Peter Clavelle wins Champlain College award

At Champlain College's Commencement Ceremony on May 6, the private college presented its Distinguished Citizen Award to Peter Clavelle, the former mayor of Burlington.
The ceremony was presided over by Bob Allen, the chairman of the Champlain's Board of Trustees, and President Dave Finney. Allen said Clavelle has demonstrated exceptional personal and professional achievement, a strong record of community service and dynamic leadership.
Peter Clavelle was Mayor of Burlington for 15 years, the longest tenure of any mayor in the city's history. In September he decided not to run for another term, and just a few weeks ago, he handed over the keys of the city to a new mayor, Bob Kiss.
"Peter has said that he just wanted to quietly ride off into the sunset, but many people in our community feel moved to make sure he rides off knowing how much we appreciate what he's done for our city," Allen said. "His accomplishments are numerous, their effects far-reaching."
Under Clavelle's watch, Burlington implemented a nationally recognized community-based policing program, purchased nearly 60 acres of waterfront land and enhanced it for public use, established a Community Justice Center, developed Burlington Telecom's fiber-optic network to provide state-of-the-art telecomm services, and constructed a new sewage treatment system-the largest environmental protection project in Vermont's history.
During the Clavelle era, Burlington increased public transportation, improved the Old North End, expanded the Burlington International Airport, and partnered with other organizations to protect and improve Lake Champlain. Because of the City's work in the area of affordable housing, the National Housing Institute also recognized Clavelle as 'one of the country's best elected officials when it comes to securing decent housing for all.'
"Even the editors of national publications have noticed Burlington's virtues, naming it among the nation's most livable and healthy small cities," Allen said.
In the early-1990s, during the only two-year term that he did not win during his long run in City Hall, Clavelle started a consulting firm specializing in community development policy and planning. This work would take him to places like Brazil, the Gaza Strip and Grenada. His experience led him to chair the Institute for Sustainable Communities, which promotes environmental protection and participatory decision-making in Central and Easter Europe, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union. Today, Clavelle is taking his skills to the private sector to work for a Burlington-based firm called A.R.D., which assists in community development around the globe.
Founded in 1878, Champlain College celebrated its 128th Commencement on May 6. The private, baccalaureate institution offers career-oriented programs in business, technology and human services balanced by a liberal arts foundation. Students earn master's, bachelor's and associate's degrees and professional certificates in 29 fields.
Previous winners of the annual Champlain College Distinguished Citizen Award have included Edwin Colodny, Gretchen Morse of the United Way, U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, and former State Senator and Representative Sallie Soule.