Providing ready access to the listers' records. The caller to our office expressed frustration at being unable to inspect listers' records in a timely fashion. But in some cases, he could not inspect the records, either because a lister was unavailable and the clerk, who is not custodian of the listers' records, was reluctant to provide access, or because the listers' records were in a lister's house, not the clerk's office. Each board of listers adopts its own practice on whether to deposit the records with the clerk, permit the clerk to allow inspection, etc. Obviously, it behooves a member of the public to call the clerk's office first to see what practices that municipality follows in terms of listers' records.
Municipalities can take some steps to avoid confusion.
If listers' records are stored with the clerk, for example, a written agreement could establish access to the records if a lister is not available. During the last legislative session, the Commissioner of Health and others lobbied for the regulation of tattooists in Vermont, citing concern for health and safety, the increase in the use of tattooing, and the concern for the spread of blood-borne disease. The testimony painted a picture of tattooing as an underground industry, becoming more popular within the state, and frequently performed with unsterilized guitar strings in someone's basement. Any person purporting to be a tattooist in Vermont now must be registered, must have an application on file outlining services provided and training, and identify any other state or jurisdiction in which he or she has been licensed. We believe that each community's elected representatives, police, and health officers are important sources of information about tattooing in the community and our office seeks your assistance in locating Vermont tattooists.