Speak now or forever hold your peace – on the FY23 budget. The Brattboro selectboard will be doing a final look at the FY23 budget they plan to send to Representative Town Meeting for consideration. Also for RTM, they will also review the annual Human Services funding request, consider an article to allow tax stabilization for alternative energy projects, appoint officers, and review draft warnings for upcoming elections and meetings.
The board will also have a public hearing for some safety improvements and hire a company to do some sidewalk repair. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 6:15pm in the Second Floor Meeting Room at the Central Fire Station (103 Elliot Street). Everyone will be required to wear a face covering and maintain social distance. The public is encouraged to participate in the meeting 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.
Jessica Sticklor (she/her)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
230 Main Street, Suite 208
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 251 – 8115
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BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
REGULAR MEETING – 6:15PM
The physical location for this meeting will be the Second Floor Meeting Room at the Central Fire Station,
103 Elliot Street, where everyone will be required to wear a face covering and maintain social distance.
The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this meeting using Zoom.
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
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 also 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
AGENDA
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING
2. APPROVE MINUTES – December 14, 2021 and January 4, 2022
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Annual Appointments for Ratification at Representative Town Meeting
(i) Town Clerk
(ii) Town Attorney
(iii) Interim Town Treasurer
B. Annual Contract Renewal with Town Attorney
C. Bike Walk/Master Plan Grant Agreement – Add Authorizing Official
D. VT Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Infrastructure Financing Division – Add Authorizing Officials
E. Bus Service – Update
F. Mask Mandate Renewal
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. FY23 Budget – Review Final Details
B. Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Canal Street + South Main Street and on Oak Street – Second Reading, Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Western Avenue Bike Lane Project Timing – Consider Request
B. Sidewalk Reconstruction Bids on South Main Street – Award Bid
C. RTM Human Services Committee – Accept Recommendation
D. Tax Stabilization for Alternative Energy Systems – Consider Request from Tom Mosakowski
E. Financial Report – Monthly Report
F. Town Meeting Election on March 1 and Representative Town Meeting on March 19+20 Review of Draft Warnings
10. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants and Department Reports
11. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
12. ADJOURNMENT
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: Patrick Moreland, Assistant Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: January 14, 2022
———————————————————————————————————————————–
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday,
January 18, 2022. The Board will convene the business meeting at 6:15pm in the Second Floor
Meeting Room at the Central Fire Station at 103 Elliot Street and on Zoom. The public is strongly
encouraged to attend and participate on Zoom. People who choose to attend the meeting in-person
will be required to wear a face covering and adhere to social distancing.
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
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 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. Annual Appointments for Ratification at Representative Town Meeting
(i) Town Clerk
(ii) Town Attorney
(iii) Interim Town Treasurer
The Board is asked to ratify the appointments of the Town Clerk, Town Attorney, and Interim
Town Treasurer.
B. Annual Contract Renewal with Town Attorney
The Board is asked to approve the annual contract renewal for the Town Attorney, Bob Fisher. The agreement is identical to the 2021 -2022 contract except that the annual total retainer has been increased by 2% from $112,571 to $114,822.
C. Bike Walk/Master Plan Grant Agreement – Add Authorizing Official
Due to a series of key changes in personnel, two different State agencies are asking that the Town update its list of authorized signatures. Yoshi Manale will replace Peter Elwell as
the Chief Executive Officer for the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Town Manager Manale will also replace Peter Elwell as an authorized representative for the Water Infrastructure Division of the VT Department of Environmental Conservation. Dan Tyler will also replace Steve Barrett as the alternate.
D. VT Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Infrastructure Financing Division – Add Authorizing Officials
See Above
E. Bus Service – Update
In a memorandum dated January 13, 2022, Assistant Town Manager, Patrick Moreland, provides an update on various issues related to Brattleboro bus service provided by Southeastern Vermont Transit (SEVT). Included in the discussion are Destination Messaging, the Addition of an Evening Route, the Addition of a Late-Night Run, Sustainability Marketing and Service to SIT.
F. Mask Mandate Renewal
As required by the Rule Requiring Face Coverings Resolution that the Board passed on November 23, 2021, the Board will consider at every regular meeting whether to extend, modify or repeal the resolution. As required by State legislation that enabled municipal governments to adopt local face covering rules, the Board must pass a motion extending the resolution for another 30 days. By approving the consent agenda, the Selectboard agrees to keep the current Mask Mandate in place.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. FY23 Budget – Review Final Details
In a memorandum dated January 7, 2022, Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses the unfinished FY23 General Fund Budget matters. These matters include the Use of Fund Balance and Capital Requests including accelerating the pace of the Western Avenue Bike Lanes project and raising the sum for sidewalk replacement by $88,000. If the Board agrees to using the $249,000 in Unassigned Fund Balance, it could safely accommodate both costs and still come in with a budget that has a lower tax increase at 2.6% than in each of the last five years.
