City Voter Guide

Welcome to the Montpelier online voter guide! Below you'll find list of candidates and ballot items available to vote for on the CITY BALLOT ONLY (schools, Central Vermont Public Safety, and Career Center not included).

Candidates will appear in the order in which their paperwork was received. If the candidate has submitted a statement, the name will be a link to the statement as submitted. If there have been any "pro" or "con" commentaries submitted in regards to ballot questions, links will be available directly below the text of the question. Candidates will be able to submit statements after they have been confirmed to appear on the ballot.

If you're a candidate and want to submit a statement OR if you'd like to submit a pro-or-con commentary on a ballot item, please send them directly to jodum@montpelier-vt.org as an attachment (or come by he office and drop it off).

Note: Candidates are only listed once they have qualified for the ballot. Candidates appear in the order that they will appear on the ballot.

CANDIDATES
FOR MAYOR (1 year to complete a 2 year term) Richard Sheir Dan Jones Jack McCullough	FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 (2 year term) Timothy Heney Thomas M. Abdelnour
FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 (2 year term) Lauren Hierl	FOR PARKS COMMISSION (5 year term) Andrew Brewer Sophie Ehrhardt
FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 (2 year term) Pelin Kohn	FOR CEMETERY COMMISSION (5 year term) Barbara Smith
FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 (1 year to complete a 2 year term) Sal Alfano Merrick Modun

BALLOT QUESTIONS
ARTICLE 5. Shall the City of Montpelier withdraw from the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority as per 24 VSA 901, Section 48.1.1 ? (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: Kim Cheney ARTICLE 6. Shall the voters of the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority (“CVPSA”), pursuant to 24A V.S.A. Ch. 901, § 50(a)(2), vote to dissolve CVPSA consistent with the plan for dissolution adopted by the CVPSA Board? (Requested by the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority) Commentaries submitted: Dona Bate ARTICLE 7. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $11,495,881 for the payment of debts and current expenses of the City for carrying out any of the purposes of the Charter, plus payment of all state and county taxes and obligations imposed upon the City by law to finance the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024? (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 8. Shall the voters of the school district adopt a budget of $28,608,500 which is the amount the school board has determined to be necessary for the ensuing fiscal year? It is estimated that this proposed budget, if approved, will result in education spending of $19,670.59 per equalized pupil. This projected spending per equalized pupil is 9.05% higher than spending for the current year. (Requested by the School Board) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 9. Shall the voters of the school district appropriate $270,000 necessary to supplement the Capital Reserve Fund in support of the District? (Requested by the School Board) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 10. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $4,080 as compensation to the Mayor for services for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024? (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 11. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $12,240 ($2,040 each) as compensation to the Council Members for their services for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024? (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 12. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $9,700 (Chair $1,500; Vice Chair $1,200; others $1,000 each) as compensation to the School Directors for their services for the ensuing fiscal year? (Requested by the School Board) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 13. Shall the voters authorize the Board of School Directors to hold any audited fund balance as of June 30, 2023 in a reserve (assigned) fund to be expended under the control and direction of the Board of School Directors for the purpose of operating the school? (Requested by the School Board) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 14. Shall the voters amend the authorization provided to the City Council on March 1, 2022, to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $1,815,000 for highway, recreation park and building infrastructure improvements? If amended, proceeds from this bond funding may be used to finance a range of city infrastructure projects such as: a renewable heating system and other energy-efficiency projects at the Public Works Garage; new streetlights, traffic lights, and intersection improvements; a retaining wall on Marvin Street; various highway, infrastructure projects; and Confluence River Park project. (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 15. Shall the voters amend the authorization provided to the City Council on March 1, 2022, to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $16,400,000 for various sewer treatment systems to upgrade the Water Resource Recovery Facility on Dog River Road? Said improvements are planned to improve the facility’s solids processing system and correct and eliminate the odor violation at the site. If amended, the bond would be issued for a term not to exceed 30 years. (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 16. Shall the voters amend the authorization provided to the City Council on March 1, 2022, to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $7,200,000 for the reconstruction of East State Street? Work will include engineering and construction of a new water and sewer distribution system in the amount of approximately $3,200,000, and approximately $4,000,000 roadway, sidewalk and bicycle facility and other improvements. If amended, bonds for these capital items would be issued for a term of 30 years. (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 17. Shall the voters authorize the City to levy a special assessment of $0.0515 per $100 of appraisal value on properties within Montpelier’s Designated Downtown not used entirely for residential purposes? The assessment shall be apportioned according to the listed value of such properties except that the assessment for any property also used for residential purposes shall be reduced by the proportion that heated residential floor space bears to heated floor space for such property. Funds raised by the assessment shall be used to improve the downtown streetscape and to market the downtown. (Requested by the City Council) Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 18. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $411,774 to be used by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024? Commentaries submitted: ARTICLE 19. Shall the City Voters authorize expenditures for Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice in the amount of $23,500? Commentaries submitted:

