BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Selectboard's vote to endorse a plan to relocate the police station from the Municipal Center to Black Mountain Road with the purchase of the Reformer Building is a bad idea, for a number of reasons.
First, one Selectboard member was quoted in the Reformer, stating that it, ultimately, would be cheaper to move than stay. Initially, maybe, but this point of view totally ignores the enormous fit-up costs that would be necessary to again rent the vacated Municipal Center and also does not take into account ongoing maintenance of two facilities, rather than just one now.
It is a superficial financial analysis that inadequately serves the best interests of the town because it really does not disclose the total cost of the move.
Second, moving ahead with this decision would take a valued property off the tax rolls permanently. It has been stated that rental revenue from both facilities would offset that tax revenue - but would it?
There are already several commercial properties vacant in the town. What if rents do not materialize as hoped? The Grand List has repeatedly been reduced over the years with exempt and partially exempt properties and the recent loss of commercial values. All this has meant an increase in taxes to the residential owners. The town should not be contributing to the shrinkage of its own Grand List!
Third, the town should be in the business of governing the town and not in the business of renting real estate. This move would make more space available at both the Municipal Center and the Reformer property, and there is a significant question as to whether owning and renting more property should be the role of government.
Would this further skew the market, which is challenging enough for the private owners of properties who have adequate competition as it stands? From a public-policy standpoint, the town should not further extend its ownership of real estate.
Fourth, the federal government and the state of Vermont have financially supported investments in downtown properties in the interest of preserving and building upon downtown business and residential districts.
It is believed that a healthy and vibrant downtown district is good economically and socially and that it is essential to the success of any community. Examples of this policy are the Main Street Program, Historic Preservation Tax Credits, tax credits for capital improvement projects, and federal and state grants.
It would be contrary to this policy to move the police out of the Municipal Center, leaving an unknown future for a historic building. The town should learn from the Brooks House and other downtown property owners who have dramatically improved their properties, enhancing the Brattleboro downtown.
Keep the police department in the Municipal Center and fix the building up for the police and other future use by the town, consistent with federal and state policy to enhance downtown districts.
I urge the Selectboard and all Town Meeting Representatives to think seriously about the implications of the proposed move. Do not think about the issue of whether the department could be run from another site - it probably could. Rather, think about the total undisclosed costs, the negative impact upon the Grand List, what role the government should play, and the potential loss of a historic building in the downtown district.