• “The upgrade of the city’s general obligation rating to Baa2 from Baa3 reflects an improved financial position, although reserves and liquidity remain narrow. The upgrade also incorporates the dismissal of the Burlington Telecom (BT) lawsuit through a settlement agreement that is favorable to the city.”

• “Additionally, the dismissal of the BT lawsuit and favorable settlement reduces the risks related to the enterprise. The settlement has also allowed the city to address the large nonspendable, advances to BT from the General Fund.”

• “The city has improved its financial position through the issuance of deficit financing bonds, conservative budgeting and proactive revenue and expenditure enhancements which are expected to result in balanced operations over the near term. After a $9 million issuance of deficit financing bonds in April 2013, the city has stabilized its cash flow and operations, resulting in a two-year trend of operating surplus.”

• “The fiscal 2014 audited financial statements include an unqualified auditor’s opinion for the first time since before BT’s financial problems became publicly known in late 2009 and reflects an operating surplus of $2.5 million, excluding a special item of $16.9 million, representing a write-off of city advances to BT following the dismissal of the BT lawsuit.”

# # #

• Strategic funding plan options;
• A timeline for implementation; 
• Review of and recommendations based on successful neighborhood livability initiatives in other university communities like the UniverCity Neighborhood partnership in Iowa City, IA, and the Preserving the Neighborhood initiative in Lancaster, PA; and
• Next steps to implement the recommendations in Burlington.

• Eagles Landing Settlement Agreement, available here
• The Neighborhood Project Memorandum of Understanding, available here
• Eagles Landing Visuals, available here

# # #

1. A range of housing types should be incorporated into the development, including housing that will serve a range of income levels and that will provide opportunity for homeownership as well as rental opportunities;
2. The final Plan should include open space, some of which may be required as part of the zoning process, but some of which may require consideration of reasonable compensation to the owner; the open space, including the waterfront beach area west of the bike path, should be open to the public; community gardens and the existing East – West connection to the Bike Path should be enhanced so as to increase the public access to the Waterfront from the Old North End;
3. The bluffs directly east of the bike path should be protected from any construction and development;
4. The development should be sensitive to and protect significant natural features, especially a path, and the tree scape on the bluffs, as well as cultural resources, such as the old orphanage;
5. Neighborhood commercial uses that serve the local neighborhood should be allowed but not required and as a result, consideration should be given to allowing currently prohibited uses;
6. Development of this property should enhance revitalization of Old North End, and commerce along North Avenue should be considered;
7. The development should support alternative modes of transportation in order to minimize traffic impacts; and
8. The site plan should incorporate “sustainability” components, such as composting, stormwater management, food production, and energy savings where possible and appropriate.

1.  A range of housing types should be incorporated into the development, including housing that will serve a range of income levels and that will provide opportunity for homeownership as well as rental opportunities;
2. The final Plan should include open space, some of which may be required as part of the zoning process, but some of which may require consideration of reasonable compensation to the owner; the open space, including the waterfront beach area west of the bike path, should be open to the public; community gardens and the existing East – West connection to the Bike Path should be enhanced so as to increase the public access to the Waterfront from the Old North End;
3. The bluffs directly east of the bike path should be protected from any construction and development;
4. The development should be sensitive to and protect significant natural features, especially a path, and the tree scape on the bluffs, as well as cultural resources, such as the old orphanage;
5. Neighborhood commercial uses that serve the local neighborhood should be allowed but not required and as a result, consideration should be given to allowing currently prohibited uses;
6. Development of this property should enhance revitalization of Old North End, and commerce along North Avenue should be considered;
7. The development should support alternative modes of transportation in order to minimize traffic impacts;
8. The site plan should incorporate “sustainability” components, such as composting, stormwater management, food production, and energy savings where possible and appropriate.

