Join the Selectboard
Are you 18 or older, and a registered voter of the Town of Londonderry? Congratulations! You are qualified to be on the Town of Londonderry Selectboard.
Below are some common questions about the Selectboard. If you want to learn more, feel free to talk to any one of the current selectboard members, or the Town Administrator
What does the Selectboard do?
The Selectboard is at the center of Vermont’s local government. According to Vermont Statute, it is the body that has general supervision and control over the affairs of the town. This includes preparing and presenting the budget, overseeing all town expenditures, supervising personnel, controlling town buildings and property, overseeing the maintenance of all town roads, and enacting local ordinances, regulations, and policies.
Along with Justices of the Peace and the Town Clerk, the Selectboard is also a part of the Board of Civil Authority and Abatement responsible for overseeing elections, tax appeals, and abatement hearings.
It is by no means a simple role, but our Selectboard members make a huge impact on day-to-day life in Lincoln.
How much time is required?
You may run for a two-, or three-year term. The Selectboard meets regularly on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are typically at least 2 hours long. There are often special meetings in between these regular meetings as we approach budget time (January), Town Meeting (March), and the end of our fiscal year (June 30) or when a staff position needs to be filled.
There may be additional time requirements depending on what projects or responsibilities you volunteer for. For example, the Chair and Vice Chair share responsibility for running the meetings. You may choose to serve on another Town committee as a liaison to the Selectboard.
You can plan to have almost weekly involvement in some aspects of this work, even if it's just responding to email, but keep in mind that our Selectboard has a team of paid staff backing them up. The Town Administrator and the rest of Town Staff do day to day tasks of running the town, as well as making recommendations and helping to drive decision-making forward. The staff are here to make the Selectboard's job as easy as possible!
Is training provided?
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns, an organization that provides technical support and services to municipalities, offers excellent training opportunities for new town officials after each election. Selectboard members become conversant in Open Meeting Law requirements, in particular, which require officials to take certain steps to protect transparency in government decision-making. A lot of training happens on the job. Topics come up and we learn how to address them by working together, asking lots of questions, and having civilized discussions. The VLCT is also a resource we turn to regularly for answers to questions that come up as the Selectboard works to meet the town's challenges, especially when we are uncertain about how to proceed within the law.
Does the Selectboard get paid?
Selectboard members do receive a small annual stipend for their work that gets paid out at the end of each year of service.
How do I become a Selectboard member?
The Town of Londonderry currently votes for their elected officers "on the floor." You will need to be present at Town Meeting in order to be nominated.
