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Ward 6 Neighborhood Planning Assembly Meeting Minutes  
March 4, 2010
 

Facilitator: Neil Groberg; Recorder of the Minutes: Mary Esther Treat; Sign-in & Name tags: Roger Cooke

6:45 – Social time – cookies provided by Andy Montroll

7:00 – Overview and approval of agenda & minutes

Introduction of Steering Committee.
Minutes for February meeting had not been distributed – will be approved at April meeting

7:05 - Institutional Neighbor Reports - Champlain College, Michel George

  • Champlain is on vacation as of 3/5. They recently installed an emergency generator in the center of campus.
  • Chelsy Pillsbury spoke abut Champlain Cares which aims to mend relations between students and Ward 6 residents. It was Introduced to NPA last fall and hosted its first event, a free breakfast, last Sat – 2 people showed up, plus 4 members of CCares. Attendees talked for 90 min to develop ideas of what students can do for neighbors – dog walking, baby sitting. Also – monthly trash pick ups around neighborhood. Attendance at events nets a free mug. Send Chelsy thoughts on efforts that would be of value to the community – she can be reached through Michel George (mgeorge@champlain.edu). Group has a budget, and considering planting trees next year because of recent tree vandalism.

7:12 - City Councilors

Karen Paul & Mary Kehoe: report on City Council news Mary Kehoe:

  • Meeting on Monday 3/8 on Moran’s potential tenants. Moran Advisory Group was reassembled to analyze potential tenants. Maritime Museum seems to be best tenant. Flynn was interested, but pulled out. Burlington College pulled out due to space restrictions; discussions will continue with them.
  • BT issue has overshadowed other very important issues, including underfunding the pension plan.

Karen Paul:

  • Unfunded liability is a moving target – valued once a year, but the value depends on the day it is valued. Employee benefits account for about 90% of the unfunded liability – so it’s very important to bargain some of the benefits.

Mary:

  • About to introduce 1st resolution re: Whole Foods Market which is interested in a store behind the Holiday Inn. She’s concerned about impact on local stores and traffic. Asking Burlington to co-fund a traffic study with South Burlington.

Karen:

  • Thank you for re-electing her. She was outside the polls for 12 hours – best day to see people.
  • Trucks – meeting w/David Dill next week to discuss signs
  • Noise resolution introduced and passed unanimously. Will study other cities to see how to strengthen Burlington’s codes.
  • Tried to get legal counsel for City Council, but it was defeated.
  • New Council seated in early April. Ward 2 may ask for recount.

7:30 – School Commissioner report - Sam Osborne

  • It has been a pleasure being on School Board. Learned so much being on board. Never would have believed that an elevator represents democracy. Very exciting things are going to be happening.
  • Thank you for support of the budget. To continue the process – have gone into zero budgeting approach. Alan Matson at meeting right now beginning that process.
  • Will continue work in diversity area. Office of diversity will be looked at by Policy Committee. Note: Ward 6 NPA will have school commissioners explain the final school budget at a future meeting.

7:35 – Legislators - Neil Groberg read statement from Suzi Wizowaty

There are many good things happening in the state—federal grants and awards coming in, for example—but there are also some truly frightening things ahead, if we proceed with the social services cuts that are proposed and don’t come up with additional revenue. Is this what we want?

Do we want to eliminate funds that currently pay for 800 round-trips to dialysis for people with end-stage renal disease? Do we want to eliminate the grants and emergency funds to Adult Day Services, which are an important component of keeping elders in their homes and out of nursing homes? What about Vermont’s Senior Companion Program, which we’ve had since 1981; last year 68 senior companions provided 70,720 hours of service to over 400 frail seniors (many of whom would otherwise need skilled nursing care they can’t afford) at a stipend of $2.65 an hour. State funds provide ½ the required federal match. Eliminating this grant is likely to kill the program. And what about the proposed VPharm premium increases, that would cost beneficiaries over $900K annually, but would save the state only $180K in FY’11? The list goes on.

Speaker Shap Smith has said we’re in the midst of “renegotiating the social contract,” and I agree. But the question is, where are we going to end up? If we’re not willing to raise taxes—to give a little more so those with greater hardship than our own can suffer less—then what? How are we going to fill in? How are we going to get those people with kidney failure to dialysis, and provide help to the 400 frail seniors and make sure parents of disabled children get respite care? And on and on. We can’t just close our eyes and hope we don’t see the increase in human suffering.

What do we want the renegotiated social contract to look like? I’d like to see it reaffirmed and strengthened, because it’s in the interests of all of us to take care of each other.

Do you want me to vote for a budget that includes these cuts, or to hold out for a temporary increase in taxes on the highest income brackets, till we get over this economic bump? Please let me know your thoughts on the best way to address this question. You can write me at Wizowaty@burlingtontelecom.net, or call me at 864-5651. Thank you.

