Wards 4 & 7 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-02-26
Time: 18:00

Wards 4 & 7 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA): Agenda

 Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
 6:00PM-8:00PM

 Join in person: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center
 Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85494151752

 Facilitator: Sarah Note Taker: JoAnn Time Keeper: TBD


6:00 Free Community Dinner from Kismayo Kitchen | 30 mins

 ● Curry chicken with rice
 ● Vegetable curry with rice
 ● Salad



6:30pm Welcome & Introductions | 10 mins
 ● Adopt the agenda. Ground Rules
 ● Introductions, Name, pronoun, Ward


6:40pm Open Forum | 10 mins
 ● Invite residents to make short announcements, share neighborhood
 updates and upcoming events


6:50pm Overdose Prevention Center Presentation | 40 mins
 ● Bella Fern shares present clear, accurate information about the Income
 Overdose Prevention Center, following the Vermont Department of
 Health’s operating guidelines and recent updates from the Mayor's Office

7:30pm Mark Barlow | 20 mins
 ● Mark will share & answer resident questions about his running for re-
 election of North District councilor.
7:50pm Open Forum | 10 mins
 ● Another opportunity to hear from residents about what topics are
 important to discuss at future NPA meetings.
8:00 Adjourn
 ● Next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 22nd. Hope to see you there!



 Ward 4&7 Steering Committee:
 Annie Lawson
 JoAnn Hunt
 Sarah Diaz
 Vicki Garrison
 Sami McRae
 Mark Leopold
 Stephen Brown
 Jane McDonald
 To email the full steering committee: wards4-7npasc@googlegroups.com

Wards 4 & 7 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA): Agenda

 Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
 6:00PM-8:00PM

 Join in person: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center
 Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85494151752

 Facilitator: Sarah Note Taker: JoAnn Time Keeper: TBD


6:00 Free Community Dinner from Kismayo Kitchen | 30 mins

 ● Curry chicken with rice
 ● Vegetable curry with rice
 ● Salad



6:30pm Welcome & Introductions | 10 mins
 ● Adopt the agenda. Ground Rules
 ● Introductions, Name, pronoun, Ward


6:40pm Open Forum | 10 mins
 ● Invite residents to make short announcements, share neighborhood
 updates and upcoming events


6:50pm Overdose Prevention Center Presentation | 40 mins
 ● Bella Fern shares present clear, accurate information about the Income
 Overdose Prevention Center, following the Vermont Department of
 Health’s operating guidelines and recent updates from the Mayor's Office

7:30pm Mark Barlow | 20 mins
 ● Mark will share & answer resident questions about his running for re-
 election of North District councilor.
7:50pm Open Forum | 10 mins
 ● Another opportunity to hear from residents about what topics are
 important to discuss at future NPA meetings.
8:00 Adjourn
 ● Next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 22nd. Hope to see you there!



 Ward 4&7 Steering Committee:
 Annie Lawson
 JoAnn Hunt
 Sarah Diaz
 Vicki Garrison
 Sami McRae
 Mark Leopold
 Stephen Brown
 Jane McDonald
 To email the full steering committee: wards4-7npasc@googlegroups.com
Burlington’s Overdose
Prevention Center

Info session and Q&A

Ward 4/7 NPA
2/26/2025
 Bella Fearn
Jess Kirby
 (She/Her)
(she/her) Director of Client Organizer with
Services, Vermonters for Decriminalize
Criminal Justice Reform Vermont Coalition




 Ed Baker
  (He/Him) Licensed Clinical
  Social Worker and
  Licensed Alcohol/Drug
  Counselor (Retired)
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




What is H.72/ Act 178?

H.72, passed in June 2024, is aimed to
address the overdose crisis.


The law establishes a pilot program for an
overdose prevention center in Burlington
using opioid resettlement funds.


The pilot program includes rigorous research
 Act 178/H.72
and evaluation to ensure its effectiveness Summary
and safety.
What is an OPC?

An overdose prevention center (OPC) aims to
reduce drug-related harms, prevent
overdoses, and offer a pathway to recovery
while improving public health and safety.


