The Other Paper - 3-30-23

Charity drive

Silverlake succesfully hosts drive for winter clothing

Page 2

Library concerts

Trifolium to perform at SB Public Library on April 22 Page 3

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

Alarms raised over Senate housing bill

Would nullify land use regs OK’d last year

South Burlington officials are raising alarms over S.100, the state senate’s omnibus bill that would tackle the growing housing crisis and would reverse land development regulations approved by the city last year by requiring denser housing allowances in certain areas.

In a letter sent to legislators — the second one written by South Burlington brass this year — offi-

cials aired concerns over what they view as a curbing of their planning jurisdiction. The bill directly threatens land development regulations that the city approved in February last year, after years of vigorous debate, which effectively removed about 1,000 acres in the southeast quadrant from housing and other development.

The overall intention of S.100, city council chair Helen Riehle

See HOUSING BILL on page 12

Ho-Hum Motel to house the homeless

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

The South Burlington City Council last week gave final approval to use American Rescue Plan Funds for renovations to turn the Ho-Hum Motel on Williston Road into permanently affordable housing.

The council’s approval last week finalizes an agreement that

was first made in September with the Champlain Housing Trust, which first purchased the property in 2020 to use as a COVID-19 quarantine space for people who are homeless, people arriving from out of state, and others who needed a place to isolate during the height of the pandemic.

See MOTEL on page 16

COURTESY PHOTO

Lynn Vera and Chris Shaw pose with city clerk Donna Kinville as the polls closed on town meeting day. Kinville is retiring after more than 20 years serving as South Burlington’s city clerk.

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Bills would require Holocaust education

ABBY CARROLL COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Mandating and strengthening Holocaust education in schools has been brought up by lawmakers for the past few years, but the proposed bills are typically left untouched. This year, many representatives and senators are hoping that will change.

Two bills, H.294 and S.87, would mandate six hours of Holocaust education per year for students in grades 6 through 12 starting in the 2024-25 school year. The bills leave curriculum specifics up to schools and teachers but have a broad goal of making sure students learn from the Holocaust through grade-appropriate material and take away lessons from it that apply in a variety of ways.

“Holocaust education can be applied in so many different subjects,” said Debora Steinerman, president and co-founder of the Vermont Holocaust Memorial. “It teaches about bullying. It teaches about hatred of all kinds. It’s about humanity.”

Advocates like Steinerman say that robust Holocaust education in schools preserves the memories of survivors, raises awareness about genocide and helps prevent it from happening again. It also helps students understand the history of discrimination and how the Holocaust revealed the

need for the term genocide and international legislation laws to safeguard against it. Legislators also believe that by institutionalizing Holocaust education, Vermont students will be better equipped to understand and combat prejudice, misinformation and discrimination and examine the impacts people have as perpetrators, bystanders, collaborators and victims.

“Children don’t know that it happened, and the reason people need to know it’s happened is not just to remember and commemorate the victims but really looking forward to recognize when genocide or the threat of genocide rises up anywhere in the world against any group of people and to understand what humanity is capable of at its worst, and to try to do something about it,” said Rep. Avram Patt, D-Worcester, the sponsor of the bill in the House.

Many of the past bills to mandate Holocaust education haven’t been passed due to the prevalence of local control of education, Patt said. The Legislature often avoids creating mandates about curriculum because of this. Patt noted that he and other lawmakers avoided writing exactly what needs to be taught or what kind of assignments to have to give their bills better prospects.

If either of the bills are passed, the mandate would begin in the 2024-2025 school year. The bills

would also require the Agency of Education to help schools develop materials and their curricula.

Within the bill, legislators cite many reasons for why Holocaust education needs to be mandated. One finding cited comes from the Anti-Defamation League,

which says it has found a surge in antisemitism and racist violence in the U. S. and Europe over the last decade.

Vermont is also the only state in New England without a bill mandating curriculum about the Holocaust, and 22 other states have bills like the two proposed bills.

“It’s about time Vermont joins in. This is not a difficult subject to add into the curriculum,” Steinerman said.

The first-ever Vermont Holo-

caust Education Week occurred in January, and Patt hopes its success has created some momentum for lawmakers around the topic.

“I think there’s been some progress made in that the Vermont Agency of Education this time around was involved directly in establishing that Holocaust education week,” Patt said.

The agency helped organize the week with the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and Echoes and Reflec-

COURTESY PHOTO

Earlier in the year, SilverLake Wealth Management hosted a cold-weather clothing drive to benefit Committee on Temporary Shelter in Burlington and those who require its services. With a match made by the company, the event yielded donations of 130 beanies, 432 pairs of socks, 108 pairs of weatherproof gloves and an additional $200 donation.

News from South Burlington Public Library

180 Market St., South Burlington, 802-846-4140, southburl ingtonlibrary.org for information about any programming, cancellations or in-person changes. Some events may change from in-person to virtual. Some events require preregistration.

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Email sbplinfo@southburlingtonvt.gov.

KIDS & TEENS Babytime

Every Wednesday, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Join Miss Alyssa for storytimes for infants and their caregivers.

Lego builders

Every Wednesday, 3-4:30 p.m. Projects geared to kids ages eight and up, or ages six and up with an adult helper. Each week, builders explore, create and participate in challenges.

Kids’ book club

Thursdays, April 6 and 20, 4-5:30 p.m.

For kids Kindergarten through grade two. Join Ms. Natacha to read, share and explore “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. Preregister at nliuzzi@southburlingtonvt.gov with age, name, grade and parent phone number.

Kids chess club

Saturdays, April 1 and 15,

10:30-11:30 a.m.

For kids ages 5 and up. Preregistration required to nliuzzi@ stoweburlington.gov.

Project ‘HOME’ painting session

What do you think of when you think of home? Make art, share art. Pick up a kit with drawing and writing prompts and return by April 27 to be included in the art show. Drop-in sessions at the library are Tuesday, April 4, 3 p.m., Thursday, April 13, 4 p.m., and Wednesday, April 26, 1 p.m. The art show and reception will be held April 29 from 10:30 a.m.noon.

Toddlertime

Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18 and 25

Sessions at 9:15-9:45 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. Short stories and familiar songs, rhymes and fingerplays, with time to wiggle and dance. For ages 1 to 3 with an adult caregiver.

Music & movement

Thursday, April 6, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Join Miss Emma as she leads singing, movement and jam sessions for kids from birth to age 5.

Friday movie

Fridays, April 7 and 21, 3-4:30 p.m.

April 7: “The Wiz.” April 21: “Winnie the Pooh.”

All Saints, South Burlington & St. Paul's, Vergennes

Palm Sunday, April 2nd

9:30 am Morning Prayer at ST. PAUL’S with Blessing of the Palms

10 am Holy Eucharist at ALL SAINTS with Blessing of the Palms

Maundy Thursday, April 6th

5:30 pm Joint Agape Supper at ALL SAINTS followed by 7 pm Holy Eucharist

Good Friday, April 7th

5:30 pm Joint Good Friday Service at ST. PAUL’S

Holy Saturday, April 8th

7:30 pm Joint Easter Vigil Service at ST. PAUL’S

Easter Sunday, April 9th

9 am Easter Eucharist at ST. PAUL’S followed by Easter Coffee Hour

11 am Easter Eucharist at ALL SAINTS followed by Egg Hunt for children and Easter Coffee Hour

All Saints Episcopal Church

1250 Spear Street (corner of Swift & Spear) South Burlington, VT 802.862.9750

Craftytown

Tuesdays, April 11, 18 and 25, 3-4:30 p.m. Free projects geared to kids ages 8 and up or 6 and up with an adult. April 11: paper bird nest. April 18: pipe cleaner gnome. April 25: watercolor painting.

