Brattleboro Select Board Meeting – August 5, 2026
Brattleboro Select Board Meeting – August 5, 2026
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was called to order on August 4, 2026 at 6:15 PM, but the source metadata specifies the date as August 5, 2026. This summary uses the provided date but notes the discrepancy.
The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including an update on the charter revision process, a legislative delegation discussion on state-level priorities (hospital, property taxes, housing, public safety, transportation), approval of consent agenda items, a grant commitment for the Detman Bridge replacement, progress on a solid waste RFP, approval of the Signal Hill Pump Station contract, and a first reading of a new fire alarm ordinance.
Consent Calendar
- Approved a new tobacco license and tobacco substitute endorsement permit for Smokers Paradise Tobacco and Convenience LLC (227 Main Street).
- Approved an annual entertainment license for Top of the Hill Grill (632 Putney Road).
- Approved a first-class liquor license and outside consumption permit renewal for North Chair Brewing LLC (39 Frost Street).
- Approved a new second-class liquor license for Love Heart Larry's LLC (West River Cafe, 485 West River Road).
- Appointed DPW Director Dan Tyler to the Windham Regional Commission's Transportation Advisory Committee.
- Approved the purchase of a 2026 Freightliner utility crane truck to replace a 2004 crane truck for $263,197, as planned in the 2027 utilities capital budget.
- Awarded a contract to Bill Harlow and Sons Excavating LLC for stormwater infrastructure improvements along Sunset Lake Road, not to exceed $49,345, funded by a FY26 grant-in-aid.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Eric Karen expressed concern about a pattern of financial decision-making by the board, citing three examples: a $1,500 child care expense for Representative Town Meeting (later removed after public input), adding hotel rooms that increased service costs, and a proposed $1 million tax increase for the hospital. Chair Oscar acknowledged the pattern and noted that the board had been responsive to public input in those cases.
- Susan Bellville asked for clarification on ballot drop-box deadlines for the August 11 primary; Town Clerk Hilary Francis confirmed that ballots can be dropped in the municipal parking lot box until 5 pm on election day or brought directly to the polls.
- Kate O'Connor (Charter Revision Commission member) announced that the next commission meeting is August 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM in the same room, and that the draft charter may be finalized that evening.
Discussion Items
Charter Process Update (Chair’s Remarks)
- Chair Oscar provided an informal update on the charter revision process. The Charter Commission is nearing completion of its work. Originally oriented toward a November vote, logistical issues from the town clerk’s office shifted the likely timeline to a March 2026 Australian ballot vote. The select board expects to receive a finalized draft charter from the commission in the next month or two, after which formal scheduling will begin.
Legislative Delegation Discussion
- Hospital / Birthing Center: The entire Windham County delegation stressed that the potential closure of the birthing center at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is a regional issue. They are working with the Agency of Human Services on emergency stabilization funds and federal rural health care grants (RFP closed; decision expected soon). Community fundraising is also underway. The Green Mountain Care Board is analyzing the impact. Legislative solutions (rate improvements, insurance changes) are being prepared for the next session. The delegation emphasized coordination with the hospital and community groups. Selectboard members expressed appreciation and committed to following John’s lead on municipal coordination.
- Lower Property Taxes: Delegation members discussed strategies: expanding local option tax authority (e.g., Stowe’s 2% precedent), increasing PILOT payments, and pursuing a “hub town” regional payment concept. They noted that a local option gas tax is not feasible because the tax is collected at the supplier level, not point-of-sale. The legislature made progress on education property tax reform, expected to reduce the education tax burden by FY2029. Wendy Harrison highlighted that the state pays only 6% of local road needs, and a new county and regional governance committee will examine hub-town funding. The board was encouraged to work with VLCT and other hub towns to build political will.
- Housing: Delegation members noted that Act 250 reforms and a statewide right to duplexes have increased housing starts. Brattleboro saw its highest permit count since 1987. The state has invested in manufactured housing, including net-zero homes at Mountain Home. The board discussed the challenge of affordability versus availability. Ian Goodnow mentioned a bill to allow property owners in multi-unit housing to trespass individuals engaging in illegal behavior while strengthening renters’ rights; it passed the House but died in the Senate on a tie-breaking vote by the Lieutenant Governor. The delegation plans to reintroduce it.
- Public Safety: The Accountability Docket pilot in Brattleboro has been running for three weeks and has resolved 51 cases. The program brings HCRS workers into the courtroom and requires weekly appearances. The chief of police described department efforts to locate defendants who miss court. The delegation noted that a standing drug docket is still needed in Windham County, and that the accountability docket builds momentum for that. Molly Burke and others praised the work of the delegation and local partners. The board also discussed the need for better substance use treatment systems and Medicaid reimbursement for mental health and competency restoration.
- Transportation: The delegation discussed the mileage-based user fee (MBUF) for electric vehicles, which is controversial. They noted that the purchase and use tax transfer to the transportation fund was partially achieved ($20 million added) but must be done without increasing property taxes. The delegation expressed frustration that many transportation studies have not led to action. They emphasized the need for diversified revenue sources and increased town highway aid. The board asked about local option gas tax; the delegation explained it is not feasible.
- Town Meeting Resolutions: The delegation reported that the resolution allowing people to sue federal officers in state court has become law, and that a bill to require the governor to review National Guard activations will likely be reintroduced in both chambers and receive a hearing under new committee leadership.
- Charter Check-in: The delegation confirmed they will wait for the town to finalize its charter before introducing legislation. Charters are not subject to crossover deadlines, so if approved in March, it could be moved through the legislature before the end of the biennium.
