Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, November 17, 2025, the Burlington City Council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the City Charter to permanently establish an Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB). This clears the way for residents to vote for this Charter amendment on 2026 Town Meeting Day, March 3, 2026.
Voters will be asked to approve whether the City of Burlington shall form a REIB Office and establish a REIB Director. The Director role shall be a senior leadership position that reports directly to the Mayor.
The REIB Director role shall also be a permanent City position and not a political appointed role – a decision that reflects community feedback that the position, and by extension the office, should be integrated into the core functions of city operations.
The Office of Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak worked with Interim REIB Director, Christian Berry, and current REIB Director, Dr. Kelli Perkins, to put forth the request for the Charter change. This fulfills the Mayor’s long-standing commitment to elevating the work of this office, first established in 2019, and to deepening the City’s commitment to racial equity, inclusion and belonging.
Embedding the REIB Office in Burlington’s City Charter would ensure a long-term, accountable commitment to racial and social equity across all areas of city governance. It would also strengthen public trust and ensure that equity considerations, data-driven evaluation, and community input remain integral to city policies and decision-making. This comes at a critical time when diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack throughout the country.
Per the Charter Change process, two public hearings will be convened before Town Meeting Day on January 20, 2026 and January 22, 2026, at City Hall (details forthcoming). After the public vote, any charter amendment approved by voters must then be approved by the Vermont State Legislature (and signed by the governor) before it becomes officially part of Burlington’s City Charter.
11.21.2025. BURLINGTON, Vt – Office of Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
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