Are you interested in participating in town government? Are you interested in serving on a board or commission? Find out how to join and about open seats. We welcome your participation!
Select Board and School Board Seats
Candidates for the Select and School Boards usually begin campaigning right after the December holidays. To run for a seat on the Select Board or a School Board, you should start by visiting the Town Clerk. Forms are available in December. To be on the ballot you need to fill out a “Consent of Candidate” form and have a petition signed by 30 registered voters in the Town that is specific to the position you are seeking. The Town Clerk will guide you on how to properly fill out the form and petition to ensure there are no problems. The form is available by the secretary of state on the Vermont.gov website, but it is highly recommended that you pick it up at the Town Clerk’s office so they can assist you and prevent errors. The deadline for submitting your paperwork is six weeks before Town Meeting.
Learn more about Town Meeting by clicking here.
Town Boards and Commissions
Each year the town seeks applicants for open seats on Boards and Commissions. Notification of open seats is in March and is included in the annual Town Report. For more information on the process of how to join, read more here. In general, the deadline is the beginning of May, but the specific deadline for a given year will be included in the information on open seats.
The Select board may choose to re-open applications for unfilled positions at their discretion if needed.
Available positions on Town Boards and Commissions are filled on an annual basis by the Bennington Select Board. Information about all positions on Town Boards and Commissions are noted in the Annual Town Report and open positions will be listed below when it's available. Anyone interested in serving on a board and/or commission is encouraged to send a letter of interest stating which board or commission you are interested in serving on to the address below.
Bennington Town Office Building
c/o Stuart Hurd
205 South Street
Bennington, VT 05201
You may also email your letter of interest direct to the Town Manager Stuart Hurd at shurd@benningtonvt.org
Deadline for sending your letter of interest is May 15 for 2024. If the specific date is not posted here, you can call Stuart at the number below.
For more information regarding town-wide boards and commission, please contact Stuart Hurd at 802-447-9700.
How to Join
Town Boards and Commissions serve a vital purpose in our community. They allow residents to have a voice in how we shape our neighborhoods and town, and evaluating what we should focus on for the future.
Available positions are filled on an annual basis by the Bennington Select Board. Any openings on a board or commission are published in the Bennington Banner and on the Town’s Website beginning in April. All standing boards and commissions are noted in the Annual Town Report. Anyone interested in serving on a board and/or commission is encouraged to send a letter of interest stating which board or commission you are interested in serving on to the address below.
Bennington Town Office Building
c/o Stuart Hurd
205 South Street
Bennington, VT 05201.
Application period for Boards and Commissions is set by the select board but is typically the beginning of April and usually ends in the beginning of May. The specific beginning date and deadline will be noted in the list of Open Seats for a given year. Interviews with new candidates will be scheduled in the following weeks.
For more information regarding town-wide boards and commission, please contact Michele Johnson at 802-447-9702 or Stuart Hurd at 802-447-9700.
Town Boards and Commissions serve a vital purpose in our community. They allow residents to have a voice in how we shape our neighborhoods and town, and evaluating what we should focus on for the future.Available positions are filled on an annual basis by the Bennington Select Board. Any openings on a board or commission are published in the Bennington Banner and on the Town’s Website beginning in April. All standing boards and commissions are noted in the Annual Town Report. Anyone interested in serving on a board and/or commission is encouraged to send a letter of interest stating which board or commission you are interested in serving on to the address below.
Bennington Town Office Building
c/o Stuart Hurd
205 South Street
Bennington, VT 05201.
Application period for Boards and Commissions is set by the select board but is typically the beginning of April and usually ends in the beginning of May. The specific beginning date and deadline will be noted in the list of Open Seats for a given year. Interviews with new candidates will be scheduled in the following weeks.
For more information regarding town-wide boards and commission, please contact Michele Johnson at 802-447-9702 or Stuart Hurd at 802-447-9700.
Open Seats
2024 Open Seats on Boards and Commissions
The following list of the Town of Bennington Boards and Commissions includes a brief description of the duties of each office and those positions that are available June 2024.
The Deadline for letters of intent / interest for open seats in 2024 is May 15.
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD - The Development Review Board hears and decides upon permit applications regarding development in the Town of Bennington including, Variance Requests, Conditional Use Requests, Site Plans, Design Plans, Planned Unit Developments, Planned Residential Developments, Subdivisions, and Appeals of the Zoning Administrator’s decisions. Board members will be expected to attend at least one training session annually to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their powers and duties on the Board.
(Appointed to 3-year term) Term Expires
2 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27
HOUSING AUTHORITY - An autonomous body appointed for terms of five years by the Select Board which acts as the Board of Directors for Housing Authority properties (Willowbrook, Brookside Apartments, Beech Court, and Walloomsac Apartments) and oversees the staff and sets policies for operation.
(Appointed to 5-year term) Term Expires
1 POSITION OPEN 6/29
PLANNING COMMISSION - An appointed position with a term of four years. Meetings will be established when the Commission meets. This is a five-member board. The Planning Commission drafts, revises, updates, and upholds the provisions of the Town Plan; makes recommendations to the Select Board regarding amendments to the Zoning Bylaw, sign ordinance, and subdivision regulations; actively participates in the preservation of historic sites and agricultural lands; and is charged with the overall planning of Bennington.
(Appointed to 4-year term) Term Expires
NO POSITIONS OPEN IN 2024
REGIONAL COMMISSION - An appointed position with a term of two years. The Regional Commission, part of a county-wide planning commission charged with development of the overall regional planning policies, is empowered to develop budgets, employ staff, and assist in development of a regional plan.
