The Brattleboro Selectboard will hear about the FY24 audit findings at their next regular meeting. They will also learn that the Western Avenue bridge replacement (good ol’ 54) is back on track with the Town paying a 5% share instead of 10% of engineering and construction costs. Brooks Memorial Library will get a $200,000 rooftop solar system, the board will be told about a video, and will approve historic markers being placed on town properties.
You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation. Plus, you can ask questions or comment on any issue on the agenda.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 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
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BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:15 PM
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
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
(please note that all times are approximate)
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)
2. APPROVE MINUTES – February 4, 2025
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. Witjer Properties LLC (Walgreens) Property Assessment Agreement — Accept
B. Assessor’s Certificate of No Appeal — Approve
C. Annual Contract Renewal with Town Attorney — Approve
D. DPW Bucket Truck – Approve $12,000 Purchase
E. Brooks Memorial Library Design and Construction Services – Authorize $74,000 Contract
8. BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. Bridge 54 Project – Update (6:35 PM)
B. FY24 Audit Findings – Discussion (7:05 PM)
C. Global Warming Solutions Fund Allocation – Authorize $200,000 (7:50 PM)
D. Homestead Property Tax Rebate Information Campaign (8:05 PM)
E. Historical Society Historic Signs on Town Properties (8:20 PM)
9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants and Department Reports
10. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
11. ADJOURNMENT (8:35 PM)
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: February 14, 2025
———————————————————————————————————————————–
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday,
February 18, 2025. The Board will convene the regular meeting at 6:15pm 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 (6:30 PM)
A. Witjer Properties LLC (Walgreens) Property Assessment Agreement — Accept
B. Assessor’s Certificate of No Appeal — Approve
C. Annual Contract Renewal with Town Attorney — Approve
D. DPW Bucket Truck – Approve $12,000 Purchase
E. Brooks Memorial Library Design and Construction Services – Authorize $74,000 Contract
In a memorandum dated February 4, 2025 Town Assessor Jenepher Burnell discusses an agreement between the Town of Brattleboro and Witjer Properties LLC for a litigated tax valuation. The acceptance of this agreement will set the assessment for three years, including 2024, 2025 and 2026 until the Town-wide Reappraisal. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will accept the terms of the agreement between the Town of Brattleboro and Witjer Properties LLC for a litigated tax valuation appeal.
Town Assessor Jenepher Burnell has provided her certification that no appeals are pending from actions of the Listers, and no suits are pending to recover taxes paid under protest relating to the April 1, 2024 Grand List. Approval of this item as part of the Consent Agenda will constitute the Selectboard’s approval, in accordance with State statutes, of the “Town Assessor’s Certificate – No Appeal or Suit Pending” for this year.
The Board is asked to approve the annual contract renewal for Town Attorney, Bob Fisher, and the law firm Fisher and Fisher. The agreement is identical to the 2024-2025 contract except that the annual total retainer has been increased by 3% from $125,000 to 128,750. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the renewal of the Town’s Town Attorney contract with Bob Fisher and Fisher and Fisher, as presented.
In a memorandum dated January 24, 2025 DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses acquiring the Brattleboro Fire Department’s surplus bucket truck. This will help improve efficiency, enhance safety and provide a cost savings. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the use of $12,000 from DPW’s operating accounts toward the purchase and upfit of the Brattleboro Fire Department’s bucket truck, in exchange for their surplus bucket truck.
In a memorandum dated February 13, 2025 Library Director Starr LaTronica discusses a Library Capital Improvements Grant which will fund construction to advance physical and technical accessibility by expanding usable outdoor space and improving ADA approaches to both entrances. She also discusses a Request for Bids for this project that was held on January 14, 2025, where a single bid from SVE Associates was received. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will award the bid for civil engineering, design, and construction services for the Library Capital Improvements Grant to SVE Associates for a cost not to exceed $74,000.
POTENTIAL MOTION: ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. Bridge 54 Project – Update (6:35 PM)
In a letter dated January 16, 2025, VTrans Structures Project Manager Gary Laroche discusses the Bridge 54 project and the town’s expected cost share. Laroche goes over the history of the project as well as the reduction in the Town’s share. The Town’s share for the Preliminary Engineering and Construction of this project has been reduced from 10% to 5%. The Right-of-Way acquisitions share will remain at 10%.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE REVISED TERMS OF THE COST SHARE AGREEMENT FOR THE BRIDGE 54 PROJECT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO AND THE STATE OF VERMONT AND TO INSTRUCT THE TOWN MANAGER TO SIGN THE CONTRACT.
B. FY24 Audit Findings – Discussion (7:05 PM)
In a memorandum dated February 14, 2025 Town Manager John Potter discusses the findings in the FY24 Audit and the Town’s response to these findings.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
C. Global Warming Solutions Fund Allocation – Authorize $200,000 (7:50 PM)
In a memorandum dated January 10, 2025 Sustainability Coordinator Stephen Dotson discusses the Global Warming Solutions Fund and asks the Board to commit $200,000 from the fund to pay for a rooftop solar project at the Brooks Memorial Library. Dotson also discusses the importance of the fund, including past projects, areas of funding, and areas that will make the most impact on the town, including work on the Brooks Memorial Library and the Gibson Aiken Center.
POTENTIAL MOTION: APPROVE OF THE TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO COMMITTING $200,000 OF THE GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS FUND TO PAY FOR A ROOFTOP SOLAR PROJECT AT BROOKS MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
D. Homestead Property Tax Rebate Information Campaign (8:05 PM)
In a memorandum dated February 14, 2025 Communications Coordinator Seth Thomas discusses the Homestead Property Tax Rebate Information Campaign. He also discusses a video the Town made with Brattleboro Community Television (BCTV) on this topic. Included in the Board’s materials is a presentation aimed at a general audience on the Homestead Property Tax Rebate.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
E. Historical Society Historic Signs on Town Properties (8:20 PM)
In a letter dated January 31, 2025 the Brattleboro Historical Society requests permission to put historic markers on properties in Brattleboro. Town staff have reviewed and approve of moving forward with this project. Included in the letter are a list of possible locations to recognize and a mock-up of the proposed sign.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE BRATTLEBORO HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S REQUEST TO PLACE HISTORIC SIGNS AT VARIOUS HISTORICAL SITES AROUND TOWN.
