The Brattleboro Selectboard held a May Day meeting to discuss and pass their new budget, which takes the overall municipal tax increase down from 12.1% to 10.8%, shaving 1.3% from the budget rejected by Representative Town Meeting.
The public, those allowed to speak, weren’t very impressed.
Chair McLoughlin began by apologizing for being rude to young people at the previous board meeting. Later on, she shut down the meeting with gavel banging and demands for an adult to stop speaking about something she said could not be tolerated- a discussion of Rescue Inc correcting the record.
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Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin began by issuing a call for greater civility, for herself, for stifling the comments of a young person.
Town Manager John Potter announced committee appointments are coming up soon, delayed by budget issues. Fines will be issued for unlicensed dogs and unlicensed businesses in the near future. 7pm West May 21 is the info session for the special Representative Town Meeting, with district caucuses prior.
Isaac Evans-Frantz wished everyone happy world worker’s day, said he was glad Vermont released the detained student, and was looking forward to Green Up Day.
Oscar Heller said he took a ride along with the Brattleboro Police Department. “I saw more human tragedy in that 4 hour period than in the month prior. Officers were incredibly patient doing a difficult job, dealing with drunks and a dead body.”
Amanda Ellis-Thurber said Green Up bags were available by the West Brattleboro Common, and legislators were going to be at the Library this Saturday.
Milicent C requested that the board set an agenda item to discuss and agree on how we understand the impact of the recent police spending. “How do we think about the impact?”
Raye thanked Liz for her apology, and picked up where she left off last week, arguing for safe space and activities for teens, and advocating for teens working with the selectboard. “What are you doing to create safe spaces for youth?”
Fay – The police were added because it was an emergency. When will the “emergency” be ended?
Charis requested that the budget discussion revisit the idea of reducing hours of the sustainability coordinator, considering the value of what that position brings in.
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Budget Redevelopment Discussion
Potter introduced the budget and referred everyone to his memo and read it to them.
Here is the memo’s full text, if you’d like to read it yourself: Final Draft FY26 General Fund Budget
Potter said his projections for FY27 assumes frugality in the capital plan.
Liz suggested the board discuss things, then the public, then a vote. Peter Case made a motion to accept the budget as presented.
Oscar had the first question. Is 10k in the emergency fund? (Yes, “reserve contingency”) He had three things to discuss: the three fire positions, confirm the assistant town manager decision, and to reconsider sustainability coordinator position decision.
Fire Positions
First up – “What if the fire positions don’t solve the overtime problem? Is everyone okay with that?”
Peter said it could go either way, but he was comfortable with hiring the additional staff.
Isaac wanted to avoid staff overworking, and wondered about the impact of hiring just two new positions at the start.
Liz said there is the humanity of the workplace, and union rules, require manpower. She supported the hiring of new staff.
Potter said there would still be overtime, even with new employees. Sometimes there are injuries and other things beyond heir control.
Amanda was in favor of hiring.
Peter said there was a humanity angle to it all, helping first responders with mental health issues, stress, and so on. He didn’t feel there was a price tag to be put on hiring new fire staff.
Amanda said the overtime rate is higher for firefighters than others – over 2x.
Potter said it would be $292k to hire the three new staff, and it would result in a $440k reduction in overtime.
Oscar said he’d fund everyone to the fullest if he could, but wanted to be careful that the proposed savings is indeed a savings, and that hiring the new firefighters will be hard to undo.
Assistant Town Manager
The board agreed to the second issue, not hiring an assistant town manager, after reconsidering it. Potter told them he was a bit nervous about this decision, but the financial services request he’ll make soon will cover much of it. He told them to alter their expectations as work will be increased for department heads. He hoped they revisit it after a year.
Amanda expressed appreciation for the Town Manager and offered her assistance.
Isaac said he had concerns about cutting the core of the administration. “I support it with reservations.”
