November 2025

November is a month of transition as the last remnants of fall are overtaken by winter's chill and darkness. If you have a student in your life, you might be preparing for another transition: college. Make sure to apply for VLCT's Municipal Service Scholarship if they are considering municipal work. The end of the year often triggers retirements or retirement announcements. Vermont Town Careers is now advertising selected municipal job openings in Seven Days. Submit your listing for a chance to be included.

News

Resources

Claims

Careers

Events

Legal Notes

Holiday Displays on Municipal Property

Each year, holiday displays of all kinds are set up across the state, especially in November and December. Some of those displays are on municipal property – which may have significant legal and political implications. This resource covers what you should take into consideration ahead of time.

Annual Auditors' Report FAQs

Vermont law requires that municipalities distribute the annual auditors' report to residents. This set of FAQs addresses the responsibilities involved in preparing, producing, and distributing the report.

Is Your Municipality Considering Short-Term Rental Regulations?

This overview provides options and considerations for regulating short-term rentals (STRs) in your municipality. Additionally, you can use the Model Short-Term Rental Ordinance as a starting point when first considering whether and how to regulate STRs.

Risk Management

PACIF Member Benefits: $200k in Grant Funding; $1.5M in Contribution Credits

PACIF’s Board is thrilled to announce for 2026: $200,000 for PACIF Grants, $1.5 million in contribution credits, and rates increases held to just 2.3% across all lines of coverage. Thank you for your partnership in keeping Vermont municipalities strong and resilient!

Does Your Municipality Have Employees Operating Commercial Motor Vehicles?

If your municipality has employees operating vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more (dump trucks, garbage/recycling vehicles), then you need to follow federal Commercial Motor Vehicle requirements. This manual was specifically developed by VLCT PACIF to assist you.

UI Trust Members Will See an Overall Rate Reduction in 2026

The VERB Board of Directors approved an average 7.2% overall reduction in rates for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust members for 2026. This is the third straight year of overall rate reductions!

December 15 @ 1 PM. Tune in to anticipate what’s in store for the 2026 legislative session. Learn from Josh and Samantha about the progress that has been made since June on the issues that matter most to local government.

Featured Resources & Opportunities

New Interactive Dashboard for Compensation and Benefits Results

Get an overall picture of personnel, highway, and total operating budgets; see unfilled or vacant positions; and learn about selection methods for various statutory office and board positions in this new interactive tool. Use the dashboard to inform your Town Meeting preparations.

Best Practices for Committees to Work Effectively with Municipal Leaders

This new resource provides tips and guidance for committee or commission members to help clarify the purpose of the committee/commission and to communicate effectively with municipal officials and staff.

Open Funding Opportunities

Don't miss out on spending other people's money to get your jobs done! Take a look at these open funding opportunities and bookmark the page. It's updated frequently with new funding sources and application information.

ICYMI: Latest News

Winter Road Maintenance

Learn your winter road maintenance options and obligations with respect to road classes.

Local Government in Action: Pomfret

Hear from selectboard chair Ben Brickner about his town's response to major road damage.

UPDATED: Road Salt Contracts Finalized

The state has issued long-awaited road salt contracts with provisions for municipal purchasing.

Vision Benefits Offered Through EyeMed

Members can pick from three EyeMed Vision Care plan options at low group rates.

Next Steps for July 2025 Flood Response

Towns affected by this flooding should contact their VTrans District Office.

VLCT Holiday Hours

The VLCT office will be closed November 27 and 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

What to Expect from the Current Supreme Court Term: Cases Impacting Local Gov.

Attend this webinar on December 4 to learn about the current Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch.

Member Showcase: Find Inspiration from these Town Reports

Take a look at a selection of excellent town reports from across Vermont. Whether your town is big or small, you'll find great examples and new ideas to incorporate into your next town report. Thank you to the panel of judges who reviewed entries and to the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development for their sponsorship of this initiative.

Are You Listening?

The pace of work has increased over the years as nearly everyone tries to be more efficient and productive. At the same time, budgets have been trimmed, so we are trying to do more with less. Listening is an essential skill in this challenging environment.

Store

On Demand: Short-Term Rental Policy

These sessions are designed to provide municipalities that are considering regulating short-term rentals – or those that have recently implemented regulations – a deeper understanding of the law surrounding short-term rental regulation.

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About VLCT Journal

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

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