Selectboard Meeting Notes: Our Town Finalists On Hold, Library Hours Restored, Businesses Fined

Artists wondering if they are finalists in the Our Town selection process will be waiting one more week for the final decision of the board, pending the review of one more legit-but-overlooked proposal. The Brattleboro Selectboard will approve the list of finalists at a meeting next week.

Instead, the board was given an overview of the selection process thus far, and a glimpse of the work of the Screening Committee. They approved the Brooks Memorial Library Trustees request to restore lost library hours on Thursdays and Saturdays, approved of a plan to fine local businesses, and accepted what is likely to be the last in a series of radiologically-related grants funded by Entergy.


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, August 8, 2015. There has been a lot of exciting progress at the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge project site, which will be shared with attendees. The talks 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, August 8, 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.


I-91 Exit 3 On Ramp Closures: 3 Sundays: August 9, August 16, and August 23, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

To help reduce congestion on I-91 during high traffic periods, VTrans will close both the Exit 3 on-ramps on the next three Sundays:August 9, August 16, and August 23 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Southbound traffic will be routed to Exit 1, and northbound traffic attempting to use the Exit 3 on ramp will be routed north on Route 5 to Exit 4. Officers will be on hand to control traffic. I-91 will remain open.

Cindy Cook
Public Information Officer
Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 4, 2015

The NEA Our Town Grant Screening Committee has chosen finalists, and their list of screened proposals will be reviewed and approved by the by Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting, enabling the project to move to the next phase.

Brooks Memorial Library hours will be restored on Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons, the board will accept a grant, and allow the Assessors to fine more local businesses. You can bring up other items that aren’t on the agenda during Public Participation.


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of August 2

Blasting operations on the north side of the new bridge will begin on August 6th or 7th. Roughly 15 separate 10-minute blasts will be needed to complete the work. The blasting will be conducted on weekdays for approximately 3 weeks; the target time for the blasts is between 1:30-2:00 pm. The contractor will need 5 minutes to verify clear lanes of travel. To ensure travelers’ safety, rolling roadblocks will be implemented on I91 in each direction. Sound impacts associated with the blasting will be minimal. More details to follow.

I-91

See above re blasting scheduled to start on August 6th or 7th.


Cannabis Legalization Talk Set for Monday

From the Brattleboro Reformer-

“BRATTLEBORO >> A citizens’ group that is trying to develop a statewide strategic plan for the legalization of cannabis will hold its first public meeting in Brattleboro next week.

The Vermont Cannabis Collaborative, or VTCC, plans to hold a series of public forums around the state as it prepares to issue a report on cannabis legalization in time for the upcoming Legislative session.

The group will host a meeting Monday, July 27, at 5 p.m. at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden at 157 Main St.


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of July 26

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 sunset on the porch:

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

Egyptian Walking Onion Plants
Vegan Raw Cookbook
Clean Sod and Garden Soil Available
Single Kayak(S) Loan


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of July 26

Blasting operations on the north side of the new bridge will begin the week of August 3rd. Roughly 15 separate 10-minute blasts will be needed to complete the work. The blasting will be conducted on weekdays for approximately 3 weeks; the target time for the blasts is between 1:30-2:00 pm. The contractor will need 5 minutes to verify clear lanes of travel. To ensure travelers’ safety, rolling roadblocks will be implemented on I91 in each direction. Sound impacts associated with the blasting will be minimal. More details to follow.

I-91

Please see above re blasting scheduled to start the week of August 3rd.


Gang of Motorcycling Investors to Invade Brattleboro, Hear Business Funding Pitches

Six Windham County startup businesses will pitch their ideas to a “gang” of motorcycling investors, entrepreneurs and advisors who are stopping in Brattleboro on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m.

The event, which will take place at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, is part of the second annual FreshTracks Road Pitch, a four-day motorcycle tour, in which the riders make stops in eight Vermont towns to listen to entrepreneurs pitching their business concepts.

The hosts of the Brattleboro stop are Strolling of the Heifers and Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, with sponsorship support from Marlboro College Graduate School. The pitch portion of the event, from 10 a.m. until about noon, is open to the public.


Two Recent Hit & Runs in Brattleboro

From the Police Log: 

July 20, 2015

Officer J. Hamilton

On July 17th 2015 at approximately 1300 hours Officers of the Brattleboro Police Department investigated a hit and run on a pedestrian in the area of the intersection between Elliot St., Frost St., Bridge St., Williams St. and Union St. The operator of the vehicle was described as having should-length blond hair. The vehicle was described as a green Honda Civic with a Vermont plate on the back only. Anyone with information about the suspect operator or vehicle please contact the Brattleboro Police Department at (802)257-7950.


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of July 19

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 thunderstormy eve:

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

Free Kodak Printer
Will Weed Your Garden
Remote Reiki
Need a Ride?
Set of Studded Snow Tires for 1998 Nissan Sentra


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 21, 2015

The Brattleboro Selectboard will discuss next steps for the Police-Fire facility project at their next regular Tuesday meeting at the Municipal Center.

They’ll appoint a screening committee for the NEA Our Town project, accept a number of grants for projects and purchases, continue with retaining wall repairs, and more.

Note: I’m unable to cover this meeting. If anyone cares to step up and write up a few notes from this meeting for others, in any style or format, it would be greatly appreciated.