reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
17 V.S.A. § 2640
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2640. Annual meetings

§ 2640. Annual meetings|(a) A meeting of the legal voters of each town shall be held annually on the first Tuesday of March for the election of officers and the transaction of other business, and it may be adjourned to another date. When a municipality fails to hold an annual meeting, a warning for a subsequent meeting shall be issued immediately, and at that meeting all the officers required by law may be elected and its business transacted.(b) When a town so votes, it may thereafter start its annual meeting on any of the three days immediately preceding the first Tuesday in March at such time as it elects and may transact at that time any business not involving voting by Australian ballot or voting required by law to be by ballot and to be held on the first Tuesday in March. A meeting so started shall be adjourned until the first Tuesday in March.(c)(1) Notwithstanding section 2508 of this title, public discussion of ballot issues and all other issues appearing in the warning, other than election of candidates, shall be permitted at the annual meeting, regardless of the location of the polling place.  (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, a candidate for local office nominated from the floor at the annual meeting may introduce his or her candidacy to the extent permitted by the voters at the meeting. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1991, No. 118 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 26, 1992; 2007, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 45; 2017, No. 50, § 49.)
17 V.S.A. § 2640a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2640a. Representative annual meetings

§ 2640a. Representative annual meetings|(a) A municipality with a population of 5,000 or greater may vote at a special or annual town meeting to establish a representative form of annual or special meeting.(b)(1) A representative form of annual or special meeting is a meeting of members elected by district to exercise the powers vested in the voters of the town to act upon articles. However, the election of officers, public questions, and all articles to be voted upon by Australian ballot as required by law or as voted under section 2680 of this title at a prior annual or special meeting, and reconsideration of articles under section 2661 of this title shall remain vested in the voters of the town.  (2) An organizational resolution to adopt a representative form of annual or special meeting may be made by the legislative body of the municipality or by petition of five percent of the voters of the municipality. An official copy of the organizational resolution shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the municipality at least 10 days before the annual or special meeting at which the vote whether to adopt the organizational resolution shall take place, and copies thereof shall be made available to members of the public upon request. (3) An organizational resolution shall include the following:  (A) a certain number of elected members, a range of elected members, or a ratio of elected members to the number of voters. However, in no case shall the number of elected members be less than 100; (B) a certain number of districts and the boundaries of those districts; (C) who shall be ex officio voting members, if any, of the meeting; (D) the procedure for conducting the representative meeting; (E) specific action, if any, to be taken at the representative meeting; and (F) a procedure whereby the voters of the municipality may reconsider any action taken at a representative meeting.    (c) The form of the question of whether to establish a representative form of annual or special meeting shall be substantially as follows: "Shall the [name of municipality] adopt the representative form of annual or special meeting as set forth in the organizational resolution?"(d) A vote establishing a representative form of annual or special meeting shall remain in effect until the municipality votes to discontinue or establish a new representative form of annual or special meeting at an annual or special meeting duly warned for that purpose. (Added 2009, No. 125 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
17 V.S.A. § 2641
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2641. Warning and notice required; publication of warnings

§ 2641. Warning and notice required; publication of warnings|(a) The legislative body of a municipality shall warn a meeting by posting a warning and notice in at least two public places in the municipality, and in or near the town clerk's office, not less than 30 nor more than 40 days before the meeting. If a municipality has more than one polling place and the polling places are not all in the same building, the warning and notice shall be posted in at least two public places within each voting district and in or near the town clerk's office.(b) In addition, the warning shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least five days before the meeting, unless the warning is published in the town report and distributed as provided in 24 V.S.A. § 1682. The legislative body annually shall designate the paper in which such a warning may be published. The warning shall also be posted on the municipality's website, if the municipality actively updates its website on a regular basis.(c) No such warning shall be required for municipal informational meetings at which no voting is to take place. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 98; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 85, eff. May 24, 2000; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 66.)
17 V.S.A. § 2642
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2642. Warning and notice contents

