A seemingly tone-deaf Brattleboro Selectboard pushed forward on multiple options for a multimillion dollar swimming pool project, as well as a messaging campaign directed by Town staff with catchy slogans to discourage being generous. This came after many objections by meeting-goers.
Preliminaries
It wouldn’t be a Brattleboro Selectboard meeting, it seems, without it starting late. They start late again. (6:19)
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Chair Daniel Quipp – Austan of BCTV is having a birthday, Franz can you mute that…. I don’t experience BCTV. They do many meetings and events. I thank them. Hope he has a good birthday/directing session. Remember to raise you hand to be recognized, we do have a time limit for the public (3 minutes) and we prioritize voices that haven’t been heard before if you want to speak again. We’ve had lots of participation lately. People are getting used to it.
Town Manager John Potter – Town has been informed from Sec of State that there is a delay in mailing of ballots for the election. Going out today. If you don’t get it by Oct 11, contact the Town Clerk’s office. Election is Nov 5 from 7 to 7. Bring the mailed ballot with you if you vote in person. Human Services applications due Oct 23. Brooks Library got a $1.5 million grant – one of 11 statewide. Starr will provide info at the next meeting.
Public
Dick Degray – I was unable to attend the last meeting. I have a few questions. How many police officers do we have active at this point, how many in training, and then what’s the number we need to have 27?
Potter – the Chief can give you all that info if you call her.
Kate O’Connor – I urge you to examine the budget process you are going to use. At the last regular meeting you spent 1.4 million dollars and $880k would be in the FY26 budget. That means big decisions you will need to make to make this town affordable for taxpayers. You need a thorough and thoughtful process to do the budget. A focus group is not the way to put a budget together. Rethink it. There are implications that need to be discussed.
Cristina – It would be great it the Town could help inform everybody what is in the new ordinance. I am asked to do that job and I direct them back to you. People have no idea what is in the 14 pages. Once they hear they aren’t as excited. What do you have planned to help people understand how the town will change?
Consent Agenda
A. Williams Street FEMA Grant – Accept $325,678 Grant
B. Winter Sand – Accept $55,147 Bid
C. DPW Grant-in-Aide – Accept $31,250 Grant
D. Abbot Road Stormwater Improvements – Accept $20,700 Bid
E. Saint Michael’s Procession – Ratify Parade Permit
So consented!
Living Memorial Park Pool Project – Update
Daniel – I suggest a change to the agenda for people who travelled a bit of a distance. This is about the pool… move it up, then do old business and the rest…. okay! First up is the Living Memorial Park Pool Project
Carol Lolatte and John…
Carol – John is from out of town. The majority is from John from NCA. A brief history. In 2023 $50k was granted by RTM to do a feasibility study. WE asked them to do an evaluation of the pool and the bath house at LMP, hold community meetings, and come up with conceptual designs and cost estimates. The pool was built in 1957 and renovated in the 80’s. We’ve had several repairs of the years. Biggest challenge is the pool holding water. We went through 12,000 gallons a day… pretty significant water loss. The bath house is not welcoming nor gender neutral. Community wants more than that. We gave that marching order to NCA.
John – (has slideshow) Working on this for a year now. We had a presentation in March. Back then we had tasks in front of us. This is a progress update. We had key objectives, review of conceptual options, gathered public input, had in person sessions at the pool, online survey, looking at costs and considerations, and next we want to finalize the study. We came up with construction and amenities costs for alternates, developed operational costs, a follow up online survey, differentiated Brattleboro resident preferences, and now presenting results.
– Key priorities – pool that doesn’t leak, doesn’t have cracks, a longer season or year round operation, other play areas or for lessons, gender neutral changing areas, zero depth entry, community room, ski area, items for an aging population with classes, fitness and therapy.
– Option 1 was one main pool – an L shape with a narrow neck. 6 lap lanes, zero depth entry, splash pad, dual slides, diving board – $6.75 million, + annual cost ?
Degray – the number just quoted isn’t on Option 1…
Quipp – the memo speaks to the upper number.
– Option 2 – two pools – 6 lap lanes, zero depth entry, splash pad, dual slides, diving board. $7 million, $150k annual cost. Similar to what Rutland has done.
– Option 2 A and B look at enclosing the pool. A. Membrane – $10million, B. glass enclosed $11million.
– Option 3 was enclosed indoor pool – $14 million.
