(b)(1) A representative form of annual or special meeting is a meeting of members elected by district to exercise the powers vested in the voters of the town to act upon articles. However, the election of officers, public questions, and all articles to be voted upon by Australian ballot as required by law or as voted under section 2680 of this title at a prior annual or special meeting, and reconsideration of articles under section 2661 of this title shall remain vested in the voters of the town. (2) An organizational resolution to adopt a representative form of annual or special meeting may be made by the legislative body of the municipality or by petition of five percent of the voters of the municipality. An official copy of the organizational resolution shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the municipality at least 10 days before the annual or special meeting at which the vote whether to adopt the organizational resolution shall take place, and copies thereof shall be made available to members of the public upon request.

A question considered at any Town meeting or election may not be submitted to the voters for reconsideration or rescission except at a subsequent annual meeting or special meeting or election specifically warned for the purpose and called by the Selectboard by a resolution or by the Town Clerk pursuant to a petition requesting such reconsideration or rescission. The petition must be signed by not less than 10 percent of the voters and filed with the Town Clerk within 30 days following the date of the meeting or election at which the question was first considered. The Clerk shall call for a vote in accordance with the petition within 60 days of the date of filing. The manner of reconsideration shall be the same manner by which a question was originally considered. A question voted on or considered shall not be presented for reconsideration or rescission more than one time; provided, however, that after the passing of at least eight months from the date of any such reconsideration or rescission, the same or a similar question may be newly submitted for consideration. Unless rescinded as provided in this section, any vote or action lawfully taken at a Town meeting or election shall remain in effect indefinitely. (Amended 2019, No. M-1, § 2, eff. April 19, 2019.)

(5) contain any article requested by petition signed by at least 10 percent of the voters and filed with the Town Clerk at least 45 days prior to the day of the meeting; and

(b) If during the two weeks' period a petition signed by 10 or more qualified voters of the Village be presented to the trustees objecting to an ordinance so passed and published by the trustees, the question of the approval of the ordinance shall be submitted to any annual or special meeting of the Village; and when approved by a majority vote of the meeting, and not otherwise, the ordinance so approved shall become an ordinance of the Village. (c) If at any time subsequent to the period of two weeks for publication, a petition signed by 10 or more qualified voters of the Village be presented to the trustees requesting the repeal of any ordinance, the question of the repeal or approval of the ordinance shall be submitted to a meeting of the Village duly warned for that purpose. If at the meeting the ordinance be approved by a majority vote of the meeting, the ordinance so approved shall remain an ordinance of the Village. If the ordinance so voted upon shall fail to be approved, the ordinance shall be deemed to be repealed and shall thereupon be and become null and void and of no subsequent legal effect whatsoever. But, fines and penalties imposed, judgments and decrees entered, prosecutions and legal proceedings instituted prior to the repeal of the ordinance shall not be vacated, set aside, or otherwise affected by the repeal. (Added 1943, No. 183, § 13.)

(b) If during the two weeks' period a petition signed by 10 or more qualified voters of the Village be presented to the trustees objecting to an ordinance so passed and published by the trustees, the question of the approval of said ordinance shall be submitted to any annual or special meeting of the Village; and when approved by a majority vote of said meeting, and not otherwise, the ordinance so approved shall become an ordinance of said Village.

(c) An ordinance adopted by the Board in the manner set forth shall be subject to its repeal by a Village meeting if a petition signed by not less than 10 percent of the voters is filed with the Village Clerk on or before the effective date of the ordinance. The Clerk shall warn a Village meeting to be held within 45 days of the filing, to consider the question of repeal of the ordinance. Until the vote and question of repeal is held, the ordinance shall not become effective. If a majority of the votes cast shall be in favor of repealing the ordinance, the same shall be repealed and no further action shall be taken. If a majority of the votes cast shall be opposed to repeal, the ordinance shall become effective as of 12:01 a.m. on the day following such a vote.

