Ward 3 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-03-04
Time: 18:30

Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly
 Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6:30 PM
 Join in person: City Hall, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church St.
 Join virtually: https://zoom.us/j/98644635243

Facilitator: TBD
6:30 pm Call to Order | 5 min
 Adopt the agenda and review meeting ground rules.
6:35 pm Elmwood Avenue Shelter Pods | 40 min
 An update on the current status of the Elmwood Avenue shelter pods.
 • Taylor Thibault, Champlain Housing Trust (CHT)
 • Sarah Russell, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO)
7:15 pm Conflict Assistance Program | 20 min
 A presentation on the free services available to community members.
 • Barbara Shaw-Dorso, Burlington Community Justice Center
7:35 pm Public Forum | 10 min
 An opportunity to share opinions, news, and events.
7:45 pm Adjourn
 Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 1.




Use the QR code to go to any of these links: Email us • Go to our website • Watch
meeting recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram •
Request a time slot with the NPA Request Form • Links from this agenda
Appendix to the Agenda

Ward 3 NPA Ground Rules
  • Meetings should have clearly defined agenda and roles.
  • Honor Time limits: A best effort must be made to start on time, follow the agenda, and finish on time.
  • Wait to be recognized: Members may not speak until recognized by the moderator.
  • Listen to others: Make efforts to be an open-minded member of the group.
  • Respect the agenda and the process: Try to remain focused on the issue at hand.
  • Share your opinion respectfully: Speak out, but not over, others’ comments.
  • Treat people how you would like to be treated: Be respectful of everyone, including guests.

Public Forum Protocol
  • Community members will be required to sign up for the Public Forum before the start of the meeting
 consistent with the process used by the City Council.
  • Participants will have up to two (2) minutes to share their thoughts and will speak based upon the
 order in which the requests were received.
  • Participants may speak only for themselves and individual speakers will not be permitted to yield their
 time to other speakers.
  • Personal attacks will not be tolerated and the moderator reserves the right to limit comments that are
 disruptive and/or obscene.
  • Ward 3 residents will be given priority and, if there is still time, persons who live outside the ward will
 be provided an opportunity to speak.

Question-and-Answer Protocol
  • Please state your full name prior to asking your question.
  • Each participant will have thirty (30) seconds to ask one and only one question.
  • There will be no follow up questions so everyone has a chance to participate.
  • Ward 3 residents will be given priority.

Discussion and Debate Rules
  • Members may not speak until recognized by the moderator.
  • Each member will have a maximum of two (2) minutes to speak on questions before the NPA.
  • No member will be permitted to speak a second time until every member has had an opportunity to
 speak once.
  • No member will be permitted to speak a third time until every member has had an opportunity to
 speak twice.




