Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes – Nov 21, 2023

Budget season is underway at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. Reports and budget requests from BDCC, SeVEDS, and the DBA are scheduled, as is the draft FY25 budget. There will also be ordinance changes, software explanations, and an update from the fire department.

You can bring up other issues not on the agenda during public participation. (Except that one issue, whatever it is, that the Chair will not allow discussion of at the meeting.)


Selectboard Meeting Notes – No Business Likes Snow Business

selectboard february 15, 2022

The Brattleboro selectboard had strong words for downtown property owners over sidewalk snow removal. It was a good old-fashioned Selectboard -DBA battle for a while there, when the downtown organization tried to pass responsibility for clearing snow to the Town.  No, insisted the board. Building owners have always been required to clear it, and if the downtown organization feels it is a shabby job, perhaps they should pay to use a more professional service. Take that.

They also raced through some public hearings, updates and reports.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Budgets, Capital Expenses, Living Memorial Park and Sidewalks

selectboard november 16

At the first regular meeting in-person at Central Fire Station the Brattleboro Selectboard discussed funding requests for the downtown organization and SeVEDS, then looked deeply at planned capital improvements, including new plans for Living Memorial Park on the horizon.

The board also contemplated using infrastructure funds to replace all the sidewalks in town.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – November 16, 2021

Budget season continues for the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting which, by the way, will be the first to be held at Central Fire Station. For this meeting, the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance will offer up their proposed budget and workplan for FY23, SeVEDS will do the same, and the board will take a deeper look into equipment replacement, capital projects, and planning for major improvements to Living Memorial Park.

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


Selectboard Meeting Notes – They Like Us, Union Station, and Great Rates

Selectboard October 5

Promotion of Brattleboro was a primary topic at the regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard Tuesday. Blue Whale Public Relations had some typical Zoom-related delays but otherwise gave a solid report on their early efforts to reach out to the media.

Hybrid meetings will continue for a while longer, favorable financing for the water treatment facility was announced, new stop signs are official, and Union Station might be sold for a dollar in order to save as much as $100,000.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – December 1, 2020

Goodbye, Archery Building. At their next meeting, the Brattleboro Selectboard will be voting to tear down the old train yard building to make room for paved parking spaces.

They will also hear another first reading of the proposed Rental Housing ordinance, hear updates on community marketing and the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, consider tax exemptions for five properties, and continue with their review of the FY22 budget. If you are so inclined, you can add to the agenda by bringing up other items during public participation.


Selectboard Special Meeting Notes – FY21 Budget Overview

The Brattleboro Selectboard got a first look at the FY21 proposed Town Budget. Your taxes will be going up. By how much exactly will be determined over the next several meetings.

The board heard more about opioid lawsuits, learned about the Department of Public Works and Recreation and Parks Department budgets, heard about marketing Brattleboro generally and possibly to “homosexual couples,” and learned of doings at the downtown organization.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Agenda Placed On Next Agenda

selectboard nov 5 2019

The Brattleboro Selectboard started their meeting a bit late and ended it quite early, with a rare move of taking nearly everything major off of the agenda and moving it to next week. The reason? Two absent board members.

Almost the entire agenda will be added to next week’s agenda, making next week’s special meeting a whopper.


Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – November 5, 2019

Town Manager Peter Elwell will give the board a first look at the proposed FY21 budget at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The  board will also hear an update on the community marketing plan, learn about the downtown alliance work plan for the next year, join a opioid-related lawsuit, consider changes for Green Street traffic safety, upfit a pair of police vehicles, and more. You can bring up other things not currently on the agenda during public participation.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Goodbye, Martha RIP

Brattleboro Selectboard

With just three members, the Brattleboro Selectboard said farewell and thank you to Martha O’Connor, who passed away earlier this week.

The reduced  board discussed the small issue of rising waters with the Hinsdale Bridge project, the failed search for a marketing firm, and efforts to become more compassionate in town. The Windham and Windsor Housing Trust got the go-ahead for a grant application to help homeowners, a citizen volunteered to shadow the Town Manager at state meetings of VLCT, and the meeting was done by a very reasonable hour.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 3, 2019

The Hinsdale Bridge project inches forward at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. The board will also learn details of the $40k plan to market some aspects of Brattleboro to some other people somewhere.

Compassionate Brattleboro will give an update on their progress, winter heating oil will be bought, grants will be applied for, and more. You can always bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Climate Emergency, Homelessness, Addiction, and Flowers

Brattleboro Selectboard

Before the Brattleboro Selectboard could get to regular business, they heard from many agitated citizens on issues such as the homeless, flowers, and librarians getting paid less than homeless day work program employees. This was interrupted by a climate emergency protest, adding to the list of grievances.

Eventually the board got tho their scheduled business of updates on the DBA and Project CARE, approving of contracts, a short discussion of childcare at public meetings, and more. It was quite an outpouring of interest in local government, from many angles.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – November 20, 2018

It’s the return of the 1% Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) at the next Brattleboro Selectboard meeting. The board will try once again to convince residents and businesses to add a 1% sales tax to purchases in the ‘boro, despite competition from online shopping and nearby states.

The Downtown Brattleboro Alliance will give their semi-annual report and present a budget for the coming year, a private drive will be named, finances reviewed, and the board will discuss housing, and economic & community development.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda, or a side dish, by attending the meeting at the Municipal Center on Tuesday.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Write-In Procedures Questioned; Body Cams Coming

The Brattleboro Selectboard began discussing a repeal of a 2011 Town Charter change to stop counting local write-in votes unless the write-in candidate had declared an intention to serve. 

The board heard a semi-annual update from the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, approved of paving, police cars, body cameras for police officiers, and disc golf improvements. Snow sports at Living Memorial Park will continue, we have a new road in town, and new members were appointed to committees.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 17, 2018

At the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard, the police will ask for approval of a contract for body worn cameras. Axon, of Scottsdale, AZ is the proposed vendor.

The board will buy some police cruisers, hear a semi-annual report from the designated downtown organization, approve of grants for disc golf improvements and paving, review goals, and name a road. They will also begin a discussion election write-in procedures, and more.

As always, you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.