Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee

Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Burlington, VT Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/98026798636?pwd=40qjAotlbMNwBnSHhYbons8fHajVTS.1 Meeting ID: 980 2679 8636 Passcode: 079527 --- One tap mobile +13092053325,,98026798636#,,,,*079527# US +13126266799,,98026798636#,,,,*079527# US (Chicago) --- Meeting ID: 980 2679 8636 Passcode: 079527 Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/98026798636/invitations?signature=Cy7nF- 52rGpRisSFLCw9e0onBg6vo_SRDYdR8BopKMA 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda 2. Adopt Minutes Subject 2.1. Approval of 9/17/25 Minutes Meeting October 15, 2025 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Burlington, VT Category 2. Adopt Minutes Department Type Recommended Action 3. Public Forum Subject 3.1. PUBLIC FORUM - Verbal Comments Page 1 of 27  Meeting October 15, 2025 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Burlington, VT Category 3. Public Forum Department Type 4. Syringe Litter Recommendations Subject 4.1. CDNR Committee will be discussing the recommendations we'd like to make to the full City Council for their consideration. The recommendations will be in a final report to be published in CivicClerk following the Indigenous Peoples Day holiday weekend. The CDNR Committee will discuss any necessary amendments and ideally vote the final version out of committee to be referred to the full Council's consent agenda for the upcoming 10/20/25 meeting. Meeting October 15, 2025 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Burlington, VT Category 4. Syringe Litter Recommendations Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Type Recommended Action 5. NPA Resolution - Councilor Neubieser Subject 5.1. CDNR Committee will revisit the NPA resolution that was referred to committee last year and receive status updates from Councilor Neubieser and NPA leaders who have been working on this. Meeting October 15, 2025 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Burlington, VT Category 5. NPA Resolution - Councilor Neubieser Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Type Recommended Action 6. Age Strong Burlington Subject 6.1. Status update from Councilor Schachter who has been engaging in these efforts on behalf of CDNR. Meeting October 15, 2025 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Burlington, VT Category 6. Age Strong Burlington Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Page 2 of 27  Type Recommended Action 7. Adjournment Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn Meeting October 15, 2025 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Burlington, VT Category 7. Adjournment Department Council and Board Type Recommended Action Page 3 of 27  CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE c/o Community & Economic Development Office City Hall, Room 32 • 149 Church Street • Burlington, VT 05401 802-865-7144 VOX • 802-865-7024 FAX • www.burlingtonvt.gov/cedo Councilor Evan Litwin (EL), Chair, Ward 7 Councilor Carter Neubieser (CN), Ward 1 Councilor Allie Schachter (AS), East District CDNR Committee Meeting Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 6:30 – 8:30 PM Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor – City Hall Committee members: Evan Litwin (EL), Allie Schachter (AS) City Staff: Christine Curtis, CEDO Other Attendees: Robert Perry, Clarke Street resident; Amy Kimmel, Clarke Street resident; Beth Holden, Charlotte McCorkel, Dan Hall, Howard’s Center; Beth Whitlock, CEDO; Emily Healy Draft Minutes Meeting Started at 6:30 PM 1. Approve agenda MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Litwin, to approve the agenda VOTING: unanimous; motion carries. 2. Approve Minutes: 6/18, 7/10, 8/7, 8/20 MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Litwin, to approve the minutes VOTING: unanimous; motion carries. 3. Public Forum • Robert spoke The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities. For accessibility information, call 865-7144. For questions about the meeting, contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@burlingtonvt.gov Page 4 of 27  • Amy spoke 4. Public Hearing: 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) – CEDO • Beth presented on the CAPER • Committee members had questions about the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) • Christine described the application and approval process regarding the NRSA and the benefits of having a designated strategy area particularly for CDBG funds – allows for more flexibilities with grant spending and is a great leveraging tool 5. Syringe Litter Report Review • Howard Center staff were present and had an open discussion with Committee members. The meeting focused on addressing syringe litter and related public health issues in Burlington. Dan, Charlotte, and Beth from the Howard Center shared their perspective on the Board's recommendations, emphasizing the importance of expanding disposal infrastructure, mobile service delivery, and addressing root causes such as substance use disorder and housing insecurity. They also highlighted ongoing efforts to educate clients on proper disposal, expand volunteer opportunities, and collaborate with various stakeholders to tackle syringe litter. The group clarified the differences between Project Shine, a community-wide initiative, and the Situation Table, a multi-agency crisis response model. Syringe Litter Funding Challenges • The group discussed funding challenges for syringe litter mitigation efforts, with Dan confirming they currently have $1,500 from the city but no other funding sources identified. Others emphasized the need for collaboration with community partners and state funding through the Department of Substance Use, while noted that street outreach programs often operate at a deficit and