NOTE – Beginning January 1, 2025, chairs of legislative bodies, municipal managers, and mayors are required to watch the Secretary of State’s recorded Open Meeting Law training. Although VLCT’s 4/16/25 training will address the basics of Act 133, it does NOT fulfill its training requirement.

Every municipal board, council, commission, and committee (see examples listed below) is required to comply with Vermont’s Open Meeting Law. Attend this training to learn or review the basic requirements of the law, including:  

• public notice and creating an agenda  
• managing public participation  
• taking and posting meeting minutes  
• advisory vs. non-advisory boards
• recording requirements
• meeting remotely

This training is critical for elected and appointed members of all statutory municipal boards, commissions, and committees listed below – as well as all committees appointed by selectboards and other legislative bodies. Due to the great variety of locally appointed public bodies, the following lists are not exhaustive, but they do include most of the groups included in Vermont Statutes. 

Legislative (Governing) Bodies* 

• Board of Aldermen 
• City Council 
• Board of Village Trustees 
• Prudential Committee 
• Selectboard 

Boards 

• Board of Abatement
• Board of Auditors 
• Board of Civil Authority 
• Board of Listers 
• Development Review Board 
• Library Trustees 
• Trustees of Public Funds 
• Zoning Board of Adjustment 

Commissions 

• Conservation Commission 
• Planning Commission 

Committees  

• Budget Advisory Committee 
• Recreation Committee 
• Energy Committee 
• Other committees by statute or appointed by selectboards (and other legislative bodies) 
   
   

Presenters
Garrett Baxter, Senior Staff Attorney, VLCT Municipal Assistance Center