Current News

Leonine Public Affairs This is typically the point in the legislative session when things change quickly. Friday was supposed to be the day that morning committees shut down in the Senate which helps motivate legislators to compromise and move bills. While the morning committees will meet briefly next week, the notion of quick change is proving to be true again this year. Several tier-one policy bills that appeared to be stalled out ended up moving, like the tax and regulate bill, and some substantial changes to Vermont’s tax policies are being made very late in the process. More on those tax changes later in the newsletter. 

Like last year, two issues that appear to be linked to one another may ultimately determine if the session adjourns on time. The minimum wage bill and the paid family leave bill are two priorities for the legislature but its not clear which is the top priority for each chamber. Governor Scott also weighed in and stated that he may be willing to reach a compromise on minimum wage. This could be a sign that there is deal between the governor, Senate and House to pass bills in some form that is acceptable to all of them. This would certainly continue the primary theme of this session which is to put the negativity of the previous biennium in the rearview mirror.

by Kevin B Jones, PhD, Vermont Law School New England is home to some of the first and finest colleges and universities in the nation. We are also the home of the nation’s first offshore wind farm. But this small, five-turbine 30 megawatt (MW) facility off the coast of Block Island, R.I. is just the beginning. Thanks to the leadership of the New England states, hundreds, and hopefully thousands, more megawatts of offshore wind are coming soon.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Senator Tammy Baldwin will deliver the 44th Commencement address at Vermont Law School on Saturday, May 11. In addition to honoring Baldwin, the school will confer honorary degrees upon Collin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, and Judge Peter W Hall, Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

by John Goodrich The legislature is working toward mandating a universal $15/hour minimum wage. I have been in a position to see the real effects of such a step. For many years I led a major St Johnsbury manufacturing firm with as many as 300+ employees and as interim CEO at a St Albans plant of 160 employees. Proudly, we paid attractive wages, plus benefits, to promote strong work forces at both sites. From my experience I can testify that the desired outcomes of a mandated minimum wage would be perversely harmful to those needing a job and a wage.

Vermont Business Magazine Strolling of the Heifers’ annual culinary competition aims to find the tastiest and best-looking Coffee Cake or Sweet Bread in New England! It’s time for amateur and professional bakers to fire up their ovens and bring us their best, most original Coffee Cake or Sweet Bread recipe! The deadline is now midnight on May 24. Finalists will be notified by May 31.

Vermont Business Magazine Dive deep into the best of documentary filmmaking every month with Sunday Best, a new film screening and discussion series from Vermont PBS and the Vermont International Film Festival (VTIFF). Documentary films inspire valuable community conversation, and Vermont PBS and VTIFF believe it is important to give them a regular home though this series. Every second Sunday of the Month beginning in May, Sunday Best will showcase documentary films from Independent Lens, POV, America ReFramed, and other Vermont PBS series, as well as local and regional films selected by Vermont PBS and VTIFF. Award-winning films selected for the series aim to highlight a prominent social or cultural issue such as immigration, the environment, gender, race, economics, and much more. Screening attendees will see films before their broadcast premieres.

Vermont Business Magazine H.N. Williams in Dorset has announced that Phase 1 of their expansion plan –preparing the terrain for the addition of gas pumps and the construction of a 3,200 sq. foot addition - is near completion. This first phase of three included demolition of a building, blasting through ledge, installation of underground gas holding tanks, and the laying of concrete. Phase 1 has utilized the efforts and expertise of several local companies and agencies including T.A.M., Mach’s Blasting, CPI Concrete, Star Construction, Leggett Custom Homes, Pete Haggarty Construction, and the Dorset Volunteer Fire Department. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) today announced two newly elected members to its Board of Directors. Both Ted Foster of Vergennes and Tony Collier of Colchester attended their first Board meeting last week at VEDA's office in Montpelier. Ted Foster is a retired dairy farmer and co-founder of Vermont Natural Ag Products, serving as Treasurer at his family's 1,700 acre, 500-cow farm for over 40 years. Tony Collier is a Champlain Valley native with a passion for entrepreneurship and over six years of sales and marketing experience with Silicon Valley technology startups. He is currently an executive with a software startup based in San Francisco.

Vermont Business Magazine Officials from the State of Vermont are reminding Vermonters in emerald ash borer (EAB) infested areas that the beetles will soon be emerging from affected trees. Moving any infested material, especially ash firewood, logs, and pruning debris, can quickly spread the destructive insect. Optimal practices are to move ash from the infested area only during the “non-flight season” before EAB emerges. This, and other recommendations to slow the spread of EAB, are described at vtinvasives.org/eab.