News and information sections, from near to far
2025-6 Winston L Prouty Center for Child Development Inc; Mixed Use District; request for Site Plan Approval to Demolish existing building and construct a 3-story apartment building with 28 units, 22 stall parking lot and site improvements; subdivide to create development lot at 300 Maple Street; Tax Map Parcel # 110367.000
At 20:45 on January 20, 2025, the Brattleboro Fire Department was dispatched to 32 Justin Holden Drive (Fulflex) for a fire alarm activation. The first arriving crews found moderate smoke in the commercial structure. Shortly thereafter, Captain Casabona reported a fire in the machine room with a possible extension into the exhaust system. With this information, the incident was upgraded to a second alarm.
Utilities crews are on the scene of a water main break on Putney Road near the M&T Bank Operations Center. Staff is assessing the situation and will provide updates as soon as possible. Water pressure throughout the system has been affected. Traffic on Putney Road between Town Crier Drive and Noah’s Lane will be restricted. Motorists should seek alternate routes.
We apologize again for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to fix the problem.
The Brattleboro Selectboard has one final chance to cut their FY26 spending at Tuesday night’s regular meeting. More likely it will be approved as is.
The board will also take a third look at the ordinance governing the downtown improvement district. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 6:15 in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.
The Brattleboro Human Services Allocations are ready. The Human Services Allocation spreadsheet can be found at the Town website: https://brattleboro.gov/representative-town-meeting.
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all Brattleboro Town Offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Monday, January 20. All other violations will be enforced.
The Brattleboro Town Auditor’s report is currently available at the Town Manager’s Office at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street) and on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.gov
The third installment of the 2024 Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due by 5 p.m. on February 17, 2025. Payments made after February 17, 2025 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.
The Town of Brattleboro utility bills are also due by 5 p.m. on February 17, 2025. Payments made after February 17, 2025 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.
The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 8:00am in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Rm. 212) and over Zoom.
The Brattleboro Charter Revision Commission will meet on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Board Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Rm. 212) and over Zoom.
“There’s no doubt many communities, businesses, and families are struggling. But it’s not hard to see that Northwest Vermont is doing BETTER than all the others. It’s not to say this region doesn’t have challenges, but, for the most part, it’s where you see a lower percentage of kids in poverty, lower energy costs, higher median incomes, higher home values, and more new housing being built. And while we’re desperate for workers across the state, the size of the workforce in Chittenden and Franklin counties is the highest it’s been in recent history.”
On Wednesday, Isaac Evans-Frantz submitted to the Brattleboro Town Clerk 120 petition signatures to appear on the ballot for Brattleboro Selectboard. That is 4 times the amount needed by law to get on the ballot. By the end of the day the town clerk had confirmed that Isaac will in fact appear on the ballot for a one-year position. The election is March 4 at the American Legion.
“Brattleboro faces major nationwide challenges – an opioid crisis, a housing shortage, a growing gap between the wealthiest and poorest people, and a climate emergency,” Isaac said. “Brattleboro needs a new leader who will help make our town safe, affordable, and welcoming for all.”
The Brattleboro Selectboard approved their revised FY26 budget with a 12% property tax increase without further changes, ignoring a great deal of feedback from the Finance Committee and members of the public that there were other items to consider and concerns that root problems were being put off for future years.
The board agreed that no cuts to staff will be considered. Staff positions in Brattleboro are seemingly guaranteed forever.
The board also asked that the community be more respectful when taking about municipal affairs, and laughed at Liz’s serious suggestion to tax cats.
In the event you did not get the opportunity to hear the Homelessness Press Conference held Dec 23, 2024, a video is now available courtesy of Town Meeting TV.
The first regular meeting of the new year for the Brattleboro Selectboard…. and I’m not really sure what happened beyond the first few minutes. Gophers were nibbling on the internet tubes or something.
2025-2 Windham Windsor Housing Trust for the Ursula Dalem Life Estate; Residential Neighborhood 5400 District; request for Traditional Neighborhood Planned Unit Development Preliminary Approval and Site Plan and Conditional Use Approval for a Traditional Neighborhood PUD with 70 housing units. The development will be built in 3 phases: Rental phase 1, Homeownership phase 1, and Rental phase 2.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 5:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will be taking another look at the FY26 budget at the first regular meeting of 2025. They made some cuts to services at their last meeting and will review the impact of their decisions thus far. Will they do more?
The board will hold a second reading of changes to the ordinance governing the Downtown Improvement District. If everyone likes it, it will be approved as well. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Brooks Memorial Library, Mezzanine Room.
The Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 4:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.
The Charter Revision Commission will meet on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom.
The Finance Committee of Representative Town Meeting approved the following resolution at its 18 December meeting:
The Finance Committee is concerned that the Selectboard was unwilling to consider staff cuts during its December 17 discussion for reducing the FY26 budget, relying instead on cuts to services and deferrals to FY27. The Finance Committee calls upon the Selectboard to instruct the Town Manager to present to the Selectboard a list of potential staff cuts to consider for FY26 at its next meeting. We recognize that the concept of staff cuts is painful, but we believe that considering it is an essential part of the responsible management of the Town.