§ 221-9.02. Petitions (a) Number of signatures. Initiative petitions must be signed by qualified voters of the Village equal in number to at least five percent of the total number of qualified voters registered to vote at the last regular Village election. (b) Form and content. All papers of a petition shall be uniform in size and style and shall be assembled as one instrument for filing. Each signature shall be executed in ink and shall be followed by the address of the person signing. Petitions shall contain or have attached thereto throughout their circulation the full text of the ordinance proposed. (c) Affidavit of circulator. Each paper of a petition shall have attached to it when filed an affidavit executed by the circulator thereof stating that he or she personally circulated the paper, the number of signatures thereon, that all the signatures were affixed in his or her presence, that he or she believes them to be the genuine signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be, and that each signer had an opportunity before signing to read the full text of the ordinance proposed. (Amended 2013, No. M-6, § 2, eff. May 20, 2013.)

§ 117-304. Rescission of ordinances All ordinances shall be subject to rescission by a special or annual Town meeting, as follows: If, within 44 days after final passage by the selectmen of any such ordinance, a petition signed by voters of the Town not less in number than five percent of the qualified voters of the municipality is filed with the Town Clerk requesting its reference to a special or annual Town meeting, the selectmen shall fix the time and place of the meeting, which shall be within 60 days after the filing of the petition, and notice thereof shall be given in the manner provided by law in the calling of a special or annual Town meeting. Voting shall be by Australian ballot. An ordinance so referred shall remain in effect upon the conclusion of the meeting unless a majority of those present and voting against the ordinance at the special or annual Town meeting exceeds five percent in number of the qualified voters of the municipality. § 117-305. Petition for enactment of ordinance; special meeting (a) Subject to the provisions of section 304 of this Charter, voters of the Town may at any time petition in the same manner as in section 304 for the enactment of any proposed lawful ordinance by filing the petition, including the text of the ordinance, with the Town Clerk. The selectmen shall call a special Town meeting (or include the ordinance as annual meeting business) to be held within 60 days of the date of the filing, unless prior to the meeting the ordinance shall be enacted by the selectmen. The warning for the meeting shall state the proposed ordinance in full or in concise summary and shall provide for an Australian ballot vote as to its enactment. The ordinance shall take effect on the 10th day after the conclusion of the meeting provided that voters as qualified in section 304, constituting a majority of those voting thereon, shall have voted in the affirmative.

(3) Articles may be placed on the warning by: (A) A majority vote of the Selectboard. (B) A petition of at least five percent of the voters registered at the time the petition is submitted, provided law authorizes such articles as within the authority of the voters. (4) Articles submitted by petition must be filed with the Town Clerk not less than 40 days before the date of the meeting. (e) Voting by Australian ballot. (1) No article or type of article shall be voted by Australian ballot at any annual or special Town meeting called on its action, or by petition, unless the voters have approved the use of such system of voting pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2680 or as required by law.

(f) All ordinances shall be subject to overrule by a special Town meeting as follows: if, within 30 days after final passage by the Selectboard of any such ordinance, a petition signed by electors of the Town not less in number than 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the last municipal election is filed with the Town Clerk requesting its reference to a special Town meeting, the Selectboard shall fix the time and place of such meeting, which shall be within 60 days after filing of the petition, and notice thereof shall be given in the manner provided by law in the calling of a special Town meeting. An ordinance so referred shall remain in effect upon the conclusion of such meeting unless electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the last municipal election and constituting a majority of those voting thereon, shall have voted against the ordinance.

