Municipal Powers and Government Structure

V.S.A. tit. 24 Appendix, ch. 131, subch. 2

in effect

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 201 General law; application

201. General law; application Except when changed, enlarged, or modified by the provisions of this charter, or by any legal regulation or ordinance of the Town of Plainfield, all provisions of the statutes of the State of Vermont relating to municipalities shall apply to the Town of Plainfield.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 202 Powers of the Town

202. Powers of the Town (a) The Town of Plainfield shall have all the powers granted to towns, town school districts, and municipal corporations by the Constitution and laws of this State and this charter, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution all the powers granted. The Town of Plainfield may enact ordinances not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the State of Vermont or with this charter and impose penalties for violation thereof. (b) The Town may acquire real and personal property within or without its corporate limits necessary or convenient for any lawful purpose, in fee simple or any lesser interest or estate, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, or condemnation, consistent with the Constitution and laws of the State of Vermont, and may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage, and control such property as its interest may require consistent with the Constitution and laws of the State. (c) In this charter, no mention of a particular power shall be construed to be exclusive or to restrict the scope of the powers that the Town would have if the particular power were not mentioned, unless this charter otherwise provides. (d) The Seal of the Town of Plainfield, heretofore adopted, is declared to be the official seal of the Town, to be used as required by law and custom. (e) The Town may purchase, hold, and convey any real estate and erect and keep in repair any buildings necessary or convenient for its purposes and may acquire, construct, and maintain such dams, aqueducts, reservoirs, sewage disposal facilities, and electrical distribution facilities as it may deem necessary for the benefit of the Town.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 203 Reservation of powers to the Town

203. Reservation of powers to the Town Nothing in this charter shall be construed to in any way limit the powers and functions conferred on the Town of Plainfield, the Selectboard of said Town, or its elected and appointed officials by general or special enactments of State statutes or regulations in force or effect or hereafter enacted, and the powers and functions conferred by this charter shall be cumulative and in addition to the provisions of such general or special enactments unless this charter otherwise provides.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 204 Authority of police officers

204. Authority of police officers The police officers of the Town shall have the same powers throughout the State with respect to criminal matters, and the enforcement of the laws relating thereto, as they have within the Town.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 205 Open meetings

205. Open meetings Meetings of all Town boards and commissions shall be open and held in accordance with the general law of this State relating to public meetings. The record of all official proceedings shall be available for public inspection and copying as provided by the general law of this State.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 206 Form of government

206. Form of government Pursuant to its provisions and subject only to the limitations imposed by the Vermont Constitution and by this charter, all powers of the Town shall be vested in an elective council, hereinafter referred to as the Selectboard, that shall enact ordinances, codes, and regulations; adopt budgets and determine policies; and that shall execute the laws and administer the government of the Town.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 207 Intergovernmental relations

207. Intergovernmental relations The Town, through its Selectboard or Board of School Directors, or both, may enter into any agreement with the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, or with any subdivision, department, agency, or activity of the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, to accept grants, loans, and assistance from the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, or from any subdivision department, agency, or activity of the United States of America or the State of Vermont, or both, to make public improvements within said Town, or upon property or rights of said Town outside its corporate limits, whether owned by said Town as sole owner or owned by said Town in common with another municipality or other municipalities, and may make appropriations consistent with this charter to accomplish such purpose.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 208 Town School District; establishment

208. Town School District; establishment The Town of Plainfield, as established in section 101 of this charter, shall constitute the Town of Plainfield Town School District.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 131, § 209 Utility services

209. Utility services The Town shall have the power to impose rates, charges, and assessments upon property located in that part of the former Village located in the Town of Marshfield for water, sewer, and street lighting.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/24APPENDIX/131Fetched: 10/21/2026