The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom. Prior to the regular meeting at 5:30pm, the Board will convene and is expected to move directly into executive session to discuss labor relations agreements with employees and real estate. 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 by the end of the day
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 5, 2026
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:30 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 the link below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84862348950?pwd=2o1IQvaSlC4LU0lAR5rM5SxQWnUDMA.1
Meeting ID: 879 7216 9260
Passcode: 810636
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 indicated are approximate)
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)
2. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT (6:25 PM)
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Multiple Liquor and Tobacco License Renewal – Approve Applications
B. Rink Columns and Kiwanis Roof– Award $34,107.30 and $85,000 Bids
C. VTrans Annual Financial Plan – Accept
D. Equipment Purchase HD7 and HD60 – Authorize $275,162 and $197,000 Purchases
E. Swan Pond Lane Road Name – Approve
F. BRIC Grant – Authorize Application
G. Winston-Prouty Subgrant Agreement
H. BCAT Letter Request
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. Vermont’s General Assistance Motel Program – Policy Consideration (6:35 PM)
Resume Selectboard Discussion on a Motion to Postpone
B. Town Meeting Requested EMS Study (7:05 PM)
Presentation by Fire Department Staff
C. Committee Appointments (7:45 PM)
Appointments made by Selectboard
9. REGULAR BUSINESS (7:50 PM)
A. Western Avenue Intersection Study (7:50 PM)
Presentation by Town Staff
B. Solid Waste Ordinance Change – Second Reading (8:40 PM)
Presentation by DPW Staff
C. Records Retention Policy (9:00 PM)
Presentation by Town Attorneys
D. Selectboard 2026-27 Rules of Procedure (9:20 PM)
Discussion by the Selectboard
10. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Warrants
11. ADJOURNMENT (9:45 PM)
…
MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: May 1, 2026
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The following will summarize the proposed motions for the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, May
5, 2026. The Board will convene the 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:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87972169260?pwd=kaMPDwTj5HlkoUg6ZS4PklrlUmYpXr.1
Meeting ID: 879 7216 9260
Passcode: 810636
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,87972169260#,,,,*810636# US (Washington DC)
+13052241968,,87972169260#,,,,*810636# US
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
CONSENT AGENDA
Multiple Liquor and Tobacco License Renewal – Approve Applications
Rink Columns and Kiwanis Roof– Award $34,107.30 and $85,000 Bids
VTrans Annual Financial Plan – Accept
Equipment Purchase HD7 and HD60 – Authorize $275,162 and $197,000 Purchases
Swan Pond Lane Road Name – Approve
BRIC Grant – Authorize Application
Winston-Prouty Subgrant Agreement
BCAT Letter Request
In a memorandum dated May 5, 2026, Town Clerk Hilary Francis discuss the renewal process for Liquor and Tobacco licenses, Outside Consumption Permits, and Tobacco Endorsements and presents several renewals for consideration. Included in the Board’s materials is a Commissioner’s Report detailing all renewal applications. Staff recommends approval of all renewal applications. B approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve all renewal applications that appear in the attached report, subject to the submittal of all necessary documents and fees.
In separate memorandums dated April 23, 2026, Recreation and Parks Director Carol Lolatte discusses the Nelson Withington Skating Facility Column Repair and Kiwanis Shelter Roof Projects. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will award the bid for Nelson Withington Ska Facility Column Repair to Renaud Brothers Construction for $85,000 to repair the pre-engineered column bases at the facility. The Board will also approve the bid award for the Kiwanis Shelter Roof Replacement project to Southern Vermont Home for a total of $34,107.30.
In a memorandum dated April 13, 2026, DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s (VTrans) financial plan and requests that the Board sign it. Included in the Board’s materials is the FY27 VTrans Financial Plan. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will execute the Financial Plan by signing form TA-60.
In separate memorandums dated April 23, 2026, DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses the purchases of Highway Division Vehicles #60 and #7. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the purchase of one John Deere 544 P-Tier Wheel Loader at a net cost of $197,000, utilizing funds approved at Town Meeting for FY27. The Board will also authorize the purchase of a 2027 Western Star 47X Dump Truck to replace an International 76000 tandem dump truck at a total cost of $275,162, utilizing available funds within the vehicle capital account.
In a memorandum dated May 5, 2026, Assistant Planning Director Brian Bannon discusses the naming of a new private road, a one-way loop accessing South Street. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the naming of a new private road access tax map parcel #00290006.00 currently serving legal E911 address 78 South Street to “Swan Pond Lane.”
In a memorandum dated April 24, 2026, Assistant Planning Director Brian Bannon requests authorization to apply to Vermont Emergency Management for a Building Resilient Communities grant. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will authorize the Planning Department to submit an application to Vermont Emergency Management for a BRIC grant for a scoping study to stabilize a slope failure at Whetstone Village with the 25% match to be paid by the Homeowner’s Association.
In a memorandum dated May 1, 2026, Town Manager John Potter discusses a development grant agreement and subgrant agreement between the Town and The Winston Prouty Center for Family and Child Development. Included in the Boards Materials are: The Development Agreement, Subgrant agreement and the mortgage deed. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will approve the Development Agreement and Subgrant Agreement between The Town of Brattleboro and the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development.
