David Gartenstein is running for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard. We asked him some questions, and his answers follow. Election day is Tuesday, March 3rd.
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– What lessons would you say you have you learned since joining the board?
Serving as a member of the Selectboard, and as Chair, have reinforced for me the vital importance of ensuring that everyone is heard with respect. We face many competing priorities in Brattleboro, and our goal should be to achieve what is best for the town and its residents given our limited resources.
– What are the issues facing the town that you would like to work to solve in the near future?
The core issues facing the Town for me are how to achieve a workable balance between our capital and operating needs and expenses, and taxpayers’ ability to bear an increasingly steep tax burden. We need to make substantial investments in capital infrastructure, including to our police and fire facilities, retaining walls on Green Street and Bonnyvale Road, the deck on the Elliot Street Bridge, an outflow pipe on Harris Place, and fire safety improvements at the Municipal Center. In addition, we need to review the way we conduct Town operations to ensure services are being delivered efficiently and in the most cost effective manner possible. With the school tax rate rising steadily, we face the risk of a tax rate nearing $3.00 per $100 in assessed value, which really would be way too expensive, and it needs to be a priority to avoid this type of tax rate.
– Do you see reasons to be optimistic about the direction the town is heading?
I am optimistic about the direction the Town is headed. We have made significant investments in downtown, and avoided the risk of downtown blight following the Brooks House fire. After 15 months with an acting town manager, we hired a new Town Manager who has excellent experience and vision. We are working to develop economic partnerships with our neighbors, and hope to work towards a system where Brattleboro can obtain support from our regional partners to help share the financial burdens we bear from our role as regional economic hub. The Selectboard functions well, and we have diverse and conflicting views on many issues even though the composition of the Board is likely to remain the same. In addition, we have an active and involved citizenry.
– What can be done to increase citizen involvement and awareness of all these town issues?
I encourage everybody to become involved in the life of the Town, to whatever extent they see fit. One of the things that has always drawn me to Brattleboro is its liveable scale. Soon after I first moved here almost 33 years ago, it became clear that I could get involved and make a difference, and that applies to everybody. People can come to meetings, hold appointed positions, run for election, and voice their opinions in many other ways.
– Do you think people are paying attention to town government?
The Selectboard and the Town are grappling with many transformative issues, and we do our best to make sure information is available to the public. Although attendance at meetings sometimes seems sparse, our budget meetings in the spring of 2014 were filled beyond capacity, and it is not unusual for people to comment to me about Town government issues of which they are aware from a range of different sources. I think people pay attention to town government to the extent they are interested, which probably is exactly as it should be.
– What are your thoughts on selling the Municipal Center?
I understand the reason for the question about selling the municipal center but believe the inquiry is premature. At this time I just don’t have enough information to analyze whether the building could be sold, and how our operations would shift, move, or change if that were to unfold.
– Is the Police Fire Facility Project as currently conceived workable for the town, in your view?
My position about the police fire project has been expressed in public meetings on many occasions. It is clear to me that substantial investment and work is needed to ensure that the facilities that house our emergency sevices departments and personnel are safe, secure, healthy, and well suited to a productive work environment. How to achieve those goals consistent with our taxpayers’ ability to pay, however, is a challenge. In 2012, I expressed serious reservations about the $14 million bonding authority that was being sought to fund this work, and thought the price tag was just too high unless we could locate another funding source, and when the 1% local option sales tax was voted down at the special town meeting in the fall of 2012, I voted against the $14 million bonding authority. My position today remains the same, and I am very troubled by the risk of a race to a $3.00 municipal tax rate. Although our police-fire facilities committee has done significant work, the idea to move the police station to Putney Road is still in its infancy, and I am not prepared to endorse that proposal at this time. My view is that the new Town Manager needs time to review all of the Town’s operations, and to make reasonable and well-informed projections as to the spending needed to support all our operations and capital needs over the next 5-10 years (including police and fire related capital needs) and that we then need to make decisions globally about spending in light of taxpayers’ ability to pay.
– You frequently advocate for long-range planning, yet don’t seem supportive of the formation of a Future’s Committee by Representative Town Meeting. Can you elaborate on why, and what you would prefer to see happen?
