Possible ARPA projects, budget planning, charter changes and state priorities will fill the air of the next Brattleboro Selectboard meeting.
You are invited to bring up other items not on the agenda as long as you aren’t Dale Joy talking about the police department.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). Prior to the regular meeting, at 5:30pm, the Board will convene for committee interviews in the Selectboard Meeting Room. 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, OCTOBER 17, 2023
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS – 5:30 PM
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 – October 3, 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. Municipal Planning Grant Consortium Application for Cultural Plan – Authorize Application
B. Water Tank Engineering Service Agreement – Authorize $56,000 Contract
C. Free Parking for Holly Days – Authorize
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:45 PM)
A. Charter Review Commission (6:45 PM)
B. Quarterly Financial Report (FY24 Jul.-Sept.) (7:05 PM)
C. Fire Department Monthly Report Including an EMS Update (7:25 PM)
D. Process to Develop State Policy Priorities (7:40 PM)
E. Budget Planning(8:10 PM)
(i) FY25 General Fund Budget Initiative
(ii) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update
F. Committee Appointments (9:10 PM)
9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants and Department Reports
10. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
11. ADJOURNMENT (9:30 PM)
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: October 13, 2023
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The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, October 17, 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. Municipal Planning Grant Consortium Application for Cultural Plan – Authorize Application
B. Water Tank Engineering Service Agreement – Authorize $56,000 Contract
C. Free Parking for Holly Days – Authorize
In a memorandum dated October 5, 2023 Planning Director Sue Fillion discusses the Town’s plan to seek to sponsor a consortium grant application to the Vermont Municipal Planning Grant for a Windham Regional Cultural Plan to better understand the central role of Windham County’s creative sector in the larger economic, social and educational context. The Town intends to hire a consultant to develop the plan. We intend to spend no more than 5% of the project funds to have the Windham Regional Commission administer this grant and the Town will, in a sense, be the fiscal sponsor of the grant. The Planning Commission supports this project, and the Town Arts Committee has been informed of this potential project. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will: 1. Authorize the Planning Department to apply for an FY24 Municipal Planning Grant as the lead applicant with Bellows Falls and Wilmington for a Cultural Plan and 2. Adopt the FY22 Municipal Resolution for a Municipal Planning Grant.
In a memorandum dated October 6, 2023 Public Works Director Dan Tyler discusses the necessary maintenance, resurfacing and minor repairs that the Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility’s primary 3-million-gallon water storage tank requires. After an investigation, it was determined that instead of utilizing a temporary tank while this work was done, it was deemed more cost effective to install a secondary water tank. Tyler also discusses the financing options for this project. Dufresne Group Consulting Engineers has provided an engineering service agreement for a cost of $56,000. If approved, it is expected that the final design will be completed in December. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize a contract with Dufresne Group Consulting Engineers, for the final design of a secondary water tank at the Pleasant Valley Water Treatment Facility, for a fee of $56,000.
In a memorandum dated October 6, 2023 Finance Director Kimberly Frost discusses the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce’s request to allow a temporary suspension of parking fees in support of the annual Holly Days event. This request was approved for the 2022 Holly Days. The cost of this request is approximately $3,500, our two-year average of parking fees on that weekend for the years 2020 and 2021. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce’s request to suspend parking fees for the Holly Days event downtown on Friday, December 1, 2023 and Saturday, December 2, 2023.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:45 PM)
A. Charter Review Commission (6:45 PM)
In a memorandum dated October 10, 2023 members of the Brattleboro Charter Review Commission discuss their work to date, their plans going forward, and the fact that they are seeking public input. Members of the Charter Review Commission will be in the meeting to discuss their work and answer any questions from the Board or the Public.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
B. Quarterly Financial Report (FY24 Jul.-Sept.) (7:05 PM)
In a memorandum dated October 4, 2023 Finance Director Kimberly Frost discusses the Quarterly Financial Report for FY24, July through September. Included in the Board’s materials is a presentation regarding the new quarterly structure of the Financial Report.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT, AS PRESENTED.
C. Fire Department Monthly Report Including an EMS Update (7:25 PM)
In a memorandum dated September 2023 Fire Chief Leonard Howard discusses the EMS update for the month of September. Going forward, the Fire Department’s Monthly Report, and the EMS Update, will be included in a single document and will be provided in the Selectboard materials.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT, AS PRESENTED.
D. Process to Develop State Policy Priorities (7:40 PM)
In a memorandum dated October 13, 2023 Town Manager John Potter explains that several issues have emerged over the past year that may benefit from consideration by the Vermont State Legislature to help Brattleboro and other towns better serve their communities. The Town recommends developing State Policy Priorities that, while falling outside of the Town’s jurisdictional authority, could help influence matters that impact the Town, and be a useful tool for the legislative delegation. Included in the memo is a list of perceived problems raised by the public, Selectboard members, and Town staff. The Board is asked to review the materials, consider the presentation, along with input from the public, and provide feedback, if any.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
E. Budget Planning (8:10 PM)
(i) FY25 General Fund Budget Initiatives
(ii) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update
In a memorandum dated August 13, 2023, Town Manager John Potter, Finance Director Kim Frost, and Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discuss the new FY 25 Budget Process, which included the Budget Engagement Open House that took place on September 28, 2023. They discuss potential changes to service levels that relate to several Town departments and provide an update on potential projects where ARPA funds could be applied. Included in the Board’s materials is an ARPA list of potential projects which incorporates ideas provided by the public from a recent community survey, as of October 10, 2023.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.
D. Committee Appointments (8:35 PM)
The Board plans to make appointments to various Town Boards and Committees.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TBA
