Three selectpersons serve overlapping terms of three years. One of three is elected to a three-year term each year.

The selectboard may enact ordinances and rules (24 V.S.A. § 1972) in many areas including traffic regulation, regulating nuisances, managing solid waste, dogs and recreation, and establishing bike paths (24 V.S.A. § 2291). Many of these are listed in 24 V.S.A. § 2291, but others are scattered throughout the statutes.

The selectboard warns all town meetings and specifies business to be conducted at the meeting, including proposing an annual budget — an enormous job! 17 V.S.A. §§ 2641, 2642, 2663, 2664.

If the town does not set the tax rate, the selectboard must set a tax rate that will raise the specific amount voted at town meeting. 17 V.S.A. § 2664.

The selectboard is responsible for hiring, directing, and firing almost all town employees (24 V.S.A. § 872; for setting salaries if voters do not do so at town meeting (24 V.S.A. §§ 932–933); and for establishing and enforcing personnel policies (24 V.S.A. §§ 1121–1122).

The selectboard must authorize all town expenditures by signing orders for the treasurer to draw town funds. 19 V.S.A. § 303; 24 V.S.A. §§ 1621–1623.

The selectboard supervises the expenditure of the highway fund and has charge of keeping town highways in repair. 19 V.S.A. §§ 301–306. It also is responsible for laying out, classifying and discontinuing town roads. 19 V.S.A. Chapters 7 and 9.

The selectboard is responsible for all animal control. 20 V.S.A. §§ 3341–3813.

The selectboard may borrow money for periods of less than a year in anticipation of taxes. 24 V.S.A. § 1786.

The selectboard shall fill all town vacancies until an election is held. 24 V.S.A. § 963.

The selectboard may license many operations within the town (e.g., liquor sales, restaurants, junkyards and entertainment).

The selectboard appoints many minor town offices (e.g., fence viewers, pound keepers, inspector of lumber and tree warden). 24 V.S.A. § 871.

The selectboard appoints and removes planning commissioners unless the town has voted to elect them. 24 V.S.A. § 4323. Selectpersons serve as ex-officio planning commission members in "rural towns." 24 V.S.A. § 4322.

The selectboard adopts the town plan unless the town votes to adopt it by Australian ballot (24 V.S.A. § 4385); holds a public hearing on proposed zoning bylaws (24 V.S.A. § 4404); and adopts zoning bylaws in "urban municipalities" (24 V.S.A. § 4404).

The selectboard appoints police officers and municipal fire department officers. 24 V.S.A. §§ 1931, 1953.

The selectboard purchases all insurance for the town. 24 V.S.A. § 1092.

Selectboard members serve as members of the Board of Civil Authority. 24 V.S.A. § 801.

The selectboard has other miscellaneous regulatory powers. 24 V.S.A. § 2291.

Open Meeting Law complaints directed to the Town of Groton must be filed with the town clerk by e-mail [email protected] or by mail to 1476 Scott Hwy, Groton, VT 05046