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Other Officials
Town Treasurer
The Treasurer is elected at Town Meeting to a one-year term and is responsible for keeping the town’s financial accounts, investing money received by the town (with the approval of the Selectboard), keeping a record of the taxes voted, and paying orders drawn on town accounts. The Treasurer works with the auditors to settle town accounts prior to Town Meeting, and is often called upon to provide the Selectboard with financial information. Voters may elect the same person to be both Clerk and Treasurer. (See Contacts)
Auditors
Middlesex has three auditors, elected to staggered three-year terms. These officials, along with the Selectboard, review the work of a certified public accountant hired by the town to conduct the official audit, which is included in the Town Report. (See Contacts)
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee’s three-members are elected to staggered three-year terms. Budget Committee members: follow the deliberations of the Selectboard and School Board as they develop their budgets for the following year, and ask questions and offer comments; develop or find data needed to evaluate the decisions of these boards; and report to voters (in the annual Town Report) observations and data which will be useful to voters as they consider the proposed budgets (also in the Town Report). (See Contacts)
Collector of Delinquent Taxes
It is the job of the Collector of Delinquent Taxes to notify taxpayers when their taxes are overdue, to make arrangements for late payments, or to take formal collection actions, including conducting tax sales of the property when necessary. This official must keep records of all delinquent accounts, and provide an accounting of them for the Town Report. This official is elected for a one-year term. (See Contacts)
Justices of the Peace
Although historically Justices of the Peace performed important judicial functions in towns, the tasks of today’s JPs are primarily: to administer oaths of office; to perform marriage ceremonies and civil unions; and to serve on the Board of Civil Authority.
The number of justices allocated to each town is apportioned to population; Middlesex has seven justices. Because the JP position used to involve great political influence, the nominating procedure is very different from that of other town officers. Justices are nominated for office at the September political party primaries in each even-numbered year. (Independent candidates may also have their names placed on the ballot by petition.) Justices are elected biennially on the first Tuesday in November. (See Contacts)
Board of Civil Authority
The Board of Civil Authority is made up of the Selectboard, the Town Clerk, and the Justices of the Peace. The BCA is the governing body for elections. Duties of this board include assisting in elections, delivering and counting ballots, maintaining checklists and hearing tax appeals.
Town Listers
Listers play an important role in town government, since they determine the value of the real and personal property in the town. The Selectboard then sets a tax rate necessary to raise the money to pay for town services, the maintenance of town highways, and the schools. Each Vermont town has three listers, one of whom is elected each year for staggered three-year terms. Listers are directed by state law to appraise all taxable property in the town at 100% of the fair market value. Listers hold grievance hearings for those taxpayers who wish to contest listers’ appraisals; their decisions may be appealed to the Board of Civil Authority, and listers may appear before the board to defend the appraisals in question. The listers also serve on the Board of Tax Abatement to determine whether a taxpayer may have his or her taxes abated. (See Contacts)
Health Officer
The Health Officer, appointed by the Selectboard, addresses public health and safety issues such as dog bites, failing septic systems, contaminated water or unhealthy living conditions, and mental health issues. Health Officers are kept up to date by attending at least one statewide workshop each year. (See Contacts)
Town Service Officer
The Town Service Officer, appointed by the Selectboard, is charged with assisting individuals within the town who require emergency food, fuel or shelter assistance, but only when the Vermont Department of Social Welfare is closed on weekends or after hours. (In some communities, this officer also acts as an advocate for the poor.) (See Contacts)
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