School Board Update I: 05.09.10

I’m just so sure there’s going to be a sequel, I’m labeling it “one.”

It’s a good thing I was elected to the school board. I’d like to thank again the 66 good people of Ward Seven who wrote my name in on town meeting day. Can you imagine winning a write-in election with a name like “Haik Bedrosian?” Only in Burlington.

So in a nutshell, I don’t trust superintendent Jeanne Collins as far as I can throw her, and I am deeply skeptical of most of the Board’s priorities. The end.

Just kidding. Of course, I’ll have to elaborate. I don’t have anything anything against Jeanne. She’s a fine person. Nothing is personal. But if you’ve ever read my blog before you may know that I believe any legislative body or member has a duty to hold its executive’s feet to the fire. That’s why I’ve been in favor of some of the city council’s recent moves to empower itself, such as hiring Dotty Cross’s husband to read over the budget for them.

You know I wonder if he might take a glance at the school budget sometime- I digress.

We had an incident the other day where the three new commissioners didn’t get Jeanne’s email about the hiring of new principals. Two of us, me and Jill Evans learned of the hires through constituents and media. We will be voting Tuesday to approve these hires. I had to ask Jeanne to send it to me, and when I asked why it had not been sent to me previously, she continued to obfuscate until I had to ask legal council to compel her answer. That’s when we found out that the email had not been sent to new members. It should not have been that hard to get the answer.

So I suppose I will vote Tuesday to rubber stamp these principal hires. To be honest I’m still learning how things work. I thought the only person the Board hired was the superintendent, and then she hired everyone else. But apparently the Board approves principals. Jeanne says she will furnish us with their resumes by Tuesday. I have no idea what their contracts look like, but I do know principals get paid a lot. We have several earning over one hundred thousand dollars per year. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with a resume I only get the day before or the day of the vote. I don’t have any resumes from competing candidates to compare them to. We will vote to rubber stamp Jeanne’s recommendations Tuesday, and I can’t say from my perspective that the hiring process is very transparant.

To wit- much of the attention focused on these hires at Tuesday’s meeting will be paid by those are rallying for a more diverse workforce in the Burlington School District. Members of the group Diversity Now foremost among them. These folks have been pinning their hopes on a process known as “affirmative recruitment” Jeanne has been working to implement in response to a mandate from the School Board that she make the staff more diverse. This group will be present to express their disappointment that neither principal we will be rubber stamping is a person of color.

Now in the superintendent’s defense- I think she’s been handed an impossible task and she’s trying to handle it the best way she can. This is what I wrote to Board chair Fred Lane this morning-

“I don’t really understand how the board can have a policy of “more diversity” and expect that the superintendent can impliment that. How is she supposed to do that short of instituting quotas? There’s no way. The board can pronounce that it values diversity, but it can’t mandate diversity. You can’t just say “make it happen” to the superintendent and expect that she can. How is she supposed to do that legally? She’s not casting a movie.

The best adminsitration might possibly do is create something like the equity council, but it’s a filter through which most will pass, and the persons of color who do will still have the odds against them in the final hiring round, as long as they remain the minority of remaining candidates. It’s going to waste a lot of good people’s time and will frustrate well intentioned people who put their hope in this process.”

The “equity council” is one element of the “affirmative recruitment” process. It’s a body made up of volunteer teachers and others who come together to judge a candidate’s “cultural competence,” a term I personally find to be undefinable and pretentious. They rate a candidate’s “cultural competence” on a scale of 0-5, with those scoring zero, not continuing to be considered for hire. Persons of color are just as subject to being excluded by this process as white people, and there is nothing about this process that guarantees anything. Its effects, if it has any will never be measurable. What can be measured, however, is the time and money spent on this endeavor.

Diversity is valuable and highly educational. If the two final candidates for a job were of virtually equal merit, and one was of color and one white, I and I’m pretty sure the District would choose the person of color for the job because diversity in and of itself is a plus. If the top two candidates are white, and the third best candidate if of color- I and I’m pretty sure the district, would have to hire the candidate of top merit, without regard to the color of her skin. If she’s white, so be it. Our duty is to educate kids- not cast a movie- as I mentioned to Fred.

