Town News

Brattleboro, VT — (August 19, 2014) — WKVT and Latchis Arts present the fifth annual Load the Latchis food drive this Thursday, August 20.

From 6:00am to 6:00pm, volunteers will be on Flat Street outside the Latchis Building, enabling curbside drop-off of food and monetary donations, which help stock the Groundworks Collaborative food shelf on 60 South Main Street in downtown Brattleboro.

The goal of the food drive is to place a full bag of groceries on each of the 750 seats inside the main theater in the Latchis. Suggested items to donate include such non-perishable items as peanut butter, tuna fish, pasta, boxed meals, canned meats, fruits, and vegetables and diapers.

Brattleboro’s municipal properties will be receiving energy audits now that an energy-auditing firm has been selected for the task. The Brattleboro Selectboard approved the work to look at 14 different structures, to see what additional work could be done to save money long-term.

The board heard an interesting pair of contrasting presentations regarding a proposed 140 foot cell tower for Putney Road. One presentation showed it to be essential to the life of our community; the other questioned its necessity as proposed.

A new playground structure has been approved for purchase for West River park, town finances are on schedule one month into the fiscal year, and a complaint about a closed pool leads to a discussion of who cut the hours in the first place.

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:

Agricultural Advisory Board
ADA Advisory Committee
Arts Committee
Citizens Police Communications Committee (CPCC)

Ready for another “Noticed Around Brattleboro” list? This is you chance to point out things that have caught your eye in recent months.

To get you started, here are a few things I’ve noticed recently:

– New, large Steve Proctor vases at the front door of Brattleboro Savings & Loan to welcome bank customers.

Playground equipment for the West River Park, muncipal buildings’ energy audits, and a proposed new telecommunications tower for Putney Road are all on the next agenda of the Brattleboro Selectboard, set for Tuesday evening at the Municipal Center on Main Street.

You can attend in person, or watch on BCTV. You can also bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 8:00am in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. (NOTE the new day and time)

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

The Brattleboro Selectboard is accepting applications for interested people to become a part of an ad hoc Selection Committee to review the final proposals submitted by artists in conjunction with funding through the Town’s NEA “Our Town” grant. The Selection Committee will consist of several local residents and other members with expertise in the arts.

The Selectboard has approved a group of 13 proposals for final consideration. The artists have been asked to refine their proposals and will submit a final proposal for the Selection Committee to review. It is anticipated that the Selection Committee’s work will occur between September 14 and September 25. It will make a recommendation to the Selectboard regarding which project(s) should be selected for implementation.

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting Tuesday evening to consider and endorse the work of the NEA Our Town Arts Screening Committee, as well as to award a bid for the Green Street retaining wall work to be done.

The meeting wasn’t televised, though, so your report is based on their meeting materials.

According to meeting materials…

The first installment of the 2015 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on August 17th, 2015 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after August 17th, 2015 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on August 17th, 2015 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after August 17th, 2015 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

Payments can be mailed to the Town of Brattleboro, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro VT 05301. An official postmark of August 17th, 2015 will be considered as an on time payment. Please include the quarterly payment stub to ensure your payment is applied properly.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 5:30pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session immediately following the business meeting to discuss contracts and the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, August 14, 2015 at 10:00am at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in the VCIL conference room.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

Artists wondering if they are finalists in the Our Town selection process will be waiting one more week for the final decision of the board, pending the review of one more legit-but-overlooked proposal. The Brattleboro Selectboard will approve the list of finalists at a meeting next week.

Instead, the board was given an overview of the selection process thus far, and a glimpse of the work of the Screening Committee. They approved the Brooks Memorial Library Trustees request to restore lost library hours on Thursdays and Saturdays, approved of a plan to fine local businesses, and accepted what is likely to be the last in a series of radiologically-related grants funded by Entergy.

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, August 3, 2015 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

The NEA Our Town Grant Screening Committee has chosen finalists, and their list of screened proposals will be reviewed and approved by the by Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting, enabling the project to move to the next phase.

Brooks Memorial Library hours will be restored on Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons, the board will accept a grant, and allow the Assessors to fine more local businesses. You can bring up other items that aren’t on the agenda during Public Participation.

The Brattleboro NEA Our Town Grant Screening Committee will meet on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 8:30am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

From the Brattleboro Reformer-

“BRATTLEBORO >> A citizens’ group that is trying to develop a statewide strategic plan for the legalization of cannabis will hold its first public meeting in Brattleboro next week.

The Vermont Cannabis Collaborative, or VTCC, plans to hold a series of public forums around the state as it prepares to issue a report on cannabis legalization in time for the upcoming Legislative session.

The group will host a meeting Monday, July 27, at 5 p.m. at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden at 157 Main St.

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 5:30pm at the Brooks Memorial Library in the community room.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100