Teen Craft Café

Wednesday, April 26, 2-3 p.m. Teens ages 13 to 18 try a variety of crafts, including origami, scratch art, yarn painting and coloring pages. Refreshments and all material will be provided.

Middle school makers

Thursday, April 27, 4-5:30 p.m. For students in grades five to eight. Make an old-fashioned maple syrup cake.

Project ‘HOME’ art show, reception

Saturday, April 29, 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Art from kids about their vision and image of home, created throughout the month of April, on display at the library.

ADULTS

Knit for your neighbor

Mondays and Thursdays in April, 3-6 p.m.

Yarn, needles and crochet hooks supplied. Knit or crochet

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 6 Park Street (corner of Park & Main) Vergennes, VT 802.877.3322

EASTER BRUNCH BUFFET

in the Beautiful Four-Story Atrium Restaurant and Veranda at the DoubleTree Hotel Burlington

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

THREE SEATINGS STARTING AT 11:00 AM (11:00-11:30 AM - 1:30-2:00 PM - 4:00-4:30 PM )

ADULTS $49.95 | AGES 5-12 $24.95 | UNDER 5 FREE 10% senior and military discounts. Prices do not include taxes, gratuity and ticket processing fee. ALL YOU CAN EAT (2 HOUR MAXIMUM).

MENU SELECTIONS

Chef Carved Maple Glazed Ham Roast Leg of Lamb

Chef Made Egg and Omelet Station

—

Muffins, Pastries and Croissants

Fresh Cut Fruit

Yogurt and Granola

—

Traditional Eggs Benedict

Breakfast Potatoes

Scrambled Eggs

Bacon and Sausage

French Toast with VT Maple Syrup

MUSIC/LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Steve Candlen, Guitarist and Vocalist

RESERVATIONS & INFORMATION

802-865-6620

Vermont Cheese Display

Cold Poached Salmon

Shrimp Cocktail

Mixed Green Salad Bar

Pesto Pasta Salad

Roasted Haricot Verts

Cellentani Pasta with Garlic Olive

Oil and Fresh Julienne Vegetables

Tuscan Chicken —

Chef’s Dessert Display Easter Candy

Tickets must be purchased in advance through Eventbrite.

COURTESY PHOTO

Trifolium, featuring Justin Park, Andy Mueller and Chloe Powell performs at the South Burlington Public Library on Saturday, April 22 at noon.

Vermont State Police Blotter

March 18, 1:26 p.m., police arrested Mari J. Hill of Williston for driving under the influence, first offense, after coming upon

her vehicle parked in the road on Kimball Avenue in South Burlington with its hazard lights flashing.

South Burlington Police Blotter

Total incidents: 227

Motor vehicle complaint: 18

Suspicious event: 17

Agency / public assists: 15

Welfare check: 14

Alarm: 14

Larceny from motor vehicle: 11

Retail theft: 11

Disturbance: 11

Accident: property damage: 10

Directed patrol: 9

Traffic stop: 9

Arrests:

Dec. 9 at 1:39 p.m., Amber E. Limacher, 36, of Burlington, was arrested for financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult on Aspen Drive.

March 19 at 7:18 p.m., Devin M. Pierro, 27, of Rutland City, was arrested for violating an abuse prevention order on Shelburne Road.

March 20 at 7:56 a.m., Daniel B. Muir, 39, of Richmond, was arrested on an in-state warrant on San Remo Drive.

March 20 at 10:10 a.m., Daniel Pickens, 33, of Asheville, N.C., was arrested for grossly negli-

gent operation at Shelburne Road and Hannaford Drive.

March 21 at 12:11 p.m., Ashley R. Skidmore, 36, of Williston, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

March 21 at 4:01 p.m., Aaron Matthew Gucciardi, 18, of South Burlington, was arrested for negligent operation and misdemeanor possession of stolen property at Kimball Avenue and Kennedy Drive.

March 21 at 8:36 p.m., Jason P. Breault, 46, of Sheldon, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

March 22 at 1:32 p.m., Theodore E. Hopper, 20, of Shelburne, was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, on Golf Course Road.

March 26 at 11:20 a.m., Juan D. Fierro, 20, of Essex Junction, was arrested on an in-state warrant and operation without the owner’s consent on Interstate 89 and Dorset Street.

See BLOTTER on page 11

South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977 A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC otherpapersbvt.com

Advertising Director Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com

(802) 864-6670 x21

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News Editor Tommy Gardner

Staff Writers

Aaron Calvin Corey McDonald

Liberty Darr

Production Manager

Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com

Crash disables traffic signals on Shelburne Road, Carolina man charged with negligent operation

A man from Asheville, N.C., crashed into an electrical utility box on Shelburne Road March 20, disabling traffic signals at the intersection with Hannaford Drive.

South Burlington police arrested Daniel Pickens, 33, for grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle around 10:10 a.m.

Editor/Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com

Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com

(802) 253-2101

Advertising submission deadline: Thursday at 5 p.m. advertising@otherpapersbvt.com classifieds@otherpapersbvt.com

Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. news@otherpapersbvt.com

Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. news@otherpapersbvt.com

Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 864-6670

Police say they received reports and a video from witnesses who alleged Pickens was driving on Route 7 in a “grossly negligent manner” after leaving the city of Vergennes, reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed and passing other motorists in an unsafe manner. While headed north on Shel-

burne Road, police say Pickens abruptly moved from the turn-only lane across two lanes of traffic and lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the utility box. Green Mountain Power and the South Burlington Highway Department responded to the scene, as did the South Burlington Fire Department.

PHOTO BY SOUTH BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT South Burlington police and fire crews assess the damage to an electrical utility box that temporarily disabled traffic signals on Shelburne Road.

OPINION

Lawmakers tackle biodiversity, suicide and guns, family leave

From the House

The Legislature is at the period of crossover when bills get voted out of committee to be debated on the House floor. This has made for some late nights but is also exciting. Before providing an update on what is happening right now in my committee, the House Committee on Education, here are some of the highlights of the legislation your representatives have been considering. I would like to briefly discuss four bills that were just successfully voted out of the House for further consideration by the Senate.

• Paid family medical leave insurance program (H.66): This program will provide Vermonters up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave with 90 percent pay and job protections in place to ensure employees can return to work. This bill meets a variety of diverse needs by creating paid leave in the following circumstances: family care, parental leave, worker’s serious health condition, safe leave (escaping domestic violence), bereavement leave and military exigency leave.

• Conserving Vermont’s natural landscape (H.126): This bill builds upon the important conservation work and policies in Vermont to ensure we conserve the necessary elements of the natural landscape. Vermont biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate in recent decades. This bill establishes the goals of 30 percent conserved land by 2030 and 50 percent conserved land by 2050. More than 100 countries, including the United States, have signed onto these conservation initiatives.

• Universal school meals (H. 165): For the past three years, Vermont students have benefited from a universal school meals program that provides a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch during the school day to all students. Under the old pre-pandemic program, not all food-insecure students qualified for free or reduced-price school lunch because the existing federal income thresholds were too low to meet the existing need.