These centers provide sterile equipment,
overdose reversal medications like naloxone,
and connections to healthcare, addiction
treatment, and social services.
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




OnPoint NYC
OnPoint NYC is a nonprofit organization that
operates two overdose prevention centers in
New York City.



Weber Renew
Nation's First State-Regulated Overdose
Prevention Center in in Providence.
*Photo from @onpoint_NYC
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




Frequently Asked Questions

• Do OPCs Reduce Overdose
 Deaths and Public Suffering?
• Do OPCs’ Encourage or Prolong
 Substance Use?
• Who pays for this?
• Is this Legal?
• Will this be studied?
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




Benifits of OPCs

• Prevent Overdoses

• Reduces the Burden on First
 Responders & Emergency Services

• Reduction in Public Drug Use

• Reduce Syringe Litter

• No Increase in Crime
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




• Supports Wellness & Stabilization


• Connect People to Treatment


• Saves the Community Money


• Reduce Rates and Risk of Infection
OnPoint’s Community Impact
• Overdose Prevention:
  ⚬ Staff intervened 636 times to prevent overdose death
 and other associated harms.


• Reduce the Burden on First Responders & Cost of
 Emergency Services
  ⚬ Out of 48,533 OPC utilizations, EMS was called 23
 times.


• Reduction in Public Drug Use:
  ⚬ OPC’s averted public drug use in 81% of visits.
• Reduce Syringe Litter:
  ⚬ 435,078 units of hazardous waste were kept from public
 parks, streets, and buildings
  ⚬ Opening NYC Parks reported collecting an average of
 13,000 syringes per month from Highbridge Park. In the
 month following the opening of our OPCs, syringe
 collection dropped to 1,000.

• No Increase in Crime:
  ⚬ A study found no significant increase in crime near the
 two OPCs, and it observed a statistically significant
 decrease in police narcotics enforcement in their
 vicinity.
• Connecting People to Treatment:
  ⚬ In fiscal year 2023, they provided 20,612 harm
 reduction services to 5,214 participants, including the
 provision of naloxone, health education, and referrals
 to treatment programs.




• Supports Wellness & Stabilization:
  ⚬ More than 75% of OPC participants accessed wrap-
 around services.
  ⚬ 1 in 5 participants were referred to housing, detox,
 treatment, primary care, or employment.
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




What Burlington's Overdose
Prevention Center Can
Offer..
1.Service & Support 5. Observation
 Referrals 6. Sterile Medical
2.Hazardous Waste __Supplies
 Disposal 7. Screenings &
3.Educational __Other Services
 Resources
4.Overdose Response
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




1. Hazardous Waste Disposal

 • Collection & secured disposal of
 hazardous materials, including
 hypodermic needles and
 syringes, other injection
 equipment, and other drug-
 consumption tools

 • Education on disposal of used
 tools including syringes
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




2. Services & Support
__Referrals
• Substance use treatment services
• Substance use recovery services
• Harm reduction organizations
• Wound care services
• Primary care, dental, infectious disease
 providers, and other medical services
• Housing, nutritional support, and other
 social services
• Legal aid services
• Mental Health service
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




2. Educational Resources

  • Safer use, harm reduction,
 and overdose prevention
 practices
  • Overdose responses
 including responses to
 opioid, stimulant, and multi-
 substance overdoses
  • safer sex practices
  • Infectious disease
 education
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




5._Observation

Conduct oversight & assessment
of participants during and after
drug use.

 • Monitoring will help lower the risk
 of overdose and other health
 issues.
 • Data on substance use trends to
 support additional research on
 safe consumption practices.
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




4. Overdose Response
 • Administering opioid
 antagonists
 • Contact emergency medical
 services if needed

Benifits:
 • Save Lives!
 • Reduce costs and burden on
 Emergency Medical Services, which
 currently respond to ALL overdose
 calls across the city.
6._Safe Supplies
Provide supplies for safer use
and harm reduction practices
including:
 1. Safer-smoke supplies
 2.Safer-snort supplies
 3.Safer-injection supplies
 4.Drug-preparation tools
 5.Opioid antagonists
 6.Drug-checking equipment
 7.Safer-Sex supplies
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




7. Screenings &
 _Other Services

 • HIV, HCV, and STI
 screenings
 • First aid Care
 • Support using the
 VT Helplink service
 *Photo from @onpoint_NYC




Why Burlington?
• Existing Need
  ⚬ Since 2021, Chittenden County has
 consistently reported the highest
 number of opioid-related fatal
 overdoses among all counties in
 Vermont.

