Select Board Retreat – August 6, 2025

The Brattleboro Select Board held a retreat on August 6, 2025 (notable discrepancy: the transcript references the meeting beginning on August 4, 2025) to review town plans, past priorities, and set new goals for the coming year. The meeting included a review of existing plans, discussion of board priorities, brainstorming of new ideas, ranking of priorities, and discussions on the budget process and procedural improvements. The board finalized five priority areas and outlined next steps for implementation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lively Boyds, a lifelong resident, expressed strong opposition to the new trash collection contract, calling it more expensive and less effective than the previous system. He criticized the town's potential expenditure of $700,000 on a police station downtown after recently moving to Harmony Lot, and urged the board to let the town manager make decisions as a professional. He also advised against the town taking on the Hinsdale bridge and called for more deference to Town Manager John R. He spoke for approximately 10 minutes.

Discussion Items

• Ground Rules & Logistics: The facilitator established ground rules for the retreat, including mental presence, active listening, a "yes and" approach, and breaks every hour. The agenda included a review of plans, priority setting, budget discussion, and process improvements.
• Review of Town Plans: Planning Director Sue F. presented updates on key plans:
  • Hazard Mitigation Plan (adopted 2022): Key project is the Whetstone Brook floodplain restoration at 250 Birge Street; challenges include federal funding uncertainty and staff turnover.
  • Walk/Bike Action Plan: Canal Street corridor study completed; grants obtained for sidewalk connections near the high school; Bridge Street redesign RFP issued. Funding and state route requirements are challenges.
  • Housing Action Plan: Actions include land use regulation changes, participation in the housing coalition, studying town-owned properties, and obtaining state designations. Outside factors and staff capacity remain barriers.
  • Downtown Design Plan: Projects include Ridge Street redesign, Depot Street activation, library patio improvements, and new murals. Funding and competing priorities are challenges.
  • Canal Street Corridor Plan: State paving project moved from 2026 to 2025, limiting time for changes. Conversations ongoing about line striping.
  • Town Plan: Expiring in May 2026, currently being rewritten by the Planning Commission. The board encouraged earlier collaboration with the Planning Commission.
• Charter Duties Review: The board reviewed their powers and duties under the town charter, including establishing police, fire, rescue services, roads, and property management. The distinction between powers and mandatory responsibilities was discussed; Town Manager John noted legal counsel may be needed.
• Past Priorities (2023-2025): John reviewed the board's past priority areas: transportation center improvements, town pool vision, community safety, safety zones (unfinished), and housing initiatives (fueled by land use changes). Revenue sharing advocacy was also a focus, with John estimating 100-120 hours spent on it. The board discussed operationalizing certain items like revenue sharing and housing.
• Brainstorming New Priorities: Each board member presented their top ideas:
  • Oscar: A low single-digit budget increase without drawing from long-term reserves.
  • Peter: Increase revenues without property tax hikes (spitballing gas tax, land sales, TIF districts, short-term rental taxes, parking fees). Also suggested growing the grand list.
  • Amanda: Day labor program with a nonprofit for beautification and job training, based on a past pilot program.
  • Liz: Continue exploring revenue sharing with the state and educate the community about it.
  • Isaac: Develop the town's capacity to accept volunteer expertise and charitable donations; consider a budget advisory committee.
  • Additional ideas from the board included: covered bridge rental for revenue, setting up a town charitable donation system, expanding shelter for extreme weather and including unhoused voices, Flat Street rejuvenation, expanding housing stock, child safety zones, and promoting business sector diversity.
• Priority Ranking and Selection: The board conducted ranked-choice voting on all ideas. Initial results showed: (1) increase revenues without property taxes (13 points), (2) continue revenue sharing (11 points), (3) child safety zones (10 points), (4) expanding housing stock (6 points), and a three-way tie for fifth at 5 points (FY27 budget, financial responsibility/health, incentivizing private property camping). After a re-vote on the last four items, the board selected two additional priorities (FY27 budget and financial responsibility/health), resulting in five final priorities. The list is: increase revenues, revenue sharing, child safety zones, housing stock, and financial responsibility/health (including the FY27 budget process).
• Budget Process Discussion: The board agreed to forgo a budget fair this year and instead have department heads present their budgets at select board meetings. They also planned a pre-budget listening session in early fall (likely October) and will meet with the RTM Finance Committee on September 9, 2025, to discuss their 10 recommendations.
• Process Improvements: The board discussed public comment time limits, with a commitment to enforce three minutes strictly. The chair noted the importance of fairness and educating the public. There was also discussion on the use of titles in correspondence and press interactions, concluding that board officers should use their titles only when directed by the board or when clearly stating personal opinions.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Five Priorities for 2025-2027: The board agreed on five priority areas (to be formally adopted in September):
  1. Increase revenues without raising property taxes (explore gas tax, land sales, TIFs, and other local measures).
  2. Continue to explore state revenue sharing and educate the public.
  3. Advance child safety zones (possibly through restorative justice partnerships).
  4. Expand the housing stock (continue land use changes, education, and town property development).
  5. Ensure financial responsibility and health of the town (including FY27 budget development, long-term financial planning, and road maintenance).
• Budget Process Decisions: No budget fair; department head presentations at select board meetings and a public listening session before the budget is drafted (likely October). Meeting with RTM Finance Committee scheduled for September 9.
• Action Items: John will share the priorities with department heads and bring a formal motion to adopt them to the September select board meeting. Staff will compile and publish all adopted board policies on the town website. The board will revisit legislative priorities in September/October.
• Date Discrepancy: The transcript indicates the retreat began on August 4, 2025, but the provided timestamp is August 6, 2025. This summary uses the date from the timestamp per instructions.