reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
24 V.S.A. § 5142
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5142. Definitions

§ 5142. Definitions|For the purpose of this chapter:  (1) "Selectboard" means the selectboard in the case of a town, the city council in the case of a city, the board of trustees in the case of an incorporated village, the prudential committee in the case of a fire district, or the board of commissioners in the case of a consolidated sewer or water district. (2) "Disconnection" means the deliberate interruption or disconnection of water or sewer service, or both, to a ratepayer by the servicing municipality for nonpayment of water or sewer charges. (3) "Delinquency" means failure of the ratepayer to tender payment for a valid bill or charge within 30 days of the postmark date of that bill or charge, or by a "due date" at least 30 days after mailing, which shall be clearly printed on the bill and which shall control in the absence of the postmark. A delinquency of sewer charges shall be considered a delinquency of water charges, if operated by the same municipal corporation. (4) "Hearing officer" means a person appointed pursuant to section 5147 of this chapter to act as a fact finder and to hear and investigate evidence, and to make recommendations to the selectboard for final determination of the dispute. (5) "Notice" means the written notice on the form prescribed in section 5144 of this chapter, sent within 40 days after delinquency and postmarked and sent not more than 20 days, nor less than 14 days prior to the disconnect of service. (6) "Physician's certificate" means a written statement by a duly licensed medical practitioner certifying that a ratepayer or resident within the ratepayer's household would suffer an immediate and serious health hazard by the disconnection of the utility's service to that household. The certificate will be considered valid and in force for 30 days, or the duration of the hazard, whichever is less. (7) "Payment of a bill" means the receipt at the municipal office of cash, check, or money order which is subsequently honored. (8) "Business days" means Monday through Thursday, excluding legal holidays and any other time, or the day before such time, when municipal offices are not open to the public. (9) [Repealed.] (10) "Credit supervisor" is any person appointed by the selectboard to perform the functions of a credit supervisor under this chapter. Notwithstanding section 1524 of this title, the municipal tax collector may be appointed, but the fees provided under Title 32 for a tax collector do not apply to the collection procedure in this chapter. (Added 1977, No. 93; amended 1989, No. 45, § 8.)
24 V.S.A. § 5143
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5143. Disconnection of service

§ 5143. Disconnection of service|(a) No municipality shall disconnect service to a ratepayer unless payment of a valid bill or charge is delinquent as defined herein, and notice of disconnection has been provided previously to the ratepayer. A copy of the notice shall be sent to the occupant of a residential dwelling that will be affected by the disconnection if the occupant is different than the ratepayer.(b) Disconnection shall not be permitted if:  (1) The delinquent bill or charge, or aggregate delinquent bills and charges do not exceed $15.00. (2) The delinquency is due solely to a disputed portion of a charge that is the subject of an appeal. (3) The delinquency is due to a failure to pay a deposit, line extension, special assessment, special construction charge, or other nonrecurring charge. (4) The disconnection would represent an immediate and serious hazard to the health of the ratepayer or a resident within the ratepayer's household, as set forth in a physician's certificate that is on file with the municipality. Notice by telephone or otherwise that such certificate will be forthcoming will have the effect of receipt, providing the certificate is in fact received within seven days. (5) The ratepayer has not been given an opportunity to enter into a reasonable agreement to pay the delinquent bill or, having made such agreement, has abided by its terms.   (c) The tenant of a rental dwelling noticed for disconnection due to the delinquency of the ratepayer shall have the right to request and pay for continued service from the utility or reconnection of water and sewer service for the rental dwelling, which the utility shall provide. If any water and sewer charges or fees are included in the tenant's rent, the tenant may deduct the cost of any water and sewer service charges or fees paid to the municipality from his or her rent pursuant to 9 V.S.A. § 4459. Under such circumstances, the utility shall not require the tenant to pay any arrearage greater than one billing cycle. (Added 1977, No. 93; amended 1989, No. 45, § 9; 2013, No. 94 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 20, 2014.)
24 V.S.A. § 5145
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5145. Time and notice of disconnection

§ 5145. Time and notice of disconnection|(a) Disconnection of utility service shall occur only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. of the business day specified on the notice of disconnection, or within the same hours during the four business days thereafter.(b) When service is disconnected or interrupted at the premises of the ratepayer, which shall include disconnection or interruption at or near the premises of the ratepayer, the individual making the disconnection shall immediately inform a responsible adult on the premises that service has been disconnected or interrupted, or if no responsible adult is then present, shall leave on the premises in a conspicuous and secure place a notification advising that service has been disconnected or interrupted and what the ratepayer has to do to have service restored. (Added 1977, No. 93.)
24 V.S.A. § 5146
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5146. Restoration of service

