Article Title: Nancy Sherman

Edition: March 2002
Category: City Government
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Editor's Note: This year Mayor Chuck Karparis is running unopposed, but all three city council races are contested. In District 1, incumbent Tim Tomasi, an attorney with the state of Vermont, is being challenged by Cheryl Fischer the executive director of the New England Grassroots Environment Fund. In District 2, Jeff Johnson is challenging incumbent Nancy Sherman and in District 3, City Councilor Doug Zorzi is being challenged by Harold Garabedian. Garabedian works in the air quality program at the Agency of Natural Resources. Voters will be asked to choose one candidate from the district in which the voter lives.

Nancy Sherman

Central Vermont Adult Basic Education

What is Montpelier's greatest asset?

Our greatest asset is our sense of community. The combination of old and new, the parks, the old bridges, old buildings.

How do we protect that asset?

Montpelier has to move forward. We need to grow and change. We need new business and new housing. But it has to be done in a way that assures the special features that are particularly unique to Montpelier are sustained. The growth should be slow and organic. By organic I mean not cutting off parts of the city, not adding things that do not fit, but adding new parts that are compatible with what we have here.

Evaluate the council's performance. What's been done well and what's been done poorly?

I think the council performs well. There is a range of opinion on the council and I think there are opportunities for discussion. People are respectfully listened to. Any fault? I think our deliberations take us too late into the night. Some things we've done well include developing a budget of no increase last year, and just a 2.1 percent increase this year. That's a major triumph.

What are the challenges and problems facing the city?

We need growth in new business to expand the tax base and we need appropriate housing for all income levels. We haven't grown for a number of years. We need new blood and new life. Traffic and parking is another problem. Taxes are a problem. It counters our efforts to try to grow the city. On the Sabin's Pasture proposal, I think the plan for 600 units is out of scale with the neighborhood We need to work with that developer so that a significant part of that field goes into conservation. It could be developed along Barre Street but the pasture is a gem that shouldn't be lost.

Take high taxes. What's the solution?

New growth in business and housing. But there are costs to both, and we have to impose impact fees and link housing to infrastructure costs. We also want to try to keep the state from expanding into the business district because that will shrink the tax base.

Are you generally happy or unhappy with the direction of the city right now?

I'm satisfied. City services are top rate. Public works, the police department, and fire department all do a great job. Financial management is in strong hands. I'm concerned about vacant downtown spaces. There are a few vacant storefronts, but I think the downtown community association is doing a good job.

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