A relatively easy first official Brattleboro Selectboard meeting for new Chair Daniel Quipp is scheduled for Tuesday. The Consent Agenda is ample, there are some board rules and assignments to take care of, and there will be some discussion of the recent Representative Town Meeting.
The big discussion could be that the board might use property taxes to pay for matching costs associated with replacing the Rt 9 bridge at Melrose Place. The Town’s share has risen from half a million to $1.6 million since 2021.
You can once again, one assumes, bring up any other item not on the agenda during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom. Prior to the regular meeting, at 5:15pm the Board is expected to enter immediately into executive session to discuss contracts and pending or probable civil litigation or prosecution, to which the public body is or may be a party. 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. The backup materials for this will be available on the town Website Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard by the end of today.
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
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2024
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:15 PM
REGULAR MEETING – 6:15 PM
The physical location for this meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center at 230 Main Street.
Selectboard Meeting materials can be found on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard.
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 – March 21 and March 26, 2024
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. Western Avenue at Guilford Street and Williams – Authorize Contract
B. Annual Entertainment License – Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market
C. Annual Entertainment License – Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center
D. Brattleboro Brewfest – Limited Event Permit
E. Vermont Department of Libraries Grant – Accept and Appropriate
F. Green Street School Parade Permit – Approve
G. VTrans Structures Grant – Authorize Application
H. VTrans Class II Paving Grant Application – Authorize Application
I. Memorandum of Understanding with Edible Brattleboro — Authorize MOU
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. VTrans Bridge 54 Project on Western Ave at Melrose Street (6:35 PM)
(i) Presentation from VTrans
(ii) Discussion on Projected Cost, Local Match, and Proceeding to Final Design
B. Representative Town Meeting Follow-Up Items (7:15 PM)
C. Selectboard Housekeeping (7:45 PM)
(i) Rotation Schedule for Reviewing and Signing Warrants
(ii) Annual Selectboard Assignments – Boards and Committees
(iii) Selectboard Rules of Conduct
(iv) Review Selectboard Goals
(v) Schedule Selectboard Retreat
9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants
10. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
11. ADJOURNMENT (8:30 PM)
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: March 29, 2024
———————————————————————————————————————————–
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, April
2, 2024. 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. Western Avenue at Guilford Street and Williams – Authorize Contract
B. Annual Entertainment License – Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market
C. Annual Entertainment License – Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center
D. Brattleboro Brewfest – Limited Event Permit
E. Vermont Department of Libraries Grant – Accept and Appropriate
F. Green Street School Parade Permit – Approve
G. VTrans Structures Grant – Authorize Application
H. VTrans Class II Paving Grant Application – Authorize Application
I. Memorandum of Understanding with Edible Brattleboro — Authorize MOU
In a memorandum dated March 28, 2024, Planning Director Sue Fillion discusses a contract with SLR Consulting for conceptual design work for the Williams and Western Avenue and Guilford and Western Avenue intersections. The proposal is for $60,000 and funding for this project will come from the Capital Projects Fund. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize staff to execute a contract with SLR Consulting for concept plans of intersection improvements at William Street and Western Avenue at Guilford Street and Western Avenue.
In a memorandum dated April 2, 2024, Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Annual Entertainment License for the Brattleboro Winter Farmer’s Market located at 60 Austine Drive, Croker Gymnasium. Town Staff have reviewed and approved this license. Sherry Maher will be in the meeting to answer any questions, should this be pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda today, the Board will approve an Annual Entertainment License for the Brattleboro Winter Farmer’s Market, located at 60 Austine Drive, Croker Gymnasium.
In a memorandum dated April 2, 2024, Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Annual Entertainment License for the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center located at 10 Vernon Street. Town Staff have reviewed and approved this license. Danny Lichtenfeld will be in the meeting to answer any questions, should this be pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda today, the Board will approve an Annual Entertainment License for the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center, located at 10 Vernon Street.
In a memorandum dated April 2, 2024 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Festival Limited Event Permit application for Four Seasons Media Inc, for the Brattleboro Brewers Festival. Town Staff have reviewed and approved this permit. Kelli Corbeil will be in the meeting to answer any questions, should this be pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the Brattleboro Brewers Fest Limited Event application for May 25, 2024.
