City Council - Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-11-18
Time: 17:30

Racial, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

 Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

Held in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room, Ground Floor City Hall
OR
via Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96324562039
Webinar ID: 963 2456 2039

Or Use Phone number: 305-224-1968
Meeting ID: 963 2456 2039




1. Call to Order

2. Motion to Approve Agenda

3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 Subject 3.1. September Minutes
 Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
 Category 3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


 Type

4. Public Forum

5. REIB Updates
 Subject 5.1. Charter Change
 Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
 Category 5. REIB Updates
 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


 Type
6. 2020 Resolution
  Subject 6.1. 2020 Resolution
  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 6. 2020 Resolution

  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type

  Recommended Action

7. Reparations Task Force
  Subject 7.1. Reparations Task Force
  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 7. Reparations Task Force

  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type

  Recommended Action

8. Community Forum

9. Adjournment
  Subject 9.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 9. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 10.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
 Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities
 who require assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged
 to contact 802-865-7000 (voice) or 802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in
 advance so that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting will also air
 on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of Burlington will
 not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or
 religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age,
 sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status,
 disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information.
Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
Category 10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
Department Council and Board


Type

Racial, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

 Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

Held in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room, Ground Floor City Hall
OR
via Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96324562039
Webinar ID: 963 2456 2039

Or Use Phone number: 305-224-1968
Meeting ID: 963 2456 2039




1. Call to Order

2. Motion to Approve Agenda

3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 Subject 3.1. September Minutes
 Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
 Category 3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


 Type

4. Public Forum

5. REIB Updates
 Subject 5.1. Charter Change
 Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
 Category 5. REIB Updates
 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


 Type


 Page 1 of 33
6. 2020 Resolution
  Subject 6.1. 2020 Resolution
  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 6. 2020 Resolution

  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type

  Recommended Action

7. Reparations Task Force
  Subject 7.1. Reparations Task Force
  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 7. Reparations Task Force

  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type

  Recommended Action

8. Community Forum

9. Adjournment
  Subject 9.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 9. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 10.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
 Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities
 who require assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged
 to contact 802-865-7000 (voice) or 802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in
 advance so that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting will also air
 on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of Burlington will
 not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or
 religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age,



 Page 2 of 33
 sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status,
 disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information.
Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
Category 10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
Department Council and Board


Type




 Page 3 of 33
 Racial, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

 Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

Held in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room, Ground Floor City Hall
OR
via Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96324562039
Meeting ID: 963 2456 2039

Or Use Phone number: 305-224-1968
Meeting ID: 963 2456 2039




1. Call to Order

2. Motion to Approve Agenda

3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 Subject 3.1. August 2025
 Meeting September 16, 2025 - Agenda v1 - Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial,
 Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
 Category 3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


 Type

4. Public Forum

5. REIB Updates
 Subject 5.1. Staffing
 Meeting September 16, 2025 - Agenda v1 - Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial,
 Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
 Category 5. REIB Updates
 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


 Type


 Page 4 of 33
 Subject 5.1. Director Search Update
 Meeting September 16, 2025 - Agenda v1 - Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM,
 Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


 Category 5. REIB Updates

 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


 Type

 Recommended Action

  Subject 5.2. REIB Charter Update
  Meeting September 16, 2025 - Agenda v1 - Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial,
 Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
  Category 5. REIB Updates
  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type

  Subject 5.3. BIPOC Stakeholder Meeting: Citywide Housing Initiatives
  Meeting September 16, 2025 - Agenda v1 - Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial,
 Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
  Category 5. REIB Updates
  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type

6. TCV Updates

7. Community Forum

8. Wrap Up & Motion to Adjourn
  Subject 8.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting September 16, 2025 - Agenda v1 - Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial,
 Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 8. Wrap Up & Motion to Adjourn

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

9. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 9.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
 Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities
 who require assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged
 to contact 802-865-7000 (voice) or 802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in
 advance so that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting will also air


 Page 5 of 33
 on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of Burlington will
 not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or
 religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age,
 sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status,
 disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information.
 Meeting September 16, 2025 - Agenda v1 - Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial,
 Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)
 Category 9. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
 Department Council and Board


 Type



Minutes taken by: Vicky Luciano


REIB City Council Committee
May 20, 2025 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Sharon Bushor Room
Attendees:
Christian Berry, Interim Director REIB (in person)
Katie Greene, Community & Belonging Program Manager REIB (in person)
Vicky Luciano, Administrative and Financial Coordinator REIB (in person)
Councilor Becca Brown McKnight (in person)
Ferene Paris (in person)
Councilor Melo Grant (Virtual)
Councilor Ranjit “Buddy” Singh (Virtual)
Councilor Evan Litwin (Virtual)
Councilor Ben Traverse (Virtual)
p.lopee@gmail.com (no name listed, virtual)
Emma Wall (Virtual)
Lizzy Clements (Virtual)
Michelle Bookless (Virtual)
Charlotte Safran (Virtual)
Christine Hughes (Virtual)
Elizabeth Cornell (Virtual)
Sherwood Smith (Virtual)
Grey Barreda (Virtual)
Jaada Longmore (Virtual)

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Mona Tolba (Virtual)
Mary Gannon (Virtual)
Reverend Mark Hughes (Virtual)


Meeting Convened: 5:38 PM
Agenda:
 1. Call to Order
 a. Councilor Grant called the meeting to session at 5:38 PM
 2. Motion to Approve Agenda
 a. Councilor Singh motioned to approve the agenda. Councilor McKnight seconded. Motion passed
 unanimously.
 3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 a. Councilor Singh motioned to approve the meeting minutes. Councilor Mcknight seconded.
 Motion passed unanimously.
 4. Public Forum
 a. Members of the public voiced strong support for the REIB and Interim Director Berry and
 expressed concerns and disappointment for the delay in the naming of the permanent director
 for the REIB. A few members of the public expressed the need to acknowledge what is
 happening on a national level. A member of the public asked what is the criteria for being a part
 of the BIPOC Stakeholders meeting and expressed a need to center the topics affecting BIPOC.
 Refer to the video.
 i. Councilor Grant apologized for the delay and expressed they would not be able to make
 the announcement as it is Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak’s announcement to make. Councilor
 Grant said she would look into the criteria for the BIPOC Stakeholders meetings. She
 brought up the community forum as another space to bring some topics to have
 conversations. She expressed an interest in speaking to the members to talk about their
 concerns. Refer to video.
 ii. Councilor Mcknight expressed their appreciation of all the words, comments, opinions,
 thoughts, and frustration that was shared and empathized with all that was said. She
 expressed that she supports Interim Director Berry as the permanent director. She
 noted it would be harder for whoever does come in if it is not Interim Director Berry.
 Refer to video.
 iii. Concilor Singh echoed the frustrations the members of community expressed and
 apologized to Interim Director Berry and the REIB staff for being put through the
 process and expressed gratitude for Interim Director Berry and staff for working through
 the pressure and staying professional. Refer to video
 5. REIB Updates
 a. Staffing
 i. Director Search Update
 1. Interim Director Berry informed everyone the staffing process is in the same
 holding pattern. The 2 program managers for education and health equity can’t
 be hired until the permanent director has been named.
 2. Councilor Grant informed everyone that the decision for the new director has
 been named and an announcement will be coming from the mayor but she is not
 sure when the announcement will be made. Refer to video.
 b. REIB Charter Update
 i. Councilor McKnight informed everyone the Charter Change Committee met to fine tune
 the language for the Charter. She said in the previous meeting they narrowed in on 3
 issues to open up for public discussion, if the director should be appointed by the mayor,


