The Brattleboro Selectboard will take up matters relating to COVID at their next regular meeting. State Senator Becca Balint will give an update on ARPA and other funding sources, the board will discuss what to do about the mask order in town, they’ll talk about in-person meeting possibilities. and whether to continue deferring Small Business Loans.
Hiring a firm to help find Brattleboro a new Town Manager is up for discussion, as will approving a nearly $12 million big to build a new water treatment plant. You can bring up other items not on the agenda, and/or ask for your $12 million, during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, using Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The Board is expected to enter into executive session at 5:15pm to discuss contracts, labor relations agreements with employees, the negotiation of real estate leases, and the appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee. The Board will reconvene at 6:15pm for the business portion of the meeting. The attached agenda and administrative report contain information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” Information about how to connect to the meeting is also posted on the homepage of the Town’s website. ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
230 Main Street, Suite 208
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 251-8100
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BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:15PM
REGULAR MEETING – 6:15PM
AGENDA
NOTE: This meeting will be held with no physical location using Zoom.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659
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
or you can access a list of non-toll-free numbers
for locations around the world using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k2Hdbk6mA
The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:
860 6789 2659
The meeting will be carried live on BCTV:
On Cable TV: Channel 1085 or Channel 10
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-10-stream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING
2. APPROVE MINUTES – May 18
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Annual Dog Warrant
B. Re-Appoint Tree Warden
C. Reimbursement for Brattleboro Fire Assistance in Hinsdale, New Hampshire
8. WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS
A. Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility Improvements – Bid Award
- 9. NEW BUSINESS
A. State Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint re: ARPA and Other Funding
B. COVID-19 Matters
- (i) Face Covering Order – Keep, Modify, or Discontinue
- (ii) Selectboard Meetings – Zoom, In-Person, or Hybrid
- (iii) Deferment vs. Repayment of Small Business Assistance Program Loans
C. Memorandum of Understanding with the New England Police Benevolent Association (NEPBA Local #412) – Due to Recent Schedule Change
D. Retain Executive Search Firm for Town Manager Recruitment
E. Town Committees and Boards – Appointments (i) Committees and Boards (ii) In-House Positions
10. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants
11. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
12. ADJOURNMENT
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: Peter B. Elwell, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: May 28, 2021
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The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday,
June 1, 2021. The Board will meet in executive session at 5:15pm to discuss contracts, labor relations agreements with employees, the negotiating of real estate leases, and the appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee. The Board will reconvene the business meeting at 6:15pm on Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19).
The public may join the meeting from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659
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
or you can access a list of non-toll-free numbers
for locations around the world using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k2Hdbk6mA
The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:
860 6789 2659
The meeting will be carried live on BCTV:
On Cable TV: Channel 1085 or Channel 10
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-10-stream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv/
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Monthly Annual Dog Warrant
B. Re-Appoint Tree Warden
C. Reimbursement for Brattleboro Fire Assistance in Hinsdale, NH
The Selectboard is asked to approve the annual dog warrant to enforce the requirement that all dogs in the Town of Brattleboro be vaccinated and licensed. 2 | P a g e Selectboard Meeting 5/18/21
The required statutory language is in the warrant, including reference to humane destruction of animals that have not been licensed by their owners. However, the Town has never exercised that authority and has no intention of exercising that authority in the enforcement of the 2021 licenses. The list of currently unlicensed dogs is included in the Selectboard’s notebooks for this meeting. Since payments and documentation are still being received by the Town Clerk’s Office, staff will provide an up-to-the-minute list on the day of the meeting. By approving this item on the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the annual dog warrant in the form that is accurate as of 4pm on June 1, 2021.
In a memorandum dated May 24, 2021, Executive Secretary Jan Anderson advised that Gwen Kozlowski, Outreach and Education Coordinator at the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program at UVM Extension, notified the Town that the Tree Warden statutes were recently updated. One notable change is that municipalities are now required to certify the appointment of the Tree Warden and provide contact information to the commissioner of Forests, Parks & Recreation. Dan Adams, who has been the Town’s Tree Warden for approximately twenty-five years, has confirmed that he would like to be re-appointed as Tree Warden for another year. By approving this item on the Consent Agenda, the Board will re-appoint Dan Adams as the Brattleboro Tree Warden for a one-year term.
