March 17, checking in with Mark Larson and Green Mtn Care, an update on fluoride from Board of Health, and Diversity Report BHS

stay tuned for details.....

FEB 21 MAYORAL, COUNCIL, SCHOOL COMMISSION CANDIDATES ROUNDTABLE

Scary dude. Don't point that at me!

6:45 Greetings and Sign-In.   

7:00 Welcome, Introductions, Announcements, Agenda, Ground Rules.

7:05 Mayoral Candidates propose action to resolve priority city issue. City Council Candidates respond, explain agreement and disagreement, add ideas, suggest alternatives. Mayoral Candidate summarizes common ground, proposes next steps to move council forward toward resolution. 3 20minute rounds.

8:10 Open Forum

8:20 Ward 4 and Ward 7 meet with City Council, School Board, Ward Clerk and Inspector of Elections candidates for questions and discussion

9:00 Adjourn

Mayoral candidates: Kurt Wright, Wanda Hines, Miro Weinberger

Council Candidates: W7 Paul Decelles, Tom Ayres. W4 Ellie Kenworthy, Bryan Aubin

Ward 4 School Commission Candidates: Bernie O'Rourke and Fexha Sulejmani

Ward 4 Clerk:   Inspector of Elections:

Ward 7 Clerk:   Inspector of Elections:

WARD 4 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Ellie Kenworthy                        Bryan Aubin

 

 WARD 7 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Paul Decelles                                                          Tom Ayres

JAN.31 COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF BALLOT QUESTIONS

Watch meeting here

BALLOT QUESTIONS and BUDGET PROPOSALS.

Each ballot question will be presented by our City Councilors, with a brief summary of pros and cons which were reviewed by City Council when they voted to place these questions on thre March 6 ballot. 


Then we will have Open Discussion: advocates who have come to present the issue may speak, and residents are invited to comment or ask questions. Information about ballot questions will be on the sign-in table, and in the hands of our city councilors.




AGENDA January 31, 2012

Facilitator: Jason L’Ecuyer

6:45 Welcome, Refreshments,Sign-In

7:00 Introductions and Announcements, Ground Rules, Agenda

Anyone who would like to make an announcement, please do so at this time.

7:10  NPA Business – Nomination of Jenny Davis, Ward 4, steering committee.

7:15   City Councilors present Questions Council voted to place on ballot, with brief summary of pros and cons. Brief advocacy statements. Qs and comments from residents.

Ballot questions
~Charter Change: increase the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $45,000
~Charter Change: increase the annual borrowing authority for capital improvements, additions and replacements for general City purposes from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000
~Charter Change: increase the annual borrowing authority for capital improvements, additions and replacements for Burlington Electric Department purposes from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000
~Referendum: (TIF) District by pledging the credit of the City in a principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000
~Advisory: Urging Congress to Propose a Constitutional Amendment providing that Corporations are not Persons
~Advisory: Adopting Revenue and Investment Policies that Reduce the Growing Disparity of Wealth & Strengthen the Social and Economic Security of the People of the U.S.

                   

8:30  School Commissioners present Budget. Advocates statements. Qs and comments welcome.

              ~Approval of School Budget for Fiscal Year 2013

9:00  Adieu

FINANCE SUMMIT and PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. FEB 22, CITY HALL, 7PM

       FINANCE SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

·         WELCOME, Mayor of Burlington, Bob Kiss

·       Presentation to City, Burlington Annual Financial Report, FY 2011

·       City CAOs, Scott Schrader and Rich Goodwin. [Cancelled: BSD CFO, Karen Groseclose]
·       Keynote Speaker: State Auditor Thomas Salmon, “Audit 101”

·       Financial Literacy: Cslr. Karen Paul, Finance Board; Beth Pearce, State Treasurer

·       Audience, Twitter questions to city/state financial officers, Cslrs Adrian & Decelles

·        Mayoral candidates Hines/Weinberger/Wright, Finance Plans in detail.

