Town of Jamaica, Vermont

Serving in local office is a great way to give something back to your community. So why don’t you take a turn?  Local officials are either elected at town meeting, or appointed by the Select Board.  Not all the offices listed here are available in the Town of Jamaica.

Agent to Convey Real Estate (appointed) - Executes the deeds on behalf of the town. 

Auditor (elected) – Review and audit all town accounts and prepare the annual town report. Should be very detail oriented. Good writing skills are a plus. 

Collector of Delinquent Taxes (elected) – Collects delinquent taxes for the town. Should be good with numbers and also able to work with people who are in difficult circumstances. Should also have thick skin.

Constable (elected) – In some towns the constable is the town’s local law enforcement officer, with all powers of search, seizure and arrest within the town. In other towns the constable only has the power to serve civil process, assist the health officer in the discharge of his or her duties, destroy unlicensed dogs, kill injured deer, remove disorderly people from town meeting, and, if the First Constable, to collect taxes, if no tax collector is elected. Should be good at de-escalating and resolving conflicts. 

Health Officer (appointed) - Appointed by the Commissioner of Health to a 3-year term after recommendation by the town selectboard. Enforces the rules and regulations for the prevention and abatement of public health hazards. 

Listers (elected) – Appraise property within the town for the purpose of property tax assessment. Should be able to be polite, yet firm, and not be oversensitive to criticism. 

Moderator (elected) – Runs the Annual and Special Town/School Meeting. Should have a good sense of humor, be good at group process, and have experience following Roberts Rules of Order. 

Planning Commissioners (appointed or elected) - Appointed unless town votes to elect. Duties include preparing a municipal plan, making recommendations on matters of land development, conservation, and preservation, and participating in a regional planning program. Makes site plan and subdivision permit decisions unless there is a Development Review Board in town. Should have a good working knowledge of all aspects of the town and be able to listen to many sides of an issue. 

Selectboard members (elected) – General supervision and control over town, enacts ordinances, regulations and policies for town, oversees town property and personnel, prepares, presents and manages budget, oversees roads, including laying out, discontinuing and reclassifying roads.  Sits as local board of health, liquor control commission and sewer commission. Should know the town well, be able to understand all sides of complex issues, and have very thick skin.

Town Energy Coordinator (appointed) – Responsible for developing the town energy plan and conducting the town energy audit.

Town Forest Fire Warden (appointed) - Appointed by the fire commissioner with the approval of the selectboard. Prevents forest fires in the town by enforcing the laws designed to prevent forest fires. 

Town Treasurer (elected) - Keeps the town and school’s accounts (unless a separate school treasurer is elected), invests money (with the approval of the legislative body,) keeps a record of the taxes voted and pays orders drawn on him or her. Should be very precise, detail oriented and good at math.