For Immediate Release
September 30, 2020
Contact: Shannon Barsotti, Town of Bennington Community Development Director, sbarsotti@benningtonvt.org, 802-445-1330

Town of Bennington Announces Community Discussion Boards

As a further step in advancing community policing efforts in Bennington, The Town of Bennington is placing five community discussion boards in Bennington and North Bennington beginning October 2. The purpose of the discussion boards is to encourage ongoing conversation about community policing and the implementation of the newly established mission statement for the Bennington Police Department.

The Bennington Police Department mission was developed at an August 5th community-wide meeting held at the Bennington Firehouse and over Zoom and adopted by the Select Board on August 24, 2020. The mission states: The Bennington Police Department is accountable to the Community for providing everyone, regardless of identity, with respectful and equitable law enforcement, protection, and service. The Department and the Community will achieve this through collaborative and positive relationships which contribute to the betterment of our quality of life.

The first prompt on the discussion boards will be, “What do you expect of a police officer?”. Responses will be recorded over the next two weeks. A new prompt will be posted on October 15. The Select Board is encouraging members of the community to record their thoughts on the question on sticky notes at each of the boards.

The community discussion boards will be placed outside at Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc. (GBICS) on Depot Street, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church’s Prayer Hut at School and Pleasant Streets, Town of Bennington Recreation Center on Gage St, Town of Bennington Town Office on South Street and inside at Powers Market in North Bennington.
Other community policing activities by the Town of Bennington have included community meetings, the adoption of a Town of Bennington vision and a Bennington Police Department mission, extensive bibliographies on community policing initiatives and civilian oversight, trainings for town and police department leadership, and the establishment of six community policy advisory committees to develop key policies in conjunction with the Bennington Police Department.
For more information on community policing efforts in Bennington, please visit http://benningtonvt.org/community-policing/

Public Statement regarding Early Voting:

Early Absentee ballots have now been mailed to all active voters on the Bennington checklist.  The mailing was completed by the Vermont Secretary of State.  Many of you have already received your ballots and all others should be arriving in mailboxes within the next couple of days.  Our office has been receiving many calls inquiring about these ballots.  They were sent in hopes of minimizing crowds on Election Day at the polling place, but there will still be in-person voting.  If you do not wish to mark your early ballot, you are not required to do so.  Please indicate on the envelope “No, thank you”, “voting in person” or something similar and deposit it in the drop box at the Town Office, your early ballot request will be removed from your voting record.

Additionally, already, there are social media reports of attempts to vote twice, once via early ballot and once in person.  Rest assured, there are security measures in place to prevent these situations.  If you vote via early ballot, your name will already be marked off the entrance checklist on Election Day.  You will not be able to cast a second ballot.  Please do not rely on social media for advice or so-called facts and procedures of Elections.  Pursuant to 17 V.S.A. 1971 “A legal voter who knowingly casts more than one ballot at any one time of balloting for the same office shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 if the offense is committed at a primary or general election.”

Cassandra Barbeau
Town Clerk
Bennington, VT
mailto:cbarbeau@benningtonvt.org

Town of Bennington Project List

Week of September 28 – October 02, 2020

Burgess Rd: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic as a Highway Crew removes old sidewalk and curbing in preparation for new paved sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in or on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Chapel Rd (Lower): North Branch St to Crossover Rd will be CLOSED 7:00am-5:30pm as the contractor crew works on the PFOA water main extension project.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Detours will be in place.  Please schedule your time accordingly to account for these detours or find an alternate route.

County St between Safford St and Park St: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic all week as Highway Crew continues storm drain repairs along this section of County St.  Men and equipment will be on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Depot St (N.Benn): Wednesday & Thursday will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic while a large hazard tree is removed from Village right-of-way.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Imperial Avenue (West/Lower side): will be CLOSED Tuesday through Friday as Highway Crew begins repair and/or removal work of retaining wall and sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Please use Caution and Find Alternate Route.

Pleasant St: between Park St and Valentine St remains rough road until paving/patching can be completed.  Please use caution when approaching.

Polygraphic Ln (N.Benn): will be Paved Tuesday.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Scott St: remains rough road until paving/patching can be completed.  Please use caution when approaching.

