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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - City Charter Committee - 10/16/2024 CITY CHARTER COMMITTEE 16 OCTOBER 2024 The South Burlington City Charter Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, at 5:30 p.m., in Library Conference Room, City Hall, 180 Market Street. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: A. Lalonde, Chair; P. Taylor, D. Kinville, H. Rees, K. Bailey, W. Coleman ALSO PRESENT: J. Baker, City Manager, C. McNeil, City Attorney, P. Engels, E. Fitzgerald 1. Agenda Review: Additions deletions or changes in order of agenda items: No changes were made to the Agenda. 2. Comments and Questions from the Public not related to the Agenda: There were no comments or questions. 3. Minutes of 30 September 2024: Mr. Taylor moved to approve the Minutes of 30 September 2024 as presented. Mr. Coleman seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor. 4. Discussion and possible approval of an All Resident Voting response to the City Council: Ms. Lalonde said the Committee could vote on the information it has so far or it could postpone a potential public vote until the 2026 Town Meeting election. In the latter case, the Committee would want to start earlier, but sometime after the 2025 Town Meeting, with community engagement and interviews with officials from other communities. Mr. Coleman agreed the Committee couldn’t do anything intelligent for the 2025 Town Meeting election. Members were OK with eliminating the first option. Ms. Lalonde then directed attention to the list of information the Committee needs, including interviews with poll workers, the number of non-citizens who qualified to register to vote, the number who actually registered, and the number who voted. Ms. Fitzgerald asked about people who are houseless. Ms. Kinville said they can indicate where they “reside.” Mr. Taylor said they should have some contact information. Ms. Lalonde drew attention to the information Ms. Kinville had gotten from Town Clerks. Burlington had 1450 people qualify as non-citizen voters, 7% of whom registered, and 6.5% who actually voted. Winooski had 900 people qualify, 54, 25, and 16 who voted in the 3 most recent elections. In Montpelier, 900 people qualify, 18 registered, and 5, 8, and 13 voted in the 3 most recent elections. A question of having interpreters was raised, and there was a recommendation to translate ballots into 14 languages. It was noted that Burlington provides sample ballots in 6 or 7 languages which people who are not secure in English can refer to. There is also a question of having to print separate ballots for State/Federal elections when there is a local item that could fit on the main ballot. It was noted that in the upcoming election, Burlington did not do this. The local items are on the main ballot, and non-citizen voters will have a separate ballot for the 2 local items. Regarding checklists, Ms. Kinville noted the State voter checklist does not all non-citizens, so for those non-citizen voters, it is a manual process. On Election Day, there would have to be care taken to be sure voters were handed the correct ballot. Mr. Taylor said that without non- citizens on the State checklist, it would not be possible to see if a non-citizen voted in another town. Ms. Lalonde noted that part of the Committee’s report will include the fact that there is still a legal challenge to Burlington’s non-citizen voting process, focusing on the question of whether non-citizens should be able to vote on a school budget which, the appellants say is a State concern. The question then arose as to how to fill the vacancy on the City Charter Committee. Mr. Taylor said he wouldn’t want a non-citizen at this time. Ms. Kinville said resident can be on a committee. Mr. Taylor said he wouldn’t ask for a non-citizen. Ms. Fitzgerald said it would be good to know what skills the Committee would be looking for. Ms. Bailey questioned whether the committee is representative of South Burlington. The median age in the city is 38 which isn’t representative of people on the committee. She suggested a student, non-citizen or new citizen. Ms. Kinville said it’s also a question of who applies to be on committees. Mr. Taylor noted there had been a student on the committee for a long time, and he was very welcome. Ms. Fitzgerald noted the Council has renewed a search when there wasn’t a candidate who met the criteria. Ms. Lalonde reminded members that whoever the appointee is, he or she would remain on the committee for other issues as well Ms. Fitzgerald said there could be a citizen petition for non-citizen voting. Mr. McNeil said it would take 5% of legal, registered voters to get it on a ballot. The timelines are the same as for the City Council including 2 public hearings. The language of the petition has to be the exact language that would be on the ballot. It would have to reach the Council before the 16 December Council meeting in order to have a chance to meet the deadlines for the March 2025 ballot. Ms. Rees noted that if digital signatures are allow, it would be a “game-changer,” and the City could wind up with an election every 60 days. As there was no further business to come before the Committee, Mr. Taylor moved to adjourn. Ms. Lalonde seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.