Ward 1 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-06-10
Time: 18:30

Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
 Wednesday, June 10, 2026
 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 & participation guidelines
 Introductions & Announcements: share events, meetings, activities of interest to Ward 1
 Community.

6:40 - Speakout - an opportunity to raise concerns & appreciations about Ward 1 community

6:55 - NPA business - report out that we are purchasing the ice rink liner, 500 stickers,
 100 flyers, BBQ supplies

7:00 - City Council update - Allie Schachter & Carter Neubieser

7:20 - Burlington School Commission update - Matt Price & Gary Golden

7:30 - State Senate Candidate Forum
 Submit your questions for the candidates here: https://forms.gle/KaJFzXLefEjgQZzd8

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 NPA Meeting Minutes - 6/10/26
Prepared by Zoom AI w/ Rob Gutman

Attendees

 Richard Hillyard Angie Chapple-Sokol
 Julie Springer Jonathan Chapple-Sokol*
 Elaine Haney Carol Livingston*
 Caryn Long David Cawley
 Gary Golden Mark Demers
 Pardu? Sophie Quest
 Matt Price Lisa Lax
 Martine Gulick Jean Hopkins
 Karen Paul Sharyl Green
 Nikhil Goyal Peter Lackowski
 Tanya Vyhovsky Sharon Bushor
 Evan Horne Rob Gutman*
 Sarah Morris Allie Schachter
 Carter Neubieser Barbara Turnbull
 Breck Bowden Charlie Giannoni
 Linda Bowden

Quick Recap

This was the Ward 1 NPA meeting on June 10th, where residents gathered to discuss local
issues and hear from state Senate candidates. The meeting began with introductions from
steering committee members and residents, followed by "Speak Out" topics where
participants discussed e-bikes and electric scooters on sidewalks, concerns about UVM's
impact on Burlington housing, and updates on the Winooski - Burlington Bridge project.
The NPA reported spending their $3,000 surplus on an ice rink liner for Schmanska Park,
500 stickers, and 100 flyers for neighborhood outreach. City Councilors Allie Schachter
and Carter Neubieser provided updates on the city budget, tax reform proposals, and the
comprehensive Plan BTV 2050. The conversation ended with a candidate forum featuring
four state Senate candidates: Elaine Haney, Tanya Vyhovsky, Martine LaRocque-Gulick,
and Nikhil Goyal, who answered questions about UVM's role in Burlington, affordable
housing, transparency, charter changes, immigration issues, and environmental
protection.

Summary

Ward 1 NPA Meeting Updates
The Ward 1 NPA meeting covered several key updates and discussions. Jonathan Chapple-
Sokol announced the collection of questions for State Senate candidates, while Dave
Cawley promoted the continuation of monthly potlucks in Schmanska Park. Sharon Bushor
raised concerns about inclusionary zoning and e-bicycles, suggesting the steering
committee schedule discussions with planning commissioners in the fall. The NPA
discussed spending surplus funds, including purchasing a rink liner for Shemanska Park,
ordering 500 stickers, and planning a fall welcome-back barbecue.

City Council Update
Allie Schachter, the East District City Councilor, provided updates on the city budget
process, recent consumer protection ordinances, and the comprehensive Plan BTV2050
initiative. Carter provided an update on tax reform efforts, explaining that a special
committee formed to discuss proposals ultimately voted to send two proposals back to
committee, including a $30,000 universal homestead exemption and a 5% property
transfer tax on properties valued at $1 million or more. The committee accepted Councilor
Traverse's homestead exemption proposal verbatim but was unable to vote on individual
proposals when the majority voted against splitting the question. Carter expressed
disappointment at not getting the opportunity to put these proposals before voters in the
November special election and committed to building political support for the property
transfer tax to be potentially included on the March ballot.

Community Planning and Initiatives Discussion
The meeting focused on community planning efforts and updates on local initiatives. The
planning advisory group was discussed, with emphasis on engaging community members
through various outreach efforts including work with trusted voices and the Aging Council.
The group addressed questions about the purpose of planning, explaining that it serves as
a roadmap for decision-making, guides implementation of major initiatives like housing
development, and must be updated every seven years due to state law requirements.
Updates were provided on funding for the Heineberg Center, with discussions about a
potential $38,000 increase, though final decisions were still pending. The meeting also
covered school building tours starting next Saturday and upcoming legislative changes
affecting education, including Act 41 which impacts education from preschool through
high school.

Vermont Education Reform Legislation
The meeting focused on education reform legislation in Vermont, with participants
discussing a new bill (H.955) that allows voluntary school district mergers rather than
requiring them. The discussion highlighted concerns about the timeline for implementation
and the impact on smaller districts like Winooski. Participants also addressed the
transition from a weighted student funding model in Act 74 to a foundation formula, which
could affect funding for English language learners and students with IEPs. The
conversation included updates on successful legislation protecting sanctuary school
policies and creating sanctuary spaces for immigrants. The conversation ended with
introductions of four candidates running for State Senate in Chittenden County, who were
scheduled to answer questions about their platforms and approaches to various issues
including education, healthcare costs, and housing affordability.

UVM Housing Strategy Discussion
The candidates discussed strategies to address UVM's impact on housing in Burlington,
with a focus on restructuring the Board of Trustees to include students, faculty, and
community members. They agreed that UVM needs to take responsibility for housing its
students and modernize existing accommodations, while also supporting increased state
funding for higher education to reduce reliance on student tuition. The candidates also
emphasized the importance of funding legislation to avoid unfunded mandates and
discussed approaches to implementing transparent communication with constituents,
including regular community outreach and engagement.


Vermont Senate Primary Candidate Forum
The meeting featured a discussion with four candidates running for the Vermont Senate,
focusing on affordability and key policy issues. The candidates shared their plans to
address housing shortages, healthcare costs, and education reform, with particular
emphasis on reducing property taxes and creating economies of scale through regional
cooperation. They also discussed their opposition to recent vetoes regarding wetland
protection and salt usage regulations, emphasizing the importance of environmental
protection and flood mitigation. Each candidate concluded by outlining their priorities and
calling for support in the upcoming election.

The meeting focused on discussing community engagement strategies and approaches to
local governance. The participants, including candidates Elaine, Tanya, Martine, and
Nikhil, shared their plans for connecting with constituents and addressing local concerns.
They emphasized the importance of direct communication with residents, responding to
emails, holding regular coffee hours and meetings, and building relationships with elected
officials across different communities. The discussion also touched on the challenges of
implementing charter changes in Burlington, with participants suggesting ways to increase
local control and bridge the rural-urban divide in Vermont's governance.

The discussion then focused on the impact of the Trump administration's changes to green
card application practices and how Vermont can respond. The candidates discussed the
limitations of state-level action due to federal supremacy, while highlighting various
legislative efforts and supports for immigrants, such as the proposed Office of New
Americans and language justice initiatives. They emphasized standing in solidarity with
immigrant communities, strengthening constitutional protections, and working with state
attorneys general to challenge federal overreach.