 Appendix to agenda | Wards 3 NPA - Page 2

Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly
 Wednesday, March 4, 2026
 Sharon Bushor Room, Burlington City Hall
 Meeting Minutes
1. Welcome & Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:30 PM by Christopher Haessly, Ward 3 NPA
Steering Committee member. Christopher Haessly and Zachary Cummings co-facilitated the
meeting.
Motion: Zachary Cummings moved to amend the agenda to include:
 • A presentation on a new housing development project (20 minutes).
 • City Council Updates (15 minutes).
 • Public Forum (10 minutes).
The motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote. It was noted that the developer
presentation would be for informational purposes only, as official warning requirements for a
major impact review had not yet been met.
2. Attendee Introductions
  • NPA Steering Committee Members:
 ✓ Zachary Cummings, South Champlain Street
 ✓ Christopher-Aaron Felker, Park Street (via remote attendance)
 ✓ Darrell Fields, Church Street (via remote attendance)
 ✓ Christopher Haessly, College Street
 ✓ Charlie Messing, College Street
  • City Officials/Staff:
 ✓ Laura Sánchez-Parkinson, City Councilor-Elect, Ward 3
 ✓ Melo Grant, City Councilor, Central District
 ✓ Barbara Turnbull, Dept of Finance and Administration
 ✓ Charlie Giannoni, Town Meeting TV
  • Presenters:
 ✓ Taylor Thibault, Champlain Housing Trust (CHT)
 ✓ Sarah Russell, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO)
 ✓ Barbara Shaw-Dorso, Burlington Community Justice Center (CJC)
 ✓ Rick Bove, Local Developer
 ✓ Dave Hartnett, former City Councilor
  • Community Members/Public:
 ✓ Jill Lesh, College Street
 ✓ Josh Fiore, Elmwood Avenue
 ✓ Amy Taylor, College Street
 ✓ Evan Flynn, Church Street
 ✓ Debra Clemmer, Clarke Street
 ✓ Trudy Richmond, Elmwood Avenue (via remote attendance)
3. Elmwood Avenue Shelter Pods
Taylor Thibault (CHT) and Sarah Russell (CVOEO) provided an update on the status of the
Elmwood Avenue Shelter Pods and answered questions from community members.
 • Status & Impact: The shelter has been open for over three years. In that time, it has
 served 149 guests. Currently, nineteen (19) guests have successfully moved into
 permanent housing.
 • Operations: The facility offers thirty (30) individual units and operates 24/7. Unlike
 original estimates of a six-month stay, the average length of stay is now two hundred
 and fifty (250) days due to the severe lack of available permanent housing.
 • Challenges: The "hardest to house" individuals face systemic barriers, including criminal
 history, substance use, and a lack of income. Furthermore, the Burlington Housing
 Authority has paused issuing new rental assistance vouchers for the 2026 calendar year.
 • New Capacity: CVOEO is opening a new recovery-focused shelter at 184 Pearl Street in
 partnership with the Howard Center.
 • Community Concerns: Councilor Grant noted ongoing behavioral issues outside the
 pods that impact neighbors' quality of life, suggesting a future meeting with Police Chief
 Burke to mitigate these issues.
4. Conflict Assistance Program (CAP)
Barbara Shaw-Dorso (Community Justice Center) provided an overview of the free services
available to community members.
 • Program Overview: CAP is one of twelve (12) programs under the Community Justice
 Center and is the only one that accepts direct referrals from community members. All
 services are free and based on restorative practices.
 • Services Provided: The program offers coaching for difficult conversations, neutral
 facilitation for restorative dialogues, and formal mediation.
 • Community Workshops: The program holds eight free workshops per year to help
 residents build skills in managing conflict, focusing on active listening and emotional
 regulation.
 • Resident Feedback: Charlie Messing (South Square) highlighted severe communication
 breakdowns between residents and the Burlington Housing Authority (BHA), specifically
 regarding building maintenance and security. Barbara encouraged residents to reach
 out to CAP to help equalize power dynamics during these disputes.
5. Bove’s Restaurant Redevelopment Project
Rick Bove, local developer, and Dave Hartnett, former City Councilor, provided an overview of a
proposed housing development at the former Bove’s Restaurant on Pearl St.
 • Project Details: A proposed six-story building at the site of the former Bove’s
 Restaurant. It will include approximately twenty-five (25) efficiency units and a ground-
 floor commercial space.
 • Affordability: The developers aim for a price point of approximately $1,395 per month,
 which includes all utilities (heat, water, electric, Wi-Fi, and cable). All units will accept
 Section 8 vouchers.
 • Design: The building will feature an Art Deco-inspired facade as a legacy to the original
 restaurant and is designed so that all units have views of Lake Champlain.
 • Timeline: This was an informal preview; a properly warned neighborhood meeting will
 be scheduled for the official Major Impact Review.
6. City Council Updates
Councilor-elect Laura Sanchez-Parkinson, P-Ward 3:
 • Expressed gratitude for the community's support during the recent election.
 • Emphasized the need for diverse lenses when addressing the housing shortage and
 community conflict.
 • Announced her inauguration will take place on April 6 at City Hall.
Councilor Melo Grant, P-Central District:
 • Town Meeting Day: Noted that while ballot items passed, she was disappointed by the
 low support for the REIB department and the removal of the tax fairness item from the
 ballot.
 • Mayor Meetups: The next Central District meeting with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak is
 Tuesday, March 10, from 5:30–6:30 PM (Virtual).
 • Budget & Services: The city is considering "strategic pauses" on certain programs, such
 as municipal recycling, due to a $10 million budget gap and difficulties filling labor
 positions.
 • Public Safety: Foot patrols have increased significantly under Chief Burke. The next
 Public Safety Committee meeting is March 26.
8. Public Forum
 ● Charlie Messing (College Street): Raised concerns about the removal of public bulletin
 boards and their domination by private advertisers (e.g., Higher Ground), arguing this
 hinders community communication.
9. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:15 PM.