The Brattleboro Selectboard will take an almost-final look at the proposed FY24 budget at their next regular meeting. Items of interest – the FY23 budget may be overspent, the Town Attorney gets a raise to $120,563, construction of some sort of public bathrooms might get approved, and more.
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 17, 2023 at 5:30pm and is expected to enter immediately into executive session to discuss contracts and labor relations agreements with employees. The Selectboard will reconvene the business part of the meeting at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. The public may also 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/hers)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
230 Main Street, Suite 208
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 251 – 8115
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BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:30PM
REGULAR MEETING – 6:15PM
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 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 – January 3, 2023
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Annual Certification of Highway Mileage – Department of Public Works
B. Annual Contract Renewal with Town Attorney – Fisher & Fisher
C. Annual Appointments for Ratification at Representative Town Meeting
(i) Town Clerk
(ii) Town Attorney
(iii) Town Treasurer
D. Phase 1 Water System Improvements – Authorize Article for RTM Warning
E. Emergency Demolition at 90 Elliot Street (McNeil’s Brewery) – Authorize Article for RTM Warning
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Monthly Financial Report – Update
B. Monthly EMS – Update
C. Townwide Reappraisal – Authorize Article for RTM Warning
D. Public Bathrooms – Discussion
G. FY24 General Fund Budget – All Items
(i) Communications Coordinator
(ii) Town Arts Fund
(iii) Custodian/Cost Share
(iv) COLA Increase
(v) Statewide Tax Rate Comparison
(vi) Any Remaining Items
(vii) Tax Rate Implication of Previously Approved Decisions
9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants and Department Reports
10. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
11. ADJOURNMENT
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: January 13, 2023
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The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. The Board will convene the regular meeting at 6:15pm in the Selectboard
Meeting Room and on Zoom.
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 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 Certification of Highway Mileage – Department of Public Works
B. Annual Contract Renewal with Town Attorney – Fisher & Fisher
C. Annual Appointments for Ratification at Representative Town Meeting
(i) Town Clerk
(ii) Town Attorney
(iii) Town Treasurer
D. Phase 1 Water System Improvements – Authorize Article for RTM Warning
E. Emergency Demolition at 90 Elliot Street (McNeil’s Brewery) – Authorize Article for RTM Warning
The Board is asked to approve the annual Certificate of Highway Mileage that must be submitted to VTrans as part of what is required for the Town to qualify for State highway aid funding, as described in a memorandum dated January 5, 2023, from Public Works Director, Daniel Tyler. DPW recommends that the Selectboard approve and sign the Certificate of Highway Mileage for 2023 with no changes.
The Board is asked to approve the annual contract renewal for the Town Attorney, Bob Fisher. The agreement is identical to the 2022 -2023 contract except that the annual total retainer has been increased from $114,822 to $120,563.
The Board is asked to ratify the appointments of the Town Clerk, Town Attorney, and Interim Town Treasurer.
In a memorandum dated January 5, 2023 DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses aspects of the Phase 1 Water System Improvement Project, which includes the replacement of the Signal Hill Pump Station, installation of a back-up generator at the Black Mountain Water Tank and updating the water mains on Bridge and Depot Streets. The Board is asked to warn an article on the Representative Town Meeting agenda, to borrow $1,855,000 at a 0% interest with a $927,500 subsidy through the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Program, for the Phase 1 Water System Improvement Project which will result in a savings of $927,500 to the Town .
In a memorandum dated January 11, 2023 Town Attorney Bob Fisher discusses the possibility that due to unforeseen circumstances the FY23 budget may be overspent, resulting in a deficit for FY23. One major contributor to such a potential deficit is the unexpected demolition costs associated with the fire at McNeill’s Brewery/Bar. Fisher outlines three possible options for the Selectboard to liquidate the deficit and recommends that the voters at Town Meeting or a Special Town Meeting vote a special tax to make up the deficit. The Board is also asked to warn an article for RTM to the effect of: “To see if the Town will appropriate up to One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars from the Unassigned Fund Balance to defray the Town’s portion of costs associated with the demolition of 90 Elliot Street (McNeil’s Brewery) after the fire.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Monthly Financial Report – Update
In a memorandum dated January 6, 2023, Finance Director Kimberly Frost discusses the monthly Financial Report for December 2022.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL REPORT, AS PRESENTED.
B. Monthly EMS – Update
In a memorandum dated January 17, 2023, Assistant Fire Chief Charles Keir discusses the monthly EMS update for December 2022.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.
C. Townwide Reappraisal – Authorize Article for RTM Warning
In a memorandum dated January 10, 2023 Town Assessor Jenepher Burnell requests that the Board approve an article on the Warning for Representative Town Meeting asking RTM members to approve a Town Wide Reappraisal. The Office of Assessment strongly recommends the Selectboard to take this action because a state mandate for a town-wide reappraisal is anticipated next year. Given the large number of Vermont municipalities that are already being mandated, it would be beneficial for Brattleboro to secure a qualified firm, certified to reappraise in Vermont, as soon as possible.
POTENTIAL MOTION: APPROVE AN ARTICLE ON THE WARNING FOR REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING ASKING RTM MEMBERS TO APPROVE A TOWN-WIDE REAPPRAISAL TO COMMENCE 2024 AND COMPLETE 2027 FOR THE 2027-2028 TAX YEAR.
D. Public Bathrooms – Discussion
In a memorandum dated January 10, 2023 Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses various options relating to constructing public bathrooms in Town, including cost and potential bathroom locations.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO DEVELOP PUBLIC RESTROOMS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $425,035 AND TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS FOR FUNDING SUCH FACILITIES.
E. FY24 General Fund Budget – All Items
(i) Communications Coordinator
(ii) Town Arts Fund
(iii) Custodian/Cost Share
(iv) COLA Increase
(v) Statewide Tax Rate Comparison
(vi) Any Remaining Items
(vii) Tax Rate Implication of Previously Approved Decisions
The Board will revisit and discuss various budget items in preparation for finalizing the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.