Sustainability Coordinator
For item three, the sustainability coordinator, Oscar asked if any board minds had been changed by the extra information they had received.
Isaac said he had heard from many in the public who support the position. He said he was conflicted.
Amanda said there were things they want, “but you can’t always get what you want.” She thought it being part time was better than elimination.
Liz wanted to look at the response, and the Town is totally committed to sustainability and every department head is focused on what is most sustainable in everything they do. Making it PT will reinforce the department heads’ resolve.
Peter said this is what he meant about responsibilities not going away when positions go away. He wondered if the position could be merged to be a hybrid town manager’s office employee, assisting within that office?
Potter said there was a possibility that the position look at utility grants, and perhaps the utility fund could pay some of the sustainability coordinator expense.
Liz said that moving to part time was already a compromise.
Peter said the biggest part was the benefits.
Liz said that the position paid for itself with grants, “and that won’t be happening.”
Potter thought it could work.
Oscar said some grants are going away but some aren’t. He maintains that the position provides value.
Peter said they could make it a position just about getting grants, and not tie it to sustainability. And being an assistant to the Town Manager.
Amanda reminded them to speak about policies rather than people. “Cronyism is a concern. This is a policy position.” She liked dropping the word “sustainability” as it is a red flag to the current administration, and thought grants-getting could be a good way to go.
Board Thoughts on the Budget
Liz wondered if other board members had questions about the budget.
Peter said he appreciated the work to get the budget in this new shape.
Isaac wondered about deferring the ambulance fund. “How is a the life of an ambulance calculated?”
Potter said there was an expected life span, and to replace them a set aside of some money should be made each year, and the deferral defers this contribution.
Isaac wondered about dispatchers and overtime. “If we spend more on overtime how can we afford to cut a position?”
Potter said it was aspirational, but the Chief said it could be done.
Isaac asked if aspirations were based on data or hope, and was told “both.” He asked about capital expenses and replacing a fire department car.
Potter explained that the assumption for FY27 is an “austerity capital budget, worse than this year.” He said the equipment list will change for next year.
Isaac asked about the fire positions again.
Potter said they would raise overtime expectations if staff salaries were cut. These positions would cover overtime caused by wellness days, not number of calls.
Amanda wondered if area towns paid Brattleboro for fire coverage.
Potter said many surrounding towns help us with fires, rather than the other way.
Isaac asked about overtime and the DPW. What services might be cut?
Potter said that if there is a bad snow year, the estimates will be exceeded for overtime. The department is understaffed. Is it better to add staff here to reduce overtime someday?
Amanda said that sidewalk plowing could happen on one side of the street overnight, and department heads could make calls like that.
Potter said there could be some policy changes in snow plowing that could help reduce overtime.
Liz asked for board comments on the budget.
Oscar said that he was very aware that this is an imperfect budget, made under high pressure in a short time. Some decisions impact future planning in a good way, such as redoing capital plans and long range planning. “I think this is sturdy and we can take this to town meeting…”
Amanda said that some issues continue to evolve, such as the trash contract. If savings come along, those funds could go into the emergency fund.
Isaac said he appreciated everyone for the process. He was concerned about how many items were aspirational, and that they should be realistic.
Liz said she was glad the budget re-examination took place, much thanks to the Town Manager, and that the new budget gives better accuracy and better solutions. Cuts have been across the board, and the 10.8% increase is high but realistic, she said. She reminded everyone that the school budget was bigger than the municipal budget.
Now for the public.
The Public
Dick Degray was very disappointed. “You already made your positions felt before hearing from the public. Make your statements after you hear from us. I feel like I’m going to waste my valuable oxygen.” He thought it was short sighted not to fill the assistant Town Manager because among other things the position fills in if the Town Manager leaves. “You should know better.” He told them to fill it, and that Potter made a mistake not demanding it. “You are the managers of the town.”
Oscar said they hadn’t taken any vote yet and he was listening to what the public had to say.
