Town News

The Town of Brattleboro Water Department’s annual Consumer Confidence Report / Water Quality Report for 2015 is now available. This report can be viewed on-line at www.brattleboro.org or written copies are available at the Brattleboro Municipal Center in the offices of the Treasurer or Town Clerk. The Water Quality Report can also be obtained at the Brooks Memorial Library and the Department of Public Works on Fairground Road.

Recently discussed enterprise fund budgets will be adopted at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. New liquor license fees will also be up for adoption.

Police officers will be sworn-in, Selectboard goals will be discussed, public vs. private roads will be debated, grants and contracts approved, and plans for the West Brattleboro Fire Station will be reviewed on Tuesday at the Municipal Center on Main Street. You can attend in person and participate, even bringing up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee meeting previously scheduled on May 19 has been CANCELLED. The next meeting is scheduled on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 8:00am in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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

The Brattleboro Selectboard came out of an executive session to hold special meeting about three of the Town’s fund budgets. The FY17 Utility, Parking, and Solid Waste budgets were up for review, along with updated plans for capital improvements within each enterprise fund.

Before the funds fun could get underway, Chair David Gartenstein congratulated and thanked a third grade class at Academy School for their study of West Brattleboro and how well town services meet the needs of the students. He said they wrote letters with their recommendations. Top of their list, he said, was concern about sidewalks and how close traffic is to edges of the road in some places. In addition to the safety concerns, they hoped for more clothing stores and restaurants.

The fourth installment of the 2015 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on May 16, 2016 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after May 16, 2016 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on May 16, 2016 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after May 16, 2016 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet in Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Police-Fire Facilities Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 4:30pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:30pm to discuss labor relations agreements with employees and pending or probable civil litigation, and will reconvene the business meeting at 6:15pm.

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

The regular monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held on Thursday, May 12^th at 6:00 PM at the New England House, 254 Marlboro Road. After a review of the treasury report, spring plantings, the last BizUp meeting and other issues, the WBA will discuss details of the Chicken BBQ coming up on Saturday, May 28^th.

A feature every year of the group, the popular Chicken BBQ will once again happen in front of the First Congregational Church on Western Avenue in West Brattleboro. The menu will feature half chickens, baked beans, and coleslaw or salad, available from 11:00 a.m. until sold out.  More information on the event will be forthcoming.

Steve Barrett of the Brattleboro Department of Public Works reports that this morning a tractor trailer truck hit a hydrant on Canal Street. He sent along these photos:

New fees for special event permits were almost adopted, but put off until the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard to allow for more public input.

The West Brattleboro Association won themselves a small amount of time to come up with brilliant plans for renovating and re-using the current fire station in West Brattleboro. The clock is ticking, as the Selectboard approved of continuing with plans for its demolition.

Energy audits for municipal buildings have been completed, a new traffic safety plan has been adopted, committees have received new appointments, and the Reformer will remain the newspaper of record for the next year.

On Wednesday, June 1st, 2016 at 5pm, the Brattleboro Schoolboard will hold a ceremony dedicating Rouleau Park at the foot of the Canal Street School, in recognition of Lois and Larry Rouleau’s more than 35 years of relentless community service. A good show of community support would be wonderful: Everyone is invited.

Last year, Larry said that he and Lois, in their mid ’80s, are going to be less active: but still there was no sign of them slowing down. Whenever I run into them, they are on their way with a delivery to a food bank or community dinner, organizing a fund-raising tag sale, collecting bottles and cans to support community activities, or raking leaves and cleaning rubbish to maintain the park. Years ago, the Schoolboard had to remove a dangerously dilapidated jungle-gym, which they did not have funds to replace. With the Schoolboard’s permission the Clark-Canal Community Association installed two benches at the park, but otherwise the space remained empty.

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, May 2, 2016 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

At their next regular meeting on Tuesday, the Brattleboro Selectboard will review some suggestions from the West Brattleboro Association regarding the West Brattleboro Fire Station project. The Town Manager recommends rejecting 2 of the 3 proposals.

The board will consider streamlining the special events permit process to allow the Town Clerk to approve some liquor-related events, there will be a presentation regarding energy audits and traffic calming, an update on the local emergency operations plan, committee appointments, board goals and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation, and lend your views to anything on the agenda as well.

Tune in to BCTV for full coverage, and read about it here after.

With the water mains being flushed, I thought it might be fun to get some background information on why we do it and how it gets done. I sent some questions to Director of Public Works Steve Barrett and have the following to share with you.

– What’s the goal of the water main flushing?

The water entering our mains after treatment is of a very high quality, however, over time sediments can build up in the pipes; particularly if the water is slow moving.

If left alone – this could result in customers occasionally receiving discolored water, particularly if there has been a surge in the flow (perhaps because of fire-fighting or a burst water main). Too much sediment can also affect the taste, clarity and color of water. We also operate every hydrant in town to verify they are in good working order. Water valves are also operated & exercised to direct the water flow and ensure they are working properly.

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 5:30pm at Brooks Memorial Library in the community room.

The Brattleboro Police-Fire Facilities Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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

Time for another edition of Noticed Around Brattleboro, where you can add the little (or big) things you’ve noticed recently in and around town.

I’ll get us started with an observation or two:

– Fast Eddies has re-opened on Putney Road.

– Top of the Hill Grill is now open for the season.

The Police and Fire facility projects will be guided by the same team as before. The project manager, architects, and construction management company were all approved for contract signing.

Brattleboro received grants ranging from $240 to $1 million, the All State Music Festival has been cleared for a parade next year, and our financial questionnaires and checklists are in good order.

Architects, advisors, and construction services for the police and fire facilities projects will be contracted by the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting at the Municipal Center.

An All-State Music Festival will ask for a parade permit, various grants will be applied for or accepted, and more. You can bring up items not otherwise on the agenda during public participation.

The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 8:00am in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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

BrattRock — The Brattleboro Youth Rock Festival — is coming to Brattleboro October 1, 2016!

A celebration of young musical talent, BrattRock’s mission is to provide a venue for area youth musicians and bands to gather, connect, learn, perform, inspire, and be inspired. 

Participation is open to youth musicians and bands with all members under 20 years of age. 

The one-day event features music workshops for youth, offered by local adult music professionals and educators and culminates with an evening concert with performances by participating youth musical acts. 

Registration is now open at www.brattrock.org.