Advisory Committee on Accessibility — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-05-18
Time: 15:00

Advisory Committee on Accessibility

 Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149
 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/96458163787?pwd=cy0Oo4cojlRpMP3XzAx4UkLjx6FjMg.1
Meeting ID: 964 5816 3787
Passcode: 240456
1. Adopt the Agenda

2. Adopt Minutes
  Subject 2.1. Adopt minutes from March 16 and April 20 meetings
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM
  Category 2. Adopt Minutes
  Department Human Resources


  Type

3. Introductions

4. Public Forum

5. Committee News & Updates

6. City Capital Budget Updates
  Subject 6.1. Updates from Ashley Parker on City Capital Budget including the Capital
 Plan Report and the Capital Planning Map (links lead to both
 documents/tools).
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM


  Category 6. City Capital Budget Updates

  Department Human Resources


  Type

  Recommended Action
7. City Department ADA Title II Assessment
  Subject 7.1. Create a work plan for inviting City departments to report back to the
 committee.
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM


  Category 7. City Department ADA Title II Assessment

  Department Human Resources


  Type

  Recommended Action

8. Other Committee Business

9. Adjournment
  Subject 9.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM


  Category 9. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 10.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
 Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). 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. This meeting will also air
 on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. 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 information.
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM
  Category 10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Department Council and Board


  Type

Advisory Committee on Accessibility

 Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149
 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/96458163787?pwd=cy0Oo4cojlRpMP3XzAx4UkLjx6FjMg.1
Meeting ID: 964 5816 3787
Passcode: 240456
1. Adopt the Agenda

2. Adopt Minutes
  Subject 2.1. Adopt minutes from March 16 and April 20 meetings
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM
  Category 2. Adopt Minutes
  Department Human Resources


  Type

3. Introductions

4. Public Forum

5. Committee News & Updates

6. City Capital Budget Updates
  Subject 6.1. Updates from Ashley Parker on City Capital Budget including the Capital
 Plan Report and the Capital Planning Map (links lead to both
 documents/tools).
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM


  Category 6. City Capital Budget Updates

  Department Human Resources


  Type

  Recommended Action


 Page 1 of 11
7. City Department ADA Title II Assessment
  Subject 7.1. Create a work plan for inviting City departments to report back to the
 committee.
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM


  Category 7. City Department ADA Title II Assessment

  Department Human Resources


  Type

  Recommended Action

8. Other Committee Business

9. Adjournment
  Subject 9.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM


  Category 9. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 10.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
 Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). 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. This meeting will also air
 on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. 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 information.
  Meeting May 18, 2026 - BACA 05.18.26 - Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon
 Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM
  Category 10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Department Council and Board


  Type




 Page 2 of 11
 Advisory Committee on Accessibility

 Monday, March 16, 2026, 3:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149
 Church St., Burlington, VT or remotely via
 ZOOM.

3:00 pm, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church St.,
Burlington, VT OR Remotely via ZOOM: Please click the link below to
join the webinar:
Zoom Link:
https://zoom.us/j/96458163787?pwd=cy0Oo4cojlRpMP3XzAx4UkLjx6FjMg.1
Meeting ID: 964 5816 3787
Passcode: 240456


In Attendance:
Nate Besio, Chair (NB)
Jon Adams-Kollitz (JAK)
Lisa Black (LB)
Meaghan Diffenderfer (MD)
Sharon Henault (SH)
John Thomas (JT)
Scottie Taylor (ST)
Ashley Parker (AP)
Karen Downey (KD)

Others in attendance:
Sophie Sauve (SS)
Charlie Messing (CM)