§ 2642. Warning and notice contents|(a)(1) The warning shall include the date and time of the election, location of the polling place or places, and the nature of the meeting or election.  (2) It shall, by separate articles, specifically indicate the business to be transacted, to include the offices and the questions to be voted upon. (3)(A) The warning shall also contain any article or articles requested by a petition signed by at least five percent of the voters of the municipality and filed with the municipal clerk not less than 47 days before the day of the meeting.  (B) The clerk receiving the petitions shall immediately proceed to examine them to ascertain whether they contain the required number of signatures of registered voters set forth in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3). If found not to conform, he or she shall state in writing on the petition why it cannot be accepted, and within 24 hours from receipt, he or she shall return it to the petitioners. In this case, supplementary petitions may be filed not later than 48 hours after the petition was returned to the petitioners by the clerk or the filing deadline set forth in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3), whichever is later. However, supplementary petitions shall not be accepted if petitions with signatures of different persons totaling at least the number specified in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3) were not filed by the filing deadline. (C) A petition submitted under this subdivision (3):  (i) may include more than one proposed article; (ii) shall contain the petition language on each page on which signatures are collected; and (iii) shall include the printed name, signature, and street address of each voter who signed the petition.  (D) A voter may withdraw his or her name from a petitioned article at any time prior to the signing of the warning by a majority of the legislative body.    (b) The posted notice that accompanies the warning shall include information on voter registration, information on early or absentee voting where applicable, and other appropriate information. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 99; 2001, No. 6, § 12(c), eff. April 10, 2001; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 46; 2015, No. 30, § 23, eff. May 26, 2015.)
17 V.S.A. § 2643
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2643. Special meetings

§ 2643. Special meetings|(a) The legislative body may warn a special municipal meeting when it deems it necessary and shall call a special meeting on the application of five percent of the voters. A special meeting shall be warned within 60 days of receipt of the application by the municipal clerk. A voter may withdraw his or her name from a petition for a special meeting at any time prior to the signing of the warning by a majority of the legislative body.(b) [Repealed.](c) The legislative body may rescind the call of a special meeting called by them but not a special meeting called on application of five percent of the voters. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 47; 2015, No. 30, § 24, eff. May 26, 2015.)
17 V.S.A. § 2644
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2644. Warnings

§ 2644. Warnings|The original warning for each municipal meeting shall be signed by a majority of the legislative body and shall be filed with the clerk and recorded before being posted. When all positions on the legislative body are vacant, warnings may be signed by the clerk. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
17 V.S.A. § 2647
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2647. Incompatible offices

§ 2647. Incompatible offices|(a)(1) An auditor shall not be town clerk, town treasurer, selectboard member, first constable, collector of current or delinquent taxes, trustee of public funds, town manager, road commissioner, water commissioner, sewage system commissioner, sewage disposal commissioner, cemetery commissioner, or town school district director; nor shall a spouse of or any person assisting any of these officers in the discharge of official duties be eligible to hold office as auditor.  (2)(A) A selectboard member or school director shall not be first constable, collector of taxes, town treasurer, assistant town treasurer, auditor, or town agent.  (B) A selectboard member shall not be lister or assessor.  (3) A cemetery commissioner or library trustee shall not be town treasurer, assistant town treasurer, or auditor. (4) A town manager shall not hold any elective office in that town or town school district. (5) Election officers at local elections shall be disqualified as provided in section 2456 of this title.   (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if a school district prepares and reports its budget independently from the budget of the town and the school district is audited by an independent public accountant, a school director or spouse of a school director shall be eligible to hold office as auditor, town treasurer, or assistant town treasurer. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1993, No. 91, § 2; 2009, No. 44, § 5, eff. May 21, 2009; 2013, No. 21, § 2; 2013, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2017, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2019, No. 14, § 47, eff. April 30, 2019; 2019, No. 67, § 19, eff. June 17, 2019; 2019, No. 117 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 23, 2020.)
17 V.S.A. § 2648
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2648. Exceptions

§ 2648. Exceptions|Section 2647 of this title shall not apply to towns having not more than 25 legal voters, but in these towns an auditor shall not audit his or her own accounts kept and rendered in some other official capacity, nor shall the husband or wife of any town official audit his or her spouse's official accounts. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
17 V.S.A. § 2649
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2649. Number of officers

