The Brattleboro Selectboard will be spending most of their first regular September meeting discussing town safety and EMS options for Brattleboro. They will review the EMS proposals received and learn about EMS insights from other communities. They’ll also discuss wrapping up the process, holding a public meeting, and then making an EMS decision.
Twelve items are packed into the consent agenda – a possible record, and good thing! You may bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 6:15pm Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). Prior to the regular meeting, at 5:30pm, the Board will convene and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discussion contracts. Invited into the executive session are the Town Manager and the Assistant Town Manager. No action will be taken in executive session. 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, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:30PM
REGULAR 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
(please note that all times are approximate)
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)
2. APPROVE MINUTES – August 15, August 18, and August 30, 2023
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)
7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:40 PM)
A. Bar 580 – Outside Consumption Permit Amendment and Annual Entertainment License
Amendment
B. Variety Plus – Second Class Liquor License, Tobacco License, Tobacco Substitute
Endorsement Permit
C. Two (2) Utilities Division Vehicles – $54,819 Bid Award
D. Grant in Aid MRGP Grant – Accept and appropriate $37,000 Grant
E. Better Connections Grant – Accept and Appropriate $97,500 Grant
F. Courier Grant – Accept and Appropriate $650 Grant
G. Buddy Walk – Authorize Parade Permit
H. Walk for Animals – Authorize Parade Permit
I. Deputy Health Officer – Appoint Inspector Steven E. Nelson
J. Vermont Vibrancy Fund Letter of Attestation – Approve
K. OpenGov Contract – Authorize $39,040 Contract
L. FY25 Budget Process Direction
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:45 PM)
A. Security Services and Town Safety Update (6:45 PM)
B. Fire-EMS Transition Update (7:05 PM)
(i) Public Engagement – Insights from Other Communities (7:05 PM)
(ii) Third-Party Contracted EMS Alternative — Review RFP Proposals (8:00 PM)
(iii) EMS Alternatives – Consideration of a Draft Comparison Matrix (8:30 PM)
(iv) Next Steps (9:00 PM)
9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants
10. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: September 1, 2023
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The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday,
September 5, 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 (6:40 PM)
A. Bar 580 – Outside Consumption Permit Amendment and Annual Entertainment License Amendment
B. Variety Plus – Second Class Liquor License, Tobacco License, Tobacco Substitute Endorsement Permit
C. Two (2) Utilities Division Vehicles – $54,816 Bid Award
D. Grant in Aid MRGP Grant – Accept and appropriate $37,000 Grant
E. Better Connections Grant – Accept and Appropriate $97,500 Grant
F. Courier Grant – Accept and Appropriate $650 Grant
G. Buddy Walk – Authorize Parade Permit
H. Walk for Animals – Authorize Parade Permit
I. Deputy Health Officer – Appoint Inspector Steven E. Nelson
J. Vermont Vibrancy Fund Letter of Attestation – Approve
K. OpenGov Contract – Authorize $39,040 Contract
L. FY25 Budget Process Direction
In a memorandum dated September 5, 2023 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the application for an Outside Consumption Permit and Annual Entertainment License for Bar 580, located at 580 Canal Street. They hope to expand their Outside Consumption Permit to include the mulched and fenced-in area down the stairs from their deck, and to extend their Entertainment License to outdoors in order to incorporate this area. Town Staff has reviewed and approved this application. Mr. Derek Soldenski will be present at the meeting to answer any questions, if this is pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the expanded Outside Consumption Permit and the expanded Annual Entertainment License for Bar 580, located at 580 Canal Street.
In a memorandum dated September 5, 2023 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Second Class Liquor License, Tobacco License and Tobacco Substitute Endorsement for Variety Plus, located at 328 Marlboro Road. The application has been reviewed and approved by Town Staff. Mr. Arora will be present at the meeting to answer any questions if this is pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve a Second Class Liquor License, Tobacco License and Tobacco Substitute Endorsement for Variety Plus, located at 328 Marlboro Road.