§ 5146. Restoration of service|If service has been disconnected or interrupted, the municipality shall within 24 hours restore service upon the customer's request when the cause for disconnection of service has been removed or when an agreement has been reached between the ratepayer and the municipality regarding the dispute that led to the disconnection or when directed to do so by the selectboard. Restoration of service, to the extent feasible, shall be done so as to avoid charging ratepayers for overtime wages and other abnormal expenses. No collection or reconnection fees may be charged for disconnections or interruptions of service made for reasons of health or safety of the ratepayer or of the general public. (Added 1977, No. 93; amended 1989, No. 45, § 11.)
24 V.S.A. § 5147
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5147. Jurisdiction for appeals and exceptions

§ 5147. Jurisdiction for appeals and exceptions|The selectboard shall promptly and fairly hear any or all appeals by the ratepayer after notice to all interested parties. During appeal, disconnection will be postponed. Upon just cause shown, the selectboard may grant exceptions to any ratepayer. The selectboard may appoint one or more members of the selectboard to act as hearing officers for the purposes of the appeal. Alternatively, the selectboard may appoint a responsible citizen to act as a hearing officer for the appeal. (Added 1977, No. 93.)
24 V.S.A. § 5148
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5148. Consumer provisions

§ 5148. Consumer provisions|Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the selectboard from adopting further procedures, ordinances, or rules providing greater protection for consumers than are required by this chapter. (Added 1977, No. 93.)
24 V.S.A. § 5150
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5150. Unauthorized connection

§ 5150. Unauthorized connection|The officers and agents of such a municipality entrusted with the care and superintendence of the municipality may at all reasonable times enter all premises so supplied to examine the pipes and fixtures and prevent any unnecessary waste, and to examine for sanitary correction thereto. If any person, without the consent of such municipal corporation, shall use any connection to water or sewer, a civil action on this statute may be maintained against such person by such municipality for the recovery of damages thereon. (Added 1977, No. 93; amended 1989, No. 45, § 13.)
24 V.S.A. § 5151
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 129 - Uniform Water and Sewer Disconnect|§ 5151. Special charges

§ 5151. Special charges|(a) A municipality providing water and sewer services may charge fees for collection of overdue accounts and reconnection of service disconnected because of nonpayment.(b) Fees charged shall not exceed the following schedule:         Collection Trips ― $25.00 maximum, regardless of number         Reconnection:              Normal Hours ― $25.00             Overtime ― $37.50(c) Interest on delinquent accounts may be assessed if voted by the municipality according to 32 V.S.A. § 5136. (Added 1977, No. 93; amended 1987, No. 33, § 2; 1989, No. 45, § 14.)
24 V.S.A. § 5200
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 131 - Impact Fees|§ 5200. Purpose

§ 5200. Purpose|It is the intent of this chapter to enable municipalities to require the beneficiaries of new development to pay their proportionate share of the cost of municipal and school capital projects that benefit them and to require them to pay for or mitigate the negative effects of construction. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. July 1, 1989.)
24 V.S.A. § 5201
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 131 - Impact Fees|§ 5201. Definitions

§ 5201. Definitions|As used in this chapter:  (1) "Municipality" means a town, a city, or an incorporated village or an unorganized town or gore. (2) "Capital project" means:  (A) any physical betterment or improvement including furnishings, machinery, apparatus, or equipment for such physical betterment or improvement; (B) any preliminary studies and surveys relating to any physical betterment or improvement; (C) land or rights in land; or (D) any combination of these.  (3) "Impact fee" means a fee levied as a condition of issuance of a zoning or subdivision permit that will be used to cover any portion of the costs of an existing or planned capital project that will benefit or is attributable to the users of the development or to compensate the municipality for any expenses it incurs as a result of construction. The fee may be levied for recoupment of costs for previously expended capital outlay for a capital project that will benefit the users of the development. (4) "Offsite mitigation" means permanent protection of land not necessarily adjacent to the development site and which compensates for the impact of the development. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. July 1, 1989.)
24 V.S.A. § 5202
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 131 - Impact Fees|§ 5202. Authorization

