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Listening Sessions About Homelessness
Montpelier’s City Council and Homelessness Task Force is evaluating the state of homelessness and the housing insecure in Washington County. As part of that, they are conducting listening sessions on Dec. 22 for the community.
“We want to hear your feedback, ideas, and insights regarding the terrible and increasingly bleak situation for the unhoused and those who are housing insecure. Washington County currently has 450 unhoused and housing-insecure individuals,” stated a flyer promoting the sessions.
The sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 22. The 12 p.m. session is by Zoom, and the 6:30 p.m. session will meet in the Memorial Room at city hall. Go to montpelier-vt.org/129/Agendas-Minutes for Zoom login info.
The city asks those planning to attend in person to email dantowle@comcast.net, so he can get a head count for catered refreshments.
—Cassandra Hemenway
Montpelier Ponders New Local–Option 1% Sales Tax
Montpelier city councilors began discussing whether to implement a new 1% local-option sales tax. They have until Jan. 26 to decide whether to add it to the annual city meeting ballot. Hearings are scheduled for Jan. 11 and Jan. 26 on both the budget and items like this. In order to implement such a local sales tax, a vote of the public is required to amend the city’s charter and the charter change must be approved by the legislature. According to the city manager’s report, the tax would bring in about $1.5 million in non-property tax revenue, equal to about 15% of the current property taxes. It would also generate income from non-residents who use city services. A potential downside is a possible negative impact on local businesses, the “regressive nature of sales taxes,” and how much will be paid by local residents rather than visitors as well as by those with limited resources.
—Carla Occaso
Myranda Dewey Joins American Heart Association
Myranda Dewey of Barre Town recently joined the American Heart Association staff as a development director in Vermont and New Hampshire. This role involves working with local businesses and volunteers on events such as the Go Red for Women Luncheon and CycleNation to raise funds to support the association’s lifesaving research, advocacy, and educational efforts.
Dewey comes to the association from Norwich University, where she served as the assistant director of annual giving and brings a wealth of fundraising, event management, marketing, and sales experience. She is also a graduate of Norwich University and holds a Master of Science in organizational leadership and a Bachelor of Science in communications.
—press release
Bachman Wins John Dale Award
The American Institute of Architects, Vermont Chapter (AIAVT) announced Tom Bachman as the recipient of its 2022 John Dale Thinker and Collaborator Award.
This peer nomination award recognizes an AIAVT member architect who dedicates their time both to the profession and to their community, and who is a thoughtful leader and an advocate for diversity and social equity.
Bachman is a founding partner of Montpelier-based gbArchitecture, and has volunteered at the regional homeless shelter Good Samaritan Haven for over 20 years and served on its board of directors.
“Tom has a deep commitment to helping the homeless in central Vermont. He has worked in a pro-bono fashion for over 20 years in a number of capacities with homeless issues … (and) has volunteered at Good Sam for many years in many ways, including providing free architectural services, providing meals, fundraising, and serving as overnight supervision. Tom is a tireless volunteer for finding solutions for all issues regarding the homeless population in our state.”
The AIAVT will make a monetary donation to the charitable organization of the award recipient’s choosing. Bachman has expressed his desire that the $1,500 donation go to the Good Samaritan Haven.
—press release
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