Detman Bridge Grant
- Brian (DPW) presented a revised budget for the Detman Bridge replacement project using a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The original grant was $1.83 million; the state awarded $1.7 million. The town needs to commit an additional $256,725 as local match. The total project cost is now estimated at $2 million. The town will try to value-engineer the cost down. The board approved the motion (5-0) to authorize the town manager to commit the local match. Public comment: Susan Bellville asked which projects or services would be displaced; John responded that the funds would come from the FY28 capital budget, not current year, and that trade-offs will be discussed during budget development.
Solid Waste RFP Update
- Pete Lynch, Dan Tyler, and Stephen Dotson presented an update on the solid waste collection RFP. After a Request for Information (RFI) sent to 11 vendors (4 responded), staff developed a draft RFP focusing on maintaining resident behavior, a pay-as-you-throw model, diversion rates, and a five-year contract with a two-year extension. The RFP will include bid alternates for compost collection and weekly recycling. The board approved the RFP language and authorized staff to advertise it (5-0).
Signal Hill Pump Station
- Brian presented the Signal Hill Pump Station project, part of a 2023 bond. The only bid received was $1,880,990, nearly consuming the entire bond amount. The town will seek a loan amendment to increase the total loan from $1.98 million to $3.17 million, likely at 0% interest with 50% subsidy. The town has $984,000 set aside to cover the first 24 years of payments. The board approved the contract and loan amendment application (5-0).
Fire Alarm Ordinance – First Reading
- AC Cure presented a new ordinance to transition from the 100‑milliamp municipal fire alarm system (red boxes) to a radio‑based system. The radio boxes provide more detailed emergency information (e.g., specific location and type of alarm). Existing users of the old system must convert by June 30, 2031. After that, monitoring fees of $100/year will apply. The ordinance applies to buildings required by NFPA 101 to have a fire alarm system (e.g., new apartment buildings 3+ stories or 11+ units). The board held a public hearing; no public comments were received. The board will hold a second reading at a future meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (5-0).
- Motion to authorize local match for Detman Bridge grant passed (5-0). The town commits $256,725; the project will be funded through FY28 capital budget.
- Motion to approve solid waste RFP and authorize advertisement passed (5-0). RFP to be issued for 30 days; award expected in October.
- Motion to award Signal Hill Pump Station contract and approve loan amendment passed (5-0). Contract awarded to Seleuzny Excavating Inc. for $1,880,990; loan amendment to $3.17 million.
- Fire alarm ordinance first reading held; no action taken. Second reading scheduled for a future meeting (likely September 1).
- Legislative delegation discussion concluded with no formal votes, but the board expressed support for continued collaboration on identified priorities.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone. We're gonna bring the select board meeting of August 4th to order, 6.15 p.m. Um board, any adjustments to the agenda? I'm not aware of any. Okay. And there was no executive session today. Chair's remarks. I have a couple comments. First of all, Amanda's on Zoom. She's in Virginia. I'm sure if she wants, she will tell the story more when she does her remarks. But she is here. The other thing I wanted to give a little bit of an update on the charter process because we've gotten some questions recently. Particularly, I had a long conversation with Maggie Lewis on Sunday, and she asked me some questions that I thought would be helpful to talk about in public. The big caveat here is that I I don't want to be speaking authoritatively about this because the select board is not really in charge of the charter process yet at this point. So please take this as me updating the public on my understanding of where we're at, but not an official update from the select board about what's definitely gonna happen. So to put things into focus, this year, the Charter Commission, which has been going for four years, I think. Looking at Kate, four years, um is clearly starting to wrap up its work and move towards a final draft. In the context of that, the Charter Review Commission has been talking about a November vote. The community and the select board and the staff have all been starting to orient towards a November vote. And we on the board, but particularly the staff has started doing the some of the planning and scheduling for the subsidiary stuff that has to go right for a November vote, even though we didn't know officially that it would be November yet. So that was a month ago. Then in the second half of July, we heard from the town clerk's office that there were logistical problems with a November vote, which kind of threw that unofficial scheduling and planning out the window a little bit. And we started reorienting towards other dates. One of the reasons we have to plan ahead on this stuff is because for a charter vote to go on to a ballot, there are all sorts of other things that have to happen. There are public hearings, there are warnings of the ballot vote at the select board meetings. There are warnings of the public hearing at different select board meetings, and everything there has its own timeline. And if you don't plan it out a little bit in advance, um you're gonna run into problems. So once we heard that there were concerns with a November vote from the town clerk, we started re-or reorienting towards March, which is the next ballot election. Um there will come a point in the process quite soon where the charter review commission officially wraps up its work and officially hands it off to the select board, and at that point we'll start talking more formally about schedules and dates and all of that stuff. But that's still a little up in the air right now. But just so the public fully understands what I think is likely to happen. My current understanding is that the select board will probably get a finished finalized draft charter from the commission in the next month or two, and then we will probably be looking towards a March vote, which will be by Australian ballot, not at a town meeting. So that's the current thinking. And of course, this could change if the charter commission brings it in later or if other things come up, but that's what I strongly expect to happen. So that's my charter check-in. We will hopefully charter check-in doesn't become a regular meeting item, but very soon this will move into a more formal realm where everyone will know things much more clearly. So that is the end of my remarks. We have no minutes to approve, so John, I'll go to you for your comments. Okay. Thank you, Oscar. Uh community connection night, originally scheduled for last Wednesday, was rescheduled due to rain last week to uh tomorrow night, Wednesday, August 5th. This event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Preston lot and along Flat Street in downtown Brattleboro. This is a free family-friendly event that will have food, games, and activities. Flat Street between Main Street and the Preston lot will be closed to traffic during the event, but you can uh park at the transportation center entering off of Elliott Street. Please come out and visit tomorrow evening at the Preston lot. It should be a lot of fun. And uh maybe even some of the select board members will be in the dunk tank. I'm not sure, but the wet hair is a preview.
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