 Page 7 of 33
 how long the appointment should be, and the list of power and responsibilities of the
 office. Refer to the Charter Change memo below. And the last issue is creating a citizen-
 led commission or advisory board. Refer to the video. Councilor Grant expressed her
 concerns about having a commission over an advisory board. Refer to the video.
 Councilor McKnight expressed she and the other Council members on the Charter
 Change Committee would be willing to talk about the issues. She mentioned the deadline
 to get the language fine-tuned would-be early December. Refer to the video. A member of
 the community asked a clarifying question about who needs to be appointed by the
 mayor. Interim Director Berry answered that all of the Department heads and some
 directors are appointed. Refer to the video. Councilor Singh expressed his thoughts on
 the composition of the board and urged people to give their opinions on the issues
 brought up by Councilor McKnight. Refer to the video.
 c. BIPOC Stakeholder Meeting: Citywide Housing Initiatives
 i. Councilor Grant informed everyone the next BIPOC Stakeholders meeting would be on
 Wednesday the 24th at 9:00 am. A member of the community presented a few questions
 for Councilor Grant to bring to Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. Refer to the video.
6. TCV Updates
 a. No TCVs had any updates.
7. Community Forum
 a. Councilor Grant informed everyone that for the next Community Forum she would like to invite
 representatives from Food not Cops, Food Not Bombs, Street Cats, and the owners of King
 Street Laundry as they all do significant amounts of work with the unhoused population.
 Councilor Grant expressed she would welcome any emails with additional topics for community
 forum. A member of the public encouraged the City Councilors to have a conversation about
 what accountability looks like, thanked them for offering their perspectives and offering up what
 their roles could be and expressed a need for community support, especially white allies. Other
 member of the community expressed frustration and disappointment in Mayor Mulvaney-
 Stanak. Another community member reviewed the Declaration of Racism as a Public Health
 Emergency in 2020 and the Reparations Task Force. Refer to the video.
8. Wrap Up & Motion to Adjourn
 a. Councilor Grant adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm




 Page 8 of 33
Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB)
Date: July 9, 2015

To: Burlington City Council

From: Christian Berry, Interim Director

Re: Recommended Action: Motion to Refer the REIB Proposed Charter Language to the Charter Change Committee



Introduction
This memo proposes the formal addition of the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) to Burlington’s
City Charter and recommends City Council refer the proposed REIB Charter Language to the Charter Change Committee
for further action.


Establishing the REIB Office within the city’s charter signifies a commitment to advancing racial equity and
social justice throughout our city. This initiative aligns with our ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive community,
and it addresses systemic inequities that have historically affected the most underrepresented, underserved, and
marginalized members of our community.


History of Racial Equity and Social Justice Work in City Governance
The City of Burlington has taken significant strides towards racial equity and social justice since the early 2000s. In 2000,
the City Council adopted the Legacy Action Plan, outlining a vision for improving the city’s economic, environmental,
social, and cultural health for future generations. This plan initially overlooked the urgent need to assess and
address systemic barriers related to diversity and racial equity, which were incorporated into the plan in 2010.


In 2011, under the direction of the Social Equity Director, Wanda Hines, a Unity Retreat convened over 50 stakeholders
to identify structural barriers and emphasize the necessity of a coordinated, city-supported plan to advance racial
equity. This work laid the foundation for future initiatives. A resolution to create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
committee was passed by the City Council in 2012 and by late 2013, the city enlisted the Vermont Partnership for
Fairness and Diversity to develop a strategic plan addressing racial and ethnic disparities. This plan was adopted in 2014
with the goal of embedding inclusion, equity, and justice into city operations.


In response to identified gaps in Burlington’s approach to addressing racial and social disparities, the Office of
Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) was established in 2019. This formal launch created a centralized structure
to lead internal systems change efforts and public-facing equity initiatives throughout the city. Tyeastia Green was
appointed as the City’s first Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in 2020.


Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Initially, the City of Burlington’s efforts to address racial equity were often reactive rather than proactive, leading
to a fragmented approach to social justice. Establishing a dedicated Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
provided a centralized focus for racial equity and social justice-based efforts and initiatives, ensuring ongoing attention
to issues faced by the most underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized members of our community.


Since its establishment in 2019, the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) has emerged as a key driver
of systemic equity efforts throughout city governance. The office’s work is now integrated into internal policies,


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public engagement initiatives, budget planning, education and training, and service delivery. In response to community
needs and

organizational gaps, the REIB’s strategic and operational responsibilities have expanded. The REIB continues to
be relied upon to lead and support equity-based initiatives across departments and within city policies.


Currently, the need for a formal REIB Office is more urgent than ever. National conversations surrounding racial
inequality and ongoing attacks on human rights reveal the systemic injustices faced not only by racial and ethnic groups,
but also by various underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized groups, including those impacted by
socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and other factors that result in disparate
treatment.


The focus on inclusion and belonging emphasizes the importance of creating a community where everyone feels safe,
valued, and supported, irrespective of their backgrounds or experiences. An official Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and
Belonging would ensure that racial equity and social justice considerations are integral to all city policies and programs,
rather than an afterthought.



Justification for Including the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and REIB
Director position in Burlington’s City Charter
Institutionalizing the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging within Burlington’s City
Charter offers numerous benefits for future governance. By embedding the REIB Office in the Charter, the city
demonstrates an unwavering commitment to prioritizing racial equity and social justice in all aspects of governance and
community development. This institutionalization creates a mechanism for long-term accountability, ensuring that city
officials and employees remain responsible for promoting equity and belonging in both policy decisions and program
implementations.