BALLOT QUESTIONS

ARTICLE 5. Shall the City of Montpelier withdraw from the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority as per 24 VSA 901, Section 48.1.1 ? (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

Kim Cheney

ARTICLE 6. Shall the voters of the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority (“CVPSA”), pursuant to 24A V.S.A. Ch. 901, § 50(a)(2), vote to dissolve CVPSA consistent with the plan for dissolution adopted by the CVPSA Board? (Requested by the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority)

Commentaries submitted:

Dona Bate

ARTICLE 7. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $11,495,881 for the payment of debts and current expenses of the City for carrying out any of the purposes of the Charter, plus payment of all state and county taxes and obligations imposed upon the City by law to finance the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024? (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 8. Shall the voters of the school district adopt a budget of $28,608,500 which is the amount the school board has determined to be necessary for the ensuing fiscal year? It is estimated that this proposed budget, if approved, will result in education spending of $19,670.59 per equalized pupil. This projected spending per equalized pupil is 9.05% higher than spending for the current year. (Requested by the School Board)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 9. Shall the voters of the school district appropriate $270,000 necessary to supplement the Capital Reserve Fund in support of the District? (Requested by the School Board)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 10. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $4,080 as compensation to the Mayor for services for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024? (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 11. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $12,240 ($2,040 each) as compensation to the Council Members for their services for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024? (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 12. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $9,700 (Chair $1,500; Vice Chair $1,200; others $1,000 each) as compensation to the School Directors for their services for the ensuing fiscal year? (Requested by the School Board)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 13. Shall the voters authorize the Board of School Directors to hold any audited fund balance as of June 30, 2023 in a reserve (assigned) fund to be expended under the control and direction of the Board of School Directors for the purpose of operating the school? (Requested by the School Board)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 14. Shall the voters amend the authorization provided to the City Council on March 1, 2022, to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $1,815,000 for highway, recreation park and building infrastructure improvements? If amended, proceeds from this bond funding may be used to finance a range of city infrastructure projects such as: a renewable heating system and other energy-efficiency projects at the Public Works Garage; new streetlights, traffic lights, and intersection improvements; a retaining wall on Marvin Street; various highway, infrastructure projects; and Confluence River Park project. (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 15. Shall the voters amend the authorization provided to the City Council on March 1, 2022, to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $16,400,000 for various sewer treatment systems to upgrade the Water Resource Recovery Facility on Dog River Road? Said improvements are planned to improve the facility’s solids processing system and correct and eliminate the odor violation at the site. If amended, the bond would be issued for a term not to exceed 30 years. (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 16. Shall the voters amend the authorization provided to the City Council on March 1, 2022, to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $7,200,000 for the reconstruction of East State Street? Work will include engineering and construction of a new water and sewer distribution system in the amount of approximately $3,200,000, and approximately $4,000,000 roadway, sidewalk and bicycle facility and other improvements. If amended, bonds for these capital items would be issued for a term of 30 years. (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 17. Shall the voters authorize the City to levy a special assessment of $0.0515 per $100 of appraisal value on properties within Montpelier’s Designated Downtown not used entirely for residential purposes? The assessment shall be apportioned according to the listed value of such properties except that the assessment for any property also used for residential purposes shall be reduced by the proportion that heated residential floor space bears to heated floor space for such property. Funds raised by the assessment shall be used to improve the downtown streetscape and to market the downtown. (Requested by the City Council)

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 18. Shall the voters appropriate the sum of $411,774 to be used by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024?

Commentaries submitted:

ARTICLE 19. Shall the City Voters authorize expenditures for Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice in the amount of $23,500?

Commentaries submitted:

City Voter Guide

FOR MAYOR (1 year to complete a 2 year term)

FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 (2 year term)

FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 (2 year term)

FOR PARKS COMMISSION (5 year term)

FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 (2 year term)

FOR CEMETERY COMMISSION (5 year term)

FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 (1 year to complete a 2 year term)