• The Consultant’s familiarizing itself with the Property’s physical characteristics, its history, the surrounding landscape context, applicable regulatory and permit constraints, and other relevant information.
• The Consultant’s preparing for and conducting an intensive workshop in which the BCCH, the Interested Parties and other community members and experts, including real estate experts, are brought together to help envision one or more alternative site plans for the Property.
• Opportunities for community input before the Interested Parties and BCCH reach agreement on a preferred site plan.

1. Work collaboratively to address any conflict or issues related to City regulations, zoning ordinances, or permitting processes (to the extent this would not conflict with the City’s regulatory role or statutory obligations);
2. Work in good faith to determine a fair and equitable way to achieve all the components of a successful Plan, including utilizing sources such as the Open Space Conservation Fund and other creative methods for offsetting the cost/financial impact to BCCH of the public access and open space components of the Plan to the extent they are not required by existing regulations;
3. Consider how other reasonable public incentives, financing mechanisms or other tools could help advance the success of the Plan; and
4. If appropriate, coordinate with the City Council to facilitate the approval of an agreement by the Council to any public funding or actions.

• 12:00-3:00 pm:  open house and tours at Fire Station #1 on South Winooski Avenue, featuring the Department’s original Hose Cart from 1858 – chili will be served
• 3:00 pm:  community photograph by photographer Sandy Milens on the back steps of City Hall – join your friends and neighbors for an “I was there” moment in history as the City’s 150^th birthday is captured on film
• 4:00-5:30 pm:  birthday celebration in City Hall’s Contois Auditorium
  • Burlington Police and Fire Department Color Guards will welcome guests
  • Vermont Philharmonic Winds, made up of local music educators and other professional musicians, will perform several of John Philip Sousa’s Marches
  • Speaking Program
    • Ame Lambert, Chief Diversity Officer, Champlain College
    • Mayor Miro Weinberger
    • Congressman Peter Welch
    • Vince Feeney, Burlington historian
    • Chief Mike Schirling, Burlington Police Department
    • City Council President Joan Shannon
  • Group of Burlington youth will sing a newly-commissioned song written by Pete Sutherland
  • Unveiling of updates and capital improvements to Contois Auditorium (more information below)
  • Many birthday cakes decorated by students from Burlington schools
• 5:30 pm:  lantern parade up Church Street with willow and tissue paper lanterns crafted by participants of workshops at Burlington City Arts in January led by artist Gowri Savoor and lighting installation by Craig Winslow on Burlington City Hall
• All Day:
  • Participating merchants on the Church Street Marketplace will be celebrating all day with retail sales of 15% off, food and beverage specials, and the Marketplace will feature enhanced lighting
  • View the photo exhibit, “Burlington Then and Now: 150 Years a City” in City Hall’s Metropolitan Gallery

• 11:00 am:  Movers and Shakers in Burlington's History: Talk by Vince Feeney – local historian and author discusses the history of Burlington and some of the lesser known personalities who helped build the Queen City – followed by a panel discussion with Burlingtonians speaking about life in Burlington from the 1930s through today
• 12:30 pm:  Growing Up in the Queen City – residents from teens to elders talk about what it is/was like to grow up in Burlington
• 1:00 pm:  Little Jerusalem: Burlington’s Jewish Community – film screening and discussion with Aaron Goldberg, who is featured in the film – documentary tells the story of the many Eastern European Jews who sought a new life in Burlington’s Old North End from the 1800s to World War II.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                   802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Major Burlington Early Learning Initiative Pilot

Releases White Paper Outlining City’s Early Learning Challenges and a Pilot Solution,
Announces Initial $122,000 Philanthropic Contribution, Names Advisory Board to Lead Effort 

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, accompanied by Governor Peter Shumlin and other community leaders, today announced a partnership with the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children, the State Department of Health, the Burlington School District (BSD), and the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) to create and implement a major new Burlington Early Learning Initiative.  The initiative is focused on improving kindergarten readiness for Burlington children, reducing special education and other public spending over time, and breaking the cycle of multi-generational poverty.   The multi-year pilot initiative will involve three major components that together demonstrably have improved education outcomes for children in other cities - home visiting for pregnant mothers and new parents, scholarships for high-quality child care, and rigorous evaluation.  The Permanent Fund has committed $122,000 of private philanthropic funds for the next stage of planning that will move the initiative from concept to implementation in 2016.  The Mayor also named an advisory board to lead the multi-year pilot, which is expected to be financed by additional philanthropic contributions and existing state and federal funds.

