Open Meeting Law

The Open Meeting Law 1 V.S.A. §§ 310-314, provides that “[a]ll meetings of a public body are declared to be open to the public at all times, except as provided in section 313 of this title [on executive sessions].” 1 V.S.A. § 312(a). The intent of the law is to create transparency in government by requiring advance public notice and an opportunity for public participation in governmental decisions.

Per Vermont Law, boards of municipal public bodies must:

Provide advance notice of meetings. 1 V.S.A. §§ 312(c), 310(5);
Create and post an agenda for all regular and special meetings. 1 V.S.A. § 312(d);
Conduct all business in an open meeting (unless an exemption applies). 1 V.S.A. §§ 312(a); 313(a);
Vote by roll call when there is electronic participation. 1 V.S.A. § 312(a)(2)(B);
Allow public comment at meetings. 1 V.S.A. § 312(h);
Take and post minutes. 1 V.S.A. § 312(b); and
Respond to complaints of violation. 1 V.S.A. § 314(b)(2)

In response to the sunsetting on July 1, 2024 of the temporary authority to allow local public bodies to meet remotely during the COVID pandemic, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, Act 133 (S.55). Act 133, which is effective July 1st of 2024, makes permanent the ability of some local and State public bodies (e.g. advisory bodies) to meet without designating a physical meeting location (i.e. remotely), while imposing upon others (nonadvisory bodies) the requirement to record and post their meetings.

West Windsor has the following "nonadvisory bodies", which must adhere to the Vermont Open Meeting Law amendment to record and post their meetings:

Selectboard - Mark Higgins, Chair, mark.m.higgins@gmail.com

Board of Civil Authority - Amy Yates, Town Clerk, ayates@westwindsorvt.org

Board of Abatement - Amy Yates, Town Clerk, ayates@westwindsorvt.org

Development Review Board - Shannon Harrington, Chair, hshannon383@gmail.com

Mary L. Blood Library Board of Trustees - Michael Epstein, Chair, mepstein@bidmc.harvard.edu

The West Windsor Nonadvisory Board Meeting Recordings are therefore posted here.

Open Meeting Law Complaints

For the full text of Title 1, Section 314, regulating the penalty and enforcement of Open Meeting Law violations, please click here. For the pdf version of Title 1, Section 314, please click here.

Open Meeting Law complaints directed to the Town of West Windsor must be filed using the West Windsor Open Meeting Law Complaint Form. This form must be submitted via email to the Town Administrator or via physical mail at:

Town of West Windsor

P.O. Box 6

Brownsville, VT 05037

The written notice of complaint must allege a specific violation of the Open Meeting Law, identify the public body that committed the alleged violation, and request a specific cure of such violation. Upon receipt of the written notice of alleged violation, the public body will respond publicly to the alleged violation within 10 calendar days by:

acknowledging the violation of this subchapter and stating an intent to cure the violation within 14 calendar days; or

stating that the public body has determined that no violation has occurred and that no cure is necessary.

Failure of a public body to respond to a written notice of alleged violation within 10 calendar days will be treated as a denial of the violation for purposes of enforcement of the Open Meeting Law.

Open Meeting Law complaints directed to the Vermont Attorney General can be sent to:

Vermont Attorney General's Office
Address: 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609
Phone (802) 828-3171
Email: ago.info@vermont.gov