August/September 2026

Welcome to the Town Fair takeover edition of the VLCT Journal! Join us for VLCT's annual conference on Wednesday, October 7 at the DoubleTree in South Burlington as we celebrate America's anniversary and 250 years of local leadership. Make sure to visit exhibitors, connect with colleagues, attend concurrent sessions, win prizes, and more. Register soon: the Early Bird rate ends August 31. And don't forget to sign up for the Annual Meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, October 6.

News

Resources

Claims

Careers

Events

Legal Updates

Start Town Fair with Conversation and Connection

Fuel up for the day ahead while diving into the issues that matter most to your community. At our popular Breakfast Roundtables, choose a table focused on a topic relevant to your role or interests – ranging from governance and compliance to community development, employee benefits, leadership, and beyond.

Navigate the Complexities of Modern Governance

Strengthen communication, embrace change, and gain the knowledge needed to engage communities and lead with confidence at these three sessions. Join the Braver Angels for hands-on experience in building communication skills at a mock selectboard meeting. Attend a panel discussion about the new homestead classification requirement. Play It’s The Law! Or Is It? to test your knowledge of Vermont municipal law.

Embrace the Changing Municipal Landscape

Learn how to improve accessibility, protect against evolving threats, and responsibly prepare for the opportunities and challenges of new technology with sessions that focus on cybersecurity, upcoming requirements for website accessibility, and elections security.

Risk Management

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: The Value of Shared Resources

Vermont Local Roads will explain proven strategies and practical solutions that municipalities around Vermont have used to share costly resources and get work done. When the job is big or the staff is small, sharing resources can increase capacity and help control budgets.

Focus on Healthy Communities with Sessions about Public Safety

Learn about proven local solutions in public health and safety, understand how a culture of peer support can promote resilience in public safety organizations, discuss strategies to create an effective safety committee, and learn how to manage disruptive interactions and maintain a safe municipal workplace.

Thank you, Sponsors and Exhibitors! Business Alliance Program participants, especially Town Fair and Corporate Sponsors, help us keep the costs low and the quality high at Town Fair and throughout the year. Make sure to explore the list of program members and visit the tradeshow to say hi when you're at Town Fair.

See the Sponsors

Government Banking

As the bank for Vermont business, Northfield Savings Bank is proud to be the go-to local banking solution for Vermont’s municipalities, utility districts, school districts, and more.

Featured Resources & Opportunities

Living Within the Levy – Big Needs, Real Budgets

Build strategies for prioritizing community needs while supporting long-term financial sustainability.

Beyond the Grand List: New Ways to Fund Local Government

Hear creative solutions for reducing reliance on property taxes.

Sweets and Surprises Support VLCT's Municipal Service Scholarship

Returning for the third year – have a sweet treat and see if you win any of the fantastic raffle prizes.

ICYMI: Latest News

Celebrate Excellence in Local Government Recognize the individuals who exemplify dedication and leadership in local government.

Meet VLCT Staff

Nearly all VLCT staff attend Town Fair. Stop by registration or the VLCT booths to say hello.

Guess the Giveaway!

We're celebrating 250 years of local leadership. Can you predict what the giveaway item will be?

Municipal Service Scholarship

Know a student interested in local gov? Encourage them to apply!

Governing All with Skill Participants

There's still time! Complete the program and be recognized at Town Fair.

Join the VLCT Board of Directors

Apply by August 28 to be considered, then join us at Town Fair in October!

City Summit 2026, November 19-21

NLC’s City Summit is one of the most comprehensive conferences for local elected officials and municipal staff. This year it's taking place in Nashville, Tennessee.

Member Showcase: Lapel Pins Recognize Your Years of Service to Vermont Communities

Display your dedication and commitment to local government! Let us know the year you started in municipal work, and we’ll give you a Years of Service pin. These pins honor your contributions to local government and demonstrate the impact you’ve made in your community.

Building Trust and Confidence in Senior Leadership

Instilling a sense of trust and confidence in senior leadership is key to protecting your organization’s reputation and bottom line. Disengaged employees are also more likely to leave your organization for a new job, leading to higher turnover-related costs.

Store

About VLCT Journal

Find all issues of the VLCT Journal at vlct.org/journal.

As always, be sure to follow us on social media and regularly check the updated home page of our website for breaking news and announcements.

Please contact us at vlctnews@vlct.org with any comments or suggestions for upcoming content.

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