reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
24A V.S.A. § 15-5
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-5. Method of voting

§ 15-5. Method of voting|(a) The annual meeting of said corporation, for the election of officers and for voting by printed ballot on questions to be decided shall be called at nine o'clock in the forenoon; and, for the transaction of other business, at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening of the day heretofore appointed. The election of officers shall be by ballot, similar to that used for the election of Representatives to the General Assembly, and all questions submitted to the voters, at the annual or special meeting of the City, as contained in the warning for such meetings, shall be decided by ballot, similar to that used in voting on the license questions; provided, however, that such method of voting shall apply only when application for a ballot is included in the petition for a special meeting, or in an article in the warning for a regular meeting, or when ordered by the City Council.(b) The polls shall be kept open until seven o'clock in the afternoon and in case two or more leading candidates for the same office at any City election shall receive the same number of votes, resulting in no choice expressed by the voters, the City Council shall, at its next regular meeting, or at a special meeting held for that purpose, fill the office by the appointment of one of such leading candidates.
24A V.S.A. § 15-6
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-6. Mayor and Aldermen

§ 15-6. Mayor and Aldermen|The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the City except freeman's meetings, with the power of moderator in town meetings, and at meetings of the City Council. The Mayor, together with the aldermen shall constitute a Board of City Council and shall have the management of the affairs of the corporation and the necessary powers for that purpose, and in addition thereto all the powers of selectmen, and shall establish pounds. Said City Council shall hold a meeting on a stated day of each month, to be determined by that body, and oftener at the call of the Mayor. In case of the absence, resignation, or inability from any cause of the Mayor, the duties of the Office shall devolve on the senior Alderman, chosen by City Council, for the remainder of the Mayor's official term. The Mayor and aldermen shall, ex officio, have and exercise all the powers and authority of justices of the peace.
24A V.S.A. § 15-7
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-7. Duties of the Clerk, etc.

§ 15-7. Duties of the Clerk, etc.|The Clerk of said City shall be, ex officio, Clerk of the City Council and, as such, shall have the custody of all books, papers, and records of said City, keep a record of the proceedings of the Board, certify copies thereof, and, except as otherwise provided, shall perform the usual duties of a town clerk. The other officers elected at the annual meetings of said City shall have the same powers and duties and be subject to the same restrictions and liabilities as are now provided by law for the various town officers. All officers of the City shall be sworn for the faithful performance of their duties.
24A V.S.A. § 15-8
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-8. Duty of auditors

§ 15-8. Duty of auditors|(a) The accounts of the several officers shall be closed and in the hands of the auditors at least two weeks before the annual meeting; any officer failing to so report shall not be eligible to re-election to said office for the ensuing year.(b) It shall be the duty of the auditors to audit the accounts of the Treasurer and other City officers and report the accounts so settled with the items thereof and also the state of the treasury, to the City at its annual meeting and said report shall be printed by the auditors at the expense of the City and circulated among the taxpayers thereof, at least one week before the annual meeting.
24A V.S.A. § 15-9
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-9. Appointments by City Council

§ 15-9. Appointments by City Council|(a) The City Council at their first meeting of each fiscal year shall appoint a City Manager who shall have all the duties and responsibilities of a town manager as set forth in 24 V.S.A. chapter 37 as amended from time to time; a Treasurer, who shall discharge the duties incident to that office; a City Clerk; one or more constables; and may appoint a City Attorney.(b) None of such officers shall be a member of the City Council. The compensation of all officers shall be fixed by the City Council and all of said officers shall be under the direction of City Council and shall hold office until their respective successors shall be appointed and qualified; subject however, to removal by the City Council for just cause. No claim for personal services shall be allowed to the officers elected at the annual meeting, except as fixed by law or by City Council, unless said claim is fixed by vote of the City at the annual meeting.(c) All appointments by the City Manager shall be subject to approval by the City Council.
24A V.S.A. § 15-10
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-10. Highways, etc.