NO ACTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
B. Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Canal Street + South Main Street and on Oak Street – Second Reading, Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance
In a memorandum dated January 13, 2022, Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses recommended changes to the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances including adding a stop sign at Canal Street at South Main Street and limiting parking on the westerly side of Oak Street, in the area directly in front of 24 Oak Street, the Community House School Monday through Friday from 7:15am – 8:30am and from 2:15pm — 3:30pm. The Board is asked to conduct a second reading and public hearing in anticipation of the possible adoption of the ordinance.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ADOPT THE CHANGES TO THE BRATTLEBORO CODE OF ORDINANCES, APPENDIX C, SECTION 16-70, STOP SIGNS AND TO APPENDIX C, SECTION 16-101, LIMITED PARKING. AS PRESENTED.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Western Avenue Bike Lane Project Timing – Consider Request
In a memorandum dated January 7, 2022, Planning Director Sue Fillion, discusses the timing for the Western Avenue Bike Lane Project. The current budgeted $12,000 assumes that the Town would apply to the VTrans Small Scale grant program, a reimbursement program that will provide 50% of the construction costs. Fillion presents two scenarios: scenario 1 includes pursuing grant funding and a Town contribution of $12,000. In that case construction could begin in 2023. Scenario 2 includes full funding from the Town (the project is estimated at $28,000) and construction could begin in 2022.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TBD
B. Sidewalk Reconstruction Bids on South Main Street – Award Bid
In a memorandum dated January 6, 2022 Public Works Director Dan Tyler discusses the bid process for the 2022 South Main Street Sidewalk Project, which includes the removal and replacement of the sidewalk between 431 South Main Street and Pine Street on the west side of South Main Street. This section of sidewalk was chosen for its very poor condition and the opportunity to make the replacement prior to paving the street. Three bids were received by the deadline. Bid prices came in above staff’s estimate and over budget. There is approximately $150,000 remaining in the FY22 sidewalk budget line item, leaving a deficit of about $88,000. Due to the proposed use of South Main Street as the Hinsdale bridge detour in the spring of 2023, time will not allow for delaying the sidewalk project until the funds are available in time to complete the paving project prior to the detour. The Selectboard is requested to award the bid for the project to LaRock and Son, the lowest bidder, assuming that a portion of the FY23 sidewalk funds will be allocated to this project in FY22 and consider increasing the FY23 Capital Request by $88,000 to keep sidewalk improvement projects on schedule.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO AWARD THE 2022 SOUTH MAIN STREET SIDEWALK PROJECT TO LaROCK & SON.
C. RTM Human Services Committee – Accept Recommendation
The Representative Town Meeting Human Services Committee will be in the meeting to discuss their FY23 recommendations. The Committee was asked to review, evaluate and make recommendations regarding Human Service funding with a budget set by last year’s RTM of 1.4% of the previous year’s budget ($275,575).
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATIONS.
D. Tax Stabilization for Alternative Energy Systems – Consider Request from Tom Mosakowski
In a memorandum dated January 7, 2022, Tom Mosakowski recommends inserting the following Articles into the RTM Warning that would grant general authority to the Selectboard to negotiate and execute tax stabilization agreements with Alternative Energy Plants. If the Selectboard agrees to add the article to the Representative Town Meeting Warning for 2022, and the Body grant this authority to the Selectboard, staff will develop a program for the Selectboard to approve and use. Mr. Mosakowski is seeking to have the Town use the tool of tax stabilization to discourage development on greenfields and promote development on previously disturbed soils. The motion below was written by Town Attorney Bob Fisher.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO PLACE ON THE 2022 RTM WARNING THE ARTICLE TO SEE IF THE TOWN WILL AUTHORIZE AND PROVIDE GENERAL AUTHORITY TO THE SELECTBOARD TO ENTER INTO TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENTS WITH OWNERS, LESSEES, BAILEES, AND OPERATORS OF ALTERNATE-ENERGY GENERATING PLANTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FIXING AND MAINTAINING THE VALUATION OF SUCH PROPERTY IN THE GRAND LIST.
E. Financial Report – Monthly Report
The Monthly Financial Report through December is included in the Selectboard’s backup materials for this meeting, along with a summary memorandum dated January 6, 2022, from Accountant Kim Ellison. There is no cause for concern in this month’s report.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AS PRESENTED.
F. Town Meeting Election on March 1 and Representative Town Meeting on March 19+20 – Review of Draft Warnings
The Board is asked to review the draft warnings for the March 1 Town Meeting Day Election and for the March 19 (and 20, if necessary) Representative Town Meeting.
NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.
