Ward 2 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-12-11
Time: 18:30

Meeting Agenda
Ward 2 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
Dec 11th, 2025 | 6:30-8:30pm | All are welcome

 Join in person: O.N.E. Community Dinner
 ONE Community Center, 20 Allen Street 5:30-6:30pm | Free | Donations welcome
 Menu: Winter Holidays Feast with Potato Kugel &
 Join remotely: Applesauce, Butternut Squash Soup, Quinoa Kale &
 https://zoom.us/j/93179389982 Radicchio Salad with Cranberries and Citrus Vinaigrette,
 and Apple Cider Donut Cake
 ​



Facilitator: Grace Sherwood (she/her)​ ​ Notetaker: Kason Hudman


6:30 pm Introduction
5 min Review and adopt/approve the agenda and previous minutes; introductions as time allows.
6:35 pm Public Forum (2 minutes max per person)
10 min Please state your full name, pronouns, street, and ward, and follow the NPA ground rules.
6:45 pm Community Vote for Apartheid-Free Resolution
5 min Duncan Kreps, Jill Clark-Gollub, Paul Fleckenstein - VT Coalition for Palestinian Liberation
 Vote to approve the open letter resolution to City Council to allow voter decision on Apartheid-Free
 pledge.
6:50 pm Overdose Prevention Center
25 min Theresa Vezina- Special Assistant on OPC Implementation
 Hear about the Mayor’s office’s work on the city’s first OPC and the Community Survey, with opportunity
 for questions.
7:15 pm Budget
15 min Vote on FY2026 Ward 2 NPA budget.

7:30 pm Listening Session with State Legislators
60 min Hear from your state legislators about their priorities for the upcoming Legislative Session. Share your
 priorities and questions!
8:30 pm Door prize drawing + Adjourn!
 Our next meeting is Thursday, Jan. 8!




 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Agenda - Page 1
Scan the QR code (or click here) to: Email us • Go to our website • Watch meeting
recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Instagram • Request a time slot
with the request form • Get to all links related to this meeting




Appendix to the Agenda
Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee
To contact the entire Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee, email ward2npa@googlegroups.com
Name Email Joined Term expiration

Lauren Ebersol lebersol27@gmail.com 2023 2027

Kason Hudson kasonhudman@gmail.com 2024 2028

Charlie Giannoni charliecpg@gmail.com 2024 2028

Marc Stannard Marc.Stannard@outlook.com 2024 2028

Nora Aronds noraaronds@yahoo.com 2025 2029

Grace Sherwood Gsherwood703@gmail.com 2025 2029

NPA Guiding Principles
 ●​ Operate through democratic principles and democratic procedures.
 ●​ Provide a safe and welcoming forum where residents can actively share their voices about issues that
 matter to them, and where they can learn from the voices of others.
 ●​ Cultivate involvement by a diverse spectrum of community members through active outreach and
 through eliminating barriers to participation.
 ●​ Operate in a manner that models respectful, inclusive, culturally, and economically aware practices.
 ●​ Be a fun, creative, and vital organization that provides value and benefit through the multitude of
 perspectives shared by those who participate.


Ward 2 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.
 ●​ 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.


 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Agenda - Page 2
Elected officials representing Ward 2
Mayor
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Progressive mayor@BurlingtonVT.gov


City Councilors
Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Melo Grant Progressive megrant@burlingtonvt.gov 802-310-0962
Ward 2 Gene Bergman Progressive gbergman@burlingtonvt.gov 802-598-3602


School Board Members

Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Jean Waltz jwaltz@bsdvt.org 802-355-7856

Ward 2 Polly Vanderputten pvanderputten@bsdvt.org 802-578-8653


Vermont State House Representatives
Chittenden-15 Troy Headrick Independent theadrick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-15 Brian Cina Progressive/Democrat bcina@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-16 Kate Logan Progressive/Democrat klogan@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-16 Jill Krowinski Democrat jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-17 Abigail Duke Democrat aduke@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228


Vermont State Senators

Chittenden-Central Tanya Vyhovsky Progressive/Democrat tvyhovsky@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-Central Martine Gulick Democrat mgulick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-Central Philip Baruth Democrat/Progressive pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us (802) 503-5266




