BRATTLEBORO — Voters will consider a ban on plastic bags and for Brattleboro to become a “compassionate city,” while Representative Town Meeting members will consider a measure to change the name of the Columbus Day holiday to Indigenous People's Day.
Those three items were all part of the Town Meeting warrant approved by the Selectboard on Jan. 31.
Besides electing town and school officials on March 7, Brattleboro voters will weigh in on a ballot question that would limit the use of nonreusable plastic bags by the town's eateries and business establishments.
Voters will also consider a ballot question that seeks to have Brattleboro sign on to the Charter for Compassion.
According to the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Initiative, which is backing the measure, the goal is to add the town to a growing network of communities worldwide that support the idea of fair treatment for all people, according to a news release.
Town Meeting Members on March 25 will take up the measure of creating Indigenous People's Day. Resident Rich Holschuh, who is also on the Vermont Commission for Native American Affairs, led the petition drive to put this on the town meeting warrant.
In addition to voting on the $14.5 million town school budget and the $17.5 million municipal budget for fiscal year 2018, Town Meeting Members will consider transferring $1,099,975 from the Unassigned Fund Balance and applying it toward the town's operating and capital expenses.
The Selectboard has expressed its support for this action as a way of reducing the property tax burden.