Burlington City Council meets for first time with new councilors. Here's what was discussed

Sydney P. Hakes, Burlington Free Press
·4 min read

The Burlington City Council met for the first time on April 15 since eight new councilors, new Council President Ben Traverse, D-Ward 5, and new Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak were sworn in.

The meeting lasted roughly five hours and covered a myriad of agenda items. Being the first official City Council meeting with the new members, it was also a chance for many of the group to get their feet in the waters of public service.

More: New Burlington mayor plans for future, tackling community safety, budget, climate and more

The Net Zero Energy Roadmap spearheaded by the Burlington Electric Department was a big conversation of the night. Other items included the potential sale of 200 Church St. which houses the Burlington Community Justice Center, reports from Burlington Fire Department and police chief, public health and safety emergency updates, refinancing Burlington's waterfront tax increment note, Winooski Bridge Finance and Maintenance Agreement acceptance and more. The full agenda can be found on the City of Burlington website.

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak sits between Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Schad and councilors Carter Neubieser and Gene Bergman at the city council meeting April 1, 2024.
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak sits between Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Schad and councilors Carter Neubieser and Gene Bergman at the city council meeting April 1, 2024.

Net Zero Energy Roadmap

A presentation by Burlington Electric Department General Manager Darren Springer highlighted the past, present and future of the Net Zero Energy Roadmap, a plan to reduce the city's carbon emission and ensure a greener and healthier Burlington.

The plan was a collaboarion with the power company and Mayor Miro Weinberger in 2018. It has spearheaded clean energy initiatives, including installing heat pumps in 2,300 buildings and providing rebates for electric vehicle owners.

Springer shared the progress of the initiative and the next steps moving forward. Those next steps include:

  • Increased incentives for EV users.

  • Continued and expanded outreach to increase equitable access to programs.

  • Inflation Reduction Act incentives and rebates.

  • Clean Heat Standard implementation.

Open forum was held before the presentation, welcoming residents a two-minute window to speak to the council on whatever they intended. Of the residents who spoke, 12 of 15 addressed the energy roadmap and climate concerns.

It became an echoing of concern that the roadmap "doesn't go far enough" and more should be implemented to accomplish the goals that they are making promises to do. Many of the speakers criticized BED's involvement, saying a climate plan should exist separate of a power company. They hope for more "transparency in the future and a more comprehensive plan for combating climate change in Burlington."

Many of the residents also offered their support, welcoming the new councilors and mayor and urging the city to reach out and utilize the community, making an issue like this a group effort.

Winooski-Burlington Bridge

The bridge that connects the neighboring cities is in need of maintenance and finance. A presentation given to the council by Public Works Director Chapin Spencer requested that the city enter into a finance and maintenance agreement with the state to replace the bridge.

He reported that the federal and state governments are "prepared to fund the majority of both of these projects."

Looking back toward the bridge that spans the Winooski River, you can see debris piled up next to the dam. The Winooski River roiled between Winooski and Burlington, overflowing its banks past Winooski Falls Park and spilling over the Hydro One plant and dam on Dec.19, 2023 following a major rain and snowmelt event.
Looking back toward the bridge that spans the Winooski River, you can see debris piled up next to the dam. The Winooski River roiled between Winooski and Burlington, overflowing its banks past Winooski Falls Park and spilling over the Hydro One plant and dam on Dec.19, 2023 following a major rain and snowmelt event.

Community Response Team

The Burlington Fire Chief Michael LaChance spoke to the council about the Community Response Team that was approved in October and has been operating for six months.

The initiative dedicates a first response vehicle for suspected overdoses and unresponsive patients. LaChance said there has been a significant impact on overdose numbers and asked that funding be authorized to extend the program through the end of the fiscal year, instead of ending April 14.

The council unanimously approved the extension.

Mayor's update

Before the council session concluding, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak spoke to the council of her own updates in the two weeks she's been in office. She said that while she mostly received a warm welcome, she has received backlash in the position.

She said that she has received threats after being voted in, and the threats have continued since taking office, some of them being "unfortunately serious."

"This is important for folks to understand what women in office are facing, what queer folks are facing, and it’s happening here in Burlington," Mulvaney-Stanak said. "I particularly want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office, the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Community Justice Center and also some department heads who have been collaborating with figuring out how we create a safer environment for folks."

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington City Council with new members gets to work