The Brattleboro Selectboard will take up reviewing the revised FY25 budgets at the final regular meeting of the year. They will be examining the general fund, the capital fund, and the ARPA budgets – the only agenda item they plan to discuss in detail.
The consent agenda, however, has some interesting items. Notice the small grant to add EV charging stations to town properties, the grand list errors, and 47 lost land record binders, among other things.
You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212). 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, DECEMBER 19, 2023
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
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 – December 5, 2023
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)
7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:30 PM)
A. Municipal Energy Resilience Program Mini-Grant Program – Accept and Appropriate
$4,000 Grant
B. Fire Training Grant – Authorize $190,000 Application
C. Certify the 2023 Grand List to the State for Errors and Omissions – Approve Final Changes
D. Vermont State Revolving Fund Loan Agreement – Authorize up to $450,000 Agreement
E. 2022 Scattered Site Grant with Windham and Windsor Housing Trust – Accept and
Appropriate $845,000 Grant
F. Vermont FiberConnect Transition Grant – Authorize $20,000 Grant Application
G. Land Records Digitization Project – Authorize $12,443 Increase
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. Draft FY25 General Fund, FY25 Capital Fund, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Budgets
i. Base Budget Clarifying Questions
ii. APRA Feedback
iii. Revised FY25 Capital Fund Budget Alternatives
iv. Revised FY25 General Fund Budget Alternatives
v. Budget Process and Next Steps
9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants and Department Reports
10. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
11. ADJOURNMENT (9:00 PM)
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: December 19, 2023
———————————————————————————————————————————–
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday,
December 19, 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 (6:30 PM)
A. Municipal Energy Resilience Program Mini-Grant Program – Accept and Appropriate $4,000 Grant
B. Fire Training Grant – Authorize $190,000 Application
C. Certify the 2023 Grand List to the State – Approve Final Changes
D. Vermont State Revolving Fund Loan Agreement – Authorize up to $450,000 Agreement
E. 2022 Scattered Site Grant with Windham and Windsor Housing Trust – Accept and Appropriate $845,000 Grant
F. Vermont FiberConnect Transition Grant – Authorize $20,000 Application
G. Land Records Digitization Project – Authorize $12,443 Increase
In a memorandum dated November 30, 2023 Sustainability Coordinator Stephen Dotson requests authorization to apply for a Municipal Energy Resilience Program Mini-Grant. This grant will go toward expanding the Town’s electric vehicle charging stations. It requires no match and is not competitive. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will (1.)
Authorize the submission of an application for a $4,000 Municipal Energy Resilience Program Mini-Grant from the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services to pay for consultancy fees associated with the implementation of the Brattleboro Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Working Group and preparation for more EV-charging station sites on Town parcels and (2.) Approve acceptance of grant funds.
In a memorandum dated December 8, 2023 Fire Chief Leonard Howard III requests authorization to apply for a $190,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). This grant will allow the Brattleboro Fire Department to improve its capabilities in the area of technical rescue through training and equipment. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Brattleboro Fire Department to apply for the 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of approximately $190,000.
In a memorandum dated December 19, 2023 Town Assessor Jenepher Burnell discusses the five changes to the Grand List and asks the Board to review and certify the Errors and Omissions changes to the 2023 Grand List. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the Errors and Omissions certificate to the State.
In a memorandum dated November 14, 2023 Public Works Director Dan Tyler asks the Board to authorize a loan agreement through the Vermont State Revolving Fund for the completion of the lead service line inventory. This up to $450,000 loan is eligible for a $100,000 subsidy and a 50% subsidy for the remainder of the expense, resulting in a maximum expense of $175,000 to the utility. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize a loan agreement through the Vermont State Revolving Fund for the completion of the lead service line inventory, for up to $450,000.
In a memorandum dated December 5, 2023 Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland discusses the Scattered Site Grant application process to support the Scattered Site Program administered through the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust. This program administers home repair loans to eligible homeowners, housing counseling advocacy and homeownership assistance. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will (1.) Adopt the Grant Agreement Resolution and accept and appropriate the sum of $845,000 from the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) for the 2022 Scattered Site Grant in support of Windam and Windsor Housing Trust’s Green Mountain Home Repair Program (GMHRP) that provides affordable home repair financing options and housing counseling services to eligible homeowners in Windham and Windsor counties and (2.) Authorize the Town Manager to execute a Grant Agreement with the state of Vermont, and all other associated documents necessary for the performance of the grant funded activities.
In a memorandum dated December 8, 2023 Library Director Starr LaTronica requests authorization to apply for a Vermont FiberConnect Transition Grant from the Vermont Department of Libraries in the amount of $20,000. This will go toward purchasing equipment and services for the necessary FiberConnect transition from a statewide wireless system to an independent network. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the application for a Vermont FiberConnect Transition Grant from the Vermont Department of Libraries in the amount of $20,000.
In a memorandum dated December 19, 2023 Town Clerk Hilary Francis explains that the Selectboard approved the use of $51,108.48 from the special restoration fund to digitize Brattleboro’s Land Records back to the early 1800s. However, once the project began the State Archives Division that stores the microfilm for our Land Records informed us that they could not locate the microfilm for 47 of our Land Records binders. Those records will need to be scanned and uploaded. We are therefore seeking the Selectboard’s approval to spend an additional $12,443.06 to complete this project and keep our Land Records consecutive. These funds will come out of a special restoration fund that is set aside to cover presentation and restoration projects like this, and there is currently money in that fund to cover this. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve additional funds, in the amount of $12,443.06, to fulfill the contract with Avenu Insights & Analytics that was approved on September 19, 2023 in the amount of $51,108.48, to digitize and make available online the Brattleboro Land Records dating back to the early 1800s. The total amount for this project will then be $63,551.54 from the special restoration fund.
ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. Budget Review: FY25 General and Capital Funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Budgets
I. Base Budget Clarifying Questions
II. ARPA Feedback
III. Revised FY25 Capital Fund Budget Alternates
IV. Revised FY25 General Fund Budget Alternates
V. Budget Process and Next Steps
In a memorandum dated December 15, 2023 Town Manager John Potter updates the Board on aspects of each budget and reviews the overall budget process and next steps. The Board is asked to further discuss the FY25 General and Capital Funds and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Budgets.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
