Boards and Commissions Selection Committee — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-06-17
Time: 17:30

Boards and Commissions Selection Committee

  Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:

https://zoom.us/j/95096671566

Phone one-tap:

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Join via audio:

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Webinar ID: 950 9667 1566

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1. Agenda
 Subject 1.1. Motion to adopt agenda
 Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY


 Category 1. Agenda

 Department Mayor's Office


 Type Action
 Procedural


 Recommended Action Motion to adopt agenda

2. Public Forum
 Subject 2.1. Verbal Comments
 Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY


 Category 2. Public Forum

 Department Mayor's Office
  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action open Public Forum
 close Public Forum

3. Review and Adoption of Application Review Process

4. Discussion of Applications
  Subject 4.1. Airport Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.2. Board of Assessors
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.3. Board of Health
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.4. Board for Registration of Voters
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.5. Board of Tax Appeals
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.6. Cemetery Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion



5. Interviews
  Subject 5.1. Church Street Marketplace Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication


  Subject 5.2. Planning Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication


  Subject 5.3. Police Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication


  Subject 5.4. Retirement Board
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication
6. Discussion of Future Meeting Agenda

7. Adjournment
  Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY


  Category 7. Adjournment

  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action Motion to adjourn

Boards and Commissions Selection Committee

  Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:

https://zoom.us/j/95096671566

Phone one-tap:

+13052241968, 95096671566# US

Join via audio:

+1 305 224 1968 US

Webinar ID: 950 9667 1566

International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/abQ8T0ZwJH



1. Agenda
 Subject 1.1. Motion to adopt agenda
 Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY


 Category 1. Agenda

 Department Mayor's Office


 Type Action
 Procedural


 Recommended Action Motion to adopt agenda

2. Public Forum
 Subject 2.1. Verbal Comments
 Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY


 Category 2. Public Forum

 Department Mayor's Office


 Page 1 of 109
  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action open Public Forum
 close Public Forum

3. Review and Adoption of Application Review Process

4. Discussion of Applications
  Subject 4.1. Airport Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.2. Board of Assessors
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.3. Board of Health
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.4. Board for Registration of Voters
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.5. Board of Tax Appeals
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications



 Page 2 of 109
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion


  Subject 4.6. Cemetery Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 4. Discussion of Applications
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Discussion



5. Interviews
  Subject 5.1. Church Street Marketplace Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication


  Subject 5.2. Planning Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication


  Subject 5.3. Police Commission
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication


  Subject 5.4. Retirement Board
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY
  Category 5. Interviews
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication




 Page 3 of 109
6. Discussion of Future Meeting Agenda

7. Adjournment
  Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - 2026 Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June
 17, 2026, 5:30 PM, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTE ONLY


  Category 7. Adjournment

  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action Motion to adjourn




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2026 Boards & Commissions Selection Committee
 Meeting Minutes – June 17, 2026


Meeting called to order at 5:33pm. Quorum was present.

Agenda approved unanimously.

Public forum closed at 5:45pm and again at 5:51pm.
  7 speakers – Celia Bird, Romeo von Hermann, Jonathan Chapple-Sokol, Miriam Stoll,
 Erik Monsen, Karen Rowell, Mary Wesley

Unanimously adopted the following application review process for June 2026 appointments
(more discussion is needed between Council and Mayor to establish more standard, consistent
procedures for future appointment beyond June 2026):
  Incumbency is respected and overweighted as a consideration but does not guarantee re-
 appointment. All applications, both from incumbents and from new applicants, will be
 considered for all vacancies.
  All untimely applications will be considered without prejudice.
  Political party may be considered when reviewing applications, but it won’t be the sole or
 primary consideration.
 o Attorney Brown: BRV is the only board/commission for which political affiliation
 is important – there can’t be more than 6 members representing the same political
 party (note: there is no requirement that all political parties be represented, nor is
 there a minimum required number of members representing any particular
 political party)
  Interviews will be considered when evaluating candidacy for positions, but it won’t be
 the sole or primary determining factor, given that some individuals may not be available
 to attend the interviews despite their interest.
  Revised list of factors that may be considered when evaluating applications:
 o Existing board/commission composition and identified skill and representation
 gaps.
 o Representation from underserved or underrepresented communities.
 o Geographic representation by Ward.
 o Incumbency status.
 o Attendance/engagement history for reappointment candidates.
 o Feedback from City department heads and staff.
 o Political party affiliation.
 o Any disclosed conflicts of interest.
 o Statutory or charter requirements.
 o Residency requirements.
  Revised list of factors that may not be considered by the Committee while reviewing
 applications:
 o Endorsements of elected officials or candidates.
 o Personal relationships with Committee members.
 o Protected characteristics, except where consideration is necessary to advance
 lawful representation goals.

