The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 24 Appendix: Municipal Charters

Chapter 141: Town of Readsboro

• Subchapter 001: Merger of Village and Town

• § 1. Merged municipality

  Upon approval by the voters of the said municipalities, and ratification hereof by the Vermont General Assembly as provided in 17 V.S.A. § 2630 et seq., the Town of Readsboro and the Village of Readsboro shall be deemed merged and consolidated, the said Village of Readsboro shall cease to exist, and the merged municipality shall hereafter be known as the Town of Readsboro.

• § 2. Village property

  All the land, buildings, property, and funds of the Village of Readsboro shall, on the date this merger is effective, including water works, sewage treatment plant and sewerage collection systems, and electric service, become vested in and be the property of the merged and consolidated Town of Readsboro.

• § 3. Village indebtedness

  Payments of all indebtedness and obligations, contractual or otherwise, of the said Village of Readsboro, and of the Town of Readsboro, shall, on the date this merger is effective, be assumed by the merged and consolidated Town of Readsboro.

• § 4. Village books and records

  The officers of the Village of Readsboro shall, before this merger goes in effect, and so far as possible or practicable, settle the affairs of said Village of Readsboro and shall, on the effective date hereof, turn over and deliver to the Clerk of the Town of Readsboro all books, records, documents, and other property of the said Village for the attention of the proper officers and departments of the merged and consolidated Town of Readsboro.

• Subchapter 002: Selectboard

• § 21. Legislative body

  The Town of Readsboro shall be managed by the Selectboard, which shall be its legislative body.

• § 22. General powers

  Said Board shall have all the powers and authority given to it under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Vermont, together with all the implied powers necessary to effectuate and execute the powers granted.

• § 23. Specific powers

  Without limiting any of its duly vested powers and authority, the Selectboard shall have the power to:

  (a) appoint and remove a Town Manager;

  (b) create, change, and abolish officers, departments, or agencies in managing the affairs of the Town of Readsboro;

  (c) make, amend, and repeal ordinances;

  (d) inquire into the conduct of any office, department, or agency of the Town and make investigations as to municipal affairs;

  (e) create, appoint, and constitute planning commissions, zoning boards, and sign boards;

  (f) act as commissioners, prudential committeemen, or as the legislative bodies of departments of the Town providing special municipal services, or create such districts or departments, which may be autonomous pursuant to law;

  (g) fix salaries of appointees.

• § 24. Transitional board

  The Selectboard members of the Town of Readsboro, serving on the effective date of this merger, shall continue in office and be deemed Selectboard members of the merged and consolidated Town of Readsboro for the remainder of the terms of their respective elected offices.

• § 25. Chair and quorum

  The Board may elect one of its members as Chair, and a majority of the Board present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

• § 26. Rules and procedures

  The Board shall determine its own rules and procedures, but in compliance with pertinent laws of the State of Vermont, and shall keep a public record of its doings.

• Subchapter 003: Town Powers and Functions

• § 31. General powers

  Said Town shall have the authority to exercise all powers relating to municipal affairs conferred and granted by law, including those implied powers necessary to effectuate and execute granted powers.

• § 32. Specific powers

  Without limiting any of its duly vested powers and authority, the Town of Readsboro may exercise the following powers and functions:

  (1) to levy, assess, and collect taxes;

  (2) to appropriate and borrow money within limits prescribed by general laws;

  (3) to collect special assessments for benefits and services conferred;

  (4) to acquire property through condemnation or otherwise;

  (5) to furnish local public services, including water systems, electric light and power systems, sewage disposal systems and treatment plant, and refuse collection;

  (6) to make public improvements;

  (7) to issue and sell bonds and make other short-term loans on the security of municipal property, public utilities owned by the Town, or upon revenues thereof, or both;

  (8) to purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire land for roads, streets, sidewalks, lanes, commons, alleys, walks, parks, recreation centers, camp sites, aviation fields and landing strips, and for installation and maintenance of equipment and facilities for public services, such as fire, electric light and power, water, sewers, and other municipal services;

  (9) to establish a Police Department; a Fire Department; sanitation services; fire districts; water, sewer, and electric districts; and building codes and inspection procedures, including the establishment of rules, regulations, ordinances, and bylaws regulating and affecting the same, and enforcing fines, penalties, forfeitures, licensing procedures, and the prosecution of injunctive and restraining remedies and relief;

  (10) where permitted by law, to grant, confer, condition, limit, suspend, or revoke and otherwise exercise and maintain jurisdiction over, licenses for the sale of malt and vinous beverages for on or off-premises consumption, within the municipal limits of said Town;

  (11) to establish, amend, enforce, and repeal ordinances and bylaws, to regulate, restrain, abate, or prohibit:

  (A) itinerant peddlers and junk collectors;

  (B) food markets;

  (C) sale and use of fireworks;

  (D) exhibitions, dances, races, circuses, menageries, and shows of every kind and description;

  (E) lotteries, games of chance, and gaming affecting the public good;

  (F) nuisances affecting the public interest, health, and welfare;

  (G) unlawful assemblies, riots, and public disturbances; and

  (H) any and all conduct, pursuits, endeavors, and actions that may tend to affect the public health, welfare, and safety.

• § 33. Existing ordinances

  Existing ordinances of the Village of Readsboro will be carried over and be deemed in force and effect for the merged and consolidated Town of Readsboro.

• Subchapter 004: Town Services

• § 41. Limited use services funding

  All municipal services provided to a limited area or group of voters shall be maintained and operated through revenues derived solely from those using the services. The legislative boards or bodies thereof shall keep, or cause to be kept, separate accounts for each such services and all revenue, income, and funds derived therefrom shall not be commingled with other funds or accounts of the Town of Readsboro.

• § 42. Public lighting costs

  The cost for power for public street lighting shall be paid from the General Fund of the consolidated Town of Readsboro.

• § 43. Construction of special public services

  The cost of initial construction of any special public services and facilities not in existence on the effective date hereof, and/or costs to expand existing facilities to areas not heretofore served, and/or costs to enlarge, expand, or reconstruct existing facilities shall be financed by the Town of Readsboro, supplemented by public funds and grants-in-aid, if any, that may be available for the said purposes, except electric line expansions shall be paid for by those customers requesting such services and in accordance with the rules and regulations presently in effect, and as may be amended.

• § 44. Charges for municipal services

  Subject to the provisions and limitations of existing laws and regulations, the Selectboard of the Town of Readsboro, or other appropriate legislative body, is empowered to establish charges for the said municipal services and methods of payment and shall be further authorized and empowered to collect the same and enforce the payment thereof. All such costs required to support these special services shall be paid for by those receiving the services by a tax on their grand list to be assessed annually, or in such other manner as such Board shall determine. If by tax, such tax shall be paid and collected as other taxes and shall be a lien on their grand list.