Selectboard

Selectboard Meeting Notes – A Long Winter’s Eve and It’s A Wonderful Life

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard december 2

Despite the weather conditions, the Brattleboro Selectboard went forth with their first meeting of December.  Being a very long meeting, I decided to jump in somewhere around the time of the discussion of health care changes and voting on RTM, which appeared on the agenda for roughly 8:15, which was actually more like 9pm.

The board covered the DPW, Rec & Parks, Library and DID budget requests. Interestingly, they decided to hold public hearing to gather important feedback from the public about declaring an emergency and making it more difficult for social service and charitable use organizations to exist. This will be at a special meeting of the selectboard to be held December 22nd, overseen by Mr. Potter. 

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – December 2, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will continue work on the FY27 budget at their first regular meeting in December. From the way it is scheduled, this could be a VERY long meeting. The agenda-setters have the final item beginning AFTER 10 PM, and we all know how good they are at estimating agenda starting times.

In addition to hearing from Rec & Parks, the Library, the downtown organization, and Public Works about their budgets for FY27, the board will take up the bigger items of a change of health care providers, a discussion of options for voting to end Representative Town meeting, a new potential zoning change to start controlling “social assistance or charitable services” through conditional use permits, a monthly budget update, and anything else the public wants to bring up during public participation.

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

by cgrotke | Town News
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

by cgrotke | Town News

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.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda Nov 12, 2025

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Main Room to hold a Budget Listening Session. Please note that there will be no Zoom component to this meeting. Directly after the conclusion of the Listening Session, the Board is expected to enter into executive session to discuss relations with employees, contracts, and public safety.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – FY27 Property Tax Guess 4.4%; PAYT Bag Costs Up

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard nov 3, 2025

It was a lot of numbers at the first regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard for November.  The first pass at a proposed FY27 budget gave us the number 4.4%, which is the amount property taxes might increase. It might go up more, though, warned the public.

There was a presentation about cost savings for the new solid waste plan. Those cost savings have a cost, however. PAYT bags are back and will be more expensive, plus the town will add  staff and equipment to the DPW to pick up compost.

The board heard a monthly finance report and got a quarterly update and EMS Policy Billing review by the fire department.

Also, Brattleboro has a new annual circus festival underway. Get in touch with NECCA for more info!

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Interaction, SeVEDS, Legislators, and a New Trail

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard oct 21 2025

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a long regular meeting, learning about programs and opportunities with Interaction, hearing an update about BDCC/SeVEDS, and holding an extended conversation with state legislators about the Town’s legislative suggestions thought up by town staff.

Most interesting, beyond a hint that education taxes in Brattleboro could go way down, was talk of a new waterfront trail along the Connecticut River from the old Hinsdale bridge southward. Dreams of connecting this future trail to the West River  Trail linger.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 21, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will again hold a meeting on a Tuesday evening, and they will discuss a new pedestrian and bike path being planned for along the Connecticut River.

They’ll also get annual updates from Interaction, and BDCC and SeVEDS. They’ll also learn about housing possibilities in town-owned properties and review their legislative priorities. You can bring up other items during public participation if they aren’t already on the agenda.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – October 16, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

When the Brattleboro Selectboard has their regular Tuesday meeting… on Thursday (?!), they will deal with both novel and routine items of business.

In the novel category there will be a discussion of a Festival of Miniatures, and approvals of permits for No Kings and Horribles. Routine items include changes to parking ordinances, talk about local roads, a monthly budget update, and more.

You can bring up other items in either category, if they are not already on the agenda, during Public Participation.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Oct 1, 2025

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom. This will be a very brief, one item meeting with no live stream. The materials for this meeting will be on the website by 5:00pm today.

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.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Groundworks Update and How To Decide How To Govern

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard sept 9 2025

The Brattleboro Selectboard held their first regular meeting in over a month. Top issue was Groundworks, who came to give an overview of recent stats and projects. People seemed most interested in a new project to build 40 beds near Morningside, and safety issues.

The other big discussion was about possible changes to the Charter. The results of the 2.5 years of Charter Revision Commission meetings were somewhat enhanced and overshadowed by members of the public being confused, asking to slow down, wanting consideration of other options such as certified petitions, potential petitions, special and regular meetings, informational meetings, educational programs, and legal issues.

The board made the firm decision to wait until their next regular meeting, not the listening session, to decide whether to discuss putting it on an agenda at a meeting in October to consider holding a special election on November.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agendas Sept 9 and 11, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold two meetings the week of September 8th – a regular meeting and a listening session.

Tuesday’s regular meeting features the presentation by the Charter Revision Commission regarding a new draft charter and an update from Groundworks.  The Thursday listening session is for the public to weigh in on the upcoming budget for FY27.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda at both meetings, but only the regular meeting will have the livestream and zoom elements. You have to be there in person to participate Thursday.

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.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Summer Is Fines & The Living is Fee-zy

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard july 22 2025

The second regular meeting of July for the Brattleboro Selectboard was focused on properties. How much should we fine owners of vacant properties, can we ask the pesky, service-sucking non-profits in town to cough up some cold hard cash every quarter, and how much should we raise water and sewer rates?  

The former Home Depot building eyesore, however, is exempt and not vacant according to the way the Town wrote the ordinance. And some questioned why the Town RTM would give money, then ask for it back.

And, there was more discussion of Henry George at a public meeting than there has been in perhaps over a century. : )

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – July 22, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

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.