The South Burlington City Council is asking for public input before deciding whether to allow first responders to use vacant homes around Burlington International Airport for training exercises.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, councilors agreed to hear feedback from residents on whether to use the homes for training before discussing any rules.
The councilors, who were scheduled to consider a procedure to notify the public of possible training exercises, decided instead to take public comment on the issue at the next council meeting.
Though the training would useful for nearby first responders, the homes are located in an occupied neighborhood and could startle residents, city councilors said.
Pam Mackenzie, chair of the council, said the city of Burlington, which owns the vacant buildings, would follow any recommendations made by South Burlington on how to use the homes.
South Burlington’s first responders want to use the homes because they offer a unique and convenient training environment that is difficult to find.
South Burlington Police Chief Trevor Whipple said he supports using the homes for training, but he does not want to disturb the neighborhood.
Last year, the Vermont State Police, in collaboration with other law enforcement organizations, used the homes for training without notifying city police, Whipple said. Officers wearing ski masks and carrying weapons (without live bullets) set off flash bang explosives, startling residents who were unaware of the training, he said.
Whipple said city police might use the homes to practice safe search techniques, which means sending officers into the homes at night to look for a mock armed intruder. Live ammunition would not be used for training, he said.
Fire Chief Douglas Brent said the homes offer an invaluable training opportunity for his department. He said no homes would be set on fire for training.
There are more than 54 vacant homes around the airport that are awaiting demolition. The homes cannot be reoccupied for residential purposes, said Gene Richards, director of aviation for the airport.
George A. Maille Jr., a South Burlington resident, has appealed the demolition permits for the homes. The case is currently in Vermont Superior Court.
Richards said the airport will not make any decisions on how to use the vacant homes without hearing feedback from the community.
He said the airport has denied several requests seeking to use the vacant homes for training until the community approves the practice. The airport reached out to South Burlington to set guidelines for use of the vacant homes.
He said the airport would not charge a fee to use the homes for training.
The airport has been purchasing homes within certain noise contours of the airport since the 1990s. The Federal Aviation Administration’s requires the airport to adopt Noise Compatibility Programs (NCPs), which includes purchasing these homes.
Between 1992 and 2007, the airport purchased 59 homes that fell within the 70 decibel day-night noise level (DNL) contour of the airport’s operational noise. In 2008, the airport revised their NCP and purchased up to 20 homes per year that were located within a 65 decibel DNL contour.
Until Congress reauthorizes the FAA’s budget, no more homes will be purchased, Richards said.
