BRISTOL, TOWN OF

What BRISTOL, TOWN OF does

The Town of Bristol, Vermont is a municipal government entity chartered in 1762, operating under Vermont's traditional town meeting governance system and serving approximately 4,000 residents in Addison County within the Champlain Valley. The town delivers the full suite of municipal services through its departments: Water & Sewer (drinking water sourced from the New Haven Spring, contracted operations via Vermont Utility Management Systems), Police (24-hour service across roughly one square mile of service district), Fire, Public Works (4-person road crew led by a foreman), Planning & Zoning, Listers (property assessment), Recreation (including the Bristol Pottery Studio and Hub Teen Center), Library, Cemetery, Tree Warden, and Emergency Management. As of 2026, the organization has approximately 28 employees distributed across these functions, plus elected and appointed officials.

The town's primary infrastructure is municipal water and sewer, with a significant portion of the water distribution system originally installed around 1905 — approximately 30,000 feet of water main now exceed design life and are being replaced under a multi-phase Village-Wide Water Line Replacement Initiative. Phase 1 (Pine Street) was completed in 2023 under budget; Phase 2 (Bristol West) began construction in 2026 with an Engineer's Opinion of Probable Project Cost of $3,589,190 and approximately 50% state/federal cost-share. Technology stack is conventional for small municipal government: a static information website (bristolvt.org), Municipay for online credit-card payments, Zoom for community meetings, YouTube for meeting broadcasts, and Northeast Addison Television (NEAT) public access TV serving a 5-town region.

Revenue is generated through quarterly property tax payments (due September 10, December 10, May 10 under a 2026 schedule change), usage-based water and sewer fees, license and permit fees (dog licenses $11–$19, zoning permits, burial permits), and state and federal grants for capital projects. The town operates an economic development Revolving Loan Fund with an approximate $722,824 balance, supporting local business lending. Public-private partnerships include the Stoney Hill Business Park with Stoney Hill Properties, LLC and a Northern Border Regional Commission grant of up to $500,000. The town is governed by an elected Selectboard, with day-to-day operations led by Town Administrator Gregory Faust and department heads across each functional area.

Name

BRISTOL, TOWN OF

Legal name

Town of Bristol, Vermont

Website

https://bristolvt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1762

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Town of Bristol, Vermont is a municipal government chartered in 1762, serving approximately 4,000 residents with water, sewer, police, fire, public works, planning, zoning, and recreation services funded primarily by property taxes, user fees, and state/federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public water utilities
• Police and fire services
• Public works infrastructure
• Planning and zoning administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Primary revenue source for town operations, with quarterly payment schedule (September, December, May). Tax bills mailed in August.
2. Water and Sewer Fees: Quarterly water bills based on usage; connection fees and service charges
3. State and Federal Grants: Funding for capital projects including water infrastructure, economic development, and community projects
4. Licenses and Permits: Dog licenses ($11-$19), zoning permits, development review fees, burial permits
5. Revolving Loan Fund Interest: Economic development lending program with approximately $722,824 total balance

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Town of Bristol, Vermont is a municipal government providing essential public services to approximately 4,000 residents in Addison County. Core offerings include drinking water distribution and wastewater services, police and fire protection, public works (road maintenance and snow removal), planning and zoning administration, recreation programs, library services, and economic development lending through a Revolving Loan Fund. The town operates under Vermont town meeting governance with elected Selectboard oversight and a Town Administrator managing day-to-day operations.

