To apply for a position on a Board or Committee click on the link.
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Presently,
there are over 100 individuals serving the town on various Boards and
Commissions. There is information on each Board listed in the table below. In addition to Town Boards, there a number of volunteer positions and other volunteer opportunities available. |
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| There are openings on the following Boards: |
For information on Minutes, Annual Reports, and a listing of current members, follow the links on the table below |
Cemetery Commission - There are five Commissioners elected to staggered five year terms. (18 V.S.A. § 5373) The Commissioners are responsible for the care and management of the Town's cemeteries.
Circumferential Highway District - The District was formed in October, 1982 following a vote by Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction and Williston. The District was originally formed to serve as a conduit for the receipt of federal funds. The State took over managment of the project many years ago, so the District no longer serves this function. The stated purpose District bylaws, is to plan and construct a highway connecting with the Interstate in Williston, bypassing the “Five Corners” in Essex Junction and terminating in Colchester. The District was also assigned the task of minimizing the time and cost of carrying out the project and insuring the highway is consistent with local and regional plans. Each municipality appoints two members to the Board of Trustees. Members serve until the project is complete or until replaced by the Selectboard, at its discretion.
Collector of Delinquent Taxes - The Collector is appointed by the Selectboard and presently, the Town Manager performs this function. It is the job of the Collector to notify taxpayers when their taxes are overdue, to make arrangements for late payments or to take formal collection actions, including tax sales of the property, when necessary.
Conservation Commission - The Conservation Commission consists of seven members, appointed by the Selectboard for staggered four year terms. The Commission advises the Planning Commission and Selectboard on matters relating to the Town’s natural resources, including site plans. They promote open space and conservation through studies, negotiations and advice on the use of the Town Environmental Reserve Fund.
Design Advisory Committee - This Committee was merged in August, 2006 with the Historic Preservation Committee to form a new committee with the title Historic and Architectural Advisory Committee. .(See below)
Development Review Board (DRB) - The Williston DRB consists of a seven member Board appointed by the Selectboard for staggered three year terms. This Board is responsible for reviewing and approving all proposed development projects. This includes conditional use, variance, site plan, and subdivision approvals. The Board also reviews Certificates of Appropriateness as recommended by the Historical Preservation Committee.
Emergency Management - The Coordinator for Emergency Management is responsible for the organization, administration, and operation of the local organization that is formed for emergency management in the Town.
Fence Viewer - Persons appointed to this position will on occasion, be called upon, in cases of dispute, to examine a fence line between adjoining properties to determine what portion of the fence must be made, repaired, or maintained by each party.
Fire Warden - The fire warden plays in important role in preventing forest fires by enforcing laws and proclamations designed to prevent forest fires, by patrolling areas that are particularly vulnerable to fire during the seasons in which such fires are most apt to occur, and by issuing permits for open burning within the Town.
Grand Juror - The grand juror is responsible for inquiring into and
providing information to the proper authorities of criminal offenses
that may occur in Town. This office is mostly obsolete.
Health Officer - The local health officer responds to complaints concerning unsafe conditions in rental housing or on public or private property, or to report a septic failure, or an animal that might be rabid.
Inspector of Lumber, Shingles and Wood - This position is largely obsolete. The person in this position is responsible for ensuring that consumers receive a fair deal from local merchants and dealers in building products and heating wood.
Historic and Architectural Advisory Committee - This Committee was formed in 2006 through the merger of two existing Committees - the Historic Preservation Committee and the Design Advisory Committee. This Committee has taken over the functions of both Committees. The seven members are appointed by the Selectboard for three year overlapping terms.
This Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Development Review Board on applications subject to sections 4.21, Taft Corners Design Review and 4.22, Historic Preservation Guidelines of the Zoning Ordinance. They also make recommendations regarding Certificates of Appropriateness for proposed construction, reconstruction, alteration, subdivision or other specified development in the Historic Preservation District, to provide guidance on preservation to owners of historic structures, duties associated with the Certified Local Government Program, and other duties as set forth in the Zoning Regulations. (Section 4.22, Williston Zoning Regulations and 24 V.S.A. § 4407)
Decisions by theAdvisory Committee do not bind the Development Review Board, but bring a broader community perspective to decisions about areas of the community that may contain structures of historical, architectural or cultural merit and other areas in which there is a concentration of community interest and participation such as a central business district, civic center or a similar grouping or focus of activities. (24 V.S.A. § 4407).
Historic Preservation Committee - This Committee was merged in August, 2006 with the Design Advisory Committee to form a new committee with the title Historic and Architectural Advisory Committee. (see above)
Library Board of Trustees - The seven members serving on this board are elected and serve staggered five-year terms. The Library Board is authorized by state statute (22 V.S.A. §141) to regulate all policies of the public library. It presents an annual budget to the Selectboard. It advocates for all public library services for the Town
Listers - The Listers are a three member, elected board charged with the responsibility of determining the value of real property. The property values serve as the base upon which the Selectboard sets property taxes.
Old Brick Church Trustees - Five trustees are elected for staggered five-year terms. The trustees take a leadership role in maintaining and determining the policies for its use.
Planning Commission - The Planning Commission is a seven member board, with members serving staggered, four year terms. The function of this Commission is long range planning which includes preparation of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan of Development, Zoning Regulations, and Subdivision Regulations. The Planning Commission may undertake studies and make recommendations regarding future development. For more information visit the Planning Commission web page.
Poundkeeper - The town poundkeeper is appointed by the Selectboard and is not required to be a resident of the Town. The poundkeeper is an individual or organization responsible for caring for animals impounded by the Town. Animals may be impounded for a variety of reasons. The poundkeeper serves until he or she resigns, retires or is replaced. (24 V.S.A. § 871(2))
Service Officer - The Town Service Officer is charged with assisting individuals within the town who require emergency food, fuel or shelter assistance. Normally, this official is only called upon during evenings and weekends when the Vermont Department of Social Welfare is closed. The Service Officer is appointed by the Selectboard each year for a one year term.
Tree Warden - The Tree Warden is appointed by the Selectboard (24 V.S.A. § 871(5)) and has the responsibility of caring for the shade and ornamental trees in public ways and places (24 V.S.A. § 2502).
Recreation Committee - This seven member board is appointed by the Selectboard to staggered three year terms. The Board serves an advisory function for the Recreation Department. The Committee was established to insure high quality Recreation programs in the Town of Williston. The Committee reviews and designs programs and policies based on the needs and wants of the Community. The Committee also reviews existing recreation facilities making recommendations for new recreation facilities. Presently, the Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 a.m.
Selectboard - This is a five member elected board. There are three positions elected for a three year term and two positions elected for a two year term on a staggered basis. The board is responsible for setting the general policy direction, passing ordinances, setting the tax rate, reviewing the budget, supervising the Town Manager and a host of other related tasks.
Social Organization Committee
- The Committee has seven members appointed by the Selectboard for
indefinite terms. The Committee was established to review funding requests
from Social Service Organizations and make funding recommendations to the
Selectboard. This committee has also been charged with responsibility for
selection of the recipients of the environmental education scholarship which
the Town offers every year. The Committee normally meets two or three times
per year.
For the scholarship the Committee works with the Vermont Student Assistance
Corporation to compute the necessary financial need assessments on each
application and to verify information from applicants. The committee then
reviews the applications and makes a recommendation to the Selectboard who
award the scholarships.
Weigher of Coal - The Weigher of Coal is appointed by the Selectboard to serve as a referee in determining the weights of contested loads of coal (24 V.S.A. § 1032).
