The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 24 Appendix: Municipal Charters

Chapter 129C: Town of Northfield

• Subchapter 001: GENERAL PROVISIONS

• § 101 Applicability of general law

  (a) All provisions of the Constitution and the general law of the State of Vermont relating to towns and their officers shall apply to the Town of Northfield (the “Town”).

  (b) The Town shall have all the powers now or hereafter conferred upon towns by the Constitution and the general law of the State of Vermont.

  (c) No grant of authority, power, or prerogative hereunder shall be construed as being in derogation of or a limitation on any authority, power, or prerogative conferred by the general law upon the Town. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• § 102 Severability

  If any provision of this charter shall for any reason be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions that can be given effect without the invalid provision. To this end, the provisions of this charter are severable. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• Subchapter 002: TOWN MANAGER

• § 201 Town manager system

  The Town shall be administered by a Town Manager as provided in 24 V.S.A. chapter 37 until such time as such form of administration is revoked by vote of the Town as set forth in 24 V.S.A. § 1242. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• Subchapter 003: TOWN OFFICERS

• § 301 Town officers generally

  The Town shall have the officers as provided for towns by the general laws of this State except as provided by this charter. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• § 302 Selectboard members

  The Town shall have a five-member Selectboard elected for terms of two and three years. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• § 303 Water and Wastewater Board of Commissioners

  A three-member board shall serve as the Water and Wastewater Board of Commissioners, of whom one shall be an appointed Selectboard member and two shall be residents served by the Town water or wastewater systems, or both, who are elected by the ratepayers of such systems. Terms of these members shall be for three years each. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• § 304 Electric Utility Board of Commissioners

  A three-member board shall serve as the Electric Utility Board of Commissioners, of whom one shall be an appointed Selectboard member and two members shall be elected by electric utility ratepayers. Terms of these members shall be for three years each. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• Subchapter 004: ELECTRIC, WATER, AND WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS

• § 401 Electric, Water, and Wastewater Departments generally

  (a) Electric system. The revenues of the electric system shall be maintained separate from all other departments of the Town. All revenues therefrom not necessary for current expenditures thereof shall be placed in a special fund, no part of which may be used for any purpose other than the operation of the Electric Department as specified in section 402 of this charter.

  (b) Water system. The revenues of the water system and any additions thereto shall be maintained separate from all other departments of the Town, and all revenues therefrom not necessary for current expenditures thereof shall be placed in a special fund, no part of which may be used for any purpose other than as specified in section 402 of this charter.

  (c) Wastewater treatment system. The revenues of the wastewater treatment system (exclusive of the stormwater drainage system) and any additions thereto shall be maintained separate from all other departments of the Town, and all revenues therefrom not necessary for current expenditures thereof shall be placed in a special fund, no part of which may be used for any purpose other than as specified in section 402 of this charter. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• § 402 Electric, water, and wastewater administration

  (a) Operating costs of the Electric, Water, and Wastewater Departments shall be paid by the ratepayers.

  (b) The charges and rates for electric service shall be a lien upon real estate, wherever located, furnished with such service in the same manner and to the same effect as taxes are a lien upon real estate under 32 V.S.A. § 5061. The owner of such property furnished with electric service, wherever located, shall be liable for such charges and rates.

  (c) All water and wastewater charges shall be set by the Selectboard at rates sufficient to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the systems, to pay debt service on all obligations issued to improve or support such systems, and to fund necessary capital reserves, all as provided by the general law. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)

• § 403 Electric, water, and wastewater special funds

  The Town Treasurer and the Finance Director shall keep all revenues derived from the electric, water, and wastewater systems in accounts separate from any other special funds and from other Town funds and shall honor no warrant upon such account except for the purposes specified in section 402 of this charter. (Added 2013, No. M-2, § 2, eff. June 30, 2014.)