As many as 40 percent of children living in food insecure households did not qualify for free school meals under the old model. The pandemic exposed the cracks in current systems of support around food insecurity. Vermont’s universal school meals program has been up and running successfully for three years, it is effectively serving the needs of students and school food service directors and teachers overwhelmingly support continuing it.

• Suicide prevention (H.230): This bill approaches Vermont’s high rate of suicide as a public health crisis, and it implements several critical, data-driven measures to prevent suicide by reducing access to lethal means, specifically firearms. Vermont’s rate of suicide is 35 percent higher than the national average, and each year nearly 60 percent of suicides are completed with a firearm.

It is extremely rare for someone to survive a suicide attempt when a firearm is used, and this is why this bill focuses on firearms by requiring:

• The secure storage of firearms. There are practical exceptions for personal carry or when a firearm is kept within close proximity.

• A 72-hour waiting period for firearms transfers. Transfers cannot take place until 72 hours after a licensed dealer is provided with a transfer identification number, or seven business days have passed since a background check was initiated.

• Expanded access to the process for obtaining extreme risk protection orders to be used if someone is a danger to themselves or others.

Education committee

Here are a few brief updates on what is going on in my committee. First, the education committee recently heard testimony on H.409, which keeps students safe by restricting the use of restraints and seclusion in schools. Seclusion is the confinement of a student alone in a room or area from which the student is prevented or reasonably believes he or she will be prevented from leaving.

Evidence was presented that seclusion is never appropriate, and that prone and supine restraints are particularly dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Approximately four out of five instances of restraint or seclusion involve students with special education needs. A case study was described in which an administrative focus on de-escalation greatly reduced the use of restraints and altogether eliminated seclusion.

Second, the committee will be considering several bills that propose to add requirements to the high school curriculum. H.228 proposes to require students to complete a course on personal finance. H.294 would require Vermont public schools to include Holocaust education in curricula for grades six through 12 each year. H.404 seeks to add commu nity service as a high school grad uation requirement, while H.455 would require public high school students to pass a civics test as a condition of graduation.

As is likely evident from the subjects listed, the time required for each of these proposals varies significantly. While each idea has merit, the committee has yet to take testimony on how much time is left in a typical student’s sched ule after meeting current require ments, and whether the inclusion of some or all these proposed new requirements would necessitate removing others.

Finally, the education commit tee is preparing to take up bills that have passed out of its Senate counterpart. S.124 proposes to establish a school construction aid task force to examine, evaluate and report on issues relating to school construction aid. S.133 is a miscellaneous education bill to require a curriculum audit of at least four supervisory unions with a high percentage of students who are approved for free and reduced-price meals; creates a proficiency-based learning study committee; appropriates $350,000 to the Agency of Tourism and Marketing to promote Vermont postsecondary schools; and requires the Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont to study public safety protections in libraries.

Last, S.138, a safety bill, proposes to require schools

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Community Bankers - Chittenden County BUILDERS I MAKERS I DOERS

There is no better time to join our team!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Are you looking to start or continue a career in the finance industry? Consider joining our team as a Community Banker!

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate for NSB customers. The successful candidate will have exceptional customer service and communication skills.

The Community Banker will be responsible for receiving and processing customers’ financial transactions as well as opening and maintaining customer accounts and services. We are looking for someone who can develop and maintain relationships with our valued customers, protect bank and customer information, and uphold customer confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent is required. If you have customer service, previous cash handling, or banking experience we encourage you to apply!

Opportunity for Growth

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

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Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance!

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When Barnes spoke, resident finally felt heard

To the Editor:

On March 20, the South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting, and I attended using Zoom. One of the new council members, Tyler Barnes, caught my attention. Although we have different skin tones, he spoke as if we were similar.

When he spoke, it was clear he knew what marginalized people needed. Barnes showed me that he cares, and this was the first time that a city council member spoke for us. Maybe, just maybe, a change will come.

As a person of color, I know how it feels to be ostracized. I know how it feels to be unfairly attacked and broken for trying to do the correct thing. I know how it feels to want parity, but no one else will join the fight. Mr. Barnes, I will support you. You do not have to do this alone.

Dr. Travia Childs Executive director Trinity Educational Center South Burlington

Talking trash: Rethink drop-off center

To the Editor: Remember when you could go to the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s drop-off center and leave items in the RE-Use zone, and then you couldn’t? The rationale still baffles many as we are a community that is proud to recycle, reuse and keep as much out of landfills as possible.

Fast forward to postCOVID-19 when the solid waste district reopened the drop-off center. Today, there are more restrictions, and you are no longer able to drop off most of what you could prior to the pandemic. No appliances, no trailers, no bulky items, no furniture or mattresses, no woody branches, no Christmas trees.

We now must bring those items to Williston or the McNeil plant. My question is why? With its decision to significantly cut services, I believe the Chittenden Solid Waste District no longer adequately serves us; it serves itself.

I may be wrong, but I believe the district was created to serve all the communities it operates in. It was created to ensure that residents had a place to bring items at a reasonable fee so that homeowners wouldn’t dump their items off the side of the road. Well, the solid waste district seems to have killed that idea.

I wonder if everyone is aware

the Chittenden Solid Waste District only pays the city of South Burlington $1 per year for the rental space at Patchen Road? I confirmed this with former city manager Kevin Dorn.

Really! Are you telling me one bag of trash pays their entire rent, and then some, for the year?

Now, residents must lug items we used to bring to the drop-off center prior to COVID-19, all over the place. That is not why the district was created. It was not created to have 18,000 South Burlington residents driving all over kingdom come. Yet, that is what we are doing, not to mention residents of the other communities having to do the same.

I went to a city council meeting a couple of weeks ago to let them know of my frustrations. They listened to my complaint intently. But I worry that may not have had enough of an impact.

I implore you to make your wishes known if you are not happy with what is going on at the Chittenden Solid Waste District. We deserve more.

Kevin Donahue South

Burlington

Wildlife board doesn’t represent Vermonters

To the Editor:

Gov. Phil Scott appointed a new member to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife board, and he fits in perfectly. Most of the board looks the same, sounds the same — it certainly doesn’t represent 21st-century Vermont.

Scott is definitely bucking pleas for diversity and inclusion and is hellbent on keeping fish and game wildlife management mired in a Vermont of the 1950s.

Less than one percent of Vermonters trap and about 14 percent hold hunting licenses, yet this board represents their interests solely, not the majority. The board decides on the length of hunting and trapping seasons, how many animals can be killed and how. These decisions impact all of us, including wildlife watchers and others who enjoy wildlife from a non-extractive perspective.

Vermonters have written to Scott and to the wildlife commissioners, both past and present, only to be ignored. There was a recent push to write to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources secretary Julie Moore. Her response was typical of the bureaucracy’s responses that say a lot but don’t really say

anything at all.

Below is my open letter that was emailed to her on March 13. Bottom line is this: if you want democracy in wildlife management decisions, write your legislators and ask them to make the board advisory only and require equal representation from non-license holders. Until this happens, the fish and wildlife board will continue to make public policy on our shared public resource — wildlife — without the public being broadly represented.

Dear Secretary Moore:

You routinely state that Vermont Fish & Wildlife uses a science-based approach, but the policies you endorse are value-based policies. There is no science that informs fish and wildlife to allow leghold traps or an open season on coyotes. Please stop conflating science with value judgments. Additionally, your science misses so many hallmarks of sound science, such as transparency of all assumptions, methods and analyses, authentically independent review and reproducibility.