§ 5202. Authorization|(a) A municipality may levy an impact fee in accordance with this chapter.(b) A municipality may accept offsite mitigation in lieu of an impact fee or as compensation for damage to important land such as prime agricultural land or important wildlife habitat. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. July 1, 1989.)
24 V.S.A. § 5204
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 131 - Impact Fees|§ 5204. Payment of fees

§ 5204. Payment of fees|(a) An impact fee or obligation for offsite mitigation shall be a lien upon all property and improvements within land development for which the fee is assessed in the same manner and to the same effect as taxes are a lien upon real estate under section 32 V.S.A. § 5061.(b) A municipality may require payment of an impact fee or accept offsite mitigation before issuance of a zoning or subdivision permit.(c) A municipality may accept fees on installment at a reasonable rate of interest.(d) A municipality may require a letter of credit to guarantee future payment of an impact fee or offsite mitigation. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. July 1, 1989.)
24 V.S.A. § 5205
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 131 - Impact Fees|§ 5205. Exemptions

§ 5205. Exemptions|A municipality may exempt certain types of development from any part or all of the impact fee assessed, provided that the exemption achieves other policies or objectives clearly stated in the municipal plan. The policies or objectives may include, but are not limited to, the provision of affordable housing and the retention of existing employment, or the generation of new employment. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. July 1, 1989.)
24 V.S.A. § 5206
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 131 - Impact Fees|§ 5206. Construction of chapter

§ 5206. Construction of chapter|Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting a municipality from adopting ordinances otherwise authorized by law. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. July 1, 1989.)
24 V.S.A. § 5601
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 137 - Building Communities Grants|§ 5601. Building communities grants

§ 5601. Building communities grants|(a) The purpose of this chapter is to establish one-for-one matching grants to help communities, nonprofit organizations, or, as applicable under section 5603 of this chapter, barn owners preserve important historic buildings and enhance community facilities. Therefore, in order to make it easy for communities, nonprofit organizations, or barn owners to apply, the entity which administers a grant program under this chapter shall work with other administrators of building communities grants to develop a standard application form which:  (1) describes the application process and includes clear instructions and examples to help applicants complete the form; (2) includes an opportunity for a community, nonprofit organization, or barn owner to demonstrate its ability to generate one-for-one matching funds from local fundraising or other efforts; (3) includes a summary of each of the other grants, their deadlines, and a statement that no community, nonprofit organization, or barn owner shall apply for more than one grant under this chapter for the same project in the same calendar year; and (4) may include supplements specific to an individual grant.   (b) Each entity which administers a grants program under this chapter shall establish a selection process which ensures equitable selection of grant recipients and ensures accountability by grant recipients.(c) Before it notifies an applicant of an award under this chapter, the entity which administers the grant shall provide notice of the award and time and location of any award presentation to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Institutions and the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions, and those members of the General Assembly who represent the area in which a successful applicant resides.(d) Notwithstanding 32 V.S.A. § 701a, if, after an entity awards grant funds under this chapter, the funds remain unexpended and not subject to a grant agreement, the entity may reallocate the unexpended funds within its grant program within three years of the original award date. Any unexpended funds remaining after this three-year period that are not subject to a grant agreement shall be reallocated in future acts relating to capital construction and State bonding. (Added 2007, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. June 9, 2008; amended 2009, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. June 4, 2010; 2011, No. 104 (Adj. Sess.), § 28, eff. May 7, 2012.)
24 V.S.A. § 5602
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 137 - Building Communities Grants|§ 5602. Historic Preservation Grant Program

§ 5602. Historic Preservation Grant Program|There is established an Historic Preservation Grant Program which shall be administered by the Division for Historic Preservation in the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Grants shall be made available to municipalities and nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for restoring buildings and structures. (Added 2007, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. June 9, 2008; amended 2009, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 29.)
24 V.S.A. § 5603
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 137 - Building Communities Grants|§ 5603. Historic Barns Preservation Grant Program

§ 5603. Historic Barns Preservation Grant Program|There is established an Historic Barns Preservation Grant Program which shall be administered by the Division for Historic Preservation in the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Grants shall be made available to barn owners for restoring historic barns. (Added 2007, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. June 9, 2008; amended 2009, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. June 4, 2010.)
24 V.S.A. § 5604
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 137 - Building Communities Grants|§ 5604. Cultural Facilities Grant Program