“Children born into poverty in our society face major challenges well before they enter the public school system,” said Mayor Weinberger during today’s announcement at the VNA Family Room in Burlington’s Old North End neighborhood. “Our goal in launching a Burlington Early Learning Initiative is nothing short of ensuring that all Burlington children have the opportunity to lead full, healthy, and successful lives.  This new focus on our youngest Burlingtonians will improve education and health outcomes, counteract the disadvantages that burden our poorest children, and use our public resources more effectively.”

“I am pleased with Burlington’s effort to work with the State and convert our success at securing federal grant dollars into tangible, on-the-ground improvements in peoples’ lives,” said Governor Shumlin. “This is the kind of innovative approach that can help our children without increasing the burden on taxpayers.”

“The Permanent Fund for Vermont's Children is pleased to invest in these integrated community and family-based services, which will demonstrate to Vermonters that a strong foundation built upon quality early experiences for our children leads to kindergarten readiness, school success, and, ultimately, contributes to a trained workforce and a strong economy,” said Rick Davis, Co-Founder and President of the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children. “Mayor Weinberger and his team can offer the strong leadership and collaboration the Permanent Fund believes is essential to transform the early childhood system in Burlington."

Major Components of the Initiative

Over the next several months, with the support from the Permanent Fund for necessary staff capacity and research, the Mayor’s Advisory Board will assist with refining the design of the pilot and implementing it.  The number of children and families to be served during pilot will be determined in consultation with the Advisory Board.  The major components of the initiative are:

• Evidence-Based Home Visiting: The home visiting component of the pilot will be offered to pregnant mothers and new parents or guardians living in the City.  This component will focus on teaching new parents about brain development, mentoring parents about what constitutes high-quality early education and care—and how to advocate for it—and educating parents about available enrichment opportunities for their children, including playgroups, parenting resources, museums, libraries, early education programs, and others.  Home visiting allows the pilot effort to make contact with the greatest number of parents and babies, assess their needs, and serve as an effective recruiting tool for families eligible for the scholarship portion of the program.  This component is anticipated to be implemented by January 2016.

• Scholarships for High-Quality Early Education and Care: Participating families who have an annual income less than or equal to 185 percent of the federal poverty level will have the opportunity to enroll their children in a high-quality program for at least 12 and up to 35 hours per week, year-round. The pilot’s scholarship fund is intended to help address the gap in cost between any subsidy the family may receive and the full cost of the program or tuition set by the program.  Scholarships are designed to follow the child and should help guarantee placement of that child for the full year no matter the family’s subsidy eligibility status.  This component is anticipated to be implemented by fall 2016. 

• Measurement: The results of the pilot will be rigorously collected and evaluated.  This evaluation will include assessing the impact of the pilot on kindergarten readiness and third grade reading proficiency, key nationally accepted benchmarks. 

Philanthropic Support, Technical Assistance, and Timeline

The pilot initiative will support the good work of many care providers already underway in the City and will not increase the burden on City taxpayers.  Rather, the pilot will rely on philanthropic funding to demonstrate the initiative’s effectiveness with a goal of drawing on a potential array of sustainable funding sources in future years.  The initial philanthropic funding from the Permanent Fund provides the resources to move the project from its current conceptual stage to implementation.  Over the next few months, an Advisory Board named by Mayor Weinberger will continue to conduct due diligence on the proposed model, data, and capacity issues and facilitate the implementation of home-visiting by January 2016 and the scholarship model by fall 2016.

