Town News

For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.

Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status – March 20, 2020 – 12:20 pm

by Not Signed In | Town News

WHAT IS NEW TODAY

A special Selectboard meeting will be held on Monday, March 23, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.  The Selectboard will appoint Ian Goodnow to the seat that became vacant upon Dave Schoales’ resignation and will elect Selectboard officers.  Please note that the Municipal Building will be open to the public on March 23 from 5:15pm until 15 minutes after the special Selectboard meeting is adjourned.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Scheduled

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, March 23, 2020, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.  An ASL interpreter will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.  The building will be open to the public at 5:15pm on that day.

Town of Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status – March 19, 2020,  1:15pm 

by Not Signed In | Town News

WHAT IS NEW TODAY 

• Selectboard member Dave Schoales has resigned so that Selectboard member-elect Ian Goodnow can be appointed. This will allow the composition of the Selectboard to change in the manner decided by the voters at the same time when that transition normally would take place. The Town’s Charter states that “newly elected Selectboard members’ terms shall begin on the first Monday following the final adjournment of the annual Representative Town Meeting.” Due to the postponement of this year’s Representative Town Meeting, the commencement of Ian Goodnow’s service would have been delayed indefinitely. Instead, a special Selectboard meeting will be held soon so that the continuing 4 Selectboard members can appoint Ian Goodnow to fill the vacancy created by Dave Schoales’ resignation. 

Brattleboro COVID-19 Update March 18, 2020

by Not Signed In | Town News

WHAT IS NEW TODAY

Due to the Governor’s order prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) scheduled for March 21 has been canceled. It will be re-warned when it becomes legal and prudent to do so. The current plan is to re-warn RTM on April 7 and to hold RTM on May 9.

• The Selectboard voted last night to allow businesses who are repaying loans to the Town’s Small Business Assistance Program to defer their monthly payments until further notice.

• The Selectboard also voted last night that until further notice the Town will not shut-off water service to any customer as a result of that customer becoming delinquent on payment of water+sewer fees.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Cancellation

by Not Signed In | Town News

Due to the COVID-19 health concerns, and the guidance from Governor Scott to limit gatherings to 50 people, the Brattleboro Selectboard decided at the March 17 Selectboard meeting to cancel the March 21, 2020 Representative Town Meeting. The goal is to reschedule this meeting when it is safe to do so. The public will be informed when a new date is set.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – COVID-19, Skatepark To Be Built, RTM Postponed

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard mar 17 2020

The Brattleboro Selectboard held their regular meeting, but it was anything but “regular” Tuesday. Board members were absent. Those attending sat apart from one another (not quite 6 feet…). COVID-19 was influencing almost every article on the agenda. And Brattleboro’s Skatepark was approved to begin construction. 

The COVID-19 update and discussion was the main item. Groundworks got an additional grant to begin construction on their new building, the town finance report looks good up until last week but may show deficits before the fiscal year is over, and Representative Town Meeting is postponed.

COVID-19 Temporary Free Parking in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town News

As a precautionary measure the Town of Brattleboro will immediately suspend the collection of all parking fees and cease issuing parking fines until further notice. All meters and parking kiosks will message “Free Parking”. No further permits will be sold until paid parking is resumed. All previously issued citations must be paid by mail or online at www.brattleboro.org. The Parking Enforcement Office at 77 Flat Street is also closed until further notice. 

This measure is intended to be temporary and will be reviewed as COVID-19 conditions change. Once a decision to reinstate parking fines and fees is made, the public will be notified well in advance of the renewed enforcement activities. 

Town of Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status March 16, 2020, 4:30pm 

by Not Signed In | Town News

An Update to the Community from Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell: 

The United States Government and the State of Vermont are operating under State of Emergency declarations issued by President Trump and Governor Scott related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The Town of Brattleboro, as a subdivision of the State of Vermont, is taking emergency actions in accordance with Governor Scott’s declaration of a State of Emergency for all of Vermont. 

