Resources for Local governance
Vermont Town Meeting ResourcesCan be used as models and/or adapted for your town
• Robert's Rules flier for VT Town Meeting, formatted pdf
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Town Meeting Photos Courtesy
of Jeb Wallace-Brodeur/Times Argus | ||
INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLETS For Town Officials and The Public
This series of informational pamphlets offers an introduction to Vermont government on many topics that affect both local leaders and residents on a day-to-day basis. Created and updated by Paul Gillies, municipal attorney and former Vermont Assistant Secretary of State, this series was created for residents, municipal officials, and anyone interested in how Vermont law affects communities. Widely appreciated when the series was originally created in the 1990s, these pamphlets were brought up to date in spring, 2020.
Pamphlets are available here to download and distribute free of charge. If quoting material, please attribute to Vermont Institute for Government.
Pamphlets are available here to download and distribute free of charge. If quoting material, please attribute to Vermont Institute for Government.
State and Local Regulation
Isn’t There A Law About That? A Guide to Finding Vermont Law
There are times when you need to know what the law is. You want to know now, and you don’t want to pay a lawyer to find it for you. This pamphlet will get you started.
Isn’t This My Land? An Introduction to Planning and Zoning in Vermont
Useful for anyone getting involved in the local regulatory process. Learn the basics of planning and zoning, variances, hearings, and other key players, terms, and concepts.
Are You Appealing? An Introductory Guide to Property Tax Assessment Appeals
So you don’t like the size of your property tax bill? How should you decide whether, and how, to appeal? An overview of the process and players.
Reforming Local Government by Charter
Any Vermont town has the authority to adopt a charter that can change the general state law for that community, if ratified by the legislature. Not limited to cities, more than two dozen Vermont towns have charters. A brief guide to the charter-creation process.
A Primer on Mediation
Most Vermont courts mandate mediation for civil and environmental cases. But what does it mean to sit down with a mediator? An overview of the participants, roles, and process.
Water, Trees, and Roads
The Law of Water: An Introduction to Vermont Water Law
An overview of how rivers, lakes, ponds, and shorefront are treated under Vermont law. Valuable for local officials as well as landowners, neighbors, recreationists, and entrepreneurs.
The Law of Trees: An Introduction to Vermont Tree Law
When are trees public or private property, real or personal property, and who’s responsible for them? A look at the roles of the many people and parties who look out for our communities’ trees.
The Public Right-of-Way and You: An Introduction to Vermont Highway Law
Explore Vermont’s road classification system, who maintains what and how we pay for it, and the intersection of town and landowner rights.
How to Find Ancient Roads: A Research Guide
A guide to the often-tricky task of locating and understanding early road records. A full understanding of your town’s ancient roads history is critical to today’s planning and decision-making.
Local Meetings, Local Offices
How and Why to Read A Town Report
A good town annual report can tell you a great deal about your community. From local leaders’ narratives, to behind-the-budget stories of expenditures and tax rates, the contents are worth unpacking and understanding.
The Meeting Will Come to Order: A Voter’s Guide to Vermont Town Meeting Procedure
Town Meeting Day every March is when voters give selectboards and other town officials
their marching orders on appropriations and policy. This overview of the laws and procedures will help you make the most of your participation.
Born to Chair: An Introduction to the Science and Art of Chairing a Board Meeting
Boards need leaders to keep them focused on the issues at hand and to bring them to resolution after discussion. An examination of the job of chair, the skills needed, and some tips to help make your meetings work.
It’s Your Turn: A Call to Local Office
Your community needs you. In every town, city, village, or other local governance unit, there are jobs that have to be done by people who hear the call and are willing to help. A look at the basic town offices and what’s involved in serving.
Isn’t There A Law About That? A Guide to Finding Vermont Law
There are times when you need to know what the law is. You want to know now, and you don’t want to pay a lawyer to find it for you. This pamphlet will get you started.
Isn’t This My Land? An Introduction to Planning and Zoning in Vermont
Useful for anyone getting involved in the local regulatory process. Learn the basics of planning and zoning, variances, hearings, and other key players, terms, and concepts.
Are You Appealing? An Introductory Guide to Property Tax Assessment Appeals
So you don’t like the size of your property tax bill? How should you decide whether, and how, to appeal? An overview of the process and players.
Reforming Local Government by Charter
Any Vermont town has the authority to adopt a charter that can change the general state law for that community, if ratified by the legislature. Not limited to cities, more than two dozen Vermont towns have charters. A brief guide to the charter-creation process.
A Primer on Mediation
Most Vermont courts mandate mediation for civil and environmental cases. But what does it mean to sit down with a mediator? An overview of the participants, roles, and process.
Water, Trees, and Roads
The Law of Water: An Introduction to Vermont Water Law
An overview of how rivers, lakes, ponds, and shorefront are treated under Vermont law. Valuable for local officials as well as landowners, neighbors, recreationists, and entrepreneurs.
The Law of Trees: An Introduction to Vermont Tree Law
When are trees public or private property, real or personal property, and who’s responsible for them? A look at the roles of the many people and parties who look out for our communities’ trees.
The Public Right-of-Way and You: An Introduction to Vermont Highway Law
Explore Vermont’s road classification system, who maintains what and how we pay for it, and the intersection of town and landowner rights.
How to Find Ancient Roads: A Research Guide
A guide to the often-tricky task of locating and understanding early road records. A full understanding of your town’s ancient roads history is critical to today’s planning and decision-making.
Local Meetings, Local Offices
How and Why to Read A Town Report
A good town annual report can tell you a great deal about your community. From local leaders’ narratives, to behind-the-budget stories of expenditures and tax rates, the contents are worth unpacking and understanding.
The Meeting Will Come to Order: A Voter’s Guide to Vermont Town Meeting Procedure
Town Meeting Day every March is when voters give selectboards and other town officials
their marching orders on appropriations and policy. This overview of the laws and procedures will help you make the most of your participation.
Born to Chair: An Introduction to the Science and Art of Chairing a Board Meeting
Boards need leaders to keep them focused on the issues at hand and to bring them to resolution after discussion. An examination of the job of chair, the skills needed, and some tips to help make your meetings work.
It’s Your Turn: A Call to Local Office
Your community needs you. In every town, city, village, or other local governance unit, there are jobs that have to be done by people who hear the call and are willing to help. A look at the basic town offices and what’s involved in serving.
