Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Contractual Matter

There will be a special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 2:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated 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


ReNew Shifting Focus and Adding To Mission in Brattleboro

We are upcycling our mission and adding even more value to our community.

ReNew is a big idea with a big building. But with the economy becoming a small idea, so to speak; we are opening our doors to create spaces for other vendors, businesses, artists and nonprofits. We have a number of options and welcome a chance to partner with the rest of you.

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau

We see possibility and invite you to see it with us.


Food for Discussion – Superheroes

Who is/was your favorite superhero and why?

To get the ball rolling:

Mine was Plasticman. He could change himself into any shape imaginable, but you could always tell it was him because the new shape always retained his features: Hair, sunglasses, smile, red costume, striped belt and diamond belt buckle.

BTW, does anybody remember the name of his clumsy sidekick?


Police Fire Facility Committee Meeting Agenda

The Police-Fire Facility Building Committee will meet on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 2:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Committee will enter executive session.

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


Strand Ave, Crosby Street Temporarily Closed in Brattleboro

Strand Avenue will be closed to through traffic tentatively until August 6th, 2013 while BUR Construction performs drainage and retaining wall construction. Crosby Street will also be closed to through traffic from the intersection of Crosby and Strand to 65 Crosby Street tentatively until August 6th, 2013.


Brattleboro Memorial Day Closings

In observance of Memorial Day, all Brattleboro town offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2013, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27, 2013. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Brattleboro Housing Authority Updates, and Ash Tree Destroying Insects

The Brattleboro Selectboard heard sobering news about rental housing for low income citizens at Tuesday’s meeting. Section 8 funds are threatened, said the Brattleboro Housing Authority, which could impact residents and landlords alike.

The board also heard about the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect expected to start eating our ash trees in the near future if action isn’t taken soon. The board discussed bonding, budgets, project architects, and whether it was a good idea to serve liquor outdoors in Harmony Lot.


River Garden Repayment Repealed (Annotated)

 After sending out the Brattleboro Reformer article appearing below, I received several emails questioning the sentence reading

the original language of the bill said that “Building a Better Brattleboro, Inc., its successors and assigns, shall not convey this property to a for-profit entity, unless it shall reimburse the town of Brattleboro the sum of $150,000, without interest, at the time of said conveyance, if it ever were to occur.”

And folks are rightly confused!  This language is not in the original bill. That bill, Act 29 (1999)  contained the following wording:


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – May 21, 2013

The Brooks House loan will be on Tuesday night’s Selectboard Agenda. The board will also hear about bonding options, invasive insects, retaining walls, online maps, and more. You can bring up other items that aren’t on the agenda during Public Participation.

You can participate by attending the meeting at the Municipal Center, or by watching on BCTV. As always, we’ll have coverage here the next day, too.


Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast notes – “A ‘Sneak Preview’ of the Slow Living Summit “

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast, Gibson-Aiken Center – Brattleboro VT – A “sneak preview” of the Slow Living Summit

Presenter: Martin Langeveld –

Mention the “Strolling of the Heifers,” and one ordinarily thinks of the weekend parade, this year scheduled for Saturday, June 8. And for good reason as surveys have demonstrated attendance during the Strolling weekend from 26 states and 400 zip codes. It has certainly helped to put Brattleboro on the map, ranking eighth among the –


Ask-a-Cop: Following Too Closely

“I often drive to and from Brattleboro on Rt 30, and often see extreme examples of tailgating. I usually set my cruise control close to the speed limit. This often results in a backup of cars behind me, and sometimes the car behind me doesn’t honor safe stopping distances.

Do they still teach about stopping distances in Driver Ed? Is there a specific law against driving too close?

What’s your advice in a tailgating situation? On a road like Rt 30, it’s not practical or safe to pull over and let all the other drivers speed by.”


Brattleboro Board and Committee Vacancies

Terms of many Brattleboro committees and boards expire on June 30 of each year. The Town is looking for volunteers to serve on the following committees and boards:

Agricultural Advisory Board – 6 vacancies, 3-year term
Arts Committee – 4 vacancies, 3-year term
BASIC (Brattleboro Area Skatepark is Coming) – 2 vacancies
Brattleboro Housing Authority Representative – 1 vacancy, 5-year term
CPCC (Citizen Police Communications Committee) – 3 vacancies, 2-year term
Conservation Commission – 1 vacancy, 4-year term
Development Review Board – 2 vacancies, 3-year term
Development Review Board Alternate – 3 vacancies, 1-year term
Energy Committee – 2 vacancies for 3-year terms; 2 vacancies for 2-year terms
Energy Coordinator – 1 vacancy, 1-year term


Vermont About to Decriminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana

The Vermont House passed today, accepting changes made by the Vermont Senate and sending the bill to the governor’s office to be signed into law. If signed, it will go into effect July 1, 2013.

Governor Peter Shumlin said “I applaud the Legislature’s action to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Vermonters support sensible drug policies. This legislation allows our courts and law enforcement to focus their limited resources more effectively to fight highly addictive opiates such as heroin and prescription drugs that are tearing apart families and communities.” 


Brattleboro Taxes and Utilities Due

The fourth installment of the 2012 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on May 15, 2013Payments made after May 15, 2013 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance. 

The utility billing is also due on May 15, 2013. Payments made after May 15, 2013 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.