The City of Burlington Lead Program will hold Essential Maintenance Practices
(EMP) Training
classes on:
- Wednesday, July 15 from 5-9 PM at the Winooski Family
Center at the O'Brien Community Center. Directions: (from
turning circle) Head straight on Main St. Make first left onto
Maple St. O’Brien Community Center is at the bottom of the hill.
- Wednesday, August 5 at Contois Auditorium, Burlington
City Hall from 5-9 PM
Call the
Burlington Lead Program to register at 802·865·LEAD (5323) or
visit www.leadsafevermont.org.
Information covered in the EMP class
includes the requirements of Vermont's lead paint law and related
federal regulations, the health effects of lead in children and adults,
lead-safe work practices and maintenance procedures, and specialized
cleaning techniques and equipment for removing lead-contaminated dust.
Vermont Law requires that landlords take the EMP Class. Click
here
to view a printable PDF version of the EMP Manual. Taking the class also
offers further protection from prosecution.
We thank the community for their
role in Green Up Day’s success on May 2nd. Without the help of
volunteers, this yearly event would not be possible. This
year, over 469 volunteers collected over 534 bags of trash and
removed over 60 graffiti tags in Burlington alone.
We have received lots of great feedback about the event but we
want to hear from you how we can improve this event in the future.
Please contact Sara Giannoni sgiannoni@ci.burlington.vt.us with your
comments.
Thank you again for your hard work and we hope to see you again
next year!
Interested in getting involved with the Graffiti Removal Team?
Attend an Adopt-a-Block Information session to learn how to take
cleaning matters into your own hands.
1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings
5:30-6:30 PM
Upcoming meetings: July 7th, 21st
Attend a Saturday Graffiti Clean Up Day:
Last Saturday of each month
10:00 AM-12:00 Noon
Upcoming Clean Up Days: June 27th, July 25th
The focus on the semester-long class is career awareness especially
in the fields of allied health care and green jobs (primarily
sustainable energy) as well as improving basic academic skills. The
Chittenden County project team includes Vermont Adult Learning, CCV,
VSAC, and the Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center (AHEC).
The class will accommodate 20 eligible adult students. Eligility
requirements include:
- a minimum cumulative score on CCV's Accuplacer of 150
- complete a series of adult education assessments and meet a
minimun NRS score of 5
- must be out-of-school (not enrolled in high school as of
9/1/2009)
- must have either a high school diploma or GED, or be
currently enrolled in an adult degree-completion program
- be committed to attend class 9 hours/week (M, W, F mornings)
for 15 weeks, complete a computer class in late July through
August (W, F mornings), and complete homework as needed
Transitions to College and Careers will:
- help adults improve basic academic skills in reading,
writing, and math
- provide a basic computer skills class
- provide CCV's Introduction to College Studies class
- provide an online allied health component or a seminar in
green jobs
- provide counseling and support services
- provide career awareness information working with a VSAC
counselor for adult students
After a student has completed the course, they will be ready to:
- transition to credit-bearing classes at either CCV or some
other institution, or
- transition to specific career training programs, or
- continue working on basic skills until eligible for
credit-bearing classes and or complete high school diploma
Vermont Adult Learning is currently taking applications and will
finalize decisions by mid-July. For more information, contact Jenny
Gundy, jgundy@vtadultlearning or call 651-1520.
Burlington residents celebrated our great city on Wednesday, March
25, 2009 at the 9th annual Neighborhood Night of Success
celebration, which honors people who make Burlington a great place
to live, work and play. There were 33 Burlington residents nominated
by neighbors and co-workers for neighborhood leadership awards.
At the ceremony, 13 of those nominated received awards from Mayor
Bob Kiss. New American residents Megnath and Madhu Neupane, brothers
from Bhutan, won the Herb Blumenthal award for their exceptional
service in helping Bhutanese families adjust to life in the US after
only living here for a few months themselves.
