The Town would like to increase pressure on tax exempt properties to pay some taxes. The Brattleboro Selectboard will hear about options at their next regular meeting.
They’ll also hear from Green Mountain Power about the Ames Hill project, they’ll vote to increase water & sewer rates, they’ll get a report on May finances (yes, May,) will adopt fees for vacant building violations, and will hear a quarterly report from the Fire Department, and will listen to other items not on the agenda that you bring up during public participation.
….
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 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 5:15pm and is expected to enter immediately into executive session to discuss contracts. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” Closed captioning will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town Website
Please note that the Zoom link for this meeting has changed.
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.
….
BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:15 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:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85223252040?pwd=f0zpzRIYterkWvZ53MAfbuxuMv3Dvm.1
Meeting ID: 852 2325 2040
Passcode: 602388
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
Please note that the Zoom credentials have changed as of this meeting.
AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
(please note that all times are approximate)
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)
2. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
3. APPROVE MINUTES – July 8 and July 15, 2025
4. CHAIR’S REMARKS
5. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
6. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)
8. CONSENT AGENDA (6:30 PM)
A. Sage Pub First and Third-Class Liquor License – Approve
B. Brattleboro Inn First Class Liquor License – Approve
C. Highway #131 Flushing Machine – Authorize $ 115,477.83 Purchase
D. Highway #18 Backhoe Loader – Authorize $126,185 Purchase
E. Utility Trucks #102, #108, and #111 – Authorize $116,704 Purchase
F. Opioid Settlement Funding Grant- Accept $32,157.00 Grant
G. Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant – Ratify $20,473.44 Grant Application
9. REGULAR BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. Green Mountain Power Ames Hill Road Project – Discussion (6:35 PM)
Presentation by Green Mountain Power
B. Street Food Festival Open Meeting Permit – Authorize (6:45 PM)
Presentation Possible by Street Food Festival Applicant
C. Utility Rate Ordinance and Rate Schedule – Second Reading (6:55 PM)
Presentation by Town Public Works Staff
D. 2025 Tax Year Contributions (7:15 PM)
Presentation by Town Assessor Staff
E. FY25 May Budget Report (7:45 PM)
Presentation by Town Staff
F. Vacant Building Ordinance – Appoint Building Safety Officer and Adopt Fees (8:00 PM)
Presentation by Town Planning Staff
G. Fire Department’s Quarterly Report – Update (8:20 PM)
Presentation by Town Fire Department Staff
10. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Warrants and Department Reports
11. ADJOURNMENT (8:35 PM)
…
MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: July 18, 2025
———————————————————————————————————————————–
The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, July
22, 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. Please note that the Zoom link for this meeting
has changed.
If you join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, please use this link:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85223252040?pwd=f0zpzRIYterkWvZ53MAfbuxuMv3Dvm.1
Meeting ID: 852 2325 2040
Passcode: 602388
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
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)
Sage’s Pub First and Third-Class Liquor License – Approve
Brattleboro Inn First Class Liquor License – Approve
Highway #131 Flushing Machine – Authorize $ 115,477.83 Purchase
Highway #18 Backhoe Loader – Authorize $126,185 Purchase
Utility Trucks #102, #108, and #111 – Authorize $116,704 Purchase
Opioid Settlement Funding Grant- Accept $32,157.00 Grant
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant – Ratify $20,473.44 Grant Application
In a memorandum dated July 22, 2025 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the First and Third Class Liquor License applications for Sage’s Pub located at 6 Flat Street. Town Staff have reviewed and recommend approval of these licenses. Representatives from Sage’s Pub will be in the meeting, should this be pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve a First and Third Class Liquor License for Sage’s Pub, located at 6 Flat Street.
In a memorandum dated July 22, 2025 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the First Class Liquor License application for The Brattleboro Inn, located at 1186 Putney Road. Town Staff have reviewed and recommend approval of this license. Representatives from The Brattleboro Inn will be in the meeting, should this be pulled from Consent. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve a First Class Liquor License for the Brattleboro Inn, located at 1186 Putney Road.
In a memorandum dated July 11, 2025 DPW Director Dan Tyler recommends that the Board authorize the replacement of Utility Division Equipment #131 (a Flushing Machine) for $115,477.83. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the replacement of Utility Division Equipment #131 for a net purchase price of $115,477.83.
In a memorandum dated July 11, 2025 DPW Director Dan Tyler recommends that the Board authorize the replacement purchase of Highway Division Vehicle #18 (a Backhoe Loader) for $126,185. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the replacement purchase of Highway Division Vehicle #18 for a net purchase price of $126,185.
