Council interviews nine candidates for committee vacancies; appointments to be decided at next meeting

The South Burlington City Council conducted interviews on Sept. 2 with nine candidates seeking membership on three advisory bodies: one vacancy on the Economic Development Committee, two vacancies on the Sextons (cemetery) committee and one vacancy on the Energy Committee. The council heard two to four minute interviews from each applicant and then entered executive session to discuss appointments.

Applicants interviewed included current and former volunteers and local professionals. Candidates who spoke to the council included Srini (applying to continue on the Economic Development Committee), Harold Hirschberg, James (Jim) Kennedy, Paige Brochu, Elise Galette, Richard Thorngren, Beth Sigmund, Jean‑Sebastien Cholot and Andrew (first name only). Several candidates described relevant experience: Srini cited prior EDC service and international business experience; Paige Brochu said her work at UVM’s spatial analysis lab would help with infrastructure and workforce-retention strategies; Elise Galette described local history and prior cemetery research; Jim Kennedy and Richard Thorngren each described professional experience related to funeral/cemetery operations.

The council did not make public appointments at the Sept. 2 meeting. Councilors moved into executive session under 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(3) to discuss the appointment of public officers and committee assignments; that motion carried unanimously, and the council said it will notify applicants after executive session and finalize appointments at the next council meeting.