The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 24 Appendix: Municipal Charters

Chapter 143: Town of Richmond

• Subchapter 001: Incorporation and Grant of Powers

• § 101. Corporate existence retained

  The inhabitants of the Town of Richmond as presently constituted and the inhabitants of the Village of Richmond as constituted by 1902 Acts and Resolves No. 227, as amended by 1923 Acts and Resolves No. 216, 1929 Acts and Resolves No. 178, 1939 Acts and Resolves No. 293, 1947 Acts and Resolves No. 247, and 1951 Acts and Resolves No. 292 are hereby incorporated and continue to be incorporated and declared to be a body corporate and politic under the name of the Town of Richmond and under that name may sue and be sued, prosecute and defend in any court; may have a common seal and alter it at pleasure; may borrow money on the credit of the Town, in the mode and under the restrictions hereinafter provided and as provided by the general law of the State; may elect Representatives to the General Assembly of the State, and the number of justices of the peace as provided in Chapter II of the Vermont Constitution for a town of equal population; and generally shall have, exercise, and enjoy all such rights, immunities, powers, and privileges as are conferred upon or are incident to towns in this State; and shall be subject to like duties, liabilities, and obligations, except as otherwise provided in this charter.

• § 102. General law; application

  Except when changed, enlarged, or modified by the provisions of this charter, all provisions of the statutes of the State of Vermont relating to municipalities shall apply to the Town of Richmond.

• § 103. Powers of the Town

  (a) The Town of Richmond shall have all the powers granted to towns, town school districts, and municipal corporations by the Constitution and laws of this State and this charter, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution all the powers granted. The Town of Richmond may enact ordinances not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the State of Vermont or with this charter and impose penalties for violation thereof.

  (b) The Town may acquire real and personal property within or without its corporate limits necessary or convenient for any lawful purpose, in fee simple or any lesser interest or estate, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, or condemnation, consistent with the Constitution and laws of the State of Vermont, and may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage, and control such property as its interest may require consistent with the Constitution and laws of the State.

  (c) In this charter, no mention of a particular power shall be construed to be exclusive or to restrict the scope of the powers that the Town would have if the particular power were not mentioned, unless this charter otherwise provides.

  (d) The Seal of the Town of Richmond, heretofore adopted, is declared to be the official seal of the Town, to be used as required by law and custom.

  (e) The Town may purchase, hold, and convey any real estate and erect and keep in repair any buildings necessary or convenient for its purposes and may acquire, construct, and maintain such dams, aqueducts, reservoirs, sewage disposal facilities, and electrical distribution facilities as it may deem necessary for the benefit of the Town.

• § 104. Reservations of powers to the Town

  Nothing in this charter shall be construed to in any way limit the powers and functions conferred on the Town of Richmond, the Selectboard of said Town, or its elected and appointed officials by general or special enactments of State statutes or regulations in force or effect or hereafter enacted, and the powers and functions conferred by this charter shall be cumulative and in addition to the provisions of such general or special enactments unless this charter otherwise provides.

• § 105. Authority of police officers

  The police officers of the Town shall have the same powers throughout the State with respect to criminal matters, and the enforcement of the laws relating thereto, as they have within the Town.

• § 106. Open meetings

  Meetings of all Town boards and commissions shall be open and held in accordance with the general law of this State relating to public meetings. The record of all official proceedings shall be available for public inspection and copying as provided by the general law of this State.

• § 107. Form of government

  Pursuant to its provisions and subject only to the limitations imposed by the Vermont Constitution and by this charter, all powers of the Town shall be vested in an elective council, hereinafter referred to as the Selectboard, which shall enact ordinances, codes, and regulations; adopt budgets; and determine policies and that shall execute the laws and administer the government of the Town. The Town shall have a Town Manager as provided in sections 502 and 503 of this charter. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 1, 2006; 2011, No. M-17 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 8, 2012.)

