Selectboard Meetings Information
Guide to Meetings Held by the Washington Selectboard
Regular Monthly Meeting:
The regularly scheduled meetings are normally held on the first Monday of each month (if not a holiday), at the town hall, 6:30 p.m.
Internet willing, there will always be a ZOOM link available and folks may watch or participate, or watch and listen to afterwards, and this goes for any and all regular and special selectboard meetings. Anyone wanting to speak remotely must be identified by full name, and abide by the procedures of the selectboard which apply to the folks present as well.
Regular meeting agendas are posted on the website, at the town hall bulletin board, the store, the post office, and Facebook at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Special meeting agendas are posted 24 hours prior. Emergency meetings do not require advance notice, although the board may certainly try to give some if time allows.
Meeting minutes are posted within 5 days after each meeting on the website, and normally on the Facebook page as well.
Folks wishing to speak at a regular monthly meeting must contact Chair Tammy Johnson, who drafts the agendas, at washingtonsbtjohnson@yahoo.com at least 5 days prior to a meeting if there is a specific item they are requesting to have added.
Be aware that it is the selectboard members’ call whether something is added to the agenda or not, as the meetings are their working meetings and as such their agendas must take priority.
Folks may also speak under Public Comments. The Chair will let them know how long the comment period will be.
Public comments are just that…comments…and are not necessarily able to be discussed in a back and forth with the selectboard, as the board members would have had no advance notice to research the subject(s).
Special Meeting:
Under Vermont's Open Meeting Law (1 V.S.A. § 312), selectboard special meeting agendas require a minimum 24-hour public warning, specific posting locations, and limitations on the business that can be conducted, and the agendas must strictly state the specific business to be transacted. Only items listed on the warned agenda may be acted upon. The board can limit discussion strictly to agenda items.
Questions:
Ask a selectboard member! They are listed at washingtonvt.org with their contact information.