Photo by William Cottrell
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Pownal Town Offices are now located at
511 Center Street
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Office Hours
Town Clerk Julie Weber Mon - Fri 9:30am - 4:30pm
Executive Assistant Tara Parks Mon - Fri 8:30am - 2:30pm
Administrative Assistant Hannah Darling Mon - Fri 9:0am - 3:00pm
Assessor Clerk Wendy Jordan Bisson Mon - Fri 9:00am - 1:00pm
Treasurer/Del Tax Collector Ellen Strohmaier Mon-Fri 8:00am - 12:00am (in office) Mon-Fri 12:00pm - 3:00 pm (by cell)
Transfer Station Wed, Fri, & Sat 8:00am - 4:00pm
Municipal Wastewater Mon-Fri 7:00am - 3:30pm
Highway Department Mon-Fri 7:00am - 3:30pm
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Town Clerk
Selectboard & Staff
The Selectboard is the body that has general supervision and control over the affairs of the town. The select board performs three main functions for our town:
Pownal Selectboard Members
Mike Gardner, Chair (term expires 2026)
[email protected] Angie Rawling, Vice Chair (term expires 2025)
[email protected] William Cottrell (term expires 2025)
[email protected] Karl Strohmaier (term expires 2027)
[email protected] Harry "Jamie" Percey (term expires 2025) [email protected] Administrative Staff
Please email [email protected] with any questions for the Selectboard. Highway Department
Municipal Wastewater System
Transfer Station
Permits are $60.00 and are valid from July to July. Permits can only be purchased at the Transfer Station.
Treasurer & Delinquent Tax Collector
Animal Control Officer
The Animal Control Officer is appointed by the Selectboard to bring "agency" to their authority in & about the town they govern; "Especially as pertaining to animals" The Board's authority and responsibilities in regard to ensuring compliance with state and local laws and ordinances are transferred to their Agent : The ACO or Dog Officer. Pownal's Dog and Wolf Hybrid Ordinance is enforced by the ACO & State Statutes like the requirement that "All dogs will be licensed in their Town of residence, by April first (1st) of each year, subject to penalty for late registration." Licensing requires the presentation of dog's certificate of rabies vaccination, valid at least thru the day the license is purchased. In VT dogs held for five business days with public posting and due diligence efforts to locate an owner, may be deemed acquired property. A citizen may follow this acquisition process same as a Town. Dogs collected and held by ACO may not be released to owner if they're over 6 months old and are not vaccinated against rabies - according to State Law - until rabies certificate can be obtained or the vaccination administered by VT certified Veterinary professional. Any dog may be seized for not having collar & license. Seized dogs are impounded at approximately $20.00 daily board fees and potentially veterinary fees; As State Law obliges the ACO to have dogs vet checked promptly should any doubts, or obvious health concerns, arise while in custody. Dogs that go unclaimed and become Town property, are surrendered primarily to Berkshire Humane Society, Barker La, in Pittsfield MA. 413.447.7878 Health Officer
The local health officer is a hybrid position. Although the select board recommends an individual to the position and works with the individual on local health problems, the local health officer is appointed by the State Commissioner of Health. (18 V.S.A. 601) In addition, although the health officer is paid by the town, they are considered a state employee for purposes of liability insurance coverage and state laws that protect public employees (18 V.S.A. 602, 624). For additional information visit healthvermont.gov. The local health officer performs an important function for the town. They are the individual a citizen may call to complain of unsafe conditions in rental housing or on public or private property, or to report a septic failure, or an animal that might be rabid. The health officer must investigate all complaints and has extensive authority to take emergency abatement steps and may enforce any state health regulations and local health ordinances in his or her town. The local health officer must inspect all schools and public buildings. In the enforcement of its rules and health policies, the health officer and local board of health may call upon law enforcement officers for assistance. The health officer may go before the State Commissioner of Health or the selectboard to obtain a health order, or in certain situations, has the authority to issue an emergency health order to prevent or abate an imminent and substantial health hazard or risk. (18 V.S.A. 126, 127)
Zoning
The Zoning Administrator administers the zoning bylaws of the town literally and does not have the power to permit any land development that is not in conformance with the town's bylaws. They are responsible for enforcement of all rules and regulations pertaining to the bylaw regulations. If the Zoning Administrator denies a request for a zoning permit, he or she must advise the applicant of that individual's right to appeal the action or decision to the Development Review Board. The Zoning Administrator gives a verbal warning to any person suspected of an alleged minor violation of any bylaw after it has been adopted giving them 30 days to correct the problem. All other violations are processed as:
Visit the communicate page for zoning applications and by laws. Assessor Clerk
Justice of the Peace
The duties of Vermont's justices of the peace (JP) are many and varied: from serving as election officials to determining tax appeals to giving oaths to solemnizing marriages. The duties of justices of the peace can fall into five categories of responsibilities (for additional information review the VT Justice of the Peace Guide):
Constable
Town of Pownal Constable Roles and Responsibilities 5/11/23 POSITION OVERVIEW
(The duties and responsibilities listed herein illustrate the various functions of the Pownal Constable. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility does not exclude it form the duties and responsibilities of the position if the specific duty or responsibility is similar to, or related to, these characteristic duties and responsibilities, or is a logical assignment to the position as long as the Selectboard has directed the Constable to conduct such duties.)
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