If you earned less than $42,000, you may be able to get FAST,
FREE tax preparation services provided by IRS-certified volunteer
tax assistors. You can get your refund deposited in 7 to 10 days AT
NO COST if you have a bank account. (In three weeks if your check is
mailed to you.) Tax sites in Burlington and Winooski are open a
variety of evening, weekend and weekday hours to fit your schedule.
Just dial 2-1-1 to make an appointment or to get more information
Spend some, save some: You can purchase a US Savings Bond
in denominations of $50 for yourself or the children in your life
with part of your refund - no fees! Purchase bonds right
on-site, while you have your taxes prepared! You can now split
your refund into up to three direct deposit bank accounts, making it
easier to save. You can open a no-fee savings account through
North Country Federal Credit Union right on-site!
The free tax sites are supported through the time, money, staff
and space donated by the CASH Coalition of Chittenden County;
Northfield Savings Bank; KeyBank; Opportunities Credit Union; North
Country Federal Credit Union; Champlain College; St. Michael’s
College; the University of Vermont; Grippin, Donlan & Roche; United
Way of Chittenden County; Chittenden Community Action; Casey Family
Services; the City of Burlington; the Internal Revenue Service; and
community volunteers.
The Small Business Administration and the Community and Economic
Development Office invite you to attend the Winter Business Fair on
January 15, 2009 from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.
Come to Contois Auditorium in City Hall and get answers to your
questions about starting or maintaining a business. Whether it is
business planning, borrowing money, marketing or assistance with
energy efficiency, this business fair will have it all; in one place
for one day, on January 15!
Three free workshops will be held during the Winter Business
Fair. Workshops will include:
- Commercial Lending from 10 - 10:45AM
- Starting Your Own Business with Steve Densham of VT Small
Business Development Center and Jerry Johnson of SCORE.
- Energy Efficiency for Your Commercial Space with Chris Burns
of Burlington Electric
The workshops will have limited seating, so reserving a space is
suggested. Call 802-865-7187 or email jadamskollitz@ci.burlington.vt.us
or contact Vallerie Morse of SBA at: 802-828-4422 x211 or
Vallerie.Morse@sba.gov.
The Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO)
AmeriCorps*VISTA Team will host the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Day of Service & Celebration on Monday, January 19, 2009.
CEDO cordially invites community members to join us as we honor Dr.
King with inspirational speakers, community projects at area
non-profits and enjoy a free community dinner and celebration for
all. Event organizers are also seeking service project sites and
businesses to sponsor the evening’s community meal by providing cash
or in-kind donations. This is a growing tradition calling Martin
Luther King Day to be a "day on, not a day off" for Burlington
residents. For more information, click
here.
The City of Burlington is pleased to announce the return of
Operation Snow Shovel, a referral program that connects residents
who need help shoveling with volunteers who are willing to help them
out. Assistance is available for Burlington residents who need snow
shoveled from their walkways this winter.
This program is offered to only those people who are unable to
pay for this assistance, and/or who are physically unable to shovel
themselves.
Volunteers are matched with a person in need of shoveling who
lives in a location convenient to them. Volunteers commit to
shoveling the walk leading up to the front door of their match’s
residence within 24-48 hours of each snowfall, when it snows over
three inches. Operations Snow Shovel volunteers ensure that the most
vulnerable of our citizens who cannot remove snow from their own
walkways can get out and otherwise remain independent. It is a great
and simple way to give back this winter. At present there are many
people waiting to be matched up in the New North End of Burlington,
so if you live in that neighborhood, please consider signing up to
volunteer.
To volunteer or if you are interested in receiving this service
please call 865-7548 or email Abby Knapp at aknapp@ci.burlington.vt.us.
Burlington's Neighborhood Planning Assemblies are looking for
help from you! Please take 5 minutes to complete this Neighborhood
Planning Assembly Report Card:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PwTNBtkSkp3ZHYDdFDt42g_3d_3d.
