Ward 6 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2024-10-16
Time: 18:30

Ward 6 NPA Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, October 16, 2023
Location: 391 Maple Street, Room 217, in the SD Ireland Family Center at Champlain College
Or Join on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81027856568 Zoom Webinar ID: 8102785 6568


6:30 Call to Order, Announcements, Public Forum
 • Introductions of Steering Committee members, guests, and invitees
 • Call for any public comments or announcements
 • Share your news, your events, your questions, and your concerns

6:45 Connect with Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
 • Thank you to the Mayor for making time to join us for this meeting!

7:15 Police Oversight Ballot Issue
 • Learn about this important local issue that’s on our ballots for the upcoming election
 • Invited speakers include Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, City Council Members Becca Brown McKnight
 and Joan Shannon, Police Chief Jon Murad, representatives from the Burlington Police Officers’
 Association (union), and representatives from the Burlington Police Commission (existing citizen
 oversight)
 • We’ll ask the invited speakers for very brief opening remarks and open the floor for questions

8:00 Burlington Electric Department Ballot Issue – Net Zero Energy and Grid Reliability Revenue Bond
 • Darren Springer, General Manager of BED will explain the rationale for this ballot item and we
 will open the floor for questions

8:30 Adjourn




What is the NPA?
Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) are grassroots, neighborhood organizations that were
established in each of Burlington's eight Wards to encourage resident participation in City government.
Working as neighborhood advocacy groups, Neighborhood Planning Assemblies help improve
communication between the residents of Burlington and City government through regular meetings
scheduled in each Ward. For more information, click here.




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Ward 6 NPA Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 16, 2024
Location: 391 Maple Street, Room 217, in the SD Ireland Family Center at Champlain College


We had approx. 28 people attending in person and approx. 14 people online.

6:35 Call to Order, Announcements, Public Forum
 • Introductions of Steering Committee members, guests, and invitees
 o Romeo Von Herman, Mills Forni, Dale Azaria
 o Nancy Harkins, Anita Rapone, online;
 • Call for any public comments or announcements
 o Bruce Wilson, Arts So Wonderful
  Thank you for materials donated by Ward 6 NPA
  New murals around town, they’re continuing to use our materials (anti-
 graffiti coating)
  Let him know if you see graffiti, or if you want to help clean up graffiti
 o Nancy Harkins:
  Water Resources Dept is offering tours of the Wastewater Treatment Plan,
 one tomorrow and one next month
  Highly recommended, we learned a lot

6:47 Connect with Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
 • Holds weekly meet-ups throughout the city, details on the City’s website
 o 3d Wednesday is at Zero Gravity, 8-9 am
 o Opportunity to talk about anything, ask questions
 • Two ballot items, we’ll cover those later in this meeting
 • Working on what issues Burlington should focus on in the state legislature
 o Oct 28, work session to see initial draft (at City Council meeting, but City Council
 won’t vote)
 o City Council will then vote in November
 • Also working on Modern Gov, a new initiative
 o Looking at improving efficiency,
 o Prior Mayor had a study done, but it’s not sufficient
  Only looked at 7 of 18 departments
 o There are too many departments
 o And, what we work on first needs to reflect the city’s priorities. This is community
 safety, including public health, park rangers, CSOs, social worker in the library – need
 to integrate all of these services.
 • Pike Porter, question about climate strategy. Can you discuss what’s going on with climate
 and especially the move towards buying out McNeil.
 o 3 key strategies: housing, public safety, climate
 o This is part of climate, we’re trying to take a broad approach in all departments (like
 parks, for example).
  Want to use public advisors, have people who are engaged in climate policy
 help us.
  Also, learning about where city staff are on climate issues.
  Will be looking for and naming advisors in the coming months
 o With BED and McNeil, I really want to work towards a just transition. Learning more
 about the co=ownership and other technical issues. As a first step, buying out the
 other owners will make us more nimble, better able to use the entire asset for the
 benefit of the city, including the land the plant sits on. I’m committed to moving
 away from the wood chips, but don’t want to switch to fossil fuels.
 • Bruce Wilson. Sits on climate council, including Just Transitions Subcommittee. Hopes that
 the Mayor will reach out to them.