In a memorandum dated May 25, 2021, Fire Chief Len Howard summarized the State of New Hampshire’s process for reimbursement for Brattleboro Fire Department’s assistance during a brush fire in Hinsdale, NH, on April 5, 2021. The Town Treasurer’s Office has certified that $824.48 was expended on this incident. By approving this item on the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve that payment, as required by New Hampshire’s reimbursement process.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS
A. Proposed Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility Improvements – Bid Award
As set forth in a memorandum dated May 26, 2021, from Public Works Director Steve Barrett and Highway/Utilities superintendent Dan Tyler, and in a letter (with detailed attachments) dated May 25, 2021, from Christina Haskins, Vice President of Dufrense Group, the Board is asked to award the bid for construction of the new Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility to Kingsbury Companies of Middlesex, Vermont, at a cost of $11,999,500. This is higher than the engineer’s cost estimate for this work but is an awardable bid based on (1) a thorough review of the bid and (2) the amount of financing approved by Representative Town Meeting in March of 2021.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO AWARD THE BID FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PLEASANT VALLEY WATER TREATMENT FACILITY TO KINGSBURY COMPANIES OF MIDDLESEX, VERMONT, AT A COST OF $11,999,500.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. State Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint re: ARPA and Other Funding
State Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint will present information regarding Vermont’s allocation of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds and other funding.
NO MOTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.
B. COVID-19 Matters
(i) Face Covering Order – Keep, Modify or Discontinue
(ii) Selectboard Meetings – Zoom, In-Person, or Hybrid
(iii) Deferment vs. Repayment of Small Business Assistance Program Loans
The Board will discuss the COVID-19 matters listed above and may make decisions regarding how the Town should move forward on those matters. A memorandum dated May 27, 2021, from Town Manager Elwell provides information relevant to this discussion.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TBD
C. Memorandum of Understanding with the New England Police Benevolent Association (NEPBA Local #412) – Due to Recent Schedule Change
As set forth in a memorandum dated May 27, 2021, from Town Manager Elwell, the Board is asked to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town and the NEPBA. The MOU addresses changed circumstances (mostly related to compensation but also related to work policies) caused by a recent change in the police officers’ work schedule. That schedule change is explained in a memorandum dated May 25, 2021, from Interim Police Chief Mark Carignan.
POTENTIAL MOTION: (1) TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) EFFECTIVE MAY 23, 2021, BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO AND NEW ENGLAND POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION LOCAL #412, AND (2) TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE MOU ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN.
D. Retain Executive Search Firm for Town Manager Recruitment
The Board’s backup materials for this meeting include a memorandum dated May 28, 2021, from Town Manager Elwell and a proposal dated May 25, 2021, from The Mercer Group, Inc., related to executive search services that The Mercer Group can provide in support of the upcoming search for a new Town Manager. The proposal offers two separate options: Option A is a full scope of services for a fee of $20,500 and reimbursement of expenses not to exceed $5,500; Option B is a partial scope of services for a fee of $16,000 and reimbursement of expenses not to exceed $3,500. Town Manager Elwell recommends that the Selectboard approve engaging The Mercer Group and ask the Board to provide direction regarding its selection of Option A or Option B.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL DATED MAY 25, 2021, FROM THE MERCER GROUP, INC., INCLUDING THE SELECTION OF SCOPE OF SERVICES OPTION _____ WHICH PROVIDES FOR A FEE OF $__________ AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED $__________.
E. Town Committees and Boards – Appointments
(i) Committees and Boards
(ii) In-House Positions
The Board is asked to appoint members to various Town committees, boards, and in-house positions, filling positions that either are already vacant or would become vacant on July 1, 2021.
POTENTIAL APPOINTMENTS: TBD
