Current News

Vermont Business MagazineThe University of Vermont Medical Center filed a certificate of need (CON) application with the state of Vermont today to create a unified electronic health record (EHR) across four hospitals in the University of Vermont Health Network. According to UVMHN, aunified EHR will significantly improve patient care by having all of a patient’s information available to a health care provider regardless of location whenever it is needed.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin has pardoned 192 individuals convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana. In December, the Governor announced that he would consider pardons for those with minor marijuana possession charges who did not have violent criminal histories. With pardons, Shumlin has set the record for most pardons issued by a Vermont governor.

“A minor marijuana possession charge should not be an anchor that holds back an individual from getting a good job or going about their life,” Shumlin said. “While attitudes and laws about marijuana use are rapidly changing, there is still a harmful stigma associated with it. My hope was to help as many individuals as I could overcome that stigma and the very real struggles that too often go along with it. Vermont should follow the many states that are legalizing and regulating the use of marijuana and put to an end the incredible failure that is the War on Drugs.”

Vermont Business Magazine South Dakota (68 percent inbound) is first and Vermont (67 percent) edged out Oregon(67 percent) for the second position in a national study that looked at moving patterns in 2016. The United Van Lines' 40th Annual National Movers Study tracked customers' state-to-state migration patterns over the past year. Oregon held the top spot for the previous three years, as the nation's "Top Moving Destination." This is the first time South Dakota has held the Number 1 spot. Vermont did well for younger people (under 55) and those moving for life style, and poorer for age (retirees) and job-related moves. The state ranked third for 2015.

by John McClaughryWith a new President and Governor inaugurated this month, it’s a good time to rethink the limits of executive power to act without the authorization of the Constitution or the legislature – especially in view of the growing abuse of executive power.

The USConstitution bestows upon the President the power to make appointments, fill vacancies and commission officers, make and submit treaties to the Senate for approval, grant reprieves and pardons, serve as commander in chief of the armed forces (“the war power”), and the duty to “see that the laws are faithfully executed.”

The war power has become exceedingly broad. The faithful execution clause recognizes that the President may, by executive order, organize and direct the work of his subordinates. The borderline between such necessary direction and acting without authority to promote the President’s own ends has never been clearly defined.

by Jeb Spaulding, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges and Martha O’Connor, Chair, Vermont State Colleges System Board of Trustees Governor-elect Scott and the new Legislature have a lot on their plate in the new year. There is one big decision to make that can’t be put off. Will they choose to provide the funding necessary to place the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) on a sustainable path or not?

If the VSCS Board of Trustees or Chancellor could decide, we would say yes and here is why:

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) has announced the appointments of Wayne Granquist; Connie A Jastremski, CNRN, CNAA, CHPN, NP, BSN, RN; and Angeline Marano, FACHE, to its Board of Trustees. “These individuals have unique skills and experiences and will make tremendous contributions to our Board of Trustees,” said Tommy Harmon, the board chair. “I am delighted to welcome them and eager to see what we can accomplish together.”

by Mike Smith In a few days Vermont will have a new governor. For incoming governor Phil Scott, here’s some unsolicited advice: Don’t act like the outgoing governor. Most Vermonters want their governors to be successful. Scott will benefit from a reservoir of good will and trust that awaits an incoming governor. GovernorPeter Shumlin was the recipient of this same good will and trust when he took office. He even enhanced his standing with Vermonters by leading recovery efforts after Tropical Storm Irene.

However, good will and trust can be fleeting, especially when Vermonters feel a governor isn’t being straightforward with them. For Shumlin, his popularity began to wane when his words didn’t live up to his actions.

Vermont Business MagazineWeekly unemployment claims spiked last week as the usual holiday layoffs hit. While they were up over 700 for the week, they were substantially lower than last year at this time. Most industrial sectors saw at least some increase for the week, except for Construction which already had gone through its seasonal downsizing. Services recorded nearly half of all layoffs, typical of the season. Manufacturing also increased to an unusually high300 claims.

The holidays typically produce wild swings in unemployment claims, because of an increase in hiring in the Service sector, from retail to delivery-related businesses, and then an abrupt round of layoffs.

For the week of December 24, 2016, there were 1,533 claims, up 752 from the previous week's total but 617 fewer than than they were a year ago (2,150).

Vermont Business Magazine Based on an alert from the US Department of Homeland Security, Burlington Electric Department confirmed that it had discovered late Thursday presumed Russian malware in one of its laptops, which was not connected to its network. Homeland Security issued the alert to all US utilities.

A statement from BED Saturday said: "Cybersecurity is an issue that the Burlington Electric Department and all US utilities take very seriously and on which we focus every day to protect the integrity of the electric grid and the personal information of