Joint Committee on Police Oversight — Burlington, VT
Date: 2023-09-07
Time: 17:30

Joint Committee on Police Oversight Meeting Agenda - Thursday, September 7, 2023,
 5:30 PM, Bushor Conference Room 1st Floor, City Hall OR REMOTELY via ZOOM

When: Sep 7, 2023 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Joint Committee on Police Oversight Meeting

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Important documents referenced in the Committee meetings are available here:
https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/Ordinance-and-Charter-Change-Joint-Committee-on-Police-
Oversight




1. Agenda
 Subject 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda
 Meeting September 7, 2023 - Joint Committee on Police Oversight Meeting Agenda - Thursday,
 September 7, 2023, 5:30 PM, Bushor Conference Room 1st Floor, City Hall OR
 REMOTELY via ZOOM


 Category 1. Agenda

 Department
  Type

  Recommended Action

2. Adopt Draft Minutes from August 2/3
  Subject 2.1. Adopt Draft Minutes from August 2/3
  Meeting September 7, 2023 - Joint Committee on Police Oversight Meeting Agenda - Thursday,
 September 7, 2023, 5:30 PM, Bushor Conference Room 1st Floor, City Hall OR
 REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 2. Adopt Draft Minutes from August 2/3

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

3. Public Forum
  Subject 3.1. Verbal Comments
  Meeting September 7, 2023 - Joint Committee on Police Oversight Meeting Agenda - Thursday,
 September 7, 2023, 5:30 PM, Bushor Conference Room 1st Floor, City Hall OR
 REMOTELY via ZOOM
  Category 3. Public Forum
  Department Council and Board


  Type

4. Adjournment
  Subject 4.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting September 7, 2023 - Joint Committee on Police Oversight Meeting Agenda - Thursday,
 September 7, 2023, 5:30 PM, Bushor Conference Room 1st Floor, City Hall OR
 REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 4. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

5. Discussion of Proposed Pathways from Councilors
  Subject 5.1. Discussion of Proposed Pathways from Councilors
  Meeting September 7, 2023 - Joint Committee on Police Oversight Meeting Agenda - Thursday,
 September 7, 2023, 5:30 PM, Bushor Conference Room 1st Floor, City Hall OR
 REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 5. Discussion of Proposed Pathways from Councilors

  Department Council and Board
Type

Recommended Action

ORDINANCE and CHARTER CHANGE JOINT COMMITTEE
 Thursday, September 7, 2023
 Bushor Conference Room and Remote via Zoom
 DRAFT MINUTES
Members Present: Councilor Traverse (Ordinance Committee Chair), Gene Bergman (Charter
Change Committee Chair), Councilor Carpenter, Councilor Hightower
Staff Present: Kim Sturtevant (Acting City Attorney), Jon Murad (Chief of Police), Jordan Redell
(Mayor’s Chief of Staff), Shannon Trammell (BPD)
Others in Attendance: Jake Schumann, Mike Hoey, Scot Sweeney, Tyler Boronski
Meeting called to order at 5:35 PM.
1.0 Agenda
Motion to adopt/amend agenda
Motion to Adopt Agenda with the agenda item ‘Adjournment’ moved to the end of the agenda.
Motion by Councilor Hightower, Seconded by Councilor Carpenter
Final Resolution: Motion Passes
Yes: Unanimous

2.0 Adopt the Draft Minutes from August 2 and 3.
Motion to Adopt Minutes as is.
Motion by Councilor Bergman, Seconded by Councilor Carpenter
Final Resolution: Motion Passes
Yes: Unanimous

3.0 Public Forum
No members of the public wished to speak for this agenda item.
4.0 Discussion of Proposed Pathways from Councilors
Councilor Bergman wants to have an independent body for higher-level disciplinary incidents. He
also wants to do any charter changes first and to have them ready by the end of the calendar year.
The language for this independent body would be similar to the Mayor’s memo from December
of 2020 and this body should have a budget for staffing.
Councilor Carpenter believes there should not be two separate bodies. There should be staff
budgeting to alleviate the time strain that the Commission is already dealing with. City Council
could restructure the Police Commission if there is a need to improve their independence, but it is
already a citizen Commission.
Councilor Traverse raised several legal questions for research. What are the concerns around the
Police collective bargaining agreement when it comes to auditing or oversight?


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Jordan Redell (Mayor’s Chief of Staff) stated that the current system allows the Commission to
review body worn camera footage for incidents so long as there is a reason. The Commission
cannot randomly audit footage without a reason.
Chief Murad added that all incident reports are noted in the monthly report given to the
Commission and they may pick incidents to review fully. Six months ago, the Commission asked
to see all incident reports and the BPOA did not want that to be the practice.
Councilor Traverse raised another legal question: If an oversight body were allowed to categorize
the severity of incidents, what are the potential issues with the current collective bargaining
agreement? If the body changed its mind on the level of an incident and wanted to change its
categorization, are there any issues with that? If the Police Commission hears disciplinary appeals,
should the collective bargaining agreement allow officers to appeal to arbitration, beyond the
Commission?
The Committee decided on the following dates for next meetings:
9/25 at 7:00PM
10/3 at 7:00PM
10/28 at 7:00PM
11/1 at 5:30PM


5.0 Adjournment
Motion to adjourn.
Motion by Councilor Traverse, without objection.
Yes: Unanimous

The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 PM.




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