Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Brattleboro Retreat is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark McGee, MD, as the hospital’s new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). McGee takes over the job from Frederick “Fritz” Engstrom, MD, who has retired from his role as CMO but will remain on the Retreat’s medical staff. McGee joined the Retreat in 2012 after completing his residency in Psychiatry at the University of Vermont. Since that time he has served as a staff psychiatrist on the hospital’s Adult Intensive Unit and was appointed unit chief of the Adult Inpatient Unit. In 2013, became board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry. In 2016, he was appointed Medical Director of the Anna Marsh Clinic and later that year as Medical Director of Inpatient Services.

by John McClaughry Here’s a capsule history of the fitful advance of parental choice in education in Vermont. 1869: The landmark Act 9 allows towns without secondary schools to tuition pupils to public and independent schools. 1990: The 1869 tuition law is expanded to include grades 1-6. 1997: In debate over what becomes Act 60, the education finance law, Sen. Jeb Spaulding (D) offers an amendment for full public and non-sectarian independent school choice, with a state-specified tuition amount following the student. It passes 18-12 with the support of Senate President Peter Shumlin (D). The House rejects it in conference.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) has joined Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging; Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging; and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), in introducing the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA). A Supreme Court ruling in 2009 held that age discrimination claims must prove that discrimination was not just a motivating factor but the sole or overriding factor in an adverse employment decision. This put a higher burden on older workers alleging age discrimination than on those alleging discrimination based on race, sex, national origin or religion.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont shoppers are familiar with the Vermont Sales Tax of 6 percent on most retail purchases. However, many Vermonters are less familiar with the corresponding use tax. Use tax is due if a shopper has not already paid sales tax at the time of purchase (except on exempt items such as food or clothing), according to the Vermont Department of Taxes.

If a taxpayer purchases a taxable item and the seller does not collect the Vermont Sales Tax due (as can occur online or in a tax-free state like New Hampshire), use tax is due on that purchase. Buying online or in a tax- free state does not mean a taxpayer can legally avoid the tax — it just means the tax gets paid differently.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-Penn), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-Maine) and Reps Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) will unveil new legislation to allow the importation of prescription drugs into the US Tuesday, at 12:30 pm during a press conference. The members of Congress have come together on legislation that will allow for drug importation while maintaining important safety standards.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 12:30 pm
Where: Senate Radio/TV Gallery (S-325)
Who: Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Angus King (I-Maine)and Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the composition of his Government Modernization and Efficiency Team (GMET), with no shortage of big names, which he established via Executive Order 03-17 on his first day in office. The GMET team includes Biotek's Adam Alpert, Obama Administration official Allyson Laackman and BED GM and Douglas Administration official Neale Lunderville.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, a national data firm reports that US and Vermont home prices increased in December. Vermont tied for the third largest increase. The Data & Analytics division of Black Knight Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: BKFS) released its latest Home Price Index (HPI) report, based on December 2016 residential real estate transactions. The US average HPI was $267,000. According to real estate analyst Trulia, Vermont counties ranged from $116,500 (Essex) to $269,500 (Chittenden) in February.

Vermont Business MagazineA new report by The Solar Foundation cites Vermont as a national leader in the solar industry, ranking third for the number of solarjobsper capita.Between 2015 to 2016, solarjobsin Vermont grew by 29 percent, with an additional 400 solarjobscreated in the state last year.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Greater Burlington YMCA announced today that NorthCountry Federal Credit Union has donated $100,000 to support the Y’s Youth Development programs. NorthCountry’s gift will help tounderwrite early education, afterschool programs, summer camps, and youth swimming throughout the year. NorthCountry has been the Y’s Community Partner for six years, a relationship that has worked so well because of the two organization’s mutual focus on providing Vermonters the tools and opportunities they need to achieve their potential. Over the past six years, NorthCountry’s support of Y youth development programs has totaled $600,000.

Leonine Public Affairs Last week set the stage for the House’s workload for the remainder of the legislative session. Wednesday was the deadline for legislators to get bills they are sponsoring into the queue for referral to the relevant committee. Of the 492 House bills that have been introduced since the session began in early January, 167 of them came in this week. The new arrivals address topics as diverse as securing the safety of the electrical power grid from an electromagnetic pulse attack or severe solar storm (H.431), to requiring a study of fragrances in State buildings (H.451). Because the number of bills exceed the House’s capacity to review and consider all of them, many bills simply will not advance. In fact, the time crunch is all the more intense as this week saw the setting of Friday, March 17 as the “crossover” deadline. That is the date by which bills must pass out of committee in order to be eligible to pass the legislature this year. “Money” bills such as the budget bill get an extra week. Because the legislature will be taking the week of March 6th off so members can go to their town meetings and have a short break, there are only two weeks to get most bills out of their respective committees and to the floor.

by Representative Sarah Copeland Hanzas As a state legislator, my first responsibility is to stand up for a Vermont that works for all of us. I’m continually looking at what we can do to strengthen Vermont’s economy for future generations. I’m proud to be a lead sponsor of legislation that would create a family and medical leave insurance program in our state. With tri-partisan support and more than 50 co-sponsors, this proposal is a perfect example of the meaningful improvements we can make right here in Vermont. A statewide leave insurance program would give all working Vermonters the ability to take time to care for a new child or loved one who is seriously ill, or address their own serious medical conditions. This is an incredible support for working families.

Vermont Air National GuardIn support of Operation Inherent Resolve a squadron of F-16s and 310 Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing returned home from a three-month long deployment to the CENTCOM AOR. The last of the 310 deployers and jets returned to Vermont Saturday, February 25, 2017.