BRATTLEBORO — March will keep Town Meeting Members busy.
The Selectboard announced dates for two informational meetings (March 2 and 9), a Special Representative Town Meeting (March 12), and Annual Representative Town Meeting (March 19).
Why so many meetings?
The municipality traditionally holds an informational meeting 10 days prior to a vote by the meeting members.
The first informational meeting is March 2 at the Academy School. Doors open at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., districts will hold their caucuses. Residents can meet with their district representatives during that time or sign up as a representative. The informational meeting starts at 7 p.m.
District 1, is short by approximately 14 representatives. District 2 fares better, needing to find four representatives. District 3 is short two reps.
At the March 2 meeting, representatives can ask questions about the Police-Fire Project before they vote at the March 12 Special Representative Town Meeting.
On March 12, meeting members cast their ballots regarding taking $4.5 million of the lump sum approved for the Police-Fire Project in 2012 to purchase 62 Black Mountain Road and renovate the building.
This vote is required because of the police station's location change. The 2012 motion that initially authorized $14.1 million for the project listed the police station as located at the Municipal Center.
62 Black Mountain Road currently houses the Brattleboro Reformer. If the project moves forward as planned, the newspaper won't relocate but lease a portion of the building from the town.
The Special Representative Town Meeting will take place in the Brattleboro Area Middle School's multipurpose room starting at 8:30 a.m.
At the second informational meeting on March 9, meeting members can ask questions prior to the annual Representative Town Meeting.
The second informational meeting is also at the Academy School. Doors open at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., districts will hold their caucuses. The informational meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Annual Representative Town Meeting follows on March 19. The meeting kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at the Brattleboro Area Middle School.
Items on the agenda for the annual meeting include electing library trustees, approving a change to the town charter, authorizing $120,000 in funds for local human service organizations, the proposed $15.9 million town school budget, and the proposed $16.1 million municipal operating budget.
Selectboard chair David Gartenstein encouraged any Town Meeting Member or resident with questions to contact board members. Contact information for the board can be found at www.brattleboro.org.