Randy B. said that the town was a business, and asked if something happened to the Town Manager, is someone there to take charge? He said we were on the path to having the highest taxes in the nation. Employee expenses go up over time, he cautioned. He said they need to plan, and too much is being deferred which will cost more in the long run. The budget needs to zeroed to the rate of inflation, he suggested.
Eric suggested a way to save significant funds. “Don’t hire new firefighters, then take a deep dive and look at the cost savings of stopping the EMS program we have now.” Keep the great people, but stop paying for ambulances and equipment, he suggested. He thought Rescue was an excellent deal. He hoped they’d look into it to save money and keep a quality service.
Kate said she was bugged that a chart in the memo still included the school number averages. It’s 10.8% and the FY27 guess is irrelevant, she said. “I don’t feel any better about this budget than when I voted against it at RTM.” You have to reduce how the town does business for FY27. “I wish you would acknowledge that we have financial problems in town.“ Not saying it is keeping us from fixing problems. We can’t continue deficit spending and I have concerns about our financial health, she told them.
Millicent wanted to support keeping the sustainability coordinator role at full time. “He’ll leave” if you cut it, she said.
Bethany was happy with the bus service reconsideration. She said cost of living was deceptive and people are getting pay cuts when cost of living is lower than costs going up. She said any changes to snow removal needs to be clearly explained to the public. Uniforms are often made by prison labor, she explained and hoped the town would try to look for ethical uniforms. When jobs are cut to part time, she hoped benefits could be maintained somehow. And also, I second adding teen representatives to the board.
Abby appreciated the work that went into the new budget. She wanted to restore the sustainability coordinator to full time and took offense at changing the name to some variation on “revenue generator.” She thought cutting the position puts the town at a greater risk. She said there was value beyond the grants obtained, and this position goes deeper than any department head could go. It pays for itself. We are only going to have more climate emergencies.
Gemma said she ran for RTM interested in equity and growth, and wasn’t against tax increases necessarily, but did want the Town to explain the estimated increase of 400% in police revenue. She felt the Assistant Town Manager was an important position for continuity. There is a lot of expensive outside spending and consulting in the new budget, she said. She preferred our own employees doing the work. She questioned the salary increases for department heads. “These are large yearly increases. These are multiples of the cost of living.” She wondered about trash cart revenue and where it was in the new budget. Why was there the 17.9% increase for the police budget when we are told there have been cuts? “Why were the budget estimates so wrong? Someone needs to come clean and explain these errors.”
A five minute break until 8:15.
Steve tried to connect on zoom but it wasn’t working.
The audio for the room went off. And back on.
The Meltdown
Will Kraham reads the Rescue Inc memo.
Here is Rescue’s letter to the board: Rescue letter to Selectboard
Liz interrupts him and said it couldn’t be discussed any further. “Not germane.”
He disagreed. “In the Town Manager’s memo he mentioned Rescue In’s costs, and it was …”
Bam! Bam! Bam! The gavel came down and Liz attempts to shut him down. Bam! Bam! Bam!
Mr. Kraham continued “only two of you were involved with the decision to get rid of Rescue. I wonder how much smaller this budget will be if we had Rescue as our provider.” Liz is yelling at him to stop. Bam! Bam! Bam!
Liz shuts down the meeting, then returns and says the board should have a discussion.
Steve is allowed to talk. “If there was a full job description it could help with the Sustainability Coordinator decision. How about some volunteer opportunities to plug some holes?”
Nell from the finance committee said changing the sustainability coordinator job’s pay sources could be out of balance with work being done. She said the questioning of the fire position numbers made her notice that when someone questions numbers, it gets turned into the moral or ethical reasons behind the choice.
Oscar had a point of order. “The Rescue numbers play into the conversation about the uncertainty about hiring more fire positions. So I’m not totally sure about how that went down.”
