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Boards & Committees
- About Boards & Committees
- ADA Advisory Committee
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- Nelson E. Withington Fund Advisory Committee
- Planning Commission
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- Rental Housing Improvement Program Loan Committee
- Senior Solutions
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- Traffic Safety and Control Committee
- Tree Advisory Board
- Trustees of Public Funds
- Windham Regional Planning and Development Commission
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RTM Committees
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Serving the Community
Charter Revision Commission
The Brattleboro Selectboard has established a seven-member Charter Revision Commission. Article 4, Section 5(H) of the Brattleboro Charter requires, “At least as often as every fifteen (15) years, the selectboard shall appoint from among the voters a charter revision commission to review the language of the charter and the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities specified therein. The commission may propose amendments and may redraft the charter in whole or in part.”
The Town Charter is available online. Hard copies are also available at the Town Manager's Office.
Public Survey Results
The Charter Revision Commission held a public forum on March 31, 2025, to solicit input on the form of Brattleboro's annual town meeting. That forum concluded with the launch of a survey on the same subject. Results of that survey are published below.
• View the survey results as a PDF
• View the results online with percentages
• View question summaries
Join the Discussion
You can join the conversation by taking part in the Commission's regular meetings. Meeting materials are posted on the calendar and on this webpage.
Contact the Commission via email at [email protected].
Current Charter
Historical Charters
Currently Serving
Kate O’Connor, Chair
Maya Hasegawa, Vice Chair
Joy Tournoux, Clerk
Hannah Clarisse
Peter Elwell
Denise Glover
Charter Revision Commission FAQs
What is the Charter Revision Commission (CRC or Commission)?
Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5.H of the Brattleboro Charter, the Selectboard appoints a Charter Revision Commission every fifteen years to review the town Charter and propose amendments.
Who is on the Commission?
Kate O’Connor (Chair); Maya Hasegawa (Vice Chair); Hannah Clarisse; Peter Elwell; Denise Glover; and Joy Tournoux.
How long has the Commission been working?
The current Commission was appointed by the Selectboard in December 2022. Official meetings and work began in the beginning of 2023. The Commission has met regularly since its creation. Meeting agendas, recordings, and supporting documents can be found at: https://brattleboro.gov/charter-commission
When will the Commission finish its work?
The Commission’s plan is to finish its work so that any recommendations can be considered in the fall of 2025 and forwarded to the Legislature for consideration during the 2026 session.
When and where are Charter Revision Commission meetings?
Meetings are legally posted, warned, and can be found on the town’s website. Generally, meetings are on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and on Zoom. Please confirm the date, time, location, and agenda for any particular meeting by visiting the CRC’s webpage https://brattleboro.gov/charter-commission
Are we trying to get rid of Representative Town Meeting (RTM)?
No. The Commission wants to explore and discuss to determine if we should keep Representative Town Meeting.
What is the charter revision process?
The Charter Revision Commission may recommend changes to the charter. Any changes will need to be approved by Representative Town Meeting or a Townwide vote and then forwarded to the Vermont Legislature for approval and the Governor for signature.
What happens to Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Committees if the form of annual Town Meeting changes?
Committees can still be elected or appointed by the Selectboard or by Open Town Meeting or Australian Ballot.
Where can you read the Brattleboro Town Charter?
The current version of the Charter is available online at https://brattleboro.gov/town-charter. Hard copies are available at the Town Manager’s Office - 230 Main St #208, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
What form of town meeting does Brattleboro have now?
Brattleboro is the only town in Vermont to hold a Representative Town Meeting (“RTM”).There are 150 voting members at RTM, including up to 140 elected town meeting representatives, in addition to ex-officio members including the Selectboard, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Moderator, and State Representatives and State Senators that reside in Brattleboro. The total number of town meeting representatives is based on the number of registered voters per district. Representative Town Meeting members discuss, debate, and vote on all matters noticed for the annual town meeting. Most other towns in Vermont allow all registered voters to attend and vote at the annual town meeting, which is known as an open town meeting, or to vote by anonymous ballot, also known as the Australian ballot system.
For more information, you may read this two-part series on the history of RTM in Brattleboro: Part 1, Part 2.
What happens at the annual town meeting, regardless of form?
This is a simple list, please refer to the Charter for a more complete and detailed list of current activities.
● Approve and confirm: town treasurer, town clerk and town attorney.
● Elect/appoint members to: Town Finance Committee, Human Services Committee, Brooks Memorial Library Trustees.
● Authorize the Selectboard to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, grants, and other revenue.
● Raise and appropriate funds for: Mountain Home Park, special assessments, human services, levy local taxes.
How can you get in contact with the Charter Revision Commission?
You can email the Charter Revision Commission at [email protected], or attend an upcoming meeting. The Commission’s meeting schedule and additional information is available at https://brattleboro.gov/charter-commission.
What if you have an idea or concern about another part of the Charter?
The Commission encourages participation in the charter revision process. Please check the Commission’s website for meeting agendas, minutes and supporting documents to see what, if any, discussions or decisions have been made on the same topic. Generally, meetings are on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:15 p.m. in the Selectboard Meeting Room and on Zoom. Please confirm the date, time, location, and agenda for any particular meeting by visiting the Charter Revision Commission’s webpage or the Town calendar.