Ward 2 NPA

Meeting Notes Ward 2 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA) October 9th, 2025 | 6:30-8:30pm | All are welcome Join in person: O.N.E. Community Dinner ONE Community Center, 20 Allen Street 5:30-6:30pm | Free | Donations welcome Fall Indian-inspired Feast: Creamy Coconut Curry with Join remotely: Potatoes, Chick Peas, Kale & Carrots; Spiced Fennel & https://zoom.us/j/93179389982 Cabbage; Masala-roasted Delicata Squash; Rice; Salad; and Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread for Dessert Music: Ben Wang​ Facilitator: Marc Stannard​ ​ Notetaker: Kason Hudman 6:30 pm Introduction 5 min Review and adopt/approve the agenda and previous minutes; introductions as time allows. -​ Agenda adopted 6:35 pm Public Forum (2 minutes max per person) -​ Ward 2 resident, mentions that the F-35s are being more frequent and louder, and expresses the opinion that we would like some relief. -​ Megan Humphrey (she/her), Ward 2 resident, retired from the organization HANDS which provided food for elderly unhoused folks, but she has started making craft bags for unhoused kids in shelters. She is asking for help with craft supplies or donations. She asks for people to visit her at the meeting for more information -​ Aurora Calderon, Mercy Connections, mentions that Mercy Connections is running the Mercy Marketplace Craft Fair on November 2nd and encourages folks to attend and points out the flyers at the entrance. 255 S. Champlain St Suite 8 is where Mercy Connections is located -​ Lauren Ebersol, Ward 2 resident, mentions the Richard Kemp Center back to school event 6:45 pm Updates from the Library 15 min Mary Danko, Library Director - Fletcher Free Library -​ Mary talks about libraries being grounded in intellectual freedom and freedom of speech, which help to make us a strong democracy. Mary mentions that there are multiple ways that the library helps do that, including the physical building and collections, but also through the digital services that the library provides. Ebooks, streaming, newspaper access, consumer reports, and more are all accessible via the library card. Mary mentions specifically the new Foundation Search -​ Ward 2 resident asks what should be brought for a library card. Mary says you need to bring a proof of residence. Mary also mentions that if you work in Burlington, you are also eligible for a library card, you just need to bring proof of employment ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 1  -​ Charlie, Ward 2 resident, asks a question about the Carnegie Building Restoration work. Mary mentions that the work should be done in Mid December, with funding help from the National Park Service, the City of Burlington, and Friends of the Fletcher Free Library. -​ Lauren Ebersol, Ward 2 resident, asks about the Green Mountain Book Festival. Mary says that she doesn’t know specifics about it but encourages Lauren to check out the library website, and does mention that John Scalzi will be a featured speaker. -​ Charlie asks about the long-term Library plan. Mary mentions that the housing crisis and climate crisis inspire a lot of the current library priorities to ensure that people with the most need are supported. Charlie further asks if the library has any plans for Halloween. Mary says that she doesn’t think anything specific is planned for Halloween, but she does mention the great library displays are often themed, including the current theme centered around banned books. Mary says that it is important that libraries expand and uphold the power of freedom of speech. -​ Comment from Ward 2 resident, she mentions that there is a Library community outreach coordinator named Julianna who comes to Decker Towers, where the commenter is a social worker, and it is much appreciated. Mary thanks the person for their comment -​ Comment from Ward 2 resident, wants to express their deep gratitude for the work that the library does. Mary mentions that the library also now contracts with a Howard Center Outreach team member who is there at the library to help with social work needs. She mentions that this has made the library accessible to everybody. -​ Question from Lauren, what is Mary’s favorite banned book and favorite spooky book? Mary mentions that John Green is her favorite banned book author, and she says that spooky children’s books are her favorite spooky books. -​ Comment from Ward 2 resident, mentions that her child loves the sensory table, and thanks the library for having such a fun play area. -​ Comment from Ward 2 resident, suggests that the library add a place to listen to the classical music collection at the library. Mary says that she will take the suggestion back to the library. 7:00 pm Updates from City Council 20 min Gene Bergman, Ward 2 City Councilor Melo Grant, Central District City Councilor -​ Gene starts by mentioning the resolution passed a year ago about the F-35s, which has now run up against a very unsympathetic federal administration. Gene says that he is trying to set up a meeting with the congressional delegation, and he is asking for community support to call our congresspeople to pressure them into taking the meeting. -​ Gene mentions the public safety updates, including the $1500 given to the Peace & Justice Center to support the BTV Clean Up Crew and their syringe litter pickup program. Gene says that sometimes it feels like pulling teeth to get even very simple resolutions passed. -​ Gene talks about the ordinance to introduce more strict signage requirements for parking lots since they are often confusing folks about what is actually public parking. Gene also mentions that they are looking to add rules to gas stations who hold debit cards before payments are processed. ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 2  -​ Melo mentions that folks should listen to Chief Burke as he gives public safety updates at various meetings around town. According to Melo, Chief Burke showed data that proved that the City Hall Park resolution just displaced some of the crimes to surrounding areas. Melo also mentions the joint statement signed by the Mayor and the Democratic Caucus Leaders regarding respectfulness, and voices her frustration that some city councilors were subsequently insulted in that same meeting. Melo reminds everybody that the Mayor is holding meetups every week, she gives press conferences every month, and she is generally accessible. She encourages folks to meet with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, and to push back against folks who are saying that the Mayor isn’t doing anything. Melo also mentions that she wants to thank Christian Berry for being the interim REIB director, and thank Kelli Perkins as the newly appointed director of REIB. Melo also mentions that the community should stay engaged in the process for siting the Overdose Prevention Center. Melo would like it to be Downtown. -​ Gene mentions two charter changes that will likely be on the ballot in March, one that would make the REIB office a permanent chartered office in the city. -​ Nora, Ward 2 resident, mentions that she has noticed a few parking meters around the city being out of service. She asks if that should be reported on SeeClickFix, and also wants to know if you can pay in one zone for parking in another. Gene answers that the DPW is in charge of parking enforcement, and he suggests calling the DPW to report any problems with parking payment. -​ Ward 2 resident, has a satirical proposal regarding the F-35s. Gene loudly reminds the federal administration that it was a joke. 7:25 pm Overview of the City of Burlington Comprehensive Plan 20 min Sarah Morgan, Principal Planner - Dept of Planning, City of Burlington -​ Sarah starts, the city is combining many planning efforts (transportation, parks & recreation, economic development, etc) to craft a holistic long-term vision. This is overdue, as many of these plans date back to the early 2010s. This includes plans for more housing and increasing equity in housing access, more multi-modal transportation, and more. -​ One of the things that is necessary to consider is the changes that occurred after the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected consumer patterns and socialization downtown. Many of the previous plans were drafted prior to the pandemic so are outdated and reflect old patterns. -​ Sarah invites everyone to attend the Old North End visioning workshop on Thursday, October 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm at the Old North End Community Center. 7:45 pm Updates from Burlington Department of Public Works (DPW) 45 min Chapin Spencer, Director - Dept. of Public Works -​ Chapin starts, mentioning that the job of the DPW is to balance all the city’s different assets and plans, including water treatment, roads, etc. Chapin thanks the public for approving the wastewater plant bond, the water reservoir bond, and the general obligation bond at the last Town Meeting Day. Chapin continues mentioning all the paving projects that happened in 2025, including the 1 mile of road paving that happened. Because of the bond that was approved on town meeting day, the city will be more likely to meet the demand of 4-5 miles ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 3  of paving and 2-3 miles of sidewalk paving next year. Chapin details all the sidewalk paving projects that occurred in 2025, including on Howard St, North Avenue, and others. -​ Chapin mentions that the Great Streets Main Street project is ahead of schedule on on budget, and the Champlain Parkway is also on time and on budget. -​ Chapin mentions the next major capital project reconnecting bank and cherry streets. They have started some of that work, but they won’t be able to work extensively until the Burlington Square project is completed. -​ Chapin mentions that the Wastewater Treatment upgrades have started. -​ Chapin also mentions that there will now be a Fall Clean Sweep similar to the Spring Clean Sweep, as a method to decrease the amount of phosphorus entering Lake Champlain. They will also be running their Fall Leaf Pickup from November 10-14, if you leave out a bag of leaves, the DPW will pick it up. -​ Lucy, Ward 2 Resident, mentions that there are still dangerous potholes on North Street. Also mentions that the new bike lanes that have gone in are wonderful and well marked. Asks if there is a timeline for finish on the Main Street Great Streets project. Chapin mentions that