Liz said “we got a letter from a contractor trying to open up a settled matter. It is a stretch beyond germane…” Bringing up a stalled matter is inappropriate.
Oscar hoped it could have been more peaceful.
“I asked him not to speak and he refused.”
Jacki R said she agreed with stopping people from talking. So I won’t say what she said next.
Bob Oeser said he wasn’t going to talk, but if it was a public meeting there would be a way to challenge if something is germane. What is the procedure for challenging if something is germane, and what is the actual cost of EMS service provided by fire.
Liz said the boring rules she reads about meetings explains that the Chair has the responsibility, “and I have done so.” She goes and gets them to read them.
Potter says the net number for EMS is in the $100-200k range.
Liz returned to her control issues. She said the chair has a process for disrupted meetings and may bypass any or all steps if a deviation from the process is warranted, and many other things about removing people from the meeting. Basically, anything she wants to do is okay, as she reads the rules.
Back to the Budget
Peter said he resented the idea being told that his mind was made up. He didn’t want to cut anyone from staff, but to lower the budget, positions must be cut. I can live with the cut, unless RTM tells us otherwise, he says. Or maybe we put it in and let RTM take it out, he ponders.
Oscar thought the town could live for a year without an assistant town manager, and department heads would step up if there was an emergency.
Amanda liked ideas of a youth committee, waiting on hiring firefighters, and said she will pray Potter isn’t hit by a bus. She saidsome fundamental changes need to happen. “This compromise is a strong one.”
Peter asks if RTM can add money back in. (Yes, advisory only.)
Isaac thought the assistant Town Manager role was important. “What wouldn’t get done without one?”
Potter said the position could be cut, made into a special projects manager, or could be done partly with a financial consultant helping with budgets. He said there are lots of things an assistant town manager did, and that he’s still learning some of those things.
Isaac expressed concern about burnout. “There are rallies for the library, police and fire but no one speaks up for core administrative services.” He wondered if they could explore the special projects manager position idea.
Liz suggested the assistant town manager’s importance is greater than a sustainability coordinator. “We have an opportunity to scrap both positions and focus on special projects, allowing him to refocus these positions that suit him and how he sees management of the town.”
Pete liked rallying behind the Town Manager, and also that department heads can step up if needed, but said it was reactive rather than proactive. He liked Liz’s suggestion of doing what the Town Manager suggested.
Oscar said an overnight need to replace the Town Manager was an unlikely occurrence. He reminded the board that the assistant town manager position cut was the biggest cut they’ve been able to make. He worried about going to RTM with a high percentage increase. “It’s another Jenga piece we are pulling out.”
Liz brought up this new position and how it related to the overall discussion of the budget. “How should we structure this?”
Voting
They vote on the fire positions – 5-0 for three new firefighters.
They vote on cutting the assistant town manager, but Liz asks for John Potter to weigh in one more time.
Potter said “I, uh, uh, don’t know what the call is. You needed significant savings. We can make do. I appreciate the thought on a special projects manager and the difference would become 10.8% to 11.5%, so it is significant. I don’t know how to weigh that politically. I just have the information for you.”
Oscar said the decisions are close and “I don’t know what is better.” He said it was difficult.
Liz said she wanted a special projects manager. “But that’s not what John is saying…. So it doesn’t cut it with me as a budget that will pass the test with RTM.” She says they need to be vigilant with savings and step up later and do the right thing, allowing for a half a year.
Oscar asks John to tell them if he hits a wall.
“You’ll see the wheels coming off.” says Potter.
Isaac said the board has really revisited the budget and there has been further turning of stones. Errors were found. “I’d prefer to go to RTM with a budget we believe in, even at 11.8% and they tell us to reduce it….”
Liz said she did not share that opinion.
Peter wondered if Isaac could sell that idea to the voters.
Isaac said many people would like a broader reduction in personnel, and the size of the police department and budget is an option, and he wasn’t sure any specific number was the issue.