§ 15-10. Highways, etc.|The City Council is hereby authorized and empowered to lay out new highways, streets, public walks, and squares, for the use of said City, or to alter those already laid out; and to regulate and pave streets or highways and construct common sewers therein and to plant the highways, streets, public walks, and squares with trees for shade or ornament; and to fix the plans of public bridges within the City, and build or rebuild and repair the same as often as necessary, taking the same measures in all respects as are or may be directed by the laws of this State to be taken in case of highways laid out by the selectmen for the use of their towns, and to construct and repair sidewalks in the principal streets of said City and to direct in what manner and of what materials such sidewalks shall be constructed or repaired, and may assess the owners of property, through which or fronting which such sidewalks are constructed, so much of the expense thereof as said City Council shall judge said lands and property to be benefited thereby, after giving six days notice of the time and place of hearing to the parties interested, their agents, or attorneys; such assessment to be collected in the same manner as City taxes are collected. Any person or persons aggrieved by the laying out of such highways, streets, public walks, squares, or bridges, or by being assessed for sidewalks as above provided, may have the same remedy by application to the county court as is provided by law in cases of highways laid out by the selectmen.
24A V.S.A. § 15-12
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-12. Taxes

§ 15-12. Taxes|The City Council shall lay a tax not exceeding 300 cents on the dollar of the grand list of said City on the ratable estate within the same, whether of residents or nonresidents, for any of the purposes hereinbefore mentioned, and shall make out a rate bill accordingly and deliver the same to the Treasurer and the Constable or Collector shall have power to collect it and may sell property to satisfy the same, and for want thereof may commit any person against whom he or she has such a tax to jail. Such sales for taxes shall be advertised and conducted as provided by the Public Laws; provided however, that, if any parcel of real estate so advertised and sold shall yield a larger amount at such sale than the total amount of taxes, costs, and charges against the owner, such sale shall not thereby be void, but shall stand, subject to the statutory right of redemption, upon tender of payment to the owner of the amount of such excess. And the City Council shall be a Board for the Abatement of Taxes.
24A V.S.A. § 15-13
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-13. Official bonds

§ 15-13. Official bonds|The Treasurer, Constable, and collectors shall severally give good and sufficient bonds to the City to be approved by the City Council, in such sums as may be fixed by said Council, and in case of their failure to give bonds as aforesaid within 10 days after their election to said office, the office shall be vacant and it shall be the duty of the City Council to fill all such vacancies and all those caused by death, resignation, or otherwise.
24A V.S.A. § 15-14
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-14. Water

§ 15-14. Water|The City Manager and the aldermen who are designated as water commissioners are hereby empowered to enter in the day time, any premises or buildings in said City in which city water may be used, for the purpose of determining how much of said water is used, and for the reasonable inspection of the same.
24A V.S.A. § 15-16
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-16. City Court

§ 15-16. City Court|There may be holden in said City, from time to time, as occasion arises a City Court, which shall be a court of record, presided over by a justice of the peace who shall be designated by the City Council as judge thereof; of which court the City Clerk shall be the Clerk. Said Court shall have the same jurisdiction and powers within said City as justices of the peace now have, and shall be subject to and governed by all statutes relating to courts of justices of the peace.
24A V.S.A. § 15-26
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-26. Sales, etc.

§ 15-26. Sales, etc.|(a) All sales, leases, or grants of any real estate, belonging to the City shall be signed by the Mayor thereof, and sealed with the City Seal, and any conveyance so executed, if approved by a meeting of the citizens of the City legally assembled, and recorded in the records of the town where the lands so sold, leased, or granted lie, shall be good and effectual in law to convey the estate intended to be conveyed by such sale, lease, or grant.(b) Any allocation of wastewater treatment capacity of the wastewater treatment plant of the City and any use of any wastewater distribution mains of the City connected to the plant serving any property outside the territorial limits of the City shall require a written agreement setting forth the specific terms and conditions of the allocation of wastewater capacity or use of wastewater distribution mains of the City connected to the plant. Any written agreement allocating wastewater treatment capacity outside the territorial limits of the City shall be approved at an annual or special meeting of the voters of the City legally assembled and, once signed by the City Council, or its authorized representative, shall be recorded in the land records of the municipality where the lands are located and benefited by the allocation of wastewater treatment capacity or use of wastewater distribution mains of the City connected to the plant. (Amended 2007, No. M-15, § 2, eff. May 16, 2007.)
24A V.S.A. § 15-27
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-27. Resignation of Mayor

