News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Brattleboro Interim Town Manager Press Release on Recent Events

by Not Signed In | Town News

By now many of you have seen the news. The body of a young woman was found dead in a vehicle on Elliot Street. A search for a suspect ended later that same day with a man shot dead. Our community has been witness to a slowly unfolding tragedy. While we are all still stunned by what has happened, the Town of Brattleboro wants to acknowledge this heartbreaking moment on behalf of this community

As is standard protocol for these events, all of the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. Evidence, including body camera video, will be carefully reviewed as part of a thorough investigation being performed by the Vermont State Police. No further comments about the investigation are appropriate at this time. We place our trust in this independent process.

State Police Press Release(s) on West Brattleboro Shooting

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

BRATTLEBORO, Vermont (Wednesday, July 20, 2022) — The Vermont State Police is continuing its investigation early Wednesday morning into the fatal police shooting of the person of interest in the disappearance and death of a missing Massachusetts woman, 23-year-old Mary Anderson.

Following notification of next of kin, the state police is able to release the preliminary identification of the deceased man: Matthew Davis, 34, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. His body will be transported to the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to confirm the cause and manner of his death.

The fatal shooting occurred in a wooded area between Bonnyvale Road and South Street southwest of Western Avenue in West Brattleboro.

Brattleboro Heat Advisory

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro urges everyone to drink plenty of water, wear light clothing and stay out of the heat as much as possible during this current heat wave.

People who need some cool air can visit the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street) or the Central Fire Station (103 Elliot Street).

Selectboard Meeting Notes – We Need To Take Bold Action. Maybe. It Depends. Probably.

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard july 19 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard discussed their own powers of resolution and whether they could do anything at all on the issue of abortion rights. They decided their lawyer-approved resolution needed more teeth, but also no chance of disruption to the State, and maybe funding, but not any special funding, and maybe something else as yet undetermined.  They’ll take up the urgent issue again at their next meeting.

There were grave concerns about data collection and not sharing any data with bounty hunters. A bit later, board members were impressed by the ambulance data being collected locally and asked for even more EMS data from the Fire Department.

It was a gloomy and restless mood amongst many members of the public. Many expressed feelings of impending doom. Two asked for a special session of Representative Town Meeting.

Linden Street Water Main Break

by Not Signed In | Town News

Utilities crews are on the scene of a water main break on Linden ST near the intersection with Upper Dummerston Road.  Staff is assessing the situation and will provide updates as soon as possible.  Water pressure throughout the system has been affected.  Linden ST/Route 30 is closed to all traffic between Cedar Street and Upper Dummerston Road.  Traffic should seek alternate routes.

Vernon Street Closing Wednesday

by Not Signed In | Town News

Green Mountain Power will be working on Vernon Street around the intersection of Vernon Street and Bridge Street on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, from 7:00am to 5:00pm. During that time Vernon Street will be closed from main Street to Royal Road. During the remainder of the week there may be alternate traffic. Please seek alternate routes if possible.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – July 19, 2022

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet Tuesday, for the most part, to finish what wasn’t completed at their previous meeting. The consent agenda has been updated, but just about everything else is the same.

Of note this week is the change to the item “Resolution on a Woman’s Right to Choose” which is now presented as “Resolution on a Pregnant Persons Access to Abortion,” and that an EMS Update by the Assistant Fire Chief has been added.  You can choose to bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes Due

by Not Signed In | Town News

Notice to Taxpayers

The taxpayers of the Town of Brattleboro are hereby notified and warned that Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes assessed upon the Grand List of 2022 are now due and payable to the Town Treasurer at the Treasurer’s Office in the Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Suite 111, Brattleboro, Vermont, in four equal installments as follows:

Minute By Minute – Brattleboro Boards Having Trouble Abiding By Open Meeting Law

by cgrotke | Town News

Brattleboro has had two recent minute-related incidents that were slightly out of the ordinary. In one case, a school board member requested that something not discussed at a previous meeting be added to the official minutes to clarify something. In the other, a selectboard member held back approval of minutes until they could be edited for stylistic changes. The selectboard has also struggled to meet required deadlines for posting of minutes.

