 |
|
|
|
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
Back to Agenda
Page last updated
March 11, 2010
|
 |
|