The award winners were:
- Charlie Giannoni: For your work behind the camera and
in the community
- Chris Shackett: For your work as Co-Chair of Community
Coalition, with SMOP, Meet Your Neighbor Day and other events
that improve the quality of life in Burlington Neighborhoods
- The DREAM Program: For your work with empowering and
mentoring children to reach for better things in their lives
- Isabel Vivanco and Peggy O'Neil-Vivanco: For your work
on noise reduction in the neighborhood, being true neighborhood
activists and your positive outlook on community relationships
- Janet Patterson: For your dedication to seniors and
the senior walking program at the Armory
- Laura Merit: For being a super-volunteer with the CJC
and for being able to maintain a clarity of mind in even the
most difficult conversations
- Mike Ballard: For organizing your neighbors, and
preventing social isolation, around the Queen City Babysitting
Coop
- Saradha Srinivasan: For your consistent and dedicated
support of the VITA site
- Ski Rack, Zandy Wheeler: For your good will and
generosity to the community
- The Bobbin: For being such a fun business in the ONE
- Don Wright: For your work with Very Merry Theatre and
drama in schools
- Champlain Elementary School's We All Belong Here Program
Team (Brent Sclafani, Chaska Richardson, Betsy Green): For
creating a most incredible, inclusive and educational program
for 4th/5th grade students
The City of Burlington is excited to commemorate the next phase
of a model smart growth project on a key downtown block. With the
recent completion of the mixed-use, residential/office building by
Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) and Housing Vermont at 88 King Street,
we celebrate another milestone of a six-year public-private
partnership designed to revitalize the former Howard Bank site. This
block is bordered by Main, St. Paul, King and Pine Streets.
The City’s Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) made
several key grants and loans that were instrumental in bringing this
$10 million project to fruition. In addition to the funding that is
detailed below, CEDO staff has spent hundreds of hours providing
technical assistance, underwriting and supporting regulatory
approvals. The most pivotal aspect of CEDO’s support is an $800,000
loan using HUD Section 108 funds for the development of the offices
and the NeighborWorks Homeownership Center. This loan is
interest-only so that CHT can leverage $1.4 million in New Markets
Tax Credits and reduce debt service for the first 10 years of the
project.
“This building is important in several different ways," said
Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss. “Housing Vermont and CHT have created new
affordable apartments and new commercial space, and kept a
significant employer in our downtown, all in a green building. This
combination of community development, economic development, and
workforce housing in Burlington's downtown deserves recognition as a
special project.”
The City provided the following sources of support for this
project and for the overall redevelopment of the Banknorth Block:
- $67,375 in grants for pre-development costs from the
Burlington Housing Trust Fund going back to 2004
- $378,000 in HOME funds for development costs
- $800,000 Section 108 loan for development of the CHT
offices NeighborWorks Homeownership Center counseling and
classroom space that will serve hundreds of low and moderate
income residents each year.
- $233,000 in CDBG funding for staff costs and housing
delivery services related to the development.
- $10,000 grant from Burlington Electric Department for
energy efficiency
- Total financial support from the City for the
mixed-use project at 88 King Street: $1,488,375
- Collectively CEDO invested over 400 hours of staff
time into making this project come to fruition dating back to
2004.
- CEDO provides annual capacity funding to CHT in the
approximate amount of $165,000 from CDBG, HOME and the Housing
Trust Fund.
- Advocated at Development Review Board in support of
meeting the Inclusionary Zoning requirement for the entire
Banknorth redevelopment with the development of 17 perpetually
affordable rental units at 88 King Street.
- CEDO continues to advocate with the Planning
Commission and City Council in support of the zoning changes
needed to complete the full build-out of this important downtown
property.
Thousands of Vermonters who live in affordable rental housing
will be able to keep that housing, thanks to a $2.6 million
investment by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Vermont’s longstanding commitment to the preservation of rental
housing was recognized by the investment of grants and loans by the
foundation, which will be used in conjunction with other private and
public investment to preserve thousands of apartments over the next
decade.
CEDO assisted with this proposal and Burlington's success with
preserving Northgate Apartments and other affordable housing units
is part of the story that led to this award.
The MacArthur grant and $2.6 million investment in Vermont is
described at www.macfound.org/housing/vermont.
CEDO can help!
Make an appointment to meet with one of our business advisors to
talk about your idea. Call 865-7144 or email jadamskollitz@ci.burlington.vt.us.
Check out our Doing Business In Burlington Guide (link to
http://www.cedoburlington.org/business/doing_business_in_burlington/TheGuide.pdf.
This award-winning booklet is also available at City Hall and a
number of other locations around the City. You can also
request a copy by calling 865-7187 or e-mailing jadamskollitz@ci.burlington.vt.us.
US Army Corp of Engineers project is substantial component of
Waterfront revitalization efforts.
The City of Burlington, with assistance from Senator Patrick
Leahy, has secured federal funding for the US Army Corp of Engineers
to remove five oil bollards from Burlington Harbor. The removal of
the bollards is recognized as another significant step in the
revitalization of Burlington’s Waterfront.
