020 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.
Notice to Taxpayers
The taxpayers of the Town of Brattleboro are hereby notified and warned that Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes assessed upon the Grand List of 2020 are now due and payable to the Town Treasurer at the Treasurer’s Office in the Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro, Vermont, in four equal installments as follows:
The Brattleboro Selectboard is holding another meeting, and you are invited to catch up on town business such as financial reports, water and sewer improvements, purchase of winter sand, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