Furthermore, a chartered REIB Office facilitates a centralized, coordinated approach to equity-based initiatives,
effectively breaking down silos between departments while ensuring comprehensive strategies that address systemic
inequities. It also allows for dedicated funding and resources, thereby enabling the sustainable development of
programs that cater to the needs of the most underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized members of our
community. This formal commitment fosters greater public trust and engagement, as community members will feel
more included in the decision-making processes knowing there is an office specifically dedicated to their concerns.


With the REIB Office enshrined in the City Charter, considerations of racial equity would be systematically integrated
into all city policies, programs, practices, and services, promoting a culture of inclusion throughout municipal
governance. The REIB can conduct regular assessments, collect data, and provide ongoing training regarding racial
equity, leading to better-informed decision-making by city officials. Moreover, its establishment encourages community
engagement and empowerment, creating a platform where voices from various backgrounds can be heard, leading to
more impactful initiatives.


Additionally, the REIB can set measurable goals and benchmarks for achieving racial equity, allowing the city to track
progress over time and make necessary adjustments to strategies. Ultimately, embedding the REIB Office within the City
Charter serves to facilitate a cultural shift towards inclusivity, supporting a broader societal change that values diversity
and belonging. In summary, institutionalizing the REIB Office would create a robust framework for addressing systemic
issues, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive Burlington for everyone.



 Page 10 of 33
Request:
Establishing the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging within Burlington’s City Charter is a vital step
towards fostering an inclusive and equitable community. This formal recognition will ensure that our commitment to
racial equity, inclusion, and belonging is embedded in the governance of our city, paving the way for systemic change
and accountability. Adding the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to Burlington’s City Charter is a
crucial step toward reinforcing our commitment to equity and justice.



Proposed Motion: “To waive the first reading of the proposed Charter Change and forward the language to the
Charter Change Committee for further deliberation subject to review and approval of the City Attorney’s Office.”



Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) Charter Language

The City of Burlington shall form an Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and establish a Director of Racial
Equity Inclusion and Belonging.


The REIB Director role shall be a permanent position in the City appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City
Council.

 1. The REIB Office shall be under supervision, direction and control of director subject to the orders and ordinances
 of city council
 2. The office of racial equity, inclusion, and belonging administrative officer shall have all of the powers, duties,
 and responsibilities as are provided in the racial equity, inclusion, and belonging director position description.

Subject to the orders and ordinances of the City Council, the Mayor and REIB director shall develop and implement a
comprehensive racial equity, inclusion, and belonging strategy for the City of Burlington.


In furtherance of this work, the REIB director shall, subject to the orders and ordinances of the City Council, have the
following rights, powers and duties, and implement such alongside all city departments:

 1. To work on behalf of the City to advance equity and social justice by championing diversity, inclusion, belonging,
 and anti-racism;
 2. To develop, coordinate, implement, and administer racial equity and inclusion strategies and projects for the
 City;
 3. To recommend to city departments, the mayor’s office, and City Council, policy and program changes to
 better advance racial equity and inclusion in the City;
 4. To enhance representation in city government through decision-making bodies, community engagement
 initiatives, and policy development process for folks who hold underserved communities;
 5. To coordinate and facilitate resident engagement in the City that encourages inclusive spaces for engagement
 with city government.




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Resolution Relating to

MARCH 3, 2026 ANNUAL CITY MEETING – CHARTER CHANGE RE:

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING


Sponsor(s): Charter Change Committee


Introduced:

Referred to:

Action:

Date:

Signed by Mayor:


CITY OF BURLINGTON
In the year Two Thousand Twenty-Five………………………………………………………………………


Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:

1. WHEREAS, the City of Burlington is committed to advancing racial equity, inclusion, and
 belonging as foundational principles in municipal governance and community life; and
2. WHEREAS, the City recognizes the importance of establishing a permanent Office of
 Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (“REIB”) to lead, coordinate, and advance this
 work across all departments; and
3. WHEREAS, the REIB Office plays a critical role in developing strategies, advising policy,
 and building inclusive community engagement processes that foster equity and
 belonging for all Burlington constituents; and
4. WHEREAS, the formal creation of this office within the City Charter will strengthen
 accountability, sustainability, and institutional commitment to this work;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council approves the following
amendment to the City Charter and requests that the Mayor warn the following question
and place it on the ballot for the Annual City Meeting to be held on March 3, 2026, and that
the City Clerk set public hearings on this question in accordance with § 303 of the City
Charter and 17 V.S.A. § 2645:


“Shall the Charter of the City of Burlington, Acts of 1948, No. 298, as amended, be further
amended as follows?”:




 Page 12 of 33
§ 374 Enumerated:

Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

• (a) The City of Burlington shall form an Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
 (“REIB”) and establish a Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
• (b) The REIB Director role shall be a permanent position in the City, selected and hired
 in accordance with City of Burlington Human Resources policies and procedures, and
 shall report directly to the Mayor.
• (c) The REIB Office shall be under the supervision, direction, and control of the Director,
 subject to the orders and ordinances of the City Council.
• (d) The Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging administrative officer shall have
 all of the powers, duties, and responsibilities as are provided in the Racial Equity,
 Inclusion, and Belonging Director position description.
• (e) Subject to the orders and ordinances of the City Council, the Mayor and REIB
 Director shall develop and implement a comprehensive racial equity, inclusion, and
 belonging strategy for the City of Burlington.
• (f) In furtherance of this work, the REIB Director shall, subject to the orders and
 ordinances of the City Council, have the following rights, powers, and duties, and
 implement such alongside all City departments:

 • To work on behalf of the City to advance equity and social justice by championing
 diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism.
 • To develop, coordinate, implement, and administer racial equity and inclusion
 strategies and projects for the City.
 • To provide consultation to City departments, the Mayor’s Office, and City Council
 policy and program changes to better advance racial equity and inclusion in the City.
 • To enhance representation in City government through decision-making bodies,
 community engagement initiatives, and policy development processes for folks who
 hold underserved community identities.
 • To coordinate and facilitate constituent engagement in the City that encourages
 inclusive spaces for engagement with City government.




