Open Meeting Laws
Effective July 1, 2014, the Vermont legislature amended Vermont’s Open Meeting Law. The City Attorney’s Office has prepared a guidance for all of the City’s boards and commissions explaining the changes in the law
To report a potential violation, please Email: Admin@townofwoodstock.org
Open Meeting Law FAQ’s:
For More Information please Visit:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/01/005/00312
2024 Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Changes: The Statewide Municipal Code of Ethics – Act 171
Act 171 became law on June 10, 2024 and drastically changes the ethical regulatory landscape for municipalities. It removes municipal authority to enact conflict of interest prohibitions tailored to address the specific needs, concerns, size, and values of their municipalities and replaces that authority with a new, top-down, one size fits all, statewide Municipal Code of Ethics.
New Contact for Guidance and Advisory Opinions: Vermont State Ethics Commission
Since the legislature gave the State Ethics Commission the authority to provide guidance and advice (including advisory opinions) to municipalities, we are directing all municipal officers to contact the States Ethics Commission regarding any ethics questions they may have.
Guidance
Municipal officers subject to the statewide Municipal Code of Ethics may request ethics guidance from the Executive Director as it relates to that person’s duties. Guidance is non-binding and confidential unless the recipient chooses to disclose it. 3 V.S.A. § 1225(a). The State Ethics Commission can be reached at 802-828-7187 or ethicscommission@vermont.gov.
https://www.vlct.org/topics-all/ethics-and-conflicts-interest