In the late 1980’s, the City of Burlington began the acquisition
and cleanup of sixty-three acres of waterfront formerly in use for
bulk petroleum storage, scrap yard, and rail siding. Significant
progress has been made in converting the waterfront into a community
asset: Waterfront Park, the Skate Park, ECHO at the Leahy Center for
Lake Champlain, and the Community Boathouse are all sites on lands
once off-limits to the community. The Moran Plant is in
pre-development, and the 40-acre Urban Reserve held in the “Public
Trust” for future development.
Eight oil bollards (or “dolphins”) located in Burlington Harbor
are leftovers from petroleum operations. Until the early 1990’s,
barges tied up to the bollards and transferred gasoline, jet fuel,
diesel, and heating oil to shore via underwater piping. Barges have
ceased operations in the Lake, and the bollards are now navigational
hazards. The City of Burlington has worked closely with Senator
Leahy in order to secure U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding to
remove five of the bollards, pumping equipment, and subsurface
piping. The removal is expected to be completed by the summer of
2009. Three bollards, including one that was installed in the early
1920’s, will remain as historic artifacts, and are considered top
scuba diving destinations.
In preparation for this work, an Underwater Cultural Resources
survey was performed by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in 2006.
Old shipwrecks, submerged piers, and other artifacts were identified
and mapped to ensure that the bollard removals won’t disturb these
important historic resources.
Senator Leahy has played a key role in Waterfront revitalization
for many years including replacing the Coast Guard Station,
rebuilding the breakwater with its historic replica lighthouses,
acquiring the Pease Grain site and most notably, relocating the Navy
Reserve to make room for ECHO, the UVM Rubenstein Lab and the Navy
Memorial, located at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, named in
recognition of his efforts. "I am pleased to be able to help the
City of Burlington with its ongoing work to improve the Waterfront
and particularly the oil bollard removal which has come together
well to improve navigation in the harbor. As a recreational diver, I
also think keeping the historic underwater site available is a very
positive aspect of the project," Leahy said.
Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss expressed his appreciation for the
project and stressed the need to continue focusing on Waterfront
revitalization. “Thanks to Senator Leahy, the U.S. Army Corp of
Engineers, and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, this important
work can go forward,” said Mayor Kiss. “This project continues our
shared efforts over the last two decades to renew and revitalize
Burlington’s Waterfront.”
A brief
slide show on the bollards, information on the
Moran
Project, and a copy of the Cultural Resources Survey are
available online at
http://www.cedoburlington.org/.
Concerned about climate change? Interested in working on energy
efficiency, sustainability and making Burlington a more livable
City? Volunteer to work on one of seven teams re-writing the City's
Climate Action Plan. This effort will require 3-4 evening meetings
between fall and early winter to brainstorm ideas and
recommendations. Dinner will be provided. How to get involved? Visit
the Climate Action Plan website and sign up for a topic of interest
(http://www.cedo.ci.burlington.vt.us/legacy/cap.html)
-- or contact Jennifer Green of the Burlington Legacy Project at
Jgreen@ci.burlington.vt.us (865-7532) or Sandrine Thibault (Dept of
Planning and Zoning) at Sthibault@ci.burlington.vt.us, 865-7193.
Thank you.
Imagine a free service where a technician came to your home and
tested for the presence of toxic lead paint dust so that you got a
clear picture about the safety of your home.
FREE Lead Dust and Soil Sampling is now available through the
City of Burlington’s Lead Program to all Burlington residents. This
free service will help parents keep their children safe from lead
poisoning by making sure you are aware of potential lead hazards.
Burlington has over 10,000 housing units with lead-based paint
hazards. Take advantage of this FREE testing to keep your children
safe from the life-long health, social and behavioral problems
associated with lead poisoning.
For more information or to set up an appointment, please call the
Burlington Lead Program at 802-846-0149 or 865-LEAD (5323).
While supplies last, SoilSaver compost bins can be purchased at
the Department of Public Works for the low cost of $40 plus tax
(total $42.80, cash or check only). The bin regularly retails for
about $100! Burlington DPW is located at 645 Pine Street in
Burlington and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30
pm.
By composting, you can reduce the amount of trash you send to the
landfill by about a third - that’s an average of about 650 pounds
per household! In addition to food scraps, you can also compost
soiled paper such as paper towels and napkins. The SoilSaver bins
measure 28" square by 30" tall and weigh 30 lbs. They are passive
composters - you don't need to turn them, though occasional stirring
is helpful. SoilSaver bins have large, locking lids and two sliding
doors at the bottom that make loading and unloading fast and easy.
For folks who are new to composting, or re-starting their compost
piles, please know that help is always available for questions that
arise by calling CSWD’s hotline at 872-8111. This line is staffed
Monday through Friday, 9 am - 4:30 pm (except holidays). Information
is also available online at
http://www.dpw.ci.burlington.vt.us/recycle/faq/#10.