 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Agenda - Page 3

Meeting Agenda
Ward 2 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
Dec 11th, 2025 | 6:30-8:30pm | All are welcome

 Join in person: O.N.E. Community Dinner
 ONE Community Center, 20 Allen Street 5:30-6:30pm | Free | Donations welcome
 Menu: Winter Holidays Feast with Potato Kugel &
 Join remotely: Applesauce, Butternut Squash Soup, Quinoa Kale &
 https://zoom.us/j/93179389982 Radicchio Salad with Cranberries and Citrus Vinaigrette,
 and Apple Cider Donut Cake
 ​



Facilitator: Grace Sherwood (she/her)​ ​ Notetaker: Kason Hudman


6:30 pm Introduction
5 min Review and adopt/approve the agenda and previous minutes; introductions as time allows.
6:35 pm Public Forum (2 minutes max per person)
10 min Please state your full name, pronouns, street, and ward, and follow the NPA ground rules.
6:45 pm Community Vote for Apartheid-Free Resolution
5 min Duncan Kreps, Jill Clark-Gollub, Paul Fleckenstein - VT Coalition for Palestinian Liberation
 Vote to approve the open letter resolution to City Council to allow voter decision on Apartheid-Free
 pledge.
6:50 pm Overdose Prevention Center
25 min Theresa Vezina- Special Assistant on OPC Implementation
 Hear about the Mayor’s office’s work on the city’s first OPC and the Community Survey, with opportunity
 for questions.
7:15 pm Budget
15 min Vote on FY2026 Ward 2 NPA budget.

7:30 pm Listening Session with State Legislators
60 min Hear from your state legislators about their priorities for the upcoming Legislative Session. Share your
 priorities and questions!
8:30 pm Door prize drawing + Adjourn!
 Our next meeting is Thursday, Jan. 8!




 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Agenda - Page 1
 Page 1 of 5
Scan the QR code (or click here) to: Email us • Go to our website • Watch meeting
recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Instagram • Request a time slot
with the request form • Get to all links related to this meeting




Appendix to the Agenda
Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee
To contact the entire Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee, email ward2npa@googlegroups.com
Name Email Joined Term expiration

Lauren Ebersol lebersol27@gmail.com 2023 2027

Kason Hudson kasonhudman@gmail.com 2024 2028

Charlie Giannoni charliecpg@gmail.com 2024 2028

Marc Stannard Marc.Stannard@outlook.com 2024 2028

Nora Aronds noraaronds@yahoo.com 2025 2029

Grace Sherwood Gsherwood703@gmail.com 2025 2029

NPA Guiding Principles
 ●​ Operate through democratic principles and democratic procedures.
 ●​ Provide a safe and welcoming forum where residents can actively share their voices about issues that
 matter to them, and where they can learn from the voices of others.
 ●​ Cultivate involvement by a diverse spectrum of community members through active outreach and
 through eliminating barriers to participation.
 ●​ Operate in a manner that models respectful, inclusive, culturally, and economically aware practices.
 ●​ Be a fun, creative, and vital organization that provides value and benefit through the multitude of
 perspectives shared by those who participate.


Ward 2 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.
 ●​ 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.


 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Agenda - Page 2
 Page 2 of 5
Elected officials representing Ward 2
Mayor
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Progressive mayor@BurlingtonVT.gov


City Councilors
Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Melo Grant Progressive megrant@burlingtonvt.gov 802-310-0962
Ward 2 Gene Bergman Progressive gbergman@burlingtonvt.gov 802-598-3602


School Board Members

Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Jean Waltz jwaltz@bsdvt.org 802-355-7856

Ward 2 Polly Vanderputten pvanderputten@bsdvt.org 802-578-8653


Vermont State House Representatives
Chittenden-15 Troy Headrick Independent theadrick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-15 Brian Cina Progressive/Democrat bcina@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-16 Kate Logan Progressive/Democrat klogan@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-16 Jill Krowinski Democrat jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-17 Abigail Duke Democrat aduke@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228


Vermont State Senators

Chittenden-Central Tanya Vyhovsky Progressive/Democrat tvyhovsky@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-Central Martine Gulick Democrat mgulick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-Central Philip Baruth Democrat/Progressive pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us (802) 503-5266