• § 108. Intergovernmental relations

  The Town, through its Selectboard, may enter into any agreement with the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, or with any subdivision, department, agency, or activity of the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, to accept grants, loans, and assistance from the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, or from any subdivision, department, agency, or activity of the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, to make public improvements within the Town, or upon property or rights of the Town outside its corporate limits, whether owned by the Town as sole owner or owned by the Town in common with another municipality or other municipalities, and may make appropriations consistent with the charter to accomplish this purpose. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 109. Town School District; establishment

  The Town of Richmond, as established in section 101 of this charter, shall constitute the Richmond Town School District.

• § 110. Utility services

  The Town shall have the power to impose rates, charges, and assessments upon property located within and without the Town of Richmond for water and sewer service, as provided herein.

• § 111. Ordinances; enforcement and adoption

  (a) The Selectboard may provide penalties for the breach of any ordinance authorized by general law or this charter, may prosecute any person violating the same through the constables or police officers who for these purposes shall be informing officers, and may maintain actions to restrain actual or threatened violations of the same. The establishment of any fine or penalty shall be by ordinance.

  (b) Ordinance-making authority granted to the Town by this charter and general law shall be exercised pursuant to the provisions of sections 112 through 115 of this charter. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 112. Ordinance; introduction and readings

  (a) Every ordinance shall be introduced in writing. The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be “The Selectboard of the Town of Richmond hereby ordains.” The Selectboard shall cause the ordinance to be published in its entirety or a table of contents of the ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town, at least once, together with a notice of the time and place when and where there will be a public hearing to consider the same for adoption and the place where the ordinance may be viewed. The first such publication shall be at least one week prior to the date of the public hearing.

  (b) At the time and place advertised, or at any time and place to which the hearing may from time to time be adjourned, the ordinance shall be read in full, except that by vote of a majority of the Selectboard, the ordinance may be read by title, and at the hearing, all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 113. Ordinance; consideration and passage

  After the hearing, the Selectboard may adopt the ordinance with or without amendment. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 114. Ordinance; effective date

  An ordinance shall become effective in accordance with the provisions of 24 V.S.A. chapter 59, relating to the adoption of ordinances, except that if adoption of the ordinance by the Selectboard is conditioned upon approval of the voters of the Town, then the ordinance shall become effective upon a favorable vote by Australian ballot of a majority of those voting at a special or annual Town meeting. A vote to disapprove an ordinance under 24 V.S.A. § 1973 shall be by Australian ballot. A reconsideration, rescission, or validation vote pertaining to any of these votes shall be by Australian ballot. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 115. Ordinances; filing

  The Town Clerk shall prepare and keep in the Town office a book of ordinances that shall contain each ordinance adopted by the Selectboard or finally approved by the voters together with an index of the ordinances according to the subject matter. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. May 1, 2010.)

• Subchapter 003: Officers

• § 301. Generally

  The officers of the Town of Richmond shall be those provided by law for towns, except as otherwise provided by this charter. Such officers shall have all the powers and duties necessary to carry out the provisions of this charter as well as those provided by law.

• § 302. Town officers

  (a) The officers of the Town shall have their compensation fixed by the Selectboard.

  (b) All elected officers, except as provided by law or as specifically provided in this charter, shall be chosen from the legally qualified voters of the Town and shall hold office for the term specified by law or in this charter or until their successors are elected. All elected officers shall be elected by Australian ballot.

  (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Town shall not have the following officers:

  (1) Road Commissioner;

  (2) Town Agent;

  (3) Town Auditor;

  (4) Town Grand Juror.

  (d) When an elected officer resigns, makes another Town his or her residence, dies, or becomes incapacitated, the office shall become vacant and shall be filled by the Selectboard. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled until the next annual meeting. In the case of a vacancy in an office which term does not expire at the next annual meeting, the vacancy shall be filled by the Selectboard until the next annual meeting. At the next annual meeting, the voters shall fill the vacancy by Australian ballot for the remainder of the unexpired term; provided, however, that if the vacancy occurs within the 60-day period prior to the next annual meeting, the vacancy shall be filled by the Selectboard until the annual meeting following the next annual meeting, at which the voters shall fill the vacancy by Australian ballot for the remainder, if any, of the unexpired term. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 303. Appointed officers

  (a) The Selectboard may appoint any officers required by the Town’s personnel regulations, this charter, or the general law of this State and shall fix their compensation.