§ 15-27. Resignation of Mayor|The Mayor of said City may, at any time, resign his or her office by filing his or her resignation with the Clerk of the City.
24A V.S.A. § 15-28
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-28. Freemen

§ 15-28. Freemen|The freemen of the City shall have the right to choose a Representative to represent the same in the General Assembly of this State, and shall also have the same right to vote at elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of Congress and all other officers of the general and State government, that other freemen of this State have or may have.
24A V.S.A. § 15-51
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-51. Creation

§ 15-51. Creation|A Traffic Court for the City of Vergennes is hereby created and established with the sole jurisdiction of receiving waiver of process and trial, admission of violation and fines from violators of the provisions of parking and traffic ordinances of said City of Vergennes and for the sole purpose and with the sole authority of carrying out the provisions of this subchapter.
24A V.S.A. § 15-52
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-52. Powers

§ 15-52. Powers|The person holding the Office of City Treasurer of the City of Vergennes shall be the Judge of said Court, and shall exercise the powers, and perform the functions and duties thereof. The Judge of said Court shall act as the Clerk thereof, and keep its files and records, or shall appoint his or her deputy or assistant.
24A V.S.A. § 15-53
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-53. Office

§ 15-53. Office|The City of Vergennes shall maintain said Traffic Court and provide quarters for the same in the City offices in said City.
24A V.S.A. § 15-54
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-54. Violations, convictions; statement

§ 15-54. Violations, convictions; statement|Any person charged with the violation of any rule, regulation, restriction, or ordinance of said City, which regulates, restricts, or defines the time or place of parking vehicles in the City of Vergennes or prescribes any traffic regulations may within three days from the date of such charge by a statement signed by such person, admit such violation and waive issuing of any process and a trial by jury or hearing, and may voluntarily pay to said Traffic Court of said City the penalty herein prescribed; provided, however, that whenever in the opinion of said Court, the gravity of the offense requires a fine in excess of the above penalty, such Court may refuse to accept such signed statement and penalty and shall then make complaint to the proper prosecuting officer of said City, or to the State's Attorney of the County. In such event, such signed statement and penalty shall be returned to the offender and shall not be considered as an admission or used as evidence in any trial in any court in this State.
24A V.S.A. § 15-55
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-55. Signed statements

§ 15-55. Signed statements|Said Court shall treat such signed statements, if accepted and accompanied by the penalty herein prescribed, as a plea of guilty, and shall make such entry on its records. No costs, fees, or further charges shall be assessed against any person so admitting a violation of any parking or traffic rule, regulation, or ordinance, or shall be allowed or paid to any officer or person because of such violation, but such penalty shall be accepted by said Court in full discharge of the criminal liability of such person caused by such violation. Said Court shall retain all such signed statements for a period of two years from the date thereof, and shall keep a separate record, available to the public at any reasonable time, of all money collected and all other official acts done in connection therewith.
24A V.S.A. § 15-56
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-56. Penalty

§ 15-56. Penalty|The penalty which may be so voluntarily paid by any person so violating any ordinance regulating, restricting, or defining the time and place of parking vehicles in the City of Vergennes shall be set by the City Council subject to the limits set forth in 23 V.S.A. chapter 19, Parking; police courts. Other violations of the ordinances of said City shall be punished in the manner prescribed by law.
24A V.S.A. § 15-57
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-57. Collection

§ 15-57. Collection|All money so collected by said Court in any one month shall be covered into the Treasury of the City of Vergennes on the first day of the following month with a statement of the names of the persons from whom the money was collected, provided that said Court may turn over said money collected during any shorter period at the end of such period.
24A V.S.A. § 15-61
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-61. Water system authorized

