Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Mayors Coalition (VMC) on Thursday introduced the new members of the Vermont Mayor’s Coalition and announced its 2019 legislative session goals and its commitment to collaborate on and advocate for these areas of common interest for their cities. At a news conference in the State House Cedar Creek Room, the Coalition released its legislative policy summary for the 2019 legislative session.
The VMC was created in 2013 by Vermont’s eight mayors. Six mayors must concur on any recommendation for the Vermont Mayors Coalition to take a position. The eight mayors of the VMC are:
· Lucas Herring, Barre;
· Miro Weinberger, Burlington.
· Anne Watson, Montpelier;
· Paul Monette, Newport;
· Dave Allaire, Rutland
· Tim Smith, St. Albans;
· Renny Perry, Vergennes; and
· Seth Leonard, Winooski.
The mayors offered the following statements about the issues of common interest they are collaborating on and advocating for during the 2019 legislative session:
Mayor Herring, Barre: "The Vermont Mayor's Coalition is working to attract people to live, businesses to start and grow, and community involvement throughout our beautiful state. We support investment in Vermont’s Downtown and Village Center Tax Credit program to create livable communities, as well as use a Homeowner Tax Credit pilot program to provide homeownership opportunities and improve our State's aging housing stock. We have taken steps in addressing drug issues and support additional work to provide treatment for those that need it. We are also supportive of programs to ensure the safety of our residents and prevent our youth from being exposed to addictive substances in the first place. The State is our partner, as are our neighboring cities and towns, and together we can improve Vermont’s quality of life.”
Mayor Weinberger, Burlington: “The Vermont Mayors Coalition has a strong history of successful advocacy on issues that are important to Vermonters, including gun violence reform, fighting the opioid crisis, and supporting affordable housing initiatives. I am looking forward to working with the new mayors in the coalition and our continued advocacy for strong cities and downtowns throughout the State. One of the most important things the State can do make Vermont homes more affordable is eliminating the redundant local and state permitting processes that add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of housing projects while adding little to no public value.”
Mayor Watson, Montpelier: “I'm looking forward to further conversations with all of the mayors in Vermont to continue work on issues that are common to our municipalities. The sustainability and financial viability of cities will be increasingly important as we feel the effects of climate change. The platform that we're advocating for today will move us toward more efficient, logical, and sustainable systems.”
Mayor Monette, Newport: "With the strong emphasis on our downtown centers, I strongly support revamping Act 250 to eliminate the duplication with our local zoning process. This not only costs developers money but adds to the time it takes to complete projects."
Mayor Allaire, Rutland: "I want to thank the Mayor's Coalition for the warm welcome I have received. I believe we are making great progress on the Governors Opioid Council,and thank the Mayor's for this appointment. The issue I am hearing most about is the Act 250 Commission Report and the fallout these recommendations could have for future development here in Vermont. I am very concerned about some of the positions the Commission is putting forward."
Mayor Perry, Vergennes: “I can’t over-emphasize the importance of more housing in and around our downtowns to maintain a sustainable economy, both for the downtown and the community as a whole. This is why it is vital to develop a process by which designated areas, especially downtowns, could be exempted from Act 250 requirements if the community has its own development review process. Act 250 can add significant costs to a project and in many cases tips the balance away from a project going forward. I wholeheartedly support the position of the Vermont Coalition of Mayors regarding this issue. I also strongly support an increase to the tax credit program. Vergennes has been a major beneficiary of this program in the rehabilitation of its downtown buildings, which has stimulated investment and the economic vitality of downtown, as well as making the downtown more aesthetically pleasing.”
Vermont Mayors Coalition
Legislative Session Goals
2019 Legislative Session
The Vermont Mayors Coalition (VMC) is advocating for State action to support municipalities in the following areas:
Act 250 and Downtown Tax Credits
In municipalities that have their own development review processes for projects, Act 250 permitting adds an additional, and often duplicative process for any types of development. These duplicative processes come at a significant cost for a project, and ultimately increase the cost of housing around the state. The mayors are supportive of process by which designated areas, especially downtowns, could be exempted from Act 250, both for future projects and retroactively.
Support a $250,000 increase in downtown and village center tax credits that offset the costs of rehabilitation and major investments in elevators, sprinklers and other code improvements needed to make downtown buildings safe and accessible. Vermont’s Mayors have seen firsthand how downtown tax credits positively affect communities and entire regions. The State historic tax credit program is one of the most effective redevelopment programs the State offers – with every dollar of tax credit leveraging an average of $17 in outside investment. These investments have helped transform communities – supporting new housing, attracting new businesses, fostering business expansions, and creating good jobs in downtowns and villages across the state. We are pleased that the Governor is committed to downtown revitalization and is continuing to make investments to make them stronger.
Clean Water
In 2015, the State of Vermont passed the landmark Vermont Clean Water Act (H.64), designed to protect Vermont’s lakes and streams from excess nutrients such as phosphorus.
After years of debate and attempts to come up with solutions, it is time for the legislature to bring this issue to conclusion and move forward decisively with clean water funding solutions. The Mayors strongly support the creation of a statewide Clean Water Authority to implement Vermont’s total management of daily load (TMDL) plan in a way that is effective, fair, and efficient.
The VMC remains strongly opposed to the State increasing the sales and use or rooms, meals, and alcoholic beverage taxes, as those are already primary sources of municipal revenue.
Environmental/Energy
Vermont has been a leader on climate change issues, including the formation of a Vermont Climate Pledge Coalition, where Vermont municipalities, non-profits, colleges and universities, businesses, and community members committed to reduce carbon emissions to help Vermont meet a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions levels from 2005 by 26-28% by 2025.
The mayors are supportive of efforts to continue investments in energy efficiency and clean energy efforts, including:
- Prioritize continued investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, to make electric vehicle alternatives even more desirable.
- Support initiatives and funding for energy-saving weatherization for Vermonters with low-incomes.
- Review the results of the impartial Joint Fiscal Office’s economic analysis on ways to decarbonize our economy and advance the policy that works best for Vermont to reduce carbon pollution, grow jobs, and protect the most vulnerable.
Police Regionalization
Very few municipalities pay for the cost of dispatch services, as the State of Vermont covers the costs through agreements or coverage is provided from Vermont State Police. Part of S.273 from the last session would have requiring the Department of Public Safety and the Vermont Enhanced 911 Board to consult with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns as an equal partner in order propose a plan that would result in a comprehensive, efficient, and equitably funded public safety dispatch system to dispatch law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services statewide. The mayors are supportive of efforts to have a legislative study to bring analytical capacity to this issue.
Source: Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Mayors Coalition (VMC) 1.31.2019