As for good wildlife governance, there can be no democracy in wildlife management as long as you continue to allow only 14 hunters, trappers and/ or anglers to make public policy that impacts all Vermonters.

Vermonters were recently polled about their attitudes toward furbearers, and most Vermonters want to see more river otters. Why then does fish and wildlife have a five-month long trapping season on otters with no bag limits?

The public policy decisions made by your department and board impact all Vermonters. You cannot purport to support inclusion and diversity while allowing privileged special interests to hold tremendous power over the public that is not represented on the board.

Let’s face it, wildlife management is about politics, not science that puts wildlife first. You, the commissioner and the board are all political appointees. There’s a tremendous imbalance of power and that is antithetical to good governance.

The door to the good ol’ boys club is closed to the public. No amount of gentle knocking, or even busting the door in, will allow entry. Thankfully, wildlife advocates still have the people’s house where democracy is possible.

Brenna Galdenzi President, Protect Our Wildlife Stowe

SoBu City Council proclaims April 2023 Fair Housing Month

Guest Perspective

Sandy Dooley

At its March 20 meeting, the city council voted unanimously to proclaim April 2023 Fair Housing Month in South Burlington.

April 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act. Subsequently, Vermont enacted its own fair housing statute. As part of Fair Housing Month, the city is sponsoring several opportunities to learn about the situations that these statutes cover and how to get help when discrimination in housing appears to have occurred.

(See the accompanying proclamation.)

In light of our nation’s history of discrimination against Black households in accessing housing, especially homeownership, people often assume that fair housing statutes apply only to people of color. In fact, the federal and Vermont’s fair housing statutes go much further. Fair Housing Month is an opportunity to increase awareness of these protections and related responsibilities.

Federal law prohibits discrimination in housing based on national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability, and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens.

of when you think of home? The art project, also at the library provides art kits for all ages to create art at home or at the library for an art show and reception at the end of April. Pick up kits beginning March 31, at the South Burlington Public Library. The project is co-sponsored by HeART & Home Community Art Project of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. Create art anytime at home or at one of the library’s drop-in sessions on Tuesday, April 4, 3-4:30 p.m., Thursday, April 13, 4-6 p.m., and Wednesday, April 26, 1-2 p.m.

• “Home” project art show and reception, Saturday, April 29, 10:30 a.m.-noon. More at southburlingtonlibrary.org.

• Information table hosted by Community Outreach & Resource Advocacy, city hall lobby, Wednesday, April 5, 10 a.m.-noon.

• Information table hosted by Committee on Temporary Shelter, city hall lobby, Wednesday, April 12, 10 a.m.-noon.

South Burlington City Council resolution

declaring April 2023 Fair Housing Month

Let it be known to all persons that the City of South Burlington wishes to join with the State of Vermont and the United States of America in affirming and celebrating the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which serves as a powerful statement about who we are as a people and the values of equality, equity, and dignity that we strive to uphold.

Whereas, Vermont extends these protections to people of all ages, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, sources of income and people who have experienced abuse, sexual assault, and stalking as protected classes; and whereas, Vermont took the further step to ensure fair housing by prohibiting discrimination against housing developments in land use and planning decisions based on the income of intended residents; and whereas,

inclusive, welcoming, and affordable communities promote diversity and a climate conducive to equitable and thriving communities; and whereas, the City of South Burlington supports the efforts of fair housing organizations, concerned citizens, and the housing industry to create broader housing opportunities for households of all in comes throughout the region.

Now, therefore, be it resolvedth at the City Council of the City of South Burlington, Vermont, hereby proclaims the month of April to be Fair Housing month, and urges all individuals, institutions, and agencies to contribute to the observance by continuing our efforts to eliminate housing discrimination in our community and to increase housing opportunities for all.

Approved this 20th day of March, 2023.

Along with race and color, the federal law prohibits discrimination in housing based on national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability, and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens. Vermont added protection against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, age, marital status, gender identity, recipients of public assistance and people who have experienced abuse, sexual assault and stalking, making it a national leader in this effort.

Vermont also seeks to ensure fair housing by prohibiting housing discrimination in land use and planning decisions based on the income of intended residents.

Opportunities to learn more about fair housing include:

• Display in South Burlington’s public library from April 1-30.

• Project “Home”: What do you think

MINIER continued from page 5

to adopt a policy mandating biannual options-based response drills; to adopt all-hazards emergency operation plans and an access control and visitor management policy; and to submit certain data to the Agency of Education if the school utilizes a behavioral threat assessment team.

• Know your rights tenant skills workshop at the library with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Monday, April 17, 5:30-7 p.m. More at the library’s website.

• Book discussion group at the library focusing on “Fixer-Upper: How to Repair America’s Broken Housing System” by Jenny Schuetz, facilitated by Jessica Hyman of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Vince Bolduc of the city’s affordable housing committee), early May date to be announced. The statewide calendar of events can be found at fairhousingmonthvt.org.

Sandy Dooley is vice chair of the South Burlington Affordable Housing Committee. The committee, South Burlington Public Library staff and staff of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Fair Housing Project collaborated in organizing these activities.

Your representatives and senators convene at the South Burlington Library every fourth Monday of the month. The next gathering will be April 24, 6-8 p.m.

Brian Minier, a Democrat, represents South Burlington in the Chittenden-11 House district.

Senate focuses on fixes to child care system, housing, mental health

From the Senate

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Recently the Senate and House completed work on many bills to meet crossover deadlines. Any bill missing crossover will wait for action next year. In the coming week Senate bills will be acted on and sent to House committees for further consideration.

Many constituents from Chittenden and other districts provided input when legislation was developed. Some bills being considered by the full Senate during coming days or already passed to the House are described here.

Health care professionals, nurses, doctors and other providers continue to be targets of violence in emergency departments and other facilities. The Violence in Health Care Facilities bill, S.36, better defines violent activities, clarifies authority of public safety officials to deal with violence, and asks for updates on how better to deescalate violence in health care environments. The bill is now in the House.

Vermont’s mental health care continues to mature from an institutional to a community based

system of care, crisis response and support. Trained public safety officers may work collaboratively with qualified mental health professionals in response to community mental health crisis situations.

S.47 updates an older 1967 statute about transport of mental health patients. The bill provides guidelines for when and how public safety and mental health professionals can transport mental health patients who may be in crisis. Use of the least restrictive means to deescalate patients and then transport them to safety is included in the bill. If restraints are used, soft restraints must be the first option. This is especially important for youth who may experience trauma or feel stigmatized when a mental health crisis intervention takes place.

Other bills that touch both judiciary and health and welfare committees deal with competency to stand trial, insanity as a defense, ending child marriage, community justice centers, diversion and expungement and setting limits on hospital liens. Some of these bills

See LYONS on page 9

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New housing brings opportunities and fresh infrastructure challenges

Councilor Corner

Tim Barritt

When I first moved to Burlington to work at IBM in 1981, I looked at apartments on a two-day house hunting trip. I looked at some really depressing places in the Old North End and some that were pretty far out of town. I didn’t have a car, so I wanted to be near downtown to be able to take the bus to work.

I settled on a two-room, first-floor studio in a house that had been divided into four units on Converse Court. I had a little porch, off-street parking and rent that cost $245 per month, including heat. I finally did get a car a few months later but that’s a Saab story.