 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Agenda - Page 3
 Page 3 of 5
 Ward 2 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)


 Resolution Urging City Council to Place Apartheid-Free Community Pledge
 Advisory Question on the 2026 Town Meeting Day Ballot


WHEREAS for two consecutive years, petitions were submitted to place the following non-binding advisory
question regarding the Apartheid-Free Community Pledge on the 2024 and 2025 Town Meeting Day ballot:
“Shall the voters of the City of Burlington advise the Mayor and City Council to adopt the following pledge?
WE AFFIRM our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people; and
WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and WE DECLARE ourselves an
apartheid-free community, and to that end, WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s
apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.”; and


WHEREAS, in both years, the City verified that the petitions contained a sufficient number of signatures to
meet the requirements of 17 VSA § 2642 and Burlington City Charter § 6 (5% of the registered voters of the
City); and


WHEREAS, in both years, the City Council voted to block the aforementioned ballot question from appearing
on the Town Meeting Day ballot; and


WHEREAS, the City has discretion to include advisory questions on the ballot, and exercising such discretion
“... furthers the Council’s ability to balance the efficient transaction of city business with the provisions of a local
forum for discussing state and national issues”1; and


WHEREAS, there is abundant precedent across Vermont for placing non-binding advisory questions about
national or global issues on the Town Meeting Day ballot, including a call for a nuclear arms freeze passed in 155
Vermont municipalities in 1982, a vote opposing the Patriot Act passed in Waitsfield in 2003, a call to withdraw
US troops from Iraq in 2005, and a measure opposing the basing of F-35 fighter jets in Burlington passed in
2018; and


WHEREAS, similar petitions to place the Apartheid-Free Community Pledge on the 2025 Town Meeting Day
ballot were respected by municipal officials in Winooski, Brattleboro, Newfane, Thetford, Plainfield,
Montpelier, Vergennes, Bristol, and Weybridge; and


WHEREAS, in April 2025, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution for protecting free speech on
Palestine;


WHEREAS, the pre-condition of responsible and accountable local governance is free speech and democracy;


NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ward 2 Neighborhood Planning Assembly urges the City
Council to place the aforementioned non-binding advisory question regarding the Apartheid-Free Community
Pledge on the 2026 Town Meeting Day Ballot.



 Page 4 of 5
1
 Clift v. City of South Burlington 181 Vt. 571 (2007).




 Page 5 of 5

Meeting Agenda
Ward 2 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
Dec 11th, 2025 | 6:30-8:30pm | All are welcome

 Join in person: O.N.E. Community Dinner
 ONE Community Center, 20 Allen Street 5:30-6:30pm | Free | Donations welcome
 Menu: Winter Holidays Feast with Potato Kugel &
 Join remotely: Applesauce, Butternut Squash Soup, Quinoa Kale &
 https://zoom.us/j/93179389982 Radicchio Salad with Cranberries and Citrus Vinaigrette,
 and Apple Cider Donut Cake
 Music: Ben Wang
 ​



Facilitator: Grace Sherwood (she/her)​ ​ Notetaker: Kason Hudman
6:30 pm Introduction
5 min Agenda: Motion to approve from Molly, seconded Sean, third, agenda approved
6:35 pm Public Forum (2 minutes max per person)
10 min Jan Hicks, Community Dinner Founder, talks about how a friend named Patrick found an industrial food
 processor in the dumpster. That food processor later broke, so part of the budget we are voting on tonight
 is for the commmunity dinner

 Solve, Ward 2 resident, informs everyone that on Monday the city council will discuss the Memorial
 Auditorium redevelopment, encourages people to attend to speak about the possibility of a long-term
 land lease.

 Melo Grant, City Councilor, wants to remind everybody about Town Meeting Day coming up in March,
 and encourages everybody to watch the Progressive Nominating Caucus on Town Meeting TV. Also
 encourages everybody to get involved in the upcoming campaign.

 Monica, Ward 7 Resident, announces that on Sunday, December 21st, there will be a New North End
 Holiday market at the Miller Center. 10am-3pm.