*   People’s Choice Award, City Employee of the Year

CITY BURLINGTON,  EMPLOYEE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Employee Name:_____________________________________________________________

Department:_________________________________________________________________

Job Title or describe job: _______________________________________________________

Specific example of outstanding service (less than 200 words)_________________________

Email nominations to: PeoplesChoiceAward2012@gmail.com

Deadline Jan 31, 2012.  Vote at February NPAs.

.

Dec. 20: OPEN MEETING AND RIGHT TO BE HEARD AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS

Link to Ch 17  TAPE OF MEETING

IN VERMONT IT'S THE LAW [CLICK]

MEETINGS OF A PUBLIC BODY MUST BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

• Public must be given notice of the meeting. 

• Public must be allowed to attend the meeting and be heard. 

• Minutes of the meeting must be taken. 

THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO BE HEARD

At an open meeting the public must be given a reasonable opportunity to comment on matters considered by the board, subject to reasonable rules set by the chair of the board. 

THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK  

Every public meeting must make time for the board to take public comment.1 V.S.A. § 

312(h).  The subjects may be related to the agenda or not.  Many boards allow public 

comment at the start of the meeting.  Others place it as the final agenda item.  Some 

boards allow public comment whenever anyone present has something to add to the 

discussion.  Whenever it occurs, public comment is an important time in the life of a 

board.  It is the one opportunity that members of the public have to speak openly about 

their concerns.

North End NPA Right to Know Law Review Dec. 20

Recently attention has been drawn to a Finance Board scene reminiscent of the 70s when government boards could hold closed meetings, deny record requests, and refuse to allow citizens to be heard.

How far have we come in Burlington since then? You be the judge. http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/burlington-board-finance-16

Obviously the time has come for the city to recommit to both the spirit and the letter of the state's Right to Know laws. Right to Know includes the right to meeting agenda/time/place, right to be heard, and the right to review and obtain copies of documents. http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal/pubs/a%C2%AD%C2%AD_guide_to_open_meetings_2006.pdf

North End NPA meets in Miller Center, Dec 20, 7-9pm. Sign-in 6:45pm. Reports from elected officials, Open Forum, and Program, this month to include school issues and Right2Know Laws. See details: 

Sec of State Condos has been invited to lead discussion on Right2Know, Right2-BHeard laws. He recently conducted a round of Government Transparency forums for city officials around the state. http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/open-meeting-public-records-law-forum 

Link  to LIVE@5:25, Ch 17

AGENDA December 20, 2011

Facilitator: Jason L’Ecuyer

6:45 Welcome, Refreshments,Sign-In

7:00 Introductions and Announcements, Ground Rules, Agenda
Anyone who would like to make an announcement please do so at this time.

7:10  NPA Business – Nomination of Maura Finn, Ward 4, steering committee.

7:15  Secretary of State Jim Condos, Public Right to Be Heard at Public Meetings. Presentation, followed by open discussion with residents.

7:45  Peter McConville, students – Transformation at BHS. Presentation, followed by open discussion with residents.

8:15  Reports from Elected and Appointed Officials (Councilors, Legislators, Commissioners, Board Members, Steering Committee sub-committees). Qs and comments welcome.

8:40  Open Forum for Residents - Brief statements of neighborhood/city interest or concern.

9:00  Adieu

PENNIES FOR PARKS ALLOCATES $150,000 TO MORAN PROJECT FOR A SKATEBOARD PARK

.

A major topic at our last two NPA meetings has been Finance Board and Council approval of $150K from  Pennies for Parks to Moran redevelopment skateboard rink. Councilors say they were misled by CEDO/Parks presentation about emergency flooding issues. Residents asked them to look into this further -- summary of the issues posted in Free Press comments, example:

This is not about building a new Skatepark. This is about CEDO's unethical approach to funding projects, combining unrelated projects, distributing mis-information and using it to divert dedicated funding from another department and doing whatever it takes to advance their self-defined agendas. 

Parks and Rec Director:

• allocated a $150,000 from PFP to the proposed Skatepark when the PFP charter change does not provide funding for new projects outside the boundaries of existing parks, 
• developed PFP budgets and prioritized PFP projects based on a personal agenda and
• submitted them to the Board of Finance and City Council for approval without review or approval by the Park and Rec Commission, 
• totally ignored the PFP outline for annual expenditures by category, 
• failed to deliver more than $400,000 in completed projects with the more than $700,000 she's had to work with over the first 2 years of PFP. 

