Government Review Committee Meetings

The Government Review Committee generally meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.  You can join meetings at this link: www.burlington.org/JoinGovReviewMeeting. Note that in-person meeting location is subject to change based on meeting space availability. Please reference agenda for locations.

To keep our community informed, we also provide concise summaries of each meeting’s key discussions, decisions, and next steps so residents can easily stay up to date on our work.

When is the next meeting?What will be talked about?How can I watch the meeting?
January 27, 2026The agenda will be posted here when it is available. Join the meeting in person - in the lower level of the Town Hall Annex, 25 Center Street, Burlington 
Visit www.burlington.gov/JoinGovReviewMeeting to watch and participate remotely 
Stream the meeting on www.bcattv.org


Meeting Date 
Watch on BCATPresentations & Materials
View Meeting Agenda and Minutes Meeting Summaries 
January 6, 2026View HerePresentation on the Article for the January 2026 Town Meeting

​Collins Center Presentation on Executive Branch Considerations​​​

Click Here

December 16, 2025Check back for a link from BCATThere were no presentation materials for this meetingClick HereNo decisions made. Committee spent the time interviewing Town Administrator Danizio, discussing the Executive Branch of town government, including Burlington’s organizational structure and how it impacts the day-to-day management of the town.
November 25, 2025View HereCollins Center Executive Branch PresentationClick Here
November 10, 2025View HereCollins Center Referendums in Comparable Communities
Collins Center Draft Working Charter		Click Here

Recommendations for Charter:

  • Town Meeting voting by visible means versus specificity of standing, at the discretion of the moderator
  • Keep specified number of town meeting members who can be remote and possibly revisit when we get AG feedback
  • Rename “Ways and Means Committee” to “Finance Committee”

Recommendations for Report:

  • Town Meeting review bylaw to address desired participation at Town Meeting from any registered voter or taxpayer who is not a town meeting member 
  • Town Meeting revisit their standing committees to ensure necessity and effectiveness. Ultimately removal or updates would have to occur within bylaw.


October 28, 2025View Here

Collins Center Draft Working Charter 

Collins Center Division of Powers Sample Language		Click Here
October 14, 2025Check back for a link from BCAT​Collins Center Draft Working Charter ​Click Here

Board of Registrars should be on org chart in appropriate place, appointed by Select Board with Town Clerk as member ex-officio but no within-town reporting (operational arm of the state)

Recommendations for Charter:

  • Apply this to ALL Candidates and therefore moved to Election section: The placement of the names of all candidates on the ballot for election shall be established by a public drawing of lots by the town clerk.
September 16, 2025View HereCollins Center Presentation (Dated from Previous Meeting)
Town Meeting Handbook Recommendations		Click Here

Recommendations for Report:

  • Communications Plan for vacancies in Town Moderator Appointed Committees
  • More explicit plan/process for maintaining the Town Meeting Handbook

Recommendations for Charter:

  • Keep Ways & Means (Finance) Committee (with term) in Charter
  • Move all other Committees (and number of members in W&M) to bylaws
  • Change Rules Committee to 7 members, majority from Town Meeting, and 3 year term rather than 1. Also update the committee duties to those the committee currently performs.
  • Change Land Use Committee to 9 members, majority of whom are Town Meeting Members
  • Keep 5% threshold and 14 day limit for referenda on Town Meeting votes
September 9, 2025Check Back for the link from BCATCollins Center Presentation (Dated from Previous Meeting)
Collins Center Meeting Plan		Click Here

Recommendations for Charter:

  • Keep 3 Town Meetings per year
  • Keep 126 Town Meeting Members, 18 per each of 7 precincts
  • Change Town Moderator term to 3 years rather than 1
August 26, 2025View HereStakeholder Input Sub-Committee Report
External Communications Sub-Committee Report		Click Here
August 12, 2025View HereCollins Center PresentationClick Here
July 22, 2025View HereBurlington Government Review Sub-Committees Presentation
Collins Center Form of Government Presentation
Collins Center Memo on Comparable Towns
Collins Center Memo on Committee Input		Click Here
July 8, 2025View HereBurlington Government Review Committee Overview
Collins Center Work Plan Presentation		Click Here