Wards 2 & 3 NPA
Regular MeetingBurlington, VT · February 8, 2024
Minutes
Wards 2 and 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly Minutes
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 6:30-8:30pm
In person at ONE Community Center, 20 Allen St. and
virtually via Zoom
Attendees: see following pages
Moderator: Lauren Ebersol Notetaker: Mollie Flanigan
6:34 pm Introductions & Announcements
1. Adopt the agenda, Mollie moved to adopt the agenda and David seconded
2. Announcements: Looking for a Ward 2 rep for the N. Winooski Ave transportation demand
management (TDM) plan
3. Annual City Election and Presidential Primary Election are on March 5.
a. The City ballot will be mailed to all active registered voters by Feb 14.
b. The Presidential Primary ballot will be mailed to voters by request only.
c. The recent redistricting will be in effect. Check to see what ward you’re in.
d. Get more info about the election on the City’s website.
6:38 pm Public Forum
● Solvey Overby - Explained ranked choice voting
● Will Emmons - Introduced himself as a mayoral candidate
● Chris Hassel - Introduced himself as a mayoral candidate
● Charlie Messing - Spoke to downtown representation concerns within Ward and Council on
Aging and advocacy of fixing sidewalks
● Melo Grant - Encouraged everyone to vote on town meeting day
6:50 pm Vote on new Ward 3 Steering Committee member Jessy Robbins
Nomination from the floor: Charlie Messing
Chris motioned voting in Jessy Robbins and Charlie Messing onto the Ward 3 Steering Committee. Michelle
seconded. Ward 3 members present unanimously voted in support.
6:55 pm CEDO Consolidated Plan
Fosca Bechthold and Scott Rogers, Community and Economic Development Office
Come share what you think are Burlington's greatest housing and community development
needs to inform the new survey: City of Burlington Open Town Hall - Burlington's Five-Year Plan
for Housing and Community Needs - Issue (opengov.com)
6:56 pm Ballot questions
Fiscal Year 25 Burlington School District Budget
Russ Elek, Communication Specialist with Burlington School District gave an overview of the budget
Contact information: relek@bsdvt.org
● Resources:
○ Budget One Pager Summary
○ Town Meeting Day Budget Presentation
○ Webpage
Burlington Electric Department Credit Limit
Emily Stebbins-Wheelock, BED Chief Financial Officer
● Resources:
○ Burlington Electric Department Credit Limit FAQ
Public Safety Tax
Gene Bergman, Ward 2 City Councilor, Melo Grant, Central District City Councilor
● Resources:
○ Public Safety Tax City Council Resolution
7:25 pm Uncontested Races Candidate Statements
Ward 2 City Council Candidate: Gene Bergman, Progressive: Website
Ward 3 School Commissioner Candidate: Saja Almogalli
Saja was unable to attend this meeting, but please reach out to her with any questions,
Email: salmogalli@bsdvt.org
Ward 2 School Commissioner Candidate: Polly Vanderputten, Email: pvanderputten@bsdvt.org
7:35 pm Ward 3 City Council Forum
Candidates:
Malik Mines, Democrat
Joe Kane, Progressive
Christopher Aaron-Felker, Republican
8:35 pm Adjourn
Our next meeting is Thursday, March 14.
Mayoral Race Resources:
Recorded Debates:
Burlington Unified Parent Teacher Organization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFwr1sOrh80
Burlington Mayoral Candidate Forum (CCTV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD6xgKUT9zQ
Mayoral Matchup (Seven Days): https://www.sevendaysvt.com
Attendees:
Agenda
Wards 2 and 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 6:30-8:30pm
Join in person: ONE Community Center, 20 Allen St.
Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85860854764
Community dinner: 5:30-6:30pm | Moroccan Feast: Harira Soup, Chermoula Roasted
Vegetables, Quinoa Tabbouleh w/Fresh Herbs, Khobz, and Orange Olive Oil Cake
Music: Mardi Gras Band with Brian Perkins
Special Activity: FREE Make-Your-Own Valentines table with HoneyBee Heather
Moderator: Lauren Ebersol Notetaker: Mollie Flanigan
6:30 pm Introductions & Announcements | 10 min
1. Adopt the agenda
2. NPA member introductions
3. Announcements: Looking for a Ward 2 rep for the N. Winooski Ave transportation
demand management (TDM) plan
4. Annual City Election and Presidential Primary Election are on March 5.
a. The City ballot will be mailed to all active registered voters by Feb 14.
b. The Presidential Primary ballot will be mailed to voters by request only.
c. The recent redistricting will be in effect. Check to see what ward you’re in.
d. Get more info about the election on the City’s website.
