Brattleboro Closures for Presidents’ Day

In observance of President’s Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2015, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, February 15 and February 16. All other violations, including extended parking will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday, February 15 and February 16, 2015.


Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee Meeting Cancelled

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee meeting previously scheduled on February 13 is cancelled due to the expected extreme cold and difficult travel conditions. The next scheduled meeting is 03/13/2015.

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


Downtown Brattleboro Snow Removal

This evening (February 10, 2015) starting at 10:30 pm, the town will begin snow removal operations in the downtown area to improve pedestrian access, sight visibility, and open up parking spaces.

Please remember that per the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances, that overnight parking is prohibited on all streets within the Town limits. Vehicles parked for longer than one (1) hour between 11:00 pm and 07:00 am may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Vehicles may be towed at any time if they are hampering snow plowing or snow removal. Please refer to Chapter 16 in the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances for further information.


Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast – Notes from a Breakfast with the Brattleboro Chief of Police Michael Fitzgerald

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast   
January 23,  2015      
Gibson-Aiken Center                                                                                           

Breakfast with the Brattleboro Chief of Police Michael Fitzgerald
     (802) 257-7950

Chief Michael Fitzgerald spoke about the vision he has for the Brattleboro PD as it relates to the community. “No one is immune from the impact” of the recent events in Ferguson, MO. What is needed is that we all sit down and have a candid and in depth conversation with the community.


Brooks Memorial Library Closing At 6 P.M.

The Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro will be closing today (Monday, 2/9) at 6:00pm due to the weather. The bookdrop will be open and the Library will re-open tomorrow at 10:00am.

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


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Nothing Ado About Much

The Brattleboro Selectboard had a non-controversial, almost-dull meeting Tuesday night. If you are looking for fireworks, there are none to report.

Interesting things were accomplished, however. Things you need to know about. Things that will change the way of life as we know it in this town. A major sidewalk renovation will be underway later this year, there are new zoning regulations being developed, and Representative Town Meeting informational meetings for Town Representatives are being planned.

There was no decision regarding opposing the Charter change questions, other than to prepare informational materials, in case the board decides to send a statement.


Selectboard Over-Reach

In his campaign against the Pro-Democracy Amendments Mr. Gartenstein said he wants to provide guidance for the town.  Town charter gives the selectboard a list of duties “not committed by law to the care of any particular officer . . .”.  “Guidance” and “ideas” are not on their list.  The charter assigns guidance of the office of town rep: the rep town meeting is “. . . a guiding body for the town and a source of ideas . . . “.  

Mr. Gartenstein may want to provide public education, but that is not their job either.   That is assigned to another office, the school directors.  These are just excuses to interfere with the democratic process described under the charter “Powers of the People”


Brattleboro Energy Committee Meeting Postponed

The Brattleboro Energy Committee meeting previously scheduled for today has been rescheduled due to the weather. The meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 5:00pm in the Planning Services Department at the Municipal Center.

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


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 3, 2015

The Brattleboro Selectboard will begin working to identify and promote an explanation for their public position against proposed Charter changing amendments at their next regular Tuesday meeting at the Muncipal Center.

The board will also approve grants and funds for a radio repeater, sidewalk repair, and “highway safety equipment,” learn more about VT Alert from the Fire Department, consider giving out three more licenses for liquor samples for a tasting and sampling event at the River Garden, and more.

Watch it all on BCTV, or better yet, attend in person and participate. You can read all about it here the next day.


Town of Brattleboro Notice of Availability of Auditors’ Reports

NOTICE is hereby given that the Brattleboro Town and Town School District Auditors’ Reports for fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, are available upon request and may be picked up at the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont.

The Auditors’ Reports will also be available as part of the Town and School District Annual Report which will be available at the Town Clerk’s office no later than February 20, 2015.

Based on vote at Representative Town Meeting, March 20, 2010, the Town will no longer mail the Auditors’ Reports to all voters of the Town.


Brooks Memorial Library Receives Bequest

The estate of Brattleboro resident Ronald James Read, who passed away in June 2014, has notified the Brooks Memorial Library of a bequest. The unrestricted gift will increase the library’s current endowment fund by over $1.2M.

“The staff, Friends of the Library, volunteers and board are delighted at this great news,” noted Jerry Goldberg, President of the Board of Trustees. “Mr. Read’s bequest, by far the largest since that made by George J. Brooks in 1886, is a legacy that is far reaching. It will help to guarantee the future viability and sustainability of Brattleboro’s public library, an institution much respected by Mr. Read. It is, indeed, his gift to the entire Greater Brattleboro community.”


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – A Short Summary of 3.5 Hours of Agenda Setting

It was a special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard, so we’ll have a special form of coverage – a quick version:

– No one appears to be running against incumbent Selectboard members, as was also the case last year.

– $7,000 of BMAC repair and maintenance costs were added back in to the budget for FY16.

– The FY16 general municipal budget was approved for presentation to Representative Town Meeting. It comes to a request for $15,721,494, or a 2% increase in property tax.


Accident on Putney Road

I was the victim of that accident. I payed attention to my surroundings on both sides, and was in a crosswalk. I was fully sober, as I am now. I have been in recovery and AA for over a month now. I was struck by the car on the outside of my left leg, so I had definitely already gotten through the close lane (with a car, its headlights on, waiting) or else I was hit by a car crossing lanes.

I imagine the police must have identified the driver by now, as there was busy traffic leading down to the triangle and an officer was on site rapidly. My mom and uncle were speaking to an officer not far away when the accident occurred, and he naturally rushed to the scene. I was told by an officer at the hospital that the driver had been a man in his 80s who had simply not seen me.


Traffic Stopped on I-91

Traffic has stopped on I-91 Northbound between Exits 2 and 3 as the result of a traffic accident in the work zone. Emergency personnel are responding and traffic will be cleared asap.

Cindy Cook
Principal, Adamant Accord, Inc.


West Brattleboro Economic Development Forum February 9th

On Monday, February 9th at 5:00 PM all West Brattleboro businesses are invited to discuss business and economic development ideas with Brattleboro and Windham County development organizations.  Representatives will be present from Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Windham Regional Commission and the Town of Brattleboro.

The meeting will take place in the central conference room at the 55 Marlboro Road building and is being organized by the West Brattleboro Association.  (55 Marlboro Rd. is the long building with Central Appliance at its right corner.  Use the central front door and head to the back.)