Page 11 - 2025 Brighton VT Annual Report

reappraisal firm completed its reappraisal of every property within the town limits. This was the
town’s first full reappraisal in more than 10 years and was mandated when the difference between
what homes were selling for and what they
were assessed at exceeded the state’s acceptable
level. The town actually received the reappraisal order
from the state in early 2022 but due to the number of
towns requiring reappraisal, we were not originally
scheduled until 2026. Another town ran into an issue
with their grand list and had to delay their reappraisal
for a year which bumped us up by a year. The clerk’s
office also lost a part-time employee during this time
further stressing the office. The public would have
never known as Teresa and long-time assistant clerk

Town Clerk & Treasurer’s Office Lisa Moore didn’t miss a beat. I think both were happy
From Left - Lisa Moore, Teresa DeBonville & Julie Barr though when Julie Barr joined the town staff last fall.

The selectboard (minus the chair) and myself decided to re-create the part-time recreation coordinator
position and offer it to Heather McElroy, our selectboard chairman since she was filling that role as a
volunteer. The town was appreciative of all the time that Heather dedicated to ensure that the Brighton
Recreation events and classes took place for all of our residents to enjoy. When this role grew into a
20-hour a week commitment, it was apparent that this was more than a volunteer position. Brighton
Recreation had an exciting year of events including the Tri-County Kids Fishing Tournament and
Pondathon among others and the classes evolved from circuit training to cardio drumming and even axe
throwing! You can find the full recreation report elsewhere in the town report.

The library, under the direction of Michelle Wilcox, who now happens to be a certified librarian, also
expanded its activities to encourage reading amongst our population both young and old. From
dinosaurs in the town hall to a wine tasting featuring your town manager as the wine and book expert,
participation in library activities has never been greater.

I can’t begin to discuss the year ahead without discussing the least glamorous but one of the most
important things that makes everything we have completed in the past year as well as the future projects
possible: grant writing and administration. The Town of Brighton expended over $4 million in grant funds
last year, nearly double the town’s total operating budget. Those funds don’t just fall from the tree, Joel,
Teresa and myself are responsible to secure as much funding as we possibly can and then ensure we use
the funds properly and then report back to the funders in detailed monthly or quarterly reports what we
have accomplished. Few towns our size have staff able to accomplish this and therefore the taxpayers
either pay for the upgrades or additions themselves, or they hire outside grant writers and administrators
that garner 10-20% of the grant amount. Looking ahead to the shear volume of projects ahead and
the complex funding arrangements they will entail, the town will be advertising a finance position that
will be added to the Town Clerk & Treasurer’s office. This position will focus primarily on the financial
accounting side of the clerk’s office so that it can keep up with the overwhelming amount of data that
must be prepared monthly. Teresa and I will be modernizing our accounting functions so they work
better, and we can eliminate the amount of duplicate data entry that is now taking place. We also plan to
consolidate the dozens of individual checking and savings accounts spread across various institutions
to both simplify the bookkeeping process and allow the town to earn a much higher interest rate from its
funds.

The projects planned for the year ahead are going to be transformative, exciting and a bit scary for all the
town staff as years of planning and fundraising are going to all be ready simultaneously. First up is the

2025 Annual Report 9