Town Meeting

A Citizen's Guide to Vermont Town Meeting

Vermont town meeting is a tradition dating back to before there was a Vermont. The first town meeting was held in Bennington in 1762, 15 years before Vermont was created.

In the late 1700s, as today, town citizens in Vermont held meetings so that they could address the problems and issues they faced collectively. Popular matters of legislation in earlier town meetings included whether or not to let pigs run free or whether smallpox vaccinations should be allowed in the town (some thought vaccinations were dangerous). Voters also decided what goods or labor could be used as payment for taxes.

Town meeting also served a social function (as it does today.) It brings people together who might not otherwise know each other. This can strengthen social ties within a town and help people work together to tackle community problems.


Smart Meter Critics Take Their Fight To Town Meeting - Vermont Public Radio

The state Health Department released a report last week that basically concludes that the public shouldn't worry about smart meters. The report says the meters use the same type of radio waves as cell phones - but at much lower power levels.

But the Health Department's assurances don't placate opponents. They gathered enough signatures against smart meters to put the issue before a number of town meetings.

[Central Vermont Public Service Spokesman Steve Costello claims,] "The science is very clear that there is no impact [caused by radio frequency electromagnetic fields]. And that's been determined by the World Health Organization, by the Federal Communications Commissions, by multiple other bodies including the state of California."