Burlington City Council approves cigarette licenses after state shifts application process online

The Burlington City Council on June 29 approved a resolution to issue city cigarette licenses effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, during a special meeting in the Thomas J. Smith Council Chambers intended to prevent a lapse in retail sales after the state shifted to an online-only application process.

A councilmember said the special meeting was necessary because “some of the business owners had trouble logging in and then once they got logged in and then the state had to mail them something to get logged in. So, this is just so they don't have a lapse in their sales between July 1st and July 7th.” The speaker urged prompt approval so local retailers would not experience an interruption in permitted tobacco sales while accounts were activated at the state level.

An unnamed member introduced the resolution and it was seconded. During the recorded vote, councilmembers identified in the transcript as Scott, Weiss and Wilson indicated affirmative votes. Phillips and Crater did not register an audible response during the roll call as presented in the transcript; the record includes no mover name for the resolution. Based on the recorded votes, the resolution passed.

Following the license vote, Councilmember Brown (addressed in the transcript) moved to adjourn; that motion was seconded and carried on the same recorded affirmative responses from Scott, Weiss and Wilson. No members of the public offered comments during the meeting.

The council took no additional actions during the special session.