• Healthcare and Support Infrastructure
  ⚬ Burlington is home to institutions like the UVM, providing
 immediate medical support if necessary.
  ⚬ The city has robust nonprofit & gov collaborations addressing
 substance use, making it easier to integrate an OPC into existing
 systems.
 Source:
 Vermont Department of Health.




Learn More by...
 Overdose Prevention Center
 Guidelines. Vermont Department of
 Health, 2022,
 www.healthvermont.gov/sites/defau
 lt/files/document/dsu-overdose-
 prevention-center-guidelines.pdf.




Reading:
Vermont Overdose Prevention Center
Operating Guidelines with the news
link in our bio or with QR code.
 https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/file
 s/document/dsu-overdose-prevention-center-
 guidelines.pdf

Visiting:

 decrimvermont.org

 drugpolicy.org opcinfo.org
Citations

 Chalfin A, del Pozo B, Mitre-Becerril D. Overdose Prevention Centers, Crime, and Disorder in New York City. JAMA Netw Open.
 2023;6(11):e2342228. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.42228


 Helping to House Vermont. H.72 Fact Sheet as Passed. Helping to House Vermont, 2024, https://helpingtohousevt.org/wp-
 content/uploads/2024/06/H.72-Fact-Sheet-as-passed.pdf.


 Mickenberg, David. Community Support for Vermont Overdose Prevention Centers. Vermont Legislature, 2024,
 https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Health%20and%20Welfare/Bills/H.72/Public%20Comm
 ents/H.72David%20MickenbergCommunity%20Support%20for%20Vermont%20Overdose%20Prevention%20Centers~4-17-
 2024.pdf.


 OnPoint NYC. OnPoint NYC Overdose Prevention Center Report. OnPoint NYC, 2023, https://onpointnyc.org/wp-
 content/uploads/2023/12/ONPOINTNYC_OPCREPORT_small-web1.pdf


 Vermont Department of Health. Fatal Opioid Overdoses 2023: Data Brief. Vermont Department of Health, 2023,
 https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/dsu-fatal-opioid-overdoses-2023.pdf.


 Vermont Department of Health. Overdose Prevention Center Guidelines. Vermont Department of Health, 2023,
 https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/dsu-overdose-prevention-center-guidelines.pdf.
Wards 4/7 NPA Meeting, February 27, 2025
Miller Community Center

Overdose Prevention Centers, Act 178
Ed Baker, Public Health Advocate, and Theresa (used to work for VermontCARES, now OPR
Implementation Specialist), Bella Fern, Jess Kirby (Director of Client Services, Vermonters for
Criminal Justice Reform). Jess can be reached at jess@vcjr.org.
Unprecedented rates of addiction and overdosing
Focusing on ways to make connections, relationships, and support most vulnerable
VCJR is interested in implementing ORC in Burlington
Ed shares: H.72/Act 178 was passed in June 2024: establishes a pilot program with settlement
funds from corporations who contributed to opioid crisis through manufacturing these meds. It is
not funded with taxpayer dollars. This is one piece in the larger picture of addressing the crisis.
Jess shares: a low-barrier program that meets people where they are at and builds relationships
with them is an essential and effective way to provide support to people who are using drugs
and shift toward changes.
Bella: OPRs exist across 14 countries and have been around for 34 years. 2 in USA: one in
NYC, showing lots of data around how they have connected people to wraparound supports. In
2024, another one opened up in Rhode Island, that is showing some recent data that is very
positive.
Theresa, Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and Ingrid Jonas visited the OPR in Rhode Island, two weeks
after it opened in Providence. Theresa says that it was a powerful experience to visit. All of the
workers were peer staff: Folks who have used drugs in the past. One portion of the building was
a community-based center providing medical care, treatment providers, holistic wellness
providers, laundry, showers, meals, activities like arts and crafts, and the overall feel was one of
very welcoming and safety. There’s a separate space for consumption. The separation between
non-use services and the actual safe space for using ensures that the other services are not at
risk if legal questions require the OPR side of things to close down.

