Page 6 - Brian Pine News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

5:30 An issue that shadowed Burlington, Vermont officials throughout 2020 began at the end of 2019.  As Progressives took control of the City Council, policing issues were targeted. Now the department faces cuts moving into 2021. On December 16, 2019 Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger accepted the resignation of then-Police Chief Brandon del Pozo after he admitted using an anonymous Twitter account to criticize a local activist and department critic.  The mayor then appointed Deputy Chief Jan Wright to serve as Acting Chief.  But within hours she too was replaced after admitting to the mayor...

Mayor Miro Weinberger (left) and acting Chief Jon Murad In March, voters in Burlington will consider a ballot measure that would set up a powerful police oversight board with the authority to directly punish city officers for misconduct. The seven-member "independent community control board" could suspend, demote and even fire cops accused of wrongdoing, including the chief of police. The new model would require changing the city's charter and must ultimately be approved by city voters, the legislature and the governor. "We heard just tons and ...

3:45 There are four charter changes proposed for the Town Meeting Day ballot that Burlington city councilors had to approve at this week’s meeting in order for the measures to advance to a public hearing process before being voted on March 2. Councilors spent hours debating and amending each charter change proposal.  The most controversial, sponsored by Central District Progressive Perri Freeman, would create a seven-member independent community board with the power to investigate and discipline police.  “I really strongly believe that this model and this proposal that we put forward is...