Title 24, Title 24: Municipal and County Government

§ 1911. Definitions The following terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meaning: (1) “Acquire” shall mean to purchase, to acquire by eminent domain, to hire, to lease, to construct, to reconstruct, or to replace. (2) “Communications plant” shall mean any and al…

§ 1912. Communications plant; authority to acquire, construct, operate, improve, extend, and better (a) A municipality is authorized and empowered to own, maintain, operate, improve, and extend, or otherwise acquire, and to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, in accordance with…

§ 1913. Communications plant; operation and regulation (a) A municipality shall operate its communications plant in accordance with the applicable State and federal law and regulation, and chapter 53 of this title, relating to municipal indebtedness, with regard to the financing,…

§ 1914. Validation of bonds voted for communications construction No action shall be brought directly or indirectly attacking, questioning, or in any manner contesting the legality or validity of bonds, issued or unissued, voted by any municipality, after six months from the date…

§ 1931. Police officers (a) The legislative body, and in its stead, the town manager, when appointed pursuant to chapter 37 of this title, of a municipality as defined in section 2001 of this title may establish a police department and appoint police officers and a chief of polic…

§ 1932. Negligence of officer; suspension; hearing (a) Whenever it appears to the appointing authority by its own knowledge or when informed by a written petition signed by one or more responsible persons that any regular officer has become negligent or derelict in the officer’s …

§ 1933. Policy The provisions of sections 1931-1934 of this title affecting the tenure of such regular police officers and their removal from office shall apply to the chief of police. Such sections shall not apply to any police officer until he or she shall have served continuou…

§ 1934. Construction Notwithstanding any contrary provisions in any municipal charter, the provisions of sections 1931-1933 of this title shall control, unless a municipality has charter provisions providing for tenure of police officers during good behavior with removal only aft…

§ 1935. Powers Police officers who are employed by a police department established under this chapter or pursuant to charter shall have the same powers as sheriffs in criminal matters and the enforcement of the law and the same powers, immunities, and matters of defense in servin…

§ 1936. Special police officers; qualifications (a) If the legislative body of a municipality does not establish a police department or appoint a chief of police, temporary police officers appointed pursuant to subsection 1931(a) of this title shall serve under the direction of t…

§ 1936a. Constables; powers and qualifications (a) A town may vote at a special or annual town meeting to prohibit constables from exercising any law enforcement authority. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, constables may perform the following …

§ 1937. Reciprocal assistance agreements (a) A reciprocal assistance agreement may be entered into between: (1) the chief law enforcement officer of a municipality in a county of this State adjacent to a neighboring state, or the sheriff of such a county; and (2) the chief law en…

§ 1938. Intermunicipal police services; purpose; agreements (a) Cities, towns, incorporated villages, the University of Vermont, sheriffs, and State agencies may enter into agreements to provide for intermunicipal police services. Intermunicipal police services include general po…

§ 1940. Special investigative units; boards; grants (a) Pursuant to the authority established under section 1938 of this title, and in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, investigative agencies, victims’ advocates, and social service providers, the Department of State’s …

§ 1943. Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board (a) Board. An Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board is created within the Department of Public Safety to advise the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Commissioner of Public Safety on issues involving the cooperation …

§ 1951. Creation of department A town, city, or incorporated village shall have power to create, maintain, and operate a fire department as a department of the municipality, and for this purpose to purchase, acquire, hold, lease, or sell real property, equipment, and apparatus, a…

§ 1952. Eminent domain A town, city, or incorporated village may acquire real property for purposes of a fire house or fire station by exercise of the right of eminent domain in the manner and according to the procedure provided in sections 2805-2812 of this title for acquisition…

§ 1953. Officers The officers of a fire department shall consist of a chief engineer, an assistant chief engineer, and fire captains in such number as the legislative body of the municipality shall determine. The duties and powers of the chief engineer shall be the same as those …

§ 1954. Firemen Firemen shall be appointed by the chief engineer, subject to such rules or regulations as the legislative body may adopt, and may be salaried employees or volunteers. A fireman may be dismissed or suspended by the chief engineer on written notice, but shall be ent…

§ 1955. Expenditures All expenditures for the creation, operation, and maintenance of a fire department under this chapter shall be paid from the general fund of the municipality unless other means are provided by the legislative body or the qualified voters. (Added 1969, No. 170…

§ 1956. Personnel rules The officers, firemen, and employees of a fire department organized under this chapter may be governed by rules adopted by the legislative body of the municipality under subchapter 11 of chapter 33 of this title. (Added 1969, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff…

§ 1957. Contracts with federal government A town, city, or incorporated village, by act of its legislative body, may contract with the U.S. government or any of its departments or agencies for the purpose of providing fire protection to federal property located within its limits.…

§ 1961. Legislative findings A system of community justice centers that operates under the authority of a single statute will: (1) help each community justice center collaborate more closely with law enforcement and State’s Attorneys, State agencies, social service providers, vic…

§ 1962. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Legislative body” means the mayor and board of aldermen of a city, a city council, a town selectboard, the president and trustees of an incorporated village, or the legislative bodies of a group of municipalities. (2) “Municipalit…

