March 2026

A warm welcome to all of the newly elected municipal officials! We'll bring you a full VLCT 101 next month. For now, be sure to take a look at required training for ethics and conflicts of interest from the State Ethics Commission and for Vermont's Open Meeting Law from the Secretary of State's office. Get a top-level view of what VLCT does in the 2026 Member Guide, learn how to log in to the Municipal Access Portal, and discover whom to contact at VLCT. Then read below for this month's essential information and hot topics.

P.S.: If filling out your town's contact updates form is on your plate, please do it by March 24.

News

Legal Notes

Handbooks Can Help You Learn Your Role and Responsibilities

Newly elected officials have a lot to learn about the legal requirements of their role as well as the managerial and administrative duties that come along with it. VLCT has handbooks for selectboard members, town clerks, delinquent tax collectors, and more.

Maintaining Town Roads from Winter Snow to Spring Mud

March can bring both snow and mud to town roads. VLCT has several resources to help with maintenance during this transitional time. Learn about which town roads must be plowed and when you can limit the use of town roads due to mud (or other reasons).

How to Handle Online Public Meeting Disruptions

Disruptions to a meeting can occur regardless of whether it is in-person, hybrid, or remote, but the technology used to conduct hybrid and remote meetings requires adjustments to how you respond to those disruptions.

Risk Management

Human Resources Consultation Program: Ask Your HR Questions

Navigating the employment relationship can be a complicated undertaking for leaders, especially in public sector employment. The web of workplace laws, regulations, contractual obligations, and policies all affect your leadership of a successful team. If you have HR-related questions, you can easily submit them online through our new form.

Workers' Comp Audits Due March 30

The Workers' Comp Audit values collection link was emailed to PACIF primary contacts on February 27. If you haven't already, please make sure to fill out the form by March 30. Members with a 2024 audited workers’ compensation contribution of less than $5,000 are able to complete a simplified audit process.

Prevent Funds Transfer Fraud

Claims resulting from funds transfer fraud can happen to municipalities of all sizes. This guidance explains what funds transfer fraud is and lists basic prevention measures that anyone with access to municipal accounts should use to avoid falling victim to these schemes.

Know the Dog License Types and Fees. In Vermont, all dogs over the age of six (6) months must be licensed with the town clerk. All licenses, whether mandatory or voluntary, expire every year on March 31 and must be renewed annually on or before April 1.

Learn More

Featured Resources & Opportunities

Several New Capital Budgeting Tools

If your municipality has been thinking about developing a Capital Improvement Plan “one of these years,” VLCT has just added a comprehensive set of tools to make this the year you actually get it done – with helpful templates, a timeline/checklist, and more.

Quick Guide to Vermont's Open Meeting Law

Make sure to share this essential resource with your new selectboard members to provide them with a basic understanding of Vermont's Open Meeting Law.

Governing All With Skill: New Module Released March 17

The next module in the Governing All with Skill program was released just days ago on March 17. Take a look at this new training and join us on April 21 from 5 PM to 6 PM for an interactive discussion with course participants.

ICYMI

Upcoming Events!

Coming soon: selectboard training, legislative reception, local officials golf outing, and more!

Environmental Review Starter Guide

Find a clear starting point and learn what information is required and why it matters.

Perspectives on Dignity

We encourage all members to read this piece by the co-creator of the Dignity Index.

Post-Town Meeting Process

Don't miss a single step. This info sheet is a helpful guide to your post-Town Meeting process.

Vacancies in Elected Office FAQs

Does your town have a post-Town Meeting vacancy? Learn what to do.

Municipal Issues Discussed on GNAT

This interview on the Bennington area's local-access TV station covered a few current topics.

NLC: How Housing Unaffordability Stalls Workforce Development

In communities across the country, the failure to house our workforce is imposing an invisible tax on regional prosperity.

Member Showcase: Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Tunbridge in Trails Case

The Vermont Supreme Court recently agreed and decisively reaffirmed a municipality’s authority to maintain its public rights-of-way such as its legal trails.

Building a Work Culture that's Friendly to Mental Health

In the dynamic landscape of contemporary workplaces, fostering a culture that prioritizes mental health is no longer just an option but a strategic priority. Learn ways for employers to help cultivate such a culture.

Store

On Demand: Introducing CHIP – Vermont's $2B Housing and Infrastructure Program

Learn about the new Community and Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP). It is the largest investment in municipal infrastructure in the state’s history and it is available to all municipalities.

Buy Now for $0.00

About VLCT Journal

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

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

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