Please share this information with your friends and neighbors!
Catamount Health is Vermont’s new health insurance program for
uninsured Vermonters. It offers comprehensive coverage at affordable
rates. Premiums are on a sliding scale based on income. The
Legislature made two very important expansions to Catamount Health
this legislative session.
Vermonters in high deductible plans can now enroll in Catamount
Health. Vermonters with at least a $10,000 deductible plan for an
individual or a $20,000 deductible for a family plan can now enroll
in Catamount Health. They must have had the plan for at least 6
months. They must also pay the full cost of Catamount for the first
12 months, which currently is $393 month for an individual. After 12
months, they can apply for the Premium Assistance program to help
pay their Catamount premium. Vermonters in high deductible plans
effectively have no coverage. By enrolling in Catamount Health they
will have comprehensive coverage.
Vermonters who apply for Catamount Health before November 1, 2008
will not have to worry about coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Under this new expansion to Catamount, anyone applying for Catamount
before November 1 will have coverage for pre-existing conditions
without any limitation. Pregnancy will never be considered a
pre-existing condition.
For more information about Catamount Health, including
information on how to apply, contact the Vermont Campaign for Health
Care Security Education Fund toll free at 1-866-482-4723 or visit
our web site at
http://www.catamounthealth.org.
Save for Retirement - Save for Your Child’s Education - And Still
Get Food Stamps!
In the past many people could not get food stamps because they
had too much savings. Now you can have retirement and education
savings accounts and still get the help you need, even if you have
been denied before.
The Food Stamp Program is an important federal nutrition program
that helps make sure people have enough food to be active and
healthy. Households that participate can also receive other benefits
like free school meals for your children and phone bill assistance!
For a food stamp application, call 1-800-287-0589 or visit
www.vermontfoodhelp.com.
For help with your application, dial 2-1-1, free from anywhere in
Vermont, and ask to be connected to your nearest Community Action
Agency. If you are a senior, call the Senior Helpline at
1-800-642-5119.
If you live in Burlington, it most likely is.
Do you feel powerless to stop the tagging?
Despair no longer! The Center for Community and Neighborhood’s
Graffiti Removal Team is here to help you:
-
Call our hotline at 865-7548 or e-mail Abby
Knapp
at aknapp@ci.burlington.vt.us to report a tag on your own or someone
else’s property.
-
Get your very own graffiti removal kit. It’s
free! All we ask in return is that you clean whatever tags you see
on your street. You’ll become a member of Adopt-A-Block, an elite
and dedicated group of citizens who are making Burlington a safer
and more beautiful place to live.
For more information, please call Abby at
865-7548 or e-mail her at aknapp@ci.burlington.vt.us!
As the citizens of Burlington age and their needs
change, will the community continue to be a welcome and accommodating
place to live? That question is at the core of a new initiative launched
today by the City of Burlington and AARP Vermont aimed at assessing
whether Burlington is a good place to grow old and charting ways to make
it more livable for a fast-growing older population.
Called the Burlington Livable Community Project, the
effort will include a host of partner organizations including Cathedral
Square Corporation, CCTA, Champlain Senior Center and Champlain Valley
Agency on Aging among others. The initiative will work to define a clear
vision for Burlington and assess the needs of residents and the
availability of necessary housing, transportation and services. This
process will involve various research methods and citizen community
evaluations across the city. Following these steps, concrete action
steps will be identified that will make the city more accommodating to
older residents and families.
“Today we are embarking on a project to earn
Burlington yet another top national ranking -- this time as a great
place to grow old,” said Greg Marchildon, AARP Vermont state director.
“A livable community includes affordable and appropriate housing, an
array of mobility options and community services that meet the needs of
older residents. Burlington has some of these elements to one degree or
another, but lacks an explicit vision for how it will meet the needs of
its aging population and make the city truly livable for all its
residents,” he explained.
The Burlington Livable Community Project was embraced
by the City of Burlington, the Mayor and the City Council.
Join a team
of Community Members meeting weekly to repair the harm done by crime &
conflict in our neighborhoods. The Burlington Community Justice Center
is seeking new Restorative Justice Panel Members to represent the
community in the restorative justice process where offenders of
low-level crimes make amends to the victim and community.
No experience is necessary to join one of these
effective, fun and dedicated teams. A commitment of 2 hours a week is
all it takes. Panel members are provided with training on restorative
justice and conflict resolution.