§ 1963. Authority of municipalities The legislative body of any municipality may create within its jurisdiction a community justice center to resolve civil disputes and address the wrongdoings of individuals who have committed municipal, juvenile, or criminal offenses. A municipa…

§ 1964. Structure of the community justice boards; confidentiality of certain restorative justice meetings (a) Each community justice center: (1) shall have an advisory board comprising at least 51 percent citizen volunteers; (2) may use a variety of community-based restorative j…

§ 1965. Duties of the community justice centers Each community justice center: (1) shall work in close coordination with State agencies, law enforcement agencies, State’s Attorneys, social service providers, victim advocacy organizations, and other community resources in administ…

§ 1966. Community justice centers’ relationship with state government entities (a) Support from the Agency of Human Services. The Agency of Human Services shall provide to the community justice centers the information, analysis, and technical support that the community justice ce…

§ 1967. Cases prohibited No case involving domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be referred to a community justice center except through Department of Corrections offender reentry programs pursuant to protocols protecting victims, or as provided i…

§ 1968. Referrals for domestic violence and sexual violence cases; Attorney General protocols (a) Notwithstanding section 1967 of this title, community justice centers may accept referrals for domestic violence and sexual violence cases, provided the community justice center has …

§ 1969. Public Records Act exemption (a) Any records or information produced or acquired pursuant to this chapter shall be kept confidential and shall be exempt from public inspection or copying under Vermont’s Public Records Act. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this sectio…

§ 1971. Authority to adopt (a) A municipality may adopt, amend, repeal, and enforce ordinances or rules for any purposes authorized by law. (b) An ordinance or rule adopted or amended by a municipality under this chapter or under its municipal charter authority shall be designate…

§ 1972. Procedure (a)(1) The legislative body of a municipality desiring to adopt an ordinance or rule may adopt it subject to the petition set forth in section 1973 of this title and shall cause it to be entered in the minutes of the municipality and posted in at least five cons…

§ 1973. Permissive referendum (a) An ordinance or rule adopted by a municipality may be disapproved by a vote of a majority of the qualified voters of the municipality voting on the question at an annual or special meeting duly warned for the purpose, pursuant to a petition signe…

§ 1974. Enforcement of criminal ordinances (a)(1) The violation of a criminal ordinance or rule adopted by a municipality under this chapter shall be a misdemeanor. (2) The criminal ordinance or rule may provide for a fine or imprisonment, but no fine shall exceed $800.00, nor ma…

§ 1974a. Enforcement of civil ordinance violations (a) A civil penalty of not more than $800.00 may be imposed for a violation of a civil ordinance. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. (b) All civil ordinance violations, except municipal parkin…

§ 1975. Evidence of adoption A certificate of the clerk of a municipality showing the publication, posting, recording, and adoption of an ordinance or rule, or any of the foregoing, shall be presumptive evidence of the facts so stated in any action or proceeding in court or befor…

§ 1976. Amendments and repeals An ordinance or rule adopted in accordance with the procedures provided for in this chapter may be amended or repealed in accordance with the procedure herein set forth relating to adoption of ordinances and rules, and the provisions of this chapter…

§ 1977. Complaint for municipal civil ordinance violations (a) The complaint in a municipal civil case shall be signed by the issuing municipal official. The original copy shall be filed with the Judicial Bureau, a copy shall be retained by the issuing municipal official, and two…

§ 1979. Procedure (a) Municipal ordinance violations shall be heard by the Bureau and the procedure shall be as provided in 4 V.S.A. chapter 29. (b) At the hearing, the municipal attorney or designee of the legislative body of the municipality may dismiss or amend the complaint, …

§ 1981. Enforcement of order from Judicial Bureau (a) Upon the filing of the complaint and entry of a judgment after hearing or entry of default by the hearing officer, subject to any appeal pursuant to 4 V.S.A. § 1107, the person found in violation shall have up to 30 days to pa…

§ 1982. Reports The Court Administrator shall prepare audits, records, and reports relating to the enforcement of municipal ordinance complaints in the Judicial Bureau. (Added 1993, No. 237 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1994; amended 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 21.)

§ 1983. Identification to law enforcement officers required (a) A law enforcement officer is authorized to detain a person if: (1) the officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person has violated a municipal ordinance; and (2) the person refuses to identify himself or hersel…

§ 1991. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Advisory body” means a public body that does not have supervision, control, or jurisdiction over legislative, quasi-judicial, tax, or budgetary matters. (2) “Candidate” and “candidate’s committee” have the same meanings as in 17 V…

§ 1992. Conflicts of interest (a) Duty to avoid conflicts of interest. In the municipal officer’s official capacity, the officer shall avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest. The appearance of a conflict shall be determined from the perspective…

§ 1993. Prohibited conduct (a) Directing unethical conduct. A municipal officer shall not direct any individual to act in a manner that would: (1) benefit a municipal officer in a manner related to the officer’s conflict of interest; (2) create a conflict of interest or the appea…