The Committee discussed applications:
  Airport Commission – Motion passed unanimously to move William “Chip” Mason to
 the slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  Board of Assessors – Motion passed unanimously to move Jonathan Chapple-Sokol to
 the slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  Board of Health – Motion passed unanimously to move Celia Bird and Jennifer Tomczak
 to the slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  Board of Registration of Voters – Motion carried 4-1 (Councilor Grant nay) to interview
 all applicants except William Oetjen at the Monday, June 22 meeting. Motion also
 stipulated that interviews would be considered alongside all other application factors so
 as to not hurt the applications of those who are unavailable to make the interview time.
 o Councilor Grant made an initial motion to move Michelle Lefkowitz and David
 Robert Cawley to the slate. This motion was eventually withdrawn during
 committee discussion.
 o Councilor Barlow wasn’t prepared to vote on individuals to move to the slate and
 expressed a strong preference for interviewing all applicants.
  Councilors Grant and Carpenter were in favor of selecting candidates to
 interview.
  Councilor Barlow strongly encouraged interviewing all candidates to be
 consistent with the way the Committee is approaching the interviews that
 evening (in which all candidates for those boards/commissions were
 invited to interview).
  Councilor Sanchez-Parkinson and Chair Monroe Zakaras were
 sympathetic to Councilor Barlow’s position but did not express a strong
 preference either way.
 o Councilor Carpenter made a motion to interview all candidates except William
 Oetjen.
  Councilor Sanchez-Parkinson proposed an amendment that the interviews
 would be considered but alongside all other application factors, since
 some individuals may not be available to attend the one interview window
 on Monday.
  Councilor Carpenter found this amendment to be friendly.
  Councilor Grant proposed an amendment to interview all but William
 Oetjen and Jeffrey Comstock.
  Councilor Carpenter did not find this amendment to be friendly.
  Board of Tax Appeals – Motion passed unanimously to move David Maher, Dorothy
 Commo, Margaret McGovern, and Sean Hurley to the slate of applicants being
 recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  Cemetery Commission – Motion carried 4-1 (Councilor Grant nay) to interview all
 applicants at the Monday, June 22 meeting.
 o Councilor Barlow started to make a motion to move the incumbent applicants to
 the slate, but Chair Monroe Zakaras requested discussion first.
 o Chair Monroe Zakaras pointed out that the two new applicants were very
 interesting and highlighted that Miles McCallum would fill some representation
 gaps (younger age, person of color) and would bring professional and academic
 experience related to cemeteries.
 o Councilor Sanchez-Parkinson also expressed interest in and excitement by the
 new applicants and appreciated them applying.
 o Councilor Grant was in favor of moving Miles McCallum and Martha Dallas to
 the slate, though Councilor Carpenter observed the Committee was not in
 agreement on this and requested interviews.

When the Committee moved to the interview portion of the meeting, Chair Monroe Zakaras
returned to Councilor Barlow’s earlier comment that all interviewees should be asked the same
basic questions for fairness and consistency. Chair Monroe Zakaras noted that the Committee
had not yet had time to establish what those questions would be. Councilor Grant emphasized
that some flexibility with questioning is needed to account for different types of
positions/applications, which Councilor Barlow agreed with. Councilor Sanchez-Parkinson
proposed that all applicants be asked 2 standard questions about their interest in (re)applying and
the skills and experience they bring to the position, with flexibility for Committee members to
ask follow-up questions if needed. The Committee unanimously agreed to this.