This effort would not be possible without the advice and technical assistance received from representatives of the Governor’s Office, the Agency of Human Services (AHS) Department of Health, and the Agency of Education (AOE).  Building Bright Futures (BBF), the non-profit charged with aligning work across the State and within 12 regional councils to improve access, quality, and affordability of early childhood resources, also has been instrumental in developing this pilot initiative and gathering the necessary data.

“The Vermont Department of Health’s Division of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) enthusiastically supports the City of Burlington in this early childhood education pilot program as a major initiative to improve the health and welfare of young families and children,” said Dr. Breena Holmes, Director of MCH. “We in Vermont are so fortunate that, in addition to the City’s leadership, our state and national policy makers are also investing in early childhood. We at the Health Department will work with partners at all levels to coordinate on these innovative programs to insure optimal outcomes for families.”

“This effort holds great potential for Burlington’s children,” said Julie Coffey, Executive Director of BBF. “BBF is pleased to be working with the Mayor to align the work in Burlington with other work underway across the State to make sure these resources are used effectively to help improve education outcomes.”

Pilot Design and White Paper

The pilot design is based on concepts proposed in a white paper, titled “Burlington Beginnings: A White Paper on a Comprehensive, Coordinated Sustainable Early Learning Initiative,” produced through a partnership involving the City, the United Way of Chittenden County, and philanthropic support.  Jessica Nordhaus, an experienced educator, entrepreneur, consultant, and Partnership for Change Steering Committee Member, wrote the paper based on extensive outreach to stakeholders in Burlington’s early childhood education system, input from the Mayor, and a review of different early childhood models employed across the country. 

The white paper details the challenge in the City, acknowledging that “…despite a robust network of service organizations and supportive programming in Burlington, we have not been able to break the cycle of poverty that so many families live in for generations.”  In Burlington, disadvantages associated with socio-economic status become harder to change over time.  By third grade, only about 50 percent of those children eligible for free or reduced lunch are able to read at grade level, while more than 70 percent of their peers not on similar lunch programs have reached that benchmark.  By eighth grade, while only 60 percent of the children eligible for free or reduced lunch are reading at grade level, more than 90 percent of their peers not on similar lunch programs have met or surpassed that threshold. These poorer children then graduate at an unusually low rate, earn less as adults, suffer higher rates of incarceration and drug use, and experience a far lower life expectancy.

However, research in recent years has demonstrated that strategic investments in high-quality child care for children from birth to age five can eliminate the learning gap between poor children and their peers and create enormous public returns on investment over time.  With reference to this research and the experience of other communities, the white paper proposes a model for Burlington drawn in part from St. Paul, Minnesota.  In St. Paul, an effort led by the former research director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Art Rolnick, Ph.D., used a combination of methods – home visiting, scholarships for high-quality care, and rigorous evaluation – to improve educational outcomes.  Through his work and research, Dr. Rolnick has calculated that strategic investments in early childhood education can yield a 16 percent annualized return on investment by reducing special education and other public spending requirements substantially over time.

When apprised of Mayor Weinberger’s effort in Burlington, Dr. Rolnick, now affiliated with the University of Minnesota, offered the following statement about the important impacts of investments in early childhood education:  “I am very encouraged that the City of Burlington is willing to invest in early childhood education and health.  The neuroscience and economic research is overwhelming: Investing in early childhood education, for our most vulnerable children, has an extraordinary public return.  Research shows that when new parents are provided home visiting mentors, starting as early as prenatal, and access to high-quality early learning programs, their children start school healthy and ready to learn.  And when children start school healthy and ready to learn, they are less likely to need special education and be retained in a grade; and they are more likely to be literate by the sixth grade, graduate high school, start a family and become productive and law abiding citizens.”

Community Response

A number of representatives from different community organizations offered support for the effort:

“As it should, this has already proven to be a collaborative effort that will support much of the good work already underway in the community and seek to fill important gaps in assistance,” said Diana Langston, Director of the Burlington School District’s Essential Early Education Center. “I look forward to working with the City and many other community partners to advance this work intended to improve education outcomes for our children.”