  (b) Notwithstanding any provision of law or Town personnel rules to the contrary, forthwith after the annual meeting, the Selectboard shall appoint a Collector of Delinquent Taxes who shall serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is chosen. If the Office of the Collector of Delinquent Taxes becomes vacant, the Selectboard shall forthwith fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. The Collector of Delinquent Taxes shall hold office at the will of the Selectboard and may be removed at any time by the Selectboard by majority vote. The compensation of the Collector of Delinquent Taxes shall be determined by the Selectboard. Any commissions or other amounts established by law and collected by the Collector of Delinquent Taxes shall be the property of the Town and shall be turned over to the Town Treasurer forthwith. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. May 1, 2006; 2011, No. M-17 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 8, 2012.)

• § 304. Bonding of officers

  All officers of the Town required to be bonded by State law shall be so bonded.

• § 305. Oath of office

  All elected and appointed officers and all police officers of the Town shall, before assuming office, take, subscribe, and file with the Town Clerk the following oath: “I ____ solemnly swear (or affirm) that I shall faithfully execute the Office of ______ of the Town of Richmond to the best of my judgment and abilities, according to law, so help me God (or I so affirm)” or other oath as is specifically required for a position by the general law of this State. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 306. Town Clerk; Town Treasurer; Collector of Delinquent Taxes; School District Officers; duties

  (a) The Clerk and Town Treasurer shall perform those duties imposed upon the Clerk and Town Treasurer of Richmond School District by the general law of this State.

  (b) The Town Treasurer, any assistant Town treasurer, and the Collector of Delinquent Taxes shall perform those duties imposed upon those positions by law and those duties imposed upon those officers by the Selectboard. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• Subchapter 005: Selectboard; Town Manager

• § 501. Selectboard; powers and duties; terms

  (a) The members of the Selectboard shall constitute the legislative body of the Town of Richmond for all purposes required by law, and except as otherwise specifically provided in this charter, and shall have all powers and authority given to and perform all duties required of town legislative bodies or selectboards under the Constitution and general laws of the State of Vermont.

  (b) The Selectboard shall consist of five persons, three of whom shall serve for three-year terms and two of whom shall serve for two-year terms. At each annual meeting, one Selectboard member shall be elected for a three-year term and one for a two-year term.

  (c) In addition to all the eminent domain powers available under State statutes, the Town, by the Selectboard, shall have the power to take property, or interests therein, for the purpose of disposal or dispersement of stormwater from Town highways, Town highway culverts and ditches, and municipal parking lots. In any such taking, the procedures shall be the procedure provided by law for the taking of property, or interests therein, for highways; provided, however, that alternatively the Selectboard may follow any other procedure available by law. Any taking shall be of the minimum property or interest therein necessary for such disposal or dispersement. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 13, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 502. Town Manager

  (a) Appointment. The Selectboard shall appoint a Town Manager.

  (b) Qualifications. The Town Manager shall be selected with special reference to his or her education, training, and experience to perform the duties of the office, and without reference to his or her political beliefs.

  (c) Authority of Selectboard. In all matters, the Town Manager shall be subject to the direction and supervision of the Selectboard. He or she shall at all times be an at-will employee and shall serve at the pleasure of the Selectboard unless otherwise provided in an employment agreement between the Town and the Town Manager.

  (d) Residency. The Town Manager need not be a resident of the Town.

  (e) Method of appointment; conditions of employment; compensation.

  (1) The conditions of employment and compensation of the Town Manager shall be determined by the Selectboard at the time of appointment and annually thereafter on the anniversary date of the appointment.