– We had a variety of feedback on these options. About 20 people in attendance. Some straight from the pool. We got a lot feedback that day – Option 2 or 2A and 2B. One person said we should never do an indoor pool.
– The online survey – 82% Brattleboro residents, 260 respondents, Option 2A got the most votes. 2B was second. Option 2 was 3rd.
Quipp – did the public know the cost of each?
John – yes. Number of pools, arrangement, images, and list of costs.
Carol – also annual operational costs. They saw the whole picture.
John – Non residents voted more strongly for indoor options – 2A, 2B, then 2. Again, there were 260 responses. Smaller than you’d have at a town vote or bond issue, so here’s the summary of costs. Option 1 – $6.75m, 2 – $7 million, 2A membrane – $10 m, 2B glass $11m, and indoor is $14 m. Plus operational costs. Outside options were $15k more. The indoor year round operation bumps it up half a million to heat the place and water. Tax impact was $30-$134 per $100k, depending on indoor or outdoor, etc.
John – other logistics – that parking lot serves the pool well during the summer, and serves ski hill in winter. To do year round, parking must increase. Harder to walk around with snow. Pool house itself could be larger due to indoor heating plant, so you could consider go with Option 2 and sizing the pool house for future growth. Future proof your needs. Also, variation in annual cost escalation. Construction escalations were coming down with interest rates and fuel costs but… there should be a reduction for the next year or year and a half, but… all these numbers were for FY26. Based on where things are today with construction costs. Any acceleration of timeline could save money, if there aren’t more strikes or wars. That about wraps it up. Carol mentioned the current pool. It’s outlived its life. Issues will only get worse and repairs will continue to be a burden. The water loss is 3x the amount the pool holds! That’s valuable. Pool house has issues. The need is great and continues to be great. It helps attract people to the community, it is for all ages and abilities, there are new revenue opportunities , new programs with a new pool.
Daniel – John Potter…
Potter – Patrick’s memo – another facility in the 1950’s is the DPW facility and is also limping along and will have a large capital expenditure. the memo brings focus to the fact that we need to do some capital planning around these two different ideas and how that fits into guidance we have on borrowing. It would be helpful if any options could be eliminated. DPW garage is in the planning phases – no cost yet. Just a placeholder number.
Daniel – board, let’s hear from you first. No motion on this. Just feedback.
Richard Davis – the figures we have for the tax impact relate to the construction costs?
Potter – pg 41 has debt costs and operations cost built in – the second line below the debt line.
Richard – tax impact built in? (yes)
Liz McCloughlin – are A and B heated? (no) The membrane vs glass – a lifespan for each?
John – about 25-30 years, glad a bit longer. The membrane option is less .. more sustainable on its own. It is up year round. It stays up year round. There are overhead doors on the sides to open to the air from the sides in summer. The doors close for cooler weather and you would heat the space. The glass enclosed option – roof panels would slide open and closed. They need more maintenance and repair. Option 2 – membrane of glass could be added later. The one thing to do would be to add space in the pool house and infrastructure so you could heat it and heat the space in the future.
Liz – any wonderful grants?
Carol – nothing at this time. Small stuff yes, but this is big money.
Franz Reichsman – good and informative. I’m curious about the membrane – is it thin? How is it insulated?
John – it is a PVC product, like a PVC roof. There are examples to look at. The is one in Cheshire CT – a series of pools under it. A lot of deck area. You would heat and ventilate the space. As you get against the wall it can be cold, but it holds the heat to run the swimming events.
Franz – seems like a big energy drain.
John – yes a thin layer. It can handle a snow load.
Franz – these aren’t fully enclosed?
John – those options related to the fact that you could add them later. Start with the same pool house and pool, but add the enclosure over the lap pool. When we go to Option 3, the indoor pool is like the Keene YMCA – all indoors. Insulated.
Franz – I went there this summer and people were having a good time, despite the age and leak. It seems functional. Will that change? Will something collapse?
John – can crystal ball it. There is a known crack or buckle in the wall of the pool. It is concerning. Something needs to be done – rebuild that wall. Not easy with a swimming pool. A big challenge with water removal and repair and replacement. The other concern is the use of water – the amount that goes through the poo. You are filling it 3x a summer over 10 weeks.
