First Public Hearing on Charter Petitions on Jan. 27
The Selectboard will hold a public hearing on January 27, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, and on Zoom. Watch courtesy Brattleboro Community TV.
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Agenda: Click here
Meeting ID: 815 6465 6649
Passcode: 529415
Background
The petitions were received on August 4, 2025 and September 9, 2025, respectively, and the requisite number of signatures was verified by the Town Clerk, Hilary Francis.
The statute requires that the Selectboard hold at least two public hearings prior to the meeting to vote on the charter proposal. The first hearing is set for January 27, 2026.
The second public hearing is set for February 5, 2026. The Board will open each public hearing to hear all comment on the proposed charter amendments. However, because the charter amendment was brought by petition, the Board has no authority to make changes to the proposed charter amendment. Once the public hearings are concluded, the matter is then submitted to the voters at the 2026 annual town meeting because that is the “next annual meeting, primary or general election” before which the appropriate warnings can be made and for which early voting can be accommodated.
The proposed language of the two competing Charter Amendments are set forth below:
Petition #1: Article II, Section 3.F shall be added to the Charter as follows: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article and Article III, the Australian ballot system of voting shall be utilized for the following:
- The election of officers of the Town;
- The approval of the annual general fund budget;
- All authorizations for major bonding or borrowing;
- All public questions; and
- Charter amendments.
Petition #2: Article II, Section 3.F shall be added to the Charter as follows:
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article and Article III, all budget articles and public questions shall be voted upon at an annual or special open town meeting.
First Public Hearing
The Town of Brattleboro has received two petitions signed by 5% of the legal voters of the Town of Brattleboro to amend the Town Charter as follows:
Petition #1
Article 1: Shall Brattleboro discontinue the representative form of annual meeting?
Article 2: In the event that the vote on Article 1 is in the affirmative, shall Brattleboro vote by Australian ballot at any annual or special Town meeting on the following:
(1) The election of officers of the Town;
(2) The approval of the annual general fund budget;
(3) All authorizations for major bonding or borrowing:
(4) All public questions; and
(5) Charter amendments?
Petition #2
Article 3: In the event that Representative Town Meeting is discontinued in the Town of Brattleboro, shall the Town vote on all budget articles and public questions by Open Town Meeting? This ballot option includes the rule that the Australian ballot form of voting will be used to elect Town officers, as well as for any articles required by law to be voted by Australian ballot.