Current News

Comments Sought on Revised Cleanup Plan for Burlington's Pine Street Canal Superfund Site
(Boston, Mass. - Dec. 17, 2008) - Following a careful review of previous work, EPA is seeking public input on recommended modifications to part of the underwater cap at the Pine Street Canal Superfund Site in Burlington, Vermont.
EPA's proposed modification is contained in a document called a draft "Explanation of Significant Differences" that proposes steps to repair and augment a leaking portion of the underwater cap installed several years ago. In 2006, EPA performed a "5-Year Review" of previous work at the Burlington site, and found that some portions of the cap are leaking oil and coal tar.

Business Roundtable Releases Fourth Quarter CEO Economic Outlook Survey
(So. Burlington, Vt.) Reflecting nationwide trends, the mood of the chief executives of Vermont's leading businesses took a step downward in the fourth quarter, with leaders decidedly less optimistic about sales prospects, capital outlays, and employment levels for the winter and spring, compared to third quarter forecasts. The mood of the statewide business community was assessed late in the fourth quarter and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chairman Tim Volk and President Lisa Ventriss.
"Not surprisingly, given the recurring challenges in international financial markets and the subsequent reaction by consumers, economic expectations within our membership have deteriorated since our last survey in September," Ventriss said. "Vermont's economy is intricately linked to the global economy and it shows in the survey findings."

Governor Issues Emergency Disaster Declaration for Ice Storm Damage
Montpelier, VT - As a result of damages suffered in last week's ice and snow storm throughout Vermont, Governor Douglas has issued an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency for four counties in Vermont.
The order allows the state to expedite the arrival of utility crews from other states and Canadian provinces to assist with restoring power. It will also form the basis for an application for federal disaster relief funding if eligibility thresholds are met.
"As a result of a storm that impacted most of New England on December 11, 2008, causing excessive and heavy icing and extensive utility damage that is considered ongoing at this time, I hereby declare a State of Emergency for the Counties of Bennington, Orange, Windham and Windsor Counties," the Governors Executive Order reads.

Weary electric crews trudge on
Hydro One breaths second wind into restoration effort

City Market and Opportunities Credit Union (OCU) Team Up to Promote Small Business Growth
City Market and OCU are offering low-interest business loans.
Burlington, VTDecember 15, 2008 - City Market, Onion River Co-op, downtown Burlington's cooperative grocery store, is announcing a new loan fund that will help small businesses to grow. The Co-op works with over 1,000 Vermont vendors and is committed to the sustainability not only of local agriculture of also of our local economy. Many of the Co-op vendors have expressed interest in a low-interest loan program in order to expand their businesses. Teaming up with Opportunities Credit Union, City Market is able to offer vendors a loan rate of 4.99%.

Secretary Lunderville's Letter to Legislative leaders over the failure to reach agreement on state budget cuts.
Secretary Lunderville's Letter
General Fund Rescission
Plan #2

General Fund Rescission Plan #2 Narrative

SEE ALSO BELOW
keep:AFDETA FY 2009 - resc #2 by Dept - web version

FY 2009 APPROPRIATIONS BY DEPARTMENT

General Fund Rescission

Plan #2 12/15/08 Comments

Secretary of administration (62,123)

Information and innovation (30,946)

Finance and management (71,686)

Libraries (29,939)

Tax (65,000)

Buildings and general services (33,368)

Executive office (71,500)

Legislative council (30,000)

Legislature (180,000)

Legislative information technology (5,000)

Joint fiscal committee (10,000)

Auditor of accounts (39,362)

State treasurer (67,000)

State labor relations board (16,498)

VOSHA review board (2,003)

Crews converge on Windham and Windsor counties
Tree damage in Wilmington area is worst many workers have ever seen
RUTLAND (December 15, 2008)-- After more than 90 hours of restoration work since the first customer went out last Friday, line and tree crews have restored service to 30,100 of the 35,000 CVPS customers who lost power after last week's ice storm. CVPS has acquired 10 line crews from Hydro One in Canada. They will arrive on CVPS property late tonight to assist in the restoration effort tomorrow.
Most customers in Windsor County will be back on by late Tuesday evening, but single customer outages and areas with extreme damage - especially the Wilmington, Readsboro, Wardsboro, Dover, Guilford area -- will carry later into the week.

Governor Douglas to announce $1.6 million in Grant Awards

December 15, 2008

Moment Analytics Offers Source Code and 'Outsourcing to Vermont'

The Burlington law firm Paul Frank + Collins is pleased to announce the addition of Kristina M. Roomet to the firm. Roomet is a member of the Property & Development and Environmental Law teams at PF+C. Her practice focuses on environmental, land use, energy, and health & safety law.

VERMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HIRES STUART COMSTOCK-GAY AS PRESIDENT & CEO
MIDDLEBURY, VT - The board of the Vermont Community Foundation announced that Stuart Comstock-Gay has been named the next President & CEO. Comstock-Gay comes to the Foundation with more than 20 years of experience in building the capacity, reach, and impact of institutions dedicated to bringing people together in the pursuit of community-minded goals.

Governor Announces Bold Multi-state Effort to Prepare Students across New England for Success in the 21st Century

Groundbreaking four-state collaboration will work to reinvent the high school experience
MONTPELIER (December 15, 2008) - Governor Douglas today announced the formation of the New England Secondary School Consortium, a groundbreaking regional partnership encompassing four states: Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Consortium is funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the largest philanthropy in New England focused exclusively on education. The Nellie Mae Education Foundation has committed $1 million to support the Consortium, which includes a $500,000 partnership grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest philanthropic foundation.