Finance

Town of Brattleboro Welcomes SerahRose Bissell as Finance Director

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro has named SerahRose Bissell as its new Finance Director. Bissell brings extensive experience in financial management, accounting, and organizational operations through her work as the founder of Aerialist Accounting, a Massachusetts- based consulting firm that supports nonprofits of all sizes.

Bissell, who earned a Master of Science in Accounting, has helped organizations build sustainable accounting practices and improve internal processes to ensure compliance. Among her more recent work, Bissell has developed protocols for a nonprofit that will enable the company to manage its own accounting independently rather than relying on a third-party vendor.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Uncategorized

The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 5:00pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – September 24th

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special regular meeting on Wednesday September 24, 2025 (NOT TUESDAY) to avoid interfere with Rosh Hashanah. At this meeting, they will approve an epic list of consent agenda items, then hear about changes to the parking system. 

There will also be a public hearing about possibly replacing a bridge on Dettman Drive, decide on a process for warning all the various petitions and options. The board will hear from the Finance Committee, and appoint citizens to town committees.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.

The Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 8:00am in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – 69A Elliot Street and June Financial Report

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard aug 5 2025

The first regular meeting of the month was relatively short, though the public took full advantage of Public Participation. Many talked about a beautiful space on Elliot Street,  69A, that is part art gallery, part safe space, part… whatever you want it to be.

The board also heard a summary of the June 2025 Finance Report. It is the almost-final report that could change, but is nearing a stage where an auditor can look it over. Except the Town is having a bit of trouble finding an auditor.

Brattleboro Selectboard Retreat and Meeting Agendas

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a”retreat” to plot and plan their upcoming year. They’ll spend the afternoon coming up with 3-5 refined priorities. Once that is done, they have 10 minutes set aside to hear from the public about what the public might want done. There is 10 minutes set aside for this, after all decisions have already been made.  There is more time in the meeting scheduled for breaks than hearing from the public.

The next day they will hold a regular meeting with just a couple of items.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro RTM Human Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 6:30pm in the Planning Services Conference Room in the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, 2nd Floor).

The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 6:00pm in Room 304 in the Municipal Center (230 Main Street)

Selectboard Meeting Notes – More Parking System Changes; Old Hinsdale Bridges Uncertain Future

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard May 6 2025

The Brattleboro Selectboard had a regular meeting and approved of more changes to the recently-changed parking system. Zones will get new names, there will be new signs and stickers, rates and times will change, and more. This will make it easier for everyone, the Town assures us.

There are big beautiful plans by locals in Brattleboro for the old Hinsdale bridges, but they are owned primarily by New Hampshire and that side of the river isn’t too keen on maintaining them in the long term. It will take might private efforts to make something happen at this juncture, but a “balanced” letter will be sent to the NH DOT, with or without support from Hinsdale.

And Kate O’Connor is again director of the Chamber of Commerce.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – May 2, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

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.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Long Term Planning To Return, EMS Numbers Reported

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard april 15 2025

The Brattleboro Selectboard, meeting for some regular business and a discussion of the evolving FY26 budget, were able to agree on a few structural budget issues – to have a long term financial plan once again and to have a capital equipment and a capital infrastructure plans as well. 

The new fire chief praised his amazing staff, and all town departments. He also gave the first accounting of what EMS services were costing the taxpayers. Solid waste and mural discussions were postponed. And the 12% tax increase was really just 6% if you average it with some other numbers.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – April 15, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard continues their month of many meetings with a regular meeting on Tuesday where they will approve of some paving grants, approve a new mural, discuss tax stabilization for a farm, and get financial and fire updates. 

The big item should be the budget discussion about solid waste options.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Monday, April 14, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.

The Charter Revision Commission will meet Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 7:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday February 19, 2025 at 6:15 in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Rm. 211).

The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, February 20, 2025 in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Rm. 211).  

The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 8:00am in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom(230 Main Street, Rm. 212).

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 4:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.

The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Quarterly Reports Highlight Successes and Vulnerabilities

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard feb 4 2025

The first regular meeting of February for the Brattleboro Selectboard was mostly a series of quarterly reports, punctuated by questions about EMS billing and budgets. The board learned that the bad-sounding audit will not really be as bad-sounding as it sounds. Just wait. You’ll see.

Notable – parking revenues are down,  the downtown safety plan is beginning to take shape, Golden Cross is having problems collecting revenue for us, and a few candidates came to use public participation to show that they are involved.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – February 4, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will begin the process of changing utility rates by having consultants come to explain the Utility Rate Study they are about to undertake.

The board will also hear quarterly updates from the police department, fire department, and finance office.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.