7:03 Police Oversight Ballot Issue
 • Mayor:
 o This is an outgrowth of conversations about how the City oversees the Police Dept.
 It’s an attempt to codify the expectations.
 o Codifies the powers of the current Police Commission, review of police chief,
 investigations of use of force and other issues. Ensures that we as a city are
 committed to providing resources so that the Commission can do its work.
 o The Police Commission would be able to create an independent panel to be able to
 make final decisions on issues related to officers, in the rare instance where there’s a
 difference between the police chief and the police Commission. This doesn’t take
 away any union rights – could still file a grievance, etc. Doesn’t specify who sits on
 the panel. That will be worked out in the Charter Change Process. (After a vote, after
 Legislative approval, when it comes back to City Council.)
 o This is a bi-partisan effort supported by City Council and Mayor. We think it’s the
 right compromise.
 • BPOA: Eric Delamere, Treasurer of BPOA
 o They oppose this measure. Don’t think it’s necessary.
 o Since this issue started, there have been changes to the disciplinary process, both
 within the city and also at the state level. We think that this adds unneeded
 complications and uncertainty. It extends a process that already takes a very long
 time. Also concerned about the fact that the form of the panel isn’t set. We think it
 will weaken the disciplinary process.
 o Police Dept website describes the complaint process and we think it works as is.
 o Will impact our ability to recruit and retain officers,
 o They’re not opposed to civilian oversight, but not in this form. They’d like to continue
 to work with the Police Commission to come up with something better.
 • Police Chief Murad, wants to describe what we already have
 o We want our policing to be fair and impartial. Important to have a process that
 allows complaints about police conduct. Has to support re-training, discipline, and
 due process rights. Has to be transparent, by involving the public, through the Police
 Commission.
 o We put together a policy that does all this. In a public process. In June, DD-40. It went
 into effect July 1, 2024. Codifies 4 years of work. Provides clear rules and
 collaboration.
 o Professional misconduct, criminal misconduct – each is investigated and treated
 appropriately.
 o Asked the Policing Project at NYU to review our policy. They said it’s thorough, fair,
 etc. And provided some ideas for improvement. We want to work on those. They
 didn’t recommend that a political person or a citizen body have the final
 determination of investigations.
• City Councillor Shannon:
 o She voted to put this on the ballot. When the last initiative was voted down, we
 agreed to continue working on this. She put this on the ballot, to allow the public to
 vote, although she disagrees with it. Her vote to put it on the ballot was to give the
 public the ability to vote.
  The goal was to codify what we’re already doing. We don’t need a charter
 change for that, although we can have one to ensure the current process
 continues. The part that is new, and doesn’t reflect what we do today, is the
 independent panel. This is an unwarranted addition to the existing process.
 o We’ve identified as a priority hiring more officers. This isn’t fixing an existing problem
 and will make it harder to hire.
 o Refers to video on Vermont Criminal Justice Council and their process. On YouTube.
• City Councillor McKnight:
 o Wants to talk about the context: on paper this looks good, but when we look at
 where we are with the police department she worries that this will interfere with
 them doing their jobs. We need to continue rebuilding. It would be easier to support
 this if our Police Department were fully staffed and in good health.
• Mary Cox, member of Police Commission
 o Agrees with Chief Murad and BPOA. This isn’t needed.
 o She’s speaking for herself; not for the Police Commission, which didn’t come to a
 unified position on this.
 o We’re already working hard as a Commission, working towards a more collaborative
 relationship between BPD and the community as a whole. Current system is working
 well, from her perspective as a Commission member. Commission is supposed to be
 a bridge between BPD and the community. In her view, we should focus on that,
 rather than making these changes.
• Melo Grant, former Police Commission member, current City Council Member, chair of public
 safety committee
 o On a commission to review policing policies, looking at morale, community concerns,
 and equity
 o We’ve had issues here. We’ve had protests and lawsuits.
 o DD-40 being updated is very important.
 o Even with that, we need this ballot item to pass. She is concerned about the idea that
 more oversight and accountability will cause uncertainty and undermines morale.
 o She believes that accountability and oversight will draw the police department and
 the community closer, improving trust.
 o She also thinks that our HR is not doing a good job of advertising vacancies, better
 outreach would bring more officers.
• Pike Porter (question): Does current process allow the victim of police violence to know the
 resolution
 o Murad: We let them know that there’s been a decision, and the general result,
 although not the details (like how many days suspension). We often can’t find the
 complainant, or the issue comes from body cams and not from complaints. We could
 probably do more to reach out to complainants.
 o Follow up: would the proposed resolution allow for more transparency for a victim of
 police violence? Answer: it doesn’t speak to that
• Steve Boucher (question for Mayor): ultimately, does the decision on police discipline rest
 with mayor or police chief?
 o Not with the Mayor. It rests with the Police Chief, unless there’s disagreement
 between chief and commission. Then it would go to the independent panel.
 o Opinion: I’m opposed to this. The real issue we have is with the size of the police
 department. Don’t want to do anything that makes it harder to recruit.
 o Also opinion: the impression out there is that all Dems on CC support this. If that’s
 not so (as indicated tonight) , you should let people know.
• Romeo Von Herman
 o Opinion: we already have a system. The additional resources this system will need
 will take away from doing police work.
• Bram Kleppner: what happens now when there’s a disagreement between the Police Chief
 and the Commission?
 o Murad: The Chief has to explain the difference, can reconsider. If it continues, it goes
 to the Mayor. The Mayor can’t require police chief to take action, but ultimately
 mayor has appointment power over the police chief and can be removed if they
 disagree on an important issue.
• Mary Kehoe: Why is DD-40 not adequate, and what problem is this ballot measure designed
 to solve? And, does this address the racial equity problems described by the Seguino Report
 o Mayor: DD-40 is good, but it’s only a policy and therefore easy to change. By making
 a Charter Change we’re ensuring that the policy won’t change. Particularly when we
 think about the disparate impact on people with different identities, these
 protections should live beyond any mayor, any police chief, any city council.
 o Benefits: clarity about operational oversight. And, it will institutionalize the police
 commission with adequate resources.
 o About recruiting, there are many reasons we have trouble recruiting. The biggest one
 is the work load. The police building also needs a lot of improvement – this would
 help to draw staff.
• Bruce Wilson, Vermont Human Rights Commission:
 o The word “equity” gets used a lot. What do we mean by that?
 o Councilor McKnight: what she meant is that all people, regardless of color, should be
 able to trust the police department and feel that they can call on the police
 department
 o Also, he sits on the state’s Fair and Impartial Policing Commission.
  Nothing has changed. People who look like me still get stopped more than
 white people.
 • Mills Forni. Why is the proposal to make a separate panel instead of empowering the existing
 Police Commission to do this?
 o Joan Shannon: The Police Commission has already been given additional authority.
 This latest iteration is just for dealing with differences between the Police Chief and
 the Police Commission.
 • Melo Grant: agrees that codifying this is important, and that it won’t change with changing
 views. As for equity. When I say that I’m talking especially about income issues, people with
 mental health issues, While many of us can’t imagine the need to file a complaint against the
 police, that is the reality for certain portions of our population. Also, in the roles she’s held,
 she’s heard things that are very troubling, but they can’t be made public. These concerns
 don’t come from nowhere. There is reason for them.
 • Mary Cox: Agrees with Melo Grant that it would be better to have more information about
 what’s happening with the Police Department – there is good news about hiring. Likewise,
 I’m really impressed by the good policing that they do (based on reviewing body cam
 footage).
 • Chief Murad: Just to clarify, the Directive can’t be changed by the Department – can only be
 done by the Police Commission. And, much of our body cam footage involving use of force is
 public and can be seen.
 • Mayor: would like to return to the question of Fair and Impartial Policing
 • Carolyn Hanson: Is a former police commission member. The commission functions very well.
 She doesn’t think this will improve transparency, racial equity. All it seems to do is create the
 panel.