§ 15-61. Water system authorized|The City of Vergennes is hereby authorized and empowered to construct and maintain a water system, with necessary structures, appliances, pipe lines, aqueducts, pumps, pump house, filtration basin or basins, reservoir or reservoirs, water tower, or towers and all necessary appurtenances to operate the same by water power, gravity, electricity, or other means, and to conduct water to and distribute the same through said City for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants thereof with water for fire, domestic, mechanical, and other purposes, and may take and hold, by purchase or the right of eminent domain, in addition to the land, water power, water rights, privileges, and appurtenances thereof already owned or acquired by said City, such land and easements, springs, wells, ponds, streams, water privileges, and other sources of supply, located within or without the City limits, as may be necessary for obtaining a proper and adequate supply, storing and distributing same, preventing the pollution of the water supply of said City, and for proper construction, extension, and maintenance of said water system, provided, however, that such right of eminent domain shall not include the taking of private water power rights. Said City may enter upon and use any land, highways, easements, and rights of way through or over which it may be necessary for the pipes or aqueducts, reservoirs, water towers, structures, and appurtenances as may be necessary for the complete construction and maintenance of said water system; and may also, for the purposes aforesaid, dig up or occupy any common, highway, street, right of way, or bridge, for the purpose of laying, constructing, or repairing such pipes or aqueducts and all appurtenances thereof; and may, for the purposes of this subchapter, build, construct, and repair from time to time as may be necessary, the dam or falls of the water power now owned and used by said City.
24A V.S.A. § 15-62
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-62. Powers

§ 15-62. Powers|Said City is authorized and empowered to borrow money and issue its negotiable bonds and notes to an amount not exceeding $160,000, maturing, in installments as may be determined by the special committee authorized by section 64 of this chapter, within a maximum period of 30 years from date of issue, for the purpose of acquiring the necessary lands, easements, and sources of supply and constructing said water system and paying all expenses incident thereto. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding five percent and shall not be sold for less than 95 percent of their par value. The bonds or notes shall be signed by the Mayor of said City and countersigned by its Treasurer, and if interest coupons are attached they shall bear the facsimile signature of the Treasurer of said City. The bonds or notes shall specify on their face the purpose for which they are issued, and that they are issued under the authority of this subchapter, which shall be conclusive evidence of the liability of said City to any bona fide holder of the same. It is hereby made the duty of the said City to provide for the payment, and to pay the interest and principal, of said bonds or notes as they shall fall due. If said City shall for any cause fail to provide means for the payment of the interest and principal that may become due, then it shall become the duty of the City Council, without vote of the City, seasonably to assess upon the grand list of said City a tax sufficient to meet the interest and principal of said bonds or notes as they respectively become due, and place the same with a proper warrant, signed by a justice of the peace, in the hands of the Collector of Taxes for said City to collect the same immediately and pay it into the hands of the Treasurer, whose duty it shall be to pay the principal and interest of said bonds or notes as they shall fall due. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the holder or holders of said bonds or notes from resorting to any legal means to enforce payment of same.
24A V.S.A. § 15-63
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-63. Bonding; vote required

§ 15-63. Bonding; vote required|The City, by a two-thirds vote of the legal voters present and voting at a meeting duly warned and holden in whole or in part for that purpose, may vote to lay, construct, and maintain said system of water works as contemplated by this subchapter, and vote to borrow money for that purpose, and issue its negotiable bonds or notes, determined what amount of bonds or notes shall be issued therefor, determine the denomination thereof, the rate of interest thereon, and how and when payable.
24A V.S.A. § 15-64
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters|Chapter 15 - City of Vergennes|App § 15-64. Special committee

§ 15-64. Special committee|Pursuant to such vote of the City, a special committee including the Mayor and chosen by the Chamber of Commerce of the City and confirmed by the City Council shall have charge of the borrowing of the money as hereinbefore provided, and shall lay out and construct said system of water works and shall have exclusive control and direction of the construction and all expenses incurred therein. Vacancies occurring in said committee shall be filled by the remaining members thereof, subject to confirmation by City Council. Said committee shall serve without pay, but shall be allowed their actual expenses.