Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: I'm being lobby. I'm sorry. Yeah.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Good afternoon, and welcome to the Lieutenant Government Operations Committee meeting of Friday, 05/08/2026. We have up for consideration h nine fifty six, an act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the city of Burlington relating to the office of racial equity, inclusion, and belonging. And we are going to hear from some folks from the city of. We also are joined by legislative council, and Sophie's adopt me is pinched in a if that's proper. Yeah. For Rick. I'm not sure who might be on the screen. I realize we're now forty minutes after when we set or forty fifty minutes after when we were supposed to start. Is there any way in the waiting room there

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: is? Well, okay. Maybe too late. Okay. Should we wanna

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: I'll tell you what. Let's just take this up on Tuesday, though. Without witnesses, it just didn't work. So Well Sophie, I'm sorry. But

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: I think they're gonna start at 02:30. I mean, they're

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: they should be. Well, okay. But we were supposed to start at 02:30, and I know we told them 02:30, but Yeah. Think they at least would

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: Do we wanna run through the language with legislative council and see if any of our witnesses appear?

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yeah. That's good to have. That's a fine name.

[Danny (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: So good afternoon, Sophie. It's Danny for the Office of Legislative Council. Do you have it looks as if you all have copies, so I don't need to put it on the screen. Okay.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: So right.

[Danny (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: So this is to approve an amendment to the charter of the city of Burlington, And and this has got section one is just your standard introductory language for charters. As I understand it, this office of racial equity, inclusion, and belonging already exists. So what the goal is here is just to add a new section to the city of Burlington's charter just to formalize the existence of the office. So section two, and again, this is in the appendix through title 24 and chapter three, and that is the city of Burlington's charter. And this would add a new section under the general provisions portion of the Charter, and it provides under, again, section two, and then this new section three seventy four, subsection a, the City of Burlington shall form the Office of racial equity, inclusion and belonging, and establish a director of racial equity, inclusion and belonging. And then subsection b provides that this new director position will be a permanent position in the city and will be selected and hired in accordance with the city of Burlington human resources policy and procedures, and she'll report directly to the mayor. Subsection c provides that the office shall be under the supervision, direction, and control of the director and shall be subject to the orders and ordinances of the city council. Subsection d provides that the director of the office shall have all of the powers, duties and responsibilities as it provided in the director position description. And then subsection e provides that subject to the orders and ordinances of the city council, the mayor and the director of this office shall develop and implement a comprehensive racial equity inclusion and belonging strategy for the city of Burlington. And then in subsection f, there's a list of rights, powers, and duties for the director of the office. So that includes working on behalf of the city to advance equity and social justice by championing diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti racism. Subdivision two to develop, coordinate, implement, and administer racial equity and inclusion strategies and projects for the city. Subsection three to provide consultation for and recommend to city departments, the mayor's office, and the city council policy and program changes to better advance racial equity and inclusion in the city. Subdivision four, to enhance the representation of city government for individuals who hold underserved community identities through decision making bodies, community engagement initiatives, and policy development processes. And then finally, at the top of page three, subdivision five, to coordinate and facilitate constituent engagement in the city that encourages inclusive spaces for engagement with city government. And then section three provides that it would be effective on passage.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: So I have a question on page two with the bottom, lines 18 through 20. As I read it, I'm wondering how does the enhancement authority represented in that provision mean they can appoint someone to the city council, for instance?

[Danny (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: Would anticipate not that it would just be that it be governed by whatever the other provisions in the charter are around city elections. I think to enhance the representation in city government would be to try and reach out and encourage folks from underserved community identities to consider running for office, etcetera. That's how I would anticipate that it's intended. Not that you would just put people into those positions, but you would support people who who might be interested in those positions to come forward and put themselves forth for election.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Okay.

[Danny (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: But again, that may be a question to ask the

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Just to enhance the representation in city government through decision making bodies. And that was why I arrived at my question. Yeah.

