§ 10.3. Election of Town Meeting members; certification of voters; Town Meeting membership;
notice; qualification; responsibilities
(a)(1) At the first election of Town Meeting members to be held on the first Tuesday in March
after the acceptance of this subchapter, the qualified voters of each district shall
elect three Town Meeting members for every 180 voters or major fraction thereof, subject
to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. The first one-third elected in
each district, in order of the number of votes received, shall serve for three years;
the second one-third in the order of election shall serve for two years; and the remaining
one-third in the order of election shall be elected to serve for one year. In the
event of a tie vote the term of such members shall be designated by lot, and the presiding
officer of the district shall certify the designation. All Town Meeting members shall
serve for terms commencing on the day of their election.
(2) Annually thereafter, on the first Tuesday in March, the voters and youth voters of
each district shall in like manner elect for the term of three years one Town Meeting
member for every 180 voters or major fraction thereof and shall also in like manner
fill for the unexpired term or terms any vacancy or vacancies then existing in the
number of Town Meeting members in such district, subject to the provisions of subsection
(c) of this section.
(3) The presiding officer of each district shall certify to the Town Clerk the results
of the election in his or her district.
(b) On the 15th day of December of any year in which said districts are established, revised,
or changed, the Selectboard shall certify to the Town Clerk the total number of voters
in each district and the total number of Town Meeting members each district is entitled
to elect.
(c) The total number of Town Meeting members shall in no event be more than 140 nor less
than 100. If the total number of Town Meeting members on the basis set forth in subsection
(a) of this section would be more than 140 or less than 100, then the Selectboard
shall revise the proportion of representation so that the total number of Town Meeting
members shall be no more than 140 nor less than 100, and the Selectboard shall set
forth such proportion in their certification to the Town Clerk provided for in subsection
(b) of this section.
(d) After every election of Town Meeting members the Town Clerk shall forthwith mail to
each member a notice of his or her election.
(e) Every Town Meeting member shall be a qualified voter or youth voter in the Town and
living in the district from which the member is chosen at the time of the member’s
election.
(f) In addition to the elected Town Meeting members hereinbefore provided for, the following
shall be members ex officio: the Selectboard, school directors, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer,
Moderator, and Town Representatives who are residents of Brattleboro.
(g) A person shall not vote for Town Meeting members, Town officers, or upon any other
matter unless his or her name appears upon the check list prepared for such meeting.
(h) Town Meeting members shall be expected to attend the annual Town Meeting, all special
Town meetings, and any other meetings where issues affecting Brattleboro taxpayers
are voted on and all other relevant informational meetings. (Amended 2003, No. M-6, § 2; 2023, No. M-15, § 2, eff. June 20, 2023.)