(Appointed to 2-year term) Term Expires
1 POSITION OPEN 6/26
ENERGY COMMITTEE - A committee established by the Select Board to pursue implementation of the Town’s Energy Plan, advocate for energy conservation and renewable energy projects, and report on a regular basis to the Select Board. The committee shall be comprised of seven (7) members.
(Appointed to 2-year term) Term Expires
3 POSITIONS OPEN 6/26
COMMUNITY POLICING ADVISORY REVIEW BOARD – This is an appointed position for a three-year term. The Board will consist of a minimum 5 members but not more than 7 members from the community. Community is defined as a resident of the Town of Bennington, Old Bennington or North Bennington or someone who works or has demonstrated a significant (8 hours per week or more) commitment to volunteerism in Bennington. All members must be Vermont residents. In collaboration with the Bennington Police Department (BPD), the Bennington Select Board, and Town staff, this Board will make recommendations on police training and community collaboration efforts, review proposed policies and procedures of the BPD, review anonymized data on complaints and compliments, analyze data focused on equity and areas of need and compare it to other local, state, and national trends, and foster collaborative efforts within the community. Beginning in year three, all terms will be for three years. No member may serve more than seven consecutive years on the board. Former members are eligible to apply after not serving for one year.
(Appointed to 3-year term) Term Expires
2 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION – An appointed position with a term of three years and requires expertise or qualifications in the fields of architecture, historic preservation, etc. Meetings are held twice per month. The Historic Preservation Commission is empowered by ordinance to act in the preservation and identification of Bennington’s historic sites and structures; oversee the survey and review of historic sites eligible for the National Register, educate and advise other boards and commissions as well as the general public with regard to historic preservation matters.
(Appointed to 3-year term) Term Expires
4 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27
BOARD OF LISTERS – An appointed position with a term of two years. Meetings are held once or twice per month or as needed. The Listers inspect properties, approve assessments developed by the Assessor’s Office and hear and act upon appeals by property owners.
(Appointed to 2-year term) Term Expires
3 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27
The following list of the Town of Bennington Boards and Commissions includes a brief description of the duties of each office and those positions that are available June 2024.
The Deadline for letters of intent / interest for open seats in 2024 is May 15.
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD - The Development Review Board hears and decides upon permit applications regarding development in the Town of Bennington including, Variance Requests, Conditional Use Requests, Site Plans, Design Plans, Planned Unit Developments, Planned Residential Developments, Subdivisions, and Appeals of the Zoning Administrator’s decisions. Board members will be expected to attend at least one training session annually to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their powers and duties on the Board.
(Appointed to 3-year term) Term Expires
2 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27
HOUSING AUTHORITY - An autonomous body appointed for terms of five years by the Select Board which acts as the Board of Directors for Housing Authority properties (Willowbrook, Brookside Apartments, Beech Court, and Walloomsac Apartments) and oversees the staff and sets policies for operation.
(Appointed to 5-year term) Term Expires
1 POSITION OPEN 6/29
PLANNING COMMISSION - An appointed position with a term of four years. Meetings will be established when the Commission meets. This is a five-member board. The Planning Commission drafts, revises, updates, and upholds the provisions of the Town Plan; makes recommendations to the Select Board regarding amendments to the Zoning Bylaw, sign ordinance, and subdivision regulations; actively participates in the preservation of historic sites and agricultural lands; and is charged with the overall planning of Bennington.
(Appointed to 4-year term) Term Expires
NO POSITIONS OPEN IN 2024
REGIONAL COMMISSION - An appointed position with a term of two years. The Regional Commission, part of a county-wide planning commission charged with development of the overall regional planning policies, is empowered to develop budgets, employ staff, and assist in development of a regional plan.
(Appointed to 2-year term) Term Expires
1 POSITION OPEN 6/26
ENERGY COMMITTEE - A committee established by the Select Board to pursue implementation of the Town’s Energy Plan, advocate for energy conservation and renewable energy projects, and report on a regular basis to the Select Board. The committee shall be comprised of seven (7) members.
(Appointed to 2-year term) Term Expires
3 POSITIONS OPEN 6/26
COMMUNITY POLICING ADVISORY REVIEW BOARD – This is an appointed position for a three-year term. The Board will consist of a minimum 5 members but not more than 7 members from the community. Community is defined as a resident of the Town of Bennington, Old Bennington or North Bennington or someone who works or has demonstrated a significant (8 hours per week or more) commitment to volunteerism in Bennington. All members must be Vermont residents. In collaboration with the Bennington Police Department (BPD), the Bennington Select Board, and Town staff, this Board will make recommendations on police training and community collaboration efforts, review proposed policies and procedures of the BPD, review anonymized data on complaints and compliments, analyze data focused on equity and areas of need and compare it to other local, state, and national trends, and foster collaborative efforts within the community. Beginning in year three, all terms will be for three years. No member may serve more than seven consecutive years on the board. Former members are eligible to apply after not serving for one year.
(Appointed to 3-year term) Term Expires
2 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION – An appointed position with a term of three years and requires expertise or qualifications in the fields of architecture, historic preservation, etc. Meetings are held twice per month. The Historic Preservation Commission is empowered by ordinance to act in the preservation and identification of Bennington’s historic sites and structures; oversee the survey and review of historic sites eligible for the National Register, educate and advise other boards and commissions as well as the general public with regard to historic preservation matters.
(Appointed to 3-year term) Term Expires
4 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27
BOARD OF LISTERS – An appointed position with a term of two years. Meetings are held once or twice per month or as needed. The Listers inspect properties, approve assessments developed by the Assessor’s Office and hear and act upon appeals by property owners.
(Appointed to 2-year term) Term Expires
3 POSITIONS OPEN 6/27