[Danny (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: Yeah, I think that would be a fair question for the city on how they anticipate that.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Any questions for attorneys adopting? Okay, thank you very much. Alright. So Saturday morning. So

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: I think I

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: think you said at the end of day, some of them said that. They're already doing this. Right? Yeah. So there's already a person there. But it's not in a charter. It doesn't make it statutorily required. Right. They hire someone each year or each budget year to be on this board, And as I mentioned before we get on, I believe some of that funding's been cut in the latest budget round there. This just would mandate that the position is now in effect by law in a chart, and they would have to provide funding for it to some measure. Yeah. I see representative Mary Katherine. I think it's in her upper right hand Yep. Yes. And welcome yep. Welcome. I know from conversations with senator Vyhovsky, she'll be reporting this because it's her city. So she'll wanna know what the bulk totals were from the town meeting on this. And but, anyway, can you sort of address the question I raised? What does that exactly mean to enhance representation in city government through decision making bodies?

[Representative Mary-Katherine Stone]: Sorry. It is really hard to hear you. I would definitely table that question and ask the people who are on city council right now or working within the city government right now, including the person who currently holds the position of REIB. I would ask them that question. But I can give you my bit of testimony that I presented on the floor and to my committee. I'm on a field trip right now, so that's why it's a little hard to Okay. So you've already had a walk through of the bill. You know that this bill formally approves an amendment to the city of Burlington Charter, which was previously approved by the city's voters on March 3 to enshrine the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, Belonging. The office is to be led by a director of REIB, a permanent position hired according to city human resources policies, who will report directly to the mayor and be supervised by the city council. The director will be responsible for developing implementing a comprehensive strategy to advance equity, social justice, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti racism within the city of Burlington, including consulting with city departments, recommending policy changes, enhancing representation for underserved communities and city government, and coordinating inclusive constituent engagement. The proposal to enshrine this office into the Burlington City Charter actually saw a unanimous twelve zero vote by the city council to place it on the ballot, which if you've ever watched a city meeting in Burlington, I mean, that speaks volumes. It came out on a twelve zero unanimous vote. This office is not new. It was formally established in 2019, but they have been doing the work for decades around these specific topic areas. The vote from the voters, the yes votes were 4,959. The no votes were 3,729. So yes, this is this is just a formally enshrined an office that has been in existence for years and this work has been being done for decades. But getting into the specific details you're asking, would say, ask people from the city about that because they will be better able to answer you.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Senator Clarkson.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Mary Collamore, good to see you even if it's on Zoom. I thought that there were some challenges at the moment with this office. Is the office filled at the moment? Because we've certainly read lots about this. It is. It's currently filled.

[Representative Mary-Katherine Stone]: It is. They have executive director and I or they have somebody who currently holds this position. They testified in our committee and I would recommend that you bring them in to testify.

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: Okay. They are on Zoom

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: to testify. Oh, great. Exciting. We look forward to hearing them testify. And the other quest well, then maybe they can answer this question, which is when was this office established in Berlin?

[Representative Mary-Katherine Stone]: Formally established in 02/2019. But they have been doing the work for decades. We have a member on our committee who was a sheriff or yeah. The Yep. And in Burlington years ago, like during the time of Bernie, and he said that this work was happening during his ten years. So this is not a new concept. It's not new work. It's just

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: I appreciate

[Representative Mary-Katherine Stone]: Enshrining and shining the and into our Right.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yep. Yep. Thank you, Donna Stone. Does anyone else have any questions for Mary Anne? Okay. Enjoy the rest of your field trip.

[Councilor Melo Grant (Burlington City Council)]: Thank you.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Bye. Where where are you on your field trip?

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: I believe

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: you're in

[Representative Mary-Katherine Stone]: the looks at the Waterbury.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Oh. Where are

[Representative Mary-Katherine Stone]: we? No. Don't scoot

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: on. I'll I'll go in there. Okay.