I opposed placement of an article on the Town Meeting warning for creation of a permanent futures committee because I do not believe the sponsor of that proposal followed important procedural steps needed to place the item on the warning. I have never before expressed a view one way or another about the futures committee. My personal view is that this work is properly handled within the planning department and commission, and I personally believe that having another committee addressing long term planning is duplicative and confusing.
– Is there a problem with Representative Town meeting as it currently stands? If so, what remedies do you suggest?
I know there are Brattleboro voters who view Representative Town Meeting with suspicion, but I do not agree with this perspective. There have been a number of issues where Representative Town Meeting and Australian ballot have yielded conflicting results, but that is not a reason to believe that Representative Town Meeting is broken. Rather, it appears to be a function of the different dynamic that exists when there is collective discussion and decision making (Town Meeting) versus campaigning followed by an up or down vote (Australian ballot). If change is going to happen in Town Meeting, I preliminarily would prefer to consider returning to open Town Meeting rather than abolishing this form of government altogether, because I really value the participatory aspect of the town meeting form of government.
– Are you happy to run unopposed?
I am happy to serve on the Selectboard. I’m not sure whether or not I am happy about running unopposed.
– Why should people take time to vote?
Voting is an important way to express one’s position, and the vote is particularly meaningful at the local and state level.
– Anything you’d like to discuss that we didn’t ask about?
Thank you for taking the time to pose these questions to me.
Thanks for taking time with iBrattleboro.
Walk the Walk
” Serving as a member of the Selectboard, and as Chair, have reinforced for me the vital importance of ensuring that everyone is heard with respect.”
Really? Has Mr. Gartenstein ever been at any of his SelectBoard meetings?
Not much respectful listening going on there most of the time.
Seriously
I agree with KAlden:
Condescending and arrogant are adjectives that come to mind. The Selectboard, led by Mr. Gartenstien is neither welcoming nor responsive.
But at least he is willing, which can’t be said of anyone else.
Ditto
With KAlden and FrankC. I’ve only been in town for a few years but all, sadly, under his watch. His “leadership” style has been one of the big disincentives to get involved in town government issues.
The last straw for me was a meeting last winter about the budget and $ for police & fire stations. He opened the meeting — which was packed, it had been postponed b/c so many showed up — by talking for a solid half hour. Everyone else got two minutes.
There is only so much pomposity a person can handle in February and March, people.
My impression was different
My recollection of the meeting that Ezie is describing was quite different.
Mr. Gartenstein did begin the meeting with a detailed presentation, explaining the practical dilemmas the Board faces in trying to come up with a workable budget. I felt that it was an objective explication, showing the spending needs and the limitations on revenue.
Noting the large number of people lining up to speak, the chairman asked that speakers limit themselves to two minutes, but made it clear that he would not cut someone off if they needed an extra minute or even two additional minutes. I found that very refreshing in contrast to past chairs who would ostentatiously look at their watch and even interrupt to warn that that you have 30 seconds left.
If you organize your thoughts, you can say a lot in two minute. The previous chairman aggressively enforced the two-minute rule in a manner which made it quite clear that he wished you would shut up, but was forced to give hollow compliance to that pesky Open Meeting Law. It was very clear to me that Gartenstein welcomed comment, and was listening.
Afterwards I heard complaints, some bitter, but many of the complaints that I heard seemed to confuse not getting what you want, with unfair process. I personally did not like certain budget decisions made by the Board, but I knew that the situation they faced made it inevitable that whatever decisions they made would be unpopular.
I believe that more often
I believe that more often than not people attempting to voice an opinion, state a fact or clarify something with a question are treated with condescension, arrogance and rudeness. I have heard him treat his own board members in the same manner on more than one occasion. Perhaps the meeting you refer to was an anomaly. His treatment of the people he was elected to represent is the main reason I seldom attend SB meetings anymore and I don’t believe I am alone in that.
Easy Math
All Selectboard Candidates Running Unopposed
+Extremely Low Voter Turnout
+Dearth of Town Meeting Representatives
+Widespread Vacancies on Town Boards
+Repeated Failed Town Manager Searches
+Crushing Property Taxes
+One Failed Municipal Project After Another (PAYT, Citizens Bridge, WWTP, Downtown Traffic Signals, Skatepark, Police-Fire Debacle, Etc.)
