SB 625

This bill makes changes to various town procedures. Current law provides that

a town with a population of 2,500 or more may move from an elected clerk, treasurer,

or combined office of clerk and treasurer to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or

combined clerk and treasurer by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Under

current law, a town with a population of under 2,500 may only move from an elected

clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer to an appointed position through

a referendum. The bill would allow a town of any size to move from an elected

position to an appointed one by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Current law

also prohibits a town's change from an elected to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or

combined clerk and treasurer from taking effect until the end of the current elected

term. Under the bill, a town may move to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined

clerk and treasurer position during an elected term when there is a vacancy in the

position.

The bill also changes the publication and notice requirements for towns with

respect to the public hearing regarding the town's proposed budget. Current law

requires that towns, cities, and villages conduct a public hearing on a proposed

budget. Under current law, cities and villages must provide a summary of the

proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing and may do so by publishing

the summary and notice in a newspaper, posting it in three locations, or posting it

in one location and on a website maintained by the municipality. Current law also

requires towns to provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget

public hearing, but towns must post the summary and notice in three locations. This

bill eliminates the limitation on how towns must provide the summary and notice,

instead allowing towns the same options as cities and villages.

Finally, under current law, every highway ceases to be a public highway four

years from the date on which it was laid out, except the parts of the highway that

have been opened, traveled, or worked within that time. The bill eliminates the

travel exception from consideration by a town board in determining whether a

highway has ceased to be a public highway.