News

Board gets budget update, mulls staffing request by DPW

BRATTLEBORO — In addition to endorsing the West Brattleboro Bicycle Pedestrian Scoping Study on Nov. 18, the Brattleboro Selectboard heard or acted on a wide variety of issues, from finances to housing rehabilitation to public works jobs opening up.

October finances show funds on track

In new business, the Selectboard heard the October monthly finance report from Finance Director John O' Connor, according to whom, with 33.3 percent of the fiscal year complete, the total General Fund expenditures are 36.1 percent of the annual budget.

O'Connor reported that the expenditures include debt service payments of $1.03 million, a semi-annual insurance payment of $241,824, and annual human service payments of $108,500, “which, if prorated, would reduce General Fund expenditures to 30.7 percent of the annual budget,” he said.

As of Oct. 31, O' Connor reported, the Utilities and Parking funds' expenditures are tracking at 33.3 percent and 30.9 percent of their respective annual budgets.

As well, the loan report shows that, as of Oct. 31, the town had $4.1 million in outstanding loans issued through its various loan programs.

The town has nearly $400,000 in available funds for additional grants and loans.

“As of Oct. 31, the grant report contains information on 43 active grants and 11 grants in the application process,” O'Connor said.

Gary King to retire; DPW asks for technicians

The Department of Public Works told the Selectboard on Nov. 18 that it would like to begin moving forward with a plan to replace the engineering technician.

The pending retirement of Gary King, who steps down this month after 30 years of service, will create a vacancy in this position.

“This is a one-of-a-kind position within Brattleboro, and the correct candidate will require a background in engineering, mapping, and geographic information systems, public water and wastewater systems,” reads support material on the request.

According to DPW Director Stephen Barrett, the position is split-funded between the Highway Division and the Utilities Division.

In a staffing level review of the DPW's Water Treatment Division, the department said it plans to fill a vacancy for a function accounted for in the Utility Fund.

“The division is staffed at 4FTE, and has been operated at a reduced staffing for much of the past year due to a significant percentage of staff turnover which occurred the previous year,” Barrett said.

“All of the positions in the Water Treatment Division require state certification for operating a public water system. Obtaining certification is a highly technical, time-consuming activity. The two most recent hires are now certified, and the department is now in position to fill the last vacancy. Staffing the division has been a challenge over the last year,” he added.

WWHT gets support for block grant bid

The Selectboard on Nov. 18 threw its support behind a Windham & Windsor Housing Trust VCDP Implementation Grant application for a $425,000 loan.

According to WWHT's Isaac Wagner, who was on hand to explain the aims of his organization in rehabilitating five Brattleboro properties it owns, the money is one of the sources of funding for an overall $2.3 million in contruction costs.

WWHT was looking to file the application by Dec. 9 to be ready to meet with the Vermont Community Development Board in February 2015.

The motion to provide grant application authority, with Kim Ellison as point of contact and Patrick Moreland, the interim town manager, as authorizing official, was unanimous.

Brownfields grant application gets support

The Board of Selectmen also gave unanimous support to a request to approve a grant application for “Brownfields Assessment Grant, Planning Services” with the EPA in the amount of $400,000.

The funds would facilitate the process of environmental review at redevelopment sites in Brattleboro, specifically in conducting Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental reviews, developing remediation plans, conducting neighborhood-level environmental planning, and covering staff and administrative costs.

The funds will add to the existing regional funds administered by the Windham Regional Commission's Brownfields program.

“Having a local program would help to prioritize successful redevelopment of brownfield sites within Brattleboro, an effort wholly consistent with the Brattleboro Town Plan,” Ellison wrote in support of the bid.

Sustainable Energy Funding Program advocate a no-show

The Selectboard had expected to hear a presentation from the Sustainable Energy Funding Program for a large-scale district heating project, but nobody from that group appeared at the meeting.

Tad Montgomery of the Energy Committee said he had no insight on why the project did not appear to discuss their proposal.

No action was taken.

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