“The VNA has long had a strong commitment to the health and well-being of families and children by providing care in their homes and through playgroups, preschool and parenting classes at our Family Room,” said Judy Peterson, President and CEO of VNA of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties.  “We do this because we know how valuable support for the whole family is during these important first years of rapid growth and development.  The VNA wants to thank and recognize the Mayor and his team for making this investment a priority for our community, and we look forward to being a part of this initiative.”

“The Boys & Girls Club of Burlington has been serving area youth since 1942,” said Mary Alice McKenzie, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington.  “A new focus on and new resources for early childhood education is critical to helping us achieve our mission of inspiring and enabling community youth to realize their full potential as productive, healthy, responsible, and caring citizens. I am glad to see broad support for this effort across our community.”

“Smart investments, like the investments in high-quality early learning programs contemplated here, can help decrease incidents of crime, reduce the costs associated with the criminal justice system, and save taxpayers money,” said Chittenden County State’s Attorney TJ Donovan.  “I am encouraged by what is being considered in Burlington, and support this important effort to help the youngest and most vulnerable in our community.”

“This work is about strengthening our schools and our community,” said Ward 4 City Councilor Dave Hartnett. “This initiative is focused on helping families that are trying to make ends meet and do what is best for their children.  We know from research on brain development that when we take action at an early age, we see far better outcomes for our children later in life.  This is important work, and I’m glad to see it is being set up in a way that will not add to the burden on the City’s taxpayers.”

Additional Background

Today’s announcement was the product of substantial work by many in our community.  In summer 2013, Mayor Weinberger attended a Mayors Innovation Project conference in Oak Park, IL that included a presentation by Dr. Rolnick focused on the potential social and economic returns associated with strategic investments in early childhood education. At the beginning of 2014, Mayor Weinberger secured an anonymous gift to the United Way to support the research necessary to understand Burlington’s early learning landscape and evaluate approaches for a way forward. 

As part of that effort, Jessica Nordhaus conducted extensive interviews and coordinated three stakeholder meetings through the first half of 2014 to solicit input from parents, childcare providers, practitioners from the education and health communities, advocates, early education specialists, impacted community organizations from Spectrum to the United Way, advocates, state and local officials, and community members about the challenges of early childhood education in Burlington.  These stakeholder meetings included a presentation from former Oak Park, IL Mayor David Pope on the success of the early learning initiative developed in Oak Park, and extensive collaboration across the Burlington early learning community to better understand the local situation.  In fall 2013, the Mayor’s Office worked to coordinate the community findings with State partners to ensure the pilot initiative was aligned with other State efforts.

In addition researching the St. Paul early learning model, other reviewed models included: Oak Park, IL; Salt Lake City, UT; San Antonio, TX and Oklahoma’s statewide effort to provide free prekindergarten to all four year-olds.  In Utah, the local United Way partnered with the school district and a nationally prominent investment firm to create an early education program and an associated study to demonstrate savings to the State.  The study found that 30 percent of low-income three–year-olds ended up in special education programs in Utah, but 95 percent of those involved in the early education initiative avoided special education requirements, saving Utah about $2,600 per child each year. 

*Please see the following documents by clicking on the links below:

• White Paper
• List of Advisory Board members

# # #

• FY12 audit found 27 deficiencies, including 12 material weaknesses; and
• FY14 audit found 9 deficiencies, including 4 material weaknesses; and
• Auditors indicated progress being made on a majority of these 9 deficiencies.