Diversity is an American value. Our nation is the most diverse in the world. We are the melting pot, and learning from each other here in the new world is what has made America so great. I know this largely because my own father came to America on a boat that landed in Ellis Island in 1950. The people of Diversity Now and others who will be expressing their disappointment in the failure of this process to yield greater levels of diversity are well intended. They hold deep convictions about social equity and justice, and believe strongly in a vision of change. Most of us feel much the same way. But I’m afraid that neither Diversity Now or the School Board itself can simply demand “more diversity” and expect it will happen on command. It can’t work that way.

Jeanne continues to use the analogy that the “affirmative recruitment” endeavor is akin to ‘ fixing an airplane while flying.’ That may be an extremely apt metaphor. As anyone having anything to do with aviation will tell you- fixing a plane while in flight is the last thing you want to do. If you experience a problem in flight, you land your aircraft as soon as possible and deal with the problem on the ground.

As some readers may know, some south end parents are being asked to send their kindergartners to Wheeler Elementary in the old north end, instead of to either of the schools more proximate to their homes, Champlain or Edmunds. The superintendent reports there are more kindergartners signed up for the south end schools than the schools can accommodate.

As the father of a five year old about to start kindergarten in the fall, I think I would feel pretty upset if my boy were forced to go to Wheeler instead of to either of the schools closer to my home.

As a member of the School Board, I’m inclined to support any reasonable proposal that would allow families to send their kids to the schools in their own neighborhoods if they want to. I’m not sure the administration has any such options ready for the Board’s consideration, but that’s my general sentiment on the matter.

I think that in general, kids should attend the schools geographically closest to their homes. To me that’s just common sense.

Did you know that rep. Rachel Weston is on the Board of Trustees of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, and that Barbara Snelling is an honorary Board Member?

I just learned that from a fundraising letter I’m about to toss. I haven’t given money to Planned Parenthood for at least fifteen years, but they keep asking me to nonetheless. They do a lot of colposcopies for folks, and turn no one away for lack of money so they always need donations.

If you would like to donate to support their work you can at www.ppnne.org.

A million dollar difference
From: “Haik Bedrosian” View contact details

To: jbriggs@burlingtonfreepress.com
Cc: mtownsend@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com

Hi John (and Mike),

Please see the excerpts below from two stories you wrote. One was published today, and one was published yesterday. I have emphasized the type face in each regarding the amount BT owes the city. First of all, I believe the number is $17M, but yesterday you said $16M and today you said $15.

Did BT pay the city back a million dollars since yesterday?

Wondering,
Haik

******

Burlington City Council to consider department appointments
By John Briggs, Free Press Staff Writer • Monday, April 26, 2010

“The municipally owned Internet, telephone and cable TV provider is $50 million in debt and has no plan in place to erase the debt. Some $16 million is owed to the city, which used the money from 2007 to 2009 to sustain BT.

Burlington City Council seeks oversight
By John Briggs, Free Press Staff Writer • Tuesday, April 27, 2010

“The city-owned provider of Internet, telephone and cable television service is about $50 million in debt, with some $15 million owed to the city.”

http://politicsvermont.blogspot.com/

Breaking News

From a press release I received a few moments ago….

*****

For Immediate Release April 27, 2010

Peg Boyle Single to Run for Open House Seat in Chittenden 3-4

Burlington, VT – Peg Boyle Single has decided to run for the open house seat in Chittenden 3-4. Single has been involved in Burlington community issues in various ways and running for the open house seat is the next step in her public service. She is very proud to be serving as a Commissioner for Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library. She participated in the hiring process that resulted in Michael Schirling becoming the City of Burlington’s Police Chief. At the state-wide level, she served as the co-chairperson of the Evaluation Task Group of the Access to Early Care, Education and Prevention Sub-Committee of the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Youth from 2003 to 2004. She has been involved in local issues important to the citizens of Chittenden District 3-4, issues related to development and parking and she has participated as a community member at the Development Review Board and brought a petition forward to the Public Service Board.