Thanks, Your NPA Steering Committees, Staff and
City Council
The first-ever Burlington Winter Farmers Market starts up
November 22. The market will be held from 10am-2pm in Memorial
Auditorium (corner of Main and S. Union). After the kick-off
Thanksgiving market, the market will be held the third Saturday of
each month all winter, December through April (December 20, January
17, February 21, March 21, and April 18).
A great place to shop for your Thanksgiving meal and support your
local farmers, the market will be offering cheeses, eggs, wine,
meats, maple syrup, honey, jams, pickles, and a variety of
vegetables. With a wide selection of artisan crafts, the market will
also be a great place to get an early start on holiday shopping
while supporting the local economy and enjoying the festivities.
Live music will be featured at each market while food vendors will
be serving cozy hot soup, fresh baked breads, warm tamales, savory
samosas, and more.
The Burlington Farmers Market Association wishes to thank City
Market/Onion River Co-op, media sponsor Seven Days, and the
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont for their generous
support. For more information visit
http://www.burlingtonfarmersmarket.org or email info@burlingtonfarmersmarket.org.
The Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO), will offer a
2-day leadership training. The training, Facilitative
Leadership, was developed by Interactive Institute for Social Change
(IISC) in Boston, MA,
www.interactioninstitute.org. The IISC is recognized
internationally as a pioneer and leader in the practice of
collaborative planning and management. The IISC is to empower people
in organizations and communities to realize their most noble
aspirations by transferring the skills and demonstrating the power
of collaborative action.
Facilitative Leadership: Tapping the Power of Participation is
designed to enhance the effectiveness of leaders. Those who complete
the Facilitative Leadership® program will have greater confidence in
their ability to navigate difficult situations, advocate for
change, and lead collaborative processes. They will also be able to
make and implement decisions more quickly and have more influence
over their own success and that of others.
Leaders will learn to set and maintain strategic direction and
momentum while enabling people to participate, take risks, innovate,
and own the outcomes. Your organization or community will experience
increased productivity, more ownership and alignment, deeper
relationships and levels of commitment, more effective participation
in interagency collaborations and community coalitions, and even
more extraordinary results.
Workshop Topics:
- Introduction to Facilitative Leadership
- Focus on Results, Process and Relationship
- Seek Maximum Appropriate Involvement (Levels of decision
making/involving others in the decision making process)
- Facilitate Agreement
- Share an Inspiring Vision
- Design Pathways to Action - A Collaborative Planning Model
- Coach for Performance
- Celebrate Accomplishment
Session Dates (2 day session):
Training from 8:30 - 4:30 p.m. Must be able to attend all days in
a session. Location: TBD, Burlington VT.
Session Cost: $300 for one person and $100 for each additional
person in the organization (if you only take home one notebook as an
agency). Refunds cannot be made if cancellation notice is less than
a week before the training.
For more information please contact Beth Truzansky at CEDO's
Center for Community & Neighborhoods at btruzansky@ci.burlington.vt.us
or 865-7178.
The City is moving forward on the Moran Plant redevelopment
plan, which was approved in concept by Burlington voters in
March of 2008. At its October 20 meeting, the City Council
unanimously approved two significant aspects of the project.
Finalized Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were approved for
each of the project partners - the Lake Champlain Sailing
Center, Green Mountain Children’s Museum, and Ice Factor, Inc.
And, $164,533 in funding was appropriated for a first phase of
architectural and engineering work which will give the City and
project partners more detailed and reliable cost estimates for
the plan. These cost estimates are anticipated within 3 to 4
months, during which time the City and its partners will work on
detailed development agreements to implement the project. Like
the MOUs, the development agreements are subject to City Council
approval.
The approval of the Moran MOUs and architectural and
engineering work follows upon site work completed in September
to confirm the structural integrity of the building, and an EPA
grant awarded to the City providing technical assistance on
potential “green building” aspects of the project.
Click
here for more details about the Moran Plant Redevelopment Plan.
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).
The City of Burlington Lead Program will hold an Essential Maintenance Practices
(EMP) Training
class on:
- Thursday, January 8, 2009 (Class
Full), 5-9 pm, Contois Auditorium,
City Hall, Burlington
-
Wednesday, February 18, 2009, from 5-9 pm, Contois Auditorium, City Hall,
Burlington
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.
