The Brattleboro Selectboard held a long meeting Tuesday, discussing union contracts, BMAC, selectboard goals, and more.
The big conversation, though, was about the creation of a $200,000 fund for alternatives to policing. The board was pretty happy with it, but the public wasn’t sure they could be trusted.
Holidays are lethal. The undue stress of celebrating holidays wrecks the health of our little golden biosphere. Holidays are also not necessary for our personal well-being, and, in some cases, they are stressful and unhealthful to too many people.
Since the turn of the 20th Century when southern soft drink brands started using Santa Claus as an advertising ploy to increase soda sales in the northern winter markets, the lethal nature of human holidays has been tearing earth’s resources asunder.
Oscar Wilde said, “Give me the luxuries, anyone can have the necessaries.” Even Oscar Wilde would agree today that consumer carnage holidays are a luxury we can no longer afford. The fact that too many of the holidays are religious-based means nothing in the context of people hell-bent on the self-destructive nature of continuing holidays.
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 12:00 Noon – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. Executive Session – 1VSA §313(a)(1)(A) – Contracts
D.M.I. Paving (a contractor of the town) will be paving in various locations in the coming days.
Wednesday, October 20th, paving will take place at Moore Court.
Thursday, October 21st, paving will take place at the intersection of Park Place and Linden Street Work is expected to happen between 10 am and 12 pm. Southbound traffic on VT Route 30 will be detoured to Cedar St. for the duration of the work. Please plan your trip accordingly.
I thought I’d share the scene we did for Crowdsourced Cinema VT’s production of Jurassic Park, now viewable on BCTV and other streaming places.
35 teams of Vermonters participated, and were each assigned scenes from the film randomly. Ours was the scene where they first arrive on the island and see their first dinosaurs. As you might expect, I chose to do animation. (Others used live action, puppets, animals…)
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 5:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. Executive Session – 1VSA §313(a)(1)(E) pending or probable civil litigation or a prosecution, to which the public body is or may be a party.
Monday, October 18, 2021
4:45 am Media Mentoring Project – Media Strategy For Events 9/29/21
5:55 am Landmark College Presents – Andrew Stein – Cat in the Shadows 9/21/21
7:00 am All Things LGBTQ – 10/5/21
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am The World Fusion Show – Ep 112 – Mike Block
9:30 am Education and Enrichment for Everyone – The Need for Justice Reform 10/1/21
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MENU
Oct. 18 Franks & Beans
Tater Tots
Spinach
Apple
Seniors are being bombarded with advertising for Medicare Advantage plans because the open enrollment period for Medicare is from October 15 to December 7. Insurance companies make piles of money if people switch from traditional Medicare to an Advantage plan.
The Advantage plans were created to move Medicare into the private marketplace and provide a financial windfall for the insurance companies.
They are good plans if you never get sick because the initial premiums are low and you get a few extra benefits not available in traditional Medicare.
But if you try to use the insurance in an Advantage plan you are subject to network restrictions and out of pocket expenses. It is not uncommon for a plan to have you pay $6000 out of pocket if you need care.
Come to HatchSpace’s new woodworking shop, get some tablesaw practice and leave with an elegant little box! In this workshop we will use the tablesaw to cut dados, rabbets, and some raised panels, and the router table for a little bit of detailing. You’ll learn how to accurately fit small pieces together, and work with some lovely local hardwoods to make a simple box for keepsakes, tea, tiny spice jars, or even recipe cards! Whether you’re brand new to the woodshop, or have experience and want some practice on the tablesaw, this workshop will guide you safely through some simple techniques for working with small parts accurately. No woodworking experience required.
The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road will be hosting a bingo for the Brattleboro Firefighter’s Benefit Association Saturday Nov. 6th. Doors open at 11 am and the first game starts at 1 pm.
No outside food or drinks allowed, but they will be available for purchase inside, along with homemade goodies.
Pre buy packets are $35 at the door if you pre-register, or $40 for not registering. Register by simply calling the VFW at 802-257-0438 and giving the names of all players in your party now.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will be approving a range of new contracts for police officers, firefighters, and other unionized employees at their next regular meeting.
Union Station will be handed over to the BMAC, the board will hear a sustainability update, they’ll review their goals, Selectboard meetings will be moved to Central Fire Station, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participations.
1. Welcome and agenda review Ann
2, Review application process and dates David
3. Review application Ain
4. Additional Q and A All
Another SHOPPING ONLY DAY at Swap Shop at WSWMD on Old Ferry Road, Brattleboro on Saturday, October 16, 8:30 am to noon. ALL ITEMS ARE FREE. Many new donated items were added last Saturday. Photos of some available items are posted on Facebook’s Brattleboro, Vermont group page. Many Christmas decorations!
SCHEDULE & HOURS:
Shopping Days- 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month
Donation Days- 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month
Agenda (start time 6:00 / 120 min)
• Call to order (6:00 / 3m)
• Agenda review (6:03 / 5m)
• Minutes review and approval. (6:08 / 5m)
• Announcements (6:13 / 7m)
• Proposal for committee membership in 2022 (6:20 / 20m)
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Agenda additions/changes
III. Appoint committee positions
IV. Approval of Minutes – August 19, 2021
V. Review past committee work, calendar, and responsibilities –
Brattleboro, VT—The Brattleboro Selectboard has chosen Octavian Y. (Yoshi) Manale as the
new Town Manager. Mr. Manale will assume his new responsibilities on January 1, 2022, after
working on transition matters with the retiring Town Manager, Peter Elwell.
“On behalf of the Brattleboro Selectboard, I congratulate Yoshi Manale on being selected as our new Town Manager” said Elizabeth McLoughlin, Selectboard Chair. “We considered many well qualified candidates during our nationwide search. The Selectboard conducted this process with care and diligence, and we are very pleased with the result. We are confident that Yoshi Manale has an enthusiasm for good governance and for Brattleboro that will lead us to a future that we can all embrace. We look forward to working with Yoshi for the benefit of the people of Brattleboro.”
The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting to announce the hiring of a new Town Manager, to fill the slot vacated by retiring Peter Elwell. They announced the hiring of Octavian ‘Yoshi’ Manale as the next Brattleboro Town Manager and approved the contract to hire him. He hails from NJ, and begins in the new year.
Classes for beginners and experienced woodworkers. Financial aid may be available – contact info@hatchspace.org for information.
More details, more classes and registration at https://www.hatchspace.org/ClassCalendar
Refresher for Woodworkers: Build a Cutting Board, with Doug Finkel
The Town of Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department in collaboration with the Brooks Memorial Library is excited to announce we will be hosting a drive-thru and walk-thru Trick-or-Treating at the Municipal Center Parking Lot. This event will be held on Sunday October 31ST between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. We ask all ghouls and goblins to enter the Municipal Center Parking Lot from the Grove Street entrance. We will have designated walking lanes and driving lanes for participants to follow. Vehicle trunks will be decorated, and volunteers and staff will be handing out goodies while supplies last.
