Vermont Statutes
Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights
§ 312a. Meetings of public bodies; state of emergency

§ 312a. Meetings of public bodies; state of emergency
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Affected public body” means a public body:
(A) whose regular meeting location is located in an area affected by a hazard; and
(B) that cannot meet in a designated physical meeting location due to a declared state of emergency pursuant to 20 V.S.A. chapter 1.
(2) “Hazard” means an “all-hazards” as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 2(1).
(b) Notwithstanding subdivisions 312(a)(2)(D) and (c)(2) of this title, during a declared state of emergency under 20 V.S.A. chapter 1:
(1) A quorum or more of an affected public body may attend a regular, special, or emergency meeting by electronic or other means without designating a physical meeting location where the public may attend.
(2) The members and staff of an affected public body shall not be required to be physically present at a designated meeting location.
(3) An affected public body of a municipality may post any meeting agenda or notice of a special meeting in two publicly accessible designated electronic locations in lieu of the two designated public places in the municipality, or in a combination of a designated electronic location and a designated public place.
(c) When an affected public body meets electronically under subsection (b) of this section, the affected public body shall:
(1) use technology that permits the attendance and participation of the public through electronic or other means;
(2) allow the public to access the meeting by telephone; and
(3) post information that enables the public to directly access and participate in meetings electronically and shall include this information in the published agenda for each meeting.
(d) Unless unusual circumstances make it impossible for them to do so, the legislative body of each municipality and each school board shall record any meetings held pursuant to this section.
(e) An affected public body of a municipality shall continue to post notices and agendas in or near the municipal clerk’s office pursuant to subdivision 312(c)(2) of this title and shall provide a copy of each notice or agenda to the newspapers of general circulation for the municipality. (Added 2021, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. July 1, 2022.)