Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly Meeting Minutes

April 9, 2008
UVM / Memorial Lounge, Waterman Building
 

Wayne Senville, Ward 1 Steering Committee, moderated the meeting.

• Barbara Mines reported that Branch Out Burlington was selling trees; orders to be placed by April 25th.
• Sharon Bushor advised that VELCO was holding public meetings on the "East Avenue Loop," on April 10th at SBHS and May 21st at the South Burlington Holiday Inn.
• Judy Rosenstreich confirmed that she would be serving on the Mayor's Budget Task Force.
• Richard Hillyard read out a statement from Jay Gonyeau, Burlington Telecom, confirming that Ward 1 customers were scheduled to be hooked up starting late April and proceeding through the spring.
• "Wayne Senville thanked Channel 17 for filming the meeting, and invited anyone interested to volunteer for training so that we could video our own meetings. Martha Lang, Judy Rosenstriech and Serrill Flash expressed interest."
• Sharon Bushor advised that, following Committee reorganization at the City Council, she would no longer be serving on the Board of Finance. She maintains her position on the Institutions Committee and a series of "kick-off" meetings to review Master Plans has been initiated. UVM and Champlain College presentations are complete, FAHC scheduled for May 6th. Key issues within Ward 1 include a mutual reconciliation with each major "institution" as to how they survive and thrive in a way that is compatible with our wish to protect neighborhoods. SB encouraged all residents to be active in attending meetings, and urged that particular attention be paid to traffic and parking.
• Barbara Mines announced the Burlington Walking Work Group Event on May 8th at UVM's Davis Center, 5:00 p.m. Preservation Burlington will lead a guided tour down Main Street to a reception with Mayor Kiss at the Boathouse.
• Ita Meno, CEDO, reminded the meeting that Green Up Day is May 3rd and encouraged residents to participate from hubs situated throughout the City.
• Keisha Ram of UVM advised that the new Student President is Jay Taylor.
• Bob Penniman stated that the Colchester Avenue Plan will be published within a year, and he was encouraged to bring plan progress reports to the NPA.
• Sharon Bushor emphasized that local projects must not be forgotten, for instance the sidewalk alongside the cemetery going eastbound down the Colchester Avenue hill. It was confirmed that Norm Baldwin of DPW will be at May's meeting, and he will be asked to address. This will be formalized in the agenda.
• Tom Derenthal was concerned that the DPW list of paving priorities was available for residents to review.

• Marta Ceroni, UVM, and Frank Zelko addressed the work that VIVA is doing to restore "voting rights for immigrants in local elections."
• MC described the large number of incoming non-citizens and refugees entering Burlington, and the importance to all of breaking down local cliques of immigrants and better integrating them into the community. She advocates the introduction of voting rights as a way to break down social barriers. She noted that this was a decision that could be taken by individual cities and described historical precedent, in Burlington, and existing precedent in New England. The protracted process of obtaining permanent residency (green card eligibility) resisted community engagement.
• Frank Zelko noted that this was beneficial, both to "immigrants" and the community. Historically the US welcomed voting rights for non-citizens until the 1920's, and its reintroduction would represent an intent to restore "grass roots democracy."
• Jared Wood questioned how the voracity of non-citizen status is established.
• Sharon Bushor asked what criteria other participating communities demand. She was interested in exploring pros and cons.
• Judy Rosenstreich referred to the administrative issue of reformatting the ballot (between local and State and Federal items).
• Keisha Ram asked if VIVA offered translation services of local political material.

• FAHC overview
• The Master Facility Planning Process
• Guiding Principles
• Projecting future need for Health Services
• Translating need into Facility Requirements
• Curent Facility Assessment
• Site Analysis
• Transportation and Parking
• Proposed Zoning Amendments

• Development must be compatible with the Neighborhood and with the City.
• How do you reconcile a 21st century Plan with a 19th century City infrastructure?
• How predictable is FAHC's projected "need?"
• You (FAHC) are hearing, but are you listening???? Great concern that these platitudes were delivered prior to the Renaissance Project, but that was actually a fait accompli which disregarded neighborhood concerns and input.
• FAHC reviewed competitive drivers and market-share; e.g. Dartmouth Hitchcock, CVPH, etc.
• Community rumors/gossip suggest a lack of commitment by FAHC to remain at UHC and Fanny Allen. Diana Scalise stated that there are no plans to weaken existing commitment by FAHC to those facilities.
• Energy: How does FAHC ensure that the energy component of "constructability" is adequately and appropriately included in the Planning process, particularly given existing concerns w/Vermont Yankee etc.

The Meeting closed at 9:15 p.m.

Minutes: Richard Hillyard, Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee

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Page last updated May 09, 2008