receive support from multiple city departments. Syringe Return and Usage Concerns • Raised concerns about the high number of unreturned syringes, noting that even with an increase in return rates, the number remained significant. Dan explained that the program tracks syringe distribution but emphasized that many unaccounted-for syringes likely end up disposed of properly, not on the streets. He also Page 5 of 27  highlighted the impact of increased fentanyl use, which has led to higher syringe usage. QSR Report and Community Engagement • Discussed concerns about a QSR report that inaccurately characterized Howard Center's work. They explored the possibility of reactivating an SSP advisory committee to better address community concerns and balance service delivery with neighborhood needs. Dan acknowledged the pressure staff face from high demand and community scrutiny, while others emphasized the importance of maintaining relationships and providing comprehensive support to users. OPC Co-Location Service Planning • The group discussed the potential co-location of syringe service provision with an upcoming OPC (Overdose Prevention Center) and explored various service delivery models, including mobile options. They reviewed the timeline for reviewing and approving a draft report in mid-October, which will then go to the full council for consideration. The discussion highlighted the need to balance community concerns with the potential benefits of the OPC, including opportunities for housing and other services. 6. Adjournment • ADJOURN at 8:21 p.m. by Councilor Litwin with no objection Page 6 of 27  Review of Burlington Board of Health Report on Syringe Litter and Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee Recommendations (CDNR) to the City Council October 12, 2025 Councilor Evan Litwin, CDNR Chair Councilor Allie Schachter 1 Page 7 of 27 INTRODUCTION In October 2024, the City Council voted to task the Board of Health with a body of work found in the Resolution entitled, Evaluation and Improvement of Syringe Exchange Programs, Syringe Litter, and the Environmental Impact of Syringe Litter in Burlington. That year, the Howard Center safe recovery site distributed over 944,000 syringes with only 55% of those being returned–leaving over 427,000 syringes unaccounted for. Even if only 10% of those ended up discarded in our community, that represents 1 syringe for nearly every resident in the city of Burlington. The Council gave the Board of Health a deadline in February of 2025 to report back but that was extended to May 2025 due to a confluence of factors. Members of the Board of Health presented their report to the Council on May 12, 2025, and the Council subsequently voted to task the Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee (CDNR) with reviewing the report and returning recommendations to the council in Fall 2025. CDNR held two specialized public work sessions on July 10 and August 7, as well as discussed the matter at our normal meeting dates on August 20 and September 17. Councilor Neubieser was not present at those meetings therefore this document was prepared solely by Councilors Litwin and Schachter. CDNR is grateful for the community members, nonprofit leaders, city employees, and service providers who carved time out of their busy schedules to attend one or more of these evening meetings and offer their perspectives. Just one week after CDNR held its final public meeting to gather stakeholder input on the Board of Health report, which acknowledged that needle sticks posed an increased public danger to children due to their curiosity and vulnerability, a South Burlington child was victim to a needle stick they found in a tree on their elementary school playground after it was presumably thrown over the fence from a syringe user in the adjacent McDonald’s parking lot–an issue the school has noticed. Given just how many syringes are necessary for those using fast-acting drugs like Fentanyl intravenously, we firmly believe that our community is at an inflection point and we must balance everyone’s needs equitably. CDNR urges the City Council, Syringe Service Program (SSP) providers, and the State of Vermont to thoughtfully and transparently analyze what is working, what is not, and institute changes for the greater public’s benefit. Our Committee is grateful for the opportunity to offer the below recommendations in hopes of realizing substantive change for Burlingtonians and our many visitors. 2 Page 8 of 27 STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND OTHER DATA SOURCES In addition to normal public outreach mechanisms, representatives from the following entities were invited to attend a CDNR working session: AFSCME; Building Burlington’s Future; Burlington Business Association; Burlington School District (BSD); BSD School Board; Casella Waste; Church Street Marketplace Commission; COTS; Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront; Department of Permitting & Inspections; Department of Public Works; Farrell Properties; Flynn Theater; Frog & Toad Day Care; Howard Center; Lund Center; the Mayor’s Office; Peace & Justice Center; Turning Point; Vermont Cares; Vermont Harm Reduction Advocates; Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform; Ward 3 NPA Steering Committee; YMCA of Greater Burlington; and several Clarke Street residents and Vermont legislators. It is important to note that CDNR only had access to data and documents related to the Howard Center Safe Recovery site at 45 Clarke Street and not other SSPs like Vermont Cares and Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform (VCJR) because the Department of Health only funds Howard Center’s site. Invitations sent this summer to Vermont Cares and VCJR were not responded to. CDNR members also researched existing syringe litter clean-up programs in other cities, prioritizing those referenced in the Board of Health’s report: Boston’s Community Syringe Redemption Program, Philadelphia’s Project Reach, and Portland, Oregon’s Adopt One Block. Each of these programs’ costs, benefits, and impact were analyzed and are included as an Appendix at the end of this report. In addition, CDNR reviewed a variety of documents associated with Vermont’s Syringe Service Providers (SSPs) like those operated by the Howard Center on Clarke Street. This included several years of quarterly grant reports and grant agreements, as well as the 2012 SSP operating guidelines published by the Vermont Department of Health and the May 2025 update. Data from these documents are referenced throughout this report. 