Weekly panel meetings are held: Wednesdays 5:30 -
7:30 pm, Thursdays 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Fridays 9 - 11 am
For more information contact Jocelyn Juaire at
865·7589, jjuaire@ci.burlington.vt.us.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Community Justice Center is also looking for volunteers (young
folks - ages 13 and up and adults) to serve on our Youth
Restorative Justice Panel.
The panel works with youth ages 10 - 17 who have committed a low
level crime. This program is an alternative to court and focuses on
rebuilding relationships and making better choices in the future. The
panel meets with the offender, their family and the victim(s) to discuss
the crime and who was impacted and agree on how they will make amends
for their behavior.
We hope to recruit a few youth, a few young adults and a few
parents/teachers for the panel. It is a weekly commitment of about an
hour and a half. This is a fun, relaxed group to work with, we have a
flexible schedule and lots of snacks.
The CJC will provide training and support. If you are interested in
learning more about the CJC, check us out
online,
come observe one of our programs or call 865·7185
for more information.
Our state legislators and the governor
underscored this point last year with the passage of one of the most
stringent anti-harassment laws in the country (HR113 as amended by Act
91). Far too many Vermont school children are victims of harassment
based on gender, race, sexual orientation and national origin to name
but a few. Most parents, however, are unfamiliar with their rights,
responsibilities and options under the new law.
In order to make the law meaningful parents and
students must be aware of the its existence and how they can best
advocate for themselves. There is more information for parents and
organizations that serve parents and students at
www.alanavision.org.
Click on the "Harassment and Discrimination Complainant Toolkit" icon.
We would like to hear from you on how we might assist you get the word
out to your constituents and stakeholders: special mailings, workshops,
newsletter articles, in-service training, and more. On behalf of all
parents and students you have our advance thanks for getting this
information where it needs to go.
Yes, we think so. The US
Census released 2003 population estimates which indicated
that the City of Burlington had lost 700 residents since 2000. The
Census estimate is based on a method that uses housing unit change to
distribute county population. However, the formula used by the Census
Bureau produces an undercount of city residents in several areas.
First, the Census formula assumes that housing
units are lost based on data derived from a 1993 Components of Inventory
Change Survey (CINCH) and 1990 Census data. The CINCH survey identified
the following four types of housing units to be at a greater risk of
loss: (1) Mobile homes, (2) Older units (constructed before 1939), (3)
Vacant for Seasonal or Recreational Use, and (4) Boarded up. Using this
methodology, the Census estimates that 111 housing units were demolished
in the City over the last three years. (That's not surprising, since a
great deal of the City's housing was built before 1939.) The actual
number of housing units lost in the last three years, which is tracked
under the City’s housing preservation and replacement and condominium
conversion ordinances, is 12 units.
Second, the Census formula estimated that 110 new
housing units were created in the last three years based on a
calculation using the number of building permits issued. However, there
were at least 275 units added to the City’s housing stock during that
time period based on confirmed project completions tracked by CEDO. The
Census formula also imputes the addition of 10 mobile home units in the
City; the City believes the actual number there to be zero.
The Census formula produces a net gain of 9
housing units in the City over the last three years. Local data shows a
net gain of 263 units in that time period. Using real data rather than
national formulas, the U.S. Census formula has undercounted the number
of housing units by 254 units.
In addition, the vacancy rate assumed by the
Census seems to be higher than local data would indicate. The 2003
Census estimate stated that the housing vacancy rate for housing units
in the City was 3.1%. However, June and December 2003 reports issued by Allen &
Cable indicated that the rental vacancy rate was 2.7%. The City believes
that the local survey is a more accurate picture of the local housing
market.
Also, the City still believes that the US Census
has undercounted the number of people living in group quarters by 493
people. In 1990, there were 5,473 people living in group quarters; in
Burlington’s case, mostly dormitories. In 2000, the revised number of
people living in group quarters, according to the US Census, was 4,948.
Therefore, according to the US Census, there was a reduction of 525
people living in group quarters. There is, however, no apparent reason
for this loss of group quarters. In 2000, CEDO conducted a thorough
search comparing known existing group quarter numbers with those
identified by the US Census. It indicated that the number of people
living in group quarters should be higher by an additional 437 people.
Since that time, Champlain College added a 56-bed dormitory to the group
quarters stock, increasing the number of people living in group quarters
to 5,441.
Finally, the Census formula reduces the
population estimate derived from housing unit change by 2% to control
for a countywide population estimate produced under a different formula.
This, again, is a national formula approach that, according to research
on estimation methods, has varying degrees of accuracy at the local
level. Controlling for all of these national formula biases, CEDO
believes that Burlington’s total population has increased to 41,106
people, an increase of approximately 3.2%.
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