It is a rare Brattleboro Selectboard meeting when there is a single item of new business. Tuesday’s meeting is one of them, and the sole topic is possible budget cuts of 5%, 10%, or more.
Watch as the board struggles to tame their mighty potential FY26 budget increase of over 20%. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
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The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town Website Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard by the end of today.
Jessica Sticklor (she/her/hers)
Executive Assistant
Town of Brattleboro
230 Main Street, Suite 208
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 251 – 8115
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BRATTLEBORO SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2024
SELECTBOARD MEETING ROOM + ZOOM
REGULAR MEETING – 6:15 PM
The physical location for this meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center at 230 Main Street. Selectboard Meeting materials can be found on the Town’s website, Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard. If you join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, please use this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659
The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:
860 6789 2659
Passcode: 12261753
You also can call in using your telephone
by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the United States:
833-548-0282
877-853-5247
888-788-0099
833-548-0276
(*6 Mute/Unmute – *9 Raise Hand)
The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV:
On Cable TV: Channel 1079
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv
AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
(please note that all times are approximate)
1. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING (6:15 PM)
2. APPROVE MINUTES –December 3, 2024
3. CHAIR’S REMARKS
4. MANAGER’S COMMENTS
5. SELECTBOARD COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (6:25 PM)
7. CONSENT AGENDA (6:30 PM)
A. Third Class Liquor License Renewal – Plated Bar and Restaurant
B. First and Third Class Liquor License and Outside Consumption Permit– Spring Tree Marina LLC
C. Utility Rate Study – Award $56,200 Contract
D. Certify the 2024 Grand List to the State for Errors and Omissions – Approve Final Changes
E. Better Roads Grant – Authorize Up To $20,080 Grant Application
F. Highway Division Vehicle #42 (Hot Box) – Authorize $55,000 Purchase
G. Assistance To Firefighters Grant – Authorize Grant Application
8. OLD BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. FY26 General Fund Budget / Possible Reductions
9. CORRESPONDENCE/FYI
A. Warrants and Department Reports
10. MEETINGS
See Town Calendar
11. ADJOURNMENT (8:55 PM)
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MEMORANDUM
To: Selectboard
From: John Potter, Town Manager
Re: Administrative Report
Date: December 13, 2024
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The following will summarize the proposed motions for the regular Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The Board will convene the regular meeting at 6:15 pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and on Zoom. All times listed below are approximate, and interested parties should monitor the meeting if they do not want to miss an agenda item.
Join the meeting from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86067892659
The “Meeting ID” for this meeting is:
860 6789 2659
Passcode: 12261753
You also can call in using your telephone
by dialing any of these toll-free numbers in the United States:
833-548-0282
877-853-5247
888-788-0099
833-548-0276
(use *6 to Mute/Unmute, *9 to raise Hand)
The meeting also will be carried live on BCTV:
On Cable TV: Channel 1079
Streaming Online: https://www.brattleborotv.org/channel-1079-livestream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Third Class Liquor License Renewal – Plated Bar and Restaurant
B. First and Third Class Liquor License and Outside Consumption Permit– Spring Tree Marina LLC
C. Utility Rate Study – Award $56,200 Contract
D. Certify the 2024 Grand List to the State for Errors and Omissions – Approve Final Changes
E. Better Roads Grant – Authorize Up To $20,080 Grant Application
F. Highway Division Vehicle #42 (Hot Box) – Authorize $55,000 Purchase
G. Assistance To Firefighters Grant – Authorize Grant Application
In a memorandum dated December 17, 2024 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the Third Class Liquor License application for Plated Restaurant & Bar. Staff have reviewed and recommend approval of this license. Representatives from Plated will be in the meeting to answer any questions, should this be pulled from the consent agenda. By approving the consent agenda, the Board would approve a Third Class Liquor License for Plated Restaurant & Bar.
In a memorandum dated December 17, 2024 Town Clerk Hilary Francis discusses the First and Third Class Liquor License and Outside Consumption Permit applications for Springtree Marina, located at 28 Springtree Road. Staff have reviewed and recommend approval of these licenses. Ms. Pamela Merrigan will be in the meeting to answer any questions, should this be pulled from the consent agenda. By approving the consent agenda, the Board would approve a First and Third Class Liquor License and Outside Consumption Permit for Springtree Marina, located at 28 Springtree Road.
In a memorandum dated December 9, 2024 DPW Director Dan Tyler discusses the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for a water and sewer rate study and recommends that the Board accept the proposal from NewGen Strategies and Solutions for $56,200. $75,000 was budged for this study. By approving the consent agenda, the Board would accept the NewGen Strategies and Solutions’ proposal to perform a water and sanitary sewer rate study for a total cost of $56,200.
In a memorandum dated December 11, 2024 Town Assessor Jenepher Burnell discusses the 4 changes to the Grand List and asks the Board to review and certify the Errors and Omissions changes to the 2024 Grand List. By approving the consent agenda, the Board would approve the Errors and Omissions certificate to the State.
In a memorandum dated December 5, 2024 DPW Director Dan Tyler requests approval to apply for the FY25 Vermont Better Roads Grant. This funding helps municipalities complete Road Erosion Inventory Reassessments in compliance with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Municipal Roads General Permit. By approving the Consent agenda, the Board would approve the application to the FY25 Vermont Better Roads Grant.
In a memorandum dated December 9, 2024 Public Works Director Dan Tyler requests authorization to purchase a replacement Highway Division vehicle #42, a pavement hot box/recycler that is used to maintain hot asphalt. This purchase will be made through the Capital Paving line item in the budget, which has sufficient funds to cover this purchase. By approving the consent agenda, the Board would authorize the replacement purchase of Highway Division vehicle #42 from Alta Equipment Co., of Hookset, NH for a total cost of $55,000.
In a memorandum dated December 12, 2024 Assistant Fire Chief Charles Keir requests authorization to apply for the 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for approximately $200,000. This will allow the Fire Department to improve its capabilities in technical rescue through training and equipment. The AFG has a financial match of 10% for a community the size of Brattleboro. The costs associated with this grant would be covered in the FY26 Fire Department Budget. By approving the consent agenda the Board would approve the application for the 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for approximately $200,000.
POTENTIAL MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS PRESENTED.
8. NEW BUSINESS (6:35 PM)
A. FY26 General Fund Budget Update / Possible Reductions
In a memorandum dated December 13, 2024 Town Manager John Potter provides an update on the FY26 General Fund Budget and discusses possible reductions at 5%, 10%, and beyond 10% of the proposed budget. The Board is asked to provide feedback on this matter.
POTENTIAL MOTION: NO ACTION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