3 Page 9 of 27 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM PUBLIC MEETINGS Several key themes emerged that inform the recommendations in this report. 1.​ There is broad acknowledgment that Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) reduce disease transmission and offer pathways to treatment and recovery services. At the same time, it is also true that improperly discarded syringes pose significant public health and safety challenges, as well as hurdles for those in recovery. We must center whole communities when defining harm reduction; Patients do not exist in a vacuum. a.​ CDNR heard from a downtown employee who was stuck while cleaning up used syringes at the workplace. The employee shared the high emotional cost of being stuck and the fear of waiting for test results to confirm whether or not a lifelong disease was contracted. In addition, the prophylactic medication used to prevent HIV transmission costs hundreds of dollars per day and requires a 28-day course, the costs of which were incurred by the employer. This was one of several stories of accidental needle sticks that was shared with CDNR Committee members in the course of writing this report. b.​ We also heard significant concerns that while SSPs are responsible for thousands of used syringes being discarded in our community, they are not taking an active enough role in addressing syringe litter. CDNR commends the ways in which Howard Center has offered to take a more active role in syringe litter clean-up efforts in and around Clarke Street. c.​ Substance Use Disorder (SUD) may be one of the few medical conditions that has direct harm to community members, and those who are not afflicted with the disease and residents often feel asked to overlook that harm. As municipal leaders and representatives of the public we have an obligation to reconcile that. d.​ For individuals in recovery, the high prevalence of used syringes around Burlington is a trigger and so those who have successfully completed treatment often avoid coming downtown. While our City offers robust support to people actively using substances, some people in recovery do not consider Burlington to be a safe or welcoming place for them. If recovery and the elimination of illicit substance use is our ultimate goal, then we must reconsider how we are balancing harm reduction with recovery-oriented approaches. e.​ We heard repeatedly from neighbors of the Howard Center’s SSP on Clarke Street that there is troubling drug-related activity in and around the SSP, including open air drug use and dealing, overdoses, and disruptive behavior, that significantly impacts quality of life for the neighbors on and around this block. Concerns about more syringe litter and substance use in our downtown were also expressed by the Ward 3 NPA Steering Committee, who recently passed an advisory resolution strongly opposing the establishment of an overdose prevention center within the downtown core or the Central Business District; 4 Page 10 of 27  f.​ CDNR members and members of the general public hear regularly about residents and visitors encountering large deposits of needles in and around our downtown. 2.​ Our existing data tracking tools are insufficient to understand and adequately address the true extent of syringe litter in our community. a.​ SeeClickFix is a widely used tool for reporting instances of syringe litter and other concerns across the City. However, SeeClickFix is limited in its reporting capabilities, since it only captures the number of reports of syringe litter. It does not capture the number of syringes found per report. Moreover, many community members do not use SeeClickFix because they either do not know about it, or they would prefer to address the syringe litter on the spot rather than file a report for it to be dealt with by a City representative at a later time. b.​ There are no standardized data tracking tools currently being used by volunteers and community groups who clean up syringe litter, so the syringes they clean up are often unreported. c.​ Many businesses, schools, and other organizations have taken to establishing their own syringe litter mitigation efforts out of necessity. They are not coordinating with the City or any external volunteer groups, so this syringe litter also goes unreported by our current tracking mechanisms. d.​ Despite these shortcomings, the Board of Health still noted that SeeClickFix syringe litter reports have hovered between 800 and 1,000 for the past three years. This represents a small fraction of the total syringe litter in our community. 3.​ While staff, service providers, residents, and volunteers have shown remarkable initiative through weekly syringe clean-ups and other ad hoc efforts, the current system relies too heavily on unfunded volunteer labor, does not adequately address safety concerns, is not guided by a cohesive strategy, and lacks clear accountability mechanisms. a.​ CDNR learned of several grassroots initiatives to address syringe litter in our community, including by the Peace & Justice Center, the Greater Burlington YMCA, and an ad hoc group of volunteers that goes out on Sunday mornings. b.