2011 Vermont Code
Title 24 Appendix Municipal Charters
Chapter 107 TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO
§ 3.02 Initiative

§ 107-3.2. Initiative

The voters of the town shall have the power to:

(1) Petition for inclusion in the warning of an article to reflect public sentiment and to be advisory only.

(A) Such petition shall be signed by at least five percent of the voters of the town and shall state that it is to be advisory only. If it is desired that the article be acted upon by all voters of the town by Australian ballot, the petition shall so state.

(B) The selectboard or the school directors, upon receipt of such petition, shall place the article on the warning for the next town or town school district meeting.

(C) If the date of the next town or town school district meeting falls within 60 days after receipt of the petition, and if the petition is presented within sufficient time to be legally warned for the meeting, it shall be included as an article on the warning for that meeting. Otherwise, a special town or town school district meeting shall be called within 60 days after receipt of the petition.

(D) An initiative defeated in two consecutive years shall not be placed on the warning for three years thereafter.

(2) Petition for inclusion in the warning of an article to adopt an ordinance.

(A) Such petition shall be signed by at least 20 percent of the voters of the town and shall state that it is to be binding.

(B) The selectboard or school directors, upon receipt of such petition, shall place the article on the warning for the next town or town school district meeting.

(C) If the date of the next town or town school district meeting falls within 60 days after receipt of the petition, and if the petition is presented within sufficient time to be legally warned for the meeting, it shall be included as an article on the warning for that meeting. Otherwise, a special town or town school district meeting shall be called within sixty days after receipt of the petition.

(D) A binding initiative article passed by the representative town meeting shall be acted upon by all voters of the town by Australian ballot, no later than the next townwide election.

(E) An initiative approved under the provisions of this subsection shall be considered in all respects as if it had been adopted by the selectboard or school directors.

(3) Petition to bring to a vote of the town a proposed amendment to the town plan, zoning bylaws, or subdivision regulations.

(A) The petition shall be signed by at least 10 percent of the voters of the town and shall state that it is binding.

(B) The planning commission, having received an amendment proposed by petition, shall promptly call a hearing and make a review of the same. In accord with state law, the planning commission shall then submit the proposal to the selectboard.

(C) The selectboard shall hold a hearing on the proposed amendment within 60 days of receiving the same, and shall then warn a vote by Australian ballot on the proposed amendment.

(D) If the date of the annual town meeting falls within 60 days after the selectboard hearing, the article relating to the proposed amendment shall be included as an article on the warning for that meeting. Otherwise, a special town meeting of the voters shall be held within 60 days after the selectboard hearing.