News and information sections, from near to far
6:00 Call to Order
6:00 – 6:05 Announcements
6:05 – 6:10 Minutes of December 5, 2022
Discussion of Edits, Motion to Approve
6:10 – 7:40 Bylaw Modernization Grant – review revised zoning districts and boundaries, infill standards, and Neighborhood Development area
The weather forecast for Thursday night into Saturday morning is for our area to potentially receive 2-3 inches of rain along with southwest winds from 20-30 miles per hour(mph) and gusts 60 to 70 mph. At the conclusion of this weather event, temperatures are expected to drop into the low teens.
The Brattleboro Fire Department and Department of Public Works are monitoring the weather closely and preparing for fallen trees, downed wires, extended power outages, streams to rise out of their banks, and icing on roadways.
The Brattleboro Selectboard held their final regular meeting of 2022, taking up issues of finance, cannabis, and EMS services. The AP Triton report gave the board four options of EMS services. The top recommendation of the consultants, though, was to get Brattleboro Fire Department up to national performance standards asap.
The board also heard a well argued critique of their recent police budget discussions.
The AP Triton EMS Feasibility Report is available:
https://www.brattleboro.org/vertical/Sites/%7BFABA8FB3-EBD9-4E2C-91F9-C74DE6CECDFD%7D/uploads/Brattleboro_FD_EMS_Study_(FINAL).pdf
As expected it presents four options for possible EMS services going forth:
The Brattleboro Town Auditor’s report is currently available at the Town Manager’s Office at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street) and on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.org
In observance of the Christmas holiday:
Brattleboro Town offices will close at 12:00pm (noon) on Friday, December 23, 2022.
In observance of the Christmas holiday all Town Offices will be closed on Monday, December 26, 2022. Brooks Memorial Library will be open on Friday, December 23. The Library will be closed on Saturday, December 24 and Monday, December 26, 2022.
Trash, recycling and composting will NOT be affected by the holiday. Collections will be picked up on the regular schedule.
Due to a vehicle crash in the High Grove Parking Lot the overhead lights are not currently working. 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.
As a result of the incident the pay-and-display stations have also been affected. Those stations are powered by solar with an electrical backup. Use of the pay-and-display stations may be interrupted occasionally during this time.
The AP Triton EMS Feasibility Study and its (expected) four options for Brattleboro EMS services will be made available for the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.
The board will also look at financial statements and audits, appoint members to the Charter Review Commission, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. 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.” The Selectboard will then meet in executive session at the conclusion of the meeting.
Notice of Water Service Interruption
Crews have discovered a leak in the water main on Walnut Street near the intersection with Terrace Street. Repairs will be made on Tuesday, December 13 beginning at 3:00pm and continuing through approximately, 7:00pm. During this work water service will be shut off to all residents and businesses on Walnut Street.
Once the water is restored, you may experience a short period of discolored water or air in the water lines after the repair is complete. Running the cold water for a few minutes should clear the lines if this happens.
A celebration of Ray McNeill and his brewery will take place a week from today, Saturday December 17th, at the Stone Church, 210 Main St. from 1 to 3 pm. Doors will open at noon.
There will be tributes and relics. There may be some special goods available- a McNeill’s beer brewed for this occasion, and classic tie-dyed McNeill’s T-shirts may appear as well. Bring your stories, songs, laughter. As Eve said, “Let’s make this epic!”
The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. 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.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 11:30am over Zoom.
The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Hana Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).
AGENDA
Call to Order
Jeremy Roberts, P. G., on behalf of the Vermont River Conservancy, will present elements of the proposed brownfield cleanup work at 250 Birge Street, a floodplain restoration project under the direction of the Town of Brattleboro. The presentation will review the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) objectives, methods, and project schedule. Meeting materials can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/250-Birge-Street
The Windham County Child Care Count coalition, in partnership with the Winston Prouty Center, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation and BCTV, share a series of conversations with local early childhood professionals to help answer question about opening your own registered child care program. Topics include:
Overview: Melanie Zinn, Owner & CEO of Horizon, Vernon Village & Mulberry Bush Early Learning Programs, shares her experience in starting a childcare program in her home including the initial challenges, licensing and regulation considerations, and the importance of mentorship.
Amidst all the hoopla and excitement of a contract with a new Town Manager at the Selectboard meeting Tuesday night, the board neglected to inform the public of any details of the contract.
Here’s your quick overview:
$120k salary
$5k for transportation
10 sick days
A long night of budget talk, with nods to McNeill’s. Plus, Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland admits he forgot to add in repayment of a bond in the preliminary budget.
Should we fill more potholes? Should we build a year-round pool? Will homes get re-assessed soon? Is it called global warming? These are the issues of the day.
One of our favorite places to hang out when we first moved to Brattleboro was McNeill’s on Eliot Street. Having moved up from Boston/Cambridge, home of many gritty, grubby Irish-style pubs that were not then or ever going to be fern bars (remember those?), we were happy to grab a pint at Brattleboro’s equivalent spot whenever we had a free evening. Although many of our new Brattleboro compatriots seemed to prefer fern bars, we never found the clean scene that inspiring. Despite pressure to transfer our allegiance to places shiny and new, we continued to frequent McNeill’s, where an affordable pint was always available and the ambience was right.
McNeill’s Brewery, local gathering place and pub, was lost to a fire last night during Gallery Walk. One person, not yet identified, died in the blaze which apparently started in the upstairs apartment at 90 Elliot St.
The bar and brewery had been closed since the Covid outbreak.
I have no words, just sadness. RIP
Photos are attached, taken by Deb Valois.
A. Call to Order (5:15)
B. Approve Minutes of October 25 (5:15 – 5:25)
C. New Business (5:25 – 6:00)
1. Continue Discussion of Potential CC Facilities Tour Series (5:25 – 5:40)
2. Continue Discussion of Potential for CC Budget: Potential Projects (5:40 – 5:55)
