Brattleboro Select Board Meeting Summary - November 4, 2025

The Brattleboro Select Board convened its regular meeting on November 4, 2025, to address a series of significant financial, operational, and safety matters. Key discussions centered on the proposed implementation of a new solid waste contract with Casella Recycling, the preliminary review of the FY27 general fund budget, and the quarterly performance reports of the Fire and EMS departments. Public testimony covered urgent concerns regarding homelessness, SNAP funding, no trespassing ordinances, and alleged overpayments in town salaries.

Consent Calendar

• Amended Approval: The select board approved the consent agenda after pulling the first item regarding winter snow removal bids for detailed discussion later in the meeting.
• Appointments: Steven M. LePut was elected to the Development Review Board for a three-year term, and Richard Carroll was re-elected to the Nelson E. Withington Fund Advisory Committee.
• Routine Approvals: The remaining consent items included ratifying a $683.80 grant for library materials, approving a second-class liquor license for Max Convenience Store, and an annual entertainment license for Hannah Ruth Massage and Movement.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brattleboro Common Sense (Kurt Dimes & Kendall Lucy): Expressed support for an "Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution" initiative. The speakers advocated for the town to establish a $180,000 legal defense fund to support military officers who refuse unlawful orders or war crimes, citing the town's history of passing similar resolutions.
• Lisa Marie (69A): Expressed strong support for the unsheltered population and urgent concern regarding the lack of safe spaces to sleep. The speaker argued that no trespass orders and harassment of unhoused individuals on sidewalks and in business districts exacerbate homelessness and that the town should stop enforcing prohibitions against sleeping in public where no alternatives exist.
• Dick DeGray: Expressed deep concern and lack of confidence in the fiscal management of the town. The speaker alleged that specific town managers and directors had been overpaid over the last fiscal year, totaling over $200,000, and noted a discrepancy between reported numbers and actuals.
• Randy Vlad: Requested verification of financial data regarding overpayments and noted that the town's budget website was outdated, preventing accurate year-over-year comparisons of tax increases.
• John (Select Board Member): Raised questions regarding the authority to issue no trespass orders in public spaces and the criteria for doing so, citing residents who were trespassed for simply being in public with friends or seeking warmth.
• Heidi Fisher & Randy Vlad: Expressed concerns regarding the rising cost of trash bags and the logistical impact of new 64-gallon recycling carts on residents with small properties, stairs, or limited strength. They supported the switch to user fees but requested flexibility for smaller cart sizes.

Discussion Items

• Solid Waste Implementation Plan (Pete Lynch & Dan Tyler): Proposed a shift to a new contract with Casella Recycling by automating only the recycling stream while maintaining Pay-As-You-Throw for trash and switching compost collection to the Department of Public Works. The presentation detailed a projected three-year cost saving of approximately $1.3 million compared to the previous all-automation proposal. Key changes included the purchase of 64-gallon carts for residents at town expense and significant price increases for trash bags (increasing costs by 2.25x) to shift the cost burden to users.
• FY27 General Fund Budget (John DePinto): Presented a proposed budget maintaining core services with a property tax increase of approximately 4.4%. The plan includes a reduction in human services funding, a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for staff, and the exclusion of four key positions (Assistant Town Manager, Finance Director, IT Coordinator, Data Analyst) to maintain balance. The budget also accounts for the additional staffing costs required for the proposed public works compost take-over.
• Quarterly Financial Report (Bonnie Bachelor & Sally): Reviewed the first quarter (July-Sept) financials. The report highlighted a surplus in the utility and parking funds, an EMS revenue collection rate exceeding the budget (attributed to conservative accrual accounting), and significant overtime costs in public safety departments driven by staffing vacancies.
• Fire Department Quarterly Report (Chief Simons): Reported on 1,152 emergency calls, with staffing vacancies cited as the primary driver for overtime costs. The department noted a reduction in response times and discussed the challenges of recruiting firefighters in a competitive market, with a proposal to explore a four-platoon system to reduce overtime and improve work-life balance.
• EMS Billing and Collection Policy (Jay): Recommended continuing the current billing policy and conducting a regional market review of EMS fee schedules. The speaker noted that Brattleboro's current fees are lower than regional benchmarks (e.g., Cheshire County and Keene) and that a market review could potentially increase reimbursements from private insurance providers.
• Winter Snow Removal Bids: Discussed the awarding of contracts to Slate Rock Timber for smaller lots and Belco Excavation for the majority of municipal lots. A discrepancy was identified where the Fire Department's parking lot snow removal was being paid from the Parking Fund due to a lack of a specific line item in the Fire Department's budget; members agreed to adjust this allocation in future budgeting.

Key Outcomes

• Snow Removal Contracts: The select board voted 5-0 to approve the 2025-2026 winter snow removal contract, awarding smaller lots to Slate Rock Timber and remaining lots to Belco Excavation.
• Board Elections: Confirmed the election of Steven M. LePut and Richard Carroll to their respective advisory boards.
• Budget & Finance Directives:
  • The board directed staff to provide further data on the alleged overpayments mentioned by Dick DeGray pending verification.
  • The board agreed to adjust the snow removal cost attribution so future Fire Department lot plowing is charged to the Fire Department budget rather than the Parking Fund.
  • The board approved the public forums timeline to begin the cart sign-up process for the new solid waste system.
• Next Steps: Departmental budget reviews and fire/police department discussions are scheduled for November 18th, December 2nd, and December 16th. A budget listening session is scheduled for November 12th at the library.