Selectboard Meeting Notes – Solid Waste, Fireworks, Police, and Fire

selectboard nov 17

The Brattleboro Selectboard was focused on budget and finance issues for most of their meeting. Near the beginning of the long meeting, they adopted a new solid waste plan, agreed to a contract with Casella for three years, and decided to add additional fees to the already-increased PAYT bag costs in an effort to help keep expenses down for some people in a program TBD.

Fireworks are expensive, but drones are even more expensive so Brattleboro will continue to pay for the joyful explosions upsetting pets and people with PTSD.

In the budget presentations, the police department made accusations against a selectboard member that they said accused the police department when asking questions at a recent meeting.  And the fire department really wants a 42 hour work week and four platoons instead of the 56 hour week and three platoons they currently suffer under.


Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – November 18, 2025

The Brattleboro Selectboard will be working on the budget at their next regular meeting. The Police and Fire departments are scheduled to present their FY27 requests. The Town will also adopt a new solid waste contract and program, raising your PAYT bag prices and having DPW expand to pick up compost.

The board will also discuss trespass warnings and fireworks, and you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Solid Waste and Substations: A Million Here, A Million There

selectboard oct 15 2024

It is the second Selectboard meeting of October, and more potential tax increases were considered. The cost of trash, recycling and compost will be going up substantially to cover the costs of the new automated robot arm collection system.  The Town says it isn’t that the new system is expensive, it is that the old system was way too cheap. Hints that the costs will skyrocket more after signing on were given.

The board discussed a million dollar plus plan to put a police substation, four public bathrooms, a community room, and new parking system offices at the Transportation Center.  They also heard from members of the public saying these costs were too much.

The board’s “Review of Debt Management Guidelines” was postponed to another meeting.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 15, 2024

The Brattleboro Selectboard will decide on a plan for trash, compost, and recycling at their next meeting. Two options will be presented. They will also be discussing a new downtown police station, the quarterly fire department report, human services and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Trash Talk

The Brattleboro Selectboard heard two overviews at their short Tuesday meeting. The first was regarding the very long process of relicensing the dams along the Connecticut River. They got the overview and agreed to send a letter to FERC outlining local desires for the relicensing plan.

The second overview was about the major changes to trash, recycling and organic waste collection in Brattleboro after July 1. The sole bidder for the collection contract, Casella, wants to use one-person trucks that use joystick-controlled grabbers to pick up new, special trash receptacles. Town staff will be gathering information from residents about how much more they are willing to pay, and if they’d like to contract directly with Casella, if all waste should be picked up every other week, what to do about already-bought bags and containers, and other important issues.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – April 16, 2024

Th Brattleboro Selectboard has a low impact agenda planned for the next regular meeting. One of the two big issues will be approving a letter regarding their opinion of relicensing the Vernon Dam.

The other issue is, heh heh,  who will pick up the trash? The board only got one bid, from current provider Casella.  Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland will suggest they punt this one down the road and gather input from the community before making any decisions.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda (as long as you are respectful) during Public Participation.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – New Chair, New Goals

selectboard april 5 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard, under new management of Chair Ian Goodnow, had their first regular meeting of April and their first long discussion. It was about goals and what they want to do in the coming year. They also had their first meeting in the Municipal Center in quite a long time, sitting closely without masks and wondering where members of the public might be.

The board approved of a catering license, loaned some more money for new housing, allowed short term rental in the parking garage, and more.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – April 5, 2022

A rather routine agenda awaits the “new” Brattleboro Selectboard at their first regular meeting of April 2022. A liquor license, lease agreements, board goals and assignments, and loans. The board will also discuss raising the fee for recycling.

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