H.448 - AN ACT RELATING TO APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BURLINGTON
PASSED
in the State House of Representatives
on February 22, 2022, by a vote of
96-47
Purpose: H.448 would approve 4 amendments to Burlington’s city charter:
- Establish a system of ranked choice voting for the election of Burlington’s City Councilors
- Authorize Burlington’s City Council to “prohibit the eviction of residential tenants without just cause”
- Authorize Burlington’s City Council to regulate “thermal energy systems in residential and commercial buildings”
- Expand the Board of (Burlington’s) Airport Commissioners to include an additional 1 voter from Winooski and 1 from Burlington
Those voting YES wish to echo constituent desire to make Burlington as “sustainable as possible.”
Those voting NO objected to H.448’s third amendment “regulating thermal energy systems,” believing it could worsen Vermont’s housing shortage. Burdensome housing regulations in Burlington could lead to reduced housing supply across Vermont. Any legislation meant to address a state priority like climate change should be done across the state, rather than in one municipality. Especially if it interferes with another priority like housing.
As Recorded in the House Journal, for Tuesday, February 22, 2022: “Shall the bill be amended as recommended by the Committee on Government Operations?, was decided in the affirmative. Yeas, 96. Nays, 47.” (Read the Journal, p. 404 - 406).
Watch the floor debate on Youtube (representatives R. Hooper, Ode and Donahue).
How They Voted
(Click on your Rep’s name to send an email)
Sally Achey (R - Middletown Springs) – NO |
William Lippert (D – Hinesburg) – YES Curtis McCormack (D – Burlington) – YES Kirk White (P/D - Bethel) – YES Rebecca White (D – Hartford) – YES Dane Whitman (D - Bennington) – YES Terri Lynn Williams (R - Granby) – NO Theresa Wood (D – Waterbury) – YES David Yacovone (D – Morristown) – YES Michael Yantachka (D – Charlotte) – YES |
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