Carol – we are losing it at the top of the pool, too. It affects the pool deck that was recently repaired. That joint has been repaired in 99, 2008, in 2016, and in 2021. The bandaid is not holding, the stiches are long gone. The pool has lived its life cycle. How much longer can we get? I don’t want to say we’ll be closed for the summer with no project on the horizon – we can make it next year maybe, but will lose lots of water. Throwing lots of good money at this over the years.
Peter case – I remember when this got thrown around a bit. That pool is the way people vacation for some. WE have to go ahead with something to give people that option. If more people use it there will be a better vibe going. I don’t use it, but I recognize what it means to a large segment of the community.
Carol – 1-5 every day, that’s those kids summer vacation. There is the summer food program. Summer memories are made there. Not at Cape Cod or in Maine. Whatever the board choose to due, over 65% of our community are kids eligible for free or reduced lunch. People want us to build something they can afford.
Daniel – a couple years ago we set a priority of delivering an expansive vision for the pool. We were not nickel and diming the project before the community saw the project. We need to invest in quality of life in this community. We have been lucky to get as much as we have out of the current pool. This will be a bond vote of the whole town, not just RTM, people will vote according to their vision for the future and their pocketbooks. We need to bring a bond vote so the community can weigh in. The other thing I don’t see are estimates of revenue – there is $25k revenue for current pool. A better pool will attract more, and open more time will attract more users, but have more costs. I bought a 6 month membership at Colonial – $406 for 6 months. The tax impact would be $50-$214 a year for a new pool. You are already paying multiples of that. Private facilities struggle to maintain their facilities, too. By building a year round pool we are investing in our community. maybe it will bring people here. It’s important that we allow this to move forward a bit further. Whether the bond vote passes or fails we need to be prepared.
Liz – people have said it. The environmental sustainability of not replacing water. We don’t have the luxury of waiting. Just need to examine these more closely.
Peter – what ‘s the cost of a gallon of water… it would be fun to know.
Steve Z – I think it’s a great project. One question – seems Cadillac in nature. If you could afford it great, with grant money. All year long would be great. What can we afford to do? Still need to replace the facility? Are we locked into these or can we look at other designs, like design- build? Economical will be non-indoor, and a single pool. It would be adequate and durable for a long time. Other options are possible.
John – to address some specifics – these are conceptual options looking years in the future. They would need to be designed and constructed. Design build is on the table – a delivery method. Put it in your RFP after the town vote. The one pool option is a bit cheaper, and you could skip the slide and spray features. All those options are on the table.
Caitlin – I’d live in Brattleboro if I could afford it. Amazing work. It is dystopian to discuss spending this much on a pool when so many are homeless. The construction costs are going up due to strikes and natural disasters. We will need the same infrastructure costs here…. we don’t need a glass enclosed pool. We need public spaces – there are other options. Our public pool could be in the river. You can walk 10 minutes in any direction and swim. Spending money on heating and water to swim in the winter – people need heating and water to survive. Give me a fucking break….
Bethany R – my comment will sound very different. I am enjoying this conversations – I want to shout out to Carol – deeply impressed but the effort and work she puts in to every project. She is accurate about kids using it as their summer vacation spot. With food insecurity it is important they have a safe place to eat and swim. Thanks! Summer vacations are coming from a place of privileged. Many families are only able to go to the pool in Brattleboro, so that resource is essential for those who can’t go far from here. I take my kids to swim elsewhere. Our pool has lifeguards, most rivers and lakes don’t go there. Busses go to LMP. Enhancing the quality of life is exciting – get kids on swim team, or people bonding while kids are swimming. Such an important resource. Last point is I’d really request this go to the whole town for a vote.
Kate O’Connor – I would hope you would think about cost differently. You keep adding $60 more, or $200 more, or just $250 for someone every meeting… you keep adding up the dollars. What won’t you be doing because of this project. You have the DPW building to think about. It’s not just $50 dollars more. It’s more complicated. Outline other costs, too.
Dick Degray – Carol – the pool opens June 20 and close Aug 15 – not 10 weeks. As a board member I had advocated for it to be open a lot longer. Kids may go to school, but adults keep swimming. Carol said we can’t find lifeguards. The board should get longer than 8 weeks for $7-10 million. I agree with town bond vote. Do a town survey – 250 people is less than 1%. If you send it out with options and costs and have them send it back. That will tell you what the public wants. Send out a survey to the town, not the minimal people who use the pool. if the majority don’t use it, they will still pay for it. It needs to be open longer than it is open now.
