Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard received a detailed report on why our downtown traffic system is just about the best it can possibly be, as is. In discussing the lack of major opportunities for improvements, the name Malfunction Junction returned as shorthand for the intersection causing problems up and down Main Street.

The board also learned about the best path forward toward addressing issues related to being a hub town in Vermont, which is to form a coalition with other hub towns, such as Bennington, St. Johnsbury, and Springfield, to put pressure on the state to create new sources of revenue.

A trailer was bought, committees have new members, and the town now offers larger loans to help businesses.

Town Manager’s Office teammates Peter Ewell, Patrick Moreland and Jan Anderson take a few moments to discuss the different ways area residents can get involved with Town Meeting–whether it’s participating in the annual town meeting, attending this year’s special Town Meeting on the Police-Fire Upgrade, prepping yourself with the pre-town meeting info sessions, attending the regular selectboard meetings throughout the year, or watching all of it on BCTV. .

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held on Thursday, March 10^th at 6:00 PM in the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive (just west of the W Bratt PO). After a review of the treasury report, the WBA will discuss the status of the welcome signs and other pending issues.

A feature of this month’s meeting is the WBA hosting of District 1 Town Meeting representatives at 7:00 that evening. This is a chance for area residents to engage in an informal Q&A regarding the warrants for the upcoming March 12^th Special Town Meeting which will specifically address the proposed police/fire facilities upgrade, and to engage them in a discussion about the March 19^th Annual Representative Town Meeting. This part of the meeting will be facilitated by West Brattleboro’s own Orion Barber.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will receive a report regarding downtown traffic lights and traffic flow at their next Tuesday meeting. They will also receive a final report from the Regional Economic Hub Committee and act on that committee’s recommendation to dissolve.

The board will assist local businesses via new policies and procedures for the Small Business Assistance program, and will places fines and fees on local businesses for failing to get a business license in a timely manner.

You can participate by attending in person, or watch on BCTV. Read about the meeting the next day.

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, March 7, 2016 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The section of Black Mountain Road that is between Kipling Road and Dickenson Road is closed and will remain closed until further notice. That section was damaged during last night’s storm and the damage worsened significantly this morning. State and Town personnel are assessing the extent of the damage and will develop a plan for addressing it. In the meantime, all Black Mountain Road traffic will use Kipling Road and Dickenson Road as a short detour around the closed area.

While the very heavy rain and wind last night kept Fire Department and DPW crews busy throughout the night, all other damage to public infrastructure was minor.

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be closed Tuesday, March 1 for elections. Elections will be held in the Selectboard Meeting Room of the Municipal Center. Polling hours are 7 am – 7 pm.

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

In lieu of notes, please see the BCTV video link to the Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Selectboard Forum held Feb 12, 2016 and related media coverage, .

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Monday, February 22, 2016, at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, February 22, 2016, at 5:30pm at Brooks Memorial Library in the community room.

The Brattleboro Regional Economic Hub Study Group will meet on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Due to the weather, the Brooks Memorial Library will close at 7:00 this evening, Tuesday, Feb. 16th. The Audubon Society meeting at the library has been cancelled.

Brattleboro’s proposed skatepark may take a major step forward if the Selectboard approves a $230,000 grant application request from BASIC and the Recreation & Parks department. The grant application would be to the National Creative Placemaking Fund.

The board will approve special event permits, learn about the VY Decomissioning timeline for emergency management, and will hold a second reading and public hearing on proposed changes to ordinances regarding pets.

Attend in person to participate, watch on BCTV, and read about it here the day after.

In observance of Presidents’ Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2016, 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 14 and February 15. All other violations will be enforced.

The third installment of the 2015 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on February 16th, 2016. Payments made after February 16th, 2016 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on February 16th, 2016. Payments made after February 16th, 2016 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

The Treasurer’s Office will be closed on February 15th, 2016 in observance of President’s Day.

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 8:00am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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 parking lots in the downtown area this evening.

Parked vehicles in the downtown parking lots must be removed by 10:30pm or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held in the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive (just west of the W Bratt PO) on Thursday, February 11^th at 6:00 PM. After a review of the treasury report, the WBA will discuss the status of the welcome signs and hear a report about the BizUp session held in January. On the agenda is also a discussion of the Neighborhoods Fund which heretofore has helped the WBA provide mini-grants to neighborhood groups doing their own service work, improving their grounds, etc.  The question is whether to seek new money to fund this work.

March will be a very busy month in Brattleboro with presidential primary elections, two Representative Town Meetings, two informational meetings, and changes in the Selectboard’s schedule. In order to make the schedule clear for the public, attached are copies of the March meetings – in chronological order and by category.

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

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

Agricultural Advisory Board
Arts Committee
ADA Advisory Committee Conservation Commission
Development Review Board (Alternate)
Energy Committee Fence Viewers (by statute, must be legal voters of the Town)
Honor Roll Planning Commission
Senior Solutions Advisory Council SEVCA Board

The Brattleboro Selectboard reviewed a variety of bond options in anticipation of a special Representative Town Meeting deciding the future of Brattleboro’s police facility. No decision was made, but the total cost of 20, 25, and 30 year bonds (including interest payments and funds already borrowed) was provided for comparison.

The board also held a first reading on changes to ordinances that will impact pets and their owners in town. One which may be of particular interest to readers here (hi Zippy) is that police will be able to rescue dogs from hot cars. Other changes include new rules for “dangerous” animals and more clarity in the rules and appeals process.