Powers of the Town

V.S.A. tit. 24 Appendix, ch. 103, subch. 1

in effect

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 101 General law applies

101. General law applies (a) All provisions of the Constitution and laws of the State relating to towns and villages shall apply to the Town of Bennington, except as modified by this charter. (b) The Town of Bennington shall have all the powers and functions conferred upon towns and villages by the Constitution and laws of the State and shall also have all implied powers necessary to implement such powers and functions. (c) The powers and functions conferred upon the Town of Bennington by this charter shall be in addition to the powers and functions conferred upon the Town by the laws of the State. Nothing in this charter shall be construed as a limitation upon such powers and functions. Amended 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 102 Additional Town powers

102. Additional Town powers In addition to powers otherwise conferred by law, the Town of Bennington is authorized to adopt, amend, repeal, and enforce ordinances: (a) relating to collection and removal of garbage, ashes, rubbish, refuse, waste, and scrap by the Town and establishment of rates to be paid to the Town for such service; (b) relating to construction and alteration of public and private buildings and the use thereof, including establishment of minimum standards for plumbing, heating, and wiring, so as to prevent hazardous and dangerous conditions, fires, and explosions by precautionary regulations and inspection; (c) relating to the use of firearms in settled areas; (d) relating to the packaging, marketing, and handling of produce and other foodstuffs; (e) relating to the prevention of pollution of streams, ponds, and other waterways within the Town.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 103 Initiative; advisory votes

103. Initiative; advisory votes The voters of the Town have the power to petition for a nonbinding advisory vote to reflect public sentiment. Such petition shall be signed by at least five percent of the voters of the Town and shall state that it is advisory only. The Select Board, upon receipt of such a petition, shall place the article on the warning for the next Town meeting or any other Town election.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 104 Recall

104. Recall (a) The voters of the Town may recall any of the elected Town officers listed in subchapter 2 of this charter. (b) A recall petition, clearly stating cause, signed by at least 30 percent of the legal voters of the Town, and bearing their addresses, shall be filed with the Select Board within 15 calendar days of its issue. The Select Board upon receipt of a valid petition shall, after 60 calendar days, hold a special election, with voting by Australian Ballot, to consider the recall of an elected Town officer. When such a petition is approved by a majority of two-thirds of the ballots cast at such special election, the officer named in the petition shall thereupon cease to hold his or her office, and the office shall be considered vacant until filled by a special election to be held within 60 days. (c) A recall petition shall not be brought against an individual more than once during his or her term of office.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/24APPENDIX/103Fetched: 10/21/2026