Current News

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Staff at the University of Vermont soon will have another chance to unionize. The Vermont State Employees’ Association announced Thursday it had filed a petition with the Vermont Labor Relations Board to represent nearly 800 non-teaching personnel. If the petition passes review, the board will set the schedule for an official election. A kickoff event will be held at noon Friday on the front steps of the Royal Tyler Theater on campus. Staff, members of UVM unions, and community allies will “discuss the current climate at the University and their reasoning behind seeking unionization,” according to a press release from VSEA.

The filing marks a new chapter in a years-long effort by a group called United Staff to organize an independent union.

Kathy Carolin, a 20-year UVM employee, said the group is confident in its decision to band together with VSEA.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Roughly $400 million in information technology projects, including one that would underpin a new single-payer health care program, are behind schedule and at risk of not being completed on time, according to the legislative Joint Fiscal Office. Those projects include an integrated system for determining eligibility for human services, Vermont Health Connect, and the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS).

There is a “high risk,” according to JFO, that MMIS won’t be in place by 2017. That’s the anticipated start date of Green Mountain Care, the state’s planned universal, publicly financed health care program — often called single-payer.

Attorney General Bill Sorrell filed a lawsuit on September 24 against Matthew Terry who sells meat door-to-door in northwestern Vermont. The complaint alleges that Mr. Terry violated Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act. Mr. Terry misled consumers about the price-per-pound and cut of the meat. He did not provide notice to consumers of their right to cancel and did not return calls from individuals seeking to cancel. Additionally, Mr. Terry did not have the necessary licenses in Vermont.

“Vermont consumers have been targeted with aggressive door-to-door marketing” said Attorney General Sorrell. “The disclosure, cancellation, and licensing laws are designed to protect consumers in these high-pressure situations. They need to be followed.”

A former high-ranking aide to Governor Peter Shumlin, who currently works with Jay Peak Resort, has joined a top Montpelier lobbying firm. KSE Partners, LLP, a leading government affairs, strategic communications and research firm, announced today that Alexandra MacLean will join the firm as a partner.

“We are thrilled that Alex will be joining our firm,” Managing Partner Scott Mackey said. “Alex has played a critical role in Vermont politics and policy development over the past several years, managing Governor Peter Shumlin’s successful 2010 and 2012 campaigns and serving as his Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs. She is a seasoned political operative and an expert in strategic communications. She will head our strategic communications practice and be intimately involved in all areas of the firm.”

Standardized test scores for science are down in Vermont. The Vermont Agency of Education today released the Spring 2014 science assessment results for Vermont students in grades four, eight, and 11 during a press conference held at White River School in White River Junction. The results show that 44 percent of Vermont fourth graders scored as proficient or higher in science, down three percentage points from last year’s cohort. In grade eight, 25 percent were proficient or higher, seven percentage points lower than 2013. In grade 11, 30 percent were proficient or higher, one percentage point lower than 2013.

The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB), in collaboration with the St Albans-based Yellow Wood Associates (YWA), has commenced an in-depth analysis of the forestry and wood products industry in Vermont. With direction from WLEB, YWA will engage stakeholders across all sectors of Vermont’s forest and wood products economy to better understand the current state of the industry and identify opportunities for future strategic investment. The goal of the project, slated for completion by July 2015, is a comprehensive report which will establish a strong foundation for increased support and strategic growth in this important sector of Vermont’s economy.

YWA will engage stakeholders through an on-line survey, regional focus groups, value-chain mapping workshops and a statewide summit to be held in the spring of 2015. The study, which will include an exploration and analysis of forestry and wood markets, products, and services, will also:

Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today that it has appointed Eileen Whalen, MHA, RN, to the position of president and chief operating officer effective early 2015. The appointment was made following a national search. Whalen will report to John Brumsted, MD, who will retain the position of chief executive officer at Fletcher Allen as well as his position as president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen Partners, the four-hospital integrated health network serving Vermont and northern New York. Whalen’s position combines the role of president with that of the chief operating officer.

RealtyTrac, a leading source for comprehensive housing data, has released its first-ever report ranking all US counties based on the prevalence of man-made environmental hazards. Chittenden County was the only county in Vermont with a population large enough to quality. It ranked 34th best (545) of the 578 counties ranked, between Spotsylvania County, VA, and Hampshire County, MA. The highest ranked county was Deschutes, OR, and the worst was Saint Louis City, MO. Many of the best were in the Northwest and many of the worst, predictably, were in urban areas across the country.

Burlington Electric Department (BED) and the Burlington International Airport (BTV) have announced they have been cleared to install a 500 kW solar array atop the airport parking garage. This project is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to add community solar to its portfolio and, with an anticipated “go-live” date for later this year, will bring Burlington’s installed solar photovoltaic to 69 projects generating 1.92 megawatts of power for the city.

Yestermorrow Design/Build School of Waitsfield joins the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and hundreds of solar-savvy installers and grassroots organizations throughout America to showcase thousands of solar-powered homes, schools and businesses ― in Vermont and across North America -- for the 19^th Annual National Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots solar event. The event, slated for Saturday, October 4th, is showcases the solar technologies your neighbors are using to 1) drastically reduce monthly energy bills, 2) reduce harmful carbon emissions, and 3) enjoy rich tax credits and cash incentives as they improve their property values.

“The ASES National Solar Tour shows families and businesses real-life examples of how their neighbors are harnessing free energy from the sun to generate electricity, warm and cool their homes, heat water and slash monthly utility bills,” according to Kate Stephenson, Yestermorrow’s Executive Director.

Hunters are enthusiastic about Vermont’s upcoming October 4-26 and December 6-14 split archery deer hunting season, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. “Deer are moving about and being seen more now with cooler weather to stimulate activity,” said Cedric Sanborn at R&L Archery in Barre. “Several hunters who have put out trail cameras are patterning deer activity and getting photos of nice bucks.”

“This year is very different because, unlike last year, there are very few apples in the woods and a lot of deer are feeding out in fields,” he added. “Hunters will do well to set up stands along deer trails leading into those fields.”

A hunter may take up to three deer in Vermont’s two-part archery season with three archery licenses. No more than one of the deer taken during archery season may be a legal buck. No antlerless deer may be taken in Wildlife Management Unit (WMUs) D2, E1 or E2, where antlerless deer hunting is prohibited in 2014.

Vermont Smoke and Cure, maker of “damn fine” bacon, ham and award winning RealSticks in Hinesburg, is teaming with AllEarth Renewables of Williston to source local renewable solar to power the company’s electrical needs. Nearly half of Vermont Smoke and Cure’s electric demand is now being supplied by solar projects with future plans for solar to fulfill all of the meat plant’s electrical load. A 156-killowattsolar orchard in Essex and an 88-killowatt solar orchard in Marshfield will produce approximately 366,000-kilowatt hours annually of emissions-free solar electricity for the Vermont company.Both projects utilize Vermont-made solar trackers.