§ 1. General provisions
The Town of Westford shall have all the powers granted to towns and municipal corporations
by the Constitution and laws of the State of Vermont and by this charter, together
with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution all the powers granted. (Added 2013, No. M-20 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 3, 2014.)
§ 2. Elected officers
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this charter, the elected officers of the Town of
Westford shall be those required for towns by State law and they shall be elected
by Australian ballot.
(b) Elected officers shall perform all duties and responsibilities necessary or required
to carry out the provisions of this charter as well as those provided by State law
generally.
(c) The Selectboard shall constitute the legislative body of the Town of Westford for
all purposes required by statute except as otherwise herein specifically provided,
and shall have all the powers and authority given to, and perform all duties required
of, town legislative bodies under the laws of the State of Vermont.
(1) Organization of the Selectboard shall be done in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 871.
(2) The Selectboard shall elect a Vice Chair at its organizational meeting.
(3) The Chair of the Selectboard shall preside at all meetings of the Selectboard. If
the Chair is not present, the Vice Chair of the Selectboard shall serve as acting
chair.
(4) If any member of the Selectboard fails to attend at least 70 percent of the meetings
in any 12-month period or misses three consecutive meetings without the consent of
the Selectboard, the Selectboard may declare the position vacant and fill it in accordance
with State law.
(5) The Selectboard shall determine its own rules and orders of business not addressed
by this charter and State statute.
(6) The Selectboard may appoint or dissolve any authorities, boards, commissions, or committees
created by it and under its purview as authorized by this charter or State statute. (Added 2013, No. M-20 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 3, 2014.)
§ 3. Appointed officers
(a) In addition to all other offices that may be filled by appointment by the Selectboard
pursuant to State law, the Selectboard shall appoint the following officers:
(1) Town Treasurer;
(2) listers or an assessor;
(3) Delinquent Tax Collector; and
(4) cemetery commissioners.
(5) [Repealed.]
(6) [Repealed.]
(b) The number of persons appointed to the offices set forth in subsection (a) of this
section shall be determined by the Selectboard.
(c) All appointments shall be made in accordance with the Town of Westford Personnel Rules.
(d) In appointing the Town Treasurer and Delinquent Tax Collector, the Selectboard shall
use the following guidelines in addition to following the Town of Westford Personnel
Rules:
(1) Nominating committee.
(A) When a vacancy exists in the office of Town Treasurer or Delinquent Tax Collector,
the Selectboard shall call for the formation of a nominating committee comprising
one Selectboard member, two justices of the peace, and two residents. The Selectboard
and justices of the peace shall select which of their members will serve on the committee.
These three officials shall select the two residents.
(B) Meetings of the committee shall be warned and conducted as public meetings in accordance
with the requirements of Vermont statutes. Members of this committee shall serve until
any vacancy is filled by the Selectboard.
(2) Search process. The committee shall have the authority to solicit candidates, to advertise notice
of a vacancy, and to make an investigation of a candidate’s credentials and background
as the committee deems appropriate. Upon completion of the investigation and interviewing
of candidates, the committee shall submit to the Selectboard up to three names of
those candidates deemed qualified for the positions.
(3) Appointing a candidate. Within 45 days of its receipt of candidates’ names from the committee, the Selectboard
shall appoint from such candidates a person(s) to fill any vacancy or notify the committee
in writing that none of the candidates shall be appointed. If no appointment is made,
the committee shall then reconvene and submit the names of additional qualified candidates
to the Selectboard.
(4) Interim appointment. Until such a time as a vacancy is filled pursuant to this section, the Selectboard
may appoint an official on an interim basis to fill the vacancy.
(e) All appointed Town officers shall be governed by the Town of Westford Personnel Rules.
(f) From time to time and whenever a job is open in an appointed Town office, the Selectboard
shall adopt or revise a general statement of the qualifications necessary to perform
the duties and responsibilities of the office and a job description of the office. (Added 2013, No. M-20 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 3, 2014; 2019, No. 84 (Adj. Sess.), § 10.)
§ 4. Independent audit
The Selectboard shall provide for an independent audit of all Town accounts as it
deems necessary. Such audits shall be made by a certified public accountant or firm
of such accountants who have no personal interest, direct or indirect, in the fiscal
affairs of the Town government or any of its officers. (Added 2013, No. M-20 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 3, 2014.)
§ 5. Removal of elected Town officers
Any elected Town officer may be removed from office in the following manner:
(1) A petition must be filed with the Town Clerk seeking the removal of the elected Town
officer or officers. The petition must be signed by at least 15 percent of registered
voters.
(2) Within 15 days after receipt of the petition, the Selectboard shall warn a special
Town meeting, or if the annual meeting is to occur within 90 days of the filing of
the petition, the Selectboard shall include an article in the warning for the annual
meeting, for the purpose of voting by Australian ballot on whether the officer or
officers shall be removed from office.
(3) Removal shall only occur if a majority of the votes cast at the annual or special
town meeting approve removal and the total of all votes cast on the removal question
equals or exceeds the total of all votes that were cast to elect the officer.
(4) If an officer is removed, the officer shall immediately cease to hold office and the
office shall become vacant. The vacancy shall be filled as provided by law.
(5) Only one petition for removal may be filed against any given elected officer during
any 12-month period of his or her term of office. (Added 2013, No. M-20 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 3, 2014.)
§ 6. Conflict of interest
(a) A Town officer shall recuse himself or herself or be disqualified from any proceeding
in which his or her impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
(b) If anyone thinks a Town officer has a conflict in a case before a board, commission,
or committee, that person can bring it to the attention of the officer’s respective
group. If the officer does not disqualify himself or herself, the board, commission,
or committee shall consider the factual basis for the question and vote on the member’s
disqualification, the challenged member abstaining. This vote shall occur before any
other business is conducted.
(c) A Town officer who is disqualified by virtue of a conflict of interest shall not vote
upon, participate in the discussion of, or otherwise sit as a member of any board,
commission, or committee upon the matter from which he or she is disqualified.
(d) Town officers and employees shall follow the rules outlined in the Westford Conflict
of Interest Policy. (Added 2013, No. M-20 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 3, 2014.)
§ 7. 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 this charter and
its provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. (Added 2013, No. M-20 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 3, 2014.)