Municipal Code of Ethics
Act 171 (H.875), an Act establishing a municipal ethics framework in Vermont, went into effect on June 10th, 2024. The Act establishes a statewide municipal code of ethics and allows the State Ethics Commission to provide municipalities with free training and advisory services. It also requires municipalities to investigate and record ethics complaints, which can be filed either with the municipality or with the Ethics Commission, to appoint an Ethics Liaison to receive complaints and serve as a point of contact for the Ethics Commission, and for municipal officers to complete a free basic ethics training.
Municipal Code of Ethics Policy
Conflict of Interest Quick Chart and FAQ
Process for Investigation and Enforcement of Ethical Violations
State law (24 V.S.A. § 1997) requires municipalities to enact procedures to investigate complaints that allege a municipal officer has violated the Municipal Code of Ethics and to enforce against substantiated complaints, including developing methods of enforcement and available remedies. Below is the City’s Process for Investigation and Enforcement of Ethical Violations and Ethics Complaint Form and the contact information for the City’s Ethics liaison.
Process for Investigation and Enforcement of Ethical Violations
Woodstock Ethics Complaint Form_fillable
Woodstock Ethics Liaison
Stephanie Appelfeller
Chief of Staff
To email: Send to SAppelfeller@TownOfWoodstock.org with “Ethics Complaint” in the subject line.
To mail, address to:
Town of Woodstock
Attn: Stephanie Appelfeller
31 The Green
Woodstock, Vermont 05091
To call for assistance: 802-457-3456 x8