The Brattleboro Selectboard has decided to again attempt a search for a new Town Manager after the second search process resulted in two qualified applicants finding other jobs closer to their homes. The process was also harmed, in some unnamed but serious manner, by confidential information being published by the Reformer newspaper last week, according to Chair David Gartenstein, who was not pleased.
Brattleboro will see a new brewery open in town, new equipment for town departments, a new committee tasked with identifying Brattleboro’s share of Entergy funds, new parking spaces, new no parking spaces, and more.
Preliminaries
Chair David Gartenstein was back in the proverbial big chair, at the helm of the regular Tuesday Selectboard meeting. He thanked Brattleboro Goes Fourth for the parade, BCTV for an award, and offered condolences regarding former Selectboard member Kathy Dowd.
“Kathy was a dedicated public servant and volunteered for many committees,” said Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland.
For Selectboard comments and committee reports David Schoales noted that four applications had been received from qualified builders to submit RFPs for a solar array on the landfill. This caused Gartenstein to note the appearance of the solar panels visible from I-91. “The meadow is full of solar panels.”
No public had the inclination to engage in Public Participation.
Liquor Commissioners – Hermit Thrush Brewery
The Brattleboro Selectboard granted a second class liquor license to Hermit Thrush Brewery, a new establishment moving into the space vacated by Blue Moose at 29 High Street.
Chris Gagne and Avery Schwenk are the proprietors and will produce Belgian-inspired ales. It will not be a bar, but will offer tastings, community supported brewery growlers, and wholesale kegs to bars and restaurants.
The microbrewery is set on being respectful of the environment, using wood pellet boilers to produce steam, and recapturing the heat and wastewater for other purposes. They will use biomass boilers made in Vermont, have a commitment to using local ingredients, and hope the use of their small, reusable jugs known as growlers will cut down on unnecessary packaging.
Some beers planned include Brattlebeer (a cider ale,) Covered Bridge Brown Ale, and Pliny Park Wild IPA.
“Way to play to the town,” says John Allen.
“It’s a pun,” explained Gagne, as Pliny the Elder was first to use hops for beer.
They plan to open in November or December. “Federal licensing takes a while.”
Small Business Assistance Loan for Hermit Thrush Brewery
Hermit Thrush Brewery, having extremely recently received a second class liquor license, was also approved for a $40,000 Small Business Assistance Program loan. There will be 60 payments over 5 years at 3% interest, with quite a few contingencies. The application was approved at all levels of review.
Conditions include Hermit Thrush obtaining all necessary permits, confirming cash equity in the project, a loan and security agreement, corporate promissory note and UCC financing statement, personal guarantees from the proprietors, and term life insurance policies for the proprietors assigned to the Town in an amount covering the notes.
“And a first child,” joked John Allen.
Their application says members of Hermit Thrush hail from Dummerston, Philadelphia, Boston, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Los Angeles.
“We’ll have to schedule a Novemberfest,” said David Schoales.
DPW Utility Roller
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved the purchase of a one ton class dual drum articulating vibratory roller, at a cost of $12,900. The bid was significantly lower than the $30,000 budgeted in the FY 15 Utility Fund Capital Plan, and the bid was awarded to Wood’s CRW of Hooksett, NH.
Highway and Utility Superintendent Hannah O’Connell said the roller is used to compact roads when we do paving projects. She said they looked at a basic and full-featured rollers and decided to go with the less expensive option. “It gets the job done.”
DPW Utility Trailer
The Selectboard agreed to spend $4,594.54 for a five ton equipment trailer, a bit over the $4,000 originally in the budget for it. The bid was awarded to Brown Enterprises of South Londonderry, VT.
O’Connell said it would be used to haul items such as a one ton class dual drum articulating vibratory roller, or other small equipment.
