For stories pertaining to the town of Brattleboro at large and its government.
In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro Town Offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Tuesday, November 11. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 6:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom.
The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Room 211).
Last week’s Brattleboro Town newsletter has updates on safety measures, the forthcoming budget listening session, parking info, tips for managing fall leaves, info about ski/skate/snowboard equipment sale coming up this weekend. And opportunities to join a board or committee. See such Town updates on the web: https://brattleboro.gov/blog
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!
The Town of Brattleboro Department of Public Works will be closing Williston Street on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to complete necessary repairs to a failed stormwater structure.
During this time, Williston Street will be closed to through traffic. Access for residents will be limited as follows:
Your Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee would like to alert you to the Selectboard’s second (and last planned) “listening session” to hear from the public as they begin the budget season for FY27. (The Town Manager’s budget message can be found, pp 42-60 in the packet for the Board’s 4 November meeting.)
The “listening session” at Brooks Memorial Library will begin at 6:15 pm on Wednesday 12 November.
The Brattleboro Selectboard has some typically hot-button issues on their next agenda – the solid waste contract, the FY27 budget, the quarterly fire department report, and EMS billings and collections.
You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Class 1 paving project is finishing up throughout downtown. Crews are working on VT 9 (Western Avenue and High Street) and will be finishing up in areas on U.S. 5 (Canal Street and Main Street). Work to be done includes hand painting (symbols, stop bars, crosswalks, etc.), sign installation, and some signal work.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet at 6:30pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Room 211).
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 4:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Room 211).
Big things are happening at our Boys & Girls Club here in town! Take a look and hear what an impact folks like STACY BLACKADAR have on our youth….And she shares her stories of working for the Vt. Cheese Council, Hardy Catering, and her own music venue productions. She’s an all-around dynamo!
Ames Hill Road will be closed to all through traffic on Monday, October 27, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The closure will occur between 264 Ames Hill Road and the intersection of Covey Road to allow a private contractor, working on behalf of Green Mountain Power (GMP), to replace a culvert as part of GMP’s continued efforts to relocate overhead power lines underground.
Due to the Halloween Holiday on Friday, October 31st, 2025, crews will postpone their construction start as needed to accommodate trick or treaters.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS:
Brattleboro NH PC 25(6)
Nighttime single-lane closures will be in place as needed Monday night through Saturday morning from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for work on Vermont Route 9 (Western Avenue and High Street), U.S. Route 5 (Main and Canal Street), and Vermont Route 30 (Linden Street). Flaggers will be present to direct one-way alternating traffic through the work zones. Motorists should watch for wet paint.
The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 5:00pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom.
Brooks Memorial Library, along with the Brattleboro Finance and Planning Departments, will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, for training and staff development. These closures will not impact other services inside the Municipal Center, including Brattleboro Community TV and the Brattleboro Historical Society, which will both be open during their regular hours that day.
Brooks Memorial Library will reopen to the public on Friday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m. The Finance and Planning Departments will reopen on Friday, Oct. 31, at 8:30 a.m.
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.
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.
Between Vermont Avenue and Noah’s Lane, crews will work on bridge joints and the painting operation will move to this location after paint is complete in the downtown area.
Once this section is complete and in the next few weeks, crews plan to move the active work zone from night shift to day shift and to continue to make progress on U.S. 5 from the Brattleboro/Dummerston town line north toward Putney.
The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:
ADA Committee
Conservation Commission
Design Review Board (Alternate)
Development Review Board
In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, October 13, 2025, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Monday, Monday, October 13, 2025. All other violations will be enforced.
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.
