Tuesday, October 11, 2016
While ostensibly about all four local issues on the November 8 ballot, the news conference — held along Cherry Street in the shadow of the Burlington Town Center mall — focused mainly on the two most controversial items: a downtown zoning change that would allow the mall redevelopment to go forward and $21.8 million in tax-increment financing for street and infrastructure improvements around the proposed development.
Tags: Burlington Town Center , Miro Weinberger , Jane Knodell , Dave Hartnett , Tim Ayres , Peter Clavelle , Max Tracy , Image , Web Only
Friday, September 30, 2016
Not so, says city attorney Eileen Blackwood.
Burlington has already mailed out the state ballot, which includes candidates for president, statewide office and statehouse seats, because state law requires that those ballots be sent out no later than 45 days before the November 8 election.
The deadline for local-issue ballots isn’t until October 19 — so they’ll be sent out separately. Even if the council weren’t deliberating into late September, Blackwood said the city wouldn’t be able to get its ballots out much earlier than the deadline because it would reduce the time available for petitioners trying to get questions on the ballot.
Tags: Burlington city council , early voting , Eileen Blackwood , election 2016 , Image , Web Only
Thursday, September 29, 2016
But the council will also let voters have the final say, as they decided to put the question on the November ballot — a move backed by Mayor Miro Weinberger. The decision appeared to be preemptive. Opponents of the project were planning to collect signatures for a petition that would spur a citywide vote.
In the new district, the maximum building height would increase from 105 feet to 160 feet. New developments would also be subject to higher environmental and architectural standards.
Tags: Burlington City Council , Miro Weinberger , Burlington Town Center , Don Sinex , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
He will ask the city council Thursday to approve the change, and to also put the zoning question on the November 8 ballot for voters to decide.
Weinberger is a staunch supporter of the height increase, which would allow
buildings up to 14 stories tall at the site of the proposed $250 million Burlington Town Center redevelopment. The current height limit is about ten stories.
Tags: Burlington , mall , Burlington Town Center , Burlington height restrictions , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
As drivers honked noisily in support, teachers on both sides of the busy road waved signs reading "Return to the Table." They chanted: "Hey ho, hey ho, imposition has got to go," referring to the employment policy the city school board imposed on them recently.
Burlington Education Association president Fran Brock thanked teachers for rallying together and chastised the imposition of employment terms.
"Basically it's an evil sort of thing to do," she told the crowd of teachers as they wrapped up the picket shortly after 5 p.m. "They are trying to bust the union and we're not going to let them do it!" Teachers cheered.
Tags: Burlington Education Association , Frank Brock , Image , Web Only
Thursday, September 22, 2016
The union has assailed the move as unfair and said it would breed “chaos” — perhaps making a not-so-veiled reference to the union’s right to strike.
Burlington Education Association president Fran Brock urged the board this week to come back to the table. “There is only one way to come back from the brink, and that is for the board to rescind the imposition and reach an agreement with us,” Brock said in a prepared statement.
It’s unusual for a Vermont school board to impose working conditions. It’s happened only about 20 times since 1969, according to the Vermont-NEA, which represents thousands of teachers in the state.
Tags: Burlington , union , education , Burlington Education Association , Vermont-NEA , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Burlington residents will have a say at the polls this November on several big-ticket items.
The city council on Monday unanimously approved Mayor Miro Weinberger’s proposal to put a $27.5 million bond for capital upgrades on the ballot. Among the repairs it would pay for: sidewalk and street upgrades, bike path improvements, and several new fire engines.
At the same meeting, the council approved an $8.4 million bond to replace aging water pipes. Forty percent of Burlington’s water mains are more than 75 years old, according to the administration.
The water bond needs a simple majority to pass, while the capital bond requires approval from two-thirds of voters.
Tags: Miro Weinberger , Burlington Bike Path , Burlington City Council , Rick Sharp , election 2016 , Image , Web Only
Monday, September 19, 2016
Unilever announced plans Monday to purchase Burlington-based Seventh Generation for an undisclosed sum.
Unilever North America President Kees Kruythoff hailed the acquisition of Seventh Generation — which makes Earth-friendly laundry soap, toilet paper, dishwashing detergent and personal care products — as beneficial for both companies.
“We’re thrilled to add Seventh Generation to our brand portfolio, providing us with the opportunity to accelerate growth with our retail partners and connect in new ways with consumers,” Kruythoff said in a press release.
Tags: Burlington , Unilever , Seventh Generation , Image , Web Only
Friday, September 16, 2016
This drink goes down anything but easy.
An unknown artist created a series of at least four satirical postcards using old Kool-Aid ads to mock Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and city councilors who are in favor of a zoning amendment that will allow developer Don Sinex to build up to 14 stories high.
“An appreciative City Council says … ‘Mayor knows best,’” reads the riff on a vintage advertisement. The original shows a family paying tribute to Mom, whose head in the edited version has been replaced by Weinberger’s. It reads: “He keeps Kool-Aid in the ice box by the pitcher full — and they’re drinking it!”
Tags: Don Sinex , Burlington Town Center , mall redevelopment , Coalition for a Livable City , Mayor Miro Weinberger , Caryn Long , Genese Grill , Art Hop , Image , Web Only
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Fight participants hurled racial slurs along with punches during a brawl behind the bleachers. And in a separate incident, a Rice Memorial High School student brought a sign to the game that characterized Burlington players as convicts and gang members.
The incidents were not connected, according to Burlington police. No charges are expected in the sign incident and the fight remains under investigation, Deputy Chief Shawn Burke told Seven Days Thursday.
Images of the sign have been shared widely on Snapchat and Facebook. Many parents and students saw it as a racist slap at the BHS team.
The Rice student carried the poster into the bleachers at Burlington’s Buck Hard Field. It started with the headline “BHS Football Record Book,” and then listed, roster-style: “-5 Convicts, -4 Fathers, -13 Super Seniors, -All Gang Members.”
Tags: Burlington , race , education , Yaw Obeng , Burlington police , Burlington High School , Rice Memorial High School , Image , Web Only