[Representative Mary-Katherine Stone]: Thanks. Bye. Bye.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: We're also joined by Kelly Perkins, who is the director of the Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. There we go. Welcome in.

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: Greetings. Thank you for having me.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Can you perhaps illuminate me as to what enhancing the representation in city government through decision making bodies means exactly?

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: Yes. It means exactly what the explanation that was offered. And so through the city council, through the mayor's office, through the commissions, the various boards that are a part of the councils, various meeting bodies through our neighborhood planning associations. And so working collaboratively with those groups to increase representation. So for instance, actually, we are right now in the process of forming a small group of folks who will help to look through applications for the various commissions and other mayoral appointments so that we are looking like fully at representation and things of that nature. So that's one way that we in this office have been assisting in that work.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Okay. The power is not necessarily yours to appoint people on various commissions or boards, just possibly to encourage them to become involved?

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: Exactly. And to help those commissions and boards even with their community engagement strategy. So they are reaching the largest sub sections of the Burlington population as possible. And so we are really, I would say in that capacity serving as advisor, as strategist, not in the decision making authority.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Okay, thank you. Does anyone have questions for Kelly? Senator Clarkson?

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Kelly, hi, lovely to meet you over Zoom. How long have you been in your office?

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: I have been in my office for eight months now.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Eight months. I applaud your effort trying to embed this and work with every commission and body of the city. I wish you well on this. Where did you come to us from?

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: I actually moved to, well, back to Vermont. This is my second time living in Vermont. I was here before the pandemic. I'm a formerly a higher education professional. I was working at UVM and I actually got married. So my husband lives here and has lived in the state for about twenty years. And so I came back here two years ago and formally was working in the Upper Valley actually.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Well, we're glad you're here. We're glad the office seems to be a little more stable and good luck. Thank you.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Any other questions? Okay, Kelly, thank you for joining us. We're sorry that we weren't a bit

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: more prompt, but. It wasn't our fault.

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: Oh, no worries. I just, while I have the floor, I wanted to see if you wanted me to elaborate on that question about the stability. Could definitely talk to that where we're eight. I know I'm only eight months in, but I do think we've made some great strides towards increasing the specifically the sustainability of the work in the office. You know, we are really trying to deepen and broaden the scope of what racial equity inclusion belonging means in the city. So that we can really help folks to understand that this isn't an office that just serves black and brown people. Have inherited or restarting the aging council in Burlington. And so moving towards some implementation of various initiatives that were where determinations were made in the last couple of years. And in that way we serve as the convening body, right? Bringing together the right folks between the city, nonprofit partners, and also residents. So we have their voices. We have taken on the Sister Cities program for the city. And so taking that out of the mayor's office, they're very excited to figure out how to more broadly engage the community youth and adults of various backgrounds to be able to show off Burlington's, right, kind of rich and ever increasingly diverse culture. And so we are really kind of moving and shaking. We have four roles, two program managers, my role, and an administrative finance coordinator. And two members of our office actually have been in that office three years and one has been there five years. So we do have, I think, really good team now and kind of the right mix of skills. We've taken on the city's language access work, and then really working to expand that and starting to get into thinking about not just verbal and written language, but also folks for hard of hearing, the blind, and making sure that we're being, again, the models for what it looks like to be as inclusive and to really think about equity and to help develop that mindset in the city so that we are making sure, helping to make sure that we're serving as a city and making decisions that are not going to disproportionately negatively impact certain populations. So thank you so much for letting me take that time.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Well, thank you so much for helping make it successful.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: So you have, there's four employees then in the office. What is the budget that you have each year? It probably varies.

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: Yes, though the last two years have been pretty stable and next year will also our total budget is just slightly over $800,000

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Okay.

[Kelly Perkins (Director, Burlington Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)]: Of which 76% is the staff costs.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yeah. Okay. Thank you very much, Kelly. We appreciate it. We have a city councilor and the city attorney. I know that, and I'll give it a shot here, Eric. We'll talk to you first. Eric?