 Grace Sherwood, mentions that Jess in the kitchen has a lot of food leftover in the kitchen

 Charlie, Ward 2, mentions that people at the Ward 3 Polling Place needs some extra help on
 Town Meeting Day. Charlie will help train people who are willing to do it long-term, over the
 course of the next few years.
6:45 pm Community Vote for Apartheid-Free Resolution
5 min Duncan Kreps, Jill Clark-Gollub, Paul Fleckenstein - VT Coalition for Palestinian Liberation
 Grace Sherwood introduces the resolution and mentions that it was gone over in detail at the previous
 meeting. Grace then reads through the resolution from top to bottom. Grace then calls for a vote.
 Votes in Favor: 29
 Votes Opposed: 0
 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Notes - Page 1
 The resolution passes.
6:50 pm Overdose Prevention Center
25 min Theresa Vezina- Special Assistant on OPC Implementation
 Theresa opens up reminding everybody about the community survey that is currently available for people
 to take on the City of Burlington website. The survey can be found under the Mayor’s information on the
 city website.
 Question from Ward 2 resident, wants to know if Theresa can give an overview of the survey right now.
 Theresa answers that she can’t go over the whole survey because there are a lot of questions on the
 survey, but she can give a general overview. She says that the survey asks about the location of the OPC,
 the benefits of the OPC, and the concerns of the OPC. Nora, Ward 2 resident, scanned the QR code for the
 survey and briefly went over what the survey looks like in order to further elaborate on the answer to the
 question.
 Theresa mentions that the survey is not the end all be all, but is only one way that the city will get this
 information.
 Question from Ward 2 resident, wants to know if the survey will be made available to the population the
 OPC is trying hardest to reach, specifically drug users. Theresa answers that this is one of the first things
 that the OPC team did, and this will continue happening.
 Jess, who works for VCJR, mentions that it has always been very important from the beginning that the
 people most likely to use an Overdose Prevention Center were consulted and their voices uplifted during
 this process. The idea is to have a service that this population will use and feel comfortable with using, so
 it is important that this process takes place.
 The Ward 2 resident follows-up, wanting to know if the answers to the survey from drug users could be
 made available to the public in an anonymous format. Theresa answers that the ultimate report will
 include all survey responses. The Ward 2 resident suggests showing the film “Love in the Time of
 Fentanyl”, and Theresa and Jess both agree.
 Becky, Ward 2 resident, wants to know how influential the results of the survey will be in the
 implementation of the OPC. Theresa answers that the survey will help them throughout the
 implementation, but it will not determine whether or not the OPC happens since that decision has already
 been made. Becky mentions that it is important for the community to get more educated about Overdose
 Prevention Centers. Theresa mentions that one of the most important things people are learning about
 Overdose Prevention Centers is that they are not just places where people can safely use drugs, but are
 instead places where a lot of social services become available to people. Jess talks about how positive this
 idea has been received among the population this place is most looking to serve.
 Becky, Ward 2 resident, asks if they have gone to the other NPAs. Theresa answers that they have been to
 every NPA except for the Ward 8 NPA, but they have done listening sessions at the library which is located
 in Ward 8.
7:15 pm Budget
15 min Vote on FY2026 Ward 2 NPA budget.
 Grace introduces the proposed budget.
 -​ $1000 to Community Dinner
 -​ $400 for a new Food Processor
 -​ $1000 for Outreach (tabling, advertisements, postering)
 -​ $30 Arts and Craft Table Supplies
 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Notes - Page 2
 -​ $30 for Zoom Subscription
 -​ $180 for Door Prizes

 22 Votes in Favor
 0 Opposed

 The budget passes.