=Strong Leadership in the Wrong Direction.
Gartenstien bullies his colleagues, demeans his dissenters and scoffs at his constituents. Why would anybody want to join his board?
3% tax rate here we come
Yes.
Well said and on point.
The end of the weekly outrage
I can’t refute others’ perception of selectboard meetings under Gartenstein, because I don’t attend or see the meetings. But from the computer screen viewpoint, the selectboard has certainly changed for the better. I used to wait for the selectboard reports here on iBrattleboro to see what the weekly outrage was. And there were some pretty outrageous outrages. Not to mention arrogant arrogance, ignorant ignorance, and most of all, incompetent incompetence. The board was openly hostile to the public.
I don’t always like what the current board does or says, but I get a sense that it is being operated in a much more thoughtful, competent, and business-like way. There’s still an occasional outrage, but at least the constant bombardment of outrage has ended. For now.
Seeing is believing
If you had attended any of the SB meetings you would see that arrogance; rudeness and lack of regard for any public opinion is still alive and well.
This SelectBoard hasit’s own agenda and it unfortunately doesn’t always match what is in the best interest of the town and it’s residents.Internet reporting of the meetings – while incredibly detailed and accurate – does not have the capacity to show a particular tone of voice or a condescending attitude.
Seeing – and hearing – is believing.
Missing it
Maus,
Perhaps you missed the part about about leading us to the highest property tax rate in the State, (and therefore probably the country)
and maybe you missed the part about mismanaging and bungling projects.
Management style and personality traits aside, Gartenstien and the Selectboard as a whole, are hardly competent and business-like.
one person did all that?
You can hardly pin our tax rate on a single person. We have had our financial issues for years in this town. To be fair, the SB did not spearhead putting the 1% local option tax back on the agenda. Support for this exists outside of the SB.
The essential problem with police fire is how to pay for it with our current grand list and tax level. What do you mean by “bungling projects”? Please be specific.
Andy
Nah, not one person
Gartenstien has been chair for years and serving years longer. He runs the show, but they’re all responsible.
They have done nothing to reduce the tax burden, other than say: “we need to reduce the taxes”… and then raise them.
They just can’t make hard decisions, again following in the browbeaten path of their arrogant leader.
As for municipal projects, i can only think of these:
PAYT-Passed, overturned, forced by the state. That one’s on the voters
WWTP – Overpriced, heavy tax burden plus incredible escalation of fees
Downtown Traffic Signals -State project, approved by the town, bungles traffic, deters people from downtown.
Skatepark-a poopsplosion all on Gartenstien and Boobolis
Police Fire – Wasting money faster than you could burn it. very poorly managed, guaranteed to go over budget. Missed $400,000 in required municipal building improvements: oops.
Citizens Bridge – State Project – Approved by the town, bungled traffic jam everyday
Town Manager Search – Wasted time, Wasted money.
Maybe you could share some of the town’s successes?
Just look at the decline in volunteerism, citizen participation,voter participation, municipal board participation and you’ll get a flavor of the atmosphere around 2nd floor of the municipal building.
problems we face
Here are my thoughts on your list:
“PAYT-Passed, overturned, forced by the state. That one’s on the voters”
…Passed by RTM, overturned by referendum. Not sure who ‘bungled’ that one. It’s happening now.
“WWTP – Overpriced, heavy tax burden plus incredible escalation of fees”
…That was engineered and built long before this board. Not much control by the selectboard on the cost such a highly regulated and mandated facility.
“Downtown Traffic Signals -State project, approved by the town, bungles traffic, deters people from downtown.”
…Yea, I think all these data driven modern traffic ‘solutions’ are for the birds. There was never a daily traffic jam before on northbound Canal Street. Not sure what the SB had to do with this state mandated and funded project.
“Skatepark-a poopsplosion all on Gartenstien and Boobolis” (sic)
…Not sure what a ‘poopsplosion’ is. Some form of organic compost? Not everyone in town was unhappy with how the SB ultimately responded to this issue. You can’t please everyone.
“Police Fire – Wasting money faster than you could burn it. very poorly managed, guaranteed to go over budget.”
