News and information sections, from near to far
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 6:30pm in the Mezzanine Conference Room at Brooks Memorial Library.
The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, July 13, 2018 at 9:00am in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.
With Sue Fillion’s appointment to become Planning Director, I got to thinking about just how many women are in key postions of Town government. I took a look. The majority of town offices in Brattleboro now have women heading them.
Town Assessor – Jenepher Burnell
Library – Starr Latronica
Sue Fillion will succeed Rod Francis as Planning Director for the Town of Brattleboro. The transition will take place on Friday, July 6, as Francis completes his service to the Town of Brattleboro after more than 10 years as Planning Director. Francis will hold a comparable position in the Town of Norwich, Vermont, beginning on Monday, July 9.
Why Are We Picketing?
We are staff at the Brattleboro Retreat and we are here to let the community know what is happening. In a time of crisis the administration has consistently chosen to make life for the direct patient care staff more difficult. According to the administration there is a staffing crisis at the Retreat which has led to a financial crisis. Staff have been leaving, and hiring has been challenging. There is a shortage of nurses, mental health workers, social workers and doctors.
Time for another “Noticed Around Brattleboro,” where little things about the town are noticed and recorded for posterity. This edition starts off with some special nature-loving observations:
– Nude man walking. On Tuesday afternoon I was on my way to the train station to pick up a visitor. Coming down Canal Street I caught sight of a naked man walking up the hill. He was probably in his late 60’s, had a beard, and was walking happily, confidently, and totally naked.
Taxes are going up, as they always seem to do. The Brattleboro Selectboard adopted the FY19 tax rates for property owners that were approved by Representative Town Meeting representatives earlier this year. The $14.8 million budget includes both the essential items suggested by the Selectboard as well as some optional extras added in by the representatives.
There’s also a new community collaboration that you can be a part of. Project Care is a new effort in Brattleboro to help addicts recover and do well.
And, in case you are curious, setting the tax rate during a heat wave calls for casual attire.
Due to the predicted heat, the July 3, 2018 Brattleboro Conservation Commission meeting will be held in the Planning Services Department of the Municipal Center at 5:15 PM. The previously scheduled work session at the West River Park is cancelled.
The Brattleboro area continues to be under a heat advisory as hot weather continues to have a grip on the region. The National Weather Service is forecasting much of the same through out the rest of the week and warn that heat and humidity will lead to dangerously high heat indices in excess of 100 degrees.
In observance of the July 4th holiday, all Town offices will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Wednesday, July 4. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Wednesday, July 4.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will meet on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:30pm to discuss pending or probable civil litigation and negotiation of a real estate lease, and reconvene for the regular business meeting at 6:15pm An ASL interpreter will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
The Conservation Commission will hold a work session on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 from 5:15-7:00 PM at the West River Park, 333 West River Road, Brattleboro.
Four Vermont towns – Royalton, Sharon, Strafford, and Tunbridge – have been placed on the latest list of endangered historic places.
“America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places is an annual list that spotlights important examples of our nation’s architectural and cultural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage” says their announcement. Route 66, Mount Vernon, and other sites are on the list.
Utilities crews are still working on repairing the water main break on John Seitz Dr (Exit One Industrial Park.) During this work, it is necessary to shut off water service to Old Guilford Rd and the I91 Guilford Welcome Center. Utilities crews are on the scene working to fix the issue and restore water service to the affected area as soon as possible. It is estimated that the water service should be back in service within 2-3 hours. We apologize again for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to fix the problem.
Due to a water main break on John Seitz Dr (Exit One Industrial Park) there is currently no water service to Old Guilford Rd and the I91 Guilford Welcome Center. Utilities crews are on the scene working to fix the issue and restore water service to the affected area as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to fix the problem.
INSPECTION OF NH ROUTE 119 BRIDGES IN HINSDALE, NH – BRATTLEBORO, VT
EXPECT TRAFFIC IMPACTS WITH LANE CLOSURES FROM JUNE 25 TO 29
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation announces in-depth inspections of the bridges carrying NH Route 119 over the Connecticut River between Hinsdale, New Hampshire and Brattleboro, Vermont are scheduled to begin Monday, June 25, 2018 and continue through Friday, June 29, 2018.
The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 5:30pm in the conference room at the Brooks Memorial Library.
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 5:30pm in the mezzanine conference room at the Brooks Memorial Library.
The Town of Brattleboro reminds the public that the Preston Parking Lot and a portion of Flat Street will be closed for the Tiny House Festival tomorrow, Saturday, June 23, 2018. The Preston Parking Lot and Flat Street parking meters will be closed beginning at 9:00pm today (Friday, June 22) through 7:00pm on Saturday (June 23). Vehicles should be removed from the Preston Parking Lot and metered spaces on Flat Street by 9:00pm today in order to avoid being towed.
Horton Place and Homestead Place will be closed to through traffic beginning on Tuesday, June 26, the roadway will continue to be closed overnight and through the day on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. During this time, D&E Tree Company will be removing trees from the area. Residential traffic will be the only traffic allowed in the area. Residents of Horton Pl will enter and exit via Horton Pl. Residents of Homestead Pl will enter and exit via Homestead Pl.
The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:
Agricultural Advisory Board
Arts Committee
Brattleboro Housing Partnership Board of Commissioners
Cemetery Committee
The biggest news of the Tuesday meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard came not from the agenda but introductory remarks. The Town manager announced that Planning Services Director Rod Francis was leaving Brattleboro in the next couple of weeks.
This was followed by an unscheduled but surprisingly active discussion of aggressive panhandling in the downtown area.
Beyond those matters, the skatepark hired a design firm and got some extra cash, contracts and grants were approved, the utility budget passed, a long resolution was adopted, and more.
