Selectboard

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Rikki Risatti

by cgrotke | Politics
rikki risatti

Rikki Risatti is running for both a 3 year or a 1 year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Tell us about yourself…. 

I feel thankful to be elected as a 2020-2023 district representative and on the art committee, we need more People to apply online or through the municipal manager’s office. I recently have been welcomed to join partnership with People in the Post 5 Legion Auxiliary and the Adult/Adolescent Sibling match program. Neighbors passionately involved with making community impact efforts have been positive influences for me. I also feel so grateful of all the past and upcoming opportunities to meet with People dedicated to their causes; like the Masons, Co-Op, and Time Trade Bank members.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Daniel Quipp

by cgrotke | Politics
daniel quipp

Daniel Quipp is an incumbent and running for a one year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Tell us about yourself….

I’m a 42 year old person with a funny accent who has lived in Brattleboro since 2015. My wife is from Newfane and I’ve been coming here since 2004. I work at SEVCA where I run our community solar program, help people get connected to resources, do work with our data and reporting system and assist people in getting health insurance (p.s. If you don’t currently have insurance email me at dquipp@sevca.org or call 802 254 2795). I’ve been on the Selectboard for the last two years and am hopeful you’ll allow me to serve the town for another year.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 16, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

There will be an emergency discussion of a Muffin Monster at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. They’ll also discuss a new Cow Power agreement, water treatment facility funding and security, and hear an update about Brattleboro’s Boys and Girls Club operations during COVID.

The board will wrap up their meeting with a renaming of a portion of Elm Street in honor of Stanley Lynde, the well-know motorcycle shop owner. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidates Forum February 23, 2021 at 6 PM

by cgrotke | Politics

Brattleboro voters are encouraged to watch the Brattleboro Selectboard Candidates Forum on Tuesday, February 23 from 6-8 PM to learn about this year’s slate of candidates. The event is being presented by iBrattleboro.com and BCTV and will be live streamed to Comcast channel 1085 and BCTV’s Facebook page. 

It’s a virtual forum this year, held via Zoom.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Stroud Drops Out; Parking, Liquor, + Elections

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a meeting to set dates for three Representative Town Meeting informational sessions. They approved liquor licenses, made appointments, certified highway mileage, and began design work on a shiny new parking lot.

Candidate for Selectboard Gary Stroud dropped out of the race, citing health issues that would prevent him from doing all that was necessary to be on the board.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview: Jessica Gelter

by cgrotke | Politics
Jessica Gelter

Jessica Gelter is running for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Tell us about yourself….

I’m an artist, a nonprofit executive, small business coach, and an engaged citizen. For many years, theater has been my way into conversations about politics, conflict, and the human condition. In 2016, I got involved Brattleboro’s Planning Commission because I wanted to learn how our local government systems work and play a role in crafting our town’s future. 

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview: Evan Chadwick

by cgrotke | Politics
Evan Chadwick

Evan Chadwick is running for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Tell us about yourself….  

I have lived in Brattleboro since 2006.  I graduated from Keene State with a bachelors degree in social science.  I then enrolled in a 4 year legal clerkship at the the law office of Thomas Costello.  I took the bar in 2012 and began my own law firm now named Chadwick and Spensley PLLC.  We have three offices located in Brattleboro, Pittsford and Randolph.  A large part of our practice is prosecuting police brutality cases against cities such as Burlington and Saint Albans.  For seven years I was the head boys basketball coach at Bellows Falls Union High School.  Last year I served as the freshmen coach at Brattleboro High School.   

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – January 19, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard is likely to add a Charter Amendment to the Town Meeting Warning that would eliminate the need for future Charter changes to approved by the state legislature.

The board will hear an update on the Water Treatment facility project, continue finalizing their FY22 budget for RTM consideration, and will continue their discussion of the Community Safety Review Committee’s recommendations. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting January 12, 2021 – Agenda and Notes

by cgrotke | Town News

Outstanding FY22 budget issues will be discussed at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. How much paving should be done? Should board members get more compensation? Should one local media outlet (BCTV) be favored with funding from taxpayers? How much should Brattleboro spend on Human Services?

The board will also continue discussion of the Community Safety Review report and extend a contract for financial services. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Community Safety Committee Presents Findings and Recommendations

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard jan 5 2021

Marginalized populations of Brattleboro were a common theme for the Brattleboro Selectboard at their first meeting of the new year. They struggled with Human Services funding requests, then listened to an extended overview of the Community Safety report.

Everyone is encouraged to read the full report then return next week for more discussion of this and other topics.

The Selectboard Show

by cgrotke | Entertainment

2021, for me, marks 20 years of watching the Brattleboro Selectboard. 

I first turned the show on when we moved to Brattleboro in 2001. At first, it was to learn about Brattleboro and what was going on here, but soon the experience evolved more into watching something akin to a soap opera.

The show has the regular cast of characters: Town Manager, department heads, and support staff. They stay on the show season after season with few changes, though major roles get recast from time to time. New roles have been introduced, too: the Assistant Town Manager, the Human Services Director, and the Sustainability Coordinator are examples.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – January 5, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

To kick off the new year, the Brattleboro Selectboard will hear a report and recommendations from the Community Safety Review Committee. The board will also consider an increase to Human Services funding, contemplate mailed ballots for Town Meeting Day, and call for volunteers to serve on committees.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda – December 22, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

Shall the voters of Brattleboro be allowed to vote to opt-in to retail sales of cannabis? The Brattleboro Selectboard will decide it the question will be asked on March 2 ballots at their next special meeting.

They’ll also accept a planning grant and continue with their review of the FY22 budget, which is a great time for Representative Town Meeting Reps to pay attention and report back to all of us about what the budget will contain.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – December 15, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

There is a monster on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. It’s a channel monster grinder in need of some love and attention.

The board will also discuss non-monster items, such as the 2nd reading of the rental housing ordinance, a radio tower agreement, a new solar site designation, and more of the FY22 budget. You can bring up other items not already on the agenda, be they monster or non-monster, during public and monster participation.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – December 1, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

Goodbye, Archery Building. At their next meeting, the Brattleboro Selectboard will be voting to tear down the old train yard building to make room for paved parking spaces.

They will also hear another first reading of the proposed Rental Housing ordinance, hear updates on community marketing and the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, consider tax exemptions for five properties, and continue with their review of the FY22 budget. If you are so inclined, you can add to the agenda by bringing up other items during public participation.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meetings Have Become Too Long

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

Brattleboro Selectboard meetings have become very long. Too long, really.

It isn’t the number of items on the agenda. Even a short agenda can lead to a very long meeting.

Holding the meetings online might be part of the problem. 

First, it adds time to each meeting to explain how to participate. It adds time to invite people to speak and wait for them to work out technical issues. Almost every virtual meeting has delays due to the meeting being virtual. Sometimes they are short delays, but they add up.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – FY22 Budget – Police Policies and Procedures Review

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, using Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19).  The Board will convene at 5:15pm and is expected to enter into executive session to discuss the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options and the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee, and to enter into deliberative session to deliberate on the Hinsdale Bridge takings and eminent domain matter involving the lands of Tullius on Left Bank Way.  The Board will reconvene at 6:15pm for the business portion of the meeting.  The attached agenda contains information about how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  Information about how to connect to the meeting is also posted on the homepage of the Town’s website.  ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.