 Question from Ward 2 resident, asks about the community dinner cost. Jess, who runs the community
 dinner, answers that the money will cover ingredients and will also allow Jess to bring in more guest chefs.
7:30 pm Listening Session with State Legislators
60 min Rep. Abbey Duke begins, mentions that the Legislative Session begins in January, and will last until May.
 Abbey is in the Vermont House of Representatives, which includes 150 members, 11 of which are from
 Burlington. There are 14 committees, Abbey is on the Housing and Economic Development committees.
 Abbey mentions that the most important first thing is the state budget. The Vermont state budget is $9B,
 $3B of that is federal funds. The potential loss of federal funding is very concerning for the budgeting
 process, and will likely be a big issue on the docket for the state legislature. Abbey mentions that housing
 is another big issue that the state legislature will be dealing with during this session. Abbey mentions the
 CHIP program, which will unlock funding for more housing infrastructure, but more needs to be done on
 housing.
 Jill Krowinski joins, also highlights the loss of federal funding as a big challenge for the upcoming session.
 Jill is also concerned that Gov. Scott may potentially use the budget as a political tool to keep the House in
 session working on other things, which is concerning to Jill. Jill mentions money that has been invested in
 educating more nurses in Vermont, which she says is
 Kason Hudman, Ward 2 Resident, asks about eminent domain laws and wants to know why the empty
 state office building next to the bus station is sitting empty. Jill and Abbey answer that the state office
 building is falling apart in the basement, which increases liability for the state if the building were to be
 opened. Abbey and Jill also both mention that punishments for negligent landlords and carrots to induce
 them to sell their properties will be things that the Housing Committee will be looking at during this
 session.
 Grace Sherwood, Ward 2 Resident, mentions to the state legislators that it would be a grave mistake to
 spend millions of dollars on a new women’s prison, which is a proposed plan at the moment.
 Representative Brian Cina, who joined, mentions that he agrees and he proposes an ambitious plan to
 instead build detention/re-entry dormitories and lots of housing with the money instead.
 Gene Bergman, Ward 2 City Councilor, mentions that there are 5 Charter Changes that have sat at the
 State Legislature for a long time. Jill explains that the legislature has passed a lot of charter changes
 actually, however, the Governor will often veto them and the question is, do we want to continuously hold
 votes that are doomed to fail.
8:30 pm Door prize drawing + Adjourn!
 Our next meeting is Thursday, Jan. 8!




 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Notes - Page 3
Scan the QR code (or click here) to: Email us • Go to our website • Watch meeting
recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Instagram • Request a time slot
with the request form • Get to all links related to this meeting




Appendix to the Agenda
Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee
To contact the entire Ward 2 NPA Steering Committee, email ward2npa@googlegroups.com
Name Email Joined Term expiration

Lauren Ebersol lebersol27@gmail.com 2023 2027

Kason Hudson kasonhudman@gmail.com 2024 2028

Charlie Giannoni charliecpg@gmail.com 2024 2028

Marc Stannard Marc.Stannard@outlook.com 2024 2028

Nora Aronds noraaronds@yahoo.com 2025 2029

Grace Sherwood Gsherwood703@gmail.com 2025 2029

NPA Guiding Principles
 ●​ Operate through democratic principles and democratic procedures.
 ●​ Provide a safe and welcoming forum where residents can actively share their voices about issues that
 matter to them, and where they can learn from the voices of others.
 ●​ Cultivate involvement by a diverse spectrum of community members through active outreach and
 through eliminating barriers to participation.
 ●​ Operate in a manner that models respectful, inclusive, culturally, and economically aware practices.
 ●​ Be a fun, creative, and vital organization that provides value and benefit through the multitude of
 perspectives shared by those who participate.


Ward 2 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.
 ●​ 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.


 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Notes - Page 4
Elected officials representing Ward 2
Mayor
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Progressive mayor@BurlingtonVT.gov


City Councilors
Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Melo Grant Progressive megrant@burlingtonvt.gov 802-310-0962
Ward 2 Gene Bergman Progressive gbergman@burlingtonvt.gov 802-598-3602


School Board Members

Central District (Wards 2 & 3) Jean Waltz jwaltz@bsdvt.org 802-355-7856

Ward 2 Polly Vanderputten pvanderputten@bsdvt.org 802-578-8653


Vermont State House Representatives
Chittenden-15 Troy Headrick Independent theadrick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-15 Brian Cina Progressive/Democrat bcina@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-16 Kate Logan Progressive/Democrat klogan@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-16 Jill Krowinski Democrat jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-17 Abigail Duke Democrat aduke@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228


Vermont State Senators

Chittenden-Central Tanya Vyhovsky Progressive/Democrat tvyhovsky@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-Central Martine Gulick Democrat mgulick@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228

Chittenden-Central Philip Baruth Democrat/Progressive pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us (802) 503-5266




 ​ ​ Ward 2 NPA - December 11, 2025 - Notes - Page 5