For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
The Brattleboro Citizens Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 5:30pm at the Brooks Memorial Library.
The Brattleboro Charter Review Commission will meet on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street) and over Zoom.
Impending weather has forced the road closure to move to the rain dates. Please see below.
Beginning on Wednesday October 18, 2023, BELLCO Construction will be replacing a large culvert on Sunset Lake Road approximately 500 feet west of Kelly Road. The work is expected to take two weeks, and the road will be closed from 08:00am on Monday, October 23 through Tuesday, October 24 at 5:00pm. During the remainder of the project, expect one lane alternating traffic along with minor delays.
The board discussed many things Tuesday but their extended ARPA discussion seemed more like an extended discussion about problems they had with public input on ARPA possibilities.
“I don’t care what the public thinks or the town staff think,” declared Franz Reichsman. “I have a problem having this list from the public be our starting point,” said Liz McLoughlin repeatedly. Chair Ian Goodnow tried in vain to remind them that they had promised an open public process.
Possible ARPA projects, budget planning, charter changes and state priorities will fill the air of the next Brattleboro Selectboard meeting.
You are invited to bring up other items not on the agenda as long as you aren’t Dale Joy talking about the police department.
The Brattleboro RTM Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at 4:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (and over Zoom) for their annual Q and A session with potential applicants. Anyone wishing to apply for Human Services funding this year is highly encouraged to attend.
The Brattleboro RTM Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 4:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street) for a Q and A session with potential applications.
The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee meeting will meet on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 8:00am over Zoom.
Beginning Tuesday, October 10, Northeast Paving (a contractor of the town) will be milling and paving on Flat Street, Frost Street, Elm Street and Lynde Place. This work is expected to take four days to complete, weather permitting.
Crews will be working between 6:00am and 6:00pm (please see schedule below). There will be no on-street parking during this project and motorists should expect delays in the area and seek alternate routes.
The following dates have been scheduled for Brattleboro’s curbside Fall Leaf Collection.
All locations will be picked up each Friday:
Leaf Pick Up Date
ALL RESIDENTS Friday, November 3, 2023
ALL RESIDENTS Friday, November 17, 2023
In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, October 9, 2023, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, October 8 and 9, 2023. All other violations will be enforced.
Brattleboro selectboard member Franz Reichsman will resume drop-in meetings with members of the public twice a week beginning Wednesday, October 4 and continuing each Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. Office Hours will take place at The Works Cafe at 118 Main Street from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 8:00 to 10 a.m. on Fridays. No appointment is needed. Topics will include any issues related to town government in Brattleboro or otherwise of general interest.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will delay Town work on Community Safety Review items until the state completes work on Phil Scott’s public safety initiative during their next regular meeting.
They’ll hear about their new website, buy winter sand, plan to realign Melrose Street, consult with the school board, announce committee vacancies, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda as long as the Chair doesn’t decide to cut you off as you begin talking.
This spring, Casella Waste Services took over trash, recycling and compost removal for the Town of Brattleboro. During this change, residents have not experienced any interruption in service.
Going forward your pickup schedule will not change, however the title will change. If you were previously following the “A week” schedule it has been renamed to “B week” and if you were previously following the “B week” schedule, it has been renamed to “A week”. (In other words if you were an “A” you’re now a “B” and if you were a “B” you’re now an “A”)
The Town of Brattleboro is in the process of striping bike lanes onto Western Avenue from the intersection with High Street to Allerton Avenue. The project is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed this fall. Drivers should pay attention to the lane shifts and are reminded that no parking is allowed in bicycle lanes.
Starting on Sept. 19, the Department of Public Works began the process of marking bike lanes, installing signage, and adding new crosswalks on Western Avenue at Greenhill Parkway and on Western Avenue at Green Street. A rectangular rapid-flashing beacon will
also be added near Allerton Avenue.
The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:
Agricultural Advisory Board
ADA Committee
Arts Committee
Cemetery Committee
Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC)
Design Review Board (Alternate)
Development Review Board (Alternate)
It’s time for your chance to make note of small things you’ve seen around town recently that might not warrant a full story but are interesting nonetheless. Add your observations below.
On Sunday September 24, a large oak tree fell on Union Hill near the intersection of Beech Street. Crews from the Highway division of Public Works identified that a second tree was damaged when the first tree came down. The second tree is a hazard to anyone traveling on Union Hill and the road is now closed.
On Monday September 25, Crews from Public Works, Renaud Tree Service, Green Mountain Power, Consolidated Communication, and Xfinity will be working on to remove the tree and repair wires. Union Hill will remain closed throughout the day.
The Brattleboro Arts committee will meet on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 5:00pm at The Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street).
The Citizens Police Communications Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 5:30pm at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street).
The RTM Human Services Committee will meet on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street) and over Zoom.
Jessica Sticklor (she/her/hers)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
On Wednesday, September 20 there was a structure fire in Vernon that drew a large response from area fire departments. Fire apparatus drew a large amount of water from one of the hydrants on Route 142. This stirred up sediment in the water mains and has resulted in discolored water in several areas throughout Brattleboro. Residents experiencing discolored water are advised to run the cold water faucet until the water clears.
Bi-annual water main flushing is scheduled to start tomorrow, Friday, September 22.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will be using $1.3+ million of ARPA funds to set up a municipal EMS system. The vote was unanimous to give the emergency medical services ‘contract’ to the Brattleboro Fire Department.
The Town Manager told the board why municipal EMS would be best, the board told the public their decisions as to why they would vote in favor, and then the public was allowed to weigh in with comments.