Single said: “I am running to bring the voice of my district to Montpelier. I know that the people of my district think that health insurance and costs need to be reformed, Vermont Yankee should not be renewed after 2012, and we should continue to support local farmers and farmers markets. I am aligned with the voters of District 3-4 on these issues, and many others.”

While Single was a Research Associate Professor at the University of Vermont, she served as a consultant to the Vermont Agency of Human Services and specifically supported Vermont’s IDEA Part C program, better known as the Family, Infant and Toddler Program. She has extensive experience conducting programs and research in the fields of mentoring and diversity and helped to develop a large-scale electronic mentoring program (MentorNet.net) that supported women and minority students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As a Research Associate Professor, she wrote or co-wrote grants that brought in over $550,000 to the University of Vermont and she hired and supervised staff. Through this situation, she understands what it like is to create jobs, hire people, and be responsible for funding her own and other peoples’ salaries. Single served as an internal auditor for a savings and loan during the savings and loan crisis in the 1980’s, after receiving her undergraduate degree in accounting.

In reference to her experience, Single says: “The next two years will be important years for Vermont. I bring a unique background in business, human services, and education and so I will be able to speak to the important issues we will be facing regarding the budget, creating jobs, and health care.”

Single is currently a writer and a writing coach. Her first book Demystifying Dissertation Writing: A Streamlined Process from Choice of Topic to Final Text, was published by Stylus Publishing. Single writes a regular advice column for Inside Higher Education (http://www.insidehighereducation.com/advice/dissertation) titled “Demystifying the Dissertation.” In addition, she offers writing workshops to doctoral students and to faculty members. She has presented workshops at University of Virginia, George Mason University, the University of Vermont, University of São Paulo, Brazil and Stony Brook University, among others.

Single was an early supporter of Doug Racine for governor. “I want to be a member of the Vermont House of Representatives when Doug Racine is governor. He has the small business and legislative experience we need in the next governor. As governor, he will work with the legislature to provide affordable health care for all Vermonters.”

Single earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the George Washington University in 1985 and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1996. She is married to Richard M. Single, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Vermont.

TJ Donovan is running again for State’s Attorney and David Zuckerman is bowing out of the race for the Vermont House. Go TJ. Thank you for your service David.

*****

The New Moon Cafe event tonight for Philip Baruth’s Vermont senate campaign was nice. Nice to see Philip and Charity and Steve Benen. Steve won’t give me Rachel Maddow’s phone number.

Philip seemed a little disappointed that we aren’t seated next to each other on the School Board so I promised to text him the comments I would have made to him under my breath if we had been. I was probably kidding.

Last night I attended my first school board “Policy and Advocacy” committee meeting. Our committee is currently writing the district’s policy on the use of surveillance cameras in schools.

Breaking News: City Chief Administrative Officer Live on Channel 15 Now-

2:50pm- “All the Way to the Hamptons” I’m blogging live from the Channel 15 Studio Where I just officially met Jonathan Leopold for the first time in person. He’s inside now talking to Mike Jones about pooled cash in preparation for his half-hour appearance on “The Matty and Stech Variety Hour” airing live in five minutes. I am to be the show’s guest for the second half hour.

2:57pm- Matty, Mike Jones and Jonathan Leopold are in their places on the set. The introduction music is playing. A TV has been set up for me to be listening to the show and live blogging now. Phone calls will not be taken during the CAO’s segment, but will be turned on when I apppear…1 minute to air…

3:00pm- Has Leopold ever seen this show? It’s hard to believe he’s here about to do it. We’ll see if Mike Jones curses during the interview. He may not. I thought this was a bluff Like George’s “fake house in the Hamptons.” I guess not.

3:02pm- Matty says questions will be accepted by email. It’s getting difficult to hear. Question about BT from Matty- How did it go from ‘voter approved’ to partisan?

