Ballots will be in mailboxes soon and question 7 asks voters to approve a charter change that would create a new Community Control Board to oversee our local police, with both investigative and disciplinary authority This question is on the ballot as a result of a community petition effort by an organization named People for Police Accountability that was able to get at least 5% of city voters to sign their petition.

Those of us on the City Council who do not support this proposal believe that the new board as proposed is problematic in a number of ways, the worst being that it would make retention of current police officers and recruitment of new officers more difficult at a time when we are just beginning to make progress rebuilding our police department. We support alternative ways to increase oversight without risks to department staffing levels. We are urging Burlingtonians to vote No on question 7.

Councilors who support the ballot measure and the petition effort by People for Police Accountability, believe that the proposed Community Control Board is the right oversight model for Burlington.

Charter change proposals can be found on the City website at the following link and the full text of the Community Control Board change starts on page 9. The full text should be read to understand and appreciate the full impact of this proposal.

https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CT/Sample-Ballots-Warnings-and-Notices

To help inform your vote on this crucial and divisive issue, The Vermont Institute of Community and International Involvement (VICII) will sponsor a two-episode series of discussions with City Councilors representing both views.

On Wednesday February 15th at 6:00PM, Councilor Gene Bergman (P) will present the pro argument in this ballot item.

On Wednesday February 22nd at 6:00PM, Councilor Ben Traverse (D) will articulate the opposing view.

Attend In-Person: AALV, 20 Allen Street, Burlington

Attend by Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87609369473?pwd=eHltQXpHVXNiNDZoLytpTjVHRkpPUT09
Meeting ID: 876 0936 9473
Passcode: 782781

Event Info

Dec 29, 2024, 1 to 3 PM

Dec 30, 2024, 1:15 to 2:15 PM

Dec 30, 2024, 7 to 8:15 PM