Latest news with #TownMeetingDay
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Battle for Burlington City Council President develops
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Less than one week before Burlington City Council's annual Organization Day, a battle for City Council President suddenly developed Wednesday afternoon. Carter Neubieser, a Progressive Councilor from Ward 1, announced in City Hall that he is hoping to take the role from current President Ben Traverse, a Democrat from Ward 5 who's held it for the past year. Traverse was widely expected to keep the presidency uncontested going into next Monday's Organization Day meeting, but the last-minute challenge from Neubieser turns that surefire reappointment into something the council will have to vote on. 'Today, I'm incredibly excited to announce my intent to seek the position of City Council President this year,' Neubieser said in Contois Auditorium Wednesday afternoon. 'If given the chance to serve in this role, I'd be laser focused on decreasing the partisanship and personal attacks and increasing the collaboration on council.' Organization Day marks the first meeting of the new Burlington City Council, and a big part of the night will also be the swearing in of newly-elected councilors who won their races on Town Meeting Day. This year, two new councilors will be sworn in: Allie Schachter, a Democrat from Burlington's East District, and Ranjit 'Buddy' Singh, a Democrat from the city's South District. Once the two new Democrats are appointed, the council split will be seven Democrats to five Progressives. That means Neubieser will need to get at least two Democrats to flip and vote for him to have any chance at winning the presidency. That fact is giving current President Traverse confidence that he will get a second term. 'I will say that I too am seeking reelection to the council presidency,' Traverse said in an interview Wednesday afternoon. 'I can also tell you that I have the support of the majority of the city council, and will be reelected as council president at the meeting on Monday. That said, I respect any councilor throwing their hat in the ring.' Traverse added that although he respects Neubieser and his right to run, he questions his decision to create a race for the presidency now if decreasing partisanship truly is one of his goals. 'If the stated reason for throwing his hat in the ring is building more collaboration and collegiality, I question whether or not teeing up this political fight right out of the gate at our first meeting is the best way to do that,' Traverse said. Other councilors from both parties are weighing in ahead of the vote as well, including veteran Progressive Melo Grant from Burlington's Central District. She shared strong words against Traverse Wednesday afternoon, writing in part in a statement: 'It is regrettable to say, but Council President Traverse has shown an epic failure in leadership. Despite the same concerns being brought to his attention multiple times, he failed to make improvements that would help … Personal attacks and interruptions have occurred too often under Councilor Traverse's leadership. As the only black councilor, this is a huge concern for me, as it also shows disrespect for my constituents.' Evan Litwin, a Democratic Councilor from Ward 7, also weighed in Wednesday afternoon, questioning what Neubieser offers that Traverse doesn't already. Litwin wrote: 'Carter and I haven't had the opportunity to speak yet, and so I'd need to hear more about his vision for our collective body and what he believes he brings to the table that President Traverse is not providing. With that said, I've grown to like working with Carter on committee and on council, and value his approach to the work and his collegiality. I also think President Traverse does an excellent job in a challenging role.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Burlington voters say yes on Town Meeting Day
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WVNY/WFFF) — Although it may have been considered an odd year, Burlington ballots still had a lot in front of voters. The balance of power could have switched, but democrats still ended up with the majority on the council. Six questions were also on the ballot. Three charter changes were supported by the majority vote. Votes said yes to giving the city council jurisdiction over redistricting. They also said 'yes' to a change that would give the council authority over rental notifications. The third charter change involves banning firearms at any establishment that serves liquor, such as a bar. A similar amendment passed in 2014 with 68 percent of the vote, but the legislature never approved it. ' Burlington voters have made clear their support for this important policy change. My administration will advocate for the legislature to respect the will of the voters and adopt this charter change,' said Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak. The changes will need to go before the legislature for final approval, as do all charter changes in Vermont. When it comes to the makeup of the city council, it will remain a democratic majority. In the south district, the democrats hang on to the council seat. Ranjit Singh won 73 percent of the vote. Singh will take over for a long time City Councilor, Joan Shannon, who decided not to run again. She leaves with 22 years on the 12-member group. In the east district Allie Schacter will represent democrats for 2 years. The balance of power is 7 democrats to five republicans. Next Town Meeting Day, all 8 ward seats will be on he ballot. After the polls closed, Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak expressed her gratitude to everybody who made Town Meeting Day a success, as well as those who participated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vermont Town Meeting: Latest Results
Town Meeting Day polls closed at 7 p.m. across Vermont, where voters are deciding town and school budgets, infrastructure upgrades and new fire trucks, and much more. Bookmark this page for the latest results as they come in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ballot questions ask if Vermont should stand up for the Palestinian people
On Town Meeting Day, voters in several Vermont cities and towns were asked if they should become "apartheid-free communities," but opponents warn the measures could cause harm to Jewish neighbors.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Alcohol and guns do not mix': Burlington to vote on gun ban charter change
Tuesday marks the Vermont tradition of Town Meeting Day. In Burlington, voters will decide if they want to give the green light to a charter change that would ban people from bringing guns into bars.