§ 2649. Number of officers|(a)(1) Each town shall have:   (A) three selectboard members, unless additional selectboard members are elected under the provisions of section 2650 of this chapter; (B) three listers, unless additional listers are elected under the provisions of section 2650 of this chapter or the town has voted to eliminate the office of lister under the provisions of section 2651c of this chapter; and (C) three auditors, unless the town has voted to eliminate the office of auditor under the provisions of section 2651b of this chapter.  (2) Except as otherwise provided, at each annual meeting, one selectboard member, one lister, and one auditor shall be elected, each for a term of three years.   (b) A town so voting may elect one or two road commissioners for a term of one, two, or three years, as provided in section 2646 of this chapter.(c) A town so voting may elect three water commissioners. The terms of the water commissioners shall be the same as those of selectboard members under sections 2646 and 2650 of this chapter, except that of those commissioners first elected, one shall have a term of one year, one a term of two years, and one a term of three years. One or two additional water commissioners may be authorized for one- or two-year terms as provided in subsection 2650(b) of this chapter relating to additional selectboard members. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1999, No. 73 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2013, No. 21, § 3.)
17 V.S.A. § 2650
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2650. Additional listers and selectboard members

§ 2650. Additional listers and selectboard members|(a) Additional listers. A town may vote at a special or annual town meeting to elect two additional listers for terms of one year each.(b) Additional selectboard members.  (1)(A) A town may vote at a special or annual town meeting to elect two additional selectboard members for terms of either one or two years each.  (B) When the terms of the additional selectboard members are to be for two years, the warning for the meeting shall so specify.  (2)(A) If two additional selectboard member positions are created, they shall be for terms of the same length, but if the terms of the new positions are to be for two years, when the additional selectboard members are first elected, one shall be elected for one year and the other selectboard member for two years.  (B) Terms of these additional selectboard members shall end on annual meeting days. If the additional selectboard members are elected at a special meeting, the term of those elected for one year shall expire on the next annual meeting day and those elected for two years shall expire on the second annual meeting day following their election.    (c) Discontinuing additional listers or selectboard members.  (1) A vote establishing additional listers or selectboard members shall remain in effect until the town votes to discontinue the two additional positions at an annual or special meeting duly warned for that purpose. (2) The term of office of any lister or selectboard member in office on the date a town votes to discontinue that office shall expire on the 31st day after the vote, unless a petition for reconsideration or rescission of that vote is filed with the clerk of the municipality in accordance with section 2661 of this chapter, in which case that section shall control. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2017, No. 50, § 50.)
17 V.S.A. § 2651
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2651. Road and water commissioners; appointment, removal

§ 2651. Road and water commissioners; appointment, removal|(a) Unless the town votes to elect road commissioners, the selectboard shall appoint forthwith one or two road commissioners and may remove from office a road commissioner appointed by them, for just cause after due notice and hearing. The selectboard may appoint one or two members of their own board to serve as road commissioners.(b) Unless the town votes to elect water commissioners, the selectboard shall appoint forthwith no less than three nor more than five water commissioners, unless there is no existing, or prospective, municipal water system for such commissioners to supervise. The selectboard may remove an appointed water commissioner from office for just cause after due notice and hearing. The selectboard may appoint members of their own board to serve as water commissioners. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1999, No. 22, § 2.)
17 V.S.A. § 2651a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2651a. Constables; appointment; removal

§ 2651a. Constables; appointment; removal|(a)(1) A town may vote by Australian ballot at an annual meeting to authorize the selectboard to appoint a first constable, and if needed a second constable, in which case at least a first constable shall be appointed.  (2) A constable so appointed may be removed by the selectboard for just cause after notice and hearing. (3) When a town votes to authorize the selectboard to appoint constables, the selectboard's authority to make such appointments shall remain in effect until the town rescinds that authority by the majority vote of the registered voters present and voting at an annual meeting, duly warned for that purpose.   (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) to the contrary, a vote to authorize the selectboard to appoint constables shall become effective only upon a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, if a written protest against the authorization is filed with the selectboard at least 15 days before the vote by at least five percent of the voters of the town.(c) The authority to authorize the selectboard to appoint the constable as provided in this section shall extend to all towns except those that have a charter that specifically provides for the election or appointment of the office of constable. (Added 1991, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2017, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
17 V.S.A. § 2651b
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2651b. Elimination of office of auditor; appointment of public accountant