JL: BT 2 Phases- 2nd phase anticipated more customers faster and more profitability. Start up cost projections were unrealistic. “Shanahan Report” said Nulty left BT in bad financial shape. Comprehensive review of viability said BT viable with greater investment in time and money. Report shared with Board of Finance.

3:08pm- JL: Pooled cashed used, financing dried up. “It was a year and a half” until we were able to get funding. That was last November with Piper Jaffray deal.

3:09pm- about a third into it and Leopold has owned the show so far. Two more softball questions and his segment will be over. This may be a public relations coup, but it’s a risky move.

3:11pm- Mike Jones: “Was there any red flag that told you something was wrong with this investment?” (17 million to BT?) Matty: This investment compared to investments in Burlington Electric? JL: BT & BED different. Certificate of Public good does not level playing field with other carriers. Provision 60 says telecom can’t used pooled case for more than 60 days…

Mike Jones: How is Telecom going to pay back the seventeen million?
JL: Pooled cash like a checkbook
MT: I’m not clear- how severe of a crime is condition 60 violation.

3:14pm- A call is being taken after all- it sounds like Kurt Wright on the phone- Caller- Why did you not take the 17M loan to mayor and council more openly?
JL: Thanks caller for question- 1st background. There was not a decision at any point in time to loan BT 17 million. We were simply continuing to pay BT bills out of pooled cash as we had been from January to August 2007… Spring of 2008 economy and financial markets collapsed… This was not done in secret… Board of Finance knew in May 2008 BT was having trouble finding financing…

3:18pm- Leopold still talking about Board of Finance. He said the told BoF in November of 2008 BT owed pooled cash. No prospect of revenue bond…

3:20pm- Jonathan is two-thirds home- JL: unclear how much city council understood. Five new councilors. Lost four with experience. Problematic transition. Administration did not anticipate green council.

3:21pm- Mike Jones & Matty- What do you think of Ed Adrian calling for mayor to resign?
JL: BT has become a political issue and that’ s unfortunate. Council voted 13-1 to ask public service board to relax provision 60…

3:23pm- banter, banter, banter- Matty- How serious a violation is CPG violation?
JL: I’m not an attorney but- It’s a civil, not a criminal violation. First remedy is to cure violation. City brought issue to PSB. No doubt city is in violation…

3:25pm- MJ: People have said you should be out of a job- What’s your future?
JL: Preserve and protect Telecom- meet city’s challenges.

3:26pm- JL: Still have challenges with retirement system… MJ- “Scapegoat?” JL- I won’t be a scapegoat- complicated situation seeking simple story line- facts will vindicate administration-

3:28pm- Caller: BT as of 6/30/09 was negative 14.1 million- how much info was given to new councilors? What are real facts? How much info does council have? True BT debt may not be truley known?

3:30pm- Monday final audit will be published- will be similar to preliminary audit…
(Phone starting to ring off hook…) (Leopold talking interest rates over sound of ringing phone…)

3:32pm- failure of BT to complete city build-out another CPG violation. Exact BT debt not yet known.
MT: How long for return on investment and everyone being happy?
JL: Not that long….

3:33pm- Leopold is wrapping up his segment… I have to go on now…

Best I can remember, I’ve been to Washington D.C. five times. The first time was when I was ten with my mother and brother. It was the same month the Madonna Playboy came out. That trip was the first time I flew. This was my best DC trip. We saw the Air and Space Museum where I saw a Mercury capsule and touched a piece of the moon, went to the top of the Washington Monument, went to Mount Vernon, took the train to Chevy Chase by mistake, and ate the most delicious runny egg, toast with jelly and orange juice breakfast I’ve ever had in my life still to this day. God bless my mother.

I went again with my mom when I was fifteen or sixteen years old on a trip sponsored by “Salute to Teens Week.” Don’t ask me who funded it. I don’t know. That was my first time on a prop plane. Taking off from Burlington was crazy turbulent. I was listening to a Sinatra tape on my Walkman. During the bumpy and terrifying climb to our cruising altitude, “Strangers in the Night” was playing. When the flight started to smooth out above the clouds, “Summer Wind” began. Therefore I will always associate “Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra with serenity and magic. That trip I got to meet both Leahy and Jeffords. My mom took the last seat on the underground capitol train forcing John Glenn to walk. Years later I apologized to him for that on the phone.