8:20 Burlington Electric Department Ballot Issue – Net Zero Energy and Grid Reliability Revenue Bond
 • Darren Springer, General Manager of BED 8:30 Adjourn
 • Emily Stebbins Wheelock
 • Bed/NZEgridbond25
 • Asking for approval to issue up to $20 million in bonds, payable from the revenue of BED.
 • Will not affect the City’s borrowing capacity
 • Prior Net Zero Energy bond, approved in 2021
 o Increasing the capacity of the grid, to support electrification as we get off of fossil fuels
 o We’re increasing from 77 megawatts to 80, currently we peak at 65
 o Also upgrading technology, to facilitate special rates, eg for EV charging
 o Investing in fast charging infrastructure for EVs
 o We’ve spent $12 million of this $20 million revenue bond. Expect to spend the balance in
 the next year, so seeking additional authority
 • New Bond, intended to fund our capital needs through 2030
 o Increase capacity of grid to 90 megawatts
 o Invest in Winooski One, wood chip dryer efficiency measure for McNeil
 o Additional EV fleet conversion
 o Up to 200 public EV charging – got a federal grant so increased plan from 88 to 200 of
 these
 • Impact of bond
 o Without a bond, we’d need to increase rates by 13% in FY2026; with the bond it will only
 be around 2% (these numbers will change, but this is the idea)
 o They’ll time when the issue the bond
 • Questions
 o How will bonds impact rates over time?
  They are trying to keep rates as flat as possible. The idea is to substitute new
 debt service as old debt retires so that rates are impacted.
 o Reading the news today about McNeil, does the bond have anything to do with that?
  No, it’s a separate thing. We do not anticipate needing a bond for that.

Next Meeting: Thursday Nov 7, 6:30 pm