Ward 1 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-10-08
Time: 18:30

Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
 Wednesday, October 8, 2025
 In-person at the Friends Meeting House, 173 North Prospect Street
 And Zoom online:
 https://zoom.us/j/96245939050
 Webinar ID: 962 4593 9050
 Or by phone: +1 929 205 6099 ID = 962 4593 9050

​ Facilitator: Carol Livingston​ ​ Recorder: Gretchen Platt

6:15 - Welcome and Food (Namaste Kitchen Express)

6:30 - Formal Start - project & review agenda
​ Introductions: name, street
​ Announcements: share events, meetings, activities of interest to Ward 1 community.
​
6:45 - Speakout - an opportunity to raise concerns & appreciations about Ward 1 community

7:05 - School Commission update - Gary Golden and Matt Price

7:10 - City Council update - Carter Neubieser & Allie Schacter

7:30 - Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee - organizational steps for upcoming year
 -​ Vote on Budget for 2025-26: Jonathan Chapple-Sokol
 -​ Potential issues/priorities to raise with City Council - Carol Livingston

7:40 - Fletcher Free LIbrary - services and role of Howard Center Outreach - Emer Feeney

8:00 - Introduction & Overview of Burlington’s Comprehensive Plan - Charles Dillard, Planning

8:30 Adjourn
​
 Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee
 Carol Livingston carol.livingston1951@gmail.com,
 Jonathan Chapple-Sokol chapplesokol.npasc@gmail.com,
 Sam Doherty samcharlesdoherty@gmail.com
 Gretchen Platt gshuman7005@yahoo.com
 Rob Gutman rgutman@gmail.com
 Participation Guidelines:

The Ward 1 NPA is sustained by community involvement and encourages engagement at our
monthly meetings per the following guidelines:
1. We are collectively responsible for following the NPA Meeting Agenda as closely as possible
regarding both presentation/discussion topics and time.

2. Participants at the NPA will act in a positive, courteous manner that respects all of those
present (both participants and presenters/guests) and their differing opinions, experiences and
perspectives.

3. Any attendee requesting to speak who has not yet spoken at a meeting will be called on
before others who have already had a chance to speak. Priority is given to Ward 1 residents.

4. Whenever speaking, please be sure to project your voice and use the provided microphone if
provided.

5. If the facilitator feels the need to redirect activity in the room based on these guidelines, the
facilitator will do so per point number 1 above.

Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
 Wednesday, October 8, 2025
 In-person at the Friends Meeting House, 173 North Prospect Street
 And Zoom online:
 https://zoom.us/j/96245939050
 Webinar ID: 962 4593 9050
 Or by phone: +1 929 205 6099 ID = 962 4593 9050
 MINUTES

 Recording and transcript available at:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1qVu_c6q4

Carol Livingston Rob Gutman
Linda Bowden Sophie Quest
Breck Bowden Catherine Bock
Jeanne Keller Jean Hopkins
Kathy Olwell Eric Timlin
Caryn Long Katherine Verman
Tom Gardner
Emmi Sims Matt Price
Mary Gardner Gary Golden
Jonathan Chapple-Sokol Carter Neubieser
Richard Hillyard Allie Schachter
Sam Doherty Emer Pond Feeney
Julie Springer Charles Dillard
Angie Chapple-Sokol
Tom Derenthal

6:15 - Welcome and Food (Namaste Kitchen Express)

6:30 - Formal Start - project & review agenda
 Introductions: name, street
 Announcements: share events, meetings, activities of interest to Ward 1 community.
 Caryn Long – Last City Council meeting civil and welcome;
 Gary Golden –BSD looking for budget input from public. Gary will not run for
another School Commission term;

6:45 - Speakout - an opportunity to raise concerns & appreciations about Ward 1 community

 Richard Hillyard – vehicles are deady weapons – several recent hit-and-runs, reckless
driving incidents
 Jeanne Keller – Can folks other than sworn officers do traffic enforcement? Also –
History of UVMMC Zoning changes and planning that have not met the spirit of openness nor
acted as a reliable partner; Green Mountain Care Board in part complicit. City Council has not
represented the voice of the community; Deferred maintenance on McClure Garage will drive
its demolition.
Tom, Catherine B, Sharon, Richard Carter also commented on UVMMC.