​ These volunteer groups lack central coordination. While their work is admirable and is making an impact, they would benefit from shared data tracking mechanisms, uniform safety training, and high-quality properly-vetted PPE and other necessary materials. c.​ There is an opportunity for the City to provide low-cost but critical backbone support to these volunteer groups, and others that may step forward. Theresa Vezina, the City’s Special Assistant on Overdose Prevention Center Implementation, has begun exploring ways to do this in the short-term and CDNR supports her efforts and those of the volunteers. 5 Page 11 of 27 ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS In order to better address syringe litter in our community, CDNR recommends the City of Burlington and City Council undertake the following recommendations: Adopt a whole community perspective when embracing principles of harm reduction ________________ 1.​ Recommend that the council adopt a whole communities definition and approach to harm reduction principles that incorporates the diverse needs of all members of the public. a.​ Convene a group of diverse stakeholders to define and adopt a citywide definition and pillars that should guide harm reduction work occurring in the city. Harm reduction must center patients and build trust with those afflicted by Substance Use Disorder and much of their work is HIPPA-protected. Simultaneously we must also hold the need to protect other vulnerable populations including children and those in recovery. We must acknowledge that patients with Substance Use Disorder and those using SSP services do not exist in a vacuum; they live in neighborhoods and communities. b.​ Engage the Department of Health and state agencies in this work. 2.​ Recommend that the council ask the Agency of Human Services (AHS) field rep to work with SSPs to require that each outgoing syringe transaction include a notice that effectively communicates what is at risk if syringes continue to be discarded inappropriately. a.​ While the Board of Health reported that most SSP service users dispose of their syringes appropriately, CDNR was unable to find any quantitative data that supported this assertion. When Director of Permitting & Inspections, Bill Ward, who staffs the Board of Health, attended CDNR’s July meeting, he acknowledged that this was likely self-reported through interviews with the Howard Center. CDNR feels that this is not a data-informed statement, and our Committee believes that the only figure we can work from is documented syringes that are unaccounted for through return. b.​ While it is not the position of CDNR or the City Council, as evidenced by the language supporting SSPs in the original resolution, we believe that the discarding of syringes inappropriately poses a public health and safety risk and threatens the continued viability of SSPs in Burlington. This may prove to be an effective communication tool and behavioral deterrent rooted in mutual respect and shared accountability. 6 Page 12 of 27 This page was provided by the Howard Center on 9/16/25 7 Page 13 of 27 3.​ Recommend that the council request the Department of Health audit and analyze the cost of accidental needle sticks to employers, individuals, and insurers. a.​ CDNR heard testimony from a downtown employee who experienced an accidental needle stick while cleaning up syringe litter at the workplace, which has become a regular part of their job. This individual talked about the impact on their life but also the sheer cost of the preventative drugs they had to be prescribed that their employer had to pay for, beyond the Emergency Room bill. b.​ Request that when this data is available, that it be forwarded to the Council. Improve syringe litter data tracking mechanisms ________________ 1.​ Recommend that the council instruct that the city add a quantitative box to SeeClickFix so that the number of needles can be included when syringe litter reports are made. 2.​ Recommend that the city encourage the public, business community, and others to submit all known incidents of syringe litter to SeeClickFix or another centralized data tool. 3.​ Recommend that the city request the Department of Health launch a system whereby the public, employers, and the UVM Medical Center can report needle stick incidents. a.​ CDNR was unable to find any accessible tool whereby those who have been victim to accidental needle sticks can report the incident. Understanding how and where these are occurring will be helpful data to have. In addition, CDNR sees this as a matter of class-conscious equity as many individuals who are experiencing these events are performing jobs such as landscaping, custodial work, property maintenance and management, trash and recycling handling, and other jobs that traditionally may be paid significantly below Burlington’s median income levels. CDNR wishes to create space for those voices and stories to better understand the impact of syringe litter in our community and underscore that their experiences and safety matters. Increase the number of used syringe collection sites ________________ 1.​ Recommend that the city request a report within 6 months on the impact of additional disposal boxes recently purchased by the Board of Health, which are placed in key hot spots in the city. a.​ We support efforts by volunteer groups and the Board of Health to expand secure syringe collection receptacles in hot spots. b.​ CDNR believes that some local businesses may also support hosting a box as part of a pilot project to provide more safe disposal options in our downtown core. 8 Page 14 of 27  c.​ CDNR feels strongly that these sites should not be expanded rapidly beyond this initial pilot, until a report on the impact of these pilot sites is completed and has been shared with CDNR and/or the Council. Support sustainable, community-powered syringe clean-up efforts ________________ 1.