Town of Stowe Policy on Complaint of an Ethics Violation
A person, who believes that an appointed Public official, Employee or Volunteer of the Town has violated any portion of this policy, may send or deliver a signed, written complaint to the Town Manager.
The complaint shall include the name of the person alleged to have committed the violation and the specifics of the act(s) which constitute the violation. The Manager shall forward the complaint to the appropriate public official(s) for resolution. In accordance with Section 408 of Stowe Town Charter, the Selectboard may “Inquire into the conduct of any officer, commission or department and investigate all municipal affairs.” If the alleged violation involves an employee, it will be handled in accordance with the Personnel Rules, IBEW Agreement, or Police Association Agreement as applicable.
Any complaint against the Town Manager shall be reduced to writing, signed and sent or delivered to the Chair of the Selectboard, and must contain all of the information specified in the preceding paragraph.
Any complaint against an elected official shall be directed to the elected official. A person may ask an elected body to reconsider a matter that they believe involved an unethical act by an elected official. However, an elected official is only responsible to the voters, and a fellow board member may not require that the elected official recuse themselves or otherwise take formal corrective action against another elected official. Elected officials may be subject to recall in accordance with Section 401 of the Stowe Town Charter.