Title 24 Appendix: Municipal Charters
Chapter 3: CITY OF BURLINGTON
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§ 1 Boundaries defined; powers § 2 Wards described § 3 Election of mayor and city councilors § 4 Election of school commissioners § 5 Election to be by ballot; method of election; runoff elections § 6 Requirements generally § 7 Age and residence requirements § 8 Person to vote in ward in which the person resides; residence requirement § 9 Adopted § 10 Specified; selection § 11 Performance of duties; terms § 12 [ Repealed.] § 13 Vacancies to be filled by city council § 14 List of voters to be prepared; posting § 15 Notice of meeting to alter or correct list required § 16 Additions or corrections permitted § 17 Chief administrative officer to post lists; copies to be filed in chief administrative officer's office § 18 Copies of list to be given inspectors § 19 Where elections held; early voter absentee ballots § 20 Ward clerk to keep records; certificates of election to be furnished successful candidates; election results to be published § 21 Duties of election inspectors § 22 Ballots § 23 Retained ballots to be delivered to inspectors on demand § 24 Record of ballots delivered required; receipts § 25 Requirements generally § 26 Questions at special meetings to be decided by ballot § 27 Presiding officer; powers § 28 Warning required; location; voting § 29 Checklists to be prepared and posted § 30 General laws applicable; exceptions § 31 Duties of election inspectors and ward clerks § 31a Establishment of voting precincts within wards permitted § 32 -35. [Reserved.] § 35a 'Ward' defined § 36 Administration; vested in mayor and city council; selection and terms of same § 37 Manner of convening § 38 Regular meetings § 39 Special meetings § 40 Quorum; attendance of certain officers may be required § 41 Meetings to be public; except § 42 Composition; meetings § 43 Composition; duties; appointments; offices § 44 Authorized § 45 Mayor not to participate in enactment of ordinances; approval by mayor of councilactions required § 46 Approval or veto of ordinances by mayor; reconsideration; item veto on appropriations § 47 Ordinances to become valid at expiration of certain period if not returned § 48 Enumerated § 49 Authority to enact § 50 City council to establish penalty § 51 Ordinance enforcement § 52 Court authorized to order abatement § 53 [Reserved.] § 54 Offenders may be liable in damages § 55 City council may authorize sale or lease § 56 Council to have powers conferred by statute regarding public burial grounds § 57 Manner of taking land for reservoirs, aqueducts, water pipes, etc § 58 Council to issue citation that land is to be taken; service § 59 Refunding bonds; council may authorize issuance of bonds § 60 Same-issuance prior to maturity or redemption; amounts; issuance, maturities, security, rights of owners, and rights, duties and obligations of city; general laws relating to refunding of municipal bonds and indebtedn § 61 Bonds to be signed and contain statement that they conform to applicable provisions § 62 Council; school board; not to pledge credit of city; exceptions § 63 Council may pledge credit of city when authorized by voters to do so § 64 State law not applicable to section 63 § 64a Council authorized to erect sewage disposal plant and issue bonds therefore § 64b Revenue bonds authorized § 65 Source of funds for appropriations; operating expenses for departments; creation of special funds § 66 Annual school appropriations § 67 Appropriations for park and recreation purposes § 68 Authorized expenditures § 69 Fiscal year, reports required § 70 Excess expenditures prohibited; assessments for street improvements credited to streets division of the public works department § 71 Approval of property owners required § 72 -80. [Reserved.] § 81 Tax classification; repeal of inventory tax § 82 [Reserved.] § 83 Preparation; contents § 84 Composition of books § 85 Arrangement of information in books § 86 Summary of assessed valuations to be made and constitute an abstract § 87 Notice that abstract completed to be given; meetings of assessors § 88 Abstracts and certificate to be completed by May fifth § 89 Notice of changes and that abstracts and lists are open for inspection to be filed § 90 Aggrieved persons permitted to appear before assessors; preliminary review § 91 Appeal of assessors decision § 92 Board of tax appeals to hear appeals; deadline for hearings; manner of conducting; possible board of civil authority review § 93 Alterations in valuation to be entered in 'corrected valuation' column § 94 Completion of grand list; collection § 95 Abstracts sufficient for returns to secretary of state § 96 Board of tax appeals and board of civil authority to transmit certified copy of appeal proceedings to assessors § 97 Forms for books may be altered as directed by state tax commissioner; extension of time § 98 Council to assess § 98a A tax ceiling reduction after reappraisal § 99 Additional assessment; amount § 100 Annual assessment for redemption of bonds authorized § 101 Annual assessment to pay bond interest authorized § 102 Annual local education spending § 102a Annual assessment for fire and police departments use authorized § 102b Annual assessment for streets use authorized § 102c Annual assessment for library use authorized § 102d Local option sales tax authority § 102e Annual assessment for park use § 103 Taxes to be paid in money § 104 Taxes to be paid in installments § 105 Chief administrative officer to give notice upon receipt of tax bills § 106 Delinquency assessments § 107 When treasurer to issue warrant against delinquent persons § 108 Chief administrative officer to collect delinquent taxes § 109 Collection after time warrant returnable permitted § 110 Chief administrative officer to proceed in manner prescribed by law § 111 Fees for collection of delinquent taxes § 112 Failure of owners to pay assessments; warrant to be issued; chief administrativeofficer to collect § 113 Assessments may be collected by suit § 114 Council to establish and prescribe nature of connections § 115 Descriptions recorded in chief administrative officer's office sufficient for assessment purposes § 116 Duties generally § 117 Order of succession; mayor to notify chief administrative officer of his intended absence § 118 Mayor to administer oaths § 119 Remission of fines authorized § 120 Enumerated § 120a Merger of boards § 121 Enumerated § 122 Enumerated § 123 Staggered appointments required § 124 Chairman; clerk, records § 125 Mayor, city councilors, ward and precinct officers § 126 Commissioners and board of tax appeals § 127 Department heads and other officers § 128 Manner of filling § 129 Appointing body or person has power to remove § 130 Manner of filling vacancy and residency requirement § 131 Dual positions prohibited § 132 Mayor, city council, and other city officials § 133 Conflicts of interest § 134 Required of treasurer and other officers handling city funds § 135 City council to approve surety company; costs to be paid by city § 136 Officer to be removed from neglect to give bond after notice § 137 Form § 138 Duties of chief administrative officer generally § 139 Public records to remain in chief administrative officer's office; council may regulate removal § 140 Certified copies of records to be made § 141 Certification that notices, ordinances, etc., have been posted required § 142 Assistants § 143 [Reserved.] § 144 Chief administrative officer to keep record of notes and bonds issued § 145 Record of school bonds to be kept § 146 Redeemed bonds, notes and interest coupons to be kept § 147 Chief administrative officer to keep separate account of school appropriations § 148 Duties § 149 Subject to same penalties as state's attorneys § 150 Duties; liabilities; etc. § 151 Powers; duties; liabilities; etc § 152 Powers and duties § 153 Duties § 154 Composition § 155 Board to act as board of audit; uniform system to be adopted § 156 Monthly reports; annual audit § 157 Preparation and submission of budget § 158 Sinking fund abolished § 159 Selection of official depositary § 160 Care and control of public buildings § 161 Repairs to public buildings § 162 Board authorized to rent portions of public buildings § 163 Composition § 164 Terms, elections § 165 Manner of filling vacancies § 166 Meetings § 167 Duties § 168 Adoption of budget § 169 Powers generally; authority to establish graded schools § 170 Authority to establish by-laws and regulations § 171 Appointment; compensation; removal; term § 172 Duties of superintendent; commissioners to file monthly report § 173 Appointment; duties § 174 City to provide, equip and maintain § 175 Commissioners to control location, construction, sale and purchase § 176 Statement showing necessity for construction or purchase required § 177 Council to approve purchase or construction § 178 Funds for construction or purchase to be provided by tax levy § 179 Composition § 180 Duties § 181 Liabilities to be approved and budget preparation § 182 [Reserved.] § 183 Board of police commissioners; composition; terms § 184 Same-Powers and duties § 185 Officers of police force designated § 186 Manner of filling vacancies § 187 Force to be maintained; selection of members § 188 Manner of appointment § 189 Members of force to be retained as long as they remain competent § 190 Chief may remove member for cause; hearing § 191 Political activity restricted § 192 Authority to appoint; defined; powers § 193 Service and process; fees allowed § 194 Police to have same powers as constables; jurisdiction limited § 195 Compensation to be set by council § 195a Authority of University of Vermont police officers § 196 Composition § 197 Authority to establish rules and regulations for fire department § 198 Fire department; created; members; appointment § 199 Department to be under supervision of chief engineer § 200 Powers of fire commissioners § 201 Powers relating to fire department § 202 Political activity restricted § 203 Commissioners to manage parks; composition of board § 204 Records to be kept; annual reports to city council required § 205 Parks and recreation department; appointment of superintendent and engineer § 206 Establishment and maintenance of athletic activities authorized; charging admission fees permitted § 207 Authorization to establish and alter rules for park operation § 208 Determination of location of sewers, water pipes, wires, etc § 209 Regulation of planting and care of trees in parks § 210 Direction that trees be planted along public grounds and assess abutting land § 211 Authority to regulate parking § 212 Authority to declare weeds, underbrush, etc., a nuisance and direct removal § 213 Issuance of bonds to provide funds for parks authorized § 214 Bills and expenses to be approved § 215 Definition of 'park property' § 216 [Reserved.] § 217 Condemnation of land for park and/or recreational purposes authorized § 218 Composition; appointment; terms § 219 Duties § 220 By-laws and regulations of board to have force of ordinances § 221 [Reserved.] § 222 Duties § 223 , 224. [Reserved.] § 225 Powers of board § 226 Composition; appointment; term § 227 Superintendent/general manager; duties § 228 Powers of city § 229 Authority to create; powers and duties § 230 [Reserved] § 231 Power