At that time the vacancy rate was probably around 3 percent and I felt lucky to get a clean place with heat on a dead-end street. I was spending less than 20 percent on rent. Fast forward to 2015 when my son, a University of Vermont junior, was renting a

house with four other kids on East Terrace, where the monthly gross for the owner was about $4,000 per month, heat not included. Even taking inflation into account, how times have changed.

Housing is a real conundrum. There’s either too much of it and builders go bankrupt with large developments going unsold or there’s too little and prices squeeze out many buyers. ousing is not something you can just buy from Amazon and set up the next day. Housing requires land, money, materials, engineering, labor and marketing. No one is going to buy land, build homes and sell for less than it costs. Only nonprofits can come close and often it takes many grants and other sources of capital.

The greater Burlington area has a supply and demand housing issue. Chittenden County is the economic heart of Vermont. Many large businesses inhale workers every day from there and outlying counties as well. UVM’s freshmen enrollments keep growing but they can’t house all their

undergrads comfortably — some are in triples — and they force the juniors and seniors to live off campus.

The Burlington City Council is locked in a zoning standoff with the university that would allow it to build a new dorm on the former Trinity campus. Moving students back on campus would free up many rental units.

Individuals settle where they can find homes and apartments they can afford in areas as close as possible to where they would like to live. Many people like living out in rural areas and don’t mind the commute. There are less costly options as you travel out on Interstate 89 and Route 15 but the trade-off is the price of gas and the dangers of winter driving.

In communities like South Burlington, the undeveloped areas are being turned into housing. Usually that means formerly fallow farmland. And if you look closely at the land that is left that is natural and not natural resource protected or conserved with an easement, the total buildable acreage seems like it is running out.

COURTESY PHOTO

South Burlington city councilors Helen Riehle and Tim Barritt flank retiring city clerk Donna Kinville as the polls closed on town meeting day.

Two decades of service

Tim Barritt See

SoBu athletes named all-stars

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ hockey

Lucas Van Mullen headlined the all-star selection for the South Burlington boys’ ice hockey team.

Van Mullen was named to the Division I first team as a defenseman by the Vermont Boys Hockey Coaches Association.

Jules Butler and Nick Kelly were both named to the second team as forwards for the Wolves.

Coach Sean Jones was named the DI coach of the year.

Girls’ hockey

Sabrina Brunet was named to the DI All-Star first team as a forward after a standout season for the Wolves by the Vermont Girls

LYONS

continued from page 8

may ease wait times for people caught in a backlog of judicial cases.

The COVID-19 epidemic highlighted the importance of access to child care for working parents and businesses. It also highlighted the need for financial stability of child care businesses and their workers, who are among the lowest paid professionals in the state.

The child care bill, S.56, was voted out of Senate health and welfare, finance and appropriations committees last week. Goals of the legislation are to expand access to child care for families with kids up to age 5, stabilize child care centers and their workers and provide assurance for businesses that workers will have places for their kids during the work week. Among other significant policies, the bill includes expansion of family, Child Care Financial Assistance Program payments; incentives for child care workers; readiness grants for improvements to child care centers; and 12 weeks of parental leave for a parent with a birth or adoption.

The bill also includes reports regarding the agencies of education and human services governance and administration of child care and early education. These sections of the bill provide for continued work on both child care and pre-kindergarten. The bill as amended will be considered by the full Senate during this week.

Housing and other bills

The omnibus housing bill, S.100 will have wide-ranging effects on town zoning regulations, Act 250 processes, public and private creation of rental apartments and homes for purchase,

Hockey Coaches Association.

Several South Burlington players were also named Academic All-Stars, which includes seniors with a minimum cumulative 3.5 grade-point average. Abby Brennan, Autumn Maloney, Izzy Redzic and Nyasha Rutanhira were all named academic standouts.

Girls’ basketball

Aleah Staley earned an honorable mention on the Metro Division All-league coaches’ team for South Burlington.

Staley and Miranda Hayes were also named to represent the South at the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association’ North-South Senior All-Star Classic.

The two Wolves players faced off against the team from the North, falling 78-72.

Faith United Methodist Church

Boys’ basketball

Ryan Sweet was named to the North team for the annual All-Star Classic.

Sweet was a part of a North team that fell 92-85 to the South.

Nordic skiing

Paige Poirier earned a spot on the DI girls Nordic All-State team, the lone South Burlington representative for both the boys and girls. Poirier finished in sixth place overall at the state championship meet this season.

Alpine skiing

South Burlington’s Rex Jewell was named to the DI alpine All-State boys’ team. He finished fifth in the giant slalom at the championships.

Holy Week Services

fair housing, fire codes and new and existing state-sponsored programs. The Senate committees on economic development and natural resources worked together to find compromises on some of the more controversial parts of the bill. S.100 is to be considered by the full Senate this week.

S.25 focuses on the elimination of PFAS and toxic chemicals from personal care products, some textiles and athletic turf. Banning toxic chemicals like PFAS in consumer goods is critical for human health and the environment. The bill unanimously passed Senate committee on health and welfare and finance. It will be considered by the full Senate.

A related bill already passed to the House, S.73, provides protection to both career and volunteer firefighters who are exposed to toxic chemicals through their work. When passed, the bill extends worker compensation and financial support for firefighters.

tion; and an update to a 25-yearold animal welfare law to improve response times to complaints of animal cruelty.

H.411 has passed both the House and Senate and was sent to the governor for his signature. This extends flexibility in health care regulations and licensing so important during the pandemic. The law will continue important changes to oversight and administration of nursing, physician and other professions that helped us through COVID-19. Telehealth programs are being refined. Until long-term care, hospitals and others return to a semblance of pre-pandemic status, these flexibilities are needed. Altogether this should help stabilize health care moving forward.

Legislators are busy. In addition to the bills in this update, other legislation is being considered. Please stay in touch with your senators and representatives about your interests.

WHAT’S NEXT AFTER

Other bills passed for full Senate consideration include: the Energy Efficiency Modernization Act, which provides further flexibility for programs at statewide efficiency utilities; proposals to strengthen environmental protec-

Ginny Lyons, a Democrat from Williston, represents South Burlington, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and several other towns in the Chittenden-Southeast Senate district.

Financial advisor qualifies for elite group

Scott Hadley of Hadley Financial Group in South Burlington has qualified for the Million Dollar Roundtable’s Top of

Community Notes

The Table.

Hadley has qualified for round table membership for 22 consecutive years. He and his wife, Tammy, live in Shelburne.

Family vets town hall in South Burlington

All community members are invited to a Family Vets Town Hall on Sunday, April 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the McCarthy Arts Center in Colchester.

Family members of veterans are invited to speak about their experiences. This event is non-political and all perspectives are valued. There will be no debate on American foreign policy.

If you’re considering speaking but prefer not to register, we encourage you to attend.

Free and open to all. RSVPs at

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Vermont Works for Women presents Lunafest

Vermont Works for Women screens Lunafest, a film festival of award-winning short films by and about women, in Burlington this spring.

An in-person screening will be held at Main Street Landing’s Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 7, at 6 p.m. There will be snacks, cash bar and raffle. The film screening will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available at bit.ly/3lI4BuA.

Richmond Church holds Red Cross blood drive

The Richmond Congregational Church, 20 Church St., hosts an American Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, April 5, noon to 6 p.m.

