The Brattleboro Selectboard will be discussing water and sewer finances, including paying for the new water treatment plant, at their next regular meeting. They’ll also consider reinstating water shutoffs for delinquent accounts and Tri-Park loan refinancing.
There will also be COVID matters, committee members, and a process for creating an RFP for a new town website. You can bring up other matters not on the agenda during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, using Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The Board will convene at 5:15pm to conduct committee interviews, and then is expected to enter into executive session immediately thereafter (at approximately 5:30pm) to discuss the negotiation of a real estate lease 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 15, 2021
COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS – 5:15PM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:30PM
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 – June 1
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Monthly Financial Report – FY21 Through May
B. Paving Project at Living Memorial Park – Bid Award
C. Purchase of Propane – Bid Award
D. FY22 Salary Increase for Non-Union Employees
E. Downtown Transportation Grant for Depot Street Project – Accept and Appropriate
8. WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS
A. COVID-19 Matters – Possible Resumption of Water Shut-Offs for Delinquent Accounts
B. Financing for Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility Replacement Project
C. Refinancing of Debt for Tri-Park Water+Sewer Improvements
9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. COVID-19 Matters
(i) Hybrid Selectboard Meetings (In-Person and Online)
(ii) Other
10. NEW BUSINESS
A. Proposed Amendments to Land Use Regulations – First Public Hearing
B. Website / Community Engagement Project – Staff’s Recommended Process for Developing a Request for Proposals
C. Town Committees and Boards – Appointments
11. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants
12. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
13. ADJOURNMENT
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: Peter B. Elwell, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: June 11, 2021
———-
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The Board will meet on the Zoom link below to interview applicants for
appointment to the Traffic Safety Committee at 5:15pm. The Board will then meet in executive session at 5:30pm to discuss the negotiation of a real estate lease and the appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee. The Board will reconvene the public business meeting at 6:15pm on the Zoom link below (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 Financial Report – FY21 Through May
B. Paving Project at Living Memorial Park – Bid Award
C. Purchase of Propane – Bid Award
D. FY22 Salary Increase for Non-Union Employees
E. Downtown Transportation Grant for Depot Street Project – Accept and Appropriate 2 | P a g e Selectboard Meeting 6/15/21
The Board is asked to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented.
The Monthly Financial Report is provided in the usual format, along with a summary memorandum dated June 9, 2021, from Accountant Kim Ellison. No action is required
on this matter.
In a memorandum dated June 3, 2021, Recreation and Parks Director Carol Lolatte summarized the Living Memorial Park Paving Project, which includes the paving of
2 road segments with an estimated 459 tons of asphalt, constructing 6 speed bumps with an estimated 12 tons of asphalt, and 1022 square yards of cold planing at Living Memorial Park. The budget for this project is $60,000. By approving this matter on the Consent Agenda, the Selectboard will award the contract for this project to Vermont Roadworks of Brattleboro, the low bidder, in the amount of $51,447.50.
In a memorandum dated June 3, 2021, Sustainability Coordinator Stephen Dotson outlined the bid request for 58,000 gallons of propane for FY22. Two bids were returned at the same price of $1.419/gallon. Although the prices were identical, L&G Propane agreed to handle the purchasing of the tanks or, if the equipment is old, replacing them at their expense. By approving this matter on the Consent Agenda, the Selectboard will award the FY22 consolidated propane contract to L&G Propane of Keene, NH, at a price of $1.419/gallon.
In a memorandum dated June 10, 2021, Town Manager Peter Elwell recommended that the Selectboard authorize a 2% pay increase for all non-union Town employees, effective on July 1, 2021. By approving this matter on the Consent Agenda, the Selectboard will authorize that all non-union employees receive a 2% pay increase on July 1, 2021.