7:05 - School Commission update - Gary Golden and Matt Price

School redistricting planning has been led by a folks disproportionately representing private
schools (that educate 10% of HS students). Description of the current committee process and 3
map recommendations. First map creates a school district much larger than the rest
(Burlington/Essex). No clear evidence that reducing the number of districts will save money.
Only closing local schools (and thereby killing communities) will reduce budgets. Study
Committee has distributed a survey (there doesn’t seem to be a deadline on responses, but…)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCF831rVyoJLv0n-1-
wLy6Vf6cfknsBEbbL5oWYmly3651yg/viewform

Redistricting criteria: costs, student performance, access to services

Kathy reminded the assembly of the Brigham Decision and the necessary focus on equal
opportunity

7:10 - City Council update - Carter Neubieser & Allie Schacter
Interim Chief Burke’s presentation on effects and changes in City Hall Park since Council
requested a re-focus of attention on downtow. Net: as anticipated, enforcement as a tactical
response is effective but it is not a solution.

https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/8226/files/attachment/11141

Financial Disclosure for candidates for city elected office referred to Ordinance Committee
(meeting 10/16 4:30PM Bushor Room and Zoom)

https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/8541/files/attachment/11314

Ban on public nudity

Several comments on reckessness of cyclists on streets near campus

7:30 - Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee - organizational steps for upcoming year
 - Vote on Budget for 2025-26: Jonathan Chapple-Sokol
 - Potential issues/priorities to raise with City Council - Carol Livingston

7:40 - Fletcher Free LIbrary - services and role of Howard Center Outreach - Emer Feeney

Review of digital resources available at Fletcher Free Library:
https://fletcherfree.org/digital-library

Among resources:

Libby, Blackstone – ebooks/audio books
Kanopy, Biblio+ - Films, TV
Online newspapers, magazines, Consumer Reports, Weiss Financial,
Transparent Language Oline
NovelList
Peterson’s Test
Candid
Ancestry

In collaboration with Howard Center, there is a trained social worker David Lines now on staff,
plus a UVM social work intern – community and staff are benefiting from this work

Consider attending Library Director Mary Danko’ 10/29 presentation at the library on intellectual
freedom: “Public Libraries are Being Tested: The First Amendment & Intellectual Freedom”

https://fletcherfree.libcal.com/event/15402451

8:00 - Introduction & Overview of Burlington’s Comprehensive Plan - Charles Dillard, Planning

https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/1135/planBTV-2050

Visioning Workshops:

East End
5:30 – 7:30pm | Thursday, October 30th
Schmanska Park Barn, 63 Grove Street


South End
5:30 – 7:30pm | Monday, October 20th
BCA Community Room, 405 Pine Street

Old North End
5:30 – 7:30pm | Thursday, October 23rd
Old North End Community Center

Downtown + Waterfront
5:30 – 7:30pm | Monday, October 27th
Community Sailing Center, 505 Lake Street



Holistic approach: Combining Transportation Plan, DPRW Plan and Economic Development
Plan within a comprehensive Comprehensive Plan

State expects 7000 new housing units in Burlington by 2050; we are currently building at a rate
of 77/year.

Post-Covid result: more driving, more driving alone
Charles’description puts Ward 1 squarely in the area called the “East End” of Burlington

There will be a trusted advisory committee made up of members of existing departments,
commissions. Consensus in room is that there should also be folks independent of the city on
committee.


8:30 Adjourn

 Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee
 Carol Livingston carol.livingston1951@gmail.com,
 Jonathan Chapple-Sokol chapplesokol.npasc@gmail.com,
 Sam Doherty samcharlesdoherty@gmail.com
 Gretchen Platt gshuman7005@yahoo.com
 Rob Gutman rgutman@gmail.com




 Participation Guidelines:

The Ward 1 NPA is sustained by community involvement and encourages engagement at our
monthly meetings per the following guidelines:
1. We are collectively responsible for following the NPA Meeting Agenda as closely as possible
regarding both presentation/discussion topics and time.

2. Participants at the NPA will act in a positive, courteous manner that respects all of those
present (both participants and presenters/guests) and their differing opinions, experiences and
perspectives.

3. Any attendee requesting to speak who has not yet spoken at a meeting will be called on
before others who have already had a chance to speak. Priority is given to Ward 1 residents.

4. Whenever speaking, please be sure to project your voice and use the provided microphone if
provided.

5. If the facilitator feels the need to redirect activity in the room based on these guidelines, the
facilitator will do so per point number 1 above.