Town Meeting

Photo by Ed Keagle

History of the Town Meeting

Vermont town meeting is a tradition dating back to before there was a Vermont. The first town meeting was held in Bennington in 1762, 15 years before Vermont was created. In the late 1700s, as today, town citizens in Vermont held meetings so that they could address the problems and issues they faced collectively. Popular matters of legislation in earlier town meetings included whether or not to let pigs run free or whether smallpox vaccinations should be allowed in the town (some thought vaccinations were dangerous). Voters also decided what goods or labor could be used as payment for taxes. Town Meeting also served a social function (as it does today), bringing people together who might not otherwise know each other. This can strengthen social ties within a town and help people work together to tackle community problems. (Source: VT Secretary of State’s A Citizen’s Guide to Vermont Town Meeting).

What is Town Meeting Day?

On the first Tuesday of March most Vermont towns hold a meeting to elect local officials, approve a budget for the following year and conduct other local business. Vermont town meetings (except for Brattleboro where a system of representative democracy is used) are the practice of direct democracy. That is, eligible citizens of the town may vote on specific issues that are announced through a warning. The Town Meeting warning tells us when and where Town Meeting will be held, and it lists all of the articles(topics) that are going to be discussed and voted on at the meeting. The warning must be publicized at least 30 days before the meeting. (Source: VT Secretary of State’s A Citizen’s Guide to Vermont Town Meeting).

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2026 Town Meeting Information

The legal voters of the Town of Addison are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Addison Community Center Gymnasium on the dates and times listed below:

Monday, March 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss and transact business
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m to vote by Australian Ballot

2026 Town Meeting Official Results

Warnings & Articles

Warning

The legal voters of the Town of Addison are hereby notified and warned to meet on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss and transact business and to vote by Australian Ballot on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Addison Community Center Gymnasium.

Annual Town Meeting Articles:

Article 1: To act upon the reports of the town officers.

Article 2: Shall the list of delinquent taxes be published in the town report.

Articles 3-11 are for discussion only on Monday night. Vote to be taken by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 between 7:00pm at the Addison Community Center gymnasium.

Article 3: To elect all necessary town officers:

Moderator (1 year)
Selectboard (2 year)
Selectboard (3 year)
Lister (3 year)
Auditor (2 year)
Auditor (1 year)
Water Commissioner (3 year)
Cemetery Commissioner (3 year)
Cemetery Commissioner (2 year)
Cemetery Commissioner (1 year)
First Constable (2 year)
Second Constable (2 year)
Union School Director (2 year)
Collector of Delinquent Taxes (1 year)

Article 4: Shall the votes of the Town of Addison authorize Selectboard general fund expenditures for operating expenses of $746,236.00, of which $605,202.00 shall be raised by taxes and $141,034.00 by non-tax revenues?

Article 5: Shall the voters in the Town of Addison authorize highway fund expenditures of $1,077,572.00 of which $987.322.00 shall be raised by taxes and $90,250.00 by non-tax revenues?

Article 6: Shall the voters of the Town of Addison establish a reserve fund called the Highway Building Maintenance Reserve Fund for the purpose of maintaining highway buildings, to replace the service bay/salt sand shed reserve fund, in accordance with 24 V.S.A §2,804?

Article 7: Shall the voters of the Town of Addison vote to remove the town burial grounds from the charge of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners and place the same under the charge of the Selectboard in accordance with 18 V.S.A. §5381?

Article 8: Shall the voters of the Town of Addison vote to have all taxes paid to the town treasurer with a due date of November 1 of each year, by 4:30pm, with no postmarks accepted as proof of timely payment in accordance with 32 V.S.A §4773?

Article 9: Shall the voters of the Town of Addison change the term of the office of the elected Collector of Delinquent Taxes from one year to three years pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §2646(9)?

Article 10: Shall the Town of Addison provide notice of the availability of the annual report by postcard, mailed to all registered voters at least 30 days before the annual meeting instead of mailing or otherwise distributing the report to the votes of the town, except upon request, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1682(A)?

Article 11: Shall the voters of the Town of Addison appropriate a sum requested from the following:

ADD CTY REST JUSTICE SVCS – $1,500.00
ADD CTY HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE – $1,500.00
ADD CTY HUMANE SOCIETY dba HOMEWARD BOUND – $1,000.00
ADD CTY PARENT CHILD CENTER – $1,300.00
ADD CTY READERS – $350.00
AGEWELL – $900.00
ATRIA COLLECTIVE INC formerly WOMENSAFE INC – $1,250.00
BIXBY MEMORIAL FREE LIBRARY – $30,162.00
BRIDPORT SENIORS – $700.00
COUNSELING SERVICE OF ADD CTY – $1,500.00
ELDERLY SERVICES/PROJECT INDEPENDENCE – $850.00
JOHN W GRAHAM EMERGENCY SHELTER – $1,250.00
GRANDVIEW CEMETERY ASSOCIATION – $1,500.00
HOPE – $1,500.00
LAKE VIEW CEMETERY ASSOCIATION – $1,500.00
OPEN DOOR CLINIC – $2,500.00
RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP) – $250.00
TOWN LINE FIRST RESPONSE SQUAD – $10,000.00
TRI-VALLEY TRANSIT (ACTR) – $1,644.00
TURNING POINT CENTER OF ADD CTY – $1,000.00
VT ADULT LEARNING – $500.00

Article 12: To transact any other non-binding business.

2026 Addison Town Meeting Results

Elected Local Offices on the Ballot

The town of Addison votes by Australian ballot. Towns that elect officers by Australian ballot require candidates to submit a nominating petition signed by 30 voters or one percent of the checklist – whichever is less. The petition must clearly indicate the office and term length on the petition prior to circulating it for signatures. 17 V.S.A. §2681(b). The nominating petition must be filed with the municipal clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election.

View Warnings & Articles section to find the town offices up for election.

Voter Information

Please refer to our Election and Voter Information page for information on registering to vote, early and absentee ballots, and a list of all Elected and Appointed Offices in the town of Addison.

Visit Election & Voter Info Page

Town Meeting Procedures

The Secretary of State’s Office has produced a great guide to Town Meeting Day, which describes the Town Meeting history, rules of procedure, who is allowed to participate, and information on what local matters are included on theTown Meeting ballot. We highly recommend downloading a PDF copy, which you can find here: VT Secretary of State’s A Citizen’s Guide to Vermont Town Meeting.