• GAAP, the standard framework of guidelines for financial accounting, requires any receivable unlikely to be realized within one year to be written down.
• While the Blue Water agreement negotiated by the City to resolve the BT lawsuit has, for the first time since the BT crisis began, given the City a route to partial recovery of the $16.9 of taxpayer funds improperly spent on BT, the agreement makes it clear that any repayment is multiple years away.  To continue to show the receivable would be inconsistent with GAAP and, therefore, state statue, which recommends that municipalities conform to GAAP.
• The write-down has no legal or practical impact on the City’s efforts to recover as much as possible of the taxpayer money spent improperly on BT through the terms identified in the Blue Water agreements.
• A decision by the City not to write-down the BT receivable would materially complicate and negatively impact the City’s efforts to secure credit rating upgrades and favorable bond financing.  Such a decision likely would result in additional costs to the taxpayers, while having no positive impact on the City’s efforts to secure repayment of taxpayer dollars spent on BT.
• The write-down has been recommended by the City’s auditor, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chair of the Burlington Telecom Advisory Board (BTAB), and the City’s BT business consultant Terry Dorman. (Please see attached CAO memo and BTAB Chair memo.)

• Fiscal Year 2014 Audit;
• Management Letter for the Year Ended June 30, 2014;
• Letter from CAO Bob Rusten to Board of Finance, dated January 21, 2015;
• Letter from BTAB Chair David J. Provost to Board of Finance, dated January 23, 2015; and
• Resolution Relating to Approval and Acceptance of FY 2014 Audit and Write-Down of Burlington Telecom Receivable (attached).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                  802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger Highlights Substantial Capital Improvements to City Buildings; Announces 82 Percent Increase in Sidewalk Funding

Improvements Signal Better Stewardship of City Assets, Make Buildings  More Energy Efficient; 10-Year Capital Plan to Responsibly Maintain City Assets Coming

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today highlighted more than $3.3 million worth of projects underway or completed in the past 13 months that make necessary repairs and energy efficiency improvements to City assets, and also announced $375,000 in additional sidewalk improvements funding for this spring.  These projects, along with previously announced Penny for Parks projects, represent important steps in a long-term effort to responsibly maintain the City’s many physical assets.  In the weeks ahead, the Administration will release a draft 10-year capital plan – the first ever systemic effort to guide, coordinate, and keep affordable the City’s investments over the next decade.                         

“Stewardship of both our City’s buildings and sidewalks is a fundamental responsibility of local government that we are focused on performing well,” said Mayor Weinberger.  “The improvements in our buildings will save taxpayer dollars, improve safety, and reduce our impact on the environment, and our substantial increase in sidewalk funding responds to the citizen concern that I hear most often.”

The Mayor and other stakeholders cut a ribbon at Fire Station #1, officially marking the completion of the installation of a new boiler and HVAC system and the repair of the station ramp.  The Central Station projects, which will save taxpayers over $12,000 annually, are emblematic of others recently completed across the City.   In total, the completion of more than 30 projects, from Roosevelt Park to Leddy Arena to Fletcher Free Library, signaled a renewed commitment to the long-term management of municipal assets.

“After many years of little investment, the improvements here to Station #1 help our department work more effectively to serve the residents of Burlington,” said Fire Department Chief Engineer Seth Lasker.  “Necessary improvements have been made at every station across the City, replacing inefficient boilers, upgrading windows, repairing roofs, adding insulation, and updating the lighting systems.”

Capital Improvements to City Buildings

Of the many different capital improvement projects, nine energy efficiency projects with a total cost of $662,000 offset by rebates of $25,000 will save taxpayers approximately $70,000 annually.  These projects were completed with the existing and previously underutilized budget for capital improvement.  As part of the improvement work, the City has conducted facility assessments of every building, City sidewalks, garages, and other municipal capital assets to help form the foundation of Mayor Weinberger’s 10-year capital plan.  The capital plan will provide the City with a schedule to make efficient reinvestments in its infrastructure.  In addition to planning for capital reinvestments, City Departments have improved preventative maintenance protocols to reduce future capital costs.  These improvements and progress were realized through the Mayor’s directive to create the new Capital Improvement Project Manager position at the Department of Public Works (DPW) and would not have been possible without the collective efforts and leadership of Martha Keenan, hired 13 months ago to fill the newly-created role, City Engineer Norm Baldwin, and DPW Director Chapin Spencer.  The work already is having an impact on City buildings like Fletcher Free Library (FFL).

