News and information sections, from near to far
The Citizens Police Communications Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 5:30pm at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street).
The RTM Human Services Committee will meet on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street) and over Zoom.
Jessica Sticklor (she/her/hers)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
On Wednesday, September 20 there was a structure fire in Vernon that drew a large response from area fire departments. Fire apparatus drew a large amount of water from one of the hydrants on Route 142. This stirred up sediment in the water mains and has resulted in discolored water in several areas throughout Brattleboro. Residents experiencing discolored water are advised to run the cold water faucet until the water clears.
Bi-annual water main flushing is scheduled to start tomorrow, Friday, September 22.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will be using $1.3+ million of ARPA funds to set up a municipal EMS system. The vote was unanimous to give the emergency medical services ‘contract’ to the Brattleboro Fire Department.
The Town Manager told the board why municipal EMS would be best, the board told the public their decisions as to why they would vote in favor, and then the public was allowed to weigh in with comments.
On Wednesday, September 20, Utilities Crews will be working to repair a road box at the intersection of High ST and Bullock ST. The work will take place between 7:00am and 11:00am. During this time, Bullock ST will be closed and motorists should plan to use alternate routes.
One of the light poles on the back side of the HighGrove lot was struck by a vehicle and had to be removed. Due to this damage all lights along the back wall of the lot are out of order. Local electricians will be working to secure and install replacement parts. Expect the lights to be out and the lot to be unlit until further notice.
Town of Brattleboro Rescinds Warning
After hearing that Kathryn Turnas, a volunteer at the Brattleboro Senior Center, was ordered to stop collecting signatures on a petition opposing the Town of Brattleboro’s recommendation to the selectboard to approve of a municipal EMS system and to instead support Rescue Inc., Steven K-Brooks sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for any law, rule, regulation or other document which forbids Turnas from engaging in the constitutionally-protected activity which she had been pursuing.
The messages pasted below (each sent via email) tell the story:
The Brattleboro Selectboard has one item on the agenda for discussion at their next regular meeting: whether or not to accept the recommendation of Town staff to proceed with a municipal EMS system, or to support a regional system favored by others in the community. During last week’s public forum, the public was encouraged to attend and comment at this selectboard meeting.
You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Charter Review Commission will meet on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).
Utilities Division crews will start Fall Flushing of the Town water mains on Friday, September 22 and continue through Friday, October 13. Occasional daytime flushing will continue throughout the week of October 6 through 13..
Customers are asked to check the flushing schedule closely as flushing may cause water discoloration, low water pressure and in some areas, intervals of no water. Users who experience a short period of discolored water or air in the water lines after flushing is complete should run the cold water for a few minutes to clear the lines.
Last week, the Brattleboro Selectboard voted to reveal the major issues with Rescue that board members have known about but have not shared with the public. At the time, Chair Ian Goodnow said “It will be a meeting prior to our decision with ample time for public participation,” and “We’ll have a new schedule with plenty of notice for everyone.”
The public meeting to tell the full story from Brattleboro’s point of view took place in the middle of Tuesday’s EMS Public Forum, in comments made by HR Director Sally Nix.
Early this evening a thunder storm came through Brattleboro, with heavy rains, lighting and wind. The storm affected the Western Ave corridor and Maple Street corridor. The damage consists of trees and power lines down, and minor road damage. The Green Mountain Power South Substation is currrently down. This affects power to residents on Canal Street, Fairview Street, Maple Street to Western Ave and West Brattleboro, this is affecting 2600 residents. Green Mountain Power has crews working on the issue along with replacing a broken utility pole on Maple Street.
The Brattleboro RTM Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center.
Well, well, well. The Brattleboro Selectboard has decided at the last moment that it would be good for them to explain to the public all the secret EMS BFD Rescue relationship information they have known about, information the public has asked them about for over a year and half and the board has remained steadily tight-lipped about. Until now.
Former Chair Liz McLoughlin cracked and said she wouldn’t let Rescue, Inc. control the narrative anymore, and that she wanted a meeting to reveal everything the board knows that the public has been kept in the dark about by her and her fellow board members. Chair Ian Goodnow warned the board that the town attorney told them they should not discuss these secrets with the public, but they voted to hold a special meeting anyway. The plan is to let the public know all the reasons that Rescue and BFD don’t get along.
This throws the public forum and decision-making meeting dates into question.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street). Prior to the special meeting, at 5:15pm, the Board will convene and is expected to immediately enter into executive session to discussion contracts. Invited into the executive session are the Town Manager and the Assistant Town Manager. No action will be taken in executive session. The public may also participate in the meeting over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
Join the Windham County Sheriff’s Office and the Windham County No Más Polimigra Campaign for a public discussion about proposed reforms to the Sheriff’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy (FIPP) related to immigration status. The meeting will take place on September 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
The forum will include brief presentations about the FIPP, the proposed reforms, and the perspectives of the Sheriff’s Office and the No Más Polimigra campaign about these proposals. Following those presentations, residents of Windham County will be invited to participate with questions or comments. Moderators will be Betsy Williams and Debbie Lynangale.
• Welcome, open meeting
• Approve minutes
• Updates
• Charter commission interview
• Working groups
The Brattleboro Selectboard got off to a late start then quickly put their meeting on hold for technical reasons. Forty-five minutes later, the meeting was postponed until Thursday to give BCTV and Facebook time to fix themselves.
Those interested in discussing EMS and downtown safety will have to wait.
Call to Order
Review and Approve Minutes of previous meeting.
Review of Cases/Public Hearings to be reviewed under the Brattleboro Land Use Regulations as warned on October 12, 2015.
2023-84 G & L Enterprise, LLC; Residential Neighborhood District; request for Subdivision Approval to create a new 1.5 acre parcel off of Marlboro Road; Tax Map Parcel #200003.000 Continued from August 16, 2023
2023-98 Kurt Daims; Residential Neighborhood District; Appeal of a Zoning Administrator’s determination that an 8′ fence located on a property boundary is allowed with a zoning permit under the Brattleboro Land Use Regulations at 16 Washington Street; Tax Map Parcel #325378.000
On Wednesday, September 6, the Utilities Division will be replacing a water main on Belmont Avenue. During this project, Belmont Avenue will be closed between #107 and #114 Belmont Avenue. The work is scheduled between the hours of 6:30 am and 5:00 pm. Emergency Services and residents will be able to access #107 and lower numbers from Canal Street and #114 and higher numbers from Maple Street. Motorists should seek alternate routes.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will be spending most of their first regular September meeting discussing town safety and EMS options for Brattleboro. They will review the EMS proposals received and learn about EMS insights from other communities. They’ll also discuss wrapping up the process, holding a public meeting, and then making an EMS decision.
Twelve items are packed into the consent agenda – a possible record, and good thing! You may bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
