Current News

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org Negotiations fell apart Thursday night on the budget, tax and health care bills, even as lawmakers got closer to the new magic number: $30 million. That’s the amount budget-writers need in revenue to fill a remaining gap in the General Fund. The number has dropped from $35 million just a few days ago as lawmakers continue to scrub the budget for more savings.

Lawmakers appear to be getting closer to agreement on the money bills, but talks with the governor, who has issued thinly veiled veto threats, didn’t make sufficient headway.

If legislators aren’t able to finalize the bills by this afternoon, prospects for Saturday adjournment could dim. The budget has to be printed later today in order to meet that deadline. Extending the session means appropriating more money to keep lawmakers in the Statehouse beyond the 18 week mark.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine FairPoint Communications, Inc (Nasdaq: FRP), this morning announced workforce restructuring actions that will result in a reduction of approximately 260 positions across the 17 states in which it operates, including the closing of its call center in South Burlington, Vermont. A union representative said 73 unionized workers in Vermont (22 percent) will lose their jobs. According to a FairPoint statement, this action, combined with other headcount reductions over the past two years, approximates the level of voice line loss the company has experienced in that period. FairPoint is Vermont's largest telecommunications company.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voted “nay” today as the Senate advanced a proposed 12-nation Pacific Rim trade deal. In a floor speech before the 65-33 roll call vote, Sanders detailed four key reasons why the proposal would be bad for American workers and consumers.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership would follow in the footsteps of other disastrous trade pacts. The North American Free Trade Agreement, Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China and other trade deals are a major reason why some 60,000 American factories closed since 2001 as manufacturers shifted jobs to low-wage nations overseas and 4.7 million American jobs disappeared. “Why would we approve another trade deal like those that have failed so miserably,” he asked.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine This is different. Thursday morning Bill Stenger and his development group, contractors and associates stuck their silver shovels into a pile of dirt for the ceremonial groundbreaking of AnC Bio Vermont in Newport. On Monday an actual excavator will dig into the ground next to the former Bogner plant to begin the real construction, and right after that, lead developer Bill Stenger will fly off to the Middle East and Africa and try and raise the last $10 million in EB-5 immigrant investor money needed to complete the financing of the $100 million bio-medical facility.

Three Vermont State Colleges (VSC) are among the 100 most affordable small colleges in the United States. Lyndon State College (55th), Johnson State College (61st), and Castleton State College (85th) were each listed as one of America’s 100 Most Affordable Small Colleges by Best Value Schools for providing innovative academic offerings, small class sizes, and good value for the investment.

Best Value Schools’ list of Most Affordable Small Colleges focuses on traditional four-year colleges enrolling under 4,000 undergraduate students and excludes community colleges, graduate schools and specialized schools. Best Value Schools is an online resource that gathers and disseminates information about college cost and value to students and parents.

Teams from schools in Stowe, Halifax, and St. Albans won their respective divisions in the winter-spring 2015 Vermont Stock Market Game competition, announced Art Woolf, president of the Vermont Council on Economic Education.

In the high school division, a one-person team from BFA-St. Albans, Hannah Centabar, took the first place honors by turning an initial investment of $100,000 into $105,670. That team was coached by teacher Edee McArtor. Hannah will receive her award at a presentation at the school on May 26 at 8:10 am.

The middle school division top honors go to Lars Andrews, Liam Fisher, and Matthew Licence from West Halifax School. That team was coached by Joel Howes. They turned their $100,000 into $106,069, which was the highest of any team in the state.

The Vermont Department of Human Resources (DHR) today is initiating warnings to members of the State Employees’ Health Plan about a telemarketing practice promoting compound prescription drugs that can cost thousands of dollars. The telemarketing calls, apparently similar to those received by consumers in neighboring states, market a compounded pain gel or cream. The caller asks whether the consumer is in pain, requests the consumer’s personal information, and then contacts the consumer’s doctor directly to request the medication be prescribed. The prescription is later billed to the consumer’s health insurance, at a cost of several thousand dollars.

Company sponsors fundraiser for community children this weekend

Since expanding service into the town of Hinesburg eight years ago, 375 customers – nearly 78% of potential customers – are enjoying the benefits of clean, reliable and affordable natural gas.

In the past year alone, Vermont Gas customers in Hinesburg have saved $677,000 by switching from more expensive fuels, such as heating oil and propane, to natural gas. That equates to about $1300 to an average household that formerly used heating oil, and $2700 to households that relied on propane over the past year.

“Our expansion into Hinesburg is a great example of how access to natural gas helps more Vermont families save real money,” said Tom Murray, Director of Sales and Marketing at Vermont Gas. “These savings can be spent at local businesses, the Hinesburg Farmers Market, or the grocery store, boosting Hinesburg’s economy while increasing a family’s spending power.”

Mayor Miro Weinberger announced on May 14, 2015 the appointment of Beth Anderson as the City’s first-ever Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) to lead the newly-created Innovation & Technology Department. As CIO, Anderson will be responsible for managing the City’s information technology (IT) operations, as well as coordinating data-driven innovation and using performance metrics to facilitate the City’s continuous improvement efforts. The Mayor has asked the City Council to approve the appointment at its May 18, 2015 meeting.

“The City of Burlington will be very fortunate to have a leader of Beth Anderson’s caliber serving as the City’s first Chief Innovation Officer,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Beth’s service will improve the City’s IT capacities, save taxpayer dollars, and deliver better, data-driven public outcomes.”

Ski Vermont resorts don’t hibernate over the summer. Expect even more active summer options in 2015 as new ziplines, lodges and mountain bike options open for the first time. Whether seeking adventurous thrills, a family get-away, or a gorgeous game of golf, Vermont ski and snowboard resorts have something for everyone in spring, summer, and fall.

Downhill Thrills Continue in Vermont Post Ski Season

Celebrating St Johnsbury’s commitment to innovation, SunCommon announced its arrival in the Northeast Kingdom on Tuesday by bringing clean, affordable and accessible solar energy options to local residents. Business leaders, local officials, SunCommon staff, and friends gathered at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, which enjoys a 24 percent share of a SunCommon Community Solar Array. SunCommon's Jericho Community Solar Array is a 150 KW array serving the Fairbanks Museum and over two dozen Vermont households. Users subscribe to a community array to which they are not directly connected and their net benefit is reflected on their electric bills.

“By joining a Community Solar Array, we are able to work towards energy independence while supporting our mission to educate the community about renewable energy,” said Adam Kane of Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium.

The Vermont Public Service Board, which is the state's utility regulator, opened and then suspended two requests from Vermont Gas Systems to allow it to take private land in order to complete its Addison County gas pipeline extension. The orders are dated April 29 and are copied below. The PSB states that it will not rule on the eminent domain requests until it has ruled on the larger question of whether to reopen the VGS case. VGS serves Franklin and Chittenden Counties and has already started construction on the Addison pipeline. Because of two increases in cost estimates in 2014, VGS' Certificate of Public Good was appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court, which sent the case back to the PSB for further review in February. If the PSB reopens the case, "the possible outcomes include that the Board could affirm, modify, or revoke the CPG that was issued." The PSB is expected to rule before the end of summer.

PSB Rulings: