Danville Votes Again to Repeal Town Charter | 233-167

For the second time in as many years, Danville voters have approved a request to repeal the town’s charter, clearing the way for the proposal to return to the Vermont Legislature after an earlier attempt stalled over a procedural technicality.

In a special town meeting vote held to coincide with primary elections on Aug. 11, residents approved the measure by a 233-167 margin. The question asked whether town voters would propose that the General Assembly repeal Danville’s charter, which currently places the town’s voting procedures into state law. The charter requires Danville to use Australian balloting for its town and highway budgets while other municipal questions, including special appropriations and certain town articles, are decided from the floor at Town Meeting. Town officials have said the repeal effort is not intended to change the town’s current voting practices but to give future voters greater flexibility should they ever want to adopt a different method without first obtaining legislative approval.