Liz liked the 10.8%
Oscar said he thought it will work, and a full cut for the assistant town manager is okay.
3-2 to cut the assistant town manager, Isaac and Pete against.
Liz said the sustainability coordinator position is the final vote, and the discussion of a number of hours, and splitting it with the Utility budget are up for discussion.
They voted on maintaining the sustainability coordinator at 30 hours a week with benefits. He says they would be at 11% instead of 10.8%.
Amanda wondered if it is feasible to have the arrangement for a 30 hour employee? Potter says it is similar to full time, money-wise. (37.5 can be full time.)
Isaac asked about some library project savings mentioned in the sustainability coordinator memo to the board. Potter agreed the grants mentioned could be applied for by the sustainability coordinator.
Liz asked for a vote .
Potter said that 29 hours would be the break point to make savings on the salary, and there would be some benefits.
Amanda was uncomfortable hiring someone that would require a consultant to get the income output they are promising. The position should encapsulate getting tax credits, she said. Consultants could be a barrier.
Potter said the tax credits require special expertise sometimes.
Isaac wondered if a special project coordinator role could be assigned, in some part, to a sustainability coordinator.
Liz said she thought they were different positions. She asked the board to vote, then they could reconsider later in the year when the Town Manager brings ideas for hybrid positions.
Sustainability coordinator at 29 hours vote: 0 in support of that idea. Defeated.
Sustainability coordinator 25 hours and no benefits vote: 2 in favor (Liz and Amanda). Defeated.
Peter hoped they would have more discussion of the assistant town manager. Liz agrees that it is more important to talk about the issue already decided earlier. Oscar agreed on the importance.
Isaac proposed a compromise to make it a special project coordinator job? Liz says no. Potter says it is better to split it with the utilities paying part of the salary. “It’s the more likely path if you want to keep the budget under 11%”.
Liz said they need to vote to keep it at 25 hours without benefits with a hope that there would be utility funding available to make it full time. “How do we feel about that?”
Amanda liked it and says tax credit training and assistance is available.
Liz wanted to vote, to end the discussion. This would be to vote again on the 25 hour, no benefit idea that was just voted down. This time, with the “hope” that other funds might become available.
This re-vote was now 3-2, as Pete joined in to help Liz and Amanda pass the idea that was voted down moments before.
The sustainability coordinator at 30 plus hours and benefits vote never happens.
Oscar asks if they changed nothing this evening. “Hard to believe, but okay.”
They vote and accept the budget 5-0. And they adjourn.
Hello, Gemma?
They completely skipped Gemma, who had been waiting with a hand up to comment for quite a long time.
After the meeting....
What I wrote after the meeting:
Did you watch last night. After the fracas between Will Kraham & Liz McLoughlin, I (unfortunately?) asked a question which was answered by John Potter by saying we are making money (?) with Fire/EMS when we figure in insurance reimbursement.
So, how come we’re spending more?
I’m confused. I must just be too stupid to do math. 🙄
What a friend wrote back:
The numbers do not match the income is much less than the expense and we are still spending more for the coverage than rescue would cost. Do not forget the salaries and benifits of the EMT people and others who do the coverage. They are in the red and if a business would need to looking at bankruptcy. I can do the math.
The Meltdown
Clearly Liz has had it in for Rescue for years, and it sure looks like the town running its own EMS is significantly more expensive. I remember posts on this site during the original Rescue brouhaha predicting more or less the same increase in costs over Rescue that appear to be trickling out of the fire department, so I’m willing to bet Liz and the rest of the anti-Rescue faction at the time knew that would happen.
So I wonder: why? Why do all of this? Liz and others on the selectboard at the time went to some lengths to shut down questions about why they were pushing through the new EMS setup. What’s been going on that they’re not telling us? RobertOeser?
PS
Thank you, as always, for writing these up cgrotke. It’s a very valuable community service.