Main Street Sidewalk Update #9

Once again, this has been a very busy week on the Main Street Sidewalk Replacement Project! Several of the new street lights on the northern end of the project are installed, functional, and the old ones next to them removed. They look great and work into the viewscape quite nicely. By the end of the day today, we will be finished removing sidewalk and the remainder of the curbing (from High Street to the south end of the project) will be installed. The concrete crew will continue to work their way south with the new sidewalks and we anticipate that operation to be complete by next Friday if the beautiful weather holds out for us.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda – NEA Our Town, Police-Fire Facilities

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.  It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:30pm to discuss contracts, pending or probable civil litigation to which the public body is or may be a party, and the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options.  The Board will reconvene for the business meeting at approximately 6:00pm.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100


Conserving Our Water Resources: Green Infrastructure Workshops

The quantity and quality of water in our region has direct impacts on all of us. Flooding causes a huge financial burden on municipalities, businesses, and individuals while threatening public safety. Droughts lead to crop failures, inadequate domestic water supplies, and stressed ecosystems. Water quality degradation diminishes ecosystem health, domestic water supplies, and recreational opportunities. New Vermont Clean Water Act legislation reinforces the need for all of us to treat water as a valuable resource.

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a suite of design tools and structural techniques that address all of these water issues by employing strategies that help to maintain natural hydrologic processes. GI presents significant opportunities for Vermont municipalities, businesses and individuals to reduce the impacts of stormwater on budgets and assets while protecting vital natural resources. As we adapt to the impacts of climate change, it is essential that we seek strategies to protect life, property, and our region’s natural resources.


Main Street Sidewalk Update #8

Fortunately this week has presented us with perfect weather for construction! All the crews are moving full steam ahead and as you may have noticed, the majority of the sidewalks from High Street to Walnut Street are poured and opened!

We were able to get the small ditch on the street side of the new curbing paved earlier this week that will make parking and walking much easier on that portion of the project. The crew installing the brick strip is also moving right along (the picture above is an example of their work in the High Street bump out). We’ve gotten many questions about the purpose of the brick strip. Not only is it a decorative feature that ties together with our historic brick structures on Main Street, but it will allow us access to the underground electrical conduits in the future.


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of September 20

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Sunday, September 27 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open. Sunday closures will continue through October to manage leaf-peeping traffic.

I-91

Please see above re Sunday closures of Exit 3 on ramps.

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Are Essential Municipal Center Repairs Worth It?

The Brattleboro Selectboard began a preliminary discussion of the future of the Municipal Center, somewhat unintentionally, while discussing necessary repairs to bring the building up to current fire safety codes. It began with John Allen questioning the large investment in the structure, meandered through talk of responsibility and stewardship, and ended with a plan to spend the necessary funds one way or another.

Parking ordinance changes were approved. Most of the rest of the evening involved discussions of money. 


BS&L Introduces New Branch to the North End with ‘Brattorama’ Game

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – To celebrate its new solar-powered branch on Putney Road, Brattleboro Savings & Loan has launched Brattorama, a community-based game that charges area residents with collecting game pieces from various businesses to win prizes, now through Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The new location in Black Mountain Square on Putney Road, Brattleboro opened on Monday, Aug. 31, and is the latest entirely solar-powered bank branch operated by BS&L, which became the first completely solar-powered bank in Vermont earlier this year.


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of September 13

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

Route 30

Night work adjacent to Route 30 will continue this week, but will not affect traffic.

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of September 13

Brattleboro Time Trade:   Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.  See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade can do for you!

How Time Trade Works: You do something for someone and earn time credits for your “bank,” which you can then put towards someone else doing something for you! It’s that simple – and amazing!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from a celebration of the New Year:

OFFERS (i.e. things people could do for you):

Hand Readings
Homeschooling Support
Therapeutic Yoga
Support for Waldorf-inspired homeschoolers
Therapeutic Massage


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 15, 2015

The next phase of Municipal Center repairs will get some attention at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The board will have a second hearing and approval of parking ordinance changes, examine some financial reports for the year and month, and will do their utmost to protect you, dear citizens, from terrorists in our midst with the approval of a mobile data terminal for a police car.

All this and more. Watch on BCTV and read about it here.


Main Street Sidewalk Update #7

Although we had a short work week, extremely hot temperatures, and even some rain, we made great progress on the new sidewalks! We were able to pour several new sections of sidewalks between High Street and Harris Place and poured the new driveway access between Key Bank and Centre Congregational Church. You might be asking yourself why the new sidewalks are so narrow. This project includes a brick strip in between the granite curbing and the new sidewalk that is not only a decorative element but will also allow easy access to the underground conduits that are being installed.


Public Invited To ‘Trail Talk’ To Be Held For I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, September 12, 2015, to discuss the progress of the bridge project. The talk will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor) and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.