§ 153-204. Ordinances (a) Method of adoption and enforcement. (1) Ordinance-making authority granted to the Town by this charter and general law shall be exercised pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) through (e) of this section. (2) The Selectboard may provide penalties for the breach of any ordinance authorized by general law or this charter; may prosecute any person violating the same through the Town grand jurors or police officers who for such purposes shall be informing officers; and may maintain actions to restrain actual or threatened violations of the same. The establishment of any fine or penalty shall be by ordinance. (b) Introduction; first and second readings; public hearings. (1) Every ordinance shall be introduced in writing. If the Selectboard adopts the proposed ordinance, the Selectboard shall cause the ordinance or a concise summary of it meeting the requirements of 24 V.S.A. § 1972(a) to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town in the form adopted, at least once, together with a notice of the time and place when and where there will be a public hearing to consider the same for final passage. The first such publication shall be at least one week prior to the date of the public hearing. (2) At the time and place so advertised, or at any time and place to which such hearing may from time to time be adjourned, such ordinance shall be read in full, and after such reading, all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard. (3) After such hearing, the Selectboard may finally adopt such ordinance with or without amendment, except that, if the Selectboard makes an amendment, it shall cause the amended ordinance or a concise summary of it meeting the requirements of 24 V.S.A. § 1972(a) to be published at least once together with a notice of the time and place of a public hearing at which such amended ordinance will be further considered, which publication shall be at least three days prior to the public hearing. At the time so advertised or at any time and place to which such meeting may be adjourned, the amended ordinance shall be read in full, and after such hearing, the Selectboard may finally adopt such amended ordinance, or again amend it subject to the same procedure as outlined herein. (c) Effective Date. Every ordinance shall become effective upon passage unless otherwise specified. (d) Rescission. All ordinances shall be subject to rescission by a special Town meeting, as follows: If, after final passage by the Selectboard of any such ordinance, a petition signed by voters of the Town not less in number than five percent of the legal voters of the Town is filed with the Town Clerk requesting its reference to a special Town meeting, the Selectboard shall fix the time and place of such meeting which shall be within 60 days after the filing of the petition, and notice thereof shall be given in the manner provided by law in the calling of a special Town meeting. An ordinance so referred shall remain in effect upon the conclusion of such meeting unless a majority of those present vote against the ordinance at the special meeting. (e) Petition for enactment. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, voters of the Town may at any time petition in the same manner as in subsection (d) for the enactment of any proposed lawful ordinance by filing such petition, including the text of such ordinance, with the Town Clerk. The Selectboard shall call a special Town meeting to be held within 60 days of the date of such filing, unless prior to such meeting such ordinance shall be enacted by the Selectboard. The ordinance shall take effect immediately after the conclusion of such meeting provided that voters constituting a majority of those voting thereon, shall have voted in the affirmative. (2) The proposed ordinance shall be examined by the Town Attorney before being submitted to the special Town meeting. The Town Attorney is authorized, subject to the approval of the Selectboard, to correct such ordinances so as to avoid repetitions, illegalities, and unconstitutional provisions and to ensure accuracy in its text and references and clearness and precision in its phraseology, but he or she shall not materially change its meaning and effect. (f) Filing. The Town Clerk shall prepare and keep in the Town Clerk's office a book of ordinances which shall contain each ordinance finally passed by the Selectboard, together with a complete index of the ordinances according to subject matter. (g) Existing ordinances. All existing ordinances shall remain in effect. (Amended 2001, No. M-7, § 2, eff. May 21, 2001; 2013, No. M-4, § 2, eff. May 8, 2013.)

(2) Notwithstanding the above, however, five per cent of the qualified voters of the City may petition for referendum review of the action by the City Council. Any such request for referendum review shall be in accordance with and governed by the procedures specified in section 63 of this charter for borrowing on behalf of Burlington Electric Department.

§ 19-416. Results of election (a) Initiative. If a majority of the qualified voters voting on a proposed initiative ordinance vote in its favor, it shall be considered adopted upon certification of the election results and shall be treated in all respects in the same manner as ordinances of the same kind adopted by the Council. If conflicting ordinances are approved at the same election, the one receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes shall prevail to the extent of such conflict. (b) Referendum. If a majority of the qualified voters voting on a referred ordinance vote against it, it shall be considered repealed upon certification of the election results. (Added 2015, No. M-19 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 17, 2016.)