Let’s see. I drove throught D.C. once on one of the long driving adventures I used to go on in my twenties. I remember driving around the capitol, parking and visiting Bernie’s office for no apparent reason.

Another time I had a night bus layover there for a few minutes when I got out and stretched and saw the capitol all lit up.

The last time I was there was about five years ago. Poopsie and I stayed in a hotel a couple of blocks from the white house on our way to Ben and Leanne’s wedding in South Carolina. We took a morning walk around the white house. We looked the statue of Alexander Hamilton on the lawn and Poopsie said he was hot.

Thank you for reading BurlingtonPol.com, the best damn blog in the world. Visit often!

Update: Three minutes after this post was published, it was the number 1 Google search result for the phrase “the best damn blog in the world” if you put the phrase in quotes. Crazy.

This looks like an interesting event, and it’s on a Saturday, so having a job might not necessarily preclude one’s attendance.

What: Geothermal Energy Roundtable with Senator Bernie Sanders and Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the United States Department of Energy

When: Saturday, April 17th at 1pm

Where: Contois Auditorium – Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, VT

The city council has hired George Cross to be its own budget analyst.

From John Briggs at The Burlington Free Press:

Cross said that with the system Burlington has, of an elected chief executive, “there are times when the City Council, in doing its due diligence on issues, has a need for someone who is an employee of the council rather than the administration.”

I have been suggesting that the council empower itself in ways like this for years. Good on them. I approve.

George Cross is the husband of Dorothy “Dottie” Cross, who was a close old friend of my mother Louise.

City Clerk Retires at Age 45

At Burlington Free Press John Briggs says:

“After more than 25 years of working for the city, I’ve decided it’s time to move on to seek new opportunities,” Pacy said in a news release. “I am appreciative of the opportunity I have had to work here and serve the people of Burlington.” He did not respond to requests for comments.

What the hell? He just barely had his legs under him in terms of running elections. Now who’s going to do it? Leopold?

Why is Pacy quitting? This is very vexing. Is working under Leopold horrible? Could that be it? Does it have something to do with Burlington Telecom? Is it just the strain of being the city clerk?

Sure he’s got a city pension and can retire if he wants, but why now?

Why?

Empire State of Mind by Jay Z and Alicia Keys

I’m glad I went and I’m grateful to Aram for inviting to ride down with him to New York City on Saturday. I hadn’t been to New York in three years, and I hadn’t really had a vacation in six, unless you want to count that week in Armenia last summer, three days of which I spent in the air. That was more a pilgrimage than a vacation.

NYC is always a bit of a pilgrimage to. I like to think about my ancestor who came to Ellis Island on a boat. That was my father in 1950.

It was a good thing I took today off too. Good to have a day to settle back in before returning to whatever it is I do for a living. I have a dental cleaning scheduled today as a nice way to top of my vacation. That’s right. For my vacation I dove straight into the center of humanity’s hustle and bustle and am topping it off with a trip to the dentist. That’s the way I roll.

So let’s look at some pictures of some of my dear friends in New York, shall we?

Ari and Eun at breakfast Easter Sunday

Here’s my friend Ari and his girlfriend Eun. We had breakfast at a trendy little brunch place. Eun is a dentist and Ari is an entrepreneur and inventor. Sometimes Ari works for other people too. He had a special Job interview Monday.

Leanne and Ben at Home on West 45th

Here are Ben and Leanne. They met about ten years ago and married, what? About five years ago? Poopsie and I attended their wedding in South Carolina. It was lovely. Ben and I have been friends since first grade. That’s thirty years to you.

The mysterious blogger Cassandra Jupiter and her husband Josh

Here is my friend Josh and his lovely wife Cassandra Jupiter. Josh was also in the same first grade class with me and Ben. Josh came in to Central Park with a posse of family eight deep, and met up with me, more friends, and more family there.

