§ 24. Appointed nonadministrative officials
(a) General provisions applying to all appointed positions.
(1) The appointed positions herein shall all be appointed by a majority vote of the Selectboard.
(2) Terms of appointment shall begin immediately upon Selectboard action and run for a
period as specified herein.
(3) All appointees shall be administered the oath of office in the form as provided for
by statute, if applicable.
(4) Appointees may be afforded compensation or reimbursement for expenses as determined
by the Selectboard.
(5) [Repealed.]
(6) To the highest degree possible, the Selectboard shall strive for a balance of opinion
on all appointive positions, boards, and commissions.
(7) Although operating independently, all appointive boards and commissions shall be required
to cooperate with the Selectboard in the exercise of their duties in the pursuit of
the public good. They shall be required to file an annual report for inclusion in
the Town report, and also to file any other reports requested by the Selectboard,
and attend any meeting so requested by the Selectboard.
(8) If an appointed official misses three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of
the appointed body, the chair of that board or commission shall report to the Selectboard,
who may then declare that position vacant.
(9) Elected officials shall serve in appointed positions, boards, and commissions if the
specific membership of the board or commission calls for their service, subject to
the limits outlined herein.
(10) Town employees may serve in appointive positions as limited by charter but may not
vote on any issue directly affecting their position or conditions of employment.
(b) Appointed positions.
(1) The functions of the following positions are governed by the applicable State statute,
as limited by charter or ordinance:
(A) [Repealed.]
(B) [Repealed.]
(C) Tree Warden;
(D) [Repealed.]
(E) Pound Keeper;
(F) Town Clerk;
(G) Town Attorney;
(H) Town Treasurer;
(I) [Repealed.]
(J) Delinquent Tax Collector.
(K) Town Constable.
(i) The Selectboard shall appoint the Town Constable, who shall serve a one-year term.
(ii) The Constable shall be responsible for assisting the Town Clerk in the regulation
and licensing of dogs.
(iii) The Constable shall be in attendance at all Town meetings and shall serve as sergeant
at arms to assist the moderator as necessary in the maintenance of order.
(iv) The Selectboard may assign additional responsibilities to the Constable as necessary
or convenient.
(v) A vacancy in the Office of the Constable shall be filled by a majority vote of the
Selectboard.
(c) Appointed boards and commissions established by charter.
(1) Planning Commission.
(A) The Selectboard shall appoint the members of the Planning Commission in accordance
with State statute. All members shall be registered voters of the Town.
(B) [Repealed.]
(2) Development Review Board.
(A) The Selectboard shall appoint the members of the Development Review Board in accordance
with State statute. All members shall be registered voters of the Town.
(B) [Repealed.]
(3) Housing Authority.
(A) The Selectboard shall appoint members of the Housing Authority established pursuant
to 24 V.S.A. chapter 113.
(B) [Repealed.]
(C) The Housing Authority shall also advise the Selectboard on housing issues generally
when so requested.
(4) Airport Commission.
(A) Provided that there is a regional, State-owned airport in the Town, the Selectboard
shall appoint an Airport Commission, the number of members to be decided by the Selectboard.
(B) The purpose of the Airport Commission shall be to advise the Selectboard on airport-related
matters.
(C) The Airport Commission shall serve as the Airport Advisory Committee as prescribed
by State statute.
(d) Boards, commissions, committees created by Selectboard action.
(1) The Selectboard may, at any time, in response to a perceived need, create, by ordinance
or resolution, a board, commission, or committee.
(2) In doing so, the action must clearly state the reason for the creation of the body.
(3) Any body created under this subsection shall not have an effective life of more than
three years. At the end of that period, the mandate creating the committee shall terminate
and the Selectboard shall be required to review the reason for the body’s existence
and may act to reconstitute the body. (Amended 2021, No. M-13 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 16, 2022.)