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Photo: The Bridge/John Lazenby
PLATFORM
A thriving Montpelier is within our reach but not assured. Our city council and government need to clearly articulate a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient future—and be held accountable to achieve it. We need ideas and action. To dream and deliver. Our city deserves nothing less.
PRIORITIES
Infrastructure
Ensuring that Montpelier’s roads and water systems are well-maintained to serve residents and accommodate future growth.
As an Area Director for USDA Rural Development, I helped deliver the agency’s community and environmental programs, including loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure. Infrastructure is both necessary and inevitable—housing and economic development cannot happen without it. We need to effectively utilize the financial resources and technical assistance available at the state and federal levels to meet current needs.
Housing
Encouraging policies and initiatives that make Montpelier the most housing-friendly city in the state, offering a variety of affordable housing options.
Housing is where taxpayers sleep at night. We need to reduce the current tax burden on Montpelier residents by spending prudently and by growing the tax base. That happens through the creation of new housing—of all kinds. The City doesn’t have the capacity to develop housing, but through public/private partnerships, zoning reforms, and promoting a “Yes-In-My-Back-Yard” attitude, we can make the city more affordable for everyone. At USDA Rural Development and the Preservation Trust of Vermont, I’ve worked with affordable housing developers, financiers, and policymakers—the kinds of partners our city needs.
Economic Development
Supporting downtown businesses and encouraging additional mixed-use development to broaden the tax base and increase affordability.
The pandemic, the loss of state workers, and the flood have all contributed to a downtown at risk. Yet, our historic downtown is beloved and worth investing in. In my role as President of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, I’ve worked closely with downtowns across the state on strategies for revitalization, using an authentic sense of place to drive economic activity. We need to generate new traffic downtown through the development of infill housing, the adaptive reuse of office space, and placemaking initiatives that will ensure Montpelier remains a vibrant draw for the region.
Flood Resiliency
Collaborating on floodplain restoration across the watershed and working with state and federal partners on mitigation efforts to limit the impact of future flooding.
Flooding happens in Montpelier, but it doesn’t start here. A watershed-wide approach is necessary to make a meaningful impact on mitigating future flooding. That means continuing to engage other communities in planning, financing, and advocacy. As the co-chair of the Montpelier Commission on Resilience and Recovery, I’ve been part of watershed convenings and have developed a public/private partnership to restore an 18-acre floodplain in Montpelier.
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