Councilor Litwin shares appreciation for the people who have worked hard to bring the OPC to
being a reality, and asks how Turning Point will be engaged in providing these services. Jess
responds that Turning Point focuses on recovery and requires people to not have used
substances that day, which eliminates many people from services. Jess hopes that whoever
implements the center does partner with Turning Point once people are ready to get into
recovery.

Ed Baker speaks to the supply shock that happened in 2014, when supply shifted from
prescription opioids, to heroin, to fentanyl. This led to an almost vertical increase in overdoses,
as fentanyl is provided into our country from sources abroad.. Ed sees it as our duty to protect
people from the dangers of this, as they became introduced to addiction when the substances
were already lethal.
Ali Dieng wonders about a mobile site, and whether this has been considered. He expresses
concern about where there could be a permanent site that maintains safety in the community.
Bella says that studies show that OPCs do not lead to an increase in crime, and have
sometimes led to a decrease. Jess responds that a mobile site would be a quicker interaction to
prevent the overdose itself, and would not have the benefits of building relationships and
connection that lead to larger shifts. A fixed location that is easy to access by foot, close to
hospital, close to transportation, and data-driven. Ed responds that they have maps that show
locations of overdoses, and half of the deaths in Vermont happen in downtown Burlington. In
order to set it up by success, it has to be located in a space where there are no barriers. Ed
believes it has to be in downtown BTV to be successful, in a proper setting that is out of the way,
not going to interrupt business, and away from schools. A resident expresses skepticism that
the surrounding area will not be affected.

Mark Barlow presents on his re-election campaign and takes questions: has been here for 50
years, mostly in the New North End. Serves on Transportation, Utilities and Committee, Board
of Finance, and Parks Committee. He is also part of the Mayor’s Tax Fairness Working Group,
which looks at whether there are ways to make taxes more fair and equitable. Looking at
models that other cities have used around tax fairness.
Sylvia Knight asks how he feels about the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy, which was passed
in March 2020, and it will be very important with extreme immigration policies coming out of
Washington. Mark replies: many of our neighbors who are afraid and we need to support them.
We have heard reports of ICE in Burlington. Mark shares that he thanks the Mayor for her
statement a few weeks ago. Sylvia presses: do you support the FIPP as passed several years
ago? Mark says that he believes we do need fair and impartial policing. Mark says that we need
sufficient oversight of the work of the department, but also support of them. Talks about the
shortage of officers. Sylvia expands that the FIPP is about separating our city police activities
from ICE activities. Mark clarifies that he supports it fully.
Ali Dieng thanks Mark for his service and reminds everyone that he is an Independent because
he believes the neighborhood should not be about politics. He reminds Mark that the previous
City administration was Democratic for 12 years, and asks Mark why he shifted from being
Independent to being Democratic, now that we have a Progressive Mayor. He asks Mark how
he feels about Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak’s work, particularly around community safety. Mark
responds that he spent a lot of time in his first term as an Independent trying to figure out how
people were going to vote. He sat in with Democrats in his second term, and with a Prog Mayor
the Democratic caucus no longer had a caucus lead. He offered to do this and so feels it would
be disingenuous to run as an Independent, so has shifted to Dem status. As far as the question
about working with the Mayor: He says that he wants the Mayor to be successful. He feels that
he works well with everyone even if he does not vote with everyone. He feels that there is much
agreement about the problems, but that there are different opinions about the solutions. Feels
that everyone is invested in finding the solutions. Ali hopes that people will not let partisan
disagreements will get in the way of progress.
Sequoiah Peace shares that police recently aimed assault weapons at him, and asks how he
can get a resolution in that situation. Secondly: he asks if it is true that Mark is getting donations
from landlord, and asks whether Mark will be siding with landlords, or tenants and homeless
people. Mark responds that he would be happy to talk with Sequoiah off-record about the
experience he had. Mark says that yes, he has received money from landlords, including Ernie
Pomerleau, and that some of this money helped to fund extra police details downtown during
holiday season. Mark says he is proud of his donations and feels that property owners are
allowed to donate on behalf of the community they are part of.
Monika Ivancic asks what happened to money approved in 2018 in another bond, and why we
need another bond now. Mark explains that some of this is about infrastructure upgrades
regarding water systems. Mark feels that we don’t have much of a choice about this. He notes
that institutions will pay for this infrastructure, since it is based on rate payers, including
non-profits who don’t pay taxes or are tax-exempt. Mark states that he supports all the bonds.
Mark notes that we have raised public safety tax, rooms and meals tax, and still don’t have the
funds to cover a budget gap. He notes that this money needs to be found before June when a
budget is passed. So this means the savings have to be found somewhere else, such as in city
operations. He anticipates having these hard discussions between now and June. Monica
expresses disappointment over the need for the Main Street project that seems more optional,
whereas the water bonds are not optional, and feels that this is leading to people being priced
out. Mark clarifies that there are improvements happening below street level that are not
optional and will be enabling other important improvements that are not possible now, such as
Memorial Block improvements.

