Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes Dec 2, 2024

Should Brattleboro end Representative Town Meeting? The Brattleboro Selectboard will decide if this question is allowed to be put to voters at their next regular meeting.

They will make changes to ordinances relating to parking, the downtown improvement district, and vacant buildings and will also hear the annual pleas from the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance and BDCC.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town Website Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard by the end of today.

Jessica Sticklor (she/her/hers)

Executive Assistant

Town of Brattleboro

230 Main Street, Suite 208

Brattleboro, VT 05301

(802) 251 – 8115

BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024

SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM

REGULAR MEETING – 6:15 PM

The physical location for this meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center

at 230 Main Street.

Selectboard Meeting materials can be found on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard.

If you join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, please use this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659

The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:

860 6789 2659

Passcode: 12261753

You also can call in using your telephone

by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the United States:

833-548-0282

877-853-5247

888-788-0099

833-548-0276

(*6 Mute/Unmute – *9 Raise Hand)

The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV:

On Cable TV: Channel 1079

Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv

AGENDA

(please note that all times are approximate)

1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)

2. APPROVE MINUTES – November 12, 2024 and November 19, 2024

3. CHAIR’S REMARKS

4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS

5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)

7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:30 PM)

A. First Class Liquor License – Royal Diner

B. 2024 Justice Assistance Grant – Accept and Appropriate $13,052 Grant

C. Parking for Holly Days – Authorize Request

D. Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility Change Order #7 – Authorize $6,956 Change Order

8. OLD BUSINESS (6:35 PM)

A. Appendix C Parking Ordinance Changes – Second Reading (6:35 PM)

B. Vacant Buildings Ordinance – Second Reading (6:55 PM)

9. NEW BUSINESS

A. BDCC/SeVEDS Update and Funding Request (7:15 PM)

B. Downtown Brattleboro Alliance Update (7:45 PM)

C. Chapter 15 Ordinance Changes (Downtown Improvement District) – First Reading (8:15 PM)

D. Charter Revision Commission Warning Request (8:35 PM)

10. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI

A. Warrants

11. MEETINGS

See Town Calendar

12. ADJOURNMENT (8:55 PM)

MEMORANDUM

To: Selectboard

From: John Potter, Town Manager

Re: Administrative Report

Date: November 27, 2024

———————————————————————————————————————————–

The following will summarize the proposed motions for the regular Selectboard meeting on

Tuesday, December 3, 2024. The Board will convene the regular meeting at 6:15 pm in the

Selectboard Meeting Room and on Zoom. All times listed below are approximate, and interested

parties should monitor the meeting if they do not want to miss an agenda item.

Join the meeting from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659

The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:

860 6789 2659

Passcode: 12261753

You also can call in using your telephone

by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the United States:

833-548-0282

877-853-5247

888-788-0099

833-548-0276

(use *6 to Mute/Unmute, *9 to raise Hand)

The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV:

On Cable TV: Channel 1079

Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv

7. CONSENT AGENDA

A. First Class Liquor License – Royal Diner

B. 2024 Justice Assistance Grant – Accept and Appropriate $13,052 Grant

C. Parking for Holly Days – Authorize Request

D. Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility Change Order #7 – Authorize $6,956 Change Order

In a memorandum dated December 3, 2024 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the First Class Liquor License application for the Royal Diner, located at 487 Marlboro Road. Staff have reviewed and recommend approval of this license. Mr. Arthur Foard will be in the meeting to answer any questions, should this be pulled from the consent agenda. By Board would approve a First Class Liquor License for the Royal Diner located at 487 Marlboro Road.

In a memorandum dated November 25, 2024 Town Accountant Kim Ellison discusses the FY24 Justice Assistance Grant and asks the Board to accept and appropriate the $13,052 Grant. The funds will go toward the 2025 payment of the VirTra firearms simulation system. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will accept and appropriate a $13,052 Justice Assistance Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

In a memorandum dated November 29, 2024 Town Manager John Potter discusses the request for free downtown parking during the Holly Days event scheduled to take place from December 6 – December 8. The Board recently approved free parking for Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7, but did not authorize free parking for Sunday, December 8, as the town has only recently required parking fees for Sundays. The Chamber of Commerce now requests that the Board authorize free parking for Sunday, December 8, 2024 as well. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize free parking downtown on Sunday, December 8, 2024 for the Holly Days event.

In a memorandum dated November 22, 2024 Public Works Director Dan Tyler discusses Change Order #7, a culmination of seven change order proposals and credits. Staff and the project engineer have reviewed and agree with the proposed changes. The additional cost will be covered by a portion of the remaining contingency. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve Change Order #7, for a sum of $6,956.20 and 143 contract days, for various cost increases and credits related to the Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility upgrade.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.

8. OLD BUSINESS (6:35 PM)

A. Appendix C Parking Ordinance Changes – Second Reading

In a memorandum dated November 21, 2024 Planning Director Sue Fillion discusses the proposed ordinance changes to Appendix C, Parking Regulations. This is a second reading and the Board is asked to possibly approve this ordinance change.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ADOPT THE CHANGES TO THE BRATTLEBORO CODE OF ORDINANCES, APPENDIX C REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONTROL OF TRAFFIC, ARTICLE II PARKING, SECTION 16-100 NO MARKING AREAS, AS PRESENTED.

B. Vacant Buildings Ordinance – Second Reading

In a memorandum dated November 21, 2024, Planning Technician Steve Hayes discusses the proposed changes to Chapter 8 of the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances, regarding vacant buildings. This is a second reading, and the Board is asked to possibly approve this ordinance change.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ADOPT THE CHANGES TO THE BRATTLEBORO CODE OF

ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE 6 VACANT BUILDINGS.

9. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)

A. BDCC/SeVEDS Update and Funding Request

Representatives of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) will present BDCC’s annual request for a town funding contribution to Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS). The Selectboard’s backup materials include a letter dated August 15, 2024, in which BDCC Executive Director Adam Grinold asks the Selectboard to include $36,147 for SeVEDS in the Town’s FY26 budget. Included in the Board’s materials is an overview that discusses the work SeVEDS accomplished in 2024.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ALLOCATE $36,147 FROM THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND TO SEVEDS FOR FY26.

B. Downtown Brattleboro Alliance Update

Representatives of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance (DBA) will present the DBA’s annual budget and workplan and will ask the Selectboard to include the standard annual item on the warning for the 2025 Representative Town Meeting to authorize the collection of an assessment on properties in the Downtown District in the total amount of $80,000.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE WARNING FOR THE 2025 REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING TO AUTHORIZE THE COLLECTION OF AN ASSESSMENT ON PROPERTIES IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $80,000.

C. Chapter 15 Ordinance Changes (Downtown Improvement District) – First Reading

In a memorandum dated November 22, 2024, Planning Director Sue Fillion discusses the proposed changes to Chapter 15 of the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances. The Board is asked to consider the presentation and make recommendations, if any. This is a first reading.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.

D. Charter Revision Commission Warning Request

In a memorandum dated November 27, 2024, Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses a request from the Charter Revision Commission to place an advisory article on the 2025 Annual Town Meeting regarding whether or not to continue with RTM as it is.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO DIRECT THE TOWN MANAGER TO ADD THE PROPOSED ARTICLE TO THE WARNING FOR THE MARCH 4, 2025 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, AS PRESENTED.

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