​ Recommend that the council support the efforts of Theresa Vezina and the Mayor’s office to provide early-stage operational and organizational support to volunteer groups currently operating community-driven syringe litter clean-up efforts. a.​ Theresa Vezina, Burlington’s Special Assistant on Overdose Prevention Center Implementation, has begun providing operational guidance, training, and coordination to several community-led syringe clean-up efforts in partnership with Howard Center and other providers, which CDNR believes is important and vital to ensure longer-term viability of such efforts. b.​ We support allocating a modest amount of city financial resources to this backbone coordination and support for volunteer-led syringe litter clean-up efforts to kickstart this effort and set it up for success. c.​ We also recommend supporting the efforts by volunteer groups and the Board of Health to expand secure syringe collection receptacles in hot spots and to engage volunteers in managing those additional receptacles. d.​ We recommend asking clean-up volunteers to report back using a standard form after each shift on the number of syringes collected and location, and that the city maintain this data as a supplement to SeeClickFix data. 2.​ Recommend that the city not assume permanent support of the aforementioned work of Theresa Vezina and the Mayor’s office, but rather that the AHS field rep and Dept. of Health offload that in due time to the SSPs and the Dept. of Health. 3.​ Recommend that the city explore partnership opportunities with the Community Justice Center (CJC) to support syringe litter clean-up efforts. a.​ We see an opportunity to integrate syringe litter clean-up efforts with workforce development and/or recovery employment programs currently underway at the CJC, as well as community service hours as part of deferred adjudication. The CJC has expressed an openness to this as well. Better mitigate known hot spots for public safety concerns ________________ 1.​ Recommend that the Department of Public Works and the Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department identity and prioritize the clean-up of hazardous abandoned campsites or outdoor waste where syringes may be present and posing environmental risk. 9 Page 15 of 27  a.​ The Council should engage appropriate city departments and the public to identify places where syringes may be present that are presenting an environmental hazard, particularly abandoned campsites or illegal dump sites especially around waterways or environmentally sensitive spaces or those near schools, playgrounds, parks, the waterfront, and the bike path. The departments and volunteer groups should then make a coordinated clean up effort. b.​ We recommend doing this before winter snow sets in and downed leaves make it easier to see and access wooded spaces. 2.​ Recommend that the council request the Burlington Police Department to increase enforcement of drug dealing in the most-impacted neighborhoods around the Howard Center Safe Recovery Site on Clarke Street. a.​ We have consistently heard testimony from neighborhood residents both to the Council and at CDNR that drug dealing has increased in and around the Clarke Street neighborhood for a variety of reasons. We believe that the residents who have spoken up want and deserve increased police presence and deterrent efforts in the area. CDNR wants to be clear that we agree there are a multitude of factors that are likely contributing to this dynamic that go beyond the Howard Center site. Enhance oversight of Safe Syringe Programs (SSPs) ________________ 1.​ Recommend that the council require SSPs operating in Burlington to activate an advisory committee with the support of the AHS field rep. a.​ This is taken directly from their long-standing operating guides from 2012 and 2025: The organization that implements a syringe exchange program shall convene an advisory committee meeting quarterly for the first two years of the exchange’s operation. If the SEP operates for two years without incident, and at the end of these two years has no unresolved issues identified by the community advisory board, the SEP will be allowed to hold meetings at least once a year and as needed. This advisory committee will provide guidance to the syringe exchange program, and will support communication between the syringe exchange program and the community. The advisory committee should consist of individuals who can support the program in reaching the goals of syringe exchange and maintain the safety of the consumers. The following may be invited to attend the community advisory meetings: • SEP staff • health care workers and the public • former injection drug users • staff from a drug treatment facilities in the catchment area of the syringe exchange program • business owners • community leaders • law enforcement • other individuals and organizations in the entire service area – including the area served through outreach. The syringe exchange program shall demonstrate good faith efforts to maintain open communication with the community at large, including local government, health care providers, law enforcement, and others about the scope 10 Page 16 of 27  of services provided by the syringe exchange program. The advisory meetings may be an appropriate venue for this. b.​ CDNR received verbal commitment from Howard Center leadership who attended our September meeting that they were also interested in pursuing this. c.​ Councilor Litwin found several instances where data or supplemental narratives submitted to the Vermont Department of Health were either concerning enough that technical assistance should have been offered or provided, or flagged additional questions. i.