Meeting called to order 3:05 pm




 Page 3 of 11
1. Adopt the Agenda
 • JT moves to adopt the agenda as written; SH seconds; all in favor, so
 moved and approved
2. Approve Minutes
 • SH moves to approve the minutes as written, LB seconds; all in favor,
 so moved and approved
3. Public Forum
 • CM introduced themselves; they used to sit on Council of Aging, which
 has dissolved. He noted that for aging populations, sidewalks are a big
 pressure point, as well as access to the hospital, since new parts of the
 hospital are on Tilley Dr. which isn’t accessible via bus route.
4. News and Announcements
 • JAK shares that the City is working on PlanBTV 2050 – a vision of
 Burlington for the next 25 years – the last time a plan of this scale was
 completed was in 2015. In 2015, there wasn’t a deep focus on
 Accessibility – language was used 12 times in very specific
 targets/goals. Five of those instances were specific to accessibility in
 the physical environment as opposed to language/culture. The 2050
 plan will be very ambitious in that it will not only function as the
 mandated municipal development plan, but also will include sub-plans
 for three different elements: Transportation, Economic Development,
 and Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront. Additionally, BPRW will be
 updating their departmental comprehensive plan which was last
 completed in 2015 as well. There will be an open house on April 30,
 likely at BCA (but still TBD) for those who would like to provide input.
 Over the next year there will be further opportunities to engage, and
 BACA will likely be a stakeholder group for this process.
 i. A request was made to share the 2015 plan with the committee
 for reference.
 • NB reminded everyone that he shared a Strategic Directions Survey
 that was sent out by GMT for members to complete.
 i. Sharon Henault adds that Burlington gave GMT a million dollars
 for the Older Adults & Disabilities (O&D) transportation, but
 unsure if there are any stipulations in place with that funding.
 She would like to see further discussion so people aren’t placed
 in situations where they can’t get to their jobs/grocery
 shopping/what they need.




 Page 4 of 11
 ii. The committee will invite GMT to a future meeting.
 1. Ashley Parker flags that the original survey came from
 DPW Director Chapin Spencer who also sits on the GMT
 Commission, so connecting with him & co-chair Andrea
 Suozzo would be a good first step.
 • NB plugs that there is a Power Soccer Tournament taking place on April
 11 at UVM hosted by UVM and the NE Disabled Athletic Association. 8
 teams this year from Canada, Boston, NH, Syracuse – more
 announcements forthcoming!
5. Sign & Adopt Best Practices Letter
 • Draft Letter to review/adopt/sign
 i. Committee reviewed the letter, including a few minor edits MD
 made.
 • Draft Best Practices Checklist
 i. Nate provided a draft checklist, which the committee reviewed.
 • SH moves to send the letter to the Mayor’s office et al., AP seconds
 i. All in favor, so moved and approved.
 ii. MD will send the letter.
6. Committee Membership
 • We have 10 of the 12 seats filled. We have two more that can be filled
 if anyone comes to mind. Would be good to have deaf/HoH/blind
 individual representation.
7. Committee Priorities Discussions
 • Looking to find the issues/topics we would like to focus on during the
 coming year, and how we want to go about addressing them:
 i. Accessible voting – in particular for the coming November
 elections
 1. KD had talked with individuals in Ward 6 about the
 relocation of the polling place, and got positive feedback.
 One person was confused because they went to an old
 door and didn’t see a sign directing them to the correct
 side of the building.
 2. Ward 4 polling location (Miller Center) isn’t on the bus
 route and is far off of North Ave where the bus stop is.
 a. What we need for accessible spaces: busses that can
 get to the voting center on election day, and space
 must be physically accessible.




 Page 5 of 11
 3. We will invite Sarah Montgomery (Assistant City Clerk) to
 attend our next meeting
 ii. City Department ADA Title II Assessments
 1. Departments were supposed to report back on what they
 were doing, but fizzled out.
 2. Committee will confirm department contacts and invite
 them to join meetings.
 iii. Parking
 1. There is currently a Transportation Demand Management
 Agreement with multi-use buildings to reduce parking
 spaces in exchange for very specific regulations, but
 handicap/accessible spaces are still supposed to have
 priority even when parking is reduced. That does not seem
 to be enforced rigidly. To connect with P&I/DRB on this
 topic.
 2. Privately owned garages to not have signage when there is
 no accessible parking in their lot; this issue got brought to
 City Council, and then the Attorney’s Office. Committee is
 interested in a follow up on where that issue stands, and
 will make recommendations accordingly.
 3. Are the inspectors the same for municipal and private
 projects, and what is their checklist/role in ensuring
 adherence?
 iv. Transportation – ensuring access to hospital, etc.
 8. Other Committee Business
 • Next meeting on April 20.
 9. Adjournment
 • JT motions to adjourn, JAK seconds; All in favor, so moved and
 approved.
Meeting adjourned, 4:00 pm.
 10.Information and Non-Discrimination Statements
 This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
 Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). 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



 Page 6 of 11
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 information.