It's about $150,000 of PFP money that was allocated to the proposed new skatepark under the cloak of a CEDO bait and switch that would supposedly leverage a 27 to 1 payoff in Federal Funds from a US Department of Transportation Tiger Grant. It just sounded too good to be true, and it was. But CEDO sold it to the Mayor, the City Council, the Board of Finance, and the Park and Rec Director ... hook, line and sinker. Now that the scam has come unraveled, thanks to a concerned group of taxpayers who caught the fox in the hen house, the taxpayers have every right to demand that the $150,000 of PFP be returned to it's dedicated fund and used as intended.

Stay tuned, we're about to find out just how much our Mayor learned from Burlington Telecom, about integrity, about accountability to the taxpayers, about right and wrong, about the ongoing process of earning the trust and confidence of city taxpayers. Will he do the right thing? 
________________________________________________________________________________
 
Penny for Parks "To support necessary repairs and renovations for parks, the Burlington Parks and Recreation Commission is recommending a dedicated source of capital funding."  

You Be the Judge of Funding Priorities

Exhibit of Need
Management Plan
Skate Park controversy continues troubling trend

NOV. 15 Neighborhood Planning Assembly - Reports from Officials, Open Forum, Discussion of DOWNTOWN planning issues

http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/burlington-wards-4-7-npa-meeting-23  

 
6:45 PM Sign in, GREET NEIGHBORS AND CITY OFFICIALS

7:00  WELCOME people at home, INTRODUCTIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA, Ground Rules. NOMINATION of Tim Jarvis,Ward 4 Steering Committee. Status of RESOLUTION: Internal Controls Checklist.

7:15 REPORTS, UPDATES from elected and appointed OFFICIALS:

City Council votes; OW in city park; Penny for Parks allocated to skateboard facility leverage?; TIF impact on property taxes; major impact projects in North End; tenant lease space in Miller Ctr; multi-use bike polo rec rink location; UVM/MOU police and fire services; crosswalk Yield signs at crosswalks; redistricting, legislative districts and wards; housing inventory, affordable defined; connecting waterfront to North End neighborhoods and businesses; Alliance of North End Entrepreneurs; vacant buildings in North End; pedestrian entrance to Leddy Park. 

7:40  OPEN FORUM - opportunity for residents to raise more issues of interest.

8:00  PROGRAM: David White and Sandrine Thibault, Planning for Downtown Future - transportation options, enjoyment and entertainment, infill development and character of neighborhoods, doing business downtown. 10 min presentation, followed by rotating small group roundtables (speed dating style).

9:00  Wrap Up

PENNY FOR PARKS invested in Moran project skatepark, BUT the neighborhood parks need maintenance

Penny for Parks Good Investment?

TIM JARVIS
CUMBERLAND ROAD

Pedestrian gateway to Leddy Park.
Dark, poison ivy, area avoided by residents.
Woman scared to go inside with her dog.

If performance is measured by the improvements that have been made and the amenities that have been added to our existing park facilities in FY10 and FY11 with the Penny for Parks tax dollars it is not close to meeting public expectations. The numbers speak for themselves.

Taxpayers funded $670,000 worth of repairs and improvements in FY10/11 but the numbers for the completed projects only total $257,713.32. This means that in FY10/11 Penny for Parks only used 38% of the funding afforded by this dedicated tax . These numbers are based on the fact that there is a FY11 carryover of $ 412,286.68 in the FY12 (the 3rd year of Penny for Parks) projected budget of $773,286.68.

There are more maintenance projects than funding can support so why isn't PFP using 100% of the funding the tax provides? PFP needs to stop spinning it's wheels, get a mission statement and effective process in place that gets things done on a schedule that can keep pace with the annual funding that is being provided by the Penny for Parks dedicated tax. The results since inception (FY10/11) are disappointing at best.