“New lighting, painting, and carpeting in the Fletcher Free Library are long overdue,” said FFL Director Rubi Simon.  “Our aim is to make the library a more welcoming and safe space for Burlington families and residents.  Capital improvements carried out last year and the ones planned for this year demonstrate the City’s commitment to sustaining our public library.”

Additional Sidewalk Funding

The $375,000 sidewalk funding increase to support work this spring was made possible by the prioritization of this critical need in response to public concerns.  Combined with a separate $49,000 funding increase last fall, the total increase in funding of $424,000 represents an 82 percent increase in DPW’s average annual sidewalk budget of $515,000. Additional resources will continue to be available in future years for sidewalk improvements through the downtown tax increment financing district.  The Administration also has brought forward a Great Streets ballot item for Town Meeting Day to rebuild the sidewalks on St. Paul and Main Streets and South Winooski Avenue as the first phase of an effort to use tax increment financing (TIF) funding to restore and improve sidewalks throughout much of the downtown. DPW also contracted for an assessment of all 127 miles of City sidewalk.  That assessment, expected to be complete by the end of February, will help guide how the new resources are allocated to improving the City’s sidewalks.

“As both the Director of First Night and a resident of the New North End, I can tell you the importance of safe, warm buildings and good sidewalks,” said Ward 7 City Councilor Tom Ayres, a member of the City Council’s Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee.  “We need good infrastructure – maintained in a cost-effective way – to bring people to our great events, keep people connected in our neighborhoods, and build an inclusive community.”

Ralph Montefusco, Chair of the City’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility, noted the benefits this work would have for all residents, stating:  “Systematic reinvestment in our community’s sidewalks has a tangible benefit for all residents – it improves mobility for many and makes the City more inclusive.”

Promoting a More Walkable, Livable City of Burlington

The new sidewalk funding also contributes to Mayor Weinberger’s efforts to earn the City national recognition as a Gold-level Walk Friendly and Bike Friendly Community. 

“The Mayor’s emphasis on infrastructure improvements is important to the Chamber and its members,” said Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Torti.  “Well-maintained City buildings, and high-quality sidewalks, become in effect the face of our community to the many tourists who visit Burlington.” 

“Burlington's investment in sidewalks has already increased the attractiveness and livability of this City,” said Local Motion Executive Director Emily Boedecker.  “More than 20 percent of residents now commute on foot, a higher percentage than any other mid-sized city evaluated in a 2014 national report from the Alliance for Biking and Walking.  The City’s wise investment in maintaining and completing the sidewalk network will continue to yield economic and community benefits.”

“I am pleased with the progress Team DPW has made in establishing systems for the long-term care of our municipal assets, and look forward to what we can accomplish with these new resources,” said DPW Director Spencer. “Sidewalks are something our community prioritizes, and a good pedestrian network will improve the quality of life in the City.”

*Please see the Capital Improvement Project List, available here.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 8, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                    802.735.7962

Moody’s Investors Service Characterizes Dismissal of BT Lawsuit as Credit Positive

Burlington, VT – Moody’s Investors Service today published its US Public Finance Weekly Credit Outlook, including a feature article that addresses the effect of the dismissal of the Burlington Telecom lawsuit as credit positive.  The article specifically states: “The dismissal is credit positive for the city because it effectively ratified a settlement reached between the city and the complainant Citibank, N.A….last February, which is favorable to the city.”

“Last Friday, we definitively ended a long and unfortunate chapter in the City's history by securing a dismissal of the Burlington Telecom-Citibank lawsuit,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger.  “Now, the expected improvement of Burlington’s standing in the financial markets has begun.  Over time, completing the settlement will keep millions of dollars in the pockets of Burlingtonians.  We have proven ourselves to be a community that can work together to overcome its toughest challenges.”

On April 14, 2014, Moody’s published a Ratings Report, in which it improved Burlington’s credit rating outlook to “stable” – revising the City’s rating to “Baa3 stable” from “Baa3 negative.”  One highlight of that report was Moody’s listing the “[c]losing of BT settlement without alteration of current terms”  as a factor that “would make the rating go up” in the future.

