Browsing: Roles & Responsibilities of Town Officers
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40KB |
AgentThe town agent is elected to prosecute and defend suits in which the town or town school district has an interest. |
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20KB |
Agent for Real EstateIf the town or town school district wishes, it may elect an agent to convey real estate. |
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39KB |
AuditorTown auditors ensure that local officials are accountable for their expenditures of taxpayers’ money. The auditor’s job is to review the accounts of local officials and report the findings directly to the taxpayers for review. |
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38KB |
Building InspectorThe legislative body must appoint a building inspector who is responsible for enforcing the building code if a municipality wishes to adopt a building code. |
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48KB |
Cemetery CommissionerGenerally, town cemetery matters are the responsibility of the selectboard. However, the voters may decide to put the town’s public cemeteries under the charge of cemetery commissioners. The cemetery commissioners are responsible for the care and management of the town’s cemeteries. |
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40KB |
ClerkThe municipal clerk plays a central role in the operation of local government. The clerk’s statutory duties range from recording, preserving and certifying public documents to administering oaths of office, complying with public information requests, posting notices on the town’s bulletin board, running the local elections, maintaining the grand list, selling fish and game licenses, issuing marriage licenses and licensing animals. The town clerk has many unofficial duties as well which vary from town to town. These duties may include administering the random drug testing program for the town, acting as the custodian of ticket books for local civil ordinance enforcement, attending and taking minutes of selectboard meetings, acting as mail-clerk for the town, and sending out the town’s correspondence. |
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44KB |
Collector of Current TaxesIn most towns there is no collector of current taxes. Rather, current taxes are collected by the municipal treasurer or town manager. In a few communities, however, a tax collector is elected from among qualified voters. |
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35KB |
Conservation CommissionerA conservation commission may be created upon a vote of the town or upon a vote of the selectboard if the town charter so permits. |
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63KB |
ConstableThe town constable's responsibilities can range from being the town’s local law enforcement officer to only serving civil process. |
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44KB |
Delinquent Tax CollectorThe collector of delinquent taxes ensures that property taxes owed to the town are paid by all taxpayers. |
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50KB |
Emergency Management ChairpersonThe emergency management chairperson is responsible for the organization, administration and operation of the local organization that is formed for emergency management in the town or city. |
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43KB |
Energy CoordinatorThe town energy coordinator is responsible for developing a town energy plan. |
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24KB |
Fence ViewerOn occasion, the fence viewers to examine a fence line between adjoining properties to determine what portion of the fence must be made, repaired or maintained by each party. Fence viewers may also be asked to determine where a fence must be placed when a fence cannot be placed squarely on a property line. |
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38KB |
Fire WardenThe fire warden enforces laws and proclamations designed to prevent forest fires, patrols areas particularly vulnerable to fire, and issues permits for open burning within the town. |
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20KB |
Grand JurorThe grand juror is responsible for inquiring into and providing information to the proper authorities of criminal offenses that may occur in town. |
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30KB |
Inspector of Lumber, Shingles, and WoodThe Inspector of Lumber, Shingles, and Wood is responsible for ensuring that consumers receive a fair deal from local merchants and dealers in building products and heating wood. |
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60KB |
Justice of the PeaceAside from administering oaths of office and solemnizing marriages, virtually all of the justice’s authority derives from his or her membership on the board of civil authority. These duties include assisting in elections, delivering and counting ballots, maintaining checklists and hearing tax appeals. |
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39KB |
ListerThe lister is charged with determining the value of the real and personal property in the town on which the selectboard will set a tax rate necessary to raise the money to pay for town services, the maintenance of town highways and the schools. |
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46KB |
ModeratorThe moderator is the presiding officer at town meetings, and it is he or she who conducts the annual meeting, who keeps order, and who ensures that the business of the meeting proceeds in a fair and efficient manner and that those who wish have an opportunity to participate in the process. |
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53KB |
Municipal ManagerIn towns that have adopted the town manager form of government, the town manager is the primary administrator of the local government and is charged by statute with the general supervision of the affairs of the town. The manager oversees personnel, makes purchases for the town, maintains the town buildings and manages the administrative tasks that are ordinarily dealt with by the selectboard. |