​ i.e., in Q2 of 2025, the Howard Center reported that over 350 of their clients had been mass-evicted from the Motel program that quarter alone, however that number seemed high when compared with State reporting of those numbers being 100 adults and 60 children for Chittenden County, and 800 adults and 300 children Statewide. ii.​ i.e., data for treatment referrals appears to be alarmingly low, so much so that it calls into question whether even the Operating Manual protocols are being followed consistently at that location. iii.​ i.e., Following the Council’s unanimous resolution charging the Board of Health with reviewing the operational effectiveness of SSPs and their efforts to mitigate syringe litter, it was reported by Howard Center back to the Department of Health that they have, “experienced strain from external forces, particularly investigation from the Burlington city council on the effectiveness of harm reduction programs.” CDNR wants to reiterate that the Council has consistently held since we passed this resolution in October 2024, that, “syringe exchange programs play a critical role in harm reduction, reduce the spread of disease and infection, and support individuals in managing substance use while also providing education and resources to address the environmental impact of improperly discarded syringes.” Our committee believes oversight and analysis is an essential part of program improvement and longevity–particularly when operational aspects of that program have resulted in negative impacts for others. 2.​ Recommend that the council ask the AHS field rep to audit patient identifiers where single-visit syringe provision is high and if these visits constitute violations of their operating rules. a.​ Operating Rule: Syringe exchange will only take place in a person to person interaction between the client and program staff and volunteers. Syringes or other safer injection supplies will not be mailed. i.​ Anecdotally, Councilor Litwin has heard that some individuals may be acquiring large numbers of syringes “rigs” and then reselling them on the street. Since Safe Recovery is open most days, it may be increasingly necessary to give out smaller batches of syringes to avoid this dynamic and increase the number of one-on-one touchpoints or opportunities for 11 Page 17 of 27  recovery. This would also be an opportunity to improve syringe return rates. b.​ Testimony by Howard Center leadership at the CDNR September meeting indicated that larger numbers of syringes are being provided to non-Burlington residents who use the SSP site on Clarke Street and these individuals are sometimes returning upwards of 5,000 syringes at a time. CDNR believes this practice should be looked at more closely by the Department of Health and that Franklin County residents should be utilizing their mobile SSP for pick-ups. c.​ CDNR believes that the Department of Health should also deaggregate SSP service users from within Chittenden County to better understand how other communities could benefit from mobile SSPs as well. 3.​ Recommend that the council ask the AHS field rep to investigate why SSP referrals and accessing of substance use disorder treatment programs are so low and consider setting a performance improvement plan in this area. Engage recovery service providers such as Turning Point of Chittenden County in the evaluation. a.​ Program staff and volunteers must be able to refer individuals to prevention programs related to transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis and other blood-borne and sexually transmitted diseases if this training cannot be offered on site. Syringe exchange programs shall also provide information and referrals including access to substance abuse treatment programs. 12 Page 18 of 27  b.​ During CDNR’s September meeting, the Howard Center staff who attended questioned whether the referral data was fully accurate. This referral data was taken directly from quarterly status reports provided by the Howard Center to the Department of Health. Howard Center said they would look for additional data they thought might not be covered in their QSRs however they never provided that data by the time of publication of CDNR’s final recommendations. Councilor Litwin reminded them of this in an email on 9/24/25 and Howard Center advised they’d be sending the data and a response to the CDNR meeting from Beth Holden in an email on 9/25/25. 4.​ Recommend that the council request that the AHS field rep forward reports to the council twice per year and that the AHS field rep work with CDNR to identify key performance indicators the council has a particular interest in receiving updates on. Require SSPs operating in Burlington to participate in this. Communication should be improved, transparent, and accountable. a.​ Referring to section B (6 & 7) of the Operating Guidelines: i.​ The syringe exchange program shall demonstrate cooperation with the advisory committee. This cooperation will be demonstrated by tracking, and providing to the VDH advisory committee meeting attendance records, agendas, meeting minutes, and any other collaborative information. ii.​ The syringe exchange program shall demonstrate its methods of communication with the community at large, including local government, 13 Page 19 of 27  health care providers, parents, business community, law enforcement, and general public. Examples of this would be through submitting quarterly reports to VDH on referrals made, trainings conducted, meetings with the community and updates on other program issues. 5.​ Recommend that the City Council request the AHS field rep require syringe numbers collected and distributed be reported in their QSR reports and ask that this be forwarded on to the council. a.​ Currently the number of syringes distributed and collected are not being reported in publicly accessible Quality Service Reports (QSRs). CDNR had to request this information directly from the Howard Center. We recommend that these numbers be transparently accessible to the public and that the Council receive these in the updates referenced in recommendation 4 of this section. 