Town Meeting Day Holiday Announced

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz Announces New Town Meeting Holiday
Citizens Urged to Participate in Town Meeting This Year

Montpelier. on February 13, 2009, Secretary of State Markowitz announced a new town meeting holiday to permit working Vermonters to take time off to attend their town meeting. Markowitz said, “Town Meeting Day is one of the democratic high points of the year.  It is a time for neighbors to discuss the civic issues of their community, elect local officers and vote on budgets. The legislature created the town meeting holiday to ensure that every Vermonter has an opportunity to participate.” 

The new law provides that, subject to the essential operation of a business or entity of state or local government, an employee has the right to take unpaid leave from work to attend town meeting.  Markowitz said, “The new law treats attendance at town meeting the same way we treat serving on jury duty by providing employees with unpaid leave time.  It also balances the legitimate needs of employers to continue their operation while enabling most employees to participate in town meeting.”

To take advantage of this law the employee must give at least seven days notice to his or her employer.  The law also gives students who are 18 or older the right to miss school in order to attend their town meeting. 

For more information about Vermont Town Meeting Day visit the Secretary of State's Office Town Meeting Day website.