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Report of the City of Burlington Reparations Taskforce
Prepared by Pablo Bose1 and Josie Daigle2
January 2024

I Overview – Taskforce Mandate, Composition and Activities

 The Burlington Reparations Taskforce was established in August 2020 through a City
Council Resolution. It was created with reference to US Congressional Resolution H.R. 40 and
H. 478, which consider reparations on a national and municipal level respectively. The resolution
considers city level data across a range of socioeconomic disparities. These distinctions –
including in housing access, employment rates, health outcomes, and policing practices – suggest
that there are continued and marked differences in socioeconomic outcomes for African
Americans and especially the descendants of chattel slavery in the US. The resolution was meant
to initiate a study of the historical involvement and impacts of the institution of slavery in the
City of Burlington and to develop a proposal to address said history – including the possibility of
enacting reparations policies and creating a public apology on behalf of the civic government.
The resolution created a taskforce to carry out this mission, whose mandate was to study and
create reparations plans, recommendations, and educational outcomes regarding racial histories
and contemporary relationships within the city of Burlington, Vermont.

 Membership within this taskforce was determined through negotiation by several
stakeholder communities. These led to appointments to the taskforce of five members, one each
selected by the City Council President, the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, the Mayor of
Burlington, and the Vermont Human Rights Commission, as well as the Director of the City of
Burlington’s Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Department3. Current and past members are
listed below:

REIB Director: Kim Carson (2022-)
 Phet Kheomanyvanh (2021)
 Tyeastia Green (2020-2021)
VT HRC: Roy Hill (2022-)
 Hal Colston (2020-2021)
City Council President: Rebecca Zietlow (2020-2023)
VTRJA: Christine Hughes (2020-)
Burlington Mayor: Pablo Bose (2020-)

The Taskforce also included non-voting guests including experts such as William Darity, a
national expert as a Professor of Economics at UNC Chapel Hill as well as participation during
meetings by paid consultants including Elise Guyette, Rashad Williams, and Laura Hill.

1 Professor of Geography and Geosciences, University of Vermont.
2 Reparations Taskforce Assistant.
3 Members were selected due to their expertise and experience in various related fields (e.g. Christine Hughes is a longtime racial

justice activist, Rebecca Zietlow is a nationally-recognized legal scholar on constitutional law and the Reconstruction Era, Pablo
Bose is an urban geographer who studies socioeconomic disparities, Hal Colston was a VT State legislator and council member
from Winooski).




 Page 22 of 33
Members of the public were also present during warned taskforce public meetings. The activities
undertaken by the Taskforce have included monthly meetings throughout much of 2020, the first
half of 2021 and again beginning in late 2023, the creation and dissemination of RFPs to solicit
appropriate research on reparations-related topics, the selection and oversight of research
consultants, deliberation on their reports, presentations to city council, working with researchers
at the University of Vermont to supplement these studies, and developing a set of
recommendations to present to the City Council of Burlington for this final report. Studies
commissioned by the taskforce are included as appendices to this overview and are summarized
in section 3.

II Defining Reparations

Scales

 Reparations are, in their basic form, the idea that some sort of restitution should be made
for a harm or injustice caused to a specific group or individual. There are a wide range of
possible kinds of reparations that we can see either proposed or enacted within the US and
internationally, distinguished by scale and by type. In terms of scale, reparations might operate at
an international level, across borders or, nationally, across state lines. Reparations might also be
conceived of in a more insular form in the US within the jurisdiction of an individual state or –
as in the case of this taskforce – at a more granular or local level, that of the municipality or
town. Reparations can also take on very different forms – typically we tend to imagine
reparations in economic terms through cash payments or economic compensation. But there are
other kinds of reparations that may take legal, cultural, land-based or more symbolic forms as
well.

 International reparations are intended to address violations of international human rights
and humanitarian law. At this scale, reparations have often been developed in order to promote
justice and make efforts to make whole groups or individuals who have experienced harms. Such
efforts may emphasize either (or both) monetary compensation and satisfaction of non-material
injury. Such international or multilateral actions are often difficult to enact due to the scale and
scope of the harms and proposed reparations. Some representative examples include war crimes,
art theft, and other violations of international humanitarian laws:

 • UN Standards of Reparations
 • Unidroit Convention on Stolen of Illegally Exported Cultural Objects
 • Luxembourg Agreement
 • The JUST Act- Germany

National reparations refer to some form of repair, whether economic, cultural, social or other
(see types of reparations below), based upon historical wrongdoings instigated, supported or
condoned by a national government. The intent in such reparations efforts is to deconstruct and
repair the nationwide systems and relationships which resulted in this wrongdoing. Such an
approach is best highlighted by H.R. 40, a reparations policy proposed in the US Congress which
highlights how specific governmental policies have contributed to racial injustice in the past, and
how both the legacies of such actions and ongoing federal policies continue to affect modern day




 Page 23 of 33
African Americans and especially the descendants of chattel slavery. National reparations can
come in almost any form - often economic, but also may include some element of symbolic
reparations, as well as the revision or even retraction of certain laws and legal frameworks:

 • Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (H.R.442)
 • National African American Reparations Commission Recommendations
 • H.R.6130
 • NAACP Recommendations

 Reparations at the state level are structured in a very similar manner to those at the
national level, with wider reaching policies oriented towards state specific action rather than
national ones. These reparations look at state action as a whole and aim to make a particular state
a more equitable place to live. Paralleling national-level reparations, such an approach is often
based less on individual cases and actions, but rather seek to address wider-ranging policies
which resulted in inequalities currently affecting the state:

 • California
 o Materials and Executive Summary
 o Policy Recommendations
 o Approval and Links to Extended Documents
 • New York Senate Bill S1163A
 • Marlyland Education Reforms
 • Virginia Victims of Eugenics Sterilization Compensation Program

City level policies are among the most narrowly-defined, concrete and action-oriented level of
reparations currently being created, often specifically citing one injustice and taking action to
repair it based on that city's actions (or inactions) in creating the situation. Local policy is created
to analyze and attempt to repair the city sponsored actions which lead to injustice in the first
place. The resulting reparations may consist of monetary reparations for those descendants of
enslaved persons, but for some cities, the broader aim is to alter ongoing and future municipal
policies in order to both prevent inequality in outcomes and to uplift African American residents
of the present and future. Such an approach can include changing policy, investing in business
ventures, developing cultural centers, and similar actions (see types of reparations). There are
also local-scale reparations carried out by other organizations such as universities, churches,
community groups and other entities which attempt to create small scale reparations based
specifically on that organization’s history and interactions with the institution of slavery. Such
examples are usually to be found on a more case-by-case basis and are often less policy based
and instead look at more specific scenarios:

 • City of Evanston Local Reparations: Restorative Housing Program
 • Resolution No. 20-128 (Asheville, NC)
 • Resolution No. 20210304-067 (Austin, TX)
 • Reparations for Burge Torture Victims Ordinance