Frick S – I’d like to reiterate that I’d heartily encourage the town to give everyone as many recreational opportunities as possible, so I sort any infrastructure. I would also encourage the board to seek out wise counsel from those of us who build things before setting on a particular design. We spend a lot more than necessary to get a result. Volunteers have provided lighting for softball parks. many of us would be willing to step up to help the board make these projects affordable and happen.
Daniel – great presentation, great comments. One question – anything we want to rule out at this stage?
Peter – I don’t think we can just yet. The same size is a decent amount, and the middle options seem to be leading, and maybe start with something less expensive, but I don’t want to limit things.
Liz – I’m leaning toward option 2 with a future covering in mind. I don’t think any of us could swallow a whole new building, but I hear about the needs of the children, so it needs to be affordable. I would rule out the fully indoor #3 option.
Peter – agreed.
Daniel – I agree we can take it off the table at this time. I agree that the pool needs to be open longer. I want the best possible pool – the minute you can start and until leaves fall, plus and indoor option. People travel for that experience. It will be a wonderful thing for all sorts of fitness activities – aerobics, adult swim lessons – I drive to Springfield for a 30 minute lesson there. We can have teachers here.
Peter – knowing what it is like to do things in an ideal… I’d like it open for 20 weeks but how do you staff it?
Carol – lifeguards are college kids and high school kids – no adults. If we did we could stay open from Memorial Day, but we’d need to do weekends… we need 4 staff on. That’s the challenge of staffing. Many of our college kids or HS kids head of to practice. We closed on the 20th – even that was hard. Adults would be awesome.
Franz – lots to consider. I keep coming back to not seeing how this fits into FY26. I’d be willing to look at it next year. WE can look a little further but I don’t see how … we are already looking at a 10% municipal tax rate increase and there is more on top of that, and our borrowing capacity. Can’t see supporting this in FY26.
Richard – If we don’t adopt any of these plans, the pool will have to shut down?
Carol – I see us opening next year. How many after that? It becomes a problem.
Liz – and costs keep going up.
Daniel – can we get cost projections for maintenance for the next 5 years? The cost of doing nothing… let’s have that value.
John – one town went ahead and filled cracks and now have a PCB nightmare. Chemicals found in adhesives and caulks.
Daniel – we’ll keep going for now.
John Potter – we’ll have it in the FY26 budget discussion
Daniel – it is 7:51 – lets take a 5 minute break then do the next item.
Consideration of an Acceptable Community Conduct Campaign
Daniel – next item is Consideration of an Acceptable Community Conduct Campaign. John has a memo.
Potter – the memo says “let’s all be nice!” to encourage everyone to be nice to one another. A messaging campaign to improve public safety. This is addition to other other work. Would you like to implement it, collaborate with partners, or let others lead on this. Could target people using unacceptable behaviors and those concerned with the behavior. You can pass a motion to get it going, or ask questions, or… is this something we want to be doing right now or not?
Daniel – let’s consider the question. Is this something the Town should work on it right now, work with others, or have others do it.
Liz – Yes we want to implement the campaign. Much of what we are doing requires explanation, so that is one facet. Do we want to establish newspaper and social media campaigns – radio? That really discusses this whole idea of being nice and respecting one another. I don’t think those goals are objectionable in any way – we should work with community partners for this positive messaging. We don’t need signs. I’d recommend a campaign with partners that does social media. newspapers, and radio but not signs.
Peter – it needs to be done, it can explain the steps we have taken and our goals. Messaging will define and bring clarity on all possible platforms. Tsunami the landscape. So everyone understand what we want to achieve. keep it simple. It needs to be simple for everyone to gravitate toward it.
Daniel – someone’s phone is going off. Take care of it, Patrick?
Richard – I feel like we should implement a campaign, but it would make more sense to develop a plan by the town. It could be cumbersome with other partners at this point. Maybe after a preliminary plan is developed. All platforms should be used. The message should be the lighter touch. We’ve been trying to fix a problem and this is one of the pieces to make it all work.
Liz – if we advance a plan, the town would run with it? Not constant back and forth?
Potter – yes.
Peter – I could volunteer to help. That’s what I did for 35 years.