  (2) The Selectboard may consider the appointment, conditions of employment, compensation, discipline, and removal of the Town Manager and any acting Town Manager in executive session, provided that no formal or binding action shall be taken in executive session. Persons in attendance shall be limited to the Selectboard and, in the discretion of the Selectboard, its staff, clerical assistants, legal counsel, the Town Manager or acting Town Manager, as the case may be, and other persons whose information is needed.

  (f) Oath; bond. Before entering into the duties of office, the Town Manager shall be sworn to the impartial and faithful performance of his or her duties. The Selectboard, in its discretion, may require that the Town Manager give a bond in favor of the Town for the faithful performance of his or her duties in a sum and with such sureties as the Selectboard may require. The Town shall pay the premiums for the sureties.

  (g) Acting Town Manager.

  (1) In the event that the Town Manager shall be, or notifies the Selectboard that he or she intends to be, absent from the Town for a period of time exceeding two consecutive weeks, he or she shall designate an acting Town Manager and shall fix his or her compensation, subject to review and modification by the Selectboard.

  (2) In the event that illness, injury, or other incapacity renders the Town Manager unable to discharge his or her duties, or in the event that the Town Manager is suspended or placed on administrative leave, is terminated, or resigns, the Selectboard shall appoint an acting Town Manager to serve until such time as the Town Manager is able to assume regular duties or a new Town Manager is appointed.

  (3) An acting Town Manager shall have all the authority and perform all duties of the Town Manager and shall be compensated at a rate of pay not inconsistent with the responsibilities of the position, determined as provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection or as otherwise determined by the Selectboard. An acting Town Manager shall not serve for more than 90 days, but this time period may be extended for successive periods each not exceeding 90 days, should the Selectboard find it necessary. Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (f) and subdivision (e)(2) of this section shall apply to the acting Town Manager.

  (h) Town Manager disqualification to hold certain offices. In no case shall a Selectboard member, Town Clerk, lister, Town Treasurer, or Tax Collector act as a Town Manager or as an acting Town Manager. (Added 2011, No. M-17 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 8, 2012.)

• § 503. Responsibilities and authority of Town Manager

  (a) General authority. The Town Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the Town. He or she shall be responsible to the Selectboard for the administration and general supervision of all business affairs and property placed in his or her charge pursuant to this charter, other State statutes, or otherwise.

  (b) Limits to authority in general.

  (1) the authority of the Town Manager shall in no way extend to:

  (A) the calling or administration of elections;

  (B) the assessment of taxes or property valuation judgments;

  (C) judicial or legislative functions of the Selectboard or other legal bodies, boards, or commissions;

  (D) supervision of the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, listers, or Tax Collector in the performance of their statutory duties, except as otherwise provided by this charter;

  (E) the setting of water or sewage disposal rates and charges or the establishment of rules or regulations for the control or operation of the Town’s water or sewage disposal systems.

  (2) Where general State law places the appointment or dismissal of an official in the control of an official other than the Town Manager, general State law shall control.

  (3) The Town Manager may, upon request, advise or counsel officers in the performance of their duties.

  (4) The Town Manager may not serve in any elective position in the Town. He or she may, however, when authorized by the Selectboard, serve on appointed boards and commissions relevant to Town functions in an ex officio, nonvoting status.

  (c) Authority and duties in particular. The Town Manager shall be charged with full authority and be responsible for the following:

  (1) To organize, reorganize, continue, or discontinue any Town departments as the Selectboard may determine.

  (2) To direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices, and agencies of the Town except as otherwise provided by this charter or other State statute.

  (3) To carry out the policies determined by the Selectboard and report to the Selectboard on their disposition.

  (4) To maintain an appropriate budget control system.

  (5) To keep the Selectboard informed on the financial condition of the Town, including monthly and year-end reports showing in detail all receipts and expenditures for Town functions.

  (6) To keep the Selectboard informed as to the future needs of the Town and make proper administrative provisions for long-term planning in all areas within the scope of the duties of the Town Manager.

  (7) To make such reports as the Selectboard may require or as the Town Manager deems appropriate, or as may be required by law or ordinance regarding any and all functions under his or her supervision.