Wards 4/7 NPA Meeting, February 27, 2025
Miller Community Center

Overdose Prevention Centers, Act 178
Ed Baker, Public Health Advocate, and Theresa (used to work for VermontCARES, now OPR
Implementation Specialist), Bella Fern, Jess Kirby (Director of Client Services, Vermonters for
Criminal Justice Reform). Jess can be reached at jess@vcjr.org.
Unprecedented rates of addiction and overdosing
Focusing on ways to make connections, relationships, and support most vulnerable
VCJR is interested in implementing ORC in Burlington
Ed shares: H.72/Act 178 was passed in June 2024: establishes a pilot program with settlement
funds from corporations who contributed to opioid crisis through manufacturing these meds. It is
not funded with taxpayer dollars. This is one piece in the larger picture of addressing the crisis.
Jess shares: a low-barrier program that meets people where they are at and builds relationships
with them is an essential and effective way to provide support to people who are using drugs
and shift toward changes.
Bella: OPRs exist across 14 countries and have been around for 34 years. 2 in USA: one in
NYC, showing lots of data around how they have connected people to wraparound supports. In
2024, another one opened up in Rhode Island, that is showing some recent data that is very
positive.
Theresa, Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and Ingrid Jonas visited the OPR in Rhode Island, two weeks
after it opened in Providence. Theresa says that it was a powerful experience to visit. All of the
workers were peer staff: Folks who have used drugs in the past. One portion of the building was
a community-based center providing medical care, treatment providers, holistic wellness
providers, laundry, showers, meals, activities like arts and crafts, and the overall feel was one of
very welcoming and safety. There’s a separate space for consumption. The separation between
non-use services and the actual safe space for using ensures that the other services are not at
risk if legal questions require the OPR side of things to close down.

Councilor Litwin shares appreciation for the people who have worked hard to bring the OPC to
being a reality, and asks how Turning Point will be engaged in providing these services. Jess
responds that Turning Point focuses on recovery and requires people to not have used
substances that day, which eliminates many people from services. Jess hopes that whoever
implements the center does partner with Turning Point once people are ready to get into
recovery.

Ed Baker speaks to the supply shock that happened in 2014, when supply shifted from
prescription opioids, to heroin, to fentanyl. This led to an almost vertical increase in overdoses,
as fentanyl is provided into our country from sources abroad.. Ed sees it as our duty to protect
people from the dangers of this, as they became introduced to addiction when the substances
were already lethal.
Ali Dieng wonders about a mobile site, and whether this has been considered. He expresses
concern about where there could be a permanent site that maintains safety in the community.
Bella says that studies show that OPCs do not lead to an increase in crime, and have
sometimes led to a decrease. Jess responds that a mobile site would be a quicker interaction to
prevent the overdose itself, and would not have the benefits of building relationships and
connection that lead to larger shifts. A fixed location that is easy to access by foot, close to
hospital, close to transportation, and data-driven. Ed responds that they have maps that show
locations of overdoses, and half of the deaths in Vermont happen in downtown Burlington. In
order to set it up by success, it has to be located in a space where there are no barriers. Ed
believes it has to be in downtown BTV to be successful, in a proper setting that is out of the way,
not going to interrupt business, and away from schools. A resident expresses skepticism that
the surrounding area will not be affected.

