Citizens Guides

Citizen's Guides to Government, Information Gathering, and Decision Making

Most of the guides below are available on this website. The Vermont Institute for Government, University of Vermont Extension, and the UVM Center for Rural Studies are working to provide online access to the others as well. In the meantime, feel free to contact the Vermont Institute for Government (address at the bottom of this page) for information on receiving copies.

Guides to Local Government*

CHANGING THE WORLD: A Guide To Public Meetings
BORN TO CHAIR: An Introduction to the Science and Art of Chairing a Board Meeting (1998); (in .pdf format: see below)
THE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER: A Voter's Guide to Town Meeting Procedure (revised 2006); (in .pdf format: see below)
HOW AND WHY TO READ A TOWN REPORT: A Guide to One of Your Town's most Important Information Resources (1996); (in .pdf format: see below)
IT'S YOUR TURN: A CALL TO LOCAL OFFICE: An Introduction to Locally Elected Positions (1997); (in .pdf format: see below)
REFORMING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY CHARTER: A Tool You Can Use to Change and Improve Your Local Government (1997); (in .pdf format: see below)
ARE YOU APPEALING?: An Introductory Guide to Property Tax Assessment Appeals (1999); (in .pdf format: see below)

ISN'T THIS MY LAND?: An Introduction To Planning and Zoning In Vermont; (in .pdf format: see below)
DO IT YOURSELF: ZONING: A Guide to Zoning Hearings and Appeals (2007); (in .pdf format: see below)
DO IT YOURSELF: ACT 250: A Citizen's Guide (2007); (in .pdf format: see below)
THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD: Strengthening the Planning and Zoning Functions of Municipal Government (1998) [not available online]
HOW TO FIND ANCIENT ROADS: Become a road historian and help solve a crucial mystery for your town (2006); (in .pdf format: see below)
THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND YOU: An Introduction to Vermont Highway Law (1994); (in .pdf format: see below)
ISN'T THERE A LAW ABOUT THAT?: A Guide to Finding Vermont Law (1999); (in .pdf format: see below)
THE LAW OF WATER: An Introduction to Vermont Water Law (2001); (in .pdf format: see below)
THE LAW OF TREES: The Special Status of Trees in Vermont Law (1998); (in .pdf format: see below)

Guides to Information Gathering and Decision Making**

MAKING GROUP DECISIONS: A Guide To Selected Methods (1993)

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT: An Introduction To The Needs Assessment Survey (1991) [not available online]

Some of these files are in .pdf format.
You will need the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader to read them:

Notes:

*The "Guides To Local Government" were produced by the Vermont Institute for Government (VIG). VIG is a non-profit corporation dedicated to improving educational opportunities for local officials and the public on how government works. It consists of representatives from each of the major groups in Vermont that offer such training.

The "Guides to Local Government" were correct when they were last reviewed (August, 1996), but law, like the weather, changes in time. For the most up to date versions of ordinances involved, check with your town clerk or the Office of the Secretary of State.

For more information Contact: Vermont Institute for Government
617 Comstock Rd, Ste 5, Berlin, VT 05602-9194
Phone: 802-223-2389

**The "Guides to Information Gathering and Decision Making" were produced by the University of Vermont Extension System.

For more information Contact: UVM Extension
617 Comstock Rd, Ste 5, Berlin, VT 05602-9194
Phone: 802-223-2389

Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed on 06/16/08