Brattleboro Select Board Meeting Summary - December 16, 2025
Brattleboro Select Board Meeting Summary - December 16, 2025
The Brattleboro Select Board convened on December 16, 2025, to conduct regular business, including a reconsideration vote on a previous bag pricing decision, budget presentations for all town departments, and the approval of consent agenda items. The meeting featured updates from the Town Manager regarding the $1.7 million disaster recovery grant and retirement announcements for Town Clerk Carol Cologne and Fire Department Officer. Board members provided guidance on town-owned land development, emphasizing the need to balance financial needs with environmental conservation and housing goals. The budget presentations highlighted significant restructuring of personnel costs and benefits, with ongoing discussions about filling the vacant full-time Finance Director position.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimous Approval: The Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the consent agenda, which included:
- Authorization for the Town to partner with the Wyndham Regional Commission on an EPA Brownfields assessment grant.
- Approval of a first and third-class liquor license for India Masala House.
- Approval of a tobacco license and endorsement permit for Max Convenience Store (Circle K).
- Contract renewal with Waste Zero for pay-as-you-throw services (clarified as separate from the bag pricing reconsideration).
- Authorization to participate in Phase One of the Municipal Investment Fund.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ivan Hennessy (District 8): Expressed strong opposition to the November 18th meeting's procedure, characterizing a police officer's presentation without time limits as an "irregularity" and a "public attack" rather than public comments.
- Ken Fay (District 8): Expressed full support for the library and human services, arguing they are vital for democracy and community assistance; urged the board to avoid cuts to these entities during budget deliberations.
- John DeGray: Asked for an update on the sidewalk easement at 142 Green Mountain Avenue (status: in review by the railroad); commended the Fire Department for Holiday lighting.
- Rick (District 9): Supported high-density building as the most efficient housing model; noted that parcels purchased for watershed protection in remote areas should likely be retained for conservation rather than sold for development.
- Dick DeGray: Opposed including the Harmony parking lot in any potential sale or development, stating it is essential to downtown vitality; advocated that any sale agreements for developable land must include strict timelines for development completion (1-2 years).
Discussion Items
- Reconsideration of Bag Pricing: The Board voted 5-0 to reconsider the tiered pricing system for trash bags adopted on December 2nd, which involved adding 15 and 10 cents to bag costs. This discussion is scheduled for the January 6th meeting.
- Town-Owned Land Inventory: Town Planner Sue Fillion presented an interactive map of town properties categorized as "In-Use," "Partial," and "Vacant." Board members engaged in a strategic discussion:
- Peter: Expressed a desire to sell saleable vacant land to return it to the grand list and bolster the rainy day fund; questioned the feasibility of developing remote 32-43 acre parcels for housing.
- Amanda: Supported the initiative to restore reserves and increase housing stock but pushed back on the idea of selling the Harmony parking lot, noting its historical use for development options.
- Isaac: Emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that simultaneously restores financial reserves, protects the environment, and expands affordable housing.
- Consensus: No immediate action or vote was taken; the Board directed the Planning Department to continue feasibility analysis and return with specific recommendations on which parcels to pursue for transfer or development.
- Department Budgets (FY27):
- Human Resources & Finance: Director Sally Kruznick explained the merger of the two departments. The board discussed the use of stipends for acting roles (e.g., Managing Finance without a Director) versus permanent salary increases. Oscar and Amanda raised questions about the recruitment strategy for a full-time Finance Director, noting the current salary range ($100k-$109k base, up to $145k total comp) may be insufficient to attract talent, especially given the need for OpenGov proficiency.
- Town Clerk: Clerk Hillary Francis presented a budget showing zero new revenue streams (e.g., DMV or hunting licenses were deemed cost-prohibitive). She testified that approving third-class liquor licenses currently costs the town more than the revenue generated (state takes $1,095, town takes $0).
- Planning: Sue Fillion presented a budget maintaining 3.5 FTEs, noting a 40% apparent increase driven by shifting benefits into department lines. Highlights included 75 new housing units issued in 2025 and a $1.7M grant for the Detman Road Bridge.
- Assessment: Assessor Jennifer Burnell discussed the ongoing reappraisal process and confirmed the town had no tax sales in 2025.
- Town Manager: John provided a summary of the overall budget, highlighting a 16.5% increase in revenue projections and the continued reliance on a skeleton staff in the Town Manager's office (2 FTEs) due to unfilled Assistant Town Manager and IT Coordinator positions.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Reconsider (Bog Pricing): Passed (5-0). The decision made on December 2nd regarding the tiered bag pricing will be formally reopened and debated at the January 6th meeting.
- Budget Approval: The Board moved forward with the presentation of the FY27 budget components. No final vote was taken; the budget is scheduled for further deliberation and voting in January meetings (6th and 20th).
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM with a 5-0 vote.
- Administrative Updates: The Board was notified of the approval process for town land sales (statutory notice required, town meeting not mandatory unless board elects). It was noted that the state extended the period for tax sales by one year, impacting the town's ability to foreclose on arrears."
Meeting Transcript
I'll call the Brattleboro Select Board meeting of Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 to order. We had an executive session at 5 15, and here we are at our regular meeting at 6 20. So this is a regular meeting. John, was it properly warned? Yes, Liz, it was. Great. Are there adjustments to the agenda? I have one adjustment to the agenda. Great. I would like to move to rescind um the bag decision that we made, I believe it was on December 2nd, unless it was the meeting beforehand. To bring up at a warr as a warned item for January 6th. All right. Amanda has made a motion to rescind to seek to rescind the uh bag motion from December 2nd. All those in favor of uh revisiting the clarification. Yeah. What are we rescinding? Um Amanda I can go into more detail if you want. Go ahead. Yeah. So you know it's come to light that our tiered pricing system that we voted in on the December second meeting could in fact cost staff time and order. Yes. Yes. I'm not sure you can discuss something. Uh you make a motion like this because this is something that was done. Uh it's done by the affirmative, and so this is strictly, isn't it a yes, up and down vote without discussion? Except Dick, that Peter doesn't know what Amanda's talking about. So in order for Peter to be able to vote, Amanda has to tell him what she's talking about. But but that's a good point. So do you have enough clarity on what I'm talking about now? If it's possible for me to have less clarity, I do now. And and um uh Amanda, you use the word rescind. It's really a motion to reconsider. And that has to be made by somebody who voted in the on the winning side of the prior uh vote. And so long as Amanda was on the one of the people who voted for it, so she is eligible to raise this issue. And then if the board votes to reconsider, then it would be reconsidered at your next meeting. Historically that's what we've done, so that anybody who may have been at the last meeting who showed up for that topic who might not be here tonight that would be there for the next meeting when it's reconsidered, if indeed the board votes to reconsider. So from a procedural standpoint, I hope that helps from a so this is a motion to reconsider. And then on the January sixth, is it six? Yes. Meeting, then we will in fact reconsider. And is there a discussion of a motion to reconsider or no? I don't have my Roberts Rules with me right now, but I think generally it's not. It's it's up or down on that. And it's only reconsidered on the sixth if you have a majority vote tonight to reconsider. Thanks, Paul. I'm about four words away from a nosebleed. I don't know what's going on right now. So I'm I Amanda wishes to reconsider. Okay. The the adding the extra 15 and 10 cents to the bag pricing.
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