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BRATTLEBORO â Kathy Urffer, river steward at the Connecticut River Conservancy, is looking forward to how hydroelectric operations will âradically changeâ the Connecticut River under a new hydroelectric dam relicensing plan under federal review.
The process involves Great River Hydro LLCâs Bellows Falls Dam, Vernon Dam and Wilder Dam. Urffer said TransCanada sold the facilities to Great River Hydro affiliate Arc Light, an asset investment firm, in 2017.
âTo a certain extent, the bottom line that I am trying to communicate is there is a basic question of how much profit that is being generated off our river stays in our community as opposed to how much leaves our community,â she said at the Brattleboro Select Board meeting held in person and remotely Tuesday.
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As towns transition back to live meetings, theyâre also trying to hold on to the benefits of those held virtually.
The Brattleboro Select Board returned to in-person meetings Tuesday, having its first âhybrid meeting.â A screen set up next to the boardâs table at the Municipal Center allowed participation via Zoom, the teleconferencing software used by the town during the COVID-19 to meet remotely.
Only one person tuning in via Zoom addressed the board â Dan Tyler, assistant director of public works, received approval to purchase two replacement vehicles for the Brattleboro Department of Public Works Utilities Division.
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BRATTLEBORO â Itâs no secret that finding staff now is difficult.
âIâm hearing that across the board from lots of people â restaurants, you know, small factories,â said Greg Lesch, interim director of Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, âskilled and not skilled.â
Lesch said it seems to be a statewide and nationwide problem.
âWe hear from employers on a daily basis about the need to hire,â said Adam Grinold, executive director of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp.
Grinold said the sentiment expressed to him is, âIt used to be hard to find people. Now, itâs next to impossible.â
The Covered Bridge Inn on Putney Road in Brattleboro closed after all the guests checked out of their rooms on Memorial Day due to a shortage of staff. Needing 10 employees to run the property, the inn was down to three.
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A few weeks ago, a story came to light about the actions of Brattleboro Police officer Ryan Washburn, and his efforts to help a couple who had been stranded in Brattleboro with no cash or contacts for local help. Officer Washburn bought them food, medical care, a hotel room and a bus trip back home, and these actions were rightfully celebrated by the department.
Having served on the Select Board for nearly five years now, I can tell you that this example of service to some vulnerable visitors is not an exception. Itâs an example of an expected level of empathy that has been cultivated over the years since Michael Fitzgerald took the helm of our department in 2014, and now continues under the stewardship of our acting Chief Mark Carignan. I have heard reports of both outstanding bravery and moral character often during my years on the board, and every time this fills me with pride for our townâs police and the job they