Our Staff and Steering Committee

Our Staff

Jennifer Green staffs the Legacy Project, providing support to the Steering Committee while serving as the city of Burlington’s environmental specialist. She has over 20 years of community development experience, including work on gender equity, national planning, and environmental management with the Peace Corps, CARE International, Chemonics, and the World Resources Institute. Shortly after moving to Burlington in 1999, she consulted with the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and later Efficiency Vermont. In addition to working for the City, Jennifer has taught several environmental and sustainable development courses at the University of Vermont. She has a masters in public adminstration from Columbia University and earned her PhD in environmental sociology from American University in 2005.

Steering Committee

The success of the Legacy Project can be attributed to the knowledge and expertise of the Steering Committee. Composed of 19 representatives from the business, educational, non-profit and governmental sectors, this group is charged with ensuring that the project continues to address the 5 major themes that define our community’s common vision. The original steering committee was appointed in May 1999 by then-Mayor Peter Clavelle.

Steering Committee History:

On May 19, 1999 Mayor Peter Clavelle announced the appointment of the Legacy’ Project’s steering committee. Its 18 members (including two co-chairs representing the City Council and Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce) represented leaders from the business, low-income, environment, academic, youth and social services communities. The committee oversaw the public involvement campaign and prepared the Legacy Action Plan.

The Plan was ratified by the City Council in June 2000. Shortly thereafter, the Mayor charged the committee t: 1) Put the plan into action; 2) Monitor progress, set annual priorities; 3) Celebrate accomplishments and hold each other accountable for commitments; and 4) Continue the involvement of youth and civic engagement.

Today, the Steering Committee is composed of 24 members including 2 co-chairs representing UVM and Fletcher Allen Health Care. It continues to have a representative from the City Council, the United Way, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Burlington School District, Champlain College, the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies, and Main Street Landing.

Mission:

The mission of the Steering Committee of the Burlington Legacy Project is to update the Burlington Legacy Plan to help ensure a sustainable Burlington, to utilize existing resources, and to seek potential resources, to help ensure the 2030 Legacy vision comes to life.

The vision of the Burlington Legacy Plan is for a sustainable Burlington including a high quality education for all, a healthy natural environment, strong economic growth, and a commitment to social equity. This vision includes 5 themes:

Maintaining Burlington as a regional population, government, cultural, and economic center with livable wage jobs, full employment, social supports, and housing that matches job growth and family income
Improving the quality of life in neighborhoods
Increasing participation in community decision-making
Providing youth with high-quality education and social supports, and lifelong learning opportunities for all
Preserving environmental health

Functions:

The steering committee’s functions include the following activities designed to further the Mission.

Communication about the Plan

Serve as informed representatives of the Legacy Plan
Look for resources and partnerships in the City and community
Provide information about the Legacy Plan to Neighborhood Planning Assemblies, City meetings, groups representing diverse community
Use the Legacy website and other media

Find Resources

Partner with and support City activities (for ex., eco-buying program)
Promote community and stakeholder actions
Look for other resources (for ex., grants to support the mission)

Update the Plan

Encourage and report on stakeholders actions
Encourage and report on City actions
Ask “What does the community want to do next?”

Measure & Celebrate Success

Provide an annual, objective measurement of progress
Celebrate successes related to the Plan at Town Meeting and/or in other ways

Meetings

The Steering Committee will meet at least 3 times a year to accomplish its work to support the Legacy Plan and fulfill its mission. The committee may elect to form smaller groups, or subcommittees, as needed to work on specific projects. These groups may contain members who were not on the steering committee but contribute to the work of the smaller groups.

Values:

The Plan’s update must be informed by input from people who represent Burlington’s diverse community. The Steering Committee will provide connections to the community and its diverse opinions and needs.

Governance:

Mayoral Appointment: Steering Committee members and co-chairs will be appointed by the Mayor. Existing members will be invited to continue their involvement, until term completion;

b. Committee Members: Committee members will serve for a term of three years and may be invited by the Mayor to serve for an additional term of three years for a maximum total of six consecutive years.

Sector Representation: Membership will consist of three members from each of the sectors as described by the 4 E’s Environment, Education, Economy, and social Equity. Consideration will also be given to representation from various segments of the community (business, higher education, government and non-profit), connection to diverse groups in the community, and resources that would further the work of the Legacy Plan. The Steering Committee will continue to include a member of the City Council.

Number of Members: Total membership will not exceed twenty-one people.

Co-Chairs: Co-chairs will serve for two years each with the beginning of their terms starting on consecutive terms. This will allow for term-overlap.

Communication Ground-rules: Communication ground rules will be established by the Steering Committee to help ensure that the committee moves forward with a tone of respect and civility and with the understanding that we work towards the common mission of making Burlington as even better place to live, work and play.