Left to right: Ben, Ari, Josh, Haik in Central Park 04.04.10

Looking for a restaurant that can seat 15

A candid moment

It was getting dark and I had to bail on the dinner posse. I took the 7 train out to Woodside to see my friend Mr. G.

G is a New York City school teacher of juvenile offenders at Rikers Island. A co-worker of his coined the term “Baby Mama Drama Bus” to describe the weekly busses that bring in the visiting mothers of the kids going to high school in prison there. G took me t shirt shopping in a relatively Indian neighborbood somewhere between Woodside and Jackson Heights.

From Mr. G’s I went to Times Square to meet up with our mutual friend Jude. (See the post Live From New York)

Jude Kiernan

And after I visited Jude and picked some of my stuff back up from Ari’s place, I caught back up with Aram and had the good fortune to visit with both Mahlon and Toby.

Left to Right: Mahlon, Toby and Aram

It was a wonderful trip and I’m glad I got to see all of these great friends. It was quite a thing to be in New York on its first gorgeous spring days.

New York is the melting pot and the most shining example of America’s great ideals.

Monday 12:22pm
I’m in New York City. I’ll finish this post when I’m back in Vermont.

Tuesday 11:41pm
I’m back in Vermont. Here’s a picture of me in Times Square yesterday, taken by my friend Jude Kiernan.

Jude studies “Moving Image Archiving and Preservation” at NYU and is helping to produce the seventh biennial Orphan Film Symposium. I thought that was pretty neat, so I decided to make a little orphan film of my own of Jude talking about orhpan films. It’s also the first YouTube video I’ve produced. Check it out.

From The Burlington Free Press on April 1, 2010

CARL M. BLUMBERG BURLINGTON – Carl M. Blumberg died suddenly on March 26, 2010, of natural causes at his Burlington home. He was born April 12, 1949, in New York City. He attended secondary school at Montclair High School, N.J. and Cheshire Academy, Conn. He attended Carroll College and graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in history. Carl made many friends and became a memorable part of the Burlington community. He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur A. and Sara Kramer Blumberg. He is survived by his brother, Jonathan O. Blumberg of East Vassalboro, ME; and a nephew, Cassidy Adam Holden. Graveside funeral services are at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 2, at Ahavath Gerim Cemetery, Patchen Road, South Burlington. Boucher & Pritchard Funeral Home, Burlington, is in charge of arrangements.

They want me to use the email “hbedrosian@bsdvt.org,” but I’m just not sure about doing that. I’m not going to be an employee of the school district. I’m going to be one of its overseers. Wouldn’t my current email address “haikbedrosian@yahoo.com” be better for that purpose?

Thanks for reading BurlingtonPol.com. Visit Often!

From: Haik Bedrosian [mailto:haikbedrosian@yahoo.com]
To: rholt@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
Subject: “Church Steeet Cam”
Hello,
I clicked on the “Church Street Cam” feature on the front page of your website, and its view is of College Street. You should probably rename the feature “College Street Cam” if you want to be accurate.
-Haik
******
RE: “Church Steeet Cam”
From: “Rebecca Holt”
To: “‘Haik Bedrosian’”
We appreciate the feedback and suggestion.
*****
From: “Farre, David”
To: “haikbedrosian@yahoo.com” , “Holt, Rebecca”
Haik,
You’re right! I’ve changed it to say College Street instead of Church.
Thanks!
David Farré
Digital Developer | Burlington Free Press
*****
Re: “Church Steeet Cam”
From: “Holt, Rebecca” Add sender to ContactsTo: “haikbedrosian@yahoo.com”
Good suggestion. We are making the change.
Becky Holt
Associate Editor / Digital
The Burlington Free Press
*****
From: “Haik Bedrosian”
To: “DavidFarre”
Thanks David. I think it also makes more sense because of the storied history of The Burlington Free Press at its College Street address these many years. College Street is part of your identity! Enjoy the sunshine today!
-Haik

From the Yahoo News Blog Tonight:

10:47 PM ET: The House has passed health care reform by a vote of 219 to 212. They will now vote on the “fixes” they want to the Senate bill.

