Advisory Committee on Accessibility — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-11-17
Time: 15:00

Advisory Committee on Accessibility

Monday, November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of
 City Hall 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont

Meeting Invite information
Zoom Link:https://zoom.us/j/92356452507?pwd=Zk6QCJswEJla4hSa3seazYvWwFa3Uh.1
Webinar ID: 923 5645 2507
Passcode: 120399
1. Call to Order

2. Adopt the Agenda

3. Adopt Minutes
  Subject 3.1. Draft minutes of the October 27th meeting of the Burlington Advisory
 Committee on Accessibility
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont
  Category 3. Adopt Minutes
  Department Other


  Type

4. News & Updates
  Subject 4.1. Update from Chair Besio on new members for consideration for
 appointment to the committee
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 4. News & Updates

  Department Other


  Type

  Recommended Action
  Subject 4.2. Update on availability of FY25 funds to support a mural project in
 collaboration with BPRW at Schifilliti Park's path.
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 4. News & Updates

  Department Other


  Type

  Recommended Action

5. Public Forum

6. Work Session - Open and Accessible Meetings Best Practices memo
  Subject 6.1. Recommended Accessibility Best Practice Memo
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 6. Work Session - Open and Accessible Meetings Best Practices memo

  Department Other


  Type

  Recommended Action

7. Adjournment
  Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 7. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 8.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. 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. 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
 infromation.
Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont
Category 8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
Department Council and Board


Type

Advisory Committee on Accessibility

Monday, November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of
 City Hall 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont

Meeting Invite information
Zoom Link:https://zoom.us/j/92356452507?pwd=Zk6QCJswEJla4hSa3seazYvWwFa3Uh.1
Webinar ID: 923 5645 2507
Passcode: 120399
1. Call to Order

2. Adopt the Agenda

3. Adopt Minutes
  Subject 3.1. Draft minutes of the October 27th meeting of the Burlington Advisory
 Committee on Accessibility
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont
  Category 3. Adopt Minutes
  Department Other


  Type

4. News & Updates
  Subject 4.1. Update from Chair Besio on new members for consideration for
 appointment to the committee
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 4. News & Updates

  Department Other


  Type

  Recommended Action




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  Subject 4.2. Update on availability of FY25 funds to support a mural project in
 collaboration with BPRW at Schifilliti Park's path.
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 4. News & Updates

  Department Other


  Type

  Recommended Action

5. Public Forum

6. Work Session - Open and Accessible Meetings Best Practices memo
  Subject 6.1. Recommended Accessibility Best Practice Memo
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 6. Work Session - Open and Accessible Meetings Best Practices memo

  Department Other


  Type

  Recommended Action

7. Adjournment
  Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont


  Category 7. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 8.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. 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. 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
 infromation.



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Meeting November 17, 2025 - Burlington Advisory Committee On Accessibility - Monday,
 November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, first floor of City Hall
 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont
Category 8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
Department Council and Board


Type




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Date: November 10, 2025
To: Emma Mulvaney-Stanak,
Chief Administrative Officer, Katherine Schad
HR Director, Kerin Durfee

Burlington Advisory Committee on Accessibility

Open and Accessible Meetings Best Practices

Dear Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak,

Since the resolution to recognize the Burlington Advisory
Committee on Accessibility as a formal the organization was
passed by Burlington Council approximately one year ago, our
committee members have been working diligently to ensure that
the City of Burlington is open and accessible to all people with
disabilities. We will soon be outlining these accomplishments and
our annual report.

We are focusing on several goals for the upcoming year and one
of the issues we would like to address is making sure that all City
of Burlington open meetings to the public follow the best
practices to make themselves accessible to people with all
abilities. It has come to our attention that there is some
inconsistency on how the open meetings make themselves
accessible to the public and we would like to provide all the city
departments with an update on the best practices they should
follow to make sure people of all abilities to participate. We have
reviewed several documents recommending accessibility best
practices for other municipalities and organizations. Using this
information, we recommend the following best practices be
followed when holding open meetings to make sure they are
accessible to the public at large.

    Have speakers identify themselves prior to speaking,
  including when addressing another member of the committee
  or sharing remarks about an item of discussion.




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   Maintain clear instructions for meeting locations both for
  physical meeting spaces, sharing how to access space if
  mobility aids are needed, and how to access them online for
  hybrid meetings.

    Maintain meeting minutes and presentations in a style and
  format that is compatible with screen readers.

    Turn on closed captioning when available for reference, both
  for people online, and in the room.

Thank you for your consideration and support in ensuring that the
Queen City is accessible to people of all abilities. We look forward
to your response.

City of Burlington Accessibility Committee,

Nate Besio, Lisa Black, Tim Williams, Karen Downey, Ashley
Parker, Scotty Taylor, John Thompson and Sharon Henault




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