Some residents in the city of Rutland were blindsided when the mayor and the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program announced in April that 100 Syrian and Iraqi refugees would be coming to the city in October. Now, a petition seeking to put the issue before voters has been validated.
Concerned citizens have appeared repeatedly before the Board of Aldermen seeking information on the resettlement plan. But little information has been made public. A group called Rutland First circulated a petition and collected more than 1,200 signatures asking the mayor and Board of Aldermen to put a proposition before the voters.
At least 5 percent of registered voters were needed to certify the petition.
Board of Aldermen President William Notte says the petition reflects residents’ concerns. “Unfortunately I think it speaks to the way this was rolled out. There was a big announcement about it and it wasn't really followed up with any informational delivery. Without any information immediately forthcoming from the mayor, from the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program a lot of people decided to do their own research. And I don't think the answers that people found there, I think the fears that have been built up are valid. Certainly given the opportunity these refugees when they’re allowed to arrive will show everyone that they are just the next evolution in families coming to Rutland.”
Despite the demand that the refugee resettlement plan be placed before city voters, Mayor Christopher Louras has been quoted that he's "not inclined at this time to put it on the ballot." Calls to the mayor were not returned.
City Alderman Sharon Davis has been critical of what she calls a lack of transparency surrounding the plans and is not surprised that residents now want to weigh in. “There were over twelve hundred signatures submitted and I believe more are continuing to come in. That's a significant portion of this community. I don't think there's anybody that disagrees with the mayor saying we don't vote on who moves in or out of our community. But that's not what the vote is saying. It's saying at this time until questions are answered. There is a huge amount of questions on both sides of the fence. The mayor has taken no initiative in answering those questions. I believe it’s a democratic process and I will support putting it on the ballot.”
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Director of Government and Community Relations Stacie Blake has been working with the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program on the effort to bring the Syrians and Iraqis to Rutland. “It would be shocking in America to vote on who would move to your town. And I'm also concerned, frankly, for immigrants who are already living in Rutland and the message that this type of action sends to them. There have been multiple opportunities for people to have their questions answered and certainly if folks have more they should just ask them.”
The Rutland City Board of Aldermen plans to place the petition on its July 5th agenda.
