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Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 6, 2024

by cgrotke | Town News

Flood Plain Restoration is more expensive than originally thought. By hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s part of what the Brattleboro Selectboard will hear at the first regular meeting of February 2024.

The board will also create a new road for the Town to take care of, hear updates on town safety, sustainability, food, farms, and vacant buildings. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation, if the Chair allows.

Brattleboro Dog and Wolf-Hybrid Licenses Available

by Not Signed In | Pets

Annual Brattleboro dog and wolf-hybrid licenses are available for the 2024 licensing period. All current dog owners will be mailed a renewal notice in early February. To renew an existing dog license, return your payment and renewal notice with updated rabies vaccine information by April 1, 2024.

LICENSING FEES ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1

NEUTERED $19

UNNEUTERED $23

Town of Brattleboro Notice of Availability of Auditors’ Reports

by Not Signed In | Town News

NOTICE is hereby given that the Brattleboro Town and 2023 Town Auditors’ Reports for fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, are available upon request and may be picked up at the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont.

The Auditors’ Reports will also be available as part of the Town Annual Report which will be available at the Town Clerk’s Office no later than March 1, 2024.

Connecticut River Joint Commissions Receives Grant from State of Vermont

by Not Signed In | Nature

The Connecticut River Joint Commissions (CRJC) is pleased to announce that it has received a $35,000 grant through the State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation. This grant funds CRJC’s work program for November 2023 to October 2024. Additional funding is provided by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

These funds will allow the CRJC to continue its emphasis on the grassroots, locally focused work of its five local river subcommittees and the broader implementation of its river management plan. The CRJC focuses on the key issues facing the Connecticut River watershed of Vermont and New Hampshire and plays the vital bi-state role of convening, catalyzing, and leading dialogue on these regional issues.

Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge – Feb 1, 2024

by Not Signed In | Hinsdale

Additional steel deliveries to the Pier 1 site in Vermont will be scheduled at a later date. Details will follow once available.

The delivery route will be along New Hampshire and Vermont Route 119 to Depot Street. This impact will include a short duration closure (approximately 10 minutes) of the twin bridges beginning at the intersection of Bridge Street to Canal Street, Main Street, and Vermont Route 142. Uniformed Traffic Officers will be located at the intersection’s entrance to Bridge Street during the closure period. While a time has not been set, all deliveries to Vermont will be off peak hours.

Press Release: Oscar Heller for Selectboard

by Oscar Heller | Politics

My name is Oscar Heller, and I’m running for Selectboard. I believe I have the temperament and skills to do a great job on your behalf. I value thoughtfulness, hard work, and public engagement. I’m not afraid to admit when I don’t understand something, or to ask hard questions on behalf of the public. And I’m not afraid to stand alone or take a hard vote if I disagree.

I found Brattleboro through Camp Waubanong, and moved here permanently ten years ago. Since then I’ve started two small businesses, bought a building and become a landlord on Elliot St, and gotten involved in local politics. I first joined the Energy Committee, and am currently a town meeting representative and a member of the Finance Committee. I’m 35 years old, and I want to be a part of building our future.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda and Notes – February 1, 2024

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet for a Special Meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212). At the conclusion of the meeting the Board will meet and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discuss contracts, possible litigation, and evaluation of a public employee. No action will be taken in executive session. 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 or closed captioning will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.

Brattleboro Planning Commission Meeting: February 5, 2024 Meeting Agenda

by planning | Town Plan

6:15 – 6:45 Neighborhood Center Zoning District Amendment Request
Potential Action on moving forward a proposed Neighborhood Center Zoning District amendment to the Land Use Regulations that would amend Section 224.E.6 pertaining to the location of vehicular service bay doors.

6:45– 7:15 Bike Parking standards
Guest: Jonathon Weber, Local Motion
Discussion of available background information and rationale regarding short term and long term bicycle parking requirements.

7:15 – 7:40 Certified Local Government
Review of Certified Local Government(CLG) ordinance and proposed change to Historic Resource Overlay Purpose (Section 252.A) for potential recommendation to the Selectboard to pursue CLG.

Medicaid & Health Resource Drop-in Hours

by ESchwartz | Health

Have you been cut off of Medicaid, or are you concerned that you may become ineligible? Are you on Medicare and unable to afford a supplement? Are you concerned about going into medical debt?

