Should Middlesex hire a
Town Administrator?
Should Middlesex elect or appoint our
Town Clerk and Treasurer?
What do I need to know to weigh in?
At the March 3, 2026 Middlesex Town Meeting, voters will be asked to consider many questions, as described on our agenda (a.k.a Warning ).
This year, we will consider several new changes regarding how our town is run, including:
BACKGROUND: The Middlesex Selectboard has discussed all of these topics in their public meetings. Particular attention was given at a Special Select Board Meeting on January 13, 2026. This is when the proposed budget that included the new Town Administrator position was adopted, and the Selectboard decided to ask voters whether to change the Town Clerk and Treasurer positions from elected to appointed.
You can find all Selectboard minutes here, and see the January 13 discussion here: https://middlesexvermont.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/sbminute_2026-01-13.pdf
WHAT IS A TOWN ADMINISTRATOR?
In Vermont, a Town Administrator is a flexible position created by the Selectboard and/or local policy. Vermont law does not require a Town Administrator. The duties, goals, and expectations of the job are defined by each Selectboard.
Hiring a Town Administrator in a small Vermont town typically reflects a decision to coordinate operations, reduce strain on volunteer officials, pursue and monitor grants and funding opportunities, ensure compliance with regulations, and improve service to the community. Creating a Town Administrator position does not alter selectboard control (as it does in the case of a statutory Town Manager).
A Town Administrator is a hired employee, not an elected officer. There is no residency or voter registration requirement in town, unless the town chooses to impose one. The town can advertise widely, regionally or statewide, and recruit candidates with the experience they deem most necessary (administration, grant-writing, etc.).
According to the Middlesex Town Report, the Town Administrator position is budgeted at $72,800 (see p. 31). The Budget Committee Report (p. 44) notes that this represents a net increase to the budget of approximately $51,000 due to the elimination and consolidation of prior part-time positions.
For more details on the proposal to hire a town administrator in Middlesex, read the Middlesex Town Report including the budget, Selectboard report, and Budget Committee report. And bring your questions to town meeting!
TOWN CLERK & TOWN TREASURER: ELECT OR APPOINT?
What are the Town Clerk’s responsibilities?
The duties of a Town Clerk are the same regardless of whether they are elected or appointed (17 V.S.A 35):
● Appointing Assistant Town Clerks ● Recording & preserving land records ● Issuing dog, marriage & hunting/fishing licenses ● Renewing Motor vehicle registrations ● Running elections ● Clerk of Board of Civil Authority ● Hearing tax abatement requests & appeals ● Setting Town Office hours ● Receiving & processing tax payments ● Receiving & directing phone calls/visitors ● Answering questions from the public ● Administering Oaths & Notary Public services
What does it mean if our Town Clerk is elected?
17 V.S.A. § 2651e
● Registered voters elect them into office, and the Town Clerk is accountable to the voters.
● Voters oversee the Town Clerk and decide whether or not they are elected again when their term is up.
● Elected Town Clerks must live and be registered to vote in the town they are elected to.
(This is Middlesex’s current system.)
What does it mean if our Town Clerk is appointed?
(17 V.S.A. § 2651e)
● The Selectboard forms a nominating committee to propose Town Clerk candidates for appointment.
● The appointed Town Clerk is accountable to the Selectboard.
● The Selectboard directs the manner of Town Clerk duties.
● The Town Clerk takes the Selectboard’s direction regarding the selection of Assistant Town Clerk(s).
● The Selectboard oversees the Town Clerk & can remove them at any time for cause.
● Appointed Town Clerks can live & be registered to vote in any town in Vermont.
What are the Town Treasurer’s responsibilities?
Maintaining financial accounts, investing funds (with Selectboard approval), recording taxes, and paying approved bills (24 V.S.A. § 1571).
Like the Town Clerk position, the Treasurer’s duties remain identical regardless of electing/appointing.
The trade-offs regarding electing/appointing the Town Treasurer mirror those of the Town Clerk, above.
What do other Vermont towns do – elect or appoint?*
Town Clerks (of 164 towns responding to survey):
There are trade-offs to every decision. What’s best for Middlesex? Bring your thoughts and questions to town meeting.
The Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee thanks the Vermont League of Cities and Towns for guidance in compiling this information. Resources include VLCT’s Elected Town Officers fact sheet and info from the town of Westford, Vermont.
Town Administrator?
Should Middlesex elect or appoint our
Town Clerk and Treasurer?
What do I need to know to weigh in?
At the March 3, 2026 Middlesex Town Meeting, voters will be asked to consider many questions, as described on our agenda (a.k.a Warning ).
This year, we will consider several new changes regarding how our town is run, including:
- Shall the town hire a town administrator? (See Town Budget, Article 6)
- Shall the Town voters authorize the Select Board to appoint a Town Clerk? (Article 7)
- Shall the Town voters authorize the Select Board to appoint a Town Treasurer? (Article 8)
BACKGROUND: The Middlesex Selectboard has discussed all of these topics in their public meetings. Particular attention was given at a Special Select Board Meeting on January 13, 2026. This is when the proposed budget that included the new Town Administrator position was adopted, and the Selectboard decided to ask voters whether to change the Town Clerk and Treasurer positions from elected to appointed.
You can find all Selectboard minutes here, and see the January 13 discussion here: https://middlesexvermont.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/sbminute_2026-01-13.pdf
WHAT IS A TOWN ADMINISTRATOR?
In Vermont, a Town Administrator is a flexible position created by the Selectboard and/or local policy. Vermont law does not require a Town Administrator. The duties, goals, and expectations of the job are defined by each Selectboard.
Hiring a Town Administrator in a small Vermont town typically reflects a decision to coordinate operations, reduce strain on volunteer officials, pursue and monitor grants and funding opportunities, ensure compliance with regulations, and improve service to the community. Creating a Town Administrator position does not alter selectboard control (as it does in the case of a statutory Town Manager).
A Town Administrator is a hired employee, not an elected officer. There is no residency or voter registration requirement in town, unless the town chooses to impose one. The town can advertise widely, regionally or statewide, and recruit candidates with the experience they deem most necessary (administration, grant-writing, etc.).
According to the Middlesex Town Report, the Town Administrator position is budgeted at $72,800 (see p. 31). The Budget Committee Report (p. 44) notes that this represents a net increase to the budget of approximately $51,000 due to the elimination and consolidation of prior part-time positions.
For more details on the proposal to hire a town administrator in Middlesex, read the Middlesex Town Report including the budget, Selectboard report, and Budget Committee report. And bring your questions to town meeting!
TOWN CLERK & TOWN TREASURER: ELECT OR APPOINT?
What are the Town Clerk’s responsibilities?
The duties of a Town Clerk are the same regardless of whether they are elected or appointed (17 V.S.A 35):
● Appointing Assistant Town Clerks ● Recording & preserving land records ● Issuing dog, marriage & hunting/fishing licenses ● Renewing Motor vehicle registrations ● Running elections ● Clerk of Board of Civil Authority ● Hearing tax abatement requests & appeals ● Setting Town Office hours ● Receiving & processing tax payments ● Receiving & directing phone calls/visitors ● Answering questions from the public ● Administering Oaths & Notary Public services
What does it mean if our Town Clerk is elected?
17 V.S.A. § 2651e
● Registered voters elect them into office, and the Town Clerk is accountable to the voters.
● Voters oversee the Town Clerk and decide whether or not they are elected again when their term is up.
● Elected Town Clerks must live and be registered to vote in the town they are elected to.
(This is Middlesex’s current system.)
What does it mean if our Town Clerk is appointed?
(17 V.S.A. § 2651e)
● The Selectboard forms a nominating committee to propose Town Clerk candidates for appointment.
● The appointed Town Clerk is accountable to the Selectboard.
● The Selectboard directs the manner of Town Clerk duties.
● The Town Clerk takes the Selectboard’s direction regarding the selection of Assistant Town Clerk(s).
● The Selectboard oversees the Town Clerk & can remove them at any time for cause.
● Appointed Town Clerks can live & be registered to vote in any town in Vermont.
What are the Town Treasurer’s responsibilities?
Maintaining financial accounts, investing funds (with Selectboard approval), recording taxes, and paying approved bills (24 V.S.A. § 1571).
Like the Town Clerk position, the Treasurer’s duties remain identical regardless of electing/appointing.
The trade-offs regarding electing/appointing the Town Treasurer mirror those of the Town Clerk, above.
What do other Vermont towns do – elect or appoint?*
Town Clerks (of 164 towns responding to survey):
- 144 have Elected Town Clerks, or 88% of respondents.
- 19 have Appointed Town Clerks, or 12% of respondents.
- 126 have Elected Town Clerks, or 82% of respondents.
- 28 have Appointed Town Clerks, or 18% of respondents.
There are trade-offs to every decision. What’s best for Middlesex? Bring your thoughts and questions to town meeting.
The Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee thanks the Vermont League of Cities and Towns for guidance in compiling this information. Resources include VLCT’s Elected Town Officers fact sheet and info from the town of Westford, Vermont.