[Krishna (Burlington City Attorney)]: Krishna.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Krishna.

[Krishna (Burlington City Attorney)]: Yeah. There you go. Yes. So two points that I wanted to make on this. One is why are we doing this? The city of Burlington's charter, is is a very detailed document, and you will find every other city department referenced in there, including the role of the department head and the role of the department. This is the the newest department of the city, so it's not yet in charter, and the goal is to put it in charter just like every other city department, put it on par with every other city department so that we can enfrain the important work that it's there to do. So that's the purpose of this change. As was mentioned to you, this had wide ranging support in the city. It it passed by close to 60% of the vote and and had all the city councilors behind it as was previously mentioned. On the question about the language, I want to make the point that not only is the interpretation, the intent that doctor Perkins gave the intent and the interpretation the correct interpretation of that provision, but I think two points. One, if you read the whole thing in context, it's clear that it's general aspirational language to enhance the representation in city government for individuals who hold un underserved community identities through decision making bodies, community engagement initiatives, and policy development processes. So I think when you look at that in the whole, it's it's clear again. It's general aspirational language. The the city's charter is very detailed, very lengthy, very specific. Every detail of how we choose council members, commissioners, committee members, board members is there in incredible detail. There's no way that general aspirational language could be read to somehow override the clearance specific language that's in the charter on how we elect, how we choose members of city bodies. So I just wanted to make that point as well. And I'm happy to answer any questions.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Questions for Eric? I see we now have a second city councilor, so let's go in order of parents, Laura Sanchez Parkinson. Welcome in.

[Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (Burlington City Council)]: Thank you. Good afternoon. It's very great to be able to be here with you today. My name is Laura Sanchez Parkinson, and I serve as the Burlington's in the Burlington City Council. I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to testify and support the age nine fifty six. As it has been already noted, this bill was before you because it was approved by the voters of Burlington as a charter amendment to establish the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in our city charter. For Burlington, I really think that this charter change is both practical and also necessary. The RIV office is not simply a symbolic statement. It's a core part of how we strengthen our city government, improve our public engagement, and ensure that our policies and services are reaching the residents who are too often left out of decision making. I specifically want to speak to this as a city councilor. I see this as a governance issue. Cities are making decisions every day that affect people in the way that they access housing, public safety, transportation, language access, community services. So we want to make those decisions to be fair and effective and trusted. Equity cannot be an afterthought. It has to be part of how we are structured as a government. So H nine fifty six does that in a balanced way. It establishes the office and the director of REIB as a permanent part of the city while keeping that position within our Burlington's normal HR processes. They report to the mayor and are subject to the orders and ordinances of the city council. That creates both continuity, but it also preserves that accountability as well. This is, as many of you know, this is especially important now. Burlington continues to welcome residents from many racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic and immigrant communities. And at the same time, we hear from our residents that they're facing fear, exclusion and barriers to participating fully in our city and city life. So the REB office helps the city to move from reactive responses to proactive planning and strategic thinking to deeper engagement and to more inclusive policymaking. This charter change says that the racial equity inclusion of belonging are not just temporary priorities. They are part of our long term work of effective municipal government. So for those reasons, I I hope you will consider and respectfully ask that you all support, h nine fifty six. Thank you.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Thank you very much, Laura. Questions for city council? So we have one further witness. Is it Melo or Mila? Mila's I'm gonna Oh, hang on. Hang on just a second.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: So Laura and Eric, it's a question, I guess, for both of you. You've been how long have you been involved in the city on the city council, Laura?

[Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (Burlington City Council)]: This is I'm going on month two of serving

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: on City Council. You're new to the Council, and you perhaps weren't there when some of the challenges that arose with the office. Eric, would you say the challenges that have faced this office are have now been substantially addressed and and and productively remove I mean, productively addressed?

