Government Operations committee moves to enshrine Burlington’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in city charter

The Government Operations committee considered H.956 on May 8, a bill to amend the City of Burlington charter to formally establish an Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and a director position that would report to the mayor and be subject to city council orders. The committee heard testimony from Legislative Council, Burlington officials and the office’s director before moving to report the measure favorably.

Sophie Stani of Legislative Council summarized the proposed charter language, saying the amendment would add a section creating a permanent director-led office, require hiring under the city’s human-resources policies, and give the director authority to develop and implement a comprehensive racial equity, inclusion and belonging strategy for the city. "The city of Burlington shall form the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and establish a director," Stani said while reviewing the bill text.

Kelly Perkins, identified as the director of Burlington’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, told the committee the office works as an adviser and strategist to increase representation on city boards and commissions, coordinate inclusive constituent engagement and recommend policy and program changes across city departments. Perkins said the office has four roles plus program managers and an administrative finance coordinator, and that the office’s annual budget is "just slightly over $800,000," with about "76 percent" allocated to staff costs. "We are really...serving as adviser, as strategist, not in decision-making authority," Perkins said, describing the office’s role in supporting boards’ recruitment and engagement practices.

Burlington City Councilor Laura Sanchez Parkinson, who testified in support of the charter amendment, said enshrining the office into the charter makes equity work part of government structure rather than an afterthought. "Equity cannot be an afterthought," she said, urging the committee to support H.956 so the city’s equity efforts are long-term and accountable to residents.

Committee members asked whether the amendment’s language allowing the office to "enhance representation in city government through decision making bodies" could be read to permit filling elected seats. City representatives and Legislative Council staff characterized that clause as aspirational, not intended to override the charter’s existing election and appointment rules. A city representative who identified himself as Eric said the amendment is meant to put the REIB office on par with other city departments and "there's no way that general aspirational language could be read to somehow override the clear and specific language that's in the charter on how we elect, how we choose members of city bodies."

Several committee members also raised past media reports and challenges involving the office. Witnesses and city representatives acknowledged earlier personnel issues and restructuring but said the office has been reorganized and is functioning under current leadership. One committee member earlier criticized inaccurate press coverage of past events and said some reports had called inspections or informal reviews "audits" when they were not. That claim prompted back-and-forth at the hearing about which past incidents had been accurately reported; witnesses advised the committee to consult city officials for precise historical details.

After testimony and questions, a committee member moved that the committee accept H.956 as passed by the House and report it. Committee members present answered affirmatively when called, and the chair said the committee would report the new charter provision. The meeting then took a short recess and planned to return to consider S.298, a separate proposed amendment to PAC definitions.

What happens next: The committee reported H.956 to be acted upon according to the legislature’s process; committee members said city officials and witnesses would be available if the committee wanted additional detail on implementation or to respond to questions about past administrative issues.