  (8) To keep full and complete records of the actions of the Town Manager’s office.

  (9) To be present at all regular Selectboard meetings unless excused by the Selectboard and to have the right to attend and take part in all special meetings of the Selectboard and subcommittees thereof, except when the conditions of employment, compensation, discipline, or removal of the Town Manager is being discussed.

  (10) To appoint upon merit and fitness alone and, when the Town Manager deems necessary for the good of the Town, discipline, suspend, or remove any subordinate official, employee, or agent. All such appointments may be without definite terms unless for provisional, temporary, or emergency service, in which case terms shall not exceed the maximum periods prescribed by the personnel rules and regulations. The Town Manager may authorize the head of a department or of an office responsible to the Town Manager to appoint and remove subordinates in such office or department.

  (11) To ensure the proper and equitable administration of the Town’s personnel system.

  (12) To fix the compensation of Town employees.

  (13) To remain ultimately responsible to the Selectboard for all administrative actions under his or her jurisdiction, although he or she may hold subordinate employees’ offices or agents responsible for the faithful discharge of their duties.

  (14) To draft an annual budget document and capital expenditure plan.

  (15) To examine or cause to be examined, with or without notice, the affairs of any department under his or her control or the conduct of any officer or employee thereof. For this purpose, the Town Manager shall have access to all books, papers, files, reports, or records of all departments that may be necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties, unless prohibited by law.

  (16) To oversee the preservation of the public peace and the health and safety of persons and property, and to uphold the enforcement of this charter, ordinances, and State and federal laws as applicable.

  (17) To be the general purchasing agent for the Town, with an independent purchasing authority set from time to time by the Selectboard.

  (18) To have the charge and supervision of all town buildings, properties, and facilities; all repairs thereon; and all construction by the Town unless otherwise voted.

  (19) To supervise and expend all special appropriations of the Town unless otherwise voted by the Town or provided in this charter.

  (20) To cause duties of the municipality not committed to the care of any particular officer to be duly performed and executed.

  (21) To perform any other duties consistent with his or her office as may be required by a vote of the Selectboard or by law, ordinance, or mandate not inconsistent with this charter.

  (22) To be the chief administrative officer of the Town department or departments responsible for the Town’s water and sewage disposal systems, with the same authority and limitations provided in this section.

  (d) Accountability, noninterference, and appointive power. The Town Manager shall be responsible to the Selectboard for the proper and efficient administration of the departments under his or her charge as outlined above in this charter. Neither the Selectboard, any individual member of the Selectboard, nor any of its committees or committee members shall dictate the appointment, discipline, or discharge of any Town employee by the Town Manager or in any manner interfere with his or her exercise of judgment in the appointment, discipline, or discharge of employees.

  (e) Noninterference with administrative discretion and supervision. Except for the purposes of formal inquiries or investigations made under this charter, the Selectboard and its members shall deal with the administrative and Town officers and those employees who are subject to the Town Manager’s direction and supervision solely through the Town Manager. Neither the Selectboard nor any of its members shall give orders to or request any action publicly or privately of any Town employee. Communications for the purposes of information and background shall be considered proper when approved by the Town Manager. (Added 2011, No. M-17 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 8, 2012.)

• Subchapter 007: Water and Sewer System

• § 701. Transfer

  (a) On and after the effective date of this charter, the ownership, control, and management of the Village water and sewer systems shall be vested in the Town, subject to all indebtedness and liabilities relating thereto; provided, however, that administration of said systems and payment of existing liabilities relating thereto shall be as specifically provided for in this charter.

  (b)(1) By resolution, the Selectboard may designate areas of the Town special water and sewer system districts and may provide that property therein shall be provided by water and sewer services not so provided to all other areas within the Town; provided, however, that the designation shall not become effective until approved by a majority of all voters residing within the proposed district present and voting at a special meeting called and held for that purpose.

