2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 24 - Municipal and County Government › Chapter 33 - Municipal Officers Generally › § 1061. Conveyance of real estate

§ 1061. Conveyance of real estate
(a)(1) If the legislative body of a town or village desires to convey municipal real estate, the legislative body shall give notice of the terms of the proposed conveyance by posting a notice in at least three public places within the municipality, one of which shall be in or near the municipal clerk’s office. Notice shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality. The posting and publication required by this subsection shall occur at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed conveyance. Unless a petition is filed in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection, the legislative body may authorize the conveyance.
(2) If a petition signed by five percent of the legal voters of the municipality objecting to the proposed conveyance is presented to the municipal clerk within 30 days of the date of posting and publication of the notice required by subdivision (1) of this subsection, the legislative body shall cause the question of whether the municipality shall convey the real estate to be considered at a special or annual meeting called for that purpose. After the meeting, the real estate may be conveyed unless a majority of the voters of the municipality present and voting vote to disapprove of the conveyance.
(b) As an alternative to the procedures set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the legislative body may elect to have the voters decide, at an annual or special meeting warned for that purpose, whether the real estate should be conveyed. If a majority of the voters of the municipality present and voting vote to approve the proposed conveyance, the real estate may be conveyed.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the legislative body of a town or village may authorize the conveyance of municipal real estate if the conveyance:
(1) Is directly related to the control, maintenance, construction, relocation, or abandonment of highways.
(2) Is directly related to the control, maintenance, operation, improvement, or abandonment of a public water, sewer, or electric system.
(3) Involves real estate used for housing or urban renewal projects under chapter 113 of this title.
(4) Involves lease land pursuant to chapter 65, subchapter 1 of this title.
(d) Subject to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, real estate owned by a city, town, village, or town school district may be conveyed by an agent designated by the legislative body for that purpose, and the conveyance shall be under the hand and seal of the agent. The legislative body shall certify the designation of an agent and have the certificate recorded by the clerk.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or affect the authority or responsibility of any municipality or the legislative body thereof with respect to any real estate held or acquired in a fiduciary capacity.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or affect any provisions in a charter of a town or village involving the conveyance of real estate. (Amended 1993, No. 151 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2017, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2019, No. 84 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)