Join us for our annual hybrid Town Meeting Tune-Up! A team of expert town moderators – Dan Manz, Underhill, Susan Clark, Middlesex, and Ed Chase, Westford (former) – will deconstruct the annual town meeting process step by step, share best practices, and facilitate peer-to-peer learning. Learn about the moderator's role and responsibilities, how to moderate town meeting in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order 12th Edition (2020), Vermont law, and best practices. Back by popular demand, this year will include a mock town meeting, followed by an interactive best practices sharing and Q&A session with a panel of experts.

In-person registration is now closed, virtual registration will remain open until the event.

Agenda

8:30 AM Registration and Breakfast

9:00 AM Welcome and Overview
Ted Brady, Executive Director, VLCT

9:10 AM Ruling the Unruly Part 1: How to Moderate a Vermont Town Meeting
Dan Manz will review the basic role and responsibilities of the moderator and discuss the most common types of motions used at town meetings, pursuant to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Presenter — Dan Manz, Moderator, Town of Underhill

10:15 AM Break  

10:30 AM Ruling the Unruly Part 2
In Part 2, Dan will focus on the role of the moderator by addressing motions and amendments, voting procedures, and more nuanced topics.

Presenter — Dan Manz, Moderator, Town of Underhill
 
12:00 PM Lunch and Networking

1:00 PM Mock Town Meeting   
It’s Town Meeting Day at the Capitol Plaza! The town meeting warning is set and its articles are ready to be acted upon. Susan Clark will moderate this mock town meeting with the assistance of designated “town residents” to demonstrate how to deal with common town meeting articles and process.

Moderator — Susan Clark, Moderator, Town of Middlesex

2:00 PM Best Practices and Lessons Learned Q & A
Presenters will respond to attendees’ questions – including those submitted in advance – and facilitate a discussion of best practices. Staff from the Elections Division of the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office and an attorney from VLCT’s Municipal Assistance Center will also be on hand to respond to questions about legal requirements.

Please send your questions in advance to afriedman@vlct.org by Thursday, January 29, 2026. 

Panelists:
Susan Clark, Middlesex Town Moderator
Dan Manz, Underhill Town Moderator
Ed Chase, former Westford Town Moderator
Seán Sheehan, Director of Elections and Campaign Finance, Office of the Vermont Secretary of State
Garrett Baxter, Senior Staff Attorney, VLCT Municipal Assistance Center

3:00 PM End of Event