Tim Jarvis

Nov 15 NPA hosted by Planning Dept

The 11th Annual Neighborhood Improvement Nights will focus this year's NINs is community engagement around the creation of the new plan for our downtown and waterfront. YOUR IDEAS ARE REQUESTED!! What do you envision for development, housing, parks, transportation, infrastructure, amenities for the downtown? Now is your chance to contribute to the city’s long-range plan. Members of the City’s Planning and Zoning Dept. and Planning Commission will direct this dialogue. Don’t miss out!

Major Impact Developments, pre-application neighborhood meetings

Proposed requirement for Major Impact development proposals to hold one or more pre-application neighborhood public meetings. This comes in follow-up to the Open Gov recommendations from a couple of years ago (thanks to Councilor Bushor who pushed it forward, and to NPAs who testified and urged adoption) The Planning Commission has been working on this with the NPA’s,,,  To read the proposal, click here.  


There is a Neighborhood Meeting Guide which outlines the meeting requirements. These links are Google.docs. Email Planning Dept direct if you want copies sent to you: DEWhite@ci.burlington.vt.us 


City Council will vote on the ordinance change. Come to NPAs to speak directly with councilors, speak during public forum at regular City Council meetings, and email or call them.  
..

Oct 18 NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ASSEMBLY

http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/burlington-wards-4-7-npa-meeting-22

AGENDA: NORTH END NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ASSEMBLY
October 18, 2011 Miller Center, 130 Gosse3 Court.
Jason L'Ecuyer, Facilitator

*ISSUES: neighborhood safety, Neighborhood Watch and FPF; animal poisonings; Audit scope of work and Internal Controls Checklist; NPA preview of major impact projects; unfinished unused space in Miller Ctr; location of multi-use rec rink in Leddy Park?; Penny for Parks funding priorities; TIF impact on property taxes; UVM MOU police and fire services; crosswalk Yield signs; traffic calming Tracy and Leonard Sts; redistricting; housing inventory; connecting waterfront to North End neighborhoods and Avenue businesses; Alliance of North End Entrepreneurs; vacant buildings.

6:45 Sign in, GREET NEIGHBORS AND CITY OFFICIALS

7:00  WELCOME people at home, INTRODUCTIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA, Ground Rules. ELECTION of Jackie Schultz and Michael Wayman to Ward 4 Steering Committee. Unanimous Approval of RESOLUTION: Internal Controls Checklist. Forward to City Council.

7:15  Discussion with ELECTED and APPOINTED OFFICIALS.  Mayor Bob Kiss invited to comment on issues also. Residents may comment, ask questions.

7:45  GUESTS: Allison and Will, Urban Ag Task Force

8:30  OPEN FORUM FOR RESIDENTS - Brief statements of neighborhood/city interest or concern.

8:55  Reflections

Oct 18 Resolution re: Internal Controls Checklist, Urban Ag, Mayor Kiss and Councilors' Update on City Issues

Guests Mayor Kiss, and Alison Nihart and Will Robb, Urban Ag Task Force.

We'll have an update on the Multi-Use Rec Rink location (Leddy Park?), housing at Thayer/DMV, NPA preview of major impact developments, and the NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH program. We will vote on the Internal Controls Checklist Resolution.

Steering committee members have requested updates and
steering Committee will report on the followeing:  Scope of Work, recent past and immediate future AUDITS (requested from Cslr. Wright). NPA preview of major impact projects, final draft (requested from Planning Commission, referred to Sandrine Thibault). Update on finishing Miller space (requested from Parks Director Steinbach). Update on Neighborhood Watch, and statement about animal poisonings (requested from Lt. Scott Davidson). Report on Council Resolution to remove party affiliation from mayoral and council elections (requested from Cslrs. Hartnett and Wright). Request a report on TIF before further expansion of  the district -- impact on property taxpayers (requested from Mayor).

Proposed: North End Business and Entrepreneurial Coalition.

Mayor Kiss will present update on City Affairs, followed by open mic for questions/comments from residents.

