2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters › Chapter 149 - Town of Springfield › App § 34. Administrative and policy functions prescribed by charter

§ 34. Administrative and policy functions prescribed by charter
(a) Department of Assessment.
(1) There shall be the Department of Assessment as prescribed by charter and State statute, with any staff as may be recommended by the Town Manager and approved by the Selectboard.
(2) The head of the Department of Assessment shall be appointed or removed by the Town Manager with the advice and consent of the Selectboard.
(3) The Town Manager shall not participate in the process of property valuation and assessment.
(4) The Department of Assessment shall have the same powers, discharge the same duties, proceed in the discharge of those duties, and in the same manner be subject to the same liabilities as are prescribed for listers under the laws of the State of Vermont, except as provided in this section. Tax grievances shall be appealed to the Department of Assessment. Appeals from the Department of Assessment will be to the Board of Civil Authority.
(5) All employees in the Department of Assessment shall be governed by applicable rules and regulations promulgated under this charter.
(b) Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Town Attorney.
(1) The Selectboard shall appoint and remove, on the basis of qualifications and performance alone, a Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and Town Attorney.
(2) The duties of the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer shall be as prescribed by statute, except as provided herein.
(3) The Town Attorney shall, except as otherwise provided herein, represent the Town in all legal matters.
(4) [Repealed.]
(5) [Repealed.]
(6) Removal of the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and Town Attorney shall be by a process identical to removal of the Town Manager as outlined in subsection 31(h) of this charter.
(7) Compensation for the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and Town Attorney shall be recommended by the Manager and approved by the Selectboard. Any and all fees collected by the Town Treasurer and Town Clerk, pursuant to statutory duties, shall accrue as General Fund revenues to the Town.
(8) Support personnel, supplies, material, and equipment for the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer may be provided by the Selectboard upon recommendation by the Town Manager.
(9) The Selectboard or the Town Manager may seek legal services outside the offices of the Town Attorney whenever judged in the best interests of the Town.
(10) All staff provided to the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer shall be part of the Town administration and be subject to all rules and regulations adopted under this charter.
(11) The Town Clerk may designate an Assistant Town Clerk or clerks.
(12) In the absence or disability of the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, or Town Attorney, the Selectboard shall ensure that the functions are continued and shall have the power to appoint temporary substitutes.
(c) Human Resources Department.
(1) Merit principle outlined. All employment actions relating to Town officers and employees shall be made on the basis of merit, except for employees subject to collective bargaining agreements.
(2) Human Resources Manager.
(A) There shall be a Human Resources Manager who shall be responsible for the ongoing administration of the Town’s human resources system. The Human Resources Manager shall be the Town Manager’s designated agent but must be a member of the Town administration.
(B) The authority of the Human Resources Manager in relation to all Town department heads shall be prescribed by the Town Manager.
(3) [Repealed.]
(4) Employee handbook.
(A) The Human Resources Manager shall issue and maintain an employee handbook governing the ongoing administration of the Town human resources system.
(B) A copy of the employee handbook shall be provided to each Town employee.
(5) Town charter and collective bargaining agreements.
(A) The Selectboard shall have the sole authority to enter into collective bargaining agreements and may commit the Town to collective bargaining agreements that shall control over conflicting rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this charter.
(B) [Repealed.]
(6) Service of Town employees in elective or appointive office.
(A) A Town employee may not hold a local, State, or federal elective office, other than membership in the General Assembly,that makes policy that shall directly or indirectly affect the employee’s department or any Town functions while employed by the Town.
(B) A Town employee may be appointed to a board or commission, provided that the appointment does not make policy that directly affects the employee’s conditions of employment or compensation.
(C) A Town employee may not be disciplined for refusing to campaign for or against any candidate for any elective office, contribute financially to a campaign, or take or advocate a position on referendum questions.
(D) Nothing herein shall limit the right of an employee to express the employee’s opinion on a matter of public concern, belong to a political party, or exercise the employee’s right to vote.
(E) Nothing shall limit the right of employees to participate in the elective process for State and federal offices, except as otherwise stated in this section.
(7) Surety bonds. Any Town officer and employee, as required by the Selectboard, shall annually give surety bonds or shall purchase comparable coverage to the satisfaction of the Selectboard for the faithful discharge of the officer or employee’s duties. In the event any officer or employee neglects to give a bond, is unable to obtain a bond, or obtain comparable coverage as specified in this section, after 10 calendar days’ notice from the Selectboard that the officer or employee is required to do so, the officer or employee’s office or position shall become vacant and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this charter. All official bonds shall be corporate surety bonds, and the premiums thereon shall be paid by the Town. Such bonds shall be filed with the Town Clerk. (Amended 2021, No. M-13 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 16, 2022; 2023, No. M-2, § 2, eff. May 4, 2023.)