[Krishna (Burlington City Attorney)]: I've been with the city for about two and a half years now, and I would say that during my time, this office has been well functioning. I so I don't I I I don't know how to answer your question other than to say from the beginning of my experience with the city, this office has been a a well functioning

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: But I was only been with the city for eight months. So, I mean, they're we have all been reading over the last three years about the the the, oh, oh, my Burlington friend across the table shaking her head. I thought we've been reading about some of the challenges in this office. Yeah. We've been

[Councilor Melo Grant (Burlington City Council)]: Yeah. We've

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: We been have been. And I just am curious as we are embedding this office in this language. Have we fixed the problems that were part of the problem, or were they just all personnel problems?

[Krishna (Burlington City Attorney)]: You know, to to the extent I really have an answer to that and to the extent I'm aware of things happening before my time, I'll I'll call it personnel issues and leave it at that. And, again, in my time with the city, it's been a well functioning office.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Well, it's been I'd

[Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (Burlington City Council)]: like to speak.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Sorry.

[Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (Burlington City Council)]: Oh, if I may, and I know Councilor Grant also has been from this from the very beginning, and so I'd love to also hear from perspective. I'd like to share, as I mentioned, I'm new to the council, but I have decades of work in this type of office and in this type of work from across sectors. This being able to establish a racial equity inclusion belonging type of office is not easy. And we have undergone not just at the city level, at the state and national level, a number of experiences that have shaken up the work overall. To be able to be sustaining this work, It has also been mentioned that this is the newest department. And so as we know, new office or any new structures takes time to fully be established. And with the leadership of Doctor. Perkins, she has really created some sustainability and is bringing, I believe, a strong balance and strong thinking, strategic thinking to the future of this office. So I'm very excited to think about how we move this forward despite what this type of work continues to experience.

[Krishna (Burlington City Attorney)]: Right. I if I could add one thing to that too. I I do just wanna caution us in terms of how we react to media coverage of this office. I I certainly don't think it's an I I think it's a fair statement to say that unconscious bias and media ratings have played into the type of coverage this office has received. And I'm not sure that everything I've seen in the media is is a fair representation of what's going on in the city, and and I would just ask you to exercise caution in in in how to interpret the way the media has portrayed things.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Point taken. Thank you. Counselor Grant, welcome in.

[Councilor Melo Grant (Burlington City Council)]: Thank you. If I could ask a question as to the specificity of what the specific concerns were, because to the point that was just made, there has been biased reporting. And not only biased reporting that's not true. There was reporting about one of the prior directors saying that there was an audit showing that there was money misused. There was never an audit. They were calling something an audit that actually wasn't an audit for an event that that former director didn't even organize because they had left the city of Burlington. I guess I would say quickly, when we look at this work, especially if we all take a moment to think about the absolute racism that is being emanated from the very top of our federal government. And having a conversation with someone the other day, acknowledging that a little black girl born today, right now, has less rights than some of us did who, in my lifetime, the civil rights movement occurred. So, I think we have to be aware of that. Also, within our own state house, we had a major controversy with a senator who needed to resign. That happened in our own state house. So, we can't pretend that we're somehow above it all because we're not. I don't think

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: That's what we're trying to say. We, as legislators, are very well aware of how the press often doesn't report things accurately. We live that. So I'm clear on the challenge. I just think if we're going to embed this, I just wanna make sure that in this structure, if there had if if the problems we have been reading about, have they all been ironed out so that we're doing you know, putting into your charter the best you know, have we addressed those problems and are they have they been resolved in the way this is structured down going forward? Because we're about to focus your charter.

[Councilor Melo Grant (Burlington City Council)]: So I would then ask you so we have a clear understanding as to what you've read because clearly

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: I can't read a lot of it. It's been years ago. I mean, it's been a couple of years. It's just reread. No. We've got issues about the heart. So here you are asking. Okay. Yeah.

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: That's all. Alright. So Tanya Vyhovsky. I just so I I think we all did read things back in 2023, that were just, Councilor Grant's point and not accurate reporting of an event that was planned and took place in 'twenty one and 'twenty two under the previous mayor. Know that the current mayor has restructured and rethought about how this office can work to make it work more efficiently. And

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: And that's what's reflected in this.

