The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). Prior to the special meeting, at 5:15pm, 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 7, 2023
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:15PM
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
(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
11. ADJOURNMENT (9:15 PM)
….
MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: September 1, 2023
———————————————————————————————————————————–
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 the
Board 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.
An additional memo is forthcoming. Please look for it on the Town’s website tomorrow
afternoon.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
