It has been a while, but the Brattleboro Selectboard will again hold a regular meeting to discuss items other than the FY26 budget. Instead they will examine more changes to the parking system, new murals and events, get an update on the Housing Plan, and hire a financial services company for a year to help ill in for the Finance Director.
The board will also have a discussion about the old bridges sitting in the Connecticut River and come up with a list of requests for the state of New Hampshire to consider. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom. Prior to the meeting, the Board will meet at 5:45pm and is expected to enter immediately into executive session to discuss real estate. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town Website Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard by the end of today.
Jessica Sticklor (she/her/hers)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
230 Main Street, Suite 208
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 251 – 8115
* Please note that all correspondence with Town staff is part of the public record and may be shared with others.
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BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:45 PM
REGULAR MEETING – 6:15 PM
The physical location for this meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center
at 230 Main Street.
Selectboard Meeting materials can be found on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard.
If you join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, please use this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84769879926?pwd=0X1QuPQsvaVxdzBke3Mt9l61VKssjG.1
Meeting ID: 847 6987 9926
Passcode: 430236
You also can call in using your telephone by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the United
States:
877-853-5247
888-788-0099
833-548-0276
833-548-0282
(*6 Mute/Unmute – *9 Raise Hand)
The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV.
Cable TV: Channel 1079
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/live/gov-ed-channel/
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv
AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
(please note that all times are approximate)
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)
2. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
3. APPROVE MINUTES – April 8, April 10, and April 15, 2025
4. CHAIR’S REMARKS
5. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
6. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:30 PM)
8. CONSENT AGENDA (6:35 PM)
A. Liquor and Tobacco License Renewals – Approve
B. Royal Diner – Approve Outside Consumption Permit
C. Melchen Road Grant Agreement – Accept Up To $235,406.34 Grant
D. Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions Tiny Grant – Ratify $600 Request
E. Emergency Pump Repair at Water Treatment Plant – Ratify $15,600 Expenditure
F. Martocci’s – Approve Outside Consumption Permit
G. AIDS Project of Southern Vermont AIDS Walk – Approve Parade Permit
9. REGULAR BUSINESS (6:40 PM)
A. Parking System Improvements (6:40 PM)
B. Brattleboro Thrives Update (7:25 PM)
C. Sparks Street Mural Project Public Art Applications (7:50 PM)
D. Anna Hunt Marsh and Charles Dana Bridges (8:15 PM)
E. Housing Plan Update (8:30 PM)
F. Financial Services (9:00 PM)
10. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Warrants
11. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
12. ADJOURNMENT (9:10 PM)
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: May 2, 2025
———————————————————————————————————————————–
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, May
6, 2025. The Board will convene the regular meeting at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room
and on Zoom. All times listed below are approximate, and interested parties should monitor the
meeting if they do not want to miss an agenda item.
If you join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, please use this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84769879926?pwd=0X1QuPQsvaVxdzBke3Mt9l61VKssjG.1
Meeting ID: 847 6987 9926
Passcode: 430236
You also can call in using your telephone by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the
United States:
877-853-5247
888-788-0099
833-548-0276
833-548-0282
The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV:
On Cable TV: Channel 1079
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv
8. CONSENT AGENDA (6:40 PM)
A. Liquor and Tobacco License Renewals – Approve
B. Royal Diner – Approve Outside Consumption Permit
C. Melchen Road Grant Agreement – Accept Up To $235,406.34 Grant
D. Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions Tiny Grant – Ratify $600 Request
E. Emergency Pump Repair at Water Treatment Plant – Ratify $15,600 Expenditure
F. Martocci’s – Approve Outside Consumption Permit
G. AIDS Project of Southern Vermont AIDS Walk – Approve Parade Permit
In a memorandum dated May 6, 2025 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the 2025 Liquor License, Tobacco License, Outside Consumption Permit and Tobacco Substitute Endorsement renewals and recommends approval of all renewal applications. Included in the backup materials is a report detailing each renewal. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve all renewal applications that appear before the Board in the attached report, subject to the submittal of all necessary documents and fees.
In a memorandum dated May 6, 2025 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Outside Consumption Permit application for the Royal Diner located at 478 Marlboro Road. Staff have reviewed and recommend approval of this item. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve an Outside Consumption Permit for the Royal Diner located at 478 Marlboro Road.
In a memorandum dated April 28, 2025 DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses a grant agreement with the Vermont Department of Public Safety. This grant will be used for work related to the embankment erosion adjacent to Melchen Road that was caused by severe storms and flooding on December 19, 2023. The estimate for the work provided by FEMA is $235,406.34. The funding has been obligated to the Vermont Department of Public Safety and the Town’s portion would be 25% or $78,468.78. The work is expected to be completed in FY26. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Department of Public Works to execute the grant agreement with the Vermont Department of Public Safety, for embankment repairs on Melchen Road.
