Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Monday, December 16, 2019, at 5:00pm in the Mezzanine Meeting Room at Brooks Memorial Library.

The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, December 19, 2019, at 8:00am in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.


The Shirley Squires Nativity Museum Is Now Open

If you are overwhelmed by the crass commercialism that has overtaken the holiday season a trip to see Shirley Squires’ 1500 nativity sets in her Guilford home might be just what you need. She has been collecting nativity sets since 1993 and as the collection grew, in 1997 she decided to share it with anyone with an interest in visiting.

As the years have passed Squires has given up most of her living spaces to the Christmas displays. The only traditionally functional areas of her home are the kitchen and a small area in the living room where she has a day bed. She spends time every year preparing for visitors and her family and friends help her during the busy visitor season. Most years between 250 and 300 people come to see the nativities display.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – The Intent of Representative Town Meeting, and Budgets

brattleboro selectboard dec 3 2019

The Brattleboro Selectboard had an extended discussion of the appropriateness of giving the new sustainability coordinator $10,000 for community programs and outreach. Was this what Representative Town Meeting intended? Will the line item grow out of control?

Brattleboro is joining with other Vermont municipalities and VLCT to request some time, some authority, and some money when and if commercial cannabis operations are legalized. It is expected in the coming legislative session. The board continued discussions of FY21 and signed on for some training.


Brattleboro Downtown Snow Removal

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 and parking lots in the downtown area this evening.

Parked vehicles in the downtown district must be removed by 11:00 pm from the streets and vehicles parked in the parking lots must be removed by 1:00 am or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – December 3, 2019

Municipal authority over commercial cannabis will be discussed for the first time by the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting. The last time the board discussed legal cannabis was probably the 1920’s.

The board will learn what “unconscious bias and cultural humility” training is and whether they should accept a proposal to undertake it., continue their discussion of the FY21 proposed budget, and listen to whatever else you’d like to tell them during Public Participation.


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, December 2, 2019, at 5:00pm, in the Community Room at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op (2 Main Street).

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at 1:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, December 5, 2019, at 6:30pm in the Community Room at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op (2 Main Street).


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Opioid Lawsuit Hokey-Pokey, Plus FY21 Police and Fire Budgets

brattleboro selectboard nov 26, 2019

At their special meeting this week, the Brattleboro Selectboard decided to reverse a decision they made just last week and instead remain IN a second, national opioid lawsuit. A lawyer told them opting out wouldn’t be so smart.

Health and safety issues at local apartments, an effort to reduce the speed limit in West Brattleboro along Route 9, and discussions of the FY21 Police and Fire budgets rounded out the special meeting.


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Monday, November 25, 2019, at 5:00pm in the Mezzanine Room at Brooks Memorial Library.

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, November 25, 2019, at 5:30pm in the Meeting Room at Brooks Memorial Library.


Brattleboro Thanksgiving Day Closures

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, 2019, with the exception of emergency services. 

Brooks Memorial Library will close at 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 27, and will be closed on Thursday, November 28. It will re-open for regular hours on Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30. 2019. 


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Enters Opioid Lawsuit, Settles Other, and Discusses FY21 Capital Expenses

Brattleboro Selectboard nov 19 19

The Brattleboro Selectboard decided Tuesday night to enter into an opioid lawsuit similar to the one that Bennington is undertaking. With strict warnings that local pharmacies could be added in the future if anything notable arises, the board decided not to sue local pharmacies for now.

SeVEDS gave an account of their work year and asked for their annual contribution from Brattleboro, big projects are planned at Living Memorial Park, yes we’re getting another new fire truck, the police have requested some hybrid vehicles for the first time, and the first local option sales taxes shows that things cost about $200,000 more in Brattleboro than in surrounding communities for the first quarter reported.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – November 19, 2019

It is a night for lawyers at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. They plan to enter into one or more opioid-related lawsuits, settle a lawsuit with Penny Witherbee, and even start off the night with an executive session that has additional pending or probable civil litigation.

Green Street parking changes, financial updates, a review of proposed FY21 capital projects and equipment, some grants, and appointments will fill out the agenda. You can bring up other items during public participation.


Brattleboro Overnight Winter Parking Ban Starts November 15

 The Brattleboro Parking Department would like to advise everyone that the winter parking ban will go into effect, starting Friday, November 15, 2019. Overnight parking is forbidden on all streets in the town of Brattleboro. Vehicles parked for longer than one (1) hour between 11:00pm and 07:00am may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. 

THIS BAN IS IN EFFECT EVEN IF THERE IS NO SNOW ON TOWN STREETS. 


Selectboard Special Meeting Notes – FY21 Budget Overview

The Brattleboro Selectboard got a first look at the FY21 proposed Town Budget. Your taxes will be going up. By how much exactly will be determined over the next several meetings.

The board heard more about opioid lawsuits, learned about the Department of Public Works and Recreation and Parks Department budgets, heard about marketing Brattleboro generally and possibly to “homosexual couples,” and learned of doings at the downtown organization.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Nov 12, 2019 – Agenda and Notes

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.  It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:30pm to discusspending or probable civil litigation or a prosecution to which the public body is or may be a party  The Board will reconvene at 6:15pm for the business meeting.  ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.


Brattleboro Taxes & Utilities Due

The second installment of the 2019 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on November 15th, 2019 by 5:00 PM.  Payments made after November 15th, 2019 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on November 15th, 2019 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after November 15th, 2019 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.