In a memorandum dated July 15, 2025 DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses the replacement purchases of Utilities Division Trucks #102, #108, and #111. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the replacement purchase of Utilities Division Trucks #102, #108 and #111 from Monadnock Ford of Swanzey, NH for a total cost of $116,704 for all three vehicles.
In a memorandum dated July 9, 2025 Fire Chief Jay Symonds discusses a grant application from the Vermont Department of Health from the Opioid Settlement Funds. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize staff to apply for and accept up to $32,157 from the Opioid Settlement Funds to establish comprehensive community training programs through the Brattleboro Fire Department.
In a memorandum dated July 9, 2025 Fire Chief Jay Symonds discusses the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant and requests that the Board ratify the Fire Department’s application for up to $20,473.44 to obtain six Zoll AEDs for deployment on operational apparatus. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will ratify this grant application and accept and appropriate up to $20,473.44 from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant to obtain six Zoll AEDs for deployment on operational apparatus.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
9. REGULAR BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
Green Mountain Power Ames Hill Road Project – Discussion (6:35 PM) Presentation by Green Mountain Power
In a document from Green Mountain Power, Tim Jones discusses the upcoming Ames Hill Road Project. They also request approval to locate poles, guys and wires withing the highway limits of the Town. Representatives from Green Mountain Power will be in the meeting to discuss this project with the Board and to answer any questions.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED.
Street Food Festival Open Meeting Permit – Authorize (6:45 PM) Presentation Possible by Street Food Festival Applicant
Representatives from The Brattleboro Street Food Festival will be in the meeting to discuss their open meeting permit application for their event which will take place on September 6, 2025 on the Common.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE AN OPEN MEETING PERMIT FOR THE
BRATTLEBORO STREET FOOD FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 ON
THE COMMON.
Chapter 18, Article 2, Section 18-137 and Article 3, Division 2 Ordinance Changes and Rate Schedule – Second Reading (6:55 PM) Presentation by Town Public Works Staff
In a memorandum dated June 30, 2025 DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses potential changes to the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Water & Sewer, Article II -Sewer, Section 18-137 – Sewer Rates and, Article III – Water, Division 2 – Rates, as well as discussion of Staff’s five-year rate structure. This is a second reading. The Board is asked to consider, and possibly adopt, the proposed changes to Brattleboro Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Water & Sewer, Article II -Sewer, Section 18- 137 – Sewer Rates and, Article III – Water, Division 2 – Rates.
POTENTIAL MOTION: 1. TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE
BRATTLEBORO CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 18 – WATER AND SEWER,
ARTICLE III – WATER, DIVISION 2- RATES, AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
2. TO ADOPT THE TOWN FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO
TIME.
2025 Tax Year Contributions (7:15 PM) Presentation by Town Assessor Staff
In a memorandum dated July 15, 2025 Town Assessor Jenepher Burnell discusses a possible Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), to offset lost revenue to the Municipal Fund, from various parcels that are currently exempt. Included in the Board’s materials are two spreadsheets: a spreadsheet of current otherwise exempt properties that contribute to the Municipal Fund and a list of others not on the list for the Board to consider for requesting a donation. Also included in the Board’s materials is a sample letter that would go out to selected organizations.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE LIST OF PARCELS FOR A NEGOTIATED
MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTION, AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
FY25 May Budget Report (7:45 PM) Presentation by Town Staff
In a memorandum dated July 18, 2025 Town Manager John Potter discusses the May 2025 Financial Report. This item was postponed the July 8, 2025 agenda.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
Vacant Building Ordinance – Appoint Building Safety Officer and Adopt Fees (8:00 PM) Presentation by Town Planning Staff
In a memorandum dated July 10, 2025 Planning Director Sue Fillion discusses the Vacant Building Ordinance that was passed on March 6, 2025 and went into effect on May 6, 2025. Town staff now request that the Board approve the Vacant Building Fee Schedule and appoint the Zoning Administrator, Brian Bannon, as the Building Safety Officer.
POTENTIAL MOTION: 1. TO APPROVE THE REVISED VACANT BUILDING FEE
SCHEDULE, AS SUBMITTED.
2. TO APPOINT BRIAN BANNON, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, AS THE BUILDING
SAFETY OFFICER.
Fire Department’s Quarterly Report – Update (8:20 PM) Presentation by Town Fire Department Staff
In a memorandum dated July 22, 2025 Fire Chief Jay Symonds discusses the Fire Department’s quarterly report for FY25, Quarter 4.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S QUARTERLY REPORT
FOR FY25, QUARTER 4, AS PRESENTED.