Resolution relating to: INTERNAL CONTROL$ CHECKLI$T

WHEREAS the Internal Controls Checklist is a self-assessment tool that has been compiled by the Vermont State’s Auditor’s Office to assist cities and towns in assessing a its internal control environment for accounting and financial reporting, and

WHEREAS the Checklist can provide guidance in implementing controls where weaknesses are perceived, and

WHEREAS a system of internal controls includes all of the policies and procedures needed to provide reasonable assurance that our financial information is reliable, and

WHEREAS a system of internal controls assures taxpayers that financial operations within the City offices are effective and secure, and

WHEREAS a system of internal controls assures taxpayers that the City is complying with applicable laws and regulations, and

WHEREAS the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and the Vermont State Auditor’s Office, have recommended that cities and towns use the checklist to demonstrate sound financial practices,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Burlington complete the Internal Controls Checklist recommended by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and the Office of the Vermont State Auditor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the results be certified by a CPA and released to the public. 

Auditor concerned over Burlington's failure to respond

MONTPELIER – In testimony before the Vermont House Government Operations Committee Tuesday, State Auditor Tom Salmon expressed concern over the failure of the city of Burlington to respond to a request for information about its management of cash and internal controls.

Read more.

 "GASB 54 Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions"

Sept 20 Assembly - HOT TOPICS not cooling down like the weather.

Neighborhood Planning Assembly, Tuesday 6:45pm, Miller Center. All residents welcome. Guests will include John Bossange, chairman of the Bike Path Task Force; Lt. Scott Davidson community police officer; and Barbara Grimes, General Manager of Burlington Electric Dept.

These are ongoing issues being discussed at North End NPA:

Neighborhood safety issues, Discussion with Lt. Davidson, specific topics: theft and lockdown on Oakland/York/Western; speeding on Tracy Dr, Leddy Rd, and Birch Ct; maintenance of groomed, well lighted and clearly accessible pedestrian/neighborhood entrances to Leddy Park; lack of proper signage on crosswalks -  StarrFarm/Staniford-Appletree/Shore roads, and North Ave; redesign of North Ave; and, lowering speed limits on side streets. Also, perennial request for increased street patrol, reopening the police dept office at fire station #4, and increased informal, friendly interaction with residents, particularly youth.

Pre-liminary recommendations for the Bike Path and Island Trail upgrade are on-line: http://t.co/U5DGpnFh . Chairman of Task Force is looking for feedback from us. Chance to get to know him.

Smart Meters update. Proposal for opt-out, installation schedule, new hires to manage the program, costs.

Internal Controls Checklist prepared by State Auditors Office - need to formalize request for City to release the checklist to the public, and call for a complete audit to scrub the city books. Resolution.

Expanding TIF Districts - while it temporarily increases the Equalized Assessed Value within the TIF district, is at the expense of the rest of the city outside the district, and does it increase burden on residential property taxpayers?

Empty Miller Space, request that it be finished so it can be used. Competition for available space, Miller losing potential revenue, residents denied use of much needed space, need for more teen activities surfacing again. City Council resolution that the space be finished for a YMCA Child Care Center, with city matching the $40K Welch ear mark, HUD grant, with city funds to complete the fit up of the space.

Vacant buildings on North Ave and in the NACs (neighborhood activity centers, mixed-use growth centers). Call for creation of North End Association, need to do our own planning. Request that we preview a project proposed for the vacant gas station at shopping center. Update on vacant theater, possibly available for a non-profit to take it over (tax write-off) and redevelop for community use.

NPA Preview of Proposed Major Impact Developments. Based on recommendations of the Open Government Committee, and the basis of a resolution sponsored by Cslr. Sharon Bushor, the resolution has been discussed by NPAs, Planning Commission, and City Council. Currently a draft is being prepared which includes proposed charter changes. The proposal will be going back to City Council soon.

Rec Rink proposal, identified possible site in Leddy Park between tennis courts and basketball court. Feedback from Friends of Leddy Park, recommendation from NPA. Site not recommended, other Leddy sites preferred, issues of parking, priorities, and location.

Crosswalk safety . request for YIELD signs at crosswalks on North Ave and streets intersected by the bike path, rec path, Island Line Trail.. Concern about safety at Staniford crosswalk where mound has not been kept clear. Situation getting worse instead of better.