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Types

 Legal reparations often arise from court decisions or as a result of legislative
policymaking, often in response to specific instances of injustice on an individual or group basis.
In some cases, such reparative actions do not necessarily not provide a legal precedent for future
actions, though they might be referenced by other jurisdictions. Examples of legal reparations
might include responses to instances of police brutality, loss of property, and other similar
events. Such actions often take place at the local level rather than at a larger scale:

 • 42 U.S.C. 1983 - Civil action for deprivation of rights
 • Reparations for Burge Torture Victims Ordinance
 • Corrective Justice and Reparations for Black Slavery
 • Reparations For Police Violence

Cultural reparations can aid with repairing cultural harms created by both group or individual
injustice, as we can see with the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination within the US. This
form of reparation can take place with the return of artifacts, establishment of cultural centers,
and other cultural goods. This type of reparations can be found across multiple scales, from city-
based community centers to nationwide racial education policy:

 • From Slavery to Genocide: The Fallacy of Debt in Reparations Discourse
 • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990
 • California’s Cultural Reparations
 • Providence, RI- Report of Reparations Commission

Economic reparations include a range of different variations, and there are multiple models and
forms that these can take. They might include lump sum payments, investments into properties
and businesses, and specific payments over time. This is a common form of reparations, and the
size and scope of payments as well as eligibility of recipients are often contested and
controversial. Economic reparations are, however, one of the most concrete forms of reparative
action, in which direct restitution can be made to injured parties. Some of the different
institutions that have explored economic reparations (or been called upon to provide them)
include governments at various levels, private corporations, non-profit and non-governmental
organizations, and educational institutions:

 • Reparations and Persistent Racial Wealth Gaps
 • The Economics of Reparations
 • Georgetown Reconciliation Fund
 • Virginia Victims of Eugenics Sterilization Compensation Program

Land reparations is also sometimes referred to as land repatriation. Land repatriation not only
requires giving the physical land back to the original owners but also adding legal and political
frameworks to help uphold sovereignty. This form of reparations includes a call to redraw
boundaries from the way that a particular area, country or jurisdiction has been historically
codified and redefine the way land is structured, and property owned. There is an emphasis in




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repatriation on redefining land, property, ownership and mapping through a decolonial lens. This
can be done through several platforms, tools and instruments. A key example of this approach is
the Indigenous land back rights movement:

 • Reparative Infrastructures
 • Returning Land, Expanding Landscape
 • Land Reparations and Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit

Symbolic reparations primarily take the form of apologies and other ways of seeking forgiveness
for past injustices. These include formal announcements, speeches, the creation of a statue,
plaque, memorial or tribute, or an official document adopted by a legislature or other institutional
body. This form of reparations is often paired with a more concrete form of reparations such as
economic restitution. Perhaps the most essential part of this reparative form is documenting an
official acknowledgement of wrongdoing and harm:

 • Reconciliation and Reparations
 • Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (H.R.442)

III Cases and Models

 Various (if limited) examples of reparations in their many forms have appeared
throughout modern history, and can be demonstrated in several case studies, as either enacted by
governments and organizations or proposed by advocacy groups and victims themselves. One
prominent US example are Japanese reparations in response to the unjustified displacement and
confinement of and economic harm to Japanese immigrants and American citizens of Japanese
descent during the World War 2.4 More than 100,000 first- and second-generation Japanese
Americans as well as Japanese immigrants were removed from homes and businesses (primarily
in California) and placed in relocation centers and eventually internment camps hundreds of
miles away. After four decades of activism and struggle, a reparations effort was successful
during the 1980s. The actual reparations consisted of returning objects (or the monetary value of
said objects) taken during the original internment process (which had been documented by the
federal administration) and included no monetary payouts or reparations for the injustice itself
but rather for the value of goods and property lost (as long as it was documented).5 Victims could
file claims and receive some compensation, managed through the Office of Redress
Administration (ORA) for Restitution Payment, with a 10-year program and $20,000 to each
eligible person. $1.6 billion was actually paid out, but very few people actually received the full
amount.6 This case more represents a local reparations principle, repairing for a specific act/loss
in narrow terms of economic loss rather than in terms of the injustice represented by internment
itself.



4 Yoshida, H. (n.d.). Redress and reparations for Japanese American incarceration: . The National WWII Museum | New

Orleans. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/redress-and-reparations-japanese-american-incarceration
5 Sarah L. Brew, Making Amends for History: Legislative Reparations for Japanese Americans and Other Minority Groups, 8(1)

LAW & INEQ. 179 (1990).
6 GovTrack.us. (2024). H.R. 442 — 100th Congress: Civil Liberties Act of 1987. Retrieved from

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/100/hr442




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 Justice for the victims of the Holocaust of Jewish and other populations during WWII
also serve as another prominent example of reparative policy. There are several forms of
reparations related to the Holocaust. These include economic reparations to those harmed by the
Holocaust7, symbolic reparations via public apologies, as well as cultural reparations through art
return, return of stolen property, and other kinds of restitution8. This scale has mainly been
transnational, and reparations have often been concluded through treaties between countries and
organizations. The United Nations has also been involved in some cases, as many of the actual
harms were violations of international law and are matters of international importance9. Some
can also be considered as a form of national reparations, as some reparative acts were
specifically from one country to its residents.

 Another significant case (and the one with the most relevance to our work) are
reparations for African American communities, referencing a wide range of injustices but
generally beginning with the ‘original sin’ of American slavery.10 Beyond this most prominent
example, reparations for African Americans also include the many other longstanding examples
of racial injustice including for the victims of Jim Crow laws, racial violence and terrorism such
as lynching, disenfranchisement through barriers to political participation (such as poll taxes),
racialized housing covenants, blockbusting, redlining and other forms of residential segregation,
discriminatory policies in hiring, education and healthcare and other forms of discrimination
experienced by African Americans.11 More recently, many efforts at reparation target modern-
day disparities, such as the wealth gap, housing inequality, and police brutality that continue to
lead to widely disparate socioeconomic injustices based on race. Due to the wide-reaching
impacts of racism, it can be difficult to target a distinctive scale and type of reparation, as both
harms and policies are felt across many types, scales and levels.12

 Finally, indigenous reparations are articulated through various processes, including
territorial return, access to traditional practices (through hunting and fishing licenses), resource
rights (such as oil and gas and mineral rights), land back movements, return of artwork,
archeological and cultural artifacts, and monetary payments. It is important to note that such
efforts have made little progress beyond proposals and have resulted in few impactful examples
of actual reparations.13 Those that have occurred have been made primarily on a national scale,



7 Goschler, Constantin, “Luxembourg Agreement”, in: Encyclopedia of Jewish History and Culture Online, Original German

Language Edition: Enzyklopädie Jüdischer Geschichte und Kultur. Im Auftrag der Sächsischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu
Leipzig herausgegeben von Dan Diner. © J.B. Metzler, Stuttgart/Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland 2011–2017.
8 Unidroit Convention on Stolen of Illegally Exported Cultural Objects Rome, 24 June 1995
9 UN General Assembly, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 9 December 1948, United

Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 78, p. 277, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3ac0.html [accessed 10 January 2024]
10 Darity, William A., and A. Kirsten Mullen. From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First

Century, University of North Carolina Press, 2020. ProQuest Ebook Central,
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvm/detail.action?docID=6126519.
11 Kaplan, Jonathan, and Andrew Valls. “Housing Discrimination as a Basis for Black Reparations.” Public Affairs Quarterly, vol. 21, no.

