November is an interesting time of transition in the Green Mountain State. Autumn’s brilliant colors, deep blue skies, and roadways filled with leaf-peeping tourists have faded away, the school year is in full swing, and the 2018 mid-term elections are over. Now we await the fullness of winter’s white blanketed arrival, the start of the holiday season, and the coming of a new year. November is a time when people try to pause briefly and shift gears for the long winter ahead. Yet, the work of municipal government does not pause and a lot is happening during this period between seasons. Since VLCT is dedicated to supporting the important work of municipal government, the pause button isn’t operational here, either.
The League recently completed a successful series of autumn activities highlighted by an exceptional Town Fair in South Burlington (see the summary on page ##) and well attended workshops hosted by our Municipal Assistance Center (MAC). Several things are scheduled through the new year which maintain that forward momentum, and I look forward to sharing more about 2019 activities with you next month.
MAC continues to bring highly relevant, expert trainings to our members and will close out 2018 on a strong note. Over the next few weeks, MAC staff will present a workshop on the topic of municipal employment law (November 14) and two regional workshops on Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, a topic of ongoing interest and importance to all VLCT members. Meanwhile, VLCT PACIF staff are focused on preparing renewal materials for members and delivering a level of dedicated, Vermont-based customer service, programs, and support that our PACIF members value and are strengths truly unique to PACIF. November is a critical time for planning and preparation across all of our departments, linked together by the shared commitment to provide all members with the high quality, expert services and resources they have come to expect from VLCT.
Town Meeting Day – Tuesday, March 5 – looms on the horizon, and we know it is never too soon to begin preparing for a smooth and successful town meeting. No one is as experienced about the myriad details of running a town meeting as are VLCT staff, which is why MAC will offer two town meeting webinars next month on December 11 and 18. I strongly encourage everyone to log into those webinars and follow up with MAC staff about any town meeting questions you may have. There is also an article on town meeting that appears on page ## to help you begin thinking about what you and your community need to do to be ready.
November may seem quiet outside, but inside the VLCT offices in Montpelier things are bustling with activity. Please remember that VLCT is your organization. All of us are happy to help you in your work and are only a phone call or email away, so contact us at anytime if we can be of assistance.
On behalf of everyone at VLCT, I wish you a very happy start to the holiday season!
Warm regards,
Maura Carroll
Executuve Director, VLCT