Fire Chief Mike Bucossi, who also is the Town’s Emergency Management Director, is in close ongoing communication with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Rescue Inc., and other emergency health service providers. Chief Bucossi and Town Manager Peter Elwell are in daily communication with the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Emergency Management. Through this coordination, they are not only ensuring the preparedness of Brattleboro town government but also assisting in the preparedness of first responders throughout southeastern Vermont. All other members of the Town’s senior management team are maintaining similarly close contact with their colleagues in State government and others to ensure that the Town’s actions are taken in concert with similar actions to protect the public throughout Vermont and beyond. 

WHAT IS NEW TODAY 

• All Town facilities will be closed to the public beginning Wednesday, March 18. 
• All Town departments will continue to be available to the public via telephone and email. 
• Some employees will work from home. Other employees will continue to report to work. 
• All regularly scheduled Town board, committee, and commission meetings are cancelled until further notice. 

Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office Closing To Public

by Not Signed In | Town News

As a precaution, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office will be closed to the public effective Wednesday morning, March 18 and until further notice. The Town Clerk’s Office staff will remain available to assist you by phone and email.

Town Clerk’s Office hours remain the same, Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

Town of Brattleboro COVID-19 Update  – March 14, 2020

by Not Signed In | Town News

The United States Government and the State of Vermont are operating under State of Emergency declarations issued by President Trump and Governor Scott related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. While a separate local State of Emergency is not necessary in Brattleboro at this time, the Town of Brattleboro has implemented a variety of emergency actions and is planning to scale-up local emergency actions, if necessary. 

Fire Chief Mike Bucossi, who also is the Town’s Emergency Management Director, is in close ongoing communication with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Rescue Inc., and other emergency health service providers. Chief Bucossi and Town Manager Peter Elwell are in daily communication with the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Emergency Management. Through this coordination, they are not only ensuring the preparedness of Brattleboro town government but also assisting in the preparedness of first responders throughout southeastern Vermont. All other members of the Town’s senior management team are maintaining similarly close contact with their colleagues in State government and others to ensure that the Town’s actions are taken in concert with similar actions to protect the public throughout Vermont and beyond. 

The following summary of the Town’s actions on this matter are separated into “Emergency Services,” “Non-Emergency and Administrative Support Services,” and “Representative Town Meeting and Other Meetings”: 

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – March 17, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will approve a bid to begin construction of a skatepark at their next regular meeting. Yes, you read that right. The skatepark is finally going to be built.

There will be updates on COVID-19 from the Town Manager and a status update on Representative Town Meeting, a sewer rodder will be bought,  Groundworks will get a $100,000 grant, the Windham Regional Commission will give an update, stormwater will be managed, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, March 2, 2020, at 5:00pm in the café at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op (2 Main Street).

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at 6:30pm in the Community Room at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op (2 Main Street).

Selectboard Quorum at Saturday Forum

by Not Signed In | Town News

A community forum is scheduled on Saturday, February 29, starting at 10:00am, at the Brooks Memorial Library to address the recent vehicle break-ins in Brattleboro.  Although the forum is not a Selectboard meeting, it is expected that a majority of Selectboard members will attend; however, no Selectboard action will be taken at the forum.

Jan Anderson

Executive Secretary

Brattleboro Selectboard March 3 Meeting Cancelled

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard meeting previously scheduled on Tuesday, March 3, has been CANCELLED.  That is election day and there are no time-sensitive matters that the Board must decide at that time.  The next scheduled Selectboard meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee is meeting on Monday, February 24, 2020, at 5:00pm in the Mezzanine Meeting Room at Brooks Memorial Library.

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) is meeting on Monday, February 24, 2020, at 5:30pm in the Meeting Room at Brooks Memorial Library.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Fill Out Your Fast Internet Survey

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard feb 2020

The Brattleboro Selectboard heard about planning for one or more possible communications districts at their regular Tuesday meeting. Fiber might be coming to southern Vermont, depending on the results of a new survey everyone is encouraged to fill out and how applicable those results are to a business plan.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan was reviewed, liquor violators questioned, and reports given on a recent town governing day at the state level.

Brattleboro Parking Lot Snow Removal

by Not Signed In | Town News

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.