and duties § 232 , 233. [Reserved.] § 234 Power to lay out, alter, discontinue, etc. § 235 Council may lay out certain streets; owners' petition § 236 Prior actions regarding streets ratified § 237 Rights of property owners § 238 Rights of property owners when street discontinued § 239 Power granted § 240 Estimation of probable expenses authorized § 241 Decisions regarding assessments to be recorded § 242 Proceedings for objections to assessment § 243 Assessment lien suspended until final determination § 244 Petition for relief not to delay opening or altering of street § 245 Copy of final determination to be recorded; assessment to become lien § 246 Warrant to be issued upon failure to pay assessment; collection § 247 Court to have jurisdiction to determine questioned assessments § 248 Establishment and maintenance authorized; assessments § 249 Establishment and construction through private lands authorized § 250 Assessment of landowners authorized § 251 Assessment proceedings and rights § 252 Required; contents § 253 When given § 254 Acceptance of service § 255 Manner of serving § 256 Service on nonresidents § 257 Chief administrative officer to mail copy of citation to last known address of nonresident § 258 Return of citation prima facie evidence of service § 259 Proceedings to be postponed until all interested parties notified § 260 Manner of giving notice to additional interested parties § 261 Proceedings not to be voided for failure to give notice § 262 City council may order improvements upon petition of owners § 263 Authorization to make improvements without petition; assessment of costs § 264 Notice of hearing § 265 Statement to be made § 266 Chief administrative officer to record assessments; notification of owners § 267 Deadline for paying § 268 -275. [Reserved.] § 276 Composition; terms; powers; manager § 277 Composition § 278 Adoption of by-laws authorized; meetings § 279 Local board to be in lieu of statutory board; general powers § 280 Designated § 281 Board of health authorized to make rules and regulations § 282 Powers and duties of health officer § 283 Generally § 284 Maintenance of retirement fund; retiring board; sources of retirement fund § 285 Trustees of fund designated; powers; officers § 286 Board of medical examiners-Created; duties; composition; terms; compensation § 287 Retirement generally § 288 Reexamination of person on retired list; reappointment, etc. § 289 Record of proceedings to be kept; report to city council required § 290 3-290-297. [Transitional provisions.]. § 298 [Reserved.] § 299 Rights, duties and liabilities of city to remain as existing at time of organization § 300 Copy of charter to be kept in office of chief administrative officer § 301 Designation of chapter § 302 [ Repealed.]. § 303 Alteration, amendment or repeal of charter § 304 Approval of section 102 by vote required § 305 Approval of section 99 by vote required § 306 Reserve fund of light department not to be increased without vote § 307 -320. [Reserved.] § 321 Creation of downtown improvement district, Church Street Marketplace District and marketplace § 322 Establishment of commission § 323 Expansion of Church Street Marketplace district and/or marketplace § 324 Purposes and powers § 325 Annual taxation for downtown improvement district; free parking for two hours inpublic lots and garages; annual budget of Church Street Marketplace District § 326 Common area fees § 327 Powers supplemental; construction § 328 -329. [Reserved.] § 330 Board of tax appeals § 331 Creation of community and economic development office § 332 Purposes and powers § 333 Department to be under supervision of director § 334 -350. [Reserved.] § 351 Creation of Burlington City arts § 352 Purposes and powers § 353 Department to be under supervision of director § 354 -360. [Reserved.] § 361 Creation of human resources department § 362 Purposes and powers § 363 Department to be under supervision of director § 364 -400. [Reserved] § 401 Revisions effective without publication § 402 -404. [Reserved.] § 405 Authority to establish system § 406 Authority to appoint boards and officers, appropriate funds, provide rate of contributions and designate sums payable § 407 Direction to budget funds for system § 408 Existing provisions to remain valid until new provisions adopted § 409 -414. [Reserved.] § 415 Authority to construct and maintain an electric plant § 416 Authority to construct, maintain and operate a gas-generating and distribution plant § 417 Authority to acquire property for purposes of sections 415 and 416 of this charter § 418 Authority to sell services, merchandise and equipment incidental to use of electricity or gas § 419 Operation of gas business § 420 Procedure for exercising eminent domain right § 421 Issuance of bonds authorized § 422 Rates sufficient to pay for services and bonds to be charged § 423 Bond issuance to be approved by voters § 424 -430. [Reserved.] § 431 Definitions § 432 Electric plant; improvement of § 433 Bonds; issuance of § 434 Same-payment of § 435 Same-pledge of revenues § 436 Same-refunding § 437 Same-Anticipation notes § 438 Same-regulation § 439 Same-rights of holders § 440 Same-right of city § 441 Rates; payment by municipal agencies § 442 Bonds; proceeds § 443 Energy conservation facilities § 444 Construction of article § 445 Same § 446 Same; invalidity § 447 Ratification § 448 Powers exercised through city council § 449 Authority for joint venture for telecommunications § 450 -500. [Reserved.] § 501 City of Burlington utility facilities; taxation of § 502 -505. [Reserved.] § 506 Definitions § 507 Bonds; issuance of § 508 Refunding Full text of Chapter 3.