  (2) A special water or sewer district shall be reasonable geographically, taking into account the areas, property, and persons actually benefited; the types of services to be provided; and the fact that the efficiency of providing multiple services in a single, special service district might outweigh the fact that the areas and property benefiting from the respective services might not coincide exactly. All costs required to support a given special service district shall be paid for by persons receiving the service, by a tax on the grand list for that special service district involved, to be assessed annually by the Selectboard, or by any other charge or fee permitted by law. If the costs are to be paid by a tax, the tax shall be paid and collected in the same manner as other taxes and the tax assessed on any part of the grand list shall be a lien thereon. All funds of any special service shall be kept in a special fund, no part of which may be used for any purpose other than the payment of debt service, operation, and maintenance, and a reserve fund with respect to the service for which the funds are collected. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 14, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• Subchapter 009: Commissions and Appointments

• § 901. Appointments

  The Selectboard may appoint commissions or committees as needed and delegate incidental powers necessary for the proper functioning thereof as established by law.

• § 902. Water and sewer commissioners

  (a) The Town shall have a single Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners consisting of five members whose duties, powers, and authority with respect to the municipal water system and sewer system shall be as established by the law of this State, applicable to boards of water commissioners and boards of sewage disposal commissioners generally, and as specifically provided for in this charter.

  (b) Following each annual meeting, the Selectboard shall appoint the members of the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, who shall serve until appointments are made to the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners following the next annual meeting, subject to subdivisions (2)(A) and (B) of this subsection as to any nonselectboard members. Appointments shall be made to the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners in the following manner:

  (1) Appointments shall be made so that there are at least three members who are members of the Selectboard, but who need not be customers of the Town water system or the Town sewer system, and so that there are at least two members, each of whom is a customer of at least either the Town water system or the Town sewer system. A person shall be deemed a customer of the Town water or the Town sewer system if he or she owns property that is connected to either system or owns an interest in an entity that owns property connected to either system.

  (2) If appointments cannot be made so as to constitute the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection by appointments solely from members of the Selectboard, the following shall apply:

  (A) The Selectboard shall appoint as many non-Selectboard members as are necessary to constitute the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection. Each non-Selectboard member shall be a resident of the Town and a customer of at least the Town water system or the Town sewer system and shall serve at the pleasure of the Selectboard.

  (B) If a non-Selectboard member ceases to be a resident of the Town, or ceases to be a customer of at least the Town water system or the Town sewer system, or the office otherwise becomes vacant, the Selectboard shall fill the vacancy with a Selectboard member or a non-Selectboard member who is a customer of at least the Town water system or the Town sewer system to serve until an appointment is made to the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners following the next annual meeting.

  (C) If a Selectboard position on the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners becomes vacant, the Selectboard shall fill the vacancy with another Selectboard member who need not be a customer of either the Town water system or Town sewer system to serve until an appointment is made to the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners following the next annual meeting.

  (D) Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection, if within 45 days following an annual meeting the Selectboard does not fill a requisite nonselectboard position on the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, the Selectboard shall fill the position with a Selectboard member, regardless of whether he or she is a customer of either the Town water system or the Town sewer system.

  (c) In addition to those powers, duties, and responsibilities imposed by law upon boards of water commissioners and sewage disposal commissioners, the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners shall:

  (1) exercise control over, administer, manage, and operate the municipal water and sewage disposal systems of the Town as presently constituted or as may be enlarged hereafter; and

  (2) establish rates and charges for water and sewage disposal services provided by the Town. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• Subchapter 013: Zoning and Planning

• § 1301. Applicability of State law to zoning and planning

  All matters pertaining to zoning, land subdivision, municipal and regional plans, shall be exclusively controlled by the general law of the State of Vermont, except as specifically provided in this charter.

• § 1302. Ratification of present zoning ordinances

  The Town of Richmond zoning, subdivision, and flood hazard regulations, as amended, are hereby ratified and approved, subject to the provisions of 24 V.S.A. chapter 117.