Let’s look at the school board. According to the minutes for the June 21 WSESD board:

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Much Nothing About Ado

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard july 5, 2022

It was a really long Brattleboro Selectboard meeting with not much getting done! They heard about downtown safety issues, but took no action. They approved a mural design they couldn’t see. There will be more places to buy liquor. The preferred bridge design was selected. And then it was 10:30 pm with discussions of a woman right to choose and EMT issues, among other things, still awaiting ample discussion. They ended up postponing much of the agenda to a future meeting.

Brattleboro Selectboard – Agenda and Notes July 5, 2022

by cgrotke | Town News

A packed agenda of important items awaits the Brattleboro Selectboard for their first regular meeting of July. It’s going to be a long meeting.

There will be new liquor licenses, Commonwealtth Dairy wants to nearly double its water and sewer use, rental housing fines will be set, and the board will choose a bridge design for Melrose. There will be a discussion of downtown safety and a new mural for High Street. The board will discuss a woman’s right to choose. There are emergency repairs to authorize.

The firefighters get a “recently concluded additional collective bargaining agreement,” and the Fire Chief would like the board to approve additional funds to meet requirements of becoming a paramedic-level service.

But wait, there’s more!  There will be a first reading of a new ordinance regarding wastewater allocation approvals, there will be a new contract for the Interim Town manager, a new street name will be approved, and the FY23 tax rate will be set.

Brattleboro Planning Commission July 6 Agenda

by planning | Town Plan

6:00 Call to Order

6:00 – 6:10 Introductions and Announcements

6:10-6:50 Organizational Meeting
• Elect Chair, Vice-Chair, and Clerk
• Review Bylaws & Rules of Procedure. Proposed amendments as necessary. Proposed amendments need be submitted to each member at least five days before the meeting.
• Overview of Open Meeting Law

Brattleboro Independence Day Closings

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of the July 4th holiday, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, 2022, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, July 3 and July 4, 2022. All other violations will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, July 4th, 2022.

Trash, recycling and composting materials are NOT affected by the holiday.

Brattleboro June 23 Letter To Rescue Inc

by cgrotke | Town News

Chief Hazelton & Members of the Rescue Inc. Board, 

On behalf of the Town of Brattleboro, I am writing to follow up from the meeting on June 6, 2022, regarding EMS Mutual Aid. The Town appreciates the many years of excellent service Rescue Inc. has provided to Brattleboro and wishes continued award-winning success for Rescue Inc.’s service to other communities in our region.  We look forward to rebuilding a healthy working relationship between the two entities towards our shared goal of maintaining the health and safety of the people we serve. 

Below our FY23 service plan is outlined, in hopes that this information will clarify the capacity at which we are asking Rescue Inc. to engage in Mutual Aid.  

Brattleboro Heat Advisory

by Not Signed In | Town News

For Immediate Release:

The Town of Brattleboro urges everyone to drink plenty of water, wear light clothing and stay out of the heat as much as possible during the current heat wave.

People who need some cool air can visit the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street) and the Central Fire Station (103 Elliot Street).

Overturning Roe v. Wade – Some of the Dissent

by cgrotke | Other

I did a quick read through of the dissent in today’s decision and they don’t mince words. Here are a few highlights to get you going…

…………..

The first problem with the majority’s account comes from JUSTICE THOMAS’s concurrence—which makes clear he is not with the program. In saying that nothing in today’s opinion casts doubt on non-abortion precedents, JUSTICE THOMAS explains, he means only that they are not at issue in this very case. See ante, at 7 (“[T]his case does not pre- sent the opportunity to reject” those precedents). But he lets us know what he wants to do when they are. “[I]n future cases,” he says, “we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.” Ante, at 3; see also supra, at 25, and n. 6. And when we reconsider them? Then “we have a duty” to “overrul[e] these demonstrably erroneous deci- sions.” Ante, at 3. So at least one Justice is planning to use the ticket of today’s decision again and again and again.

Brattleboro Arts Committee Meeting

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm in the Community Meeting Room of the Brooks Memorial Library.

Jessica Sticklor (she/her/hers)

Executive Assistant

Town of Brattleboro

Union Street Closure on Monday June 27

by Not Signed In | Town News

For Immediate Release:
The lower half of Union Street, near Elliot Street Terrace will be closed to traffic with a detour provided on Monday, June 27th, 2022 from 8:00am to 8:00pm due to sewer pipe maintenance work.