§ 19-412. Petitions (a) Number of signatures. Initiative and referendum petitions must be signed by at least five percent of the legal voters of the City. (b) Form and content. All papers of a petition shall be uniform in size and style and shall be assembled as one instrument for filing. Each signature shall be executed in ink or indelible pencil and shall be followed by the address of the person signing. Petitions shall contain or have attached thereto throughout their circulation the full text of the ordinance proposed or sought to be reconsidered. (c) Affidavit of circulator. Each paper of a petition shall have attached to it when filed an affidavit executed by the circulator thereof stating that he or she personally circulated the paper, the number of signatures thereon, that all the signatures were affixed in his or her presence, that they are believed to be the genuine signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be, and that each signer had an opportunity before signing to read the full text of the ordinance proposed or sought to be reconsidered. (d) Time for filing referendum petitions. Referendum petitions must be filed within 30 days after adoption by the Council of the ordinance sought to be reconsidered. (Added 2015, No. M-19 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 17, 2016.)

§ 19-414. Referendum petitions; suspension of effect of ordinance When a referendum petition is filed with the City Clerk, the ordinance sought to be reconsidered shall be suspended from taking effect. Such suspension shall terminate when: (1) there is a final determination of insufficiency of the petition; (2) the petitioner withdraws the petition; (3) the Council repeals the ordinance; or (4) 30 days have elapsed after a vote of the City on the ordinance. (Added 2015, No. M-19 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 17, 2016.)

(b) Submission to voters. The vote of the City on a proposed or referred ordinance shall be held not less than 30 days from the date of the final Council vote thereon. If no regular City election is to be held within the period prescribed in this subsection, the Council shall provide for a special election; otherwise, the vote shall be held at the same time as such regular election, except that the Council may in its discretion provide for a special election at an earlier date within the prescribed period. Copies of the proposed or referred ordinance shall be made available at the polls.

(a) Action by Council. When an initiative or referendum petition has been finally determined sufficient, the Council shall promptly consider the proposed initiative ordinance in the manner provided in this Article or reconsider the referred ordinance by voting its repeal. If the Council fails to adopt a proposed initiative ordinance without any change in substance within 60 days or fails to repeal the referred ordinance within 30 days after the date the petition was finally determined sufficient, it shall submit the proposed or referred ordinance to the voters of the City.

(b) Referendum. The qualified voters of the City shall have power to require reconsideration by the Council of any adopted ordinance and, if the Council fails to repeal an ordinance so reconsidered, to approve or reject it at a City election, provided that such power shall not extend to the budget or capital improvements program or any emergency ordinance or ordinance relating to appropriation of money or levy of taxes. (Added 2015, No. M-19 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 17, 2016.)

(a) The Mayor shall call a special meeting of all the legal voters of the City, when petitioned to do so by not less than five percent of the legal voters of the municipality, but only for any legal purpose beyond the jurisdiction of the Board of Aldermen. (b) The Mayor shall call a special City meeting for any purpose upon being petitioned to do so by two-thirds of the members of the Board of Aldermen voting and present at a regular meeting, or by two-thirds of the members of the Board of School Commissioners, voting and present at a regular meeting. (c) Also, the Mayor may, with the approval of the Board of Aldermen, call a special meeting for any purpose when he or she feels such a meeting is necessary for the public good. (d) At such special meetings those persons whose names are on the checklist used for the last City election shall be entitled to vote; and also such persons as were or have become entitled by law to have their names on the checklist and whose names have been added thereto, by the Board of Civil Authority since said City election. (e) The questions at any such special meeting shall be decided by ballot. There shall be separate polling places in each ward, for every such special meeting and the ward officers hereinbefore named shall act at such meeting in the same manner and have the same powers as at City or ward elections. For all such meetings it shall be the duty of the City Clerk to prepare and distribute suitable ballots in the same manner provided for city and ward elections. (Amended 1997, No. M-17(Adj. Sess.), § 2.)