Mark Barlow presents on his re-election campaign and takes questions: has been here for 50
years, mostly in the New North End. Serves on Transportation, Utilities and Committee, Board
of Finance, and Parks Committee. He is also part of the Mayor’s Tax Fairness Working Group,
which looks at whether there are ways to make taxes more fair and equitable. Looking at
models that other cities have used around tax fairness.
Sylvia Knight asks how he feels about the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy, which was passed
in March 2020, and it will be very important with extreme immigration policies coming out of
Washington. Mark replies: many of our neighbors who are afraid and we need to support them.
We have heard reports of ICE in Burlington. Mark shares that he thanks the Mayor for her
statement a few weeks ago. Sylvia presses: do you support the FIPP as passed several years
ago? Mark says that he believes we do need fair and impartial policing. Mark says that we need
sufficient oversight of the work of the department, but also support of them. Talks about the
shortage of officers. Sylvia expands that the FIPP is about separating our city police activities
from ICE activities. Mark clarifies that he supports it fully.
Ali Dieng thanks Mark for his service and reminds everyone that he is an Independent because
he believes the neighborhood should not be about politics. He reminds Mark that the previous
City administration was Democratic for 12 years, and asks Mark why he shifted from being
Independent to being Democratic, now that we have a Progressive Mayor. He asks Mark how
he feels about Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak’s work, particularly around community safety. Mark
responds that he spent a lot of time in his first term as an Independent trying to figure out how
people were going to vote. He sat in with Democrats in his second term, and with a Prog Mayor
the Democratic caucus no longer had a caucus lead. He offered to do this and so feels it would
be disingenuous to run as an Independent, so has shifted to Dem status. As far as the question
about working with the Mayor: He says that he wants the Mayor to be successful. He feels that
he works well with everyone even if he does not vote with everyone. He feels that there is much
agreement about the problems, but that there are different opinions about the solutions. Feels
that everyone is invested in finding the solutions. Ali hopes that people will not let partisan
disagreements will get in the way of progress.
Sequoiah Peace shares that police recently aimed assault weapons at him, and asks how he
can get a resolution in that situation. Secondly: he asks if it is true that Mark is getting donations
from landlord, and asks whether Mark will be siding with landlords, or tenants and homeless
people. Mark responds that he would be happy to talk with Sequoiah off-record about the
experience he had. Mark says that yes, he has received money from landlords, including Ernie
Pomerleau, and that some of this money helped to fund extra police details downtown during
holiday season. Mark says he is proud of his donations and feels that property owners are
allowed to donate on behalf of the community they are part of.
Monika Ivancic asks what happened to money approved in 2018 in another bond, and why we
need another bond now. Mark explains that some of this is about infrastructure upgrades
regarding water systems. Mark feels that we don’t have much of a choice about this. He notes
that institutions will pay for this infrastructure, since it is based on rate payers, including
non-profits who don’t pay taxes or are tax-exempt. Mark states that he supports all the bonds.
Mark notes that we have raised public safety tax, rooms and meals tax, and still don’t have the
funds to cover a budget gap. He notes that this money needs to be found before June when a
budget is passed. So this means the savings have to be found somewhere else, such as in city
operations. He anticipates having these hard discussions between now and June. Monica
expresses disappointment over the need for the Main Street project that seems more optional,
whereas the water bonds are not optional, and feels that this is leading to people being priced
out. Mark clarifies that there are improvements happening below street level that are not
optional and will be enabling other important improvements that are not possible now, such as
Memorial Block improvements.