6.​ Recommend that the council take the proper legal steps to require that any SSPs operating in Burlington submit a syringe litter mitigation and clean-up plan to the council before Spring 2026. a.​ In 2024 alone, the Howard Center Safe Recovery site documented approximately 427,774 unaccounted for syringes. That is over 35,000 syringes missing from the system every month. While this does not mean they are all disposed of inappropriately or even in Burlington, we believe that likely a substantial number of those are in our community’s streets, parks, wooded areas, waterways, sewers, and trash system. Ultimately, CDNR believes that if Burlington is being asked to support this harm reduction initiative by locating the services here, we also expect that the funders and providers of the syringes be primarily responsible for their mitigation and clean-up and bear the costs of any reasonable efforts so as not to further burden an already beleaguered municipal budget and public. b.​ In Howard Center’s Q3 2023 QSR to the Department of Health, Safe Recovery wrote, “Syringe Litter has increased and there has been a lot of community feedback and scrutiny of our services.” However, we were unable to find evidence that Howard Center asked for technical assistance, support, or additional funding from the State in dealing with the issue. c.​ CDNR believes that the Department of Health should be amply funding intentional initiatives to incentivize the return of syringes by SSP service users. Howard Center moved away from providing gift cards to providing snacks, which we do not believe is a sufficient motivator. This could also incentivize the clean-up of improperly discarded syringes. If properly funded, SSPs and community partners could potentially lead clean-up crews where gift cards or other strong incentives are provided. Explore integration opportunities for SSPs with the Overdose Prevention Center (OPC) as part of the OPC planning process ________________ 14 Page 20 of 27 1.​ Recommend that the council explore requiring the co-location of SSP services in the new Overdose Prevention Center (OPC) once open. a.​ Howard Center’s Safe Recovery building on Clarke Street resides within the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA), as identified by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, opening up more potential uses and funding for that space. We believe this is an opportunity for Howard Center to transition the location at 45 Clarke Street to become much-needed recovery housing with the right support and funding from federal, state, and local partners. Given the nature of the neighborhood complaints, the sheer number of syringes necessary now to support those addicted to modern-day drugs like Fentanyl, the dense residential environment, and the difficulty Howard Center experiences managing occurrences off-property, CDNR feels that this may no longer be an appropriate location for an SSP and this deserves ongoing monitoring and analysis by the City. Our Committee urges the City to work intentionally and expeditiously to explore co-location or relocation options. b.​ Request that CEDO offer technical assistance and collaborative support to the Howard Center to locate and apply for available [federal] funding to convert 45 Clarke Street into recovery housing. 15 Page 21 of 27 APPENDIX Councilor Schachter conducted a SWOT analysis of three syringe litter clean-up programs to inform our work. A brief overview of each program is below, and is followed by a visual summary of the findings. The program referenced earlier in this report that is led by Theresa Vezina and the Mayor’s office most closely represents Portland’s AdoptOneBlock model. It’s also important to note that for all of these programs, and for any program the City of Burlington adopts, handling used syringes involves risk of injuries or infection. It requires PPE, training, and materials to ensure safe disposal. Any accident can lead to liability concerns or reduced public trust, so implementation of appropriate training and safety protocols is of paramount importance. As referenced in our recommendations, we also see an important role for the Department of Health to play in launching, supporting, and maintaining an initiative like this, while also partnering with Burlington’s business community and municipal leaders. Boston’s Community Syringe Redemption Program (CSRP) This program pays enrolled adults a small cash incentive to return used syringes as a way of reducing unsafe needle litter in public spaces. Launched in December 2020, the program quickly expanded to multiple neighborhoods and collected over 5 million syringes, averaging over 5,000 daily. In addition to syringe collection, CSRP distributes masks, naloxone, and serves as a point of engagement for people who use drugs. The program also appears to have reduced citywide service requests for needle cleanup by roughly 50%. The program’s funding from pandemic relief sources ended at the end of 2024, but it has been revived as part of Boston’s Back2Work program. While this program provides a low-barrier, low-threshold income opportunity, it also requires fairly extensive funding and logistical oversight to operate. Philadelphia’s Project Reach This is a harm-reduction‐oriented sanitation initiative under Philadelphia’s Substance Use Prevention & Harm Reduction (SUPHR) division that focuses on neighborhoods most affected by substance use. With oversight from dedicated City staff, this program removes discarded syringes and other drug-related litter, provides general trash cleanup, distributes naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and offers educational materials