Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 17, 2015

Repairs to the Green Street retaining wall and the Elliot Street bridge will be front and center at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The board will also take up, again, a discussion of Property Assesed Clean Energy districts, will have second reading and public hearings for two amended ordinances, make appointments, assign Representative Town Meeting duties, and more.

Meetings are in the Municipal Center on Main Street. You can attend in person, comment, and bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Reminders: I-91 Exit 3 On Ramps Closed Sunday Noon to 7pm and Heavy Weekend Traffic

A reminder that this Sunday from noon to 7:00 pm we will close both the northbound and southbound Exit 3 on-ramps to reduce congestion on I-91 Southbound caused by merging traffic. Please use Vt Route 5 as an alternate route.

And please expect heavy traffic and resulting delays between Exits 2 and 3 on I-91 this weekend. Traffic is likely to be heaviest northbound on Friday afternoon and evening, and southbound on Sunday afternoon and evening. Those with flexible travel plans should consider alternate travel times and/or routes. Please also consider using Vt Rt 5 as an alternate route.


I-91 Exit 3 Ramps To Close Sunday

This Sunday, we will close both the northbound and southbound Exit 3 on-ramps to reduce congestion on I-91 Southbound caused by merging traffic. Because of highway logistics, we need to close both northbound and southbound on-ramps. Local southbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 south to Exit 2 or 1, and local northbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 north to Exit 4. Sheriff officers will assist in directing traffic. The on-ramps at Exit 3 will be closed from noon to 7:00 pm.


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, March 14, 2015. There has been a lot of 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 William Johnson, Senior Quality Engineer for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, March 14, 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.


Vermont Comedy Divas at the River Garden, April 4

The Vermont Comedy Divas —the only all-female, touring stand-up comedy troupe in the United States — bring their acclaimed brand of stand-up comedy to the River Garden in a fund-raising event for Strolling of the Heifers on Saturday, April 4 at 8 p.m.  All tickets are $15. Buy online at http://vtdivas.brownpapertickets.com/, or at the River Garden (cash only, Mon-Fri 9-5). Age suggestion: 16+


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of March 8

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 is all about!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from one tired Mama:

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

Makeup Consultation and Training
Learn to Play Again
Play-Full Child Care
Back Issues of “Growing for Market” and “Natural Farmer” Magazines
I Will Help You Get A Good Night’s Sleep


Delays on I-91 Expected Between Exit 2 & 3

Please expect heavy traffic and resulting delays between Exits 2 and 3 on I-91 this weekend. Traffic is likely to be heaviest northbound on Friday afternoon and evening, and southbound on Sunday afternoon and evening. Those with flexible travel plans should consider alternate travel times and/or routes. Please also consider using Vt Rt 5 as an alternate route.


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: March 7 -14

One-Way Traffic: This Saturday, March 7, we need to make a major concrete placement adjacent to Route Consequently, traffic on Vermont Route 30 within the work zone will be reduced to one-way beginning at 5:30 AM, and continuing to approximately 5:30 PM. Flaggers will be present to control traffic.

One-Way Traffic: The completion of the realignment or Route 30 is tentatively scheduled for completion on Monday, March 9. Traffic on Route 30 will be one-way during the day on Monday, as workers repaint the road. This work is weather dependent, so may need to be rescheduled.


March For Meals

Brattleboro Senior Meals Celebrates March for Meals

Brattleboro Senior Meals joins with the Meals on Wheels Association of America to celebrate March for Meals with a kickoff luncheon March 13, 2015 with Congressman Peter Welch.  Congressman Welch is part of the House Hunger Caucus for the past eight years that engages in the House’s work on national and international hunger and food insecurity issues.  This will give us an opportunity to ask Congressman Welch questions about the functions of the House Hunger Caucus. He will also discuss SSA and Medicare. 


District 1 Q&A and WBA Meeting

On Thursday, March 12th at 7:00 PM, in the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive, the West
Brattleboro Association is hosting a Q&A session with District 1 Town Meeting members.  All residents, most especially District 1 residents, are invited. The hour-plus meeting will be facilitated by Orion Barber.

Immediately preceding the Q&A, at 6 PM in the same community room, the WBA will be holding its regular monthly meeting. The primary topic will be the pursuit of both Vermont and federal non-profit-hood.  If time permits, there will also be discussion of safety issues related to Marlboro Road traffic and to recent break-ins..


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Changes In Property Taxes, Budgets, Planning, Zoning, Parks…

The Selectboard has found a way, they think, to keep the municipal tax rate the same as last year. A new dog park is anticipated to join the skatepark at the top of Living Memorial Park. There’s a new financial and budget plan in the works for the town, and new zoning is also underway.

The press, however, abandoned this meeting when there were election results to chase, leaving the board to lament a total lack of reporting, other than BCTV, of important issues.

Read on for the full report of the over four hour meeting.


Town Meeting Day – Brattleboro Election Results 2015

Once again, the voters of the Town of Brattleboro have weighed in.  Since all of the candidates were running unopposed, they all won. Turnout was not listed but it appears to be just under 1000 voters.

On the ballot questions, there were four, numbered 2 through 5.  All of the ballot questions failed, including and notably, the 1% sales tax.  John Allen suggested at tonight’s Selectboard meeting that with this vote (nearly 2-1 against), the Selectboard might want to give the 1% LOST tax a rest for a while.

Outside the snow is falling and Brattleboro snow plows are plowing.  Just another night in the town that spring forgot…on Town Meeting Day 2015. Read on for links to full results and ballots.


Brattleboro Time Trade – Week of March 1

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

BTT’s First Annual Spring Forward Extravaganza THIS FRIDAY!

Friday, March 6
from 4:30-8:30 pm at the River Garden (during Gallery Walk):
• Spring Gardening Show • Music
• Silent Auction & Raffle • Dessert Bar & Cafe!

See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 3, 2015

A new dog park for Brattleboro? It will be up for discussion at the next regular Tuesday meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard, to be held in the BCTV studios to make room for Election Day activities on the second floor of the Municipal Center.

The board will hear legal opinions on bonds and bids, hear about the new zoning ordinances being planned, continue with decisons relating to Pay As You Throw, and will discuss assessing penalties and/or suing Brattleboro businesses to collect the business license fees.

You can participate by attending in person, or you can watch on BCTV. We’ll have the full account here the day after.


Local Soapmaker Launches Kickstarter Project

Love to shop local?  Love all-natural products? Want skin and eco-friendly soaps, cleansers, and cleaners? Want to help a Brattleboro small business succeed?

Scrub Your Soul has been making and selling hand crafted soap and home products for over 10 years. I’d love to expand further (and even approach the co-op about carrying my products) but I need to make sure I can meet demand before I do that.