-WARNING- TOWN OF BENNINGTON NOTICE OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN OF BENNINGTON CHARTER The residents of the Town of Bennington qualified by law to vote are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Bennington Fire Facility on River Street (Lincoln Street entrance) in said Town on Monday, January 27, 2025, and Monday February 10, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., to hear and discuss proposed amendments to the Town of Bennington Charter. If you are a resident of the Town of Bennington, intend to be present at the meeting and are hearing impaired, arrangements will be made for a sign interpreter to be present at this meeting. For necessary arrangements, please contact Stuart A. Hurd, Town Manager at the Bennington Town Offices, 205 South Street, P.O. Box 469, Bennington, VT - (802) 442-1037 no later than Monday, January 6, 2025. Following the completion of the two public hearings, the Meeting will stand adjourned to Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at which time the voters will be asked to approve the amendments. Voting will take place at The Bennington Fire Facility on River Street (Lincoln Street entrance) and at the North Bennington Village Office on Main Street in said Village for those voters registered to vote in North Bennington. The Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. for voting on all ballot articles specified. The Bennington Fire Facility above mentioned, is hereby established as the central polling place for those on the checklist to vote in said Bennington. Residents of Bennington and North Bennington may register to vote at the Town Clerk's Office, 205 South Street, Bennington, Vermont. Eligible residents registering on Election Day must do so at the polling place where they will cast their ballot. Article 1: Shall the Charter of the Town of Bennington be amended to add a Section 103-807 to Subchapter 8 as follows: 103-807 Requirements for Legal Resident Voters Who Are Not Citizens. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 17 V.S.A. Ch. 43, a legal resident who is not a citizen of the United States shall be a legal voter at a local Town of Bennington election if the individual meets the following qualifications: is a legal resident of the United States, is not less than 18 years of age, has taken the Voter's Oath, resides in the Town of Bennington as residency is defined in 17 V.S.A. 2122, and has registered to vote with the Board of Registration of Voters no later than the deadline established by Vermont law for that election or meeting. (b) For purposes of this section, a legal resident of the United States means any non-citizen who resides in the United States on a permanent or indefinite basis in compliance with federal immigration laws. (c) This section does not change a non-citizen's ability to vote in any state or federal election. (d) A legal resident voter who is not a citizen may cast a ballot only for local officers and local public questions specific to the Town of Bennington. Article 2: Shall the Charter of the Town of Bennington be amended to add a Section 103-808 to Subchapter 8 as follows: 103-808 Youth Voters (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 17 V.S.A. Ch. 43, Youth Voters shall be legal voters in local Town of Bennington elections. (b) For purposes of this section, Youth Voter means a person who is 16 to 18 years of age and is otherwise qualified to vote in Town elections pursuant to 17 V.S.A. chapter 43, subchapter 1, and under the provisions of this Charter. (c) This section does not change a Youth Voter's ability to vote in any state or federal election. (d) A Youth Voter may cast a ballot only for local officers and local public questions specific to the Town of Bennington. Article 3: Shall the Charter of the Town of Bennington be amended to add a Section 103-809 to Subchapter 8 as follows: The filing of a notice of lien resulting from a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction for fines in an enforcement proceeding under the Town of Bennington's Land Use and Development Regulations, Property Maintenance Ordinance, or Housing, Building, and Life Safety Ordinance shall have priority in law over any other lien having priority in time. Such underlying enforcement lien shall remain valid and subsisting lien upon such real property until such fines are fully paid or otherwise discharged, but not longer than eight years from the date of such judgment, unless it shall have been renewed pursuant to Vermont law. Article 4: Shall the Charter of the Town of Bennington be amended to change the language of Section 103-511(a) to add the following as subsection (5) thereto: "a one percent tax on non-owner-occupied short-term rentals." Article 5: Shall the Charter of the Town of Bennington be amended to change the language of Section 103-406(a) to Subchapter 4 as follows: (a) Unless expressly modified by contract, on 90 days' written notice from the Select Board, the Town Manager may be removed without cause by a majority of the Select Board at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on removal. During the 90-day period, the Town Manager may be suspended with pay. Article 6: Shall the Charter of the Town of Bennington be amended to add a Section 103-303(9) to Subchapter 3 as follows: (9) delegate the responsibility to review video footage, transcripts, and other materials, following an investigation of a complaint against the police department to the existing Community Police Advisory Review Board or to another board established by the Selectboard to replace the Community Police Advisory Review Board. BY THE SELECT BOARD Jeannie Jenkins, Chair | Ed Woods, Vice Chair | Clark Adams | Jeanne Conner | Tom Haley Dated at Bennington, Vermont this 9th day of December 2024. Ad# 90691 12/21/2024

Town of Bennington DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD The Town of Bennington Development Review Board will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bennington Fire Facility, 3rd Floor, 130 River Street, Bennington, Vermont. The purpose of the meeting will be to conduct regular business and to hold a public hearing on the following: Alliance Energy LLC, 163 Main Street, seeking approval for continuation of motor vehicle service use at above location, a MU1 District. Sections of the Land Use & Development Regulations applicable: Table 2.1, and Section 3.9. Dated at Bennington, Vermont this 17th day of December 2024. Charles Kokoras, Chair Development Review Board AD# 90694 12/20/2024