plastic bag

Nickel and Dime Bags – More Cost Shifting To Consumers

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

The plastic bag ban in Brattleboro banned plastic shopping bags. Grocery stores immediately complied, removing them from the available options to shoppers. Reusable bags were offered for sale. 

Paper bags, always a free convenience for shoppers, suddenly had a price tag. Depending on the store, paper bags to carry purchases from a store now cost 5 or 10 cents. I’m speaking primarily of grocery stores and supermarkets.

Ask cashiers why a previously-free store amenity suddenly costs money, the answer is often “You have to blame to Town of Brattleboro.”  But this isn’t true. Brattleboro did not mandate charging for paper bags.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – February 19

by cgrotke | Uncategorized

It’s the last regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectrboard before elections in March, and the agenda is a light one.

The board will talk liquor and drugs, finances, an exemption to the plastic bag ordinance, and will review their goals and progress. They also pay attention when you bring up that other item not on the agenda, during public participation.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – January 22, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hear their first request for an exemption from the relatively new Plastic Bag Ordinance. Zephyr Designs is making the request.

Culture Made Vermont will get lots of goodies, mileage will be certified, an EPA grant applied for, liquor permits approved, and nearly final FY20 budget thoughts presented.  You can weigh in on spending Rooms & Meals taxes on promotions and the precedent it sets, or bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

The End of Two Eras: Plastic Bags and Pot Prohibition

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

Two things that have been with me all of my life are going away as July starts, and I’m happy to bid them adieu.

The first is plastic shopping bags. Brattleboro is banning single-use plastic bags (under 2.25 mil) as of July 1. In a world full of plastic bags, our impact may be like a small drop in a big pond, but our drop can cause ripples.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Plastic Bag Ban Thickness Increased, FY19 Budget Overview

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard decided to revise their proposed plastic bag ban ordinance bag thickness, increasing it from 1 mil to 2.25 mil. This came after some special demonstrations and displays were presented and comments taken.

They also got a peek at the FY19 budget, with a review by the Town Manager that sets a course for in-depth analysis at a series of upcoming meetings. The board learned of continued steps in the realm of diversity, inclusion and equity. Groundworks received grant funds for operation of their new shelter, and results of the panhandling survey were reviewed. 

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Panhandling Sign Defeated, Budget Season Approaches

by cgrotke | Town News

There will be no Town panhandling sign. That was the split decision of the Brattleboro Selectboard Tuesday evening.

The board had an active and long night. Much of it had to do with financial matters and planning, such as approving a letter of intent to rent space in the Municipal Center, reviewing long term financial plans, buying a fire truck, debating the thickness of single use plastic bags, and contemplating energy issues.  

Budget season starts officially at the next meeting, but it peeked its head in and said hello this week.