Bridge Staff
MONTPELIER — One week after announcing her resignation, District 1 City Councilor Adrienne Gil attended her final council meeting on July 22, and the city of Montpelier is now seeking applicants to fill her role.
A July 30 press release from the city noted that Montpelier’s City Charter gives the city council authority to appoint someone to fill a vacant council seat if the vacancy has more than 90 days of the unexpired term.
Interested residents in filling the District 1 council seat should send a resume and cover letter to City Manager Kelly McNicholas Kury at kkury@montpelier-vt.org by Monday, Aug. 10, at 5 p.m.
The city council will review applications to fill the now-vacant District 1 seat and consider making an appointment at its next meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The appointed council member will serve until the term ends Tuesday, March 2, 2027, at which point the voters will decide who fills that role.
Applications will remain open until councilors make an appointment.
“We can’t change what’s happening around the world, we can’t change what’s happening [in] our federal government too much, but we absolutely have an impact on our local government,” Gil said during her last city council meeting July 22.
– Cassandra Hemenway
DEW Picked for Country Club Road Housing
MONTPELIER — The Montpelier City Council unanimously voted July 22 to authorize City Manager Kelly McNicholas Kury to begin negotiations with DEW Properties for a housing development on Country Club Road.
The vote does not approve a final plan. Instead, it allows the city to negotiate a letter of intent and development agreement with DEW, both of which must be approved by the council.
The council’s action follows a recommendation from the Country Club Road Subcommittee, which selected Williston-based DEW Properties, owned by Montpelier native Don Wells, after determining its proposal best aligned with community feedback. Members cited its emphasis on homeownership, a mix of housing types, preserving recreation space, and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.
Negotiations will be led by McNicholas Kury and Planning Director Mike Miller, with assistance from consultants White + Burke, Downs Rachlin Martin, and Councilor Sal Alfano, who chaired the subcommittee. The council is expected to review a final contract with DEW later this year.
-Tracy Brannstrom
Speranza Inn Celebrates Grand Opening
BARRE — Downstreet Housing and Community Development has transformed the former Quality Inn in Barre into Speranza Inn, a 41-room service-integrated hotel that addresses the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in central Vermont. The nonprofit organization, along with funders, neighbors, and community partners, celebrated its grand opening on July 23.
“The Speranza Inn is an essential community resource, where our dedicated staff provide people with safety, dignity, and support as they work toward stable, permanent housing,” says Angie Harbin, executive director of Downstreet.
Downstreet acquired the Quality Inn in April 2025 and has been undertaking an “occupied rehabilitation” ever since in order to complete the project.
“Here at the Speranza Inn, we work hard to create a sense of community. Through a trauma-informed lens, we connect guests with the services they need, assist with housing applications, and provide safe community space for preparing and eating meals,” says Kathi Partlow, director of homeless services.
Throughout the occupied rehabilitation, the Speranza Inn provided accommodations to 236 households, many of whom stayed for several months while working toward permanent housing and greater stability. With construction now complete, Downstreet and the Speranza Inn staff look forward to continuing to meet the needs of current and future guests while expanding the food pantry, emergency assistance fund, and guest transportation services.