In a memorandum dated March, 2024 Library Director Starr LaTronica requests that the Selectboard accept and appropriate a grant from the Vermont Department of Libraries for the sum of $20,000 to be used for the transition of a wi-fi network. This grant will be used to purchase equipment and services for the necessary Fiber Connect transition from a statewide wireless system to an independent network. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will accept and appropriate a grant from the Vermont Department of Libraries for the sum of $20,000 to be used for the transition of the wi-fi network.
In a memorandum dated March 29, 2024 Town Manager John Potter discusses the Green Street School’s Tulip Trot Parade Permit application. This is an annual event. They will utilize the sidewalks and crosswalks. No street closures are required. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve a parade permit for the Green Street Schools’ Tulip Trot.
In a memorandum dated March 23, 2024 Public Works Director Dan Tyler discusses the VTrans Structures Grant for FY25. The grant program makes funds available for maintaining, repairing, or reparing bridges, large culverts and retaining walls on Class 1, 2, or 3 town highways. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Department of Public Works to apply for the 2024 VTrans Town Highway Structures Grant.
In a memorandum dated March 22, 2024 Public Works Director Dan Tyler discusses the VTrans annual Town Highway Class II Grant program for FY25, which makes funds available for the resurfacing of Class 2 town highways. The amount offered through the program is up to $200,000, with a required match of 20%. If awarded, the match and any amount in excess of the grant will be funded through the budgeted DPW Capital Roads account. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Department of Public Works to apply for the 2024 VTrans Town Highway Class II Paving Grant.
In a memorandum dated March 14, 2024 Sustainability Coordinator Stephen Dotson discusses a potential project which partners Edible Brattleboro with the Town to transform 805 Western Avenue into an edible food forest park. The MOU will formalize an arrangement between the Town and Edible Brattleboro. This MOU has been reviewed and approved by the Town Attorney. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve and sign the attached Memorandum of Understanding regarding Edible Brattleboro’s use of 805 Western Avenue, a Town-owned parcel.
ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. VTrans Bridge 54 Project on Western Ave at Melrose Street (6:35 PM)
(i) Presentation from VTrans
(ii) Discussion on Projected Cost, Local Match, and Proceeding to Final Design
In a memorandum dated March 29, 2024 Town Manager John Potter discusses the VTrans Bridge 54 Project on Western Avenue at Melrose Place. The Selectboard reviewed alternatives for this project in 2021, and since then, the cost for this project has increased significantly. The estimated total project cost in 2021 was $5.2 million with a 10% local match of $0.5 million. The current estimated project cost is $15.6 million, and the local match would be $1.6 million. Town staff have explored funding alternatives for this match, but according to the Federal Highway Administration, since the project is already planned to receive Federal funding through VTrans, the local match would not be eligible for Congressionally Directed Spending. The likely funding source would be local property taxes.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO AGREE THAT THE VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION SHOULD PROCEED TO FINAL DESIGN ON THE BRATTLEBORO BF 2000(28) PROJECT TO REPLACE BRIDGE 54 ON VT-9 WESTERN AVENUE., AND TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROJECT FINANCE AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.
B. Representative Town Meeting Follow-Up Items (7:15 PM)
In a memorandum dated March 29, 2024 Town Manager John Potter gives an overview of various follow-up items still pending from the March 23, 2024 Representative Town Meeting.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
C. Selectboard Housekeeping (7:45 PM)
(i) Rotation Schedule for Reviewing and Signing Warrants
(ii) Annual Selectboard Assignments – Boards and Committees
(iii) Selectboard Rules of Conduct
(iv) Review Selectboard Goals
(v) Schedule Selectboard Retreat
The Board is asked to assign individual Board members to review and sign warrants for designated periods throughout the year. The Board is asked to assign individual Board members to various board and committee positions for 2024-2025. The Board is asked to review and possibly adopt the Rules for Conduct of Meetings and Hearings. The Board is asked to discuss their Selectboard Goals for the 2024-2025 term of office. The Board is asked to schedule the 2024 Selectboard Retreat.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE RULES FOR CONDUCT OF MEETINGS AND HEARINGS FOR 2024-2025, AS PRESENTED OR MODIFIED