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.
By David H. Robinson, Business Programs Director
Energy conservation and renewable energy production are
increasing the bottom line for businesses in Vermont and New
Hampshire. USDA Rural Development can pay for up to 25% of
eligible efficiency or renewable energy system costs with
grant funds and help finance an additional 50% of the
project costs with a guaranteed loan. The maximum grants are
$500,000 for renewable systems and $250,000 for efficiency
projects.
Combine USDA RD grant and loan guarantee funds with other
state and local grants and rebates to further reduce your
project costs.
Businesses interested in learning more about the program
and to determine if they qualify, should contact USDA Rural
Development in Montpelier, VT at 802-828-6031.
The Community & Economic Development Office just finished the
twelfth edition of the Resource Guide, a directory of organizations
that assist and support Chittenden County businesses. Since 1995,
CEDO has been producing this free comprehensive guide to the vast
array of local, state, and national organizations that provide
services to businesses and employees in Chittenden County. The
release of the eye-catching print version will be closely followed
by it’s availability on CD. You can view the Resource Guide on
CEDO's website at
http://www.cedoburlington.org/business/chittenden_county_resource_guide/cc_resource_guide.htm.
Print copies are available now at CEDO, 149 Church Street (City
Hall), Room 32, Burlington. For more information about the Guide,
click
here.
The Mayor's Energy and Environmental Coordinating Committee
recently invited citizen to share their comments and to express
their level of support for seven transportation-related ideas, that
if implemented, could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Over 200 people responded to the survey, half of those
electronically. Respondents were "very supportive" of six of these
seven ideas. To see the quantitative results of the
on-line survey, please visit:
http://www.cedo.ci.burlington.vt.us/legacy/projects.html#e2c2.
Wish List 2008:
- Fabric
- Thread and other sewing supplies
- Sewing machines in good condition
- Volunteer English Teacher once a week: Three women's groups
need a volunteer ESL instructor once a week. Groups meet at
Riverside Ave. in Burlington from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on
Mondays and Wednesdays; at Winooski Family Center from 1:00 pm
to 3:00 pm on Thursdays; and at Franklin Square in the New North
End from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm on Wednesdays.
Please contact Josie if you are interested in volunteering or
donating items at 985-3106.
Approximately 35 women are associated with Association of
Africans Living in Vermont Women's Groups. They are resettled
Burundian, Somali, Sudanese and Congolese refugees who fled war and
political conflict in their countries. Members have low levels of
spoken English and most are not literate in any language. The
Women's groups provide them recreation and socialization outside the
home, cultural orientation education and opportunities for income
generation.
The Association of Africans Living in Vermont is a non-profit
organization with a mission to promote the equal opportunity,
dignity, and self-sufficiency of individuals and families who have a
link to the African Continent, regardless of race, ethnic group,
religious or political affiliation, or sexual orientation.
Please visit us at 139 Elmwood Ave in Burlington and
www.africansinvermont.org.
You're invited to join The Old North End Time Bank, bringing
people together to help each other. For more information or to
join, check out
www.burlingtontimebanks.blogspot.com or contact Melissa at
burlington.timebanks@gmail.com, (802) 651-1084.
Burlington Parallel Justice works directly with victims of crime
to repair the harm caused by crime. We cover a spectrum of crimes
including but not limited to property damage, vandalism, threats and
harassment, simple assault and larceny.
Burlington Parallel Justice recognizes that the criminal justice
system is designed to deal with offenders and can fall short of
meeting victims’ needs. Support is available regardless of whether
the offender is caught or prosecuted. Services and support are
available through the Burlington Police Department and the Community
Justice Center.
Parallel Justice will do its best to meet victims’ needs and help
repair any related physical, emotional, and financial damage. We
strive to be victim centered, creative, and engage community
businesses and social service agencies in our work.
If you or someone you know has been victimized in the City of
Burlington since July 1, 2006 and wants help, contact Parallel
Justice Specialists Rain Banbury, Community Justice Center, at
264-0764 or Clark Sheldon, Burlington Police Department, at
658-2704, x 268.
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%.
|