the project should finish by June 2026, if not sooner. And there will be a winter construction shutdown from Thanksgiving-March/April, that will bring back open sidewalks and two-way traffic. -​ Ward 2 Resident mentions that the area between N. Winooski and Elmwood on North Street is a bit rough. -​ Ward 2 resident asks about the Fall Street Sweep project and if it will happen at night, Chapin mentions that it will happen at night. -​ Ward 2 resident asks about the 2-way bike lane on N. Champlain St, wondering why it only goes partially up the street. Chapin says that cost and connectivity are the main reasons, with the lanes meeting up with the Old North End Greenway. -​ Grace Sherwood, mentions that they appreciate the protected bike lanes, wonders if there are improvements that can be made to Battery St. Chapin mentions that Depot St will be repaved hopefully, and that road diet improvements to Battery St. are expensive but have been considered. Battery St will probably be repaved in the next 3 years as well. -​ Ward 2 resident, asks if it would be possible for bike racks to be placed in the transit center. Chapin says he will note that request. -​ Nora, Ward 2 resident, asks for an update on the Green Mountain Transit budget and planning. Chapin mentions that the good news on the finance committee of GMT is that it is likely that no more service reductions will be required through 2027. -​ Charlie, Ward 2 resident, asks a question about the speed bumps on Archibald, he finds them to be particularly large. 8:30 pm Door prize drawing + Adjourn! Our next meeting is Thursday, Nov. 13! ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 4 Scan the QR code (or click here) to: Email us • Go to our website • Watch meeting recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Instagram • Request a time slot with CEDO’s request form • Get to all links related to this meeting Appendix to the Agenda Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee To contact the entire Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee, email ward2npa@googlegroups.com Name Email Joined Term expiration Lauren Ebersol lebersol27@gmail.com 2023 2027 Kason Hudson kasonhudman@gmail.com 2024 2028 Charlie Giannoni charliecpg@gmail.com 2024 2028 Marc Stannard Marc.Stannard@outlook.com 2024 2028 Nora Aronds noraaronds@yahoo.com 2025 2029 Grace Sherwood Gsherwood703@gmail.com 2025 2029 NPA Guiding Principles ●​ Operate through democratic principles and democratic procedures. ●​ Provide a safe and welcoming forum where residents can actively share their voices about issues that matter to them, and where they can learn from the voices of others. ●​ Cultivate involvement by a diverse spectrum of community members through active outreach and through eliminating barriers to participation. ●​ Operate in a manner that models respectful, inclusive, culturally, and economically aware practices. ●​ Be a fun, creative, and vital organization that provides value and benefit through the multitude of perspectives shared by those who participate. Ward 2 NPA Ground Rules ●​ Meetings should have clearly defined agenda and roles. ●​ Honor time limits: A best effort must be made to start on time, follow the agenda, and finish on time. ●​ Listen to others: Make efforts to be an open-minded member of the group. ●​ Respect the agenda and the process: Try to remain focused on the issue at hand. ●​ Share your opinion respectfully: Speak out, but not over, others’ comments. ●​ Treat people how you would like to be treated: Be respectful of everyone, including guests. ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 5 Elected officials representing Ward 2 Mayor Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Progressive mayor@BurlingtonVT.gov City Councilors Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Melo Grant Progressive megrant@burlingtonvt.gov 802-310-0962 Ward 2 Gene Bergman Progressive gbergman@burlingtonvt.gov 802-598-3602 School Board Members Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Jean Waltz jwaltz@bsdvt.org 802-355-7856 Ward 2 Polly Vanderputten pvanderputten@bsdvt.org 802-578-8653 Vermont State House Representatives Chittenden-15 Troy Headrick Independent theadrick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Chittenden-15 Brian Cina Progressive/Democrat bcina@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Chittenden-16 Kate Logan Progressive/Democrat klogan@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Chittenden-16 Jill Krowinski Democrat jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Chittenden-17 Abigail Duke Democrat aduke@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Vermont State Senators Chittenden-Central Tanya Vyhovsky Progressive/Democrat tvyhovsky@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Chittenden-Central Martine Gulick Democrat mgulick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Chittenden-Central Philip Baruth Democrat/Progressive pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us (802) 503-5266 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 6 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 7 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - October 9, 2025 - Notes - Page 8