This month's Journal shines a light on VLCT's upcoming conference, Town Fair, taking place in South Burlington on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 26 & 27. Learn about this year's new components, the keynote address, and training topics. We look forward to seeing you at the fully in-person event!
We know many communities are still working hard to recover from the July flooding. The ICYMI section highlights our latest flood recovery resources and updates. You can also find them at vlct.org/flood.
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Town Fair 2023 has one solitary goal – to provide Solutions to Enhance Vermont’s Future. The theme manifests itself in the nearly two dozen educational and training opportunities. Read Ted Brady's preview.
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Our main flood recovery page links you to the most up-to-date information.
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Applications can be submitted up to 30 days from this disaster designation. Apply soon!
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Understand the scope of your legal authority during the state of emergency.
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Make sure to file a claim with PACIF for any losses you incurred due to the flood.
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The state can help you remove this debris, and the cost is eligible for FEMA Public Assistance.
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Use these resources for help conducting these hearings during the state of emergency.
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Have fun playing a variety of casino games during this year's Town Fair dinner. You'll be able to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and a buffet-style meal while networking with colleagues and playing games to win raffle tickets for fabulous prizes! Each dinner ticket comes with $250 in chips, and more can be purchased on site. Proceeds will benefit the VLCT Municipal Service Scholarship fund. Stack the deck for municipal service.
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The world is increasingly casual, yet at the same time relationships are more complex – and potentially contentious. Daniel Post Senning of the Emily Post Institute will explain how following the same principles that have guided civility for hundreds of years can help us build better working relationships and thrive in the contemporary world.
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The breakfast roundtables (among last year's more popular Town Fair events) return this year in the opening time slot! Join us on Tuesday morning from 8 to 9:30 to fuel up and discuss any of several current local government concerns: leadership development, cannabis control, law enforcement trends, employee benefits, short-term rentals, and disaster recovery. A topic-savvy specialist at each table will facilitate the conversations.
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Town Fair planning begins in the early spring, and sessions are set months in advance, but this year we rearranged the agenda to make room for an afternoon plenary session devoted to flood recovery. Attendees will hear from federal and state leaders at the helm of the state's recovery efforts who will provide tips on maximizing your FEMA funding and mitigating future disasters.
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Despite the increasing need to collaborate to overcome shortages of staff and resources, Vermont has few shared services agreements for public safety. Hear from panelists about towns that share planning and zoning staff, how St. Albans Town and St. Albans City set up their intermunicipal agreement to expand police coverage, and the progress of regional dispatch efforts.
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How do you proceed when a municipal employee posts a controversial opinion on social media? In Wednesday afternoon's Town Leader track session, two experienced Vermont attorneys will cover how First Amendment law applies to speech by public employees in both on-duty and off-duty situations. Gain a better understanding of what you can do, what you should not do, and the legal pitfalls to avoid.
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Make sure you stop by VLCT's booths in the exhibit hall to visit some of the VLCT staff you know from phone calls and email. Put a face to the name, ask questions about services, or just say hello and grab a giveaway item. Plus, don't forget to enter the grand raffle! Visit VLCT's booths.
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Town Fair began as a fair with carnival games, a Ferris wheel, and a fire truck pull.
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Town Fair sponsors not only help us produce a high quality event for a low registration fee, they also support VLCT and our members all year long through the Business Alliance Program. Make sure to stop by their booths at Town Fair and check out the full listing of sponsors, exhibitors, and Business Alliance Program members online.
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Tuesday, September 26
1 PM – 3 PM
The annual business meetings for VLCT and its two risk-sharing trusts will be held consecutively. Legislative bodies should designate their voting delegate(s). Register delegate(s) here.
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Tuesday, September 26
5 PM – 8 PM
Join us for a fun-filled evening with dinner, casino games, and a celebration of five very deserving award winners. They exemplify what it means to be in service to local government and their communities. Register here.
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The three Best In Tow finalists have been selected! You can only vote in person at Town Fair on September 26 & 27. Voting closes at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, and winners will be announced at 3:30 during the Grand Raffle drawing. See the finalists and get ready to vote.
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As always, be sure to follow us on social media and regularly check the updated home page of our website for breaking news and announcements.
Please contact us at vlctnews@vlct.org with any comments or suggestions for upcoming content.
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