Franz – one inspirational thing was at the pop up drop in center at the Transportation center. The clients made their own rules. They made it drug and alcohol free. They shared their expectations. That was outstanding, that it was from the bottom up[, from the most affected people. In this situation, I’d like to see it happen again, as one input into the process. It should go more slowly. The community safety fair could have focus groups. What behaviors are we talking about and what messages do we want to deliver, that would resonate with the people we’d expect to receive. It’s been top down- I’d like to see it come from the other direction – what do people think is a reasonable set of standards. I’d slow down and wait for the community fair and focus groups of the different types of community members from the start.
Peter – in a messaging campaign. If you are trying to correct behavior – so you will ask the person whose behavior you want to correct what the message should be?
Franz – I’ve spoken to people who have ideas of how they could participate. getting the input from that community will make it more effective.
Peter – that will stop this dead in the tracks. Someone have something to say?
Daniel – keep going Peter.
Peter – we know how we want people to behave on the streets. We are all expected to hold a certain level on the streets. people think we are targeting the unhoused… have I? Then do something?
Daniel – can you not interrupt? Be reasonable.. c’mon…
Peter – what has happened is that narratives have been snatched and this board wants to step in. if we don’t do something… not talking about making this decision in a vacuum. I’ve been talking to agencies. 400 meetings will kill it.
Daniel – I have mixed feeling about this project. I’d want to say the Town’s expertise in this area – it is not the Town’s skill set. The town manager has a full plate. This is not in our natural scope. I dunno. The messages in the memo – not a lot here that I like. I would want toes something that is different than is here. If these are the messages, I would not be excited about this. It is okay to hear from other people involved. hearing from Groundworks and HCRS, Turning Point, Retreat… that would be helpful. ONE Brattleboro is already working. get some input from them. If this is to proceed, let’s consider those options.
Liz – Can I present a motion? “To implement the campaign, working with interested parties, not including public signage…”
Daniel – okay, want to discuss that motion?
Franz – it is fine and leaves it up to Town staff as to how to engage with the public.
David B – I used to own a communications firm, an ad agency. I have some expertise. The ordinance is far more complex than anyone could grasp. My professional option is to do nothing. You have two target audiences. 50-100 people on the street, but also officers and outreach people, and concerned businesses. If they can communicate it and talk to people – if they need support materials you can help. As far as the community, once the plan works people will be convinced. Chamber of Commerce and downtown business alliance can educate. Do nothing, save some money. There are legitimate needs and people ask for money to meet them. It isn’t always drugs. It can be clothes, medications, a regular phone, gas money… when people have a gap in their ability to pay they ask for money.
Penelope W – I got sidetracked. I wanted to talk about what we could do… I agree about putting signage up. Not sure if that is constructive. But I do know that DBA doesn’t want any involvement with signage and let it be something the downtown community does. I understand people have needs not being met, but we also have businesses not being met. We have customers not coming downtown because they get hassled. I appreciate the ordinance, but it will take time to repair the perception. I’d like energy put into dispelling this image. People get hassled as soon as they get out of a car. My suggestion is to look at having a couple a days a week – Wed and Thursday – with free parking from 4-6 pm at night. Encourage some of us to stay open late… one last thing. This could be achieved by changing the hours in the morning.
Robin M – I could not be more opposed to this messaging campaign. It demonizes struggling people. “WE have to put our foot down: will lead to violence. It is a myth that people are only asking for money for drugs. Problems go away when people have money. People getting panhandling money won’t get much. I will give money – I will violate any campaign messaging. if we want to be compassionate – this ain’t it. I am speechless that we would do this rather than invest in improvements “Brattleboro isn’t a good place to be unhoused.” WE don’t need a campaign to tell people it sucks, we need less people in that position.
Eva – the stigmatizing messaging campaign will not work. We want Brattleboro to be a lovely place. There are non-stygmatizing ways to improve perceptions of safety. Get more people out walking around. Things are lacking downtown for things to do. There are other ways to do this.
Rey – I deeply oppose this messaging campaign. Feels like a tailed addition to the ordinance just passed, and a dissappoint to all the work being done to help those you say are undesirable. I keep hearing selectboard members saying it isn’t about them but it clearly is. If you wanted to hear from the other organizations, you should have been listening to what people have been saying for the last many months. You are ignoring many solutions. I’m disgusted at the way these conversations are being had. I have no trust in your humanity at this point.