A couple more tweeks and the president will have something to sign. I think despite its flaws, it’s probably good that this passed. It’s going to help a lot of people.

Burlington Telecom’s director Chris Burns is a private contractor. He does not work for the city. His contract is worth around $180,000 with no benefits and is set to expire soon. It is currently being renegotiated.

For comparison The School Superintendent makes $122,000 and the mayor makes $92,000, however their jobs come with benefits.

It seems rather odd to have a contractor running a whole department. I’d be more comfortable with an actual employee of the city in that position.

Because I was shaking hands all day on the second, I forgot to pick up my copy of the city’s annual report. I finally got around to grabbing one from city hall at lunchtime yesterday. Looking over it this morning- and I’ll admit the salaries section tends to get my attention- I noticed two things. One- there are at least nine people who work for the School Department who make over $100,000, and two- The salary of Chris Burns, Burlington Telecom’s Director, does not seem to be in the book at all. We may have to write someone at the city and ask about that on Monday.

Oh and one other thing. The election results are official now. In my own race I received 66 out of 181 votes cast. That’s only 36%! I have to question the legitimacy of my impending commissionership.

I’m old and tired and my bones are weak.
The seed that planted me sat on the shelf a long time.
Ground smooth. My eyes have seen enough.

Wordpress is so much more luxurious than Blogger was, I can’t tell you. I love it in here. It’s like driving a Cadillac. Power, performance, and much more intuitive amenities like built-in spell check, the ability to easily see the most recent comments regardless of where they’re buried in the blog. It’s all internal to my off-shore server and has the tools to upload files directly into the server through a post like this…. Look I will throw in a picture right now and in doing so store it on my host. Here’s my mom’s parents at Niagra Falls in 1935…

And quite honestly I think I’m picking up php a lot easier than I did html. It seems a little more intuitive. I have zero regrets about moving the blog. If anyone had a feed of my htm atom, please update your feed at the link above the blog title. Jay Vos I see you updated yours. Thank you.

Thanks for reading BurlingtonPol.com. Visit often!

I feel like folks may be starting to catch on to this blog. For example look at this picture from the Wards 4-7 NPA blog…

It feels like a vaguely familiar visual pun and juxtaposition.

So I attended the entire north end Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting tonight at the Miiller Center. Man that was the place to be. Bob Kiss was the main attraction and he did very well in his speech, saying that he was going to try to go to one NPA per month for five months to get around to all of them in the city.

Loyal Ploof was selling “Proud Naysayer” buttons to chide the mayor about his election night comments about the new north end returning to a nay-sayer role, and the mayor did well to acknowledge the pins and other reactions to those remarks. He discussed paving, which was good, sister cities and even threw a kind word my way for winning the Ward Seven School Board election. He ended his speech to a very solid and sustained round of applause. Bob knew we might be his toughest crowd out here in South Colchester, but that very genuine round of applause spoke to how regardless of politics, people really appreciate having the attention of their leaders.

Other highlights- Larry Solt is the father of Drummer Chris Solt from the legendary BHS rock group and Battle of the Bands winner Brass Tactics!

Kurt Wright spoke both as councilor-elect and as a state representatives. He seemed almost giddy to report on when a committee he’s on will take up the city’s IRV charter change.

Our other state rep Mark Larson reported a little about Doug Racine’s senate health care proposal and said that in Vermont in the next three years, health care costs are expexted to rise by 100 percent. I’m pretty sure that means it will double. He said that would be an additional billion in health costs, so presumably that’s what the state is paying now. My thought is that it’s the calender that’s driving those projected increases, in that’s it’s been sixty-five years now since 1945.

There’s a new sheriff in town on code enforcement and his name is former Burlington Police Officer Bill Ward. He is taking names and writing tickets in that wild frontier land known as “Lakewood Estates.”

There was a lively discussion on a range of topics. People are concerned about the state of our school buildings. People are concerned about the city’s retirement fund. People are concerned with vacant buildings. And so on.

I get sworn in on the school board April 1, I believe.