Appointments are required. Call 800-733-2767 or go online to redcrossblood.org for more information or to make an appointment. Email dthomas@gmavt.net for assistance. There are plenty of slots between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Child Care for Vermont hosts rally at Statehouse

On April 12, Vermonters from across the state will meet on the

LIBRARY

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hats and scarves to help keep your neighbors warm. All finished projects will be donated to the South Burlington Food Shelf.

Concert series: Trifolium

Saturday, April 22, noon-1 p.m.

Finale of the 2023 Friends of the Library Concert Series. Since

Statehouse lawn to rally for accessible and affordable child care.

Join the Courage to Care Rally to let lawmakers know they have your support. Free and family-friendly; 1 to 3 p.m. Transportation assistance available. RSVP at bit.ly/3ZerHXy.

SoBu artist exhibits at T.W. Wood Gallery

South Burlington artist and writer Michael Strauss offers glimpses of Vermont through bold lines and brightly saturated colors in “Michael Strauss: Selected Works,” a new exhibit at the T.W. Wood gallery in Montpelier.

Each piece holds a particular dream-like quality that is entirely unique to Strauss.

The exhibit runs from April 4 to May 25, with an art walk reception on Friday, April 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. For information visit twwoodgallery.org.

Federal government sells wild horse, burros

The Bureau of Land Management is holding a wild horse and burro placement event April 21 to 22 to offer approximately 60 wild horses gathered from western rangelands at the Cheshire Fairgrounds, 247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, N.H.

“More than 50,000 wild horses and burros are cared for

in off-range facilities, including nearly 40,000 wild horses located on off-range pastures,” northeastern states district manager Stephanie Carman said.

The Adoption Incentive Program was designed to help improve rangeland health in overpopulated herd management areas in the western states and to save taxpayer costs for animals held at off-range holding facilities.

To learn more about the program, visit blm.gov/whb.

Howard Center series addresses racial trauma

Howard Center’s spring community education series continues Thursday, May 18, from 7 to 8 p.m. with a presentation on racial trauma and generational healing by Catarina Campbell, the Howard Center’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A period. Find the link to the free virtual webinar at howardcenter.org.

Active Amputee support group

The Vermont Active Amputees support group now meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in South Burlington.

Email vtactiveamputees@ gmail.com or call 802-582-6750 for location and further info.

they first began playing as a trio in 2017, central Vermont multi-instrumentalists Chloe Powell, Justin Park and Andy Mueller have followed their musical muse through the back alleys of the acoustic folk tradition, somehow always winding up back home beside a blazing campfire in the middle of the night. No tickets or registration needed. Free

Lenny’s Limited Edition Darn Tough Hiking Socks

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and open to all. Doors open 20 minutes before the event.

Tech help

Fridays, April 7 and 21, 10 a.m.-noon

The first and third Friday of every month in the digital lab for 1:1 assistance and to learn new skills.

Scott Hadley

BLOTTER

continued from page 4

Top incidents:

March 20 at 2:10 a.m., police investigated an overdose on Farrell Street.

March 20 at 9:05 a.m., a fraud was reported on Commerce Avenue.

March 20 at 1:11 p.m., police dealt with a report of a problem juvenile on Dorset Street.

March 20 at 10:09, a sex crime was reported from Sebring Road.

March 21 at 9:08 a.m., a report of counterfeiting was reported on Dorset Street.

March 21 at 1:03 p.m., police took a report of a theft from a motor vehicle, one of 11 such reports for the week.

March 21 at 3:51 p.m., a burglary was reported from Cottage Grove Avenue.

March 22 at 11:28 a.m., police

BARRITT

continued from page 8

This is what alarmed residents in 2018 and pushed city council to enter interim zoning.

The pace of loss of natural land was too fast. The outcome of the interim zoning exercise was a planning commission package of new land regulations that protected habitat blocks, extended wetland buffers and preserved forest blocks.

Those regulations were passed just over a year ago, and they represent a compromise because they don’t stop all development. But they do seek to preserve those areas that are most important for clean water, clean air and are decisive in our adaptation to climate change.

In the pipeline

There is a lot of housing in our pipeline: Cider Mill 2 (Edgewood) will have over 150 units, O’Brien Hillside Farm is still expanding, and Summit properties will have two large buildings with 94 units of affordable housing.

There is another whole phase of O’Brien that has not even started. Spear Meadows was first proposed in 2009 but ran through multiple design iterations, changed owners and even went to the Vermont Supreme Court in a case about transferable development rights. (The developer won, I guess, after 13 years).

It will have over 40 homes. The university and University of Vermont Medical Center have signed on to market-rate rental buildings in City Center where density in our core “urban” areas is best for transportation and services. There are more units planned for other areas where commercial real estate is being recycled into housing.

My point is that there are economic opportunities for private

received a report of an accident on Dorset Street where at least one motorist left the scene.

March 22 at 11:35 a.m., a report of an intoxicated person or persons on Hayes Avenue.

March 23 at 3:46 a.m., an accident resulted in injury on Hinesburg Road.

March 23 at 8:07 a.m., police assisted youth services on Market Street.

March 23 at 6:06 a.m., police were called to a suspicious event on San Remo Drive.

March 24 at 10:03 a.m., police performed a needle pickup on Williston Road.

March 24 at 3:12 p.m., someone on Mountain View Boulevard reported a suspicious event.

March 24 at 4:48 p.m., threats were

investigated on North Jefferson Road.

March 25 at 2:01 p.m., police took a report of a break-in on Bay Crest Drive.

March 25 at 9:35 p.m., police assisted with a mental health issue on Shelburne Road.

March 26 at 11:54 p.m., police performed a welfare check on Scotsdale Road.

March 26 at 11:27 p.m., an incidence of domestic violence was reported on Logwood Street.

Untimely deaths:

March 20 at 6:13 a.m., police responded to Aspen Drive for the death of Sandra Manning, 88, of South Burlington. The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of death.

developers and nonprofits in our city and they are being realized, but we can’t house all the extra and new demand by ourselves. We can’t control single-family home prices where out-of-state buyers bid up prices with cash offers. There isn’t a small, post-war cape home with a picket fence on 0.2 acres for everyone anymore.

We lost 200 of those homes at the airport. We are not getting those back. The housing type demographic is shifting from single family to multi-family to apartment block buildings. This is the new reality and as we plan the future. We must be very careful about our priorities, what we preserve and what we sacrifice?

That is why we are preparing to reshape out comprehensive plan so that we will have an aspirational guide to the regulations that will guide us as we transform the

city’s remaining land. What are our values? Should we just rip up all the natural areas for housing and look like the suburban sprawl that so many people flee from when they move here? Should we stop all development and tell people to seek homes elsewhere? And remember, as we grow and build out to our limits, we don’t do it in a municipal vacuum. All new housing will need more services like schools, fire, police, water, sewer, plowing and paving. South Burlington is growing, and it is trying to get it right with sensible zoning that balances environmental needs with housing and services. We are building now, and we will build in the future, too. Let’s get it right by planning ahead today.

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HOUSING BILL

continued from page 1

said, is supported by the city, “but some of the language would put at risk a lot of the work that this city and the planning commission and this council has done … to really promote additional compact housing, and at the same time, make sure that we maintain appropriate open space and natural resources for our future and our children’s future.”

S.100 specifically conflicts with the city’s zoning regulations by requiring building and density allowances for multi-unit housing in any district served by municipal sewer and water infrastructure.

