The Burlington City Council approved an emergency order on Thursday that will limit most indoor residential gatherings to 10 people and ban alcohol sales in bars and restaurants after 11 p.m.
The order, a version of which was first proposed by Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger earlier this week, comes as thousands of college students from the University of Vermont and Champlain College are moving back to Burlington.
The order limits outdoor and partially outdoor gatherings to 25 and requires social distancing and facial coverings. Its passage comes after Gov. Phil Scott gave municipalities the authority to limit gathering sizes and regulate restaurants beyond what state requirements stipulate.
The order marks a substantial change from state guidelines, which allow for gatherings of 75 people indoors and 150 outdoors.
The council approved an amendment put forth by Sarah Carpenter, D-Ward 4, that altered the proposal to allow first- and third-class liquor license holders to sell alcohol until 11 p.m., instead of 10 p.m. as initially put forth by the mayor.
Representatives from numerous downtown businesses spoke out against the proposal for a 10 p.m. last call during public comments.
“Closing the bars at 10 p.m. will only force the students into partying into tightly closed apartments, because they are going to party no matter what happens with the bars,” said Debra Miller, the co-owner of Ken’s Pizza. “It would be better for them to be in the bars where things are sanitized, people are distanced.”
Representatives of other bars endorsed the sentiment. Zach Ward, the manager of Ruben James, said many of the over-21 students who are able to go to bars already moved into off-campus housing in Burlington over the summer.
“College students are going to party either way,” Ward said during public comments. “Bars provide a safe environment that’s controlled, sanitized and has worked throughout the whole summer. So I don’t see why we should be punished for following the rules, following the regulations and keeping this thing at bay.”
Weinberger said the concern about pushing parties into less regulated environments was “fair” to raise, but added that the proposal was “made mindful of that possibility” with limits on residential gatherings.
“We certainly are erring on the side of using aggressively these new tools that the governor has given us in a preemptive fashion given what’s at stake,” Weinberger said, adding that he has been in conversation with Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine about the proposals.
“What we are attempting to do here — and what has sound backing in science and public health — is a harm-reduction effort,” Weinberger said.
The council also greenlit an amendment put forth by Brian Pine, P-Ward 3, that removed a clause giving Weinberger the unilateral authority to alter the hours of alcohol service going forward.
The Burlington Police Department will conduct “supplemental Covid Educational Circuits to inform residents about these changes, respond to complaints, and write civil tickets if necessary,” according to a memo from Weinberger explaining the changes. UVM will chip in to pay for the circuits.
Weinberger added in the memo that he has asked the Department of Liquor and Lottery to increase enforcement of Scott’s executive orders at bars in Burlington. Under current regulations, bars are limited to 50% capacity, with a maximum of 75 patrons inside and 150 people outdoors.
Four Burlington bars were issued warnings in early July for allegedly violating the orders.
The new rules come as many Queen City residents are worried about students coming back. Weinberger sent a letter to UVM President Suresh Garrimella two weeks ago outlining a list of concerns about students coming back. Garimella made no major changes in response, but the two appeared to be in lockstep by Tuesday, when they appeared at separate press conferences and said they would work together to prevent community spread of Covid-19.
Numerous city councilors also criticized UVM administrators at a press conference last week calling for changes to the school’s reopening plan.
The order will be revisited by the council on Sept. 14. It was approved unanimously, though only nine councilors were present for the vote. Seven are needed for a quorum.
