The Brattleboro Selectboard took up a full agenda, though with only three members present, they themselves were not quite full.
The big discussion of the evening centered on landlords and a new rental housing inspection system soon to take effect, but the exciting news came during public participation when it was announced that a day work program, legal and with dignity, will soon be getting started.
The Brattleboro Selectboard held their first meeting of June, spending most of the time discussing goals, but also approving Utility and Parking budgets for FY20.
Firefighters, administrators and office staff of Local 98 all got raises, and a new downtown design process will be getting underway.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will spend over $40,000 for a new Downtown Design Plan and give out annual employee raises at their next regular meeting.
The board might also approve Utility Fund and Parking Fund budgets for FY20, they’ll appoint volunteers to boards and committees, continue consideration of their goals for the coming year, approve a parade, and punish Brattleboro dogs for the negligence of their owners to get them a licenses. You can participate, and bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.
Vice Chair Tim Wessel led the board through the second regular meeting in May. It was a night of numbers, with Water & Sewer, Parking, and Solid Waste FY20 budgets being discussed in detail. One member compared the evening to math class, but budgets can be revealing, and many new town projects and plans were listed. The projects have timelines and costs, hence their inclusion in budget talks.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will be reviewing a number of budgets at their next meeting. FY20 approaches with talk of Utilities, Parking, and Solid Waste budgets.
The contract with Rescue Inc. is up for renewal, a new handicapped parking space is set for approval, the board will continue to discuss goals for the coming year, the battle against knotweed will continue, and you will be asked to volunteer for the Town. You can also bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Selectboard meetings can drag on. Meetings that start at 6:15 pm often end after 9 pm. It’s not as bad as the record-setting meeting of the mid-aughts that lasted well past midnight, but three hours is a long regular meeting, especially when board members may have met for an hour prior in Executive Session.
When meetings go on too long, participants lose energy and the quality of debate and discussion drops. Important issues can get rushed if they come late on an agenda.
The newly-formed Starr-led Selectboard will have their first regular meeting Tuesday evening. They’ll hold it right after their first Executive Session, which comes right after their first committee candidate interviews.
It won’t all be start-up stuff, though they will review Rules of Conduct and choose committees to attend. Red Clover Commons 2 will be applying for a grant, Representative Town Meeting items will be reviewed, historical markers, loans and knotweed will be discussed, and a new conflict of interest policy will be considered for adoption. You can, as always, bring up other items during public participation.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special organizational meeting on Monday, March 25, 2019, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.
The Brattleboro Selectboard gathered for their last regular meeting under the current configuration of board members – Chair Kate O’Connor and Shanta Lee Gander are about to return to civilian life.
The Country Club was reprimanded for a liquor infraction, causing the board to offer them time to do some free promotion. (Note to other liquor license holders – minor infractions will lead to publicity!) Bids were accepted, the Energy Committee was reduced in size, and representative town meeting motions were assigned.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will wrap up its year with lease agreements and tire removal. They will also hear from the Brattleboro Country Club regarding a recent liquor violation before giving them a new liquor license.
The Energy Committee might be reduced in size, Experienced Goods will extend their lease at the parking garage, motions will be assigned, and you might be appointed to a committee. You can always bring up other matters during public participation.
Good afternoon,
Please see attached for the official results from last night’s Annual Town Meeting, including write-in results.
Thank you,
Good evening,
Please see attached and the below link for the “unofficial results” for Brattleboro Town Meeting. The attached is formatted to show the unofficial winners for each race in bold. These are the results from the ballot tallies, not including write-in votes.
https://www.brattleboro.org/(click on “Unofficial Results 3-5-2019 Election” on the right hand side).
The Brattleboro Selectboard met on Town Meeting Day 2019 and spent most of the time discussing issues of water and sewer.
This included a rather substantial presentation by an apartment owner requesting a reduction in an abnormally high water bill, some discussion of the Hinsdale Bridge, some notes on odors and energy, and a hint that water and sewer ates may hold steady for a year.
Another in our series of 2019 selectboard candidate interviews, this time with Oscar Heller who is running for a one-year seat.
Give us a brief biography – who are you? What do you do?
Hi! I’m Oscar.
I was born in New York, but when I was 14 my parents picked a summer camp at random off the internet. That camp was Camp Waubanong in Brattleboro. I spent most of the next dozen summers in Vermont. In 2014 I moved here for good. I live on Elliot Street, just before the park, with my girlfriend Jessie and our two cats.
We continue our series of interviews with candidates for Selectboard, this time with Tim Wessel, the only incumbent and a three-year seat candidate.
Give us a brief biography – who are you? What do you do?
Hi, I’m Tim! I’m a father to a 29 year old AND a 13 month old, which is crazy and strange and pretty darned wonderful too. I work for myself running Vermont Films, a video production company here in Brattleboro, and I spend my work life shooting and editing films for many different clients, both local and national. Many people saw my appearance on House Hunters on HGTV a few years back, and I also work in production for that show about once a month, usually traveling to do so. My wife and I just celebrated our second wedding anniversary, and the first birthday of our son.
On Tuesday, March 5th’s Brattleboro town ballot (on the back side) is a ballot measure – “Article II” – that will grant 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote on town issues and candidates, be elected to and serve on local school boards (up to 2 on each), and be elected as Town Representatives. The measure has received the endorsement of Brattleboro resident and Senator Becca Balint, and Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman.
Lt. Governor Zuckerman endorsed the measure last Summer, before it had even gotten on the ballot. Writing an endorsement for the campaign’s website, he said “Engaging youth in local decisions is a great way to instill a commitment to their community, bring in new ideas and energy, and to recognize the value they add to the region.”
Water & Sewer issues will be the bulk of the Brattleboro Selectboard’s next meeting. They’ll talk about rates, repairs, reservoirs, energy use, odors, and improvements.
They’ll also approve liquor licenses, announce committee vacancies, apply for a grant and more. You can add other items during Public Participation.
Next in our series of interview with Brattleboro Selectboard candidates is Daniel Quipp, running for a one-year seat.
Give us a brief biography – who are you? What do you do?
I’m originally from Wales and married to a person who grew up in Newfane. I have been coming to Brattleboro since 2004 and have lived here since 2014. I’m currently a crisis fuel worker with SEVCA and just started a new job with Vermont Interfaith Action working in Windham and Bennington counties.
Hi!
My name is Oscar Heller, and I’m running for a 1-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.
I’m a small business owner and the chair of the Brattleboro Energy Committee. I’ve been coming to Brattleboro for 17 years, and I’ve lived here since 2014. I’m thirty years old, and I hope to bring a fresh perspective to the Selectboard as a young business owner. My two primary areas of focus are bringing a modern, green economy to Brattleboro, and working to address homelessness and drug addiction in our community.
Will Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell get a five year contract extension? Most likely, at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.
A hearing on modified parking, some VCDP grants, and the scheduling of informational meetings for Representative Town Meeting representatives will occur. There is also one item on the agenda purely for the sake of not having it on the agenda any longer. You can, as always, bring up other matters not on the agenda during public participation.