The warning shall also contain any article or articles requested by a petition signed by at least five percent of the legal voters of the municipality and filed with the legislative branch not less than 40 days before the day of such meeting.

§ 13-505. Rescission of ordinances All ordinances shall be subject to rescission by a special City meeting, as follows: if, within 10 days after final passage by the Council of any such ordinance, a petition signed by electors of the City not less in number than 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the last municipal election is filed with the City Clerk requesting its reference to a special City meeting, the Council shall fix the time and place of such meeting, within 14 days after the filing of the petition, and notice thereof shall be given in the manner provided by law in the calling of a special City meeting. An ordinance so referred shall remain in effect upon the conclusion of such meeting unless electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the last municipal election and constituting a majority of those voting thereon, shall have voted against the ordinance.

§ 127-108. Referendum (a) All Town ordinances, except as specified in section 110 of this charter, may be repealed by vote of the Town as follows: A petition signed by not less than 10 percent of the registered voters shall be filed with the Town Clerk requesting a vote on the question of repealing the ordinance. The selectmen shall call a special Town meeting to be held within 60 days of the date of filing the petition, to vote on whether the ordinance shall be repealed. The ordinance shall be repealed only if at least 15 percent of the registered voters vote and a majority of that number vote for repeal. (b) Within 40 days after passage of an ordinance, five percent of the registered voters shall constitute sufficient signatures for a referendum petition, and all other procedures of subsection (a) of this section shall apply.

The Clerk of the City shall at any time when directed by the City Council, or when petitioned in writing by at least five percent of the registered voters of the City and filed with the City Clerk no less than 40 days before the day of such meeting, call a special meeting of the legal voters of the City, for any legal purpose, in the same manner as is provided for the annual meeting, except as is hereinafter provided: (1) Whenever a petition is brought for a meeting to rescind or reconsider the action taken at a previously held City meeting, the number of names required shall be 10 percent of the legal voters, and the petition shall be filed with the City Clerk within 30 days following the date of that meeting.

(f) Referendum. (1) A Town ordinance may be repealed by vote of the Town as follows: A petition requesting a vote on the question of repealing the ordinance shall be signed by not less than five percent of the registered voters and shall be filed with the Town Clerk within 40 days following the date of adoption of the ordinance by the Selectboard. The Selectboard shall call a special Town meeting to be held within 60 days of the date of filing the petition to vote by Australian ballot on whether or not the ordinance shall be repealed. The warning shall include the text of the proposed ordinance and shall provide for a "yes" or "no" vote.

(c) The warning for annual and special City meetings shall, by separate articles, specifically indicate the business to be transacted, including the offices and the questions to be voted upon. The warning also shall contain any legally binding article or articles requested by 10 percent of the registered voters of the City. Petitions requesting that an article or articles be placed on the warning shall be filed with the City Clerk on or before the filing deadline set forth in 17 V.S.A. § 2642(a)(3). (Amended 2005, No. M-7, § 4; 2007, No. M-5, § 2; 2017, No. M-10, § 2, eff. May 30, 2017.)

§ 107-3.4. Referendum The voters of the Town may petition for a referendum, by Australian ballot of all voters of the Town, on a final vote on a warned article taken by Representative Town Meeting. Such petition shall be filed within 10 days after adjournment of the meeting. (1) A petition for referendum shall be signed by at least five percent of the voters of the Town; or (2) A petition for referendum shall be signed by at least 50 Representative Town Meeting members. (Amended 2011, No. M-10 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 27, 2012.)