In a memorandum dated August 21, 2023 DPW Director Dan Tyler requests authorization to purchase Utilities Division Vehicles #104 and #90 from the Brattleboro Automall. Utilities Division #104 is a one-ton pickup. Replacement is scheduled for FY24 in the Long-Term Capital Plan. The net total of the new truck, with trade-in, is $33,847. Utilities Division #90 is a half-ton pick-up. Replacement is scheduled for FY24 in the Long-Term Capital Plan. The net total, after trade-in, is $20,972. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the replacement purchase of Utilities Division vehicles #104 and #90 from Brattleboro Automall, of Brattleboro, VT, for a total cost of $54,819 for both trucks.
In a memorandum dated August 21, 2023 DPW Director Dan Tyler requests authorization to accept and appropriate a $37,000 FY24 Grant-In-Aid Grant from the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The match/in-kind is $9,250. In past cycles, DPW have performed the upgrades and the match has been made in-kind. DPW intends to implement this grant in the same way. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Department of Public Works to accept and appropriate the FY24 Grant-In-Aid grant, as offered.
In a memorandum dated August 21, 2023 Planning Director Sue Fillion requests authorization to accept and appropriate the Better Connections Grant for a total of $97,500 from the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. This will go toward paying for a consultant to conduct a safety study of Canal Street/Route 5.
In a memorandum dated August 24, 2023 Library Director Starr Latronica requests that theBoard approve the application of a grant of $650 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, through the Vermont Department of Libraries, to subsidize courier service for delivery of materials between libraries.
The Board is asked to approve a parade permit for the Brattleboro Buddy Walk, which will take place on Saturday, September 30, 2023.
The Board is asked to approve a parade permit for the Windham County Humane Society’s Walk for Animals on Saturday, September 30, 2023.
In a memorandum dated August 8, 2023 Assistant Fire Chief Charles Keir asks the Board to appoint Inspector Steven Nelson as a Deputy Town Health Officer.
In a memorandum dated September 1, 2023 Town Manager John Potter requests that the Selectboard approve and sign the Downtown Vibrancy Fund’s letter of attestation. This grant from the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development is designed to help Vermont municipalities strengthen their downtowns. The Downtown Brattleboro Alliance has recently been offered this grant in the amount of $25,000. The letter indicates that this grant will not take the place of other municipal funding the DBA annually receives.
In a memorandum dated August 31, 2023 Finance Director Kimberly Frost discusses OpenGov’s permitting and licensing services that the Town plans to utilize for many Town departments, including the Planning Department, Town Clerk’s Office, and the Assessor’s Office. The total cost for the software is $39,040. $15,000 is budgeted in the FY24 budget for new permitting and licensing software. The $24,040 balance will be split between the General Fund budgets of the Assessor’s, Planning and Town Clerk departments. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Town Manager to execute a contract with OpenGov for $18,670 for first-year licensing and $20,370 for the one-time professional services/data migration necessary to configure and implement the modern permit and licensing software.
In a memorandum dated August 11, 2023 Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses the Town’s past budget development and review process as well as proposed changes. Included in his memo is a potential outline of important dates/meetings that will pertain to the development of the FY25 budget season. The Board is asked to provide feedback on this potential process.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:45 PM)
A. Security Services and Town Safety Update (6:45 PM)
Town staff will provide an update on the impact of newly implemented unarmed private security services and Town safety.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
B. Fire-EMS Transition Update (7:05 PM)
(i) Public Engagement – Insights from Other Communities (7:05 PM)
(ii) Third-Party Contracted EMS Alternative — Review RFP Proposals (8:00 PM)
(iii) EMS Alternatives – Consideration of a Draft Comparison Matrix (8:30 PM)
(iv) Next Steps (9:00 PM)
In a memorandum dated September 1, 2023 Town Manager John Potter provides an update on the Fire-EMS Transition. Included in his discussion are: background information, an update on public engagement, including insights from other communities, a review of the Town’s two RFP responses, and a comparison of EMS alternatives. Staff requests that the Selectboard review the materials, consider the presentation and provide feedback.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
11. ADJOURNMENT (9:15 PM)
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