The Committee conducted interviews:
  Church Street Marketplace Commission (note all interviewees were applying for an at-
 large Burlington resident position): Rebecca “Becky” Holt, Anne Paradiso, Romeo von
 Hermann, Erik Monsen, Marykate Moore
 o The Committee expressed some confusion around the Marketplace Charter
 requirements for composition of this Commission. Councilor Carpenter noted that
 there are essentially two types of positions – business owners and at-large
 residents – and we needed to know which of these the vacancies applied to, and
 which the applicants were being considered for. Councilor Grant read the Charter
 language on Commission composition, which noted that 2 members needed to be
 CSM business owners, and 2 members needed to be Downtown business owners.
 Chair Monroe Zakaras had a question about whether the business members could
 be considered both CSM and Downtown or if it had to be one or the other. She
 also shared an email exchange she had with Marketplace Director Sam McGinnis
 about the applications, in which McGinnis indicated that “[w]e can't fill all of the
 four open spots with the candidates we have because we are missing a CSM or
 Downtown business owner.” The Committee ultimately agreed to proceed with
 interviews but to ask each applicant what type of position they are applying to,
 and confirming the composition requirements before the next discussion about
 these applications.
  Note that during her interview, Becky Holt helped clear up some of the
 questions about Commission composition, including that the business
 owner members had to be either CSM or Downtown, but not both.
  Planning Commission: Andy Montroll, Erin Malone, Dylan Shelby, William “Gil”
 Livingston, Henry Severance
 o Chair Monroe Zakaras noted that Daniel Goltzman emailed Lori Olberg that he
 was traveling out of country and couldn’t be there for an interview, but re-
 affirmed his interest in serving on this Commission.
 o Shelby applied to 2 other boards/commissions and indicated that Planning was his
 preference though would gladly serve on any.
 o Livingston applied to 1 other board/commission and indicated that Planning was
 his preference though would gladly serve on any.
  Police Commission: Erin Jacobsen, Michaela Finneran, Mary Cox, Romeo von Hermann,
 William “Gil” Livingston
 o Councilor Grant requested that interviewees to the Police Commission speak to
 importance of community engagement and de-politicizing the work of the
 Commission.
  Retirement Board: David Mount, Deirdre Keenan, Alan Matson
 o Chair Monroe Zakaras noted that Eric Avildsen emailed Lori Olberg that he was
 traveling out of country and couldn’t be there for an interview, but re-affirmed his
 interest in serving on this Board.

After the interviews concluded, the Committee moved to discussion of the next meeting
agenda, with Chair Monroe Zakaras noting that the Committee needed to decide which
interviews to conduct then. Councilor Grant suggested that the Committee try to make a few
more quick decisions to narrow down the pool of applications to be considered at the next
meeting, which the Committee agreed to, with Councilor Barlow noting he had to stop by
9:00pm.
The following applicat-=ion decisions were made:

  Conservation Board – Motion passed unanimously to move Lee Toomey to the slate of
 applicants being recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  CSWD Commission – Motion passed unanimously to move Joseph “Lee” Perry to the
 slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  Design Advisory Board – Motion passed unanimously to move Richard Martin and Jay
 White to the slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  Development Review Board – Motion passed unanimously to move Marina Campbell,
 Chase Tyler, and Sean McKenzie to the slate of applicants being recommended to City
 Council for re-appointment.
 o Before the next meeting, the Committee needs to determine whether these
 applicants are applying for the full or alternate position.
  Fire Commission – Motion passed unanimously to move Ashley Bond and Monica
 Chapman to the slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-
 appointment.
  Fence Viewer – Motion passed unanimously to move Charlie Giannoni, Shay Totten, and
 Vikas Mangipudi to the slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-
 appointment.
  Housing Board of Review – Motion passed unanimously to move Dylan Shelby to the
 slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-appointment.
  Public Works Commission – Motion passed unanimously to move Julie Hays and Marcie
 Gallagher to the slate of applicants being recommended to City Council for re-
 appointment.
  Parks and Recreation Commission – Motion passed unanimously to invite all applicants
 to interview at the June 22 Committee meeting.
  Electric Light Commission – Motion passed unanimously to invite all applicants to
 interview at the June 22 Committee meeting.
  GMT Board – Chair Monroe Zakaras noted that she got an untimely application from
 Lori Olberg from incumbent Andrea Suozzo, which she will share with the Committee
 for discussion at the June 22 meeting.
  Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board – Councilor Sanchez-Parkinson expressed interest in
 helping to advertise for this position, since we still have a vacancy with no applicant.
 Chair Monroe Zakaras recommended that she reach out to Lori Olberg for a description.
 Some discussion ensued between the Committee and Romeo von Hermann about this
 Board and how hard it is to fill the vacancies.

The meeting adjourned at 9:16pm.