3, 2007, pp. 255–73. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40441462. Accessed 10 Feb. 2023.
12 Danielson, Mishael A, and Alexis Pimentel. “Give Them Their Due: An African-American Reparations Program Based on the

Native American Federal Aid Model.” Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice, vol. 10, no. 1, 2004, pp.
89–114., https://doi.org/https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/crsj/vol10/iss1/7.
13 Dinab, Sbelton, 'Reparations for Indigenous Peoples: The Present Value of Past Wrongs', in Federico Lenzerini

(ed.), Reparations for Indigenous Peoples: International and Comparative Perspectives (Oxford, 2008; online edn, Oxford
Academic, 22 Mar. 2012), https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199235605.003.0003, accessed 10 Jan. 2024.




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with some movements on a state-by-state basis.14 Indigenous reparations also come in a variety
of types, often including land acknowledgements, symbolic, and cultural reparative acts.15

 There are also multiple models considered by governments and academics in this area.
One exploratory model created by the United Nations is the UN Standards of Reparations. The
UN defines reparations as “adequate, effective and prompt reparation is intended to promote
justice by redressing gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of
international humanitarian law.” This definition of reparations is made for more wider ranging
injustices, such as Holocaust reparations, justice for those wronged by war crimes, and other
wider ranging international incidents. In order to have reparations under the UN’s definition
there are 5 conditions: Cessation (assurances and guarantees of non-reptation), Restitution and
repatriation, Compensation, Satisfaction, Rehabilitation. These conditions give a step-by-step list
of requirements in order to fully gain reparations, highlighting the steps of compensation and
rehabilitation. This definition requires the encapsulation of multiple forms of reparations – there
cannot just be symbolic or monetary compensation, but a mixture of multiple forms must be
employed in order to most fully repair the wrongdoing.16

 Another model was created by Dr. William Darity, an economist specializing in
reparations efforts. He calculates economic reparations based on a post-Civil War promise of 40
acres worth of land (which in 2024 would equal roughly $80,000 per person). Due to his
background and work, he mainly focuses on the economic form of compensation, though he has
proposed multiple versions of his monetary models, most resulting in a higher sum of
reparations. His work is valuable as it gives a variety of options for monetary compensation,
often the most difficult part of determining reparations.17

 One current model is that being developed in the State of California. California follows
the UN Principles of Reparations definition, as well as the 5 conditions required in order to
properly calculate and address reparations. They then break down several racial historical issues
and create a step-by-step list of how to address each condition under each category. The
reparations favor those descended from slaves, though some of the components apply to all
Black Americans who live within California. The goal of these reparations is to take
responsibility for the ways in which California and the California government have actively
taken part in racism, and to undo some of the long-lasting effects.

 The categories which are addressed are listed as Enslavement, Racial Terror, Policies
Addressing Political Disenfranchisement, Housing Segregation and Unjust Property Takings,
Separate and Unequal Education, Racism in Environment, Pathologizing of African American
Families, Control Over Creative, Cultural and Intellectual Life, Stolen Labor and Hindered



14 Danika Cooper (UC, Berkeley) Returning Land, Expanding Landscapes
15 Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act, Pub. L. No. 101-601, 104 Stat.
16 UN General Assembly, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 9 December 1948, United

Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 78, p. 277, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3ac0.html [accessed 10 January 2024]
17 Darity, William A., and A. Kirsten Mullen. From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First

Century, University of North Carolina Press, 2020. ProQuest Ebook Central,
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvm/detail.action?docID=6126519.




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Opportunity, Unjust Legal System, Mental and Physical Harm and Neglect, and the Wealth Gap.
Each of these categories is then separately repaired for using the conditions created by the UN.18

 A similar model can be found in Evanston, IL, which aims to address a specific case of
injustice. The city recognizes that the percentage of black homeowners declined precipitously
between the 1920s and 1970s, directly as a result of racist and segregationist policies. Evanston’s
approach has been to adopt an action-oriented form of reparations, with specific focus on
housing reparations within the city. The city works both with investments into black housing
ownership efforts, as well as lump sum payments to those who can prove evidence of housing
discrimination in their family’s time living in the city. This is determined by a committee within
the city, and the benefits are distributed to those who apply via application, with the city utilizing
its cannabis tax receipts to fund the program. The components of the policy include home
ownership benefit, through down payment and closing cost assistance for black residents, home
improvement benefits consisting of funds to repair, modernize, and improve housing within the
city, and mortgage assistance benefits through money for down mortgage principal, interest,
and/or late penalties for property. The city recognizes that their discriminatory housing practices
(primarily through racial zoning and housing covenants) were assisted by the city and have
caused ongoing racialized issues and supported the wealth gap. This model is particularly action
oriented, with current, ongoing, steps taken by the city government. 19

 Providence, RI, uses the process of Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations in order to
address systematic racism. Eligibility for this program is available to Indigenous people, those of
African descent, qualified census tracts and neighborhoods, and residents facing poverty (not
reliant of the race of those residing there). This is considered a race neutral reparations policy,
thought the plan does specifically aim to address racism within the city. This policy is not
necessarily a racial or slavery reparations policy, but rather to prevent ongoing inequality within
the city. They utilize a 11-point reparations plan, including symbolic, economic, and cultural
reparations efforts. By using multiple types of reparative processes, they are able to more fully
address various claims, including those that are not entirely race based. They aim to repair for
slavery, urban renewal, racist laws, and more. The plan is more specifically broken down in the
report on reparations policy overview. 20

 Another city, Asheville, NC, prepared a resolution suggesting a 3-phase process for
reparations, with the steps being Information Sharing and Truth-Telling, Formation of a
Reparations Commission, and Finalizing and Presenting the Report. Asheville’s taskforce has
determined 5 categories they aim to pass reparative policy for: Criminal Justice, Economic
Development, Education. Health & Wellness, and Housing. Asheville does not provide direct
monetary payouts, and instead aims to create generational wealth. This is an economic based
policy which focuses on investments rather than personal compensation. There is also the


18 Bonta, Rob. “AB3121 Interim Report - Oag.ca.gov.” State of California Department of Justice, 2022,

https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/ab3121-interim-report-executive-summary-2022.pdf?aff_id=1037.
19 City of Evanston. “Reparations- Restorative Housing Program Guidelines 2021 - City of Evanston.”