…Some form of police/fire must happen. Budget and project was stopped last year by referendum. Not sure if the SB has the power to solve this one without a town wide consensus on cost, scope and location.
“Missed $400,000 in required municipal building improvements: oops.”
…I completely agree that someone should have been on top of that one. Those problems have accumulated over years. Where was the money to fix them? Where is it now?
“Citizens Bridge – State Project – Approved by the town, bungled traffic jam everyday”
…Another State funded project I believe. The people on Guilford Street wanted ‘traffic calming’. They sure got it! What was the selectboard’s role again?
“Town Manager Search – Wasted time, Wasted money.”
…Brattleboro did not offer enough money in the first round. You can’t make people take a job. Be more specific on how that was ‘bungled’. In my neighborhood a large road rebuilding project was undertaken and completed under budget by the town. It went smoothly and included a lot of citizen input. Western Avenue road repairs went very smoothly after last winter.
Brattleboro’s problems transcend anyone person or board. I do not believe that you can blame an individual for creating apathy and lack of involvement. If our selectboard chair is so awful why is he running unopposed? Usually if someone is as bad as you say he is that inspires folks to challenge the incumbent. As a previous Brattleboro town manager once said, “the world is run by the people who show up.” I don’t blame the folks who show up and try to tackle the problems that we face as a community.
Thanks a lot, Ogartenstein!
Gartenstein has been on the board for four years, chair for two. You may have forgotten what a disaster the board was under the chairmanships of Jesse Corum, Audrey Garfield and Dick DeGray.
But I agree, that the current board, like past boards, has not been exemplary, has not been particularly responsive to voters. I blame your screwy charter and anti-democratic governance system for that problem much more than I do any of the individuals involved.
I think this is the more
In response to Maus Anon E, I think this is the more accurate assessment of the SB chair too. Lets not forget how Gartenstein stoically countered the previous board hardened resistant tact oblivious toward public participation once kept under taps with his break out and asserted disapproval against an obvious lack of recognition for public process being conducted time and time again, thank goodness the worst of this is left in the past although there are those who still haunt the scene.
My Opinion
Seems like a lot of crybabys who do nothing but throw stones.
Think you can do better, step up to the plate.
Regardless of where you stand...
it is a mark of ignorance to try to stigmatize those whom you disagree with as “crybabies” or “whiners.” Mindless insults are no substitutes for intelligent debate.
I disagree
I have no problem with those I disagree with or have a difference of opinion.
Regrettably, there are a number of folks who don’t have a grasp of the facts or are hardly intelligent in debate.
I am not stigmatizing them, they are what they are.
It is a mark of ignorance not to discern the difference.
...
That’s always the prevalent question: what would it take to get others to step up?
MARK THIS PAGE!!!
I’m agreeing with PutneyReject and KenS !!
I agree
with Ken S and Putney Reject and yes, with Vidda.
Granted, it hasn’t been perfect over the years, but the folks Maus mentioned all had their hearts in the right place to help Brattleboro on important issues.
I would also send a shout out to those who put it all out there and put the Brooks Bldg back together. It looks fantastic and I hope it is the scene of things to come. Bratt needs folks like that along with those to be reps and sb members. There are plenty of whiners already…..
It isn't whining to express
It isn’t whining to express your opinion of how a public official behaves towards the people he is elected to represent. The SB of this town has a history of ignoring public input and of disregarding what should be the first rule of holding public office: treat your constituents with respect and listen to what they have to say. This Selectboard is certainly not the first to make it clear that public opinion is not welcome but they are doing their best to live up to the reign of their predecessors. Why would anyone want to continue to attend public meetings when they are consistently made to feel that their voice is not only not being heard but that it isn’t even welcome?
You can call it whining if it makes you feel better. I call it as I see it. And, in this case-hear it. We can all pretend our town governments are doing a bang up job and watch this town slowly become a place where no one wants to or can afford to live. How many more empty store fronts or “for Sale’ signs will it take before change is initiated?
It's not the Selectboard's fault
that Brattleboro is shitty place to work, live, and visit.
It' s not what your "whining" about...
It’s not what you are “whining” about. That is, you have an issue about SB civility. I am not calling you a whiner.
The whiners I referenced are those who really whiners, capish?
Thanks for the clarification!
Thanks for the clarification!