“Even a narrow reading of that scope would significantly undermine the critical natural resource protections” the city has codified “and undermine the careful zoning decisions that South Burlington has made to balance competing interests,” reads the letter written by Riehle.

The land, about 10 percent of total land in South Burlington, is the wealthiest census tract in the city, and contains open space and natural ecosystems near the borders of Williston and Shelburne that the city has worked for years to preserve.

“What’s at risk is having to build five units per acre across all those forests and the adjoining shrub-lands that are protected as natural resource protection,” newly elected councilor Andrew Chalnick said.

Councilor Meghan Emery has said that forcing higher density housing would add more financial pressure on the city’s ability to provide services for residents, and added it was important to keep a diversified housing stock — with a mix of multi-family housing in the downtown area, and single family housing in more rural areas — to create “heterogeneous housing throughout the city, providing many more options for people.”

The city’s approval of the land use regulations in February 2022 was a controversial move by the city at the time, and just barely passed, with former councilors Matt Cota and Thomas Chittenden voting against the new regulations, noting the chilling effect it could have on housing growth that is necessary to draw in and retain jobs for the region.

Chittenden currently serves as a state senator.

Groups such as the affordable housing committee and the city’s economic development committee were also opposed at the time.

Chris Trombly, who currently serves as the chair the city’s affordable housing committee and serves with the Vermont State Housing Authority, said that, with S.100 enacted, denser housing could be built in the area “without bulldozing over forests.”

“There’s nothing in S.100 that indicates that that’s what would happen,” he said. “It comes across as fear mongering, and it’s counterproductive.”

“New housing isn’t being built under the new rules. It’s actually been a barrier,” he added. “A nonprofit can’t build a duplex or a triplex that they’re doing in other towns because of it.”

Supporters of the city’s regulations point to the conserved land as necessary to protect residents from flooding and heat islands, and to combat climate change. Increasing building density in this area would hinder the state’s chances to reduce greenhouse gases and would impact the land’s ability to absorb and retain carbon emissions.

“To put housing everywhere where you could put housing would destroy those natural resources, which will end up hurting all of us in the long run,” Rosanne Greco, a board member on the South Burlington Land Trust, said. “If we build over natural resources, they’re gone, and to sacrifice nature and our ecological services for housing is just insane.”

Vermont Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, the lead sponsor of the legislation, pushed back on complaints aired by city officials when reached by The Other Paper, noting that South Burlington officials “received more time in our committee to discuss their concerns than any other community in the state” and that “we received more positive comments and written remarks from South Burlington residents and organizations” on the housing bill “than we did from anywhere else.”

“At the end of the day, low density residential zoning in our major employment corridor is exclusionary and bad for the environment. This pushes people further out of the areas they work and causes more greenhouse gas emissions and lower quality of life in terms of commuting hours,” she said. “No one is saying South Burlington isn’t doing its part, but simply that residents and property owners should have the right to build multi-family housing and not just single-family housing. If that’s where we disagree, I’m OK with that, especially in the midst of our largest housing crisis in contemporary history.”

The bill still has a long way to go before becoming law and is currently making the rounds in various committees like appropriations, finance and natural resources and energy.

“We desperately need to make it easier to build homes in our state in the places that need it most,” Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said at a press conference last week. “Many of the decades-old regulations we have in Vermont, at both the state and municipal level, were literally designed to have the opposite effect — they were written at a time when Vermont was growing too fast, and the goal was to stop building. Well,

they were successful, given a majority of Vermont’s housing stock was built before 1960. But now it’s 2023.”

City officials say they are already doing their part to address the housing crisis and have pointed to affordable and market rate multi-family housing built in the city’s downtown area.

There are more than 1,300 permanently affordable homes in South Burlington, Riehle said. The city’s inclusionary zoning policy, meanwhile, mandates that any development with 12 or more dwelling units must have 10 or 15 percent permanently affordable units, depending on whether the property is ownership or rental, respectively, and include a variety of incentives to meet those goals, including density bonuses.

“We’re growing the number of units and the density in the area where it should be growing, and we’ve made a big effort to not grow it where it shouldn’t be grown,” city councilor Tim Barritt said. “It really just irks me that S.100 wants to override the local control that we’ve worked so hard to craft over the last few years.”

“I have little hope that anyone in Montpelier will hear this at all and will pay any attention because it seems like they’re behind a huge steamroller and they’re willing to press over whatever it is,” he said. “But we have to do something.”

Not everyone on the council, however, agreed. Newly elected councilor Tyler Barnes was the only sitting member to vote no on the resolution, citing the state’s need for affordable housing, particularly in the major metropolitan area the city is situated in.

“If we are going to meet our affordable housing needs by more apartment-style dwellings, I don’t think that that serves (residents) well if we restrict development to portions of the city — where that’s really, realistically, the only feasible way we can achieve our density aims,” he said.

“At the state level, we need more housing, and candidly — as hard as it is to say — I would much rather see that housing developed and built in areas that are closer to our major metropolitan areas,” he said. “I would like to see that development happen here within reason. I feel as though that we have an obligation and a responsibility to do our part.”

Riehle and Paul Connor, the city’s planning and zoning director, both testified in Montpelier last month, and, in their letter, asked legislators “to focus on the few areas where we think an improvement is needed and really important to this community.”

“What circumstances specific to localities have compelled you to take the drastic step of legislating in the place of local planning bodies?” the letter read. “Because of the complexities of local planning, we ask you to tread very carefully before taking such extraordinary steps.”

“No one is saying South Burlington isn’t doing its part, but simply that residents and property owners should have the right to build multi-family housing.”

— Kesha Ram Hinsdale

David A. Waller

David Austin Waller died peacefully on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at The Arbors in Shelburne, where he had lived for the past two years following the progression of his dementia.

David was born on July 13, 1944, to Denison and Mary Waller in Charlotte, where he resided for most of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of more than 50 years; his two daughters and their husbands, Amy and Jason Bodie and Jody and Peter Sunna; grandchildren, Charlotte Bodie, Owen Bodie and Stella Sunna; siblings, Constance “Connie” Waller, Peggy Jones and her husband, Terry, and Linda Waller; and his nephews and nieces.

He was predeceased by his parents, Denison and Mary; and brother, Arnold “Arnie” Waller.

A builder, David owned and operated David Waller & Company for several decades. The homes he built in and around Charlotte are a lasting reminder of his talent and skill as a craftsman.

David was also a life-long skier, boater and outdoorsman. He was a long-time member of the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol in Stowe. He and Dorothy met, raised their family on the slopes and developed life-long friendships there.

During the summer months, David could be found on Lake Champlain, spending weekends on the family’s 1914 Elco wooden

EDUCATION

continued from page 2

tions, a group that works to develop classroom materials about the Holocaust. Teachers could follow a curriculum that focused on a different topic each day or sign their classes up to hear from speakers, such as Holocaust survivors.

“Let’s make sure the students understand what it means when you use certain words, when you draw symbols,” Steinerman said. “It started with words, it started with bullying. It started, you

boat, Folley, in St. Albans Bay where they spent countless years, together with close friends, raising their collective families, or at their summer camp on Garden Island, then Long Point.

David lived a long and full life, entertaining and bringing joy to many. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and loved ones.

A service will be held at the Charlotte Congregational Church, 403 Church Hill Road in Charlotte on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to The Arbors at Shelburne Holiday Associate Fund, 687 Harbor Road, Shelburne VT 05482, who the family thanks for their generous care and support over the past few years.