and referrals to supportive services. A component of the program, Block2Block (B2B), uses “same-day pay” employment to engage community members in cleanup work, including safe syringe disposal. Project Reach also operates several public needle drop‐box locations, and works to expand public restroom and biohazard cleanup services to reduce harms from human waste. Portland, Oregon’s AdoptOneBlock AdoptOneBlock is a volunteer-driven cleanup initiative that empowers community volunteers to “adopt” a block (or more) to keep clean on their own schedule, with free cleanup supplies delivered to them when needed. The program has grown to over 10,000 Block Ambassadors adopting more than 12,000 blocks, removing hundreds of gallons of litter, debris, and trash, while also fostering stronger neighborhood connections. It also organizes larger scale cleanups (Block Brigade and “We Believe in Portland” events) in coordination with businesses and community groups for areas needing more heavy lifting. This program offers the lowest cost per 16 Page 22 of 27 syringe collected and has the greatest community-building impact of the programs researched for this report. 17 Page 23 of 27 SWOT Analysis 18 Page 24 of 27 19 Page 25 of 27 Resolution Relating to: Strengthening the Relationship between the City Administration, City Council, and Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) In the year Two Thousand and Twenty-Five Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows: WHEREAS the City Council has adopted a resolution that encouraged and supported the establishment of Neighborhood Planning Assemblies in each of the city's wards; and WHEREAS the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies were intended to be open and accessible to all voters of the city residing in a particular ward; and WHEREAS the responsibility for organizing the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies was originally delegated to the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO); and WHEREAS all residents of a particular ward are considered voting members of the Neighborhood Planning Assembly for that ward; and WHEREAS each Neighborhood Planning Assembly has developed its own bylaws and meeting operating procedures; and WHEREAS the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies were established to help provide city residents with information concerning city programs and activities; and WHEREAS the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies were established to provide advice to the City Council, the various city commissions, and city administration with respect to governmental decisions, the allocation of revenues, and issues facing individual neighborhoods and the city as a whole; and WHEREAS the priorities, needs, and interests of city residents has evolved over time as the city has grown and developed; and WHEREAS the City Council frequently considers matters of importance that intersect with the interests and priorities of the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies; and WHEREAS the City Council and Neighborhood Planning Assemblies have a mutual interest to work together for the benefit of city residents; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Burlington and the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies affirm the following principles: •​ The NPAs are essential to the civic health of our community. •​ The NPAs shall be open and accessible to all city residents and shall abide by Open Meeting Law. •​ The NPAs shall adhere to federal, state, and local laws regarding anti-discrimination, free speech, and accessibility. •​ The NPAs shall adhere to the provisions of their bylaws and decisions shall be made in a transparent manner. Page 26 of 27  •​ The NPAs shall expend funds allocated to them by the City Council in a manner consistent with the City’s terms, conditions, and restrictions. •​ The NPAs shall set the terms and conditions for their gatherings and shall determine their agendas and priorities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that CEDO or other City office charged with supporting the NPAs shall: •​ Develop a standardized process in collaboration with the NPAs by which each NPA can communicate a list of annual priorities to the City Council and City Administration •​ Consult with other relevant city staff to develop easily understood materials that outline the legal requirements of the NPAs. •​ Consult with other relevant city staff to review and update these materials as needed but no less than every three calendar years. •​ Collaborate with NPAs and other relevant city staff to ensure NPAs understand the legal requirements of the NPAs. •​ Include a representative, chosen by the NPAs to serve on hiring committees for staff roles predominantly focused on supporting and liaising with the NPAs BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council acknowledges and agrees that: •​ The NPAs play an important role in the city's deliberative process. •​ The advice and counsel received from residents at NPA meetings is valuable and important to the City's decision-making process. •​ Individual City Councilors shall be encouraged to regularly attend NPA meetings in their respective Ward or District. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council shall endeavor in good faith to consult with each NPA on: •​ Issues that impact NPA governance and structure before proceeding with resolutions and ordinances. •​ Issues that disproportionately impact a particular area of the city. •​ Matters identified by the NPAs as priorities for the current fiscal year. •​ All development projects that require Major Impact Review. •​ Redistricting and changes to ward boundaries and polling places. •​ Proposed charter changes and ballot questions that appear on the Annual Town Meeting Day ballot. Page 27 of 27