The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 24 : Municipal and County Government

Chapter 033 : Municipal Officers Generally

Subchapter 006 : VACANCIES IN TOWN OFFICES

• § 961. Vacancy or suspension of officer’s duties

  (a) When a municipal officer resigns the officer’s office, has been removed from the office, dies, becomes unable to perform the officer’s duties due to a mental condition or psychiatric disability, or removes from town, the office shall become vacant. Notice of this vacancy shall be posted by the legislative body in at least two public places in the municipality, and in and near the municipal clerk’s office, within 10 days of the creation of the vacancy.

  (b) In the event there are so many vacancies on the legislative body that a quorum cannot be achieved, the remaining member or members of the legislative body shall be authorized to draw orders for payment of continuing obligations and necessary expenses until the vacancies are filled pursuant to section 963 of this title.

  (c) The legislative body of a county, municipality, or special purpose district may designate a person to perform the duties of an officer whose duties have been suspended as a condition of release pending trial for violating 13 V.S.A. § 2537.

  (d) When a municipal officer refuses or neglects within 30 days of election or appointment to take an oath of office pursuant to section 831 of this title, the office shall become vacant. However, the office shall not be deemed vacant until the legislative body of the municipality has warned a regular meeting for that purpose and affords the municipal officer the opportunity to take the oath of office at the meeting. (Amended 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; 1993, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 30, 1994; 2007, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 150; 2021, No. 16, § 1.)