*Moody’s Investors Service feature article about dismissal of BT lawsuit as credit positive from January 8, 2015 issue of US Public Finance Weekly Credit Outlook is available here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 5, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                 802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement on Burlington Homicide and Investigation

On behalf of the City, I offer condolences to the family and friends of Kevin Deoliveira.  Chief Schirling has been keeping me informed about the investigation since its opening hours, and I have seen the large, focused investigative team at work.  At a time when Burlingtonians have concerns and questions about this homicide happening in our community, it is reassuring to know we have such a skilled team working hard to get to the bottom of this terrible event and bring those responsible to justice.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 2, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                 802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Announcing Completion of Settlement Agreement in Burlington Telecom Lawsuit

At a news conference this afternoon, Mayor Miro Weinberger delivered the following statement about the completion of the Settlement Agreement in the Burlington Telecom lawsuit:
 

Good afternoon and happy New Year. Thank you for joining us.

For the City of Burlington, the start of the New Year is an especially happy time.  Earlier this afternoon, the final steps were taken to complete the Settlement Agreement in the Burlington Telecom lawsuit with Citibank. 

We now have definitively ended a long and unfortunate chapter in our City’s history, and Burlingtonians can welcome 2015 knowing that the dark cloud of the $33.5 million Citibank lawsuit is gone and that taxpayers have been absolved from any further liability. 

Together, we – the Administration, the City Council, and the people of Burlington – have tackled and addressed the mistakes of the past.

Since 2009, the lawsuit has hung over this City, threatening our financial future, dividing the community, and diverting us from other, critical efforts to improve the lives of Burlingtonians.  The lawsuit drove our City’s credit rating down to the edge of junk bond status and had begun to undermine the foundation of our City’s greatness.

Last February, after nearly two years of focus by this Administration and a second two-day mediation, we reached a Settlement Agreement with Citibank that offered a path to resolving the lawsuit in a way that met all of the City’s goals.  The agreement protects taxpayers, saves from destruction a public utility that provides critical services to thousands of Burlington residents and businesses, preserves competition for those services to the benefit of Burlingtonians, and creates a route for partial recovery over time of the $17 million of taxpayer money spent on BT prior to 2010. 

While reaching a Settlement Agreement created a clear path to resolution of the lawsuit, that path was steep and perilous, and it was far from certain that we would arrive at today’s conclusion.  We worked hard throughout the entire year to secure the necessary approvals to complete the settlement.  Those months of critical work continued until nearly 11 PM on New Year’s Eve and resumed again early this morning.  And this afternoon, Citibank provided a release from any further liability, and this document – stipulating to the dismissal of the lawsuit – has been filed with the court this afternoon. 

This work has been led by City Attorney Eileen Blackwood, Chief Administrative Officer Bob Rusten, and BT General Manager Stephen Barraclough and his partner Terry Dorman. On behalf of the people of Burlington, I want to offer my deepest thanks to these talented and committed public servants – we are very fortunate to have had them fighting for us during these tense and momentous months.

• Thank you to our team of lawyers (Thomas Melloni, Kim Hayden, AJ LaRosa, Mark Heath, Jennifer McDonald), the members of the Burlington Telecom Advisory Board (citizen members David Provost, David Parker, and Pat Robins, and City Council members President Joan Shannon, Karen Paul, and Vince Brennan),  and all our City Councilors  for the enormous efforts to get to today.
   
• Thank you to the BT team members, who have been working on the ground and in the trenches to turn around BT and made this day possible through their hard work and commitment.  Exciting opportunities now lie ahead for BT, and on another day soon, we will hear more about this.
   
• And, thank you to the people of Burlington, who made today happen by sticking with BT, supporting the Fiscal Stability Bond that laid the groundwork for a settlement, and supporting this resolution.

*Please see attached Citibank-City of Burlington Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice.

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