 Page 7 of 11
 Advisory Committee on
 Accessibility

 Monday, April 20, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon Bushor
 Conference Room, 149
 Church Street, OR Remotely
 via ZOOM
In Attendance:
Nate Besio, Chair (NB)
Karen Downey (KD)
Sharon Henault (SH)
John Thomas (JT)

Others in Attendance:
Jessie Anderson (JA), HR Generalist
Max Madalinski (MM), BPRW
Charlie Messing (CM), Community Member
Sarah Montgomery (SM), Assistant City Clerk
Sophie Sauve (SS), BPRW

Meeting called to order, 3:05 pm

1. Adopt the Agenda
Committee did not have quorum; agenda informally adopted

2. Adopt Minutes


 Page 8 of 11
Minutes from March 16, 2026 meeting to be adopted at next meeting on
May 18.

 2. Public Forum
CM: raises concerns around bike traffic vs pedestrian at the bottom of
College St. where it interacts with the bike path, and would like to see
better signage for all users. CM also raises concerns around the
cancellation of the #11 bus and the lack of bus access to Tilley Dr.
particularly given the new hospital buildings there.

4. News & Updates

  4.1. Update on Best Practices Letter to Mayor's Office
NB: confirms that the letter has been submitted to the Mayor’s Office, but
we are still waiting a response.

 4.2 Updates from BPRW
SS: shares that there will be a Plan BTV open house 3:30-8:00 pm on
April 20 at Main St. Landing. If you can’t join, feedback is still welcome.

MM: updates on the Pomeroy Playground. The old playground has been
removed, and installation will begin at the end of April, lasting 4-6 weeks,
and re-opening in June.

 5. Discussion - Election Accessibility
NB: opens the discussion around election site accessibility.

KD: asks if any feedback has been received from Ward 6 with the new
voting location.

SM: is aware that Ward 6 needs new signage and building awareness
within the ward to alert of the change to the middle school (other side of
the building from the former voting location). Sarah also notes that the
Miller Center voting site is far from the bus stop, and suggests working



 Page 9 of 11
with GMT to see if routes can be changed on election day to drop
individuals off closer to the polling place.

NB: asks if there’s any feedback that the committee can receive or
challenges with voting sites that the committee can assist with.

SM: notes one of the challenges is that there are a limited amount of
buildings that can be used as polling places across the City and within
each Ward. We can also offer mail-in ballots or an electronic ballot can be
requested that are screen reader compatible. The other option is ballots
delivered by a Justice of the Peace on election day.

NB: asks for what publicity these alternative practices are given.

SM: notes that the mail-in ballot option is well publicized, but the other
ballot delivery options can be shared more beyond official notices on the
City website.

KD: shares that some wards have Facebook pages, and those might be a
useful tool, as well as the NPA meetings and Front Porch Forum.

NB: agrees there’s a lot of accommodations out there, but people don’t
always know about them.

KD: will this November election be one where ballots are automatically
sent out, or will that need to be requested?

SM: for the state primary in August they will need to be requested. For the
November general election they will be automatically sent out to all
registered voters. Early voting for both elections will start 45 days early at
the Clerk/Treasurer’s office (2nd floor).

NB: thanks Sarah for her time, and will try to make sure the committee
also highlights the different options closer to election season.



 Page 10 of 11
 6. City Department ADA Title II Assessment
NB: we will table this discussion until the May meeting. The big question
will be how to we follow up with each department to ensure they are
following Title II.

 7. Other Committee Business
NB: we will approve the March minutes at the May meeting.

SH: asks to discuss the implications of the GMT cuts at the next meeting,
and warns that SSTA is also looking at cuts. Sharon would also like to
know the City’s plan for repairing sidewalks.

8. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned, 3:44 pm

9. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statement

9.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For
more information on access, call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and
Records Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). 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.
This meeting will also air on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the
meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the
following day. 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 information.




 Page 11 of 11

Advisory Committee on Accessibility

 Monday, May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, 3:00 pm, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149
 Church Street, OR Remotely via ZOOM

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/96458163787?pwd=cy0Oo4cojlRpMP3XzAx4UkLjx6FjMg.1
Meeting ID: 964 5816 3787
Passcode: 240456


In Attendance:
Nate Besio, Chair (NB)
Jon Adams-Kollitz (JAK)
Lisa Black (LB)
Meaghan Diffenderfer (MD)
Karen Downey (KD)
Sharon Henault (SD)
John Thomas (JT)
Scottie Taylor (ST)
Ashley Parker (AP)
Katherine Schad (KS)

Meeting called to order 3:03 pm

1. Adopt the Agenda
 • ST moves to adopt the agenda as written
 • KD seconds
 • All in favor, so moved and approved

2. Adopt Minutes
 • Approve March minutes
 • SH moves to approve as written
 • JT seconds
 • All in favor, so moved and adopted
 • Noted later in the meeting that we will update Ward 4 to
 Ward 7
 • Approve April minutes
 • KD Moves to approve as written
 • NB Seconds
 • All in favor, so moved and adopted

2. Introductions
 • Committee members introduce themselves

3. Public Forum
 • No members of the public present

4. Committee News & Updates
 • JAK shares updates from BRPW. The open house kick-off for Plan
 BTV 2050 happened on April 30 with much success; between 300-
 350 people attended. The Plan BTV 2050 Team will now be looking
 to focus more on specific stakeholders to do direct outreach within
 the coming months, and July 8th will move into scenario planning.
 JAK asks BACA for recommendations for the best way to outreach &
 engage with the communities we represent here with this group.
 • Jon to provide information to committee via email, and we can
 help distribute to our networks.
 • We will have the plan BTV group present to us at our June
 meeting.

5. City Capital Budget Updates
 • AP presents on the capital budget. About a month ago the capital
 plan report went to council, which is the first report of its kind for
 the City’s capital budget. That report was linked and provided to the
 committee, and there is also a map to see where in the City those
 projects are happening. AP wanted to provide both as a reminder to
 the committee that they exist. City Council adopts a 5 year capital
 plan, and each year the needs and timelines are reviewed. Any
 feedback that this group has is also helpful!
 i. If there are projects that committee members think should be
 in the plan that aren’t already, that’s the feedback that will be
 most useful for AP to share with relevant departments.
 Sidewalks especially! Feedback welcome any time. Capital plan
 is a living document and gets updated as needs arise.
 • If committee members read through and find things they want to
 highlight, they can send to Nate and Meaghan, and the committee
 could put together a memo.
 • Will review in depth at a future meeting.

6. City Department ADA Title II Assessment
 • Each department has an appointment ADA Title II representative.
 • The committee will invite the representatives to attend our
 meetings to speak to what they are doing in their department to
 adhere to Title II, as well as learn about what the committee is
 doing and opportunities for collaboration.
 • The committee will invite the attorney’s office to attend first to help
 set our own internal assessment, and then move forward with other
 departments.
 • The committee would like to use this opportunity to set the
 expectations of our inclusion with projects – especially clarifying
 legal minimum vs. what we would actually like to see, and support
 we are able to offer.
 • Summer will be busy, so we will look at formally putting a plan in
 motion in the Fall (aiming for September).

8. Other Committee Business
 • Committee members compared schedules to ensure we will have
 quorum during the summer months when vacation and travel plans
 tend to pick up.
 • Voting Transportation
 o Will invite C/T to come September meeting
 ▪ Ward 7 polling place at the Miller Center to be addressed

9. Adjournment
  • JT moves to adjourn
  • SH seconds

Meeting adjourned 4:03 pm
10. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 10.1. This agenda is available in alternative
 formats upon request. For more information on access,
call Lori Olberg, Licensing, Voting and Records
Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142).
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. This meeting will also air
on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting,
starting at 8:00 pm and repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00
am the following day. 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 information.