§ 5604. Cultural Facilities Grant Program|(a) There is established a Cultural Facilities Competitive Grant Program to be administered by the Vermont Arts Council. No portion of a grant shall be used to pay salaries.(b) Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis. In recommending grant awards, a review panel shall give priority consideration to applicants who demonstrate greater financial need or are in underserved areas of the State. (Added 2007, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. June 9, 2008; amended 2009, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. June 4, 2010.)
24 V.S.A. § 5605
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 137 - Building Communities Grants|§ 5605. Recreational Facilities Grant Program

§ 5605. Recreational Facilities Grant Program|(a) Creation of Program. There is created a Recreational Facilities Grant Program to be the successor to and a continuation of the Recreational and Educational Facilities Grant Program established in 2005 Acts and Resolves No. 43, Sec. 34 to provide competitive grants to municipalities as defined in chapter 117 of this title and to nonprofit organizations for capital costs associated with the development and creation of community recreational opportunities in Vermont communities. The Program is authorized to award matching grants of up to $25,000.00 per project. The required match shall be met through dollars raised and not through in-kind services.(b) Creation of Committee. There is established a Recreational Facilities Grant Advisory Committee to coordinate and administer the Recreational Facilities Grant Program. The Committee shall include the Commissioners of Forests, Parks and Recreation and of Buildings and General Services or the Commissioners' designees; a representative of the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association; two members of the Vermont General Assembly, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees; a representative of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council; and one citizen member to be appointed by the Governor. The members of the Committee shall select a chair. The citizen member shall serve for a term of two years or until his or her successor is appointed.(c) Administrative support. The Department of Buildings and General Services shall provide administrative support to the Program. (Added 2007, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. June 9, 2008; amended 2009, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. June 4, 2010; 2017, No. 74, § 110.)
24 V.S.A. § 5606
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 137 - Building Communities Grants|§ 5606. Human Services and Educational Facilities Competitive Grant Program

§ 5606. Human Services and Educational Facilities Competitive Grant Program|(a) Creation of Program. There is created a Human Services and Educational Facilities Competitive Grant Program to be the successor to and a continuation of the Human Services Competitive Grant Program established in 2005 Acts and Resolves No. 43, Sec. 36 to provide competitive grants to municipalities as defined in chapter 117 of this title and to nonprofit organizations for capital costs associated with the major maintenance, renovation, or development of facilities for the delivery of human services and health care or for the development of educational opportunities in Vermont communities. The Program is authorized to award matching grants of up to $25,000.00 per project. The required match shall be met through dollars raised and not through in-kind services.(b) Creation of Committee. There is established a Human Services and Educational Facilities Grant Advisory Committee to administer and coordinate the Human Services and Educational Facilities Grant Program. The Committee shall include the Secretary of Human Services or the Secretary's designee; the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services or the Commissioner's designee; two members of the Vermont General Assembly, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees; and three representatives of broad-based community organizations, such as the United Way of Vermont, who shall be selected and appointed by the Governor. The members of the Committee shall select a chair. The members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of two years or until their successors are appointed.(c) Administrative support. The Department of Buildings and General Services shall provide administrative support to the Program. (Added 2007, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. June 9, 2008; amended 2009, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. June 4, 2010; 2017, No. 74, § 111.)
24 V.S.A. § 5607
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 - Municipal and County Government|Chapter 137 - Building Communities Grants|§ 5607. Regional Economic Development Grant Program

§ 5607. Regional Economic Development Grant Program|(a) Creation of Program. There is created a Regional Economic Development Grant Program to provide competitive grants for capital costs associated with the major maintenance, renovation, or planning related to the development of facilities reasonably expected to create job opportunities in Vermont communities. The Program is authorized to award matching grants of up to $25,000.00 per project. The required match shall be met through dollars raised and not through in-kind services. State investments made under this Program shall be consistent with the goals found in section 4302 of this title and local and regional plans adopted pursuant to this title and shall be coordinated with the efforts described in chapter 76A of this title.(b) Creation of Committee. There is established a Regional Economic Development Grant Advisory Committee to administer and coordinate the Regional Economic Development Grant Program. The Committee shall include the Commissioner of Economic, Housing and Community Affairs or designee; the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services or designee; and two members of the Vermont General Assembly, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees. The members of the Committee shall select a chair. (Added 2011, No. 104 (Adj. Sess.), § 27a, eff. May 7, 2012; amended 2013, No. 34, § 16.)