In a memorandum dated June 7, 2021, Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland wrote that the Town was awarded a grant in the amount of $81,548 to help defray the cost of constructing the Depot Street Parking Lot Expansion Project at the site of the new Amtrak train station that will be built in 2022. By approving this matter on the Consent Agenda, the Selectboard will accept and appropriate the Vermont Downtown Transportation Grant in the amount of $81,548 from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for the Depot Street Parking Lot Expansion Project and will authorize the Town Manager to execute the Grant Agreement with the State of Vermont, and all other associated documents necessary for the performance of the grant funded activities.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
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- 8. WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS
- A. COVID-19 Matters – Possible Resumption of Water Shut-Offs for Delinquent Accounts
In a memorandum dated June 10, 2021, Town Manager Peter Elwell recommended that the Selectboard authorize staff to resume water shut-offs for delinquent utility accounts. The memorandum contains data about the number and amount of delinquent accounts and the reasons why staff believes shut-offs should resume.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO RESUME DISCONNECTION OF WATER SERVICE FOR DELINQUENT UTILITY ACCOUNTS FOLLOWING THE NOVEMBER 15 PAYMENT DEADLINE (WITH A NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS INCLUDED IN THE BILLS THAT WILL BE MAILED SOON FOR PAYMENT BY THE JULY 15 DEADLINE).
B. Financing of Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility Replacement Project
In a memorandum dated June 7, 2021, Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland summarized the financing for the Water Treatment Center Facility Improvement Project. The overall project budget is now $14,214,274. The first-year loan is in the amount of $5,930,000, of which only $1,785,768 will have to be repaid. This will leave $10,714,232 of borrowing capacity (from the not-to-exceed $12.5 million of borrowing that was approved by Representative Town Meeting for this project) available to fund projected remaining project expenses of $8,284,274. The Board is asked to approve the Loan Agreement (including Exhibits A through D) with the Vermont State Revolving Loan Fund (administered by the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank) in the amount of $5,930,000 for the Brattleboro Water Treatment Facility Improvement Project and to authorize Selectboard Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin to sign the Loan Agreement and any other documents necessary to execute the loan on behalf of the Town.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE LOAN AGREEMENT (INCLUDING EXHIBITS A THROUGH D) WITH THE VERMONT STATE REVOLVING LOAN
FUND (ADMINISTERED BY THE VERMONT MUNICIPAL BOND BANK) IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,930,000 FOR THE BRATTLEBORO WATER TREATMENT FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND TO AUTHORIZE SELECTBOARD CHAIR ELIZABETH MCLOUGHLIN TO SIGN THE LOAN AGREEMENT AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EXECUTE THE LOAN ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN.
C. Refinancing of Debt for Tri-Park Water+Sewer Improvements
The Tri-Park Cooperative is in a critical period where there are necessary infrastructure improvements (bridge and wastewater systems) in addition to housing relocation costs. The Tri-Park Master Plan recommends the refinancing of loans and the restructuring of the Brattleboro Special Assessment terms as one way to lower debt payments and improve Tri-Park’s cash flow. As described in a memorandum dated June 8, 2021, from Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland, the Board is asked to adopt the Refunding Resolution and Certificate and Tax Certificate (including Schedules A through E) with the Vermont State Revolving Loan Fund (administered by the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank) and to authorize Town Manager Elwell to execute any other documents necessary to perform the restructuring as presented.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ADOPT THE REFUNDING RESOLUTION AND CERTIFICATE AND TAX CERTIFICATE (INCLUDING SCHEDULES A THROUGH E) WITH THE VERMONT STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUND (ADMINISTERED BY THE VERMONT MUNICIPAL BOND BANK) AND TO AUTHORIZE TOWN MANAGER ELWELL TO EXECUTE ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE RESTRUCTURING AS PRESENTED.
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- 9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- A. COVID-19 Matters
- (i) Hybrid Selectboard Meetings (In-Person and Online)
(ii) Other
The Board will hear an update from Town staff regarding preparations for a hybrid Selectboard meeting structure (in-person and online) to be implemented when the Selectboard resumes in-person meetings. The Board also will discuss other COVID-19 related matters, as needed.
C. Town Committees and Boards – Appointments
POTENTIAL MOTION: TBD
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- 10. NEW BUSINESS
A. Proposed Amendments to Land Use Regulations – First Public Hearing
In a memorandum dated June 3, 2021, Planning Director Sue Fillion outlined proposed changes to the current Land Use Regulations. The Planning Commission previously held several hearings regarding the proposed land use regulation amendments. The Selectboard is now required to hold two public hearings prior to adoption of the amendments. The hearings have been advertised for the Selectboard meetings on June 15 and July 6, 2021.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.
B. Website / Community Engagement Project – Staff’s Recommended Process for Developing a Request for Proposals
In a memorandum dated June 8, 2021, Planning Director Sue Fillion proposes an inclusive public engagement process for the development of a detailed request for proposals (RFP) for the project to create the Town’s new website.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.
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
