News and information sections, from near to far
A section of the Whetstone Pathway near the Co-op is closed today for pavement repair. This is work left from the Co-op project. The Pathway will reopen tonight and close again tomorrow to finish the repair. We apologize for the lack of notice.
The work disrupting traffic in the downtown area is the phone company (Fairpoint) lowering a few of their manholes so our snowplows do not hit them in winter.
Brattleboro Public Works
The state offices currently located on Linden Street in the former Linden Lodge will remain in that location until a later date.
The move back to 232 Main Street that was scheduled to begin July 26 has been postponed. A date for the move has not yet been determined. Offices at the Linden Street location include:
Growing out of her experience with the Chamber of Commerce and after Wilmington was decimated by Tropical Storm Irene flooding, Laura Sibilia of BDCC helped create what she terms “two separate mechanisms” to address collaboration in the areas of tourism and employee recruitment.
When Atlas Advertising of Denver, CO representatives visit this area July 23-25, they will meet with focus groups comprised of the top five to ten employers in each area within the region. These are the “major stakeholders” identified by the Chambers of Commerce. The visit will begin with a focus on recruitment, meeting in Bellows Falls with major emloyers, in Brattleboro with workforce development, followed by tours of Bennington and Bellows Falls and meeting with the Human Resources group in Manchester.
Residents and Business Owners:
The Town is planning to install new sidewalks on the east side of Main Street, starting at the Gilbert Memorial Bridge and continuing north to Walnut Street. Some sections of this sidewalk were recently replaced as part of a VTrans project. The Downtown Sidewalk Project will replace the sections that have not yet been upgraded. The project is intended to improve safety for pedestrians and create a more attractive Main Street. Two FHWA Enhancement grants and a local match in the form of a bond fund this project.
The Board of Directors of Building a Better Brattleboro today announced that it is in negotiations to transfer ownership of the Robert H. Gibson River Garden to the Strolling of the Heifers organization.
The details of the transfer are still being finalized, but the Strolling of the Heifers has committed to honor the spirit of the original intent of the building by keeping the space open to the public and providing visual access to the Connecticut River. The building will continue to be known as the Robert H. Gibson River Garden.
Radio Interview for the New Journal of the Plague. Tonight’s the night! In just a few short hours, I’m being interviewed on Radio: Nursing Unleashed!”, the newest internet radio station for nurses. Keith Carlson RN is a terrific nurse leader and the host of the show. Live interview is tonight at 9pm EST / 6pm PST. Here’s the link to listen in:
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 7:30am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center to discuss the Town Manager search advertising package. It is possible that the Board will enter into executive session to discuss a contractual matter.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
The Board of Directors of Building a Better Brattleboro will hold a press conference on Monday to announce the future plans for the Robert H. Gibson River Garden.
When: Monday, July 22, 2013 – 10:30 am
Where: Robert H. Gibson River Garden, Main Street, Brattleboro
Building a Better Brattleboro is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to support and nurture the economic, cultural and residential environment of Brattleboro’s downtown district. BaBB is the designated downtown organization for the town of Brattleboro.
Contact: Kate O’Connor, (802) 490-2073
The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, July 22, 2013 at 5:30pm in the Brooks Memorial Library community room.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 8:30am in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 4:30pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
The Conservation Commission will meet at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at Eaton Avenue for a hike of Hogle Wildlife Sanctuary Trail.
Directions to the site are included in the attached agenda.
Julia Perks
Planning Services Clerk
230 Main Street, Ste 202
Brattleboro, VT 05301
802-251-8107
Tuesday night’s meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard was the final regular Selectboard meeting for outgoing Town Manager Barb Sondag. Former Chair Dick Degray appeared during Public Participation to offer her a sincere, heartfelt send off. A public thank you and farewell is scheduled for later this week.
Residents of Strand Avenue came to request that the road and retaining wall repair project on their street be temporarily halted to enable a discussion of closing the street to vehicles. They were told it had been decided long ago to allow cars to go through, but that recent project mishaps would be straightened out.
The Selectboard voted to form a citizen committee to research long-term ice rink options, the board heard about the Recreation and Parks department, and they worked on granting of permits, permitting of grants, public hearings, and more.
SALON JACQUE has just been notified by ELLE MAGAZINE that we have once again been chosen as one of AMERICA’s TOP 100 SALONS and the only one in the state of Vermont. This is our 3rd year in receiving this honor and our team is absolutely thrilled.
Congratulations to Jacqueline Bilodeau, Krystie Curtiss, Heather Fish, Ilene ‘Re’ Sheppard, Casey Langstraat, Kelly Darling-Snow and Lorraine Gordon.
This evening, I picked up the one non-caller-ID phone in the house to hear a chipper youthful male voice intrducing himself and saying he was calling to arrrange an installation appointment for my new medical alert system. I quickly said no thanks, not interested, and he just as quickly responded that I already had on on order, they just need to install it. When I said I never ordered such a thing, he said it was already paid for, and that “someone who loves me or cares about my welfare” must have placed the order for my benefit. Yeah, right.
The Brattleboro Selectboard, Administration and Staff invite the public to a farewell celebration for outgoing Town Manager Barb Sondag on Friday, July 19, 2013 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room, Suite 212 at the Municipal Center. You are also invited to meet the Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland. Cake and punch will be served.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
“How has decriminalization of marijuana impacted the department so far? Is the law clear or confusing? Have tickets for small amounts of marijuana been given out to anyone?”
Decriminalization of marijuana has not impacted the department in a meaningful way. Officers have been trained in the new law and the various enforcement actions involved. There have been some minor changes in the way we store and process marijuana evidence as well.
The law is relatively complex, with different enforcement requirements based on the defendant’s age and the weight of the drugs. There were also changes made to the law related to the forensic testing of suspected marijuana by the Vermont Forensic Laboratory. That said, the law is not confusing.
Will there be a Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast in July?
The short answer: yes! Please reply if you plan to attend.
The longer answer: The next “Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast” will take place on Friday, July 26, 2013 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.
The presenter will be: you!
At their next Tuesday meeting, the Brattleboro Selectboard will begin to spend big money on the Police-Fire Facility project with an $800,000 contract for architectural services and $290,000 for property on Church Street on the agenda.
The board will also form a committee to look at skating rink options, discuss the town website as well as local hiring, hire Lane Construction ofNorthfield, MA for paving, regulate food carts, and more. You can bring up other matters not on the agenda during public participation. Watch on BCTV or attend in person, and read all about it here afterwards.
At the Brattleboro Selectboard’s July 16, 2013 meeting, the Board will consider for adoption a revised job description for the Town Manager’s position, and a job listing/ad for the soon to be vacant Brattleboro Town Manager position. and are now available for consideration and review by the public in anticipation of the July 16 Selectboard meeting.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