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: And that is that is what is now coming forward to us and being reflected to embed into the charter. Perfect. So I I I just

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Thank you. Yes. That answers the question. So, you want to No,

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: it sounds like to me they voted on it. Yeah. They're very supportive of this. No. And, yeah. No. No. I'm just I'm

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Had you been supportive of the other Burlington Charter that we had in front of us, You know, we don't always and his committee has not always embraced everything that Burlington Charters have brought to. I absolutely embrace this. I just wanted to make sure the problems that were have been fixed up.

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: And I I think and I can't speak for the mayor, I know that she wasn't able to be with us. Part of the reason that there was a period of time where the office director position was not billed, was in that restructuring process. But I believe that this office is, and we have heard from the city, now functioning and very doing excellent and has been really thought out for how they do the work to create more equity in our largest city.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Which we appreciate. We too have created the Office of Racial Equity here in the state, and we but we and which is working very well and is doing its work incredibly and we're gonna be applauding that as well. So thank you. That answered

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: my question. And I think Councillor Grant also did have some

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: testifying. Yep.

[Councilor Melo Grant (Burlington City Council)]: Thank you. I mean, I think the other thing that we have to be honest about is that, you know, this type of work is under attack. And we have to make a statement supporting this. Our voters in Burlington supporting this are number one, recognizing that Burlington, Neucesity, Winooski, Laura and I represent the most diverse areas in the state of Vermont, next to the city of Winooski. We know that people are not coming here. We know our birth rate is low. So, we have to be able to embrace everyone. And it's not always about race. I agree with all the comments that were said earlier, but I want people to understand when we talk about inclusion, we're also talking about addressing issues of class. I'm aware of a food program that feeds not only our new American population, but part of the gathering includes people who are struggling economically, whose families have been in the state for generations. So, I believe that Vermont can lead the way to show that this work is important, and that this will help support the state in terms of growing. And that includes economic growth. I mean, if we were to lose all of our migrant workers, what would that look like? And I feel that with the legislature supporting this, these are the things the legislature is excuse me, the legislature is supporting. It is these concepts to make our future stronger. Because right now, all the attacks are only making us weaker and serving to tear us apart. Thank you.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Thank you all, Eric, Kelly. Is it Milo or Mello? I think it's Milo.

[Councilor Melo Grant (Burlington City Council)]: It's Milo. Thank you.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: And Laura. Yep. We appreciate that. And I think, representative Stone's already off the screen and continuing with a field trip. So, I'll certainly entertain a motion if someone wants to make it.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: I would. Oh. So we're move it. You're gonna report it. Right? Yeah. I would move that we accept the h nine fifty six as passed by the house. Okay. Correction, follow-up. Senator Clarkson? Yes.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Senator Morley? Yes. Senator Vyhovsky? Yes. Senator White? Yes. Senator Talamore? Yes. Clerk of affair. And Senator Vyhovsky will be reported. Thank you. Thank you all. You've got a new charter provision.

[Krishna (Burlington City Attorney)]: Great. Thank you very much. We appreciate

[Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (Burlington City Council)]: your time. Thank you.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Thank you.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: Bye bye. Have a great weekend.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: You too.

[Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (Burlington City Council)]: You too.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: So I don't see Chittenden here. We wanted to go over S-two 98 again because we have a proposed amendment which would redefine PAC, but I need him to at least offer testimony as to how this came about, what problem we're trying to solve. It seems to me, according to, what Senator Vyhovsky remembers as well, we did just change this a few years ago.

[Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Vice Chair)]: What's going So we change it back to what we changed

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: it from.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: But without his, testimony, I'm not sure what Do we

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: know when it can be submitting him or not? Yeah. We may have to Okay.

[Senator Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Why don't we take a break until, 03:10, and, we'll be back

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Member)]: with