6:40 pm Public Forum | 10 min (2 minutes max per person)
Please state your full name, pronouns, street, and ward, and follow the NPA ground rules.
6:50 pm Vote on new Ward 3 Steering Committee member | 5 min
Jessy Robbins
6:55 pm CEDO Consolidated Plan | 15 min
Fosca Bechthold and Scott Rogers, Community and Economic Development Office
Come share what you think are Burlington's greatest housing and community development
needs to inform the new survey: City of Burlington Open Town Hall - Burlington's Five-Year Plan
for Housing and Community Needs - Issue (opengov.com)
7:10 pm Ballot questions | 20 min
● Fiscal Year 25 Burlington School District Budget
● Burlington Electric Department Credit Limit, Emily Stebbins-Wheelock, BED Chief
Financial Officer
Use the QR code to go to any of these links: Email us • Go to our website • Watch
meeting recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram •
Request a time slot with CEDO’s request form • Links from this agenda
● Public Safety Tax
7:30 pm Uncontested Races Candidate Statements | 5 min
2 minute statements
Ward 2 City Council Candidate: Gene Bergman, Progressive
Ward 3 School Commissioner Candidate: Saja Almogalli
Saja is unable to attend this meeting, but please reach out to her with any questions
Ward 2 School Commissioner Candidate: Polly Vanderputten
7:35 pm Ward 3 City Council Forum | 60 min
Candidates:
○ Malik Mines, Democrat
○ Joe Kane, Progressive
○ Christopher Aaron-Felker, Republican
8:35 pm Adjourn - thank you for coming!
Our next meeting is Thursday, March 14.
Recorded Mayoral Race Debates:
Burlington Unified Parent Teacher Organization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFwr1sOrh80
Burlington Mayoral Candidate Forum (CCTV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD6xgKUT9zQ
Appendix to agenda | Wards 2 & 3 NPA - Page 1
APPENDIX
Information to join virtually (via Zoom)
Note: The webinar information is the same for every meeting.
Webinar link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85860854764
Webinar ID 858 6085 4764
Or iPhone one-tap US: +19292056099,,85860854764#
Or telephone +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312
626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833
Wards 2 and 3 NPA Steering Committee
To email the full steering committee: wards2and3npa@googlegroups.com
Lauren Ebersol Ward 2 lebersol27@gmail.com
Erika Faulkner Ward 2 efaulkner013@gmail.com
Mollie Klepack Flanigan Ward 2 mollieklepack@gmail.com
Jessica Hyman Ward 2 jessicahymanvt@gmail.com
Roxanne Meuse Ward 2 rtmeuse@gmail.com
Connor Benson Ward 3 connorbenson544@gmail.com
Michelle Borbas Ward 3 sarno75@gmail.com
Chris Haessly Ward 3 haessly@adelphia.net
Amy Prenowitz Ward 3 aprenowitz@gmail.com
Appendix to agenda | Wards 2 & 3 NPA - Page 2
About Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs)
A section of Burlington City Council resolution first adopted in 1982 establishing provisions for a
Neighborhood Planning Assembly in each City ward.
…Neighborhood Planning Assemblies shall... help provide citizens with information concerning city programs
and activities; help obtain citizen views of city needs; help provide citizens with the opportunity to participate in
making recommendations with respect to governmental decisions including the allocation of revenues.
...Assemblies shall also be encouraged to provide advice to the appropriate commission or this council with
respect to community development, housing programs, this City's Comprehensive Plan and its waterfront
planning activities, and the city's budget among other issues....
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;
and
● Be a fun, creative, and vital organization that provides value and benefit through the multitude of
perspectives shared by those who participate.
NPA GROUND RULES:
● Meetings should have clearly defined Agenda & 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.
Appendix to agenda | Wards 2 & 3 NPA - Page 3
Elected officials representing Wards 2 and 3
Mayor:
Mayor Miro Weinberger Democrat 802-865-7272 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
Ward 3 Joe Magee Progressive jmagee@burlingtonvt.gov 802-279-5513
School Board Members:
Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Jean Waltz jwaltz@bsdvt.org 802-355-7856
Ward 2 Faizo Hassan hassanfaizo@gmail.com 802-578-1259
Ward 3 Polly Vanderputten pvanderputten@bsdvt.org 802-578-8653
Vermont State House Representatives:
Chittenden-15 Troy Headrick Progressive/Democrat theadrick@leg.state.vt.us
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 Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Progressive/Democrat emulvaneystanak@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228
Vermont State Senators:
Chittenden-Central Tanya Vyhovsky Progressive/Democrat ltvyhovsky@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
Appendix to agenda | Wards 2 & 3 NPA - Page 4