Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 5, § 3577

A railroad corporation constructing a railroad across a highway shall be liable to the town, within whose limits the crossings are, for damages occasioned to that town by reason of the corporation not complying with the provisions of sections 3570 and 3574 of this title. The liability shall extend to expenses incurred by the town in connection with actions against the corporation by reason of the noncompliance.