It’s that time of year again. Tuesday, March 4 is Town Meeting Day, when Vermonters across the state will convene to discuss and vote on important issues within their communities. 

The Queen City is no exception. Burlingtonians will flock to the polls on Tuesday to vote on council races and dictate how the city will handle certain problems. 

Here’s the lowdown on the council races and the ballot questions that voters will consider. 

City Council races

There are only two contested City Council races on Tuesday, but make no mistake: Democrats and Progressives are engaged in a dogfight for control of the council.

With the current count on the council being 7-5 in favor of the Democrats, two wins for the Progressives would shift the balance of power on the council. 

In the East District, which includes the student-heavy Wards 1 and 8, Democrat Allie Schachter and Progressive Kathy Olwell will battle for the district’s vacant seat. 

In the South District, which was the longtime home of current council member and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Joan Shannon, Progressive Jen Monroe Zakaras and Democrat Ranjit “Buddy” Singh will clash to replace her. 

Mark Barlow, a Democrat, and Melo Grant, a Progressive, are both running unopposed for seats they currently hold in the North and Central districts, respectively. 

Unsurprisingly, housing is an issue that tops all of the candidates’ priorities. 

The low vacancy rate has long been a problem in the city. A 2023 City of Burlington Housing Report found that Burlington’s rental vacancy rate is at less than 1%, well below the national average and a healthy vacancy rate, which is rated at 4%.

The same report found that 33% of renters in Burlington spend more than half of their income on rent. 

Olwell and Schachter both list housing as their top issue on their website.

Schachter, who is the director of development at the Flynn Performing Arts Center, has said that she wants to hold UVM accountable to provide more on-campus housing and ensure high-quality rental standards for landlords in the city. 

Olwell, a retired school counselor, has said she will establish rent controls over landlords and advocate for mixed-use zoning, which would allow multiple types of development, such as residential and commercial, to coexist in the same area. 

However, Olwell and Schachter differ on what they see as the most pressing issues facing the East District. 

Olwell wants to take aim at what she sees as a “monopoly on healthcare” by the UVM Health Network. Olwell has criticized the organization for overcharging its patients and blames such practices for contributing to property tax increases over the last few years. 

Schachter is making Burlington’s law enforcement a priority of her campaign. The Democrat wants to ensure that the department is “properly staffed, trained, and supported while maintaining transparency and rebuilding trust,” according to her campaign website. 

Down in the South District, Zakaras and Singh also list housing as a major priority, largely agreeing on many approaches to tackling the issue. 

Both candidates support preserving inclusionary zoning, a practice that requires that a portion of all new housing developments be set aside for affordable housing, and are for the use of mixed-use zoning as well. 

Zakaras, a public health researcher, supports instituting protections for renters against rent prices and no-cause evictions. Singh, a loan officer, also supports projections for renters. 

However, the candidates differ on their approaches to public safety. 

Singh supports further recruitment and retention efforts for the city’s police forces, whereas Zakaras wants to take a more communal approach to public safety. 

The Progressive wants to combine the efforts of police, social workers, mental health practitioners and other first responders into a more restorative justice approach. 

Both Zakaras and Singh support expanding access to substance abuse treatment and related services. 

See the Cynic’s recent coverage of a Feb. 25 climate change-centric City Council public forum for more information on the candidates’ policy stances. 

Ballot Questions

Several questions are on the ballot for this year’s town meeting day. Here are some of the key issues that may affect students.

Firearms

In the wake of the Red Square shooting in August 2024, firearms have been a topic of much discussion in Burlington. Ballot question 5 considers a charter change that would ban firearms in any establishment that holds a liquor license.

Exceptions to this provision would apply to law enforcement officers, members of the armed forces, and government officers or agents if carrying a firearm is within the scope of their duties.

Additionally, the establishment’s owner would be permitted to possess a firearm, so long as they are not prohibited from possessing or carrying the weapon under any other law.

Rental Notifications

Question 7 on the ballot considers requirements for residential landlords to provide tenants notice prior to termination of residential tenancies. 

This includes requirements for the contents and timing of the notices. Tenants would also be asked to provide landlords notice prior to termination of tenancies.

Furthermore, these notices may include special requirements for elderly tenants, tenants with disabilities and low-income tenants.

“To prohibit increases in rent or other changes in lease terms for rental housing within the City without advance written notice. The timing, contents, and manner of giving such notice may include special notice requirements for vulnerable populations,” the question asks.

Wastewater and Drinking Water

Question 3 asks voters to direct funds to update the city’s wastewater and stormwater systems, a project that is estimated to require $152 million.

Question 4 asks if the city should use city funds to improve drinking water utility projects. The project is estimated to cost around $20 million. 

How to vote on Town Meeting Day

Out-of-state students can vote in Vermont as long as they consider their abode their primary residence. They can register to vote at their home address or where they attend school. However, they can only be registered and vote in one location, according to the Campus Vote Project’s website.

Registering in Vermont for the first time? Registration can be completed in person, by mail or online. One must present a valid photo ID, a bank statement, a utility bill or a government document, according to the Secretary of State’s website. 

In Vermont, voters can register leading up to and on election days, according to the website.

For further information on polling places, visit Burlington’s elections website here.