Brattleboro Select Board Meeting - October 21, 2025 (Recorded Oct 23)

The Brattleboro Select Board convened on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to approve the consent agenda, receive updates from community organizations, and hold a detailed discussion with the state legislative delegation regarding municipal priorities. Key discussions included the cessation of town leaf collection, the launch of a community volunteer leaf pickup initiative, economic development funding, a new pedestrian pathway proposal, and critical state-level issues regarding housing, drug trafficking, and juvenile justice.

Consent Calendar

• The Select Board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included application for a $20,000 Vermont Better Roads grant for South Street rehabilitation and the official announcement of several town board vacancies.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Terry Carter (Resident): Expressed strong disappointment regarding the lack of timely communication and website updates concerning the cancellation of public leaf pickup, noting that residents were unaware of the change despite prior assumptions. Carter urged the town to revert to proactive communication practices.
• Steve Zeluzy (Resident): Noted a historical article regarding the 1700s "poor house," suggesting that modern policy should consider how communities historically supported their own residents versus attracting external populations that may strain resources.
• Dick DeGrow (Resident): Questioned the human services director's stipend, the advertising status of the finance director position, and the significant overtime costs in the police and fire departments. DeGrow also raised concerns regarding police speeding and the fiscal responsibility of the board regarding these costs.
• Heidi (Resident): Asked if Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) has specific outreach programs for the new immigrant and refugee community interested in entrepreneurship.
• Dick DeGray (Resident): Provided historical context on BDCC funding shifts and suggested state-level gas tax increases and higher fees for overweight trucks to generate municipal revenue.
• Randy Blodge (District 7 RTM): Cautioned the board against raising taxes to fund new initiatives, urging a focus on budget efficiency and zero-sum budgeting to avoid increasing the tax burden.
• Ian Goodnow (State Rep, District 9): Offered support for the Connecticut River Pathway project, emphasizing the importance of entrance design to welcome users from Amtrak and the community.
• Christine Hazard (Executive Director, Brattleboro Housing Partnerships): Expressed appreciation for "radical collaboration" within the town but highlighted the critical difficulty in removing disruptive non-tenants and the urgent need for legislative tools to protect multi-unit housing environments.
• Marta (Resident/Renter): Advocated for legislative changes that make eviction easier for disruptive tenants while simultaneously making it more difficult for landlords to issue no-cause evictions, warning that the latter practice contributes to homelessness among renters who lack resources to move.
• Susan (Private Landlord): Shared a personal account of an 11-month eviction process caused by a single tenant who condemned the building, arguing that private landlords lack the resources to handle such situations without specific legal tools to maintain building habitability.
• Elizabeth Bridgewater (Executive Director, Windham and Windsor Housing Trust): Highlighted the lack of sober housing options in Brattleboro despite high opioid overdose rates and supported the call for expedited processes for criminal behavior in housing, alongside maintaining constitutional rights for tenants.

Discussion Items

Leaf Management & Community Action

• Chair Liz informed the board that leaf collection was cut to save approximately $20,000. A video was shown detailing sustainable alternatives (mulching, composting, yard waste centers).
• Board members Osby and Amanda proposed a community "Leaf Brigade" volunteer pickup on November 1st to assist residents unable to move leaves, with trucks volunteering to transport them to the Wyndham Solid Waste Management District.
• Peter Amadon announced a separate "Cranksgiving" bicycle event on November 8th to collect food and monetary donations for local food shelves.

Interaction Update (Restorative Justice)

• Russell Bradbury Carlin and Casey Viato of Interaction presented on their Precharge and Community Restorative Practices programs.
• Program Mechanics: The Precharge program allows for off-screen dismissal of criminal charges for first-time offenders upon completion, involving a 90-day window to create a restorative plan. Referrals come 50% from police and 50% from the State's Attorney.
• Board Concerns: The board discussed the volume of 911 calls, drug trafficking, and the need for upstream interventions. Concerns were raised about the "Child Safety Zones" ordinance and whether it could be utilized by Interaction. Interaction clarified that they can only handle referrals for criminal offenses, not civil violations, but are open to defining specific criminal charges that would trigger referrals.

BDCC Funding Request

• The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) presented their annual work and requested $36,147.
• Funding Source Debate: Peter Isaac moved to allocate funds from the Revolving Loan Fund. Oscar argued this is unsustainable for recurring expenses, suggesting the General Fund should be used instead. Amanda supported using the Revolving Fund to avoid burdening taxpayers with new tax increases, noting the fund consists of repaid federal loans earmarked for economic development. The board acknowledged the tension between fiscal sustainability and the importance of the program.
• Outcome: The motion to allocate $36,147 from the Revolving Fund passed with a vote of 4-1 (abstention).

Connecticut River Pathway Project

• Alex Wilson and Jason Cooper of the Friends of the West River Trail proposed a new pedestrian path extending south from the downtown area, crossing Roberts Energy property, and utilizing town-owned land to connect to the Fort Hill Railroad Bridge in Hinsdale, NH.
• Proposal Details: The project aims to create an 8-foot wide trail at no direct cost to the town, seeking a permanent easement and in-kind support for permits. It would connect Brattleboro to 80 miles of trails in New Hampshire.
• Board Response: The board expressed strong support. The motion to authorize the town manager to execute the easement over Tax Map Parcel 00304.0 passed unanimously.

Legislative Delegation Priorities

• Revenue Generation: The delegation discussed increasing the local option sales tax (from 75% to 85%), establishing a local option fuel tax to offset transportation costs, and defining tax-exempt properties. They noted political hurdles with a direct gas tax increase but acknowledged the viability of a local option approach. They also discussed stormwater utility fees as a revenue source for non-taxable properties.
• Housing & Landlord-Tenant Law: The delegation expressed intent to revisit landlord-tenant laws, potentially creating expedited processes for severe misconduct (drug dealing, violence) while offering new rights to good tenants. They confirmed a bill request has been submitted to clarify the ability of property managers to remove non-tenants. They also identified a need for more sober housing units in the community.
• Justice System & Drug Trafficking: Representatives discussed the backlog in courts, the high volume of pre-trial detainees, and the challenges of detention laws. They confirmed work on "bail revocation" legislation to address repeat offenders and the need for better drug treatment funding and diversion programs.
• General Assistance (GA) Costs: The board raised concerns about the influx of GA recipients driving up town costs. The delegation acknowledged the fiscal impact and committed to advocating for direct state funding to Brattleboro to offset these costs, though they deferred specific eligibility changes to the Agency of Human Services.
• Affordable Housing: Representatives emphasized that affordable housing is a top priority, noting that Brattleboro permits are at record highs. They discussed the CHIP bill infrastructure support and the potential for a new housing bond.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (5-0).
• BDCC Funding: Motion to allocate $36,147 from the Revolving Loan Fund passed (4-1 abstention).
• Easement Authorization: Motion to authorize the town manager to execute an easement for the Connecticut River Pathway across Tax Map Parcel 00304.0 passed unanimously (5-0).
• Planning Item: Tabling of the "Town-Owned Properties Update" item pending further discussion (5-0).
• Meeting Adjournment: The meeting adjourned following discussions on legislative sessions and public service announcements regarding federal funding freezes (LIHEAP, SNAP).

Note: The meeting transcript records the date as October 21, 2025, but the user prompt specifies the summary date as October 23, 2025. The summary reflects the actual meeting date found in the text.