For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25, 2016, with the exception of emergency services.
Brooks Memorial Library will close at 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 23, and will be closed on Thursday, November 24. It will be open for regular hours on Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. Note the revised time of the meeting. ASL interpreters will NOT be available at this meeting.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
The Brattleboro Parking Department would like to advise everyone that the winter parking ban will go into effect, starting Friday, November 18, 2016. 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 owners expense.
David Schoales’ recent vote as Brattleboro’s representative to the Windham Solid Waste District was called into question by fellow board members who were shocked to learn that he had voted in favor of something the Brattleboro Selectboard had recently resolved to be against. His vote has now been scheduled as a discussion topic for a December meeting, and he may be facing removal from his position as representative.
FY18 budget revenues, projects and expenses were the kick-off topics in the annual budget setting process. The board is learning what town staff propose, and are beginning to question and push back on items. Do we really need to replace the fire truck that failed inspection? Budget meetings will continue into January.
The skatepark and dog park projects were approved by the state, with permits granted for work to get underway. Brattleboro may have some permanent micro housing for the homeless, and the new West Brattleboro fire station walls will have better moisture control thanks in part to someone noticing and asking questions.
Brattleboro’s budget season kicks off in earnest at the next regular Tuesday night meeting of the selectboard at the Municipal Center. They begin with a discussion of revenues as well as capital projects and equipment planned for FY18.
A facilities project update, October finances, a permanenent housing project, a liquor license for Dollar General, and business loans and grants will also be on the agenda. You can also bring up other items during public participation.
The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 7:00pm at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op in the community room.
The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.
The second installment of the 2016 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on November 15th, 2016 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after November 15th, 2016 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.
The utility billing is also due on November 15th, 2016 by 5:00 PM. Payments made after November 15th, 2016 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 November 15th, 2016 will be considered as an on time payment. Please include the quarterly payment stub to ensure your payment is applied properly.
In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro town offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2016, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Friday, November 11. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2016.
The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, November 7, 2016, at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting, site visit, and public hearing on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, starting at 4:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center, followed by a site visit at Bittersweet Lane, and a public hearing at approximately 5:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room. ASL interpreters will be available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon for those wishing to vote early. The office will be closed on Tuesday, November 8. Staff will be administering the election at the VFW at 40 Black Mountain Road. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. If you are unsure if you are registered, call the town clerk at 251-8129.
Annette L. Cappy
Brattleboro Town Clerk
230 Main Street, Suite 108
Brattleboro. VT 05301
acappy@brattleboro.org
ph 802-251-8129
fax 802-257-2312
The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held on Thursday, November 10th at 6:00 PM at the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive.
After a review of the treasury report and discussion of possible uses of remaining sign funds, the group will talk about the upcoming Holiday Party plans. And speaking of holiday, the use of non-powered decorations for the West B common this year will be considered.
Members of the WBA will hear updates on various topics including the status of the Neighborhoods Fund and of economic development initiatives.
Selectboard, Town staff, BCTV, and friends of James Banslaben:
A community open house to celebrate the life of James Banslaben has been organized by his “Brattleboro family.” The celebration is scheduled on Sunday, November 20, from 1:00 to 3:00pm at the event space named (and located at) 118 Elliot Street, in Brattleboro. Attached is a copy of the invitation – please pass it onto all staff and other friends of James.
The Brattleboro Selectboard attended to multiple pedestrian and traffic safety matters, allocating a substantial amount of money for new flashing signs and other safety devices for about town.
The board received their introduction to the FY18 budget, they decided to endorse a WSWMD budget with no Materials Recycling facility included, discussed where to send recycling if we close our recycling location, and determined that money would likely be saved as a result.
Banning single use plastic bags will require a petition to become an ordinance, Brattleboro would like a new firetruck, and we have the second best police department in the world!
Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell on Town Operations
Friday, October 21, 2016
The Brattleboro Water Department has experienced some slightly discolored water complaints from customers of the Brattleboro Water System. Because of drought conditions and the replacement of a one million gallon storage tank we were unable to conduct fall water main flushing. Flushing normally occurs spring & fall and removes organics and minerals from the water distribution system.
Naturally occurring minerals (primarily iron) are typically to blame for water discoloration. These minerals, which are heavier than water, settle in water pipelines and may be stirred up from increased water flows in our system.
The discolored water poses no health hazards and the Brattleboro Water System is in full compliance with public water supply standards.
Should Brattleboro ban single use plastic bags in retail stores? It is one of many issues the selectboard will take up at their next regular meeting, Tuesday at the Municipal Center.
Brattleboro’s selectboard will also get a first look at the proposed budget for FY18, see the lease agreement with The Reformer, help with some refinancing of business loans, apply for a grant to buy a new fire truck, learn of two new mural proposals for downtown, buy winter sand, talk more about pedestrian safety measures to implement, and more.
You can attend and participate, and also bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at 4:30pm in the Brattleboro Food Co-Op community room.
The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:00am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, October 24, 2016 at 5:30pm in the Brooks Memorial Library community room.
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 4:30pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.
The excitement over a new Town Clerk, a maximum price set for Central Fire Station, and completed plans for the Police Station was somewhat tempered by the news that a longtime friend of Town government and volunteerism, James Banslaben, had passed away. The board offered heartfelt memories and was genuinely moved by the unexpected news.
Late fees and penalties due to the Town’s scheduling of Water & Sewer bills will not be abated, garbage is good, and child victims may gain an advocate.