§ 2651b. Elimination of office of auditor; appointment of public accountant|(a)(1) A town may vote by ballot at an annual meeting to eliminate the office of town auditor.  (2)(A) If a town votes to eliminate the office of town auditor, the selectboard shall contract with a public accountant licensed in this State to perform an annual financial audit of all funds of the town except the funds audited pursuant to 16 V.S.A. § 323.  (B) Unless otherwise provided by law, the selectboard shall provide for all other auditor's duties to be performed.  (3) A vote to eliminate the office of town auditor shall remain in effect until rescinded by majority vote of the registered voters present and voting, by ballot, at an annual meeting duly warned for that purpose.   (b) The term of office of any auditor in office on the date a town votes to eliminate that office shall expire on the 45th day after such vote or on the date upon which the selectboard enters into a contract with a public accountant under this section, whichever occurs first.(c) The authority to vote to eliminate the office of town auditor as provided in this section shall extend to all towns except those towns that have a charter that specifically provides for the election or appointment of the office of town auditor. (Added 1997, No. 83 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2011, No. 129 (Adj. Sess.), § 28, eff. July 1, 2013; amended 2013, No. 21, § 3a; 2017, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
17 V.S.A. § 2651c
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2651c. Lack of elected lister; appointment of lister; elimination of office

§ 2651c. Lack of elected lister; appointment of lister; elimination of office|(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in the event the board of listers of a town falls below a majority and the selectboard is unable to find a person or persons to appoint as a lister or listers under the provisions of 24 V.S.A. § 963, the selectboard may appoint an assessor to perform the duties of a lister as set forth in Title 32 until the next annual meeting.  (2) The appointed person need not be a resident of the town and shall have the same powers and be subject to the same duties and penalties as a duly elected lister for the town.   (b)(1) A town may vote by ballot at an annual meeting to eliminate the office of lister.  (2)(A) If a town votes to eliminate the office of lister, the selectboard shall contract with or employ a professionally qualified assessor, who need not be a resident of the town.  (B) The assessor shall have the same powers, discharge the same duties, proceed in the discharge thereof in the same manner, and be subject to the same liabilities as are prescribed for listers or the board of listers under the provisions of Title 32.  (3) A vote to eliminate the office of lister shall remain in effect until rescinded by majority vote of the registered voters present and voting at an annual meeting warned for that purpose.   (c) The term of office of any lister in office on the date a town votes to eliminate that office shall expire on the 45th day after the vote or on the date upon which the selectboard appoints an assessor under this subsection, whichever occurs first.(d) The authority to vote to eliminate the office of lister as provided in this section shall extend to all towns except those towns that have a charter that specifically provides for the election or appointment of the office of lister. (Added 2003, No. 125 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 21, § 4; 2017, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
17 V.S.A. § 2651d
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2651d. Collector of delinquent taxes; appointment; removal

§ 2651d. Collector of delinquent taxes; appointment; removal|(a)(1) A municipality may vote at an annual or special municipal meeting to authorize the legislative body to appoint a collector of delinquent taxes, who may be the municipal treasurer.  (2) A collector of delinquent taxes so appointed may be removed by the legislative body for just cause after notice and hearing.   (b) When a municipality votes to authorize the legislative body to appoint a collector of delinquent taxes, the legislative body's authority to make such appointment shall remain in effect until the municipality rescinds that authority by the majority vote of the registered voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting, duly warned for that purpose. (Added 2013, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2017, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)
17 V.S.A. § 2651e
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 55 - Local Elections|§ 2651e. Municipal clerk; appointment; removal

§ 2651e. Municipal clerk; appointment; removal|(a)(1) A municipality may vote at an annual meeting to authorize the legislative body to appoint the municipal clerk.  (2) A municipal clerk so appointed may be removed by the legislative body for just cause after notice and hearing.   (b) A vote to authorize the legislative body to appoint the municipal clerk shall remain in effect until rescinded by the majority vote of the registered voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting, duly warned for that purpose.(c) The term of office of a municipal clerk in office on the date a municipality votes to allow the legislative body to appoint a municipal clerk shall expire 45 calendar days after the vote or on the date upon which the legislative body appoints a municipal clerk under this section, whichever occurs first, unless a petition for reconsideration or rescission is filed in accordance with section 2661 of this title.(d) The authority to authorize the legislative body to appoint the municipal clerk as provided in this section shall extend to all municipalities except those that have a charter that specifically provides for the election or appointment of the office of municipal clerk. (Added 2017, No. 27, § 2, eff. May 10, 2017; amended 2017, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)