Brattleboro Select Board Meeting - September 2, 2026

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was called to order as the regular select board meeting of September 1st, but the provided timestamp places the meeting on September 2, 2026 at 22:50:37 UTC. This summary uses the given date.

The board addressed a range of topics including a water main break, updates on fire and police departments, approval of a new fire alarm ordinance, adjustment of EMS billing rates, transition of the town arts fund administration, and a request from William Street residents regarding traffic impacts from the Vermont Country Deli. The board also agreed to schedule a community conversation about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies.

Consent Calendar

• Approved a third-class liquor license and outside consumption permit for Saffron Restaurant.
• Approved multiple outside consumption permits for India Masala House.
• Accepted a $1.7 million Vermont Community Development Program grant for demolition and reconstruction of the Detman Drive Bridge.
• Approved a contract with NUMO (formerly Avenue Insights and Analytics) for $13,608 for land record services.
• Set public hearing dates for the 2026 town plan on October 6 and October 20, 2026.
• Ratified the final purchase price of $56,662 for a 2026 Ford F-250 for compost collection.
• Approved a correction to the June 16, 2026 board meeting minutes.
• Appointed Zolt, Pomazi, and Susan Bellville to the Advisory Budget Committee.
• Approved naming three new private roads at West Village Apartments: Hawk Street, Eagle Street, and Dove Street.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susan Bellville corrected her application for the Advisory Budget Committee, noting she is also on the Windham Solid Waste Management Board.
• Bob Ozer noted that the town of Guilford sent a letter supporting the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital birthing center.
• Millicent (last name not given) announced her resignation from the Advisory Budget Committee and suggested the board establish a dedicated emergency fund from unassigned fund balance.
• Beth Norwood, a homeowner, requested enforcement against trespassing, littering, dog waste, and noise from non-residents.
• Dick DeGray inquired about a sidewalk easement, wished deployed officers well, and commented on parking costs.
• Ken (online) expressed frustration about payments to the fire department vs. hospitals.
• Kate O'Connor thanked the fire department for the EMS billing report.
• Several residents commented on the William Street traffic issue, including the Roswell family, who described severe impacts from deli customers.

Discussion Items

• Chair's Remarks: Town received a clean FY25 audit from Telling and Hillman, with no findings. The town is actively engaged on the FY26 audit. Chair also reported a major water main break on Pine Street on August 30, with flows up to 7,100 gallons per minute, loss of approximately 550,000 gallons of water, and a boil water notice affecting about 1,000 homes. The notice has been lifted, and restoration continues.
• Town Clerk's Comments: Ballots for the November 3rd election will be mailed by the state between September 21 and October 1. Voters should update their address on vote.gov by September 4.
• Select Board Comments: Peter reported ongoing positive negotiations with the town of Hinsdale regarding bridges. Isaac noted a peace run group visited and gave a certificate of appreciation. He also summarized a public discussion on parking held on August 5, highlighting concerns about signage, free parking, and welcoming atmosphere. He will share typed notes with staff.
• Fire Alarm Ordinance Second Reading: The ordinance replaces the outdated 100 milliamp municipal fire alarm box system with a municipal radio box system, phasing out old service by June 30, 2031. An incentive (zero monitoring fees) for switching by June 30, 2030. No changes from first reading. Passed 5-0.
• Fire Department Quarterly Review: The department responded to 1,173 calls in the last quarter of FY26 (April 1 – June 30). Staffing updates: 1 resignation, 6 new hires (some still in training), 3 vacancies. Overtime remains high due to vacancies, but expected to decrease as new staff clear. EMS updates: implemented 12-lead EKG transmission and partnership with UMass for helicopter auto-launch. Fire prevention: identifying unregistered rental units via town-wide appraisal. Community Connect app encouraged for resident safety information.
• EMS Billing Rates: Recommended switching from a flat $1,400 fee per transport to a service-level fee schedule based on care provided (BLS, ALS, etc.). Proposed mileage increase from $22 to $32 per mile. Estimated $340,000 increase in gross annual billings, but net increase likely $20,000–$64,000 depending on payer mix. 75% of payers are government fee-schedule based. The new rates include categories for non-emergency and specialty care transport. Motion passed 5-0.
• Town Arts Fund: The Town Arts Committee requested to administer the town arts fund following the winding down of the Arts Council of Windham County. The committee will make annual grant recommendations to the select board. Motion passed 5-0.
• Downtown Safety Presentation by Police Department: Chief reported on call volume trends (increase), but violent crime and property crime categories have not seen similar spikes. Overdoses up but deaths down significantly. Enforcement detail on August 4 resulted in 31 overdoses in July vs. 11 in August. The BRAT team (resource assistance) and Project CARE have transported over 130 people to treatment. The department is using data-driven deployment and the situation table (CORE) to address upstream issues. Staffing is good, with one officer deployed. The department is working with schools and the motel program impact has reduced to 24 rooms.
• William Street One-Way Request: Ken Roswell, Gail Roswell, and Ken Roswell Sr. (residents at 516 William Street) requested relief from traffic congestion caused by Vermont Country Deli customers. They prefer closing William Street at the Y intersection (option 1) or making it one-way outbound (option 2). They reported 67 pull-ups in one driveway on a weekend, illegal parking, and verbal abuse. Staff noted the deli is a pre-existing non-conforming use. The board discussed options and voted 3-2 to direct staff to explore signage options (including one-way and do-not-enter, possibly time-limited) and report back before year's end.
• Scheduling of Public Meeting on ICE: The board agreed to schedule a community conversation at the library, moderated by the select board, with the police chief present. The meeting will be informational and allow two-way dialogue. Date and format details (including whether to include Zoom) to be determined by staff and the agenda-setting committee, with a target of 90 minutes.

Key Outcomes

• Fire Alarm Ordinance: Approved 5-0.
• EMS Billing Rates: Approved 5-0, replacing flat fee with service-level fee schedule.
• Town Arts Fund Transition: Approved 5-0, with Town Arts Committee administering the fund and making annual grant recommendations.
• William Street Traffic: Motion passed 3-2 to have staff explore signage options (one-way, do-not-enter, possibly time-limited) and bring back options before year's end.
• ICE Community Meeting: Board agreed to hold a meeting at the library, moderated by select board, with police chief, to be scheduled within the next few weeks. No formal vote taken; consensus reached.