South Stream Rd between Beech St and SVSU: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic all week as Highway Crew removes old sidewalk and curbing in preparation for new paved sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in or on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

TOWNWIDE:

A sewer crew will be repairing several Manholes across town.  Please use caution when approaching.  Men & equipment will be in the roadway.

A water crew will be clearing and working several water valves across town in preparation for semi-annual Hydrant Flushing the following week

All Work will be dependent on weather conditions.  Please use caution when entering a construction zone, men and equipment will be in the traveled portion of the road.

REMINDER – FALL :

Please DO NOT rake or blow leaves into Town streets or Highways as these clog storm drains and create flooding and driving hazards for the entire community.

Residents and Contractors – Please make sure ALL LOADS ARE COVERED when taking leaves and or brush to the Transfer Station.

To view the Select Board packet for the meeting of September 28, 2020, please click here: Current Select Board packet

October Pool 2020 Schedule  – Lap lanes are reserved by calling the Rec – 802-442-1053

Town of Bennington Project List

Week of September 21 – 25, 2020

Burgess Rd: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic Wednesday through Friday as a Highway Crew removes old sidewalk and curbing in preparation for new paved sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in or on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Chapel Rd (Upper): Crossover Rd to Jack’s Drive will be CLOSED 7:00am-5:30pm as the contractor crew works on the PFOA water main extension project.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Detours will be in place.  Please schedule your time accordingly to account for these detours or find an alternate route.

Coolidge Ave: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic Monday through Wednesday as a Highway Crew removes old sidewalk and curbing in preparation for new paved sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in or on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

County St between Safford St and Park St: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic all week as Highway Crew continues storm drain repairs along this section of County St.  Men and equipment will be on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Gage St: Rec Center area: remains rough road until the private contractor can complete new waterline work.  Please use caution when approaching.

Imperial Avenue (West/Lower side): will be CLOSED Tuesday through Friday as Highway Crew begins repair and/or removal work of retaining wall and sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Please use Caution and Find Alternate Route.

Pleasant St: between Park St and Valentine St remains rough road until paving/patching can be completed.  Please use caution when approaching.

Polygraphic Ln (N.Benn): will be graded Thursday in preparation for paving for following week.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Scott St: remains rough road until paving/patching can be completed.  Please use caution when approaching.

Water St (N.Benn): Monday – will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic while a large hazard tree is removed on edge of roadway.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

All Work will be dependent on weather conditions.  Please use caution when entering a construction zone, men and equipment will be in the traveled portion of the road.

REMINDER – FALL :

Please DO NOT rake or blow leaves into Town streets or Highways as these clog storm drains and create flooding and driving hazards for the entire community.

Residents and Contractors – Please make sure ALL LOADS ARE COVERED when taking leaves and or brush to the Transfer Station.

Town of Bennington Project List

Week of September 14 – 18, 2020

Burgess Rd: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic all week as a Highway Crew prepares the area for new paved sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in or on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Chapel Rd (Upper): North of Crossover Rd continues to be CLOSED 7:00am-5:30pm as the contractor crew works on the PFOA water main extension project.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Detours will be in place.  Please schedule your time accordingly to account for these detours or find an alternate route.

Coolidge Ave: will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic all week as a Highway Crew prepares the area for new paved sidewalks.  Men and equipment will be in or on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays

Gage St: Rec Center area: remains rough road until the private contractor can complete new waterline work.  Please use caution when approaching.

Pleasant St: between Park St and Valentine St remains rough road until paving/patching can be completed.  Please use caution when approaching.

Polygraphic Ln (N.Benn): continues to be reduced to One-Lane Traffic while a Sewer Crew continues work on the Sewer Main Replacement project.  Men and equipment will be in the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays.

Scott St: Monday and Tuesday will be reduced to One-Lane Traffic for a sewer service line repair.  Men and equipment will be in or on edge of the roadway.  Please use Caution and Expect Delays

TOWNWIDE:

Weed eating & Roadside Mowing continues across town at various locations.  PLEASE USE CAUTION when approaching these areas and expect delays.

All Work will be dependent on weather conditions.  Please use caution when entering a construction zone, men and equipment will be in the traveled portion of the road.

REMINDER – FALL :

Please DO NOT rake or blow leaves into Town streets or Highways as these clog storm drains and create flooding and driving hazards for the entire community.

Residents and Contractors – Please make sure ALL LOADS ARE COVERED when taking leaves and or brush to the Transfer Station.