Politics & Government

City of Burlington Redistricting Committee 05/29/2013

Agendas for the Meetings available at: http://burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/Boards-and-Commissions/Redistricting-Committee/

Redistricting is the process of adjusting electoral district boundaries to meet US Constitutional requirements of “one person, one vote” by ensuring approximately equal representation. Based on the 2010 US Census, the City has determined that Wards 4 and 7 are over-represented, and Ward 1 is under-represented, and therefore, ward boundaries must be re-drawn. The committee is tasked with recommending a proposal that meets the legal requirement regarding equal representation of all residents as determined by the census. Before a redistricting plan can go into effect, a City Charter change must be approved by the voters of Burlington and the Vermont State Legislature. The City Council recently added additional representatives from the City’s Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) to the Redistricting Committee, and eliminated the Mayor's seat. Four City Councilors appointed to the Committee are: Sharon Bushor W1, Rachel Siegel W3, President Joan Shannon W5, Paul Decelles W7.
The Redistricting Committee members include the following NPA representatives:
James Langan (Ward 1)
Japhet Els - Lluvia Mulvaney-Stanak (Ward 2)
Nancy Greenwalt (Ward 3)
Jim Holway - George Gamache (Ward 4)
Elisa Nelson (Ward 5)
Andy Montroll - Michael Rooney (Ward 6)
Jason L'Ecuyer (Ward 7)

The NPA alternates, who will serve only if a Committee member resigns, include:
Peg Boyle Single (Ward 1)
Ita Meno (Ward 3)
Bill Keogh (Ward 5)
Mannie Lionni (Ward 7)
Further, the City Council hired professional facilitator Cindy Cook of Adamant Accord, Inc. to guide the Committee’s work.
The Committee encourages public input regarding factors it should consider as it develops and assesses redistricting options. Please email comments to the Committee’s Facilitator, Cindy Cook, at ccook@adamantaccord.com. There is ALSO a Public Forum at the every meeting, and discussion at NPA meetings. To learn more about the Redistricting Committee and to get current information about meetings, please visit http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/Ward-Redistricting/.

Congressman Peter Welch: White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair to Join Rep. Welch at Efficiency Vermont 05/28/2013

Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Congressman Peter Welch visit Efficiency Vermont, the nation’s first statewide energy efficiency utility, to participate in a roundtable discussion with energy leaders and local consumers. Chair Sutley highlights the Administration’s efforts to help businesses and households conserve energy, reduce pollution, and save money through efficiency measures, including the Green Button initiative that is empowering consumers by giving them easy and secure access to information about their energy usage. In his State of the Union address, President Obama set a new goal of cutting our economy’s energy waste in half over the next 20 years, and his proposed FY2014 budget includes a $200 million Energy Efficiency Race to the Top challenge to support state governments that implement effective policies to cut energy waste.

Essex Junction Trustees 05/28/2013

The Essex Junction Trustees is the governing, legislative body for the Municipality of the Village of Essex Junction. The five member board is elected at large within the Village. The board includes the position of Village President. The position of president and vice president are decided (appointed) through a vote of the board itself. This was a function of a charter update at the 2010 annual meeting. The three year terms of the Trustees are staggered to provide continuity. The Trustees usually meet twice per month on Tuesday evenings in the meeting room at the Village municipal office building at Five Corners The public is invited to attend all meetings, and may address the board or ask questions during a special “public to be heard” section at the beginning of each meeting. Agenda items for this meeting include:

Colchester Selectboard 05/28/2013

The Town of Colchester Select Board meets at 7:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at the Colchester Meeting House (formerly the white church) on Main Street in the village. However, sometimes special meetings, locations and times are arranged. Check Select Board Agendas which are posted around town at various locations and always at the Library and the Post Office, as well as in the lobby of the Town Offices and on this website. If in doubt contact the Town Manager's Office at 264-5500

Vermont Workers' Center: Telling Untold Stories - The People's Media Project 05/24/2013

Host Traven Leyshon speaks with Megan Sheehan, Media Production Coordinator with Vermont Workers Center, Kate Maguire and Stauch Blaise, Worker Center Leaders, on the People's Media Project.

Burlington Wards 4 & 7 NPA Meeting 05/22/2013

Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) are grassroots, neighborhood organizations that were established in each of Burlington's seven Wards to empower citizen participation in City government. Working as neighborhood advocacy groups, Neighborhood Planning Assemblies facilitate communication between the citizens of Burlington and city government through regular meetings scheduled in each Ward. Wards 4 & 7 meet the third Tuesday of the month. Meeting place: Robert E. Miller Community Center 130 Gosse Court.

Winooski City Council 05/20/2013

The Winooski City Council normally meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Meeting schedules, agendas and minutes can be found on the City's web site, www.winooskivt.org

Williston Selectboard 05/20/2013

The Selectboard is a five member elected board. There are three positions elected for a three year term and two positions elected for a two year term on a staggered basis. The board is responsible for setting the general policy direction, passing ordinances, setting the tax rate, reviewing the budget, supervising the Town Manager and a host of other related tasks. Find the full minutes for this meeting at Williston website.

: South Burlington City Council 05/20/2013

The South Burlington City Council is made up of 5 citizens who live in the City of South Burlington, elected at-large by the voters of the City. These five councilors sit with 2-3 year terms expiring in an annual rotation. The City Council meets regularly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month to conduct business of the City and carry out the provisions of the City Charter. Special or emergency meetings can be called in the event that an urgent need arises for City Council authorization. City Council meetings are normally held at City Hall in the conference room and begin at 6pm. Check the City's website for updated information. www.sburl.com

Essex Selectboard 05/20/2013

The Selectboard meetings are all held at the Town Offices at 81 Main Street in Essex Junction, in the downstairs conference room on the first and third Mondays of the month. The public is always welcome, and the meetings start promptly at 7:30 PM. If special accommodations are needed please call 802-878-1341.

Featured Story

CCTV Receives NEH Grant to Support Community Archives

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is pleased to announce receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant alongside 32 peer archival institutions across the country. This $49,927 grant award will support efforts to preserve and expand access to audio/visual community history materials in the CCTV Archives. Read more about this opportunity here!