In a memorandum dated May 1, 2026, Town Manager John Potter discusses a request from the Brattleboro Coalition for Active Transpiration (BCAT) to write a letter requesting bicycle safety signage for State highways. A copy of the proposed letter is included in the Board’s materials. By approving the Consent Agenda, the Board will send a letter to the Vermont Agency of Transpiration requesting bicycle safety signage on State highways in Brattleboro.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
Vermont General Assistance Motel Program – Policy Consideration (6:35 PM)
Discussion by Selectboard
This discussion began at the April 21, 2026, Selectboard meeting. In a memorandum dated May 1, 2026, Town Manager John Potter discusses the Selectboard’s motion on the floor to table this item until a later meeting.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
Town Meeting Requested EMS Study (7:05 PM)
Presentation by Fire Department Staff
In memorandum dated April 13, 2026, Fire Chief Jay Symonds discusses the Town’s EMS service and compares the Town’s service with Third-Party EMS Providers.
POTENTIAL MOTIONS:
1. TO FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE AP TRITON EMS FEASIBILITY STUDY AS THE TOWN’S MOST RECENT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS.
2. TO RELY ON ONGOING OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REPORTING TO MONITOR EMS PERFORMANCE, COSTS, AND REIMBURSEMENTS.
3. TO DIRECT STAFF RESOURCES TOWARD SYSTEM STABILIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT, INCLUDING WORKFORCE RETENTION, TRAINING, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, RATHER THAN DUPLICATE ANALYSIS.
Committee Appointments (7:45 PM)
Appointments made by Selectboard
The Board is asked to make appointments to various Town Boards and Committees. Included in the Board’s materials are a list of committee vacancies and possible appointments as well as the committee applications from potential appointees.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TBA, APPOINTMENT OF VARIOUS APPOINTEES TO COMMITTEES. REGULAR BUSINESS
Western Avenue Intersection Study (7:50 PM)
Presentation by Town Staff
In a memorandum dated April 27, 2026, Planning Director Sue Fillion discusses the Western Avenue Area Study and the results of several discussions with the Town’s Traffic Safety Committee on this topic. The Board is asked to consider these recommendations and the input received by the public and the Traffic Safety Committee when making decisions about this work.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO MOTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
Solid Waste Update and Ordinance Change – Second Reading (8:40 PM)
Presentation by Town Staff
In a memorandum dated April 29, 2026, Assistant Director of Public Works Pete Lynch discusses proposed changes to the Brattleboro Code of Ordinances Chapter 7 Ordinance Regulating Solid Waste. This is a second reading. The Board is asked to consider the proposed changes and potentially adopt them.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ADOPT THE CHANGES TO THE BRATTLEBORO CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER SEVEN REGULATING SOLID WASTE, AS PRESENTED.
Records Retention Policy (9:00 PM)
Presentation by Town Attorneys
In a memorandum dated May 1, 2026, Town Manager John Potter discusses a potential records retention policy. Included in the Board’s materials is a memorandum from Assistant Town Attorney Hannah Clarisse and a copy of the DRAFT Policy.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO APPROVE THE TOWN’S RECORD RETENTION POLICY, AS PRESENTED.
Selectboard 2026-27 Rules of Procedure (9:20 PM)
Discussion by the Selectboard
In a memorandum dated May 1, 2026, Town Manager John Potter discusses possible changes to the Selectboard’s 2026-27 Selectboard Rules of Procedure.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TBD, POSSIBLY TO REVISE THE 2026-2027 RULES OF PROCEDURE, AS DISCUSSED.
Hotel Voucher or death
Chairman Heller did a good job in organizing the discussion. Speaking for Brattleboro Common Sense (BCS), my comment is expanded here.
BCS operated the emergency homeless shelter in RVs for two years on private land in Brattleboro, until it was shut down by the ill-advised lawsuits from the town. We also experimented with other cheap emergency alternatives to large institutional shelters and hotels. There is some unproductive black-or-white thinking here: hotel or nothing. This kind of thinking underlay the town’s campaign against our shelter in RVs. The health officer said it was safer to sleep in the snow. Homeless people, if they can’t have a hotel or an RV, still need some basic necessities, and some of them only want a patch of dry level ground, and would benefit greatly from such a spot on someone’s porch or in a garage or back yard, or in a van or car. It was reported in VT Digger that in 2023 nineteen homeless people died in Brattleoro from long-term health effects of exposure. We know people who left the BCS RV shelter and later died because of sleeping in a tent on muddy ground for months — Lisa, whom many of you know, Scottie’s wife — she got persistent respiratory infections, that spread to her heart, and she died. We know another homeless man who had an insane intolerance of being indoors. He wanted to be un-sheltered, even in winter. Some people just can’t get along in large crowded shelters, and they get expelled . Most homeless people would surely prefer a hotel or an RV, but without those they just need dry level ground, that many people can offer. These methods we tested out are super-cheap and do-able for one person at a time. Unfortunately, because of the town’s lawsuits and threats to investigate people who helped BCS, people are afraid that it is illegal for them to help homeless people directly on private land. The selectboard should dispel these fears and find ways to encourage people to help. The board should start a committee, a prominent committee designed to engage the public with open zoom meetings like the board, that start an hour after the board’s regular meetings.
Brattleboro Common Sense
brmse.org