Rosette Mitchell

Rosette “Bunny” Mitchell (nee Detry) died on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at The Converse Home with family present.

She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Mitchell (Gary Phifer), son, Bill Mitchell (Jane); grandchildren, Renee Bates (William), Sarah Benis (Jason), Tina Mitchell and Dan Zimmerman; several great grandchildren; and cousins, Jeannine Riopelle and Bob DeWachter.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dan, and son, Joe.

Born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1925 to Joanna (Verrycke) and Joseph Detry, her post-secondary education in home economics was interrupted by World War II when the family moved to Vise, Belgium. It was here she met her husband and life-long love. They married in 1945 in Vise and after the war moved back to the United States, ultimately settling in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Bunny was known for her steady support and loyalty, practical nature and tell it like it is spunk. She was fluent in Flemish, French and English. Always prioritizing what was best for family, she held many different work positions over the years.

Her cooking and handcrafting

skills, particularly knitting, sewing and quilting, brought her and those around her much enjoyment and appreciation. After her children were grown, she turned to volunteer activities in the community, offering her skills making sewn and knitted items, handmade truffles and baked goods for annual Christmas fairs, blankets for children overseas, and volunteering with RSVP Clinton County to make lap blankets for nursing homes. She also volunteered at the Plattsburgh Food Shelf.

For nearly three decades after her husband’s death Bunny continued to live independently in her own home, which included a rental property. At 90 years young she moved to the Pines Senior Living in South Burlington where she made many friends. She most recently resided at The Converse Home in Burlington where the staff cared for her like family. To paraphrase her oft-stated opinion, she had nothing to complain about.

A private service will be held in early spring with a date to be announced.

The family wishes to thank all the staff at the Pines Senior Living, Converse Home and Bayada for all the care they provided in her last years.

Services are in the care of Corbin & Palmer Funeral Home. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Converse Home, Bayada Home Health Care, Humane Society of Chittenden County or a charity of your choice in her name.

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Rosette Mitchell

Obituaries

A stunning 18-hole golf course nestled in Shelburne, Vermont!

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Requests from friends, associates and family this week can have your nerves on end, Aries. You may have to escape the crowds to recharge. Plan a getaway in the next few days.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

You are awesome at staying on track when you need to be, Taurus. That is what makes you a potentially ideal tness guide. Try to inspire others to be regimented as well.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

There is nothing wrong with putting rose-colored glasses on from time to time and looking at the world in a more positive way. A more positive outlook can be helpful, Gemini.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, be sure that your generous nature does not come at the expense of your own well-being. You tend to put other people’s needs before your own quite often.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, for some reason you are having problems nding balance in your life right now. You may have to experiment a little bit to see if new strategies might work.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Let others in on some of your secrets, Virgo. You can’t hold everything in all of the time, and you have been shouldering a lot of responsibility for some time.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Libra, the personalized touches you put on any project will showcase your personality and passion. Think about embracing a crafty task to really showcase your talents.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Scorpio, friends are lining up to be quite helpful of late. When you gure out how much you’re getting done with the assistance of others, you may be more welcoming of it in the future.

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must ll each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can gure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

CROSSWORD

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Overcome resistance to listening to another person’s side of the story, Sagittarius. Embrace this person’s desire take the lead on something at work or in your home life.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

A changing environment has you guring out how to adapt your schedule and your skills, Capricorn. With a support team in your corner, you can achieve quite a bit.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Spending is a tad out of control this week, Aquarius. Money is ying out of your wallet at a rapid rate. You may need to be a bit more choosy with your spending moving forward.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Wait a few more days before making major decisions as your emotions are high right now, Pisces. You want a level head to prevail.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Millisecond

5. Narcotic drug

11. Accident

14. Formal submissions

15. Popular 70s rock band

18. Discourage from doing

19. More socially elite

21. Arid

23. A way to look

24. Heroes

28. A surfer rides it

29. Potato state

30. Insect repellent

32. Cool!

33. Have already done

35. Collegiate women’s fraternity

36. To the __ degree

39. Gasteyer and de Armas are two 41. Blood type 42. Looked over 44. Language of Cameroon and Chad

46. Species of armadillo

47. Touch softly

49. Part of your upper body

52. Large, stocky lizards

56. Lack of social or ethical standards

58. Congressman

60. Unof cial force

62. As a result of this utterance

63. A main branch of Islam

CLUES DOWN

1. Woman (French)

2. Province of Pakistan

3. This (Spanish)

4. Transportation device

5. Greater in importance or priority

6. The human foot

7. Within

8. Consumed

9. Respectful Malaysian term

10. Therefore

12. Ceased to exist

13. Type of macaroni

16. English composer

17. Wooded tract

20. Tall, slender-leaved

ANSWERS

plant

22. 36 inches

25. Take too much (abbr.)

26. Allow

27. Individually

29. Journalist Tarbell

31. Bar bill

34. Hong Kong food stall:__ pai dong 36. Not messy 37. Species that includes reedmace 38. Former MLB catcher Ed 40. Northern U.S. state

Wilt 45. Commercial

Bolivian river

Nursemaid 51. A car needs four

Guns (slang)

American state

Clusters of fern fronds 57. Body part 58. A person’s brother or sister 59. Breed of sheep native to Sweden

MOTEL

continued from page 1

The property will now undergo renovations to establish 20 longterm apartments for people who are homeless — continued efforts by the organization to tackle the growing homeless crisis in the state.

Vermont, according to data published in December by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has the second highest per-capita rate of homelessness in the country, behind only California — but has one of the highest number of people who are unhoused but sheltered.

funds to assist the housing organization in the renovations of the property at 1660 Williston Road. That work is expected to begin in early April and should take four to five months to complete, Monte said.

The Ho-Hum Motel was first built in 1951, and currently has 32 rooms, an office and a commercial laundry and maintenance room.

to create more opportunities and more units.”

“We just have to continue to do that while we set up the various resources to get people into permanent affordable housing,” Michael Monte, the chief executive officer of Champlain Housing Trust, said. “I’m not sure if there’s any kind of magical way around this, other than to create more opportunities and more units.”

The agreement finalized by the council awards $300,000 of ARPA

Each of the motel’s two buildings will have 10 studio or one-bedroom apartments, but the height of the building or total footprint will not change.

Monte has said that no one will have to pay more than 30 percent of their income to live in the building’s units.

This will be the Champlain Housing Trust’s ninth motel used as either temporary shelter or affordable housing. The trust leased a second Ho-Hum Motel on Shelburne Road (next to Panera) and recently converted it into apartments to support people who struggle with chronic

THECITY OFBURLINGTON

homelessness.

They also operate Harbor Place on Route 7 in Shelburne and are working to convert the property into affordable rental and ownership units.

The news comes as the state is working to ease regulatory barriers to increase the desperately low

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supply of housing, while also finding a way to fund the state’s motel voucher system with federal funds drying up.

Legislators in Montpelier have signaled they will continue to pay for motel housing with state funding through June 30, but would begin to restrict eligibility in May.

Roughly 1,800 households are living in motels, and the Department for Children and Families estimates that 1,045 of those households would remain eligible under the new rules.

VTDigger contributed to this report.

The Ho-Hum Motel on Williston Road.

“I’m not sure if there’s any kind of magical way around this, other than

— Michael Monte