• § 1303. Incorporation of Village zoning ordinance

  The Village of Richmond zoning and flood hazard regulations, as amended, are hereby incorporated into the zoning ordinance of the Town of Richmond for the purpose of defining a Village District within said Town ordinance and establishing area, density, use, building, and like requirements therein.

• Subchapter 015: Budget and Taxation and Indebtedness

• § 1501. Fiscal year

  (a) The fiscal year of the Town shall commence on the first day of July and end on the last day of June. Upon the close of each fiscal year, the Selectboard shall order an audit by an outside firm that the Selectboard chooses for that purpose. The annual audit shall be made available to the general public prior to the annual meeting upon request and upon payment of the Town’s actual and reasonable copying costs.

  (b) The fiscal year of the Richmond Town School District shall commence on the first day of July and end on the last day of June. The Richmond Town School District shall not have School District auditors. Upon the close of each School District fiscal year, the School Board shall order an audit by an outside firm that the School Board chooses for that purpose. The annual School District audit shall be made available to the general public upon request and upon payment of the Town School District’s actual and reasonable copying costs. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 1502. Repealed. 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 19, eff. May 1, 2006.

• § 1503. Taxation

  All matters pertaining to taxation shall be exclusively controlled by the general law of the State, except as specifically provided as follows:

  (1) All taxes assessed on real and on personal property shall be due and payable to the Town Tax Collector in four equal installments on August 15, November 15, February 15, and May 15; provided, however, that if any due date is on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date shall be the next following day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Each installment not paid by its due date shall bear interest at the rate of one percent per month or fraction thereof for the first three months, and thereafter at the rate of one and one-half percent per month or fraction thereof.

  (2) On all taxes not paid by the last tax installment due date, the Collector of Delinquent Taxes shall collect an additional amount equal to eight percent on the amount of the tax owed. This amount shall be in lieu of any amount collected by the Collector of Delinquent Taxes under 32 V.S.A. § 1674 and shall be paid into the Town General Fund. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 1504. Fees and fines

  All fines and penalties payable to the Town by reason of any violation of any law, ordinance, or bylaw shall be paid over promptly upon receipt to the Town Treasurer for inclusion in the appropriate fund of the Town. All fees established by law or ordinance and payable to any Town officer shall be paid over promptly upon receipt to the Town Treasurer for inclusion in the appropriate fund of the Town. (Amended 2005, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. May 1, 2006.)

• § 1505. Current bonded indebtedness

  Outstanding bonds previously issued by the Village of Richmond shall be obligations of the Town of Richmond on and after the effective date of this charter; provided, however, that until fully paid, said bonds and notes shall constitute a general obligation only with respect to that part of the Town formerly comprising the Village of Richmond and any part of the Town of Richmond presently outside the limits of the Village of Richmond and now receiving Village water and sewer services. Said bonds and notes shall not constitute a debt or obligation of the Town of Richmond, except as specifically provided in this section, and shall be paid only by rates, charges, and assessments levied for water and sewer service within the former Village, and shall be secured as general obligations only by the full faith and credit of the Town as it applies within the former Village. Nothing herein shall be construed as abridging the power of the Town or the Town School District to authorize and issue bonds as provided by the general law of this State.

• Subchapter 017: General Provisions

• § 1701. Severability

  If any provision of this charter is held invalid, the other provisions of the charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application of the charter or any of its provisions to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the application of the charter and its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

• §§ 1702-1704. [Town-Village merger transitional provisions]

• § 1705. Amendment of charter

  This charter may be amended as set forth by the general laws of this State.

• § 1706. Reference to statute

  If any matter mentioned in this charter is said to be controlled by a special statute, the reference to such statute shall include the statute as amended or renumbered or any statute substituted therefor and having a similar subject matter.

• §§ 1707-1708. [Town-Village merger transitional provisions]

• § 1709. Continuation of acts amended

  The provisions of this charter, so far as they are the same as those of acts hereby amended, shall be construed as a continuation of such acts and not as new enactments.

• §§ 1710-1715. [Town-Village merger transitional provisions]