Selectboard Meeting Notes – Downtown Parking, Utility Rates, Town Plan, and a Mouse

The Brattleboro Selectboard scheduled too many weighty issues for their Tuesday meeting at the Municipal Center. As the meeting went on, agenda items were jettisoned in repeated attempts to keep the length of the meeting somewhat reasonable.

Those issues that were discussed were discussed in detail. The board learned about the Utilities Fund budget and possible rate changes in coming years, discussed goals for the coming year, received a presentation on the results of a Downtown Parking Survey, and held a public hearing on the Town Plan revision. They attended to Department of Transportation paperwork, settled a lawsuit, changed the name of a street, applied for grants, and more.

Also, a mouse.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – May 1, 2018

Brattleboro’s Police Department might be getting a carport. It’s one of the final recommendations of the Police-Fire Facilities Committee and will be up for discussion at Tuesday’s meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The board will learn of improvements to the Union Station train station in the near future. They will discuss the FY19 Utilities Budget, initiate final designs for the waste process water line at Pleasant Valley, hold a public hearing on the revised Town Plan, learn about the downtown parking study, review the Solid Waste budget for FY19, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation, too.


Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Notes – Ladder Truck Ordered, $32.5m Dairy Processing Plant Coming, Skatepark Update

It was a night of big things for the Brattleboro Selectboard – a big, new fire truck was ordered, and plans for a possible big $32.5m dairy processing facility were presented.

The board got an update on skatepark finances and schedule, tires in the wetlands will be cleaned up next fall, a letter about Act 46 stalled, the leaf pickup schedule is being re-examined, and goals and plans for the coming year were discussed. The board discussed energy matters, compassion, and diversity.

Oh, and for anyone seeking to get a message to Board Chair, don’t send email…


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – April 17, 2018

The Brattleboro Selectboard will receive an update on the skatepark financing and schedule from members of BASIC at their next regular meeting. They’ll also accept a $15,000 challenge grant for the project.

The board will order a new fire truck, discuss dumped tires and clean rivers, consider a letter regarding tax implications of an Act 46 merger, set goals, review rules of conduct, adopt an emergency operations plan, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Permits, Plans, and Policies

Brattleboro Selectboard

Permits, plans, and policies dominated the first regular meeting of the newly-formed Brattleboro Selectboard. 

Flood plain models and measurements were at issue for a significant portion of the meeting, with little that could be done except make a federal case of the matter. In the end, an agreement to reach an agreement with a property owner was agreeable enough to allow the board to acknowledge the project they have no say in. It was that sort of an evening.

The skatepark approaches, but has not crossed, the fundraising finish line. A revised Town Plan is nearing completion, a re-application for the Downtown Improvement District relies on the Town Plan being approved, and the Heifers have permits to go strolling again this year.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – April 3, 2018

The Brattleboro Selectboard will get an overview of the revised Town Plan at their first regular meeting with newly-elected members. Public hearings to discuss the plan will be scheduled, too.

Permits for Strolling of the Heifers will be considered, the renewal of the designated downtown district, floodplains, cemeteries, and grants related to housing and the skatepark will be discussed as well. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, March 26, 2018, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.  The new Selectboard members will be sworn in and the Board will elect officers.  An ASL interpreter will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Firefighters Retroactive Raise, Final Meeting For John Allen

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved a new contract with Brattleboro firefighters Tuesday evening. Negotiations began in 2016, stalled, resumed, and just recently wrapped up. Firefighters will be getting a retroactive raise going back to when the process began.

Liquor licenses, a finance report, a grant for bulletproof vests, and an update on Windham Regional Commission were all punctuated by news that this meeting was John Allen’s final regular selectboard meeting.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Winter Roads and Education Taxes

The board had a discussion of winter road conditions, causes of potholes, methods of repairing potholes, and specific reasons why Western Avenue has so many of them.

The board considered a letter to state education officials asking to support the results of the vote against a school district merger, as it would negatively impact Brattleboro taxes. The Brewer’s Fest permit was approved, Brattleboro Words are being explored and celebrated, and a pile of tires near the Marina is a problem for plants and animals in the vicinity.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Municipal Broadband, A Rebellious Abatement, Potholes, and More

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a meeting full of exciting twists and turns. From a sudden interest in municipal broadband to a re-examination of requiring write-in candidates to pre-register, the meeting was full of surprises.

There were the scheduled issues as well with liquor licenses renewed, an animal control officer appointed, grants accepted, and so on, but even these provided curious side paths.  Consider, for example, that the board decided to willingly challenge what they felt was an unfair ordinance, all in the name of compassion.  Or the matter of the fly in need of rescue…  In short, it was an eventful meeting.