Https://Www.cityofevanston.org/, 2021,
https://www.cityofevanston.org/home/showpublisheddocument/66184/637677439011570000.
20 Providence Municipal Reparations Commission (2022) Report of The Providence Municipal Reparations Commission




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element of symbolic reparations with a formal apology on behalf of the city’s participation in
systematic racism and slavery. 21

 A final model of reparations was created by the NAACP, which highlights the 40 acres
and a mule promises not met during Reconstruction. This would consist of a 40-acre land grant
for each family of 3 or more individuals with no taxes for the first 5 years. Under social services,
descendants of enslaved people get social security benefits, access to Medicare, and other old age
programs earlier (due to disparities in life expectancy). These components are listed as first steps,
which must be followed by a systematic overhaul of our social system completed with structural
changes. This is a national reparations effort which could not be recreated at a smaller level,
particularly the full recall of our social and law system. Similar to Darity, they base their
suggestions on the promises which were stolen away post the Civil War but go at this from a
slightly more literal approach.22

IV Challenges and Barriers

 There are multiple challenges that we can imagine confronting a reparations effort.
Among these are the issues in determining funding, scale and eligibility of recipients. The
vastness and entanglement of the entirety of American society in the slave economy means that
there are really no parts of the country that can be held blameless in the efforts to address this
‘original sin’. In this sense the City of Burlington is implicated in the US history of slavery
regardless of the historical presence of actual enslaved persons within its boundaries. Yet – as
some of the experts we consulted suggested – is it appropriate for a small city to try and right the
wrongs of this historical injustice? Could it actually do so, given the cost and scale of the
enterprise?

 The very question of who pays for reparations can be one of the biggest challenges faced
in getting attempts off of the ground. There are political issues that abound, especially within a
country, state and city that is as deeply divided on all fronts to try and engage in such efforts.
The very notion of reparations seems to demand proof of both harm and of intentionality to
create harm. For a historical wrong, both can be difficult to produce. In order to create a
reparations framework, there also needs to be a clear source of funding, with clear parameters of
who and where this money goes towards. Determining scale of reparations can also be a clear
challenge. Beyond the material and structural challenges, there is also the issue of public
perception, and convincing the public that reparations are a valuable use of city funds and time.
It is crucial, in any reparations effort to have a robust education and outreach strategy to engage
with affected communities.

 Finally, determining eligibility for any reparations program will be tricky. How does one
go about – at the city level – deciding who is and who is not to be eligible for any such program?
Who will be empowered at city hall to declare one applicant legitimate and another not? What
types of oversight and appeals processes will be needed? Will there be different kinds of


21 Resolution Supporting Community Reparations for Black Asheville, Resolution No. 20-128 (2020)
22 Reparations. NAACP. (2022, June 13). https://naacp.org/resources/reparations




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reparations for different kinds of harms? What sources will funds be drawn from, and will there
be potential differences in compensation based on type of harm?

 All of these conceptual, structural and institutional issues does not preclude the necessity
of engaging in reparations work – the moral obligation is clear such challenges notwithstanding.
But these challenges need to be addressed seriously and intentionally by the City of Burlington if
it is to engage in this effort in good faith.

V Recommendations

 Based on our review of the reports commissioned by this Taskforce, our research into the
history, scope and scale of reparations efforts, and our own deliberations, we suggest the
following next steps for the City Council:

 1. Revisit the original City Council Resolution and consider narrowing the scope of what is
 intended by it. Is the intention to provide specific reparations for the City’s involvement
 with slavery and if so, who is the intended population meant to be addressed by
 reparations? If the intent is to provide relief for other populations who are the subjects of
 racial discrimination, the City Council ought to be clear about this.

 2. Do not pursue the issue of racialized covenants as an issue requiring reparations. Our
 commissioned reports did not find evidence of this practice as a systematic issue within
 the City of Burlington.

 3. Consider the value of the proposed apology for the City to adopt. If this is a symbolic
 gesture only with no material purpose or impact beyond this, we would suggest this is not
 a useful action.

 4. Consider what funding source would be utilized for providing adequate compensation for
 any reparations program. The City of Evanston’s approach is one we would advocate
 exploring further.

 5. Develop a strategy for enacting the mechanisms for providing reparations. What city
 department would be responsible for disbursing compensation? Who would be
 responsible for determining eligibility?

 6. Engage in a strategy for community outreach and education to discuss with the City of
 Burlington populations what is meant by and what the potential there is (and need) for
 reparations

VI Appendices

Burlington City Council Resolution 7.06
Consultant 1 Reports – History of Enslaved Persons in Burlington
Consultant 2 Reports – Approach to Studying Racialized Covenants
Consultant 3 Reports – Discrimination and Reparations




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UVM Report – Use of Racialized Covenants in Burlington (Pilot Study)
Expert Review of Recommendations
Financial Report

Report Synopses
Census data on enslaved persons in Burlington and Vermont (commissioned report)

 This report analyses the history of slavery, and more generally black residency, within
Burlington and Vermont more fully. While slavery was immediately outlawed upon Vermont
gaining statehood, slavery still very much existed within the state and city, with specific
provisions hidden inside state laws allowing for forms of slavery, the utilization of roles as
servants and other actions that served to advance racialized divisions within the population. The
report also reviews the ways in which Vermont benefited from slavery, financially and
otherwise. These effects are wide ranging over time and continue to affect the state today.
Another section of report includes vignettes of black Vermonters and Burlington residents and
their history in the state, highlighting the struggles and discrimination faced in what was
supposed to be a non-slave state. These struggles come both from pre-civil war era US, as well
as post reconstruction discriminatory practices done within Vermont. The general outcome of
this report is evidence of state sponsored racially based discrimination and further information on
Vermont's long history with racism.