DPW Pleasant Valley Radio Tower Generator
The generator at the Pleasant Valley Road radio tower failed its annual cooling tests and needs replacement, the Selectboard learned Tuesday. The tower is by DPW for their SCADA control functions, allowing remote control of the water treatment plant, valve operation and monitoring. The tower is also used by WTSA for broadcasts of the Emergency Alert System.
The 1999 backup generator has outlived its usefulness and will be replaced by a 14kw generator at a cost of $21,150.50 to be paid out of a general line item for Utility Capital Water Mains.
“We need it,” said John Allen.
Town Manager Search – Update
The Brattleboro Selectboard has come to an unsuccessful end of a second search process for a new Town Manager, and has now begun a third search process using the same process as before by again engaging the assistance of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. The difference this time, we learn, will be speed.
The new timeline has application due August 17, first round interviews beginning early September, second round interviews in mid-September, and a final decision and contract signing in October of this year.
David Gartenstein explained that months of work by the Selectboard, Town staff, and citizen advisors had resulted in an offer being extended to the leading candidate for the position, a “strong match for the town,” with a “strong background in government and a strong progressive vision.”
The offer, however, was turned down and the candidate took a job in his home town.
The Selectboard, he said, decided to make an offer to the second place candidate, but they had accepted a position near their home just days before.
“We learned the importance of moving quickly,” said Gartenstein.
After the second rejection the board spent time reviewing their options. Gartenstein said that they decided that they were not prepared to make an offer to any of the other applicants. “We’re committed to making the best decision for the town. The board is reopening the search one more time.”
Before adopting agreements, ad schedules, and job descriptions, Gartenstein wanted to discuss one other aspect of the process.
“The Selectboard is a citizen’s board. None of us are full-time town employees, and we put our names in to work for the best interest of the town,” he said. “As part of our work we try to get citizen input, so for many decisions we’ve made we have had citizen advisory committees assist us.”
He said that throughout the search process, the committee and all involved were aware that it was a confidential process. “We made a commitment to confidentiality, and we asked everyone to follow this,” said Gartenstein. “Unfortunately there was an article in the newspaper last week that was and should have remained confidential.”
Gartenstein said it was unfortunate that the confidentiality was broken in this manner. “It did harm to the process.” He said they would need to reconstitute the search committee in coming weeks. “When it is confidential, it needs to stay that way.”
“We went back to the committees to get a sense of how we should go forward, and that’s how we came to the decision.” added David Schoales, in an attempt to explain the board’s decision to reopen the search.
The board reviewed the documents required to reopen the search, noting that it cost between five and six thousand dollars each time they go through the process.
The board approved a list of advertisers, dropping 7Days and adding some free job boards with UNH, UConn, and UMass.
Windham County Economic Development Entergy Settlement Funds Update
Kate O’Connor reported on the board’s interactions with Governor Peter Shumlin and Commerce Secretary Pat Moulton last week regarding the Entergy funds. She said that the process, according to the governor, was that applications from non-profits, businesses and municipalities would soon be accepted, that they would be reviewed by a variety of committees locally and at the state level, and then the Governor would make the final decisions on what gets funded. Decisions could come as soon as December for the first round of funding.
O’Connor said that the idea of a revolving loan fund, rather than grants, had much appeal, as the money would be loaned out, repaid, and could be used again. With interest, the funds would grow.
If such a revolving loan fund, managed by VEDA, was approved, the process would be similar, with applications reviewed by state and local agencies and ultimately approved by the governor.
David Schoales asked if the revolving loan fund continued to revolve in Windham County. O’Connor said all the money is designated for Windham County. She said the management of loans by VEDA would help keep it that way. “ The legislature couldn’t get their hands on it. VEDA are thinking of how to protect it as best they can.”
David Gartenstein added that by having the state manage the process, no administrative fees would come out of the $10 million. He said that while Brattleboro might have an interest in applying, the town had work to do before an application could be made.
