From Historical Rutland: an illustrated history of Rutland, Vermont, from the granting of the charter in 1761 to 1911 by Rev. F. E. Davison, Rutland, Vt.: P.H. Brehmer, 1911, page 24:
City Charter
The first effort that was made towards securring a city charter for Rutland dates back to the year 1880. On the first of October of that year. a committee was appointed to consider and act upon the matter. The committee, consisting of George H. Cheney, F. A. Field, R. Barrett, M. J. Francisco. H. C. Tuttle, W. Y. W. Ripley, J. W. Cramton, J. M. Haven, A. F. Walker. Charles Woodhouse. James Levins and D. C. Pierce, met October 13, 1880, at which time Colonel Walker presented an outline of a city charrter and was instructed to draft a completed charter and report at a subsequent meeting. One week later a meeting was held, the charter presented, a thousand copies ordered printed and distributed, and the matter laid over for another week. After some further revision extending over a fortnight the charter was accepted and a committee appointed to lay the matter before the Legislature. But the whole project came to naught, for various reasons, and nothing further was done for several years.
In the year 1886 residents of the western part of the town of Rutland asked the General Assembly to set them off as a town by themselves, and a similar request was made by the citizens of the northern part of the town. After prolonged hearings, the Legislature, November 19, 1886, set off and incorporrated as the town of West Rutland, about one third of the town of Rutland on the west side, and by an act approved November 18, 1886, set off from the north portion some six square miles which, together with a small amount taken from the town of Pittsford, was incorporated as the town of Proctor.
The city of Rutland was incorporated November 19, 1892. It comprises the original village of Rutland, which the city succeeds, together with about as much more territory taken from the town of Rutland outside the village limits. The city contains about eight and one-quarter square miles. The greatest distances are north and south three and one tenth miles and east and west three and one-tenth miles. The remainder of the original town of Rutland extends all around the city varyying in width from one-quarter to two and one-half miles.
The 30,000 (approximate) acres embraced in the original town of Rutland is now divided about as follows; city, 5,300 acres; town, 11i ,700 acres; West Rutland, 9,200 acres; Proctor, 3,800 acres.
The seal of the city is circular in form with a rope border, and leaving in the margin, in capiital letters and figures the following inscription: "Seal of the City of Rutland, A town Sep. 7, 1761–A city Nov. 19, 1892." Upon the disk within the inscription is a scroll upon which is a view of the Green Mountains, with the word "Vermont" above the horizon, and a representation of the city hall, a railroad train and a quarry [25] and derrick, in the foreground. To the right of the scroll is a representation of an inverted horn with agricultural products issuing therefrom, and a sheaf of wheat, and to the left a scale. anvil, hammer and gear wheel.
The first mayor of the city, 1893, was Dr., now Governor John A. Mead; President of the Board of Aldermen, Thomas C. Robbins; City Clerk, H. B. Whittier; Judge of Municipal Court, F. M. Butler. The first aldermen were: Ward 1, John A. Sheldon; Ward 2, Thomas C. Robbins; Ward 3, J. R. Hoadley; Ward 4, N. S. Stearns; Ward 5, Edward V. Ross; Ward 6, Albert Broussseau; Ward 7. T. H. Browne; Ward 8, John W. Brislin; Ward 9, Leon G. Bagley; Ward 10, John McGuirk; War 11, Samuel T. Braley.
The city continued under this form of government until 1909 when the present commission form of government was adopted.