Housing record search on racialized covenants (commissioned report on methodology, UVM
report detailing search)

 This report systematically searches through landholding and lease records, historical land
records, archival newspapers, and census data to search for evidence of racialized covenant
language within Burlington. The outputs of this report found evidence of some sort of
discriminatory covenants on several properties, but there was no specifically racialized language
that appear systematically within leases or other historical text. These covenants are suggestive
that racialization of housing practices may have existed within the city on an individual basis but
there is no direct evidence of systematic exclusions on the basis of race.

Overview of discriminatory laws in the US and elsewhere (commissioned report)
 This is a series of reports outlining the various ways that reparations are created, and the
historical context behind racism in lawmaking. Despite Vermont not being established as a slave
state, there were several laws within the state and city which promoted racist ideals. This report
also provides an overview of laws created within the wider United States. Another output of this
report is the documentation of the history of racial harm in Vermont in areas such as healthcare,
wealth disparities, education, incarceration, and land ownership. There is also a major cultural
element of this type of discrimination.

Overview of models of reparation (UVM report)
 This report outlines the various reparations policies and proposed models from within the
United States, as well as internationally. It serves as an example of various ways that reparative
policy can be implemented within specific circumstances and provides various historical and
cultural definitions of what reparations can mean in a practical sense. This report highlights




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potential applied forms of reparations and provides background on reparative policies which
have been implemented in the past.




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Racial, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

 Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

Held in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room, Ground Floor City Hall
OR
via Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/96324562039
Webinar ID: 963 2456 2039

Or Use Phone number: 305-224-1968
Meeting ID: 963 2456 2039




1. Call to Order

2. Motion to Approve Agenda

3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes


 Subject 3.1. September Minutes

 Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

 Category 3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes

 Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)

 Type


4. Public Forum

5. REIB Updates
  Subject 5.1. Charter Change

  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

 Category 5. REIB Updates

  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type


6. 2020 Resolution

  Subject 6.1. 2020 Resolution

  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

  Category 6. 2020 Resolution

  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type
 Recommended Action


7. Reparations Task Force


  Subject 7.1. Reparations Task Force

  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

  Category 7. Reparations Task Force

  Department Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB)


  Type
 Recommended Action


8. Community Forum


9. Adjournment

  Subject 9.1. Motion to adjourn

  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)


  Category 9. Adjournment


 Council and Board
  Department
  Type

  Recommended Action


10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements

  Subject 10.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
 Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities
 who require assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged
 to contact 802-865-7000 (voice) or 802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in
 advance so that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting will also air
 on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of Burlington will
 not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or
 religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age,
 sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status,
 disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information.

  Meeting November 18, 2025 - REIB City Council Committee Meeting - Tuesday, November 18,
 2025, 5:30 PM, Racial, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB)

  Category 10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements

  Department Council and Board


  Type

Minutes taken by: Vicky Luciano
REIB City Council Committee
November 18, 2025 5:30-7:00 pm
Sharon Bushor Room

Attendees:
Kelli Perkins, Director REIB (in person)
Katie Greene, Community and Belonging Program Manager REIB (in person)
Vicky Luciano, Administrative and Financial Coordinator REIB (in person)
Councilor Ranjit “Buddy” Singh (virtual)
Councilor Becca Brown McKnight (virtual)
Councilor Melo Grant (virtual)
Emalee Levesque (virtual)
Ferene Paris (virtual)

 1. Call to Order
 a. Councilor Grant asked Councilor Singh to take over as chair for the meeting.
 Councilor Singh accepted. Councilor Singh called the meeting to order at 5:36 pm
 2. Motion to Approve Agenda
 a. Councilor Grant motioned to approve the agenda, Councilor Mcknight seconded.
 Motion passed unanimously.
 3. Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes
 a. Councilor Grant motioned to approve the minutes, Councilor Mcknight seconded.
 Motion passed unanimously
4. Public Forum
 a. Councilor Singh opened the floor to the public for comment. No one spoke.
5. REIB Updates
 a. Charter Change update
 i. Councilor McKnight reported that the Charter Change passed unanimously at
 the council meeting. She thanked everyone who was involved in getting it
 moved forward. She said the next steps will be about communication and
 getting the news out to the public, doing some outreach, and advocacy with
 Statehouse representatives.
 ii. Director Perkins informed everyone Katie will be working on the town meeting
 day committee. She informed everyone they are looking into expanding
 strategies to reach constituents. Refer to the video.
 iii. Councilor Grant suggested reaching out to the Trusted Community Voices to
 help with reaching out to different communities. Refer to the video.
6. 2020 Resolution
 a. Director Perkins asked Councilor Grant to expand on what parts were completed and
 what parts were not to have an idea on how to move forward.
 b. Councilor Grant expanded on the 2020 Resolution and expressed there has been
 some positive changes in regards to the Burlington Police Department. She expressed
 concerns about how the REIB department assists other departments. She said she
 would like to see training being led by the REIB department across the city. Refer to
 the video.
 c. Councilor McKnight suggested the REIB and Mayor’s office do a formal assessment to
 determine what needs to be done first.
 d. Councilor Singh echoed Councilor McKnight’s suggestion. Refer to the video
 e. Councilor Grant expressed she would be open to scheduling a meeting with Director
 Perkins to review the 2020 Resolution and suggested talking to Reverend Mark
 Hughes.
 f. Director Perkins informed everyone Katie Greene is working on training with Human
 Resources, shared her thoughts on elevating training for supervisors, connected with
 the International Association of Chiefs of Police about the chief search, and connected
 with Chief Burke about training. She agreed developing a progress report for the
 resolution was a good idea. Director Perkins expressed hiring a Public Health Equity
 Manager could help actualize some of the goals. Refer to the video.
7. Reparations Task Force
 a. Councilor Grant informed everyone of where the Reparations Task Force left off.
 b. Director Perkins shared her thoughts on reparations and expressed that she would
 like to talk to the community to get feedback. Refer to the video.
 c. Katie Greene shared her thoughts on the Reparations Task Force’s work. She talked
 about what went wrong and what next steps might look like. Refer to the video.
 d. Councilor Singh suggested reaching out to VHFA to talk about how to help others
 obtain equity. Refer to the video.
8. Community Forum
 a. Ferene Paris expressed excitement for the movement to charter the REIB Office. Paris
 said we are in a state of emergency with our civil rights. She thanked Director Perkins
 for centering African American descendants of slavery for reparations. She voiced the
 harm that has come about with the 2020 resolution and mismanagement of funds.
 Refer to the video.
 b. Director Perkins updated everyone on the office’s move. Refer to the video.
 c. Councilor Singh told everyone the next REIB City Council Subcommittee meeting will
 be December 16th
9. Adjournment
 a. Councilor Singh adjourned the meeting at 6:34 pm