Product overview

The Town of Bristol, Vermont is a municipal government entity providing comprehensive public services to its residents. The town's offerings are organized around core municipal functions including water and sewer utilities, public safety (police, fire, emergency management), infrastructure maintenance (public works), land use planning and zoning, recreation programs, and administrative services. Key operational products include the Water & Sewer Department serving drinking water from the New Haven Spring and managing a multi-phase water line replacement initiative; the Police and Fire Departments providing 24-hour public safety coverage; the Recreation Department managing town parks and community facilities including the Bristol Pottery Studio; and the Lawrence Memorial Library providing public library services. The town also offers online payment processing for taxes and utilities, land records management, and an economic development Revolving Loan Fund. Services are delivered through town departments, contracted operators (Vermont Utility Management Systems for water/sewer), and community partnerships with organizations like the Bristol Recreation Club and Northeast Addison Television (NEAT).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water & Sewer Department Services Municipal drinking water supply from New Haven Spring, water line infrastructure (including a multi-phase village-wide replacement initiative), sewer system operations, and water quality reporting. Serves Bristol residents and businesses with quarterly water bills. Operated under contract with Vermont Utility Management Systems (VTUMS) with 24/7 emergency response.
• Police Department Services 24-hour law enforcement agency providing patrol, investigation, community policing, and emergency response to residents and businesses in Bristol's service district (approximately 1 square mile of the former Village of Bristol). Led by Chief of Police Bruce Nason with full-time and part-time officers.
• Fire Department Services Fire suppression, emergency response, fire prevention education, and environmental protection services. Mission to deliver professional service protecting life, property, and the environment. Recognized at the 127th Annual Conference of the Vermont State Firefighters Association in 2016.
• Public Works Department Services General maintenance of all town roads including road crew services, snow removal, and infrastructure upkeep. Crew led by Foreman Eric Cota with members including Mike Menard, Josh Martell, and Christopher Bapp. Also completed the Class 1 Paving/Main Street Lighting & Sidewalk Project in 2020.
• Planning & Zoning Administration Municipal planning, zoning administration, subdivision review, Development Review Board coordination, and Town Plan updates. Administers Unified Development Regulations and zoning permits. Led by Zoning Administrator AZ Larsen. Bristol Town Plan 2020 was approved by voters on March 2, 2021.
• Recreation Department Programs Life learning opportunities through recreational and performing arts activities for all ages. Manages town parks (Sycamore Park, Eagle Park, Memorial Park, Bristol Town Green) and recreation programs. Directed by Recreation Director Meridith McFarland.
• Bristol Pottery Studio (Bristol Clay Studio) Community-based pottery and clay arts studio operated through the Recreation Department offering classes for children, teens, and adults. Located at 27 Artist's Alley (27 Main Street) in downtown Bristol.
• Lawrence Memorial Library Public library established in 1883 with Bristol Library Association, housed in a building dedicated January 1911 (funded by William A. Lawrence's $800 donation). Provides library services, community programs, and maintains a collection of artifacts and local history materials. Recognized by the Vermont House of Representatives for 100 years of library service in April 2011.
• Revolving Loan Fund Economic development financing program providing loans to Bristol property owners and businesses for public safety, housing improvements, and economic development projects. Fund balance approximately $722,824 ($528,842 committed and $193,982 available to lend as of November 2018). Partners with banks, VEDA, and Addison County Economic Development for full project funding. Chaired by Fred Baser.
• Online Payment Services Online payment portal for property taxes, water bills, and other municipal fees using credit card processing through the Municipay platform (payments.municipay.com). Enables residents and businesses to pay municipal obligations electronically.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Munson Earth Moving CorporationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 November 2024Contractor selected from seven bidders to perform Bristol West Waterline Replacement (Phase 2) construction work. Performing watermain installation on Elm Street, Taylor Avenue, and Maple Street as part of the water infrastructure upgrade project.
• VTM EngineeringcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Engineering firm (engineer of record) providing final design, permits, bid documents, and construction oversight for water projects. Took over from Green Mountain Engineering after it closed in February 2022.
• Vermont Utility Management Systems (VTUMS)coreTechnology or IntegrationContract operator for Bristol water and sewer systems. Local employee Jill Marsano provides water/wastewater operations. Emergency contact available 24/7.
• Stoney Hill Properties, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner in Stoney Hill Business Park project. Purchased 8.61+/- acre parcel behind 79 West Street. Previously partnered on Bristol Fire Station construction (completed 2016).
• Bellwether ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm working with Bristol Community Center steering committee to evaluate 76 West Street property and develop preliminary designs for consolidated recreation facility.
• Addison County Solid Waste Management DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBristol joined ACSWMD to manage solid waste after closing its own landfill. District provides recycling, composting, and waste management services to Bristol residents.
• Addison Housing WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit affordable housing trust developing, owning, and managing housing in Addison County. Owns Firehouse Apartments property in Bristol.
• Banks / Conventional LendersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRevolving Loan Fund has partnered with banks, VEDA, and Addison County Economic Development to provide full funding for eligible projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Town of Starksboro, Vermont: Adjacent Addison County town operating under the same Vermont municipal framework with a similar service mix and rural scale. Comparable governance structure with selectboard and town meeting.
• Town of Hinesburg, Vermont: Growing Vermont town running municipal water/sewer, public works, police, fire, planning & zoning, and recreation services with similar reliance on outside engineering firms and grant funding. Comparable operating model to Bristol.
• Town of Middlebury, Vermont: Vermont Addison County seat town operating the same suite of municipal services (water/sewer, police, fire, public works, planning & zoning, recreation) and managing comparable large-scale water and street infrastructure projects. Directly comparable peer for size, geography, and service mix.
• Town of New Haven, Vermont: Neighboring Addison County town from which Bristol's drinking water is sourced (New Haven Spring). Operates the same municipal service suite and shares regional infrastructure and emergency-management concerns with Bristol.
• Town of Charlotte, Vermont: Rural Vermont town (Chittenden County) operating a similar slate of core services including volunteer/professional fire, public works, planning, and water infrastructure. Comparable small-town governance profile with town meeting system.
• Town of Monkton, Vermont: Rural Addison County town with comparable service scope (public works, fire, planning, recreation) and similar reliance on contracted water/sewer operations. Closely comparable peer in service model and scale.
• Town of Vergennes, Vermont: Small Vermont city (~2,500 residents) running municipal water/sewer, police, fire, public works, and planning under the same state framework as Bristol. Comparable scale, service bundle, and reliance on state/federal infrastructure funding.

Broad incumbents

• City of Burlington, Vermont: Larger Vermont municipality providing the same suite of municipal services (water/sewer utility, police, fire, public works, planning, recreation, library) and operating comparable capital infrastructure programs. Broader incumbent in the same regulatory and operational framework.
• Addison County, Vermont: County-level government operating broader regional services (sheriff, regional planning, solid waste district) that overlap with Bristol's local public safety, planning, and waste responsibilities. Comparable governmental structure serving the same region.

Regional players

• Mount Abraham Unified School District: Regional school district serving Bristol and neighboring towns; not a direct municipal peer but a directly adjacent public-sector entity whose governance, funding model, and constituent base overlap with Bristol's taxpayers and residents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bristolvt
• Facebookfacebook.com/bristolpolicedepartment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bristol-town-of

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BRISTOL, TOWN OF