Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of David E White, FAICP as the acting Director of the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO), replacing the outgoing interim CEDO Director, Neale Lunderville. White has served as Burlington’s Planning and Zoning Director for 11 years, after having been the City’s Assistant Planner for 12 years, and will continue serving as the Planning and Zoning Director for the duration of this appointment. White was recently named to the American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows.
“I am pleased that David has agreed to serve in this capacity during this transition,” said Mayor Weinberger. “David is a dedicated public servant, with outstanding institutional knowledge, community respect, and commitment to making Burlington a vibrant, affordable, and sustainable City.”
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work more closely with the CEDO team,” said White. “They are extremely dedicated to this city and their mission, and I have deep respect for the passion they bring to making Burlington the most livable, just, and connected community in America. Over the coming weeks we will work together to advance their new strategic plan, and secure the resources necessary to ensure CEDO’s capacity to create more housing and economic opportunity.”
There was no mention in the press release of where Lunderville is going. In an email exchange between VBM and the mayor's office, it appears they don't know either. He had served as general manager under Weinberger at the Burlington Electric Department from July 2014 and earlier this year moved over to take the CEDO job in City Hall. When he took the CEDO job in May, Lunderville said he only would serve until December and not seek the job permanently.
As for White, he played a leadership role in the proposal to create a new Permitting and Inspections Department, which was forwarded by the City Council at its December 17 meeting with a 10-2 vote to Burlington’s Town Meeting Day ballot. As part of the process to shift the City’s zoning responsibilities and staff to this new department, the Administration has proposed that Planning remain a stand-alone Department co-located with CEDO, which would help join together the development of plans and policies (Planning) with a key partner in their implementation (CEDO).
This proposal would bring together two departments with overlapping missions and functions and institutionalize current collaborations and relationships, creating efficiencies and expanding capabilities and effectiveness. As a function of the plans to co-locate CEDO and Planning, White has already been involved with CEDO’s Strategic Planning and the efforts to revitalize and strengthen CEDO.
In coming weeks, the City will publicly post the CEDO Director position and conduct a national search for a permanent CEDO Director.