The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 24 Appendix: Municipal Charters

Chapter 148: Town of South Hero

• § 1. Corporate existence retained

  (a) Pursuant to the authority granted by the General Assembly, there is hereby enacted a charter to govern the organization and operation of local government in the Town of South Hero.

  (b) The inhabitants of the Town of South Hero, within the geographical limits as now established, shall continue to be a municipal corporation by the name of the Town of South Hero. (Added 2023, No. M-21 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 16, 2024.)

• § 2. Elected officers

  (a) Except as otherwise provided by this charter, the elected officers of the Town of South Hero shall be those required for towns by the State law, and they shall be elected by Australian ballot.

  (b) The officers shall exercise all powers and perform all duties necessary or required to carry out the provisions of this charter as well as those provided by the State law generally. (Added 2023, No. M-21 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 16, 2024.)

• § 3. Appointed officers

  (a) ln addition to all other offices that may be filled by appointment by the Selectboard pursuant to State law or this charter, the Selectboard shall appoint the following Town officers, who shall serve for such terms as the Selectboard may establish in its act of appointment or until the office otherwise becomes vacant:

  (1) a Delinquent Tax Collector; and

  (2) three Town listers.

  (b) The Selectboard shall adopt and revise from time to time a general statement of the qualifications and job descriptions necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of each of the appointed Town offices. The Selectboard shall appoint the candidate who, in its judgment, best meets the qualifications for each office, giving due consideration to individuals who have expressed a commitment to serving the best interests of the Town. Appointed officers shall exercise all the powers and duties necessary to carry out the provisions of this charter as well as those provided by State law generally.

  (c) The Selectboard may adopt a job description for the position of Town Administrator and may appoint a Town Administrator, who shall not simultaneously hold an elected office within the Town. (Added 2023, No. M-21 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 16, 2024.)

• § 4. Auditor

  The Selectboard shall annually appoint a Town Auditor, who shall perform all the duties of Town Auditors as required by State statute and those additional duties specified by the Selectboard. The Town Auditor need not be a resident or voter of South Hero and shall serve at the pleasure of the Selectboard. Not less than every three years, the Selectboard shall contract with a public accountant, licensed by the State, to perform a financial audit of all funds of the Town. (Added 2023, No. M-21 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 16, 2024.)

• § 5. Severability

  If any provision of this charter is held invalid, the other provisions of the charter shall not be affected thereby. (Added 2023, No. M-21 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 16, 2024.)

• § 6. Ordinances

  The Town of South Hero may adopt, amend, repeal, and enforce any rule, regulation, bylaw, or ordinance to carry into execution all the powers granted to the Town of South Hero. (Added 2023, No. M-21 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 16, 2024.)

• § 7. Local option tax

  (a) The Selectboard is authorized to impose a one percent local option tax on any or all of the following: rooms, meals, or alcoholic beverages.

  (b) Any local option tax imposed under this section shall be collected and administered, and may be rescinded, as provided by the general laws of the State.

  (c) The Town’s share of the revenues received through the imposition of a tax imposed by this section shall be used for property maintenance and projects within the Town of South Hero. (Added 2023, No. M-21 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 16, 2024.)