South Burlington holds interviews for Natural Resources and Conservation Committee seats

South Burlington City Council interviewed four applicants for openings on the Natural Resources and Conservation Committee on Feb. 6, 2025, hearing from candidates about stormwater planning, community gardens, habitat protection and invasive-species management.

The interviews, held during the council’s special meeting, included Fran McDonald, who said she served on the Planning Commission and the South Burlington Land Trust and cited stormwater work on Potash Brook and an Adelphia scoping study near the Xfinity site as priorities. "Since moving here, I've been always interested in and involved in things related to the natural resources in within South Burlington," McDonald said.

Jean Hunt described a long-term professional background in wildlife and environmental education and said she would bring an "ecological lens" to city planning. She raised concerns about development practices that create large monoculture lawns and advocated for more habitat diversity and neighborhood-level community gardens. "I just think the constant taking away of nature and land with development," Hunt said, "...has a lot of room for improvement."

Jessica Wickel, who works in UVM’s forestry program and manages UVM land, said she supports community engagement projects such as invasive-species removal and volunteer trail work. "I currently work at UVM in the forestry program," Wickel said, describing prior service on a tree committee that helped a Massachusetts town become a Tree City USA.

Noah Hoffman, an invasive-species coordinator at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, outlined experience with landscape-scale restoration, emerald ash borer planning and municipal grant projects. "I work for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, in particular I work for the Department of Forest Parks and Recreation, and I'm part of the Forest Health Program," Hoffman said.

Councilors asked candidates about the city’s open-space and parks master planning process and how NRCC work could further equity and access. Candidates proposed a mix of strategies: improving physical access where feasible, creating small pollinator or habitat plots on small lots, expanding community garden plots and using digital tools (QR codes, iNaturalist mapping) to connect residents to local biodiversity.

Councilors also confirmed candidates understood the NRCC’s meeting schedule and time commitments (committee members said they meet monthly). The council did not make appointments at the Feb. 6 meeting; members said they will move into executive session after completing all interviews and then return to open session to vote on appointments at a later date.

The council indicated multiple terms were available and that, where needed, the council would assign candidates to either shorter or longer terms as part of the appointment process.

Votes and formal appointments were not taken during the Feb. 6 session; the interviews will be considered alongside other applicants at the next appointment round.