The Vermont Workers’ Center is hosting drop-in informational hours on Feb. 6 from 3:00-5:30 PM in the Brooks Memorial Library Community Meeting Room, 224 Main St, Brattleboro. All are welcome to stop in to get updated about Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and other health care resources. You can find out about your rights in this process and review any communications you have received about Medicaid or other health insurance.

Windham Southeast School District Board (WSESD) Meeting Minutes – Jan 23, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

SUMMARY:

● Student representatives expressed concern about a lack of positive student attitudes at the high school and asked for students and staff to show greater sensitivity and inclusivity, particularly to English Language Learners.
● Administrators provided an update on the implementation of two new curricula, EL (a literacy curriculum) and Illustrative Math.
● The board awarded the bid for roof repairs at Green Street School to Triumph Roofing in the amount of $322,000.
● The board awarded the bid for window replacement at The Guilford Central School to Monadnock Commercial Building Company in the amount of $362,949.
● The board approved the proposed FY2025 WSESD budget of $65,846,891. This budget will be presented for a public vote at the district annual meeting on March 19, 2024.
● The board voted to approve the proposed FY2025 Capital Plan.
● The board issued a statement regarding the Sexual Abuse Investigation.
● The board re-adopted two updated policies: D7 Volunteers and Work Study Students and F36 Student Freedom of Expression – School Media
● The Social Justice Committee collaborated with the Superintendent to write a statement expressing support for teachers to discuss the situation in Gaza and Israel in their classrooms. The board will vote whether to approve this statement at their next meeting on January 30, 2024.

WSESD Candidates Welcome at Guilford Pre-Town Meeting

by DonInGuilford | Politics

Guilford’s Pre-Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 27, at 6:30 pm at Broad Brook Community Center. This is also the one opportunity for Guilford voters to meet and hear from candidates for local offices that will be voted on Town Meeting Day the following week. In addition to town offices, such as selectboard, the Australian ballot on Town Meeting Day will include elections for board members of the Windham Southeast School District. This year, in addition to filling one seat on the board with a representative from Guilford, a seat from Putney and two from Brattleboro will be elected by voters in the four towns. Therefore, those running for the Brattleboro and Putney seats will also appear on the Guilford ballot. Guilford voters present at Pre-Town Meeting will thus be pleased to have in attendance any candidates running for these positions, to have them make a statement, answer questions, and, after the meeting, meet and chat.

Guilford Pre-Town Meeting, co-sponsored by Broad Brook Grange and the Guilford Selectboard, is an officially-warned public information meeting presenting the articles which will be voted on at town meeting, ranging from budgets to special articles and elections of town officials. The evening will also include an informal update on WSESD and Guilford School happenings. Refreshments will be served.

BCTV Schedules – Week of January 29, 2024

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 1/29/24

Monday, January 29, 2024

5:00 am All Brains Belong – Brain Club: Family Relationships

6:00 am Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce – BACC Annual Members Meeting 1/16/24

6:35 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – Alternate Worlds– Kelly Link & Holly Black

7:30 am The World Fusion Show – Ep 170 – Brian Shankar Adler

Public Domain Fun

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Here’s a little project I did to celebrate Mickey Mouse, and a handful of songs, entering the public domain in 2024.  

I like to animate, and it was hard to resist playing with this early character.

They’re Talking About Homelessness Again

by RDavis | Activism

It goes in cycles. The public conscience gets activated and politicians and policymakers talk about the crisis of homelessness and about how something needs to be done about it. There is a lot of talk, a few stories by major media outlets for a few weeks or months, and then not much changes.

To be fair, there are a number of programs around the country that create housing for homeless people and they do make life better for people as long as there is solid case management support and motivation for people to improve their lives. Brattleboro, Vermont has a number of organizations serving the homeless and, despite growing in capacity and comprehensiveness over the years, they are faced with a Sisyphean task.

Sadly, Vermont has the second highest rate of homelessness in the country. We have a severe shortage of affordable housing, prices for homes that are too high and high property taxes that make it difficult for too many people to stay in their homes as they age and try to live on fixed incomes.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6:30pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 211).

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 4:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 211).