By Kolby LaMarche

The City is moving forward with community input on potential sites for its planned Overdose Prevention Center (OPC), kicking off a series of listening sessions across the city’s wards.

The first gathering, set for Ward 1 tonight, aims to gather resident feedback before any location decisions are made, city officials announced.

This step comes as the project faces a leadership transition, with current lead Theresa Vezina stepping down to launch her own consulting firm, prompting the city to post a new job opening for an OPC Grants & Project Manager—a job that will undoubtedly be a challenging one.

The listening sessions represent a key phase in the OPC’s development, mandated under Act 178 and in accordance with Vermont Department of Health (VDH) guidelines given to Burlington.

Designed to foster transparency and address neighborhood concerns, these forums will allow residents, businesses, and stakeholders to voice opinions on site selection, safety protocols, and potential impacts, the City says.

City representatives emphasize that no sites have been proposed yet, and the process will prioritize data-driven, community-centered approaches.

A promotional flyer distributed by the Community Economic Development Office (CEDO) outlines the sessions’ goals, highlighting opportunities for dialogue on facility design, accessibility, and mitigation of concerns like syringe litter or public safety.

The language surrounding the session, however, raises more questions—ones that BDN has raised previously. Many months ago, during a city council meeting, outgoing head Theresa Vezina described these very sessions as “education and awareness,” adding, “We’ll listen, but it’s really an opportunity to talk about strategies.”

Displayed on the flyer is a set of expectations for residents who come: a presentation of survey findings, a “structured” discussion that is “guided and inclusive,” and a “welcoming space” for community input. It remains unclear if the City will allow a town hall-style Q&A, or rather hand-selected questions with tailored responses.

This push for public involvement builds on earlier planning efforts, but it arrives amid a notable shift in project oversight.

Theresa Vezina, who has spearheaded Burlington’s OPC initiatives since its inception, is departing to establish her own consulting firm focused on harm reduction and public health policy. The City has not said if it would, or would not, enter into any contracts with Vezina’s new firm.

Vezina’s tenure included coordinating with state agencies, securing grants, and leading preliminary community outreach. Her exit becomes effective at the end of February.

In response, Burlington has opened applications for the Overdose Prevention Center Grants & Project Manager position, a part-time role at a reported 30 hours per week with a salary range of $63,445.20 to $70,792.80 annually.

The role demands oversight of the OPC grant administration, ensuring adherence to VDH operating guidelines, and collaborating with partners like the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Department of Financial Administration, and the selected OPC provider—Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform (VCJR).

Key responsibilities will include managing project timelines, budgets, and deliverables; facilitating data collection; and monitoring compliance with requirements for staffing, training, facility design, security, and emergency protocols. Public engagement duties encompass organizing events, responding to constituent concerns with evidence-based information, maintaining the city’s OPC webpage, and distributing updates to mailing lists.

In its post, the City highlighted its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applicants from varied backgrounds. “Promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity” is a core value, it said.

As previously reported, the City Council unanimously approved a $2.2 million state grant last September, paving the way for community engagement and site planning. However, pushback emerged in October when a survey to gauge site preferences revealed community opposition, particularly over neighborhood impacts, in some wards.

Governor Phil Scott has previously voiced reservations, describing the OPC as potentially enabling rather than resolving issues, in comments from a September blueprint for aiding Burlington.

Burlington Daily News will keep readers updated as the City moves along.