7:40 – DPW - Erin Demers, Project Engineer

  • Cliff Street Sidewalk –
    - VTrans is now working on cost estimate, then certificate of insurance from City, then verify design and determine if Public Works will install project. Will work on Deforest Rd portion of sidewalk first.
    - Karen Paul attended meeting of DPW commission with large showing of Cliff St neighbors. Person on S. Willard is distressed about loss of parking space on Cliff St. Commission voted 4-3 to bring project back to Dept to come up with another alternative. Next meeting will be April 14.
    - Neil – we will have project manager Nicole Losch at a future NPA meeting
  • Roundabout –
    - Public Info meeting 2 weeks ago. Project meeting on Ch. 17. Provided conceptual design. Once design complete, adjacent neighbors will be contacted. Design addresses concerns of pedestrians & bikes. Refuge points in the middle of the road.
    - Why no bike lane? There isn’t enough room. Sidewalks will be improved and increased. Intention is to filter bikes off Shelburne Rd before they enter the roundabout.
    - Plan eliminates one lane of traffic north of Adams St.
    - Planning to do work in 2013. Process started in 2002 with reconstruction of roundabout. In 2006 it was determined to be a high accident area – which led to new design. This is simpler than Winooski to navigate. Impact is to slow traffic down and make it safer.
  • Email Erin Demers at DPW edemers@ci.burlington.vt.us with questions.
  • Southern Connector – not a lot of new info. Act 250 Permit will be submitted. Public meeting this summer. Is truck traffic meant to go onto Connector? Erin doesn’t know. Andy said originally connector was meant to remove trucks from south end.

7:50 – Burlington Telecom Update

Karen Paul:

  • Meeting almost every day on BT. 3 City Councilors meeting with CAO and Mayor to discuss what’s going on. City’s audit has to be submitted to Fed Govt by 3/31. Credit rating is high, but $17M debt has implications. Also working on Citi Leasing & on hiring an investment advisor to work with them on negotiating with city and evaluating potential partners.
  • Her greatest concern is city’s credit rating. Hard to get a high rating, and if you lose it, it takes a long time to get it back.
  • When City Council approved budget Spring 09, the annual appropriation was made, including payments on lease. Not technically in default right now, but late with payment. Have another payment due in April, which also has already been appropriated in budget. Lease/purchase – there is reason to believe something can be worked out with Citi Leasing.
  • Other groups have proposed solutions – that’s why an advisor is necessary. The goal of the council & administration is to find a financial resolution that is the best we can get and that we find a partner who will be someone the city wants to work with. A financial partner and an operational partner.
  • BT is adding residential and commercial customers every week. Recent issues have not decreased subscription rate. Inability to pay is primary reason for any loss of customers. Many other communities are trying to create a similar telecom.

Andy Montroll – Group of 9:

  • Working with people who have kept a close watch on BT, in hope of getting $17M back. Presented a “safety net” proposal to city which mirrors many recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee. If city can succeed, fine. If not, this group can help. They could pay interest payment and could take over mgmt; then could help determine what form BT can take to be a sustainable enterprise. Sent letter to council & admin. Mayor said thanks & agreed BT is worth saving and would get back if he had questions. Website: www.rebootbt.com

8:10 – Champlain Housing Trust - Julia Curry & Jordan Benkov

  • Topics: Programs they offer, how housing affects city, how we can support affordable housing in our area.
  • People have trouble finding homes in BTV to buy or rent. BTV has lowest vacancy rental rate in the US. 4th lowest vacancy rate for home ownership in US. Median price almost doubled since 2000. Rents increased 9% last year statewide, despite recession. Makes it harder for businesses to attract & keep employees. Hard for renters to save enough to buy. CHT has 1500 rental units in area.
  • Housing Cooperative Program – similar to Living & Learning at UVM – have an interest in common with neighbors.
  • CHT has home-buying education program; low interest loans for energy efficiency work (not available in Burlington). Work with people with special needs, income limited. HUD establishes area median income, which is threshold for home buying help. www.getahome.org.
  • Affordable housing is an important component of a strong community. Refer people to CHT. Can become a member for $1/year.
  • They have vacancies. Application available online. Other criteria besides income: good credit, good landlord references. Have Housing for People with Aids.

8:30 – AARP Grant offering - Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur

  • Launched Livable Community Project in Burlington to figure out how Burl can be a livable community for people of all ages. Community Action Sponsorship – hoping to spark activism at neighborhood level. Areas of focus: housing, transportation & community engagement. Providing some funding for 3 projects: $500-2000 each. Broad swath of issue areas that could be covered. Read report to see what’s suggested. Trying to keep it grassroots. Ad hoc neighborhood group is fine. Applications due May 6. Projects that would be ruled out are listed on RFP form. Could be existing neighborhood organization. Student groups would qualify. Talk to Jennifer about ideas. www.Blcp.org

8:45 – Steering Committee member elections

  • Roger Cooke retiring from SC, remaining four members nominated and re-elected for another year.

8:55 - Other Business

  • Open government group looking for members; Michael Rooney volunteered.
  • Census & March 25 Neighborhood Night of Success – Jenny Davis:
    - All Burlington residents are invited to the tenth annual Neighborhood Night of Success. This is a community celebration of people who help to make Burlington a great place to live, work and play. The event is at Contois Auditorium on Thursday, March 25, 5:30 - 7:30, includes dinner and entertainment, is free and open to all Burlington residents.
    - The US Census will be mailing surveys this month - watch for yours to arrive in the coming weeks. There is a tremendous cost savings to all tax payers when people mail back their surveys because this minimizes the labor involved in going door-to-door in the spring and summer to track down surveys that have not been mailed in. Help the Census and Burlington by communicating this info to your neighbors.
  • Discussion on moving April meeting from April 1 to April 8. – Michael Rooney moved, seconded. Passed.

 9:00 – Adjourn

 

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Page last updated March 11, 2010

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