Jane – on Sunday we shared food at the Transportation center and a police officer was questioning them. I do not consent to my money being given to the police because a handful of people voted for it. A popular billboard campaign against obesity stigmatized and shamed children and families for having the bodies they have. I’m concerned about the safety of unhoused people. I’ve seen people asking for money getting lectured. Those situations are encouraged I think there is no need for a messaging campaign. There is already a lot of bias against people who look poor. We should have a system that is more caring and hopeful and full of sound and music and culture…
Frick – I think there has been a lot of attempts to narrow the subject . peter expressed it well. Keeping people accountable regardless of who they are. I don’t hear a desire to create a sense of accountability. I personally know a lot of people are the demographic that has been talked about. There are a variety of reasons their lives are challenging. Some panhandle to make better money that working. Some are drug addicts out of control. People show up at Amy’s asking to be fed after hours. It’s unfair to the people who work there. It is complicated, but to pretend that nobody who is panhandling would be accountable is as absurd as none of them have legitimate needs. there are perfectly able-bodied people who could work who choose to panhandle. I wish I could get money tax free. But no, I like paying taxes for our town priorities and asking everyone to take into account the myriad of concerns and not try ….
Rune – I work at a food access non-profit. This campaign is really disturbing. I wonder why you want to spend considerable money to create this propaganda… telling people on the street to not give money to people on the street who need money? If someone just needs a couple of dollars. You are passing ordinances and paying for cops when you could be giving money to the organizations. This campaign should be rejected. Saying no to panhandlers? People already say no, and other are doing an act of generosity. It’s not up to you what people spend their money on.
Daniel – come back or hear from David?
David – Quickly – we don’t need to “other” one another. We have to find out who is having the contact and find out what they need to communicate. Find out what the salespeople need to make the oridinance comprehensible.
Daniel – there is a motion…
Liz – I don’t like signs but they might want to use posters.
Peter – most people haven’t been in favor, but the narrative is set in those minds. You just have a memo you read through once. Most people tonight haven’t sat down and spoke with me about what I want. As much as everyone is offended, I’m offended that people think I would take it there if left to me. When it comes to individuals, we demonize the body as those making the decision. I’m not here to tell people to not give money to people…
Daniel – could you not interrupt… it’s respectful..
Peter – I’ll speak with you after the meeting, Get to know me. This campaign could wind up in a million different directions. I have had conversations about what could have an impact. We are at a stage where we need to get our arms around it and set expectations for everyone. We’re not targeting those people.
Daniel – the messages in the memo… these are examples. Are there messages you support?
Peter – I’ve had conversations – they are things pulled from conversations that have been had. If I had some time to talk and work with organizations we could come up with some options. Not everyone will like those messages. Sometimes you roll it out and see if it works. Needs to be simple and easy to understand – a compassionate inclusive community with accountability. A campaign is a long grind.
Degray – no dollar amount? Not to exceed?
Potter – as part of the downtown safety action plan you set aside $10k for this. It would be a nominal amount…
Daniel – I don’t love these examples or the messages or how they sound. If they are the campaign I’d be really unhappy with it. “Asking for money hurts our community” – I believe in individuals rights to choose what to do with their money. When people ask me for money I make a choice. I have my own reasons. I don’t support telling people to not give. I’d like to see a draft…
Peter – you don’t like much of this… the next step is to widen it and involve those agencies. Not committees. Like Eva. Or Libby. Josh Davis. Then come up with more examples, the go back to them. Tweak it. You might end up with a small answer.
Franz – that’s what I was proposing – draw people into the discussion. WE are getting to specific. Motion lets Town Staff come up with proposals and come back to us. Not ready to go beyond that right now.
Daniel – we are giving feedback.
Franz – should be done in a considered fashion.
Liz – the original thought that Peter and the Boys and Girls Club had – it involved children and the basis of the ordinance – let’s have Flat Street as an area where people will feel comfortable bringing their children. That’s the core message that we want. Not panhandling. Civilized behavior nonthreatening to youth.
Richard – I agree with Franz – if we pass this, it is a baby step. That’s what I would urge.
Daniel – I’m ready to land this… can you keep it short?
– I have 15 years or organizing homeless people. I am in contact with people who are and about to be unhoused. There are unhoused children. You speak of children. Safety on the streets and children – people are panhandling on behalf of the children. Know what diapers cost? Consider all the children.
Doran – I am a teacher and teach at NEYT. I don’t know who wants this besides the selectboard. Why does this campaign exist? It doesn’t make any sense? I’m crashing my head against the wall? Who agrees with this?
5-0
I am off to watch a VP debate!