Request that NIN (Nov. 15) focus on direct connections between waterfront and North Ave, including North End residential neighborhood access to the waterfront and links between destinations and bike path, and North End businesses. Proposed panel of CEDO, City Planning Dept, NPA and North End Business Association. Planning for Downtown-Waterfront connections scheduled at other NPAs, all welcome to participate, schedule on website: http://www.cedoburlington.org/neighborhoods/npa/npas1.htm

Reports from officials (city council resolution to do away with party affiliation in local government); Open Forum time to raise any topic of interest; and opportunity to get to know city government and North End neighbors and issues better. All are welcome. Refreshments served.

*Scroll down on blog for more details about each topic.

Sept 20 Future of the Bike Path?

http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/burlington-wards-4-7-npa-meeting-22

Preliminary Recommendations:  2011 Feasibility Study Preliminary Recommendations

Crosswalk on Staniford Rd: Safety first. Mike Beganyi and John Foss advocate for YIELD signs on Staniford Rd. "It's the LAW!," they say. Judge for yourself:

*Click on photo to enlarge display.

Title 23: Motor Vehicles

Chapter 13: OPERATION OF VEHICLES

19 VSA § 905b. Crosswalks  All crosswalk markings shall be of uniform color, dimension and location and be in conformance with the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The secretary of the agency of transportation shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. (Added 1985)    

23 V.S.A. § 1051. Pedestrians' right of way in crosswalks 

(a) If traffic-control signals are not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if necessary, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk.

(b) No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for a driver to yield. 

(c) If any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973; amended 1985, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)   


New North End Neighborhood Planning Assemblies Update: Hosted by Burlington City Councilor Dave Hartnett 08/19/2011

_________________________________________

Bike Path Task Force Preliminary Recommendations 

The question is, who has the right of way at bikepath intersection crosswalks? Pedestrians, cyclists, or cars? We'll ask the residents, the police, and some lawyers what they think.
.

August 16, BBQ, 6pm Miller Center

August is BBQ, social time with neighbors, local officials, and people who enhance the quality of life in our North End neighborhoods. Our city councilors will be grilling for us, not by us, for a change!

All are invited, with special invitations to people who have contributed to our NPA by showing up, presenting informative programs, helping us understand city issues,  surveying our opinions, soliciting our input, planning programs and projects, planting gardens and sharing the harvest.

Neighbors will be recognized for contributions to quality of life in the North End, with Open Mic for recognition from the floor. Come praise your neighbors! Celebrate Charlie Auer's 80th birthday, and the rescue of the boathouse.

Watch om Ch17 website:  

Burlington Wards 4 & 7 NPA Meeting 08/16/2011

On Display: 

Auer Boathouse Rescue: History of the boathouse, photos of the flood of 2011. 

North End Farmers' Market: Map of vendors. Anna and Steve Niemiec.

Hunt School Garden: Planting layout. Student gardeners and Jessica Hyman.

Starr Farm Dog Park: Volunteer activities. James Key and Dan Cahill.

Staniford Farm project: homes, open space and conserved wetlands. Eric Farrell.

1820 Staniford farmhouse restoration: Appletree Point Historical Society, Tim Prim.

Frog and Toad Infant and Child Care: Tiffany Bergeron, Fr. Giroux, St. Mark's Parish.

Thayer Commons: Senior housing, Cathedral Square, Tim Ashe project manager.
Crosswalk on Staniford Rd: Safety first. Mike Beganyi and John Foss advocate for YIELD signs on Staniford Rd. "It's the LAW!," they say. 

_________________________________________

Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) are grassroots, neighborhood organizations that were established in each of Burlington’s seven Wards to encourage citizen participation in City government. Working as neighborhood advocacy groups, NPAs help improve communication between the citizens of Burlington and City government through regular meetings scheduled in each Ward. NPAs are organized, democratic forums where residents can learn about public issues that affect them, and advise the City of their concerns and needs. From YIELD signs to major development projects, NPAs offer us an innovative way to get involved in neighborhood and City issues and make our opinions heard.

Brava!