“We have not done a good enough job at the town level to articulate what the town’s interest is in this money,” he said. “I’ll propose a working group of five people to identify and work toward achieving and advocating for the town’s interest in both these and Clean Energy funds. That group can see if there’s any input we can have in the process, and communicate our interest to the state, then work to try to maximize the benefit we can get as a town.”
O’Connor said they would need to work quickly to advocate for a project, but that there would be two rounds of fund distribution each year. “They are being flexible about municipal input into projects planned for a town,” she said. “There will be local review of applications by BDCC and Windham Regional Commission, but we need to see that plans comply with our town plan. We know it better than anyone.”
“The five I’ll propose,” said Gartenstein, “are Kate, then Rod Francis, Kim Ellison, and Russell Rice, and then Elizabeth McLoughlin.”
The committee was approved and tasked with looking into Brattleboro’s interests regarding Entergy and Clean Energy funds.
Naming a Private Right of Way
“This is where the meeting gets exciting,” says John Allen.
A private access road to the Hilltop Montessori School has a new name – Stafford Farm Hill. The school is the only property owner along the road, so there were no objections by neighbors, and the Brattleboro Selectboard approved the name.
“Why would a town name a private road?” asked David Schoales.
“We need to name it for emergency response,” said Patrick Moreland, “and the Selectboard is authorized to name it.”
“They can’t just put up a sign?” continued Schoales. “We have our fingers in everything.”
CAI Technologies Contract
Brattleboro has an annual contract with CAI Technologies to develop and maintain our tax maps, keeping digital and hard copies up-to-date for the Assessors. As such, the board approved entering into a contract with them for another year at a cost of $4,800.
Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland said they are large maps that identify properties and parcels. “Changes get made, and we need to stay up with that. This company does a great job for us.”
David Gartenstein noted that it looked like the contracts had already been signed, and asked if this was simply ratification of an existing contract.
“I may have signed this in error,” said Moreland.
“We’ll ratify it,” said Gartenstein, “and make it not an error.” And so they did.
Recreation & Park Truck
The purchase of a 2015 Ford F350 plow truck for $28,734 was approved by the Brattleboro Selectboard for use by the Recreation & Parks department. A competitive bid process was used, and Formula Ford of Montpelier was awarded the bid.
The truck includes a 6.2L, 8 cylinder gas engine with plow, bed liner, and warranty. $2,500 was accepted as trade-in on an older vehicle, bringing the total cost to almost $10,000 under what was originally budgeted.
“We are saving money like crazy,” exclaimed John Allen.
“The state puts out to bid a wide variety of items for each year, and we can piggyback on the state’s efforts,” said Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland, explaining the good price.
“Do we get a better deal on this as a municipality? I want a truck like that,” said Allen.
“It’s a very good deal,” said Moreland.
First Reading – Depot Street Parking
“No parking on the easterly side of Depot Street” was the substance of a new ordinance read for the first time at Tuesday’s meeting.
This is the area along the new bit of road near the train station parking, from the entryway to the end of the roundabout.
David Gartenstein said that the Traffic Safety Committee had recommended the ordinance change because “people are regularly parking up on the grass and along the east side of the drive.”
No public expressed any concerns. The second reading will be at the August 5 meeting.
Committee Appointment
The Brattleboro Selectboard appointed Peter Seares to the Conservation Commission.
Leasing of Harmony Lot Parking Spaces
The new Brooks House development will include three Harmony Lot parking spaces leased for 10 years at no cost, to be used by the colleges. In exchange, the Town has secured the use of 5 public parking spaces previously on private property. The Interim Town Manager will enter into the contract for the spaces.
The spaces are near the Green street end of the lot, near the postcard mural.
Moreland said this clears up the public and private lot lines, and finalizes a prior agreement with the other owners of the lot.
Goal Setting
David Gartenstein asked the board to schedule a goal-setting meeting for next week.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The board hopes to have a response ready in August as to whether parking will be free, and town employees will have off, the Martin Luther King Jr national holiday.