§ 123-108. Referendum (a) All Town ordinances, except as specified in section 110 of this charter, may be repealed by vote of the Town as follows: A petition signed by not less than 15 percent of the registered voters shall be filed with the Town Clerk requesting a vote on the question of repealing the ordinance. The selectmen shall call a special Town Meeting to be held within 60 days of the date of the filing of the petition, to vote on whether the ordinance shall be repealed. (b) Within 30 days after passage of an ordinance, 15 percent of the registered voters shall constitute sufficient signatures for referendum petition, and any other procedures of section 108(a) of this charter apply.

§ 2661. Reconsideration or rescission of vote (a) A warned article voted on at an annual or special meeting of a municipality shall not be submitted to the voters for reconsideration or rescission at the same meeting after the assembly has begun consideration of another article. If the voters have begun consideration of another article, the original article may only be submitted to the voters at a subsequent annual or special meeting duly warned for the purpose and called by the legislative body on its own motion or pursuant to a petition requesting such reconsideration or rescission signed and submitted in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. A vote taken at an annual or special meeting shall remain in effect unless rescinded or amended. (b) If a petition requesting reconsideration or rescission of a question considered or voted on at a previous annual or special meeting is filed with the clerk of the municipality within 30 days following the date of that meeting, the legislative body shall provide for a vote by the municipality in accordance with the petition within 60 days of the submission at an annual or special meeting duly warned for that purpose. The number of signatures required for a petition for reconsideration or rescission shall be not less than five percent of the registered voters unless the voters of the municipality increase that percentage pursuant to the following: (1) At a meeting duly warned for the purpose, the voters of a municipality may require that a petition for reconsideration be signed by a percentage of registered voters that is not less than five percent nor greater than 20 percent. (2) A vote to increase the percentage of voters required to sign a petition for reconsideration or rescission to up to 20 percent shall be in substantially the following form: "Shall the (name of municipality) increase the percentage of voters required on a petition for reconsideration or rescission from five to (up to 20) percent?" (3) Once the voters of a municipality have voted to require a new percentage, that percentage shall remain in effect until the voters of the municipality vote to change the percentage. (c) A question voted on shall not be presented for reconsideration or rescission at more than one subsequent meeting within a one-year period, except with the approval of the legislative body. (d) For a vote by Australian ballot: (1) The form of the ballot shall be as follows: "Article 1: [cite the article to be reconsidered as lastly voted]." (2) Absentee ballots for the reconsideration or rescission vote shall be sent to any voter who requested an absentee ballot for the initial vote on the article to be reconsidered or rescinded, whether or not a separate request for an absentee ballot for the reconsideration or rescission vote is submitted by the voter. (e) A majority vote in favor of reconsideration or rescission of a question voted on by paper or Australian ballot shall not be effective unless the number of votes cast in favor of reconsideration or rescission exceeds two-thirds of the number of votes cast for the prevailing side at the original meeting unless the voters of the municipality approve a different percentage pursuant to the following: (1) At a meeting duly warned for the purpose, the voters of a municipality may require that a vote in favor of reconsideration or rescission shall not be effective unless the number of votes cast in favor of reconsideration or rescission exceeds a certain percentage of the number of votes cast for the prevailing side at the original meeting. (2) A vote to increase or decrease the percentage shall be in substantially the following form: "Shall the (name of municipality) change the percentage of votes cast in favor of reconsideration or rescission required for a vote to reconsider or rescind a question considered or voted on at a previous annual or special meeting to be effective to (percentage)?" (3) Once the voters of a municipality have voted to require a new percentage, that percentage shall remain in effect until the voters of the municipality vote to change the percentage. (f) A municipality shall not reconsider a vote to elect a local officer. (g) This section shall not apply to nonbinding advisory articles, which shall not be subject to reconsideration or rescission. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 105; 1991, No. 235 (Adj. Sess.); 2007, No. 36, § 1; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 50; 2017, No. 50, § 52.)

The warning also shall contain any legally binding article or articles requested by 10 percent of the registered voters of the City. The warning shall also include any nonlegally binding articles, including matters of State, national, or international importance requested by five percent of the voters.