Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 14, 2023

The Brattleboro Selectboard will decide on a way to make decisions about EMS services at their next regular meeting, with decisions expected by September.

The board will also hear some ideas on how to spend some of the ARPA funds, endorse a walking and biking action plan, and more. You can bring up other issues not on the agenda during public participation.

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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, March 14, 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, MARCH 14, 2023

SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM

EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:30PM

SPECIAL MEETING – 6:15PM

The physical location for this meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center at

230 Main Street.

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 1079

Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv

AGENDA

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

(Please note that times are approximate.)

1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15)

2. APPROVE MINUTES – February 21, 2023

3. CHAIR’S REMARKS

4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS

5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25pm)

7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:40pm)

A. Annual Cemetery Contract – Approve Bid Award

B. AARP Community Challenge Flagship Grant – Authorize Application

C. Epsilon Spires Liquor License – Authorize

8. NEW BUSINESS (6:45pm)

A. Walk/Bike Action Plan – Accept Plan

B. Fire and EMS Service Delivery Approach (7:25pm)

C. Motions for RTM – Assign (8:50pm)

D. ARPA Preliminary Project List – Review & Discuss (9:00pm)

E. Announce Committee Vacancies (9:10pm)

9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI

A. Warrants

10. MEETINGS

See Town Calendar

11. ADJOURNMENT

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MEMORANDUM

To: Selectboard

From: John Potter, Town Manager

Re: Administrative Report

Date: March 10, 2023

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The following will summarize the proposed motions for the special Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The Board will convene the regular meeting at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and on Zoom. All times listed below are approximate, and interested parties should monitor the meeting if they do not want to miss an agenda item.

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 also will be carried live on BCTV:

On Cable TV: Channel 1079

Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv

7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:40pm)

A. Annual Cemetery Contract – Approve Bid Award

B. AARP Community Challenge Flagship Grant – Authorize Application

C. Epsilon Spires Liquor License – Authorize

In a memorandum dated February 24, 2023, Recreation and Parks Director Carol Lolatte recommends that the Seasonal Cemetery Maintenance Contract be awarded to Independent Landscape & Property Management of Newfane, Vermont, for $18,550. Cemetery Maintenance expenses come out of two budget years, FY23 and FY24 and this bid, the only bid received for this contract, falls within the available budget of $13,066.22 for FY23 and $26,000 for FY24.

In a memorandum dated March 1, 2023 Library Director Starr LaTronica requests authorization to apply for an AARP Community Challenge Flagship Grant in the amount of $6,200 to purchase equipment to magnify documents and electronic tablets and/or to convert text to audio, enabling access to information for people with impaired vision. 

In a memorandum dated March 14, 2023 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses a First Class Liquor License application for Epsilon Spires located at 190 Main Street. The organization currently holds an Annual Entertainment License and has been hiring other businesses to

cater beer and wine at their events. They are now looking to provide that service in-house. The application has been reviewed by Brattleboro Police and Fire Departments. Jamie Mohr will be present at the Selectboard meeting to answer any questions the Board may

have. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve a First Class Liquor License for Epsilon Sires, located at 190 Main Street.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.

8. NEW BUSINESS (6:45pm)

A. Walk/Bike Action Plan Accept Plan

In a memorandum dated March 6, 2023 Planning Director Sue Fillion requests that the Board consider endorsing the 2023 Walk/Bike Action Plan as a guide for future planning, policy development, and potential regulatory and programmatic implementation measures. Fillion discusses the background history and various elements of the Walk/Bike Action Plan. Included in the Board’s backup materials are the Walk/Bike Action Plan and a PowerPoint Presentation that will be presented to the Board during the meeting. Fillion will be at the meeting to answer any of the Board’s questions.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ENDORSE THE 2023 WALK/BIKE ACTION PLAN AS A GUIDE FOR FUTURE PLANNING, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AND POTENTIAL REGULATORY AND PROGRAMMATIC IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES.

B. Fire and EMS Service Delivery Approach (7:25pm)

In a memorandum dated March 10, 2023 Town Manager John Potter discusses the background regarding this item as well as Fire and EMS staffing models, the Town’s effective response and the proposed decision-making approach regarding this item.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO PURSUE PARALLEL TRACKS OF INFORMATION GATHERING, COST ANALYSIS, AND RISK ASSESSMENT NECESSARY TO DEVELOP A PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL FOR EITHER CONTRACTING EMS SERVICES TO AN EXTERNAL PARTY OR DEVELOPING A FULL MUNICIPAL FIRE-EMS CAPABILITY FOR SELECTBOARD CONSIDERATION BY SEPTEMBER 2023.

C. Motions for RTM – Assign (8:50pm)

In a memorandum dated February 28, 2023 Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses the motions for the March, 25, 2023 Representative Town Meeting and clarifies the further explanations needed for the motions on Articles 15 and 23.

POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE MOTIONS FOR THE 2023 REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING.

D. ARPA Preliminary Project List – Review & Discuss (9:00)

In a memorandum dated March 6, 2023 Town Manager John Potter discusses the ARPA preliminary project list that the Selectboard requested at the February 21, 2023 Selectboard meeting. The cost estimates are at a “feasibility study” level at this time and the overall accuracy range is estimated at +/- 20%. Included in the Selectboard materials is the requested Preliminary Project list, which includes project name, description, any Selectboard goal the project addresses, the potential funding bucket, estimated cost and information about other possible funding sources.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.

E. Announce Committee Vacancies (9:10)

The Board is asked to announce vacancies on various Town Boards and Committees.

POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.