In a memorandum dated April 28, 2025 Planning Director Sue Fillion discusses a Tiny Grant application submitted by the Conservation Commission. The funds will be used to create a pollinator habitat at the Brattleboro Police Station. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will ratify the submission of a grant by the Conservation Commission in the amount of $600 to the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions.
In a memorandum dated April 11, 2025 Assistant Director of Public Works Pete Lynch asks the Board to ratify a decision to repair an electric line at the Black Mountain pump station. Due to the critical nature of the pump station, Public Works notified the Town Manager that the situation needed immediate temporary repair and a quick, permanent fix. Staff are now asking the Selectboard to ratify the decision to use $15,600 out of the FY25 Utilities operating budget to pay AL Tyler Electric to make the necessary temporary and permanent repairs. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will ratify the decision to repair an electrical line at the Black Mountain pump station in the amount of $15,600 from the Utilities FY25 Operating Budget.
In a memorandum dated May 6, 2025 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Outside Consumption Permit application for Martocci’s located at 75 Elliot Street. Staff have reviewed and recommend approval of this item. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve an Outside Consumption Permit for Martocci’s located at 75 Elliot Street.
In a memorandum dated May 2, 2025 Town Manager John Potter discusses a parade permit request from the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont to hold an AIDS Walk from Centre Congregational Church down Main Street to the Co-op and back on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 10:00am. No street closures are necessary. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the parade permit for the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont’s AIDS Walk on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
9. REGULAR BUSINESS (6:45 PM)
A. Parking System Improvements (6:40 PM)
In a memorandum dated April 25, 2025 Town staff provide recommendations regarding improvements to the parking system in response to community feedback.
POTENTIAL MOTIONS:
A. TO ACCEPT RECONFIGURING THE ZONES SO THAT PARKING LOTS AND THE CORRESPONDING STREETS BECOME A SINGLE ZONE.
B. TO ACCEPT CHANGING ZONE NAMES TO A NUMERICAL FORMAT ONLY.
C. TO ADOPT CHANGES TO THE RATE AND TIME LIMITATIONS ON HIGH ST. TO MIRROR HIGH GROVE.
D. TO ADOPT CHANGES TO TIME LIMITATIONS ON ELLIOT AND FLAT ST.
E. TO ACCEPT THE ADDITION OF TWO KIOSKS TO OUR PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE CURRENTLY ALLOCATED AS SPARES.
B. Brattleboro Thrives Update (7:25 PM)
Kate Trzaskos of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance will provide an update on Brattleboro Thrives. She will be in the meeting to discuss this program with the Board and the public.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
C. Sparks Street Mural Project Public Art Applications (7:50 PM)
In a memorandum dated April 10, 2025, Town Manager John Potter discusses the Sparks Street Mural Project, a public art project designed to create small murals at various locations in the Brattleboro downtown. These projects include Spark of Inclusivity by Katelyn Hudson, Missing Lynx by Calvin Laituri and Cosmic Flower Garden by Cynthia Parker-Houghton. The Board is asked to consider the three artists’ applications and possibly approve these projects as a slate.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE SPARKS STREET MURAL PROJECT’S PUBLIC ART APPLICATIONS FOR THREE PUBLIC ART EXHIBITS IN DOWNTOWN BRATTLEBORO.
D. Anna Hunt Marsh and Charles Dana Bridges (8:15 PM)
In a memorandum dated April 11, 2025, Town Manager John Potter discusses a Selectboard Meeting on March 3, 2025 with the Hinsdale Selectboard where the planning for renovations of the Anna Hunt Marsh and Charles Dana Bridges for pedestrian and bicycle access was discussed with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT). There is an update on the concerns of the Hinsdale Selectboard. The Brattleboro Selectboard will consider a possible letter to the NH DOT. He discusses various requests that could be articulated in this letter.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO WORK COMMUNICATE A SERIES OF REQUESTS TO NH DOT REGARDING ITS RENOVATION PROJECT FOR THE ANNA HUNT MARSH AND CHARLES DANA BRIDGES INCLUDING ___________________.
E. Housing Plan Update (8:30 PM)
In a memorandum dated April 29, 2025 Planning Director Sue Fillion provides an update on the Housing Action Plan.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
H. Financial Services (9:00 PM)
In a memorandum dated April 30, 2025, Town Manager John Potter discusses the Town’s financial services needs and recommends that the Town authorize a retainer contract for professional financial services with Bonnie K. Batchelder of Batchelder Associates, P.C..
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO AUTHORIZE A RETAINER CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES WITH BONNIE K. BATCHELDER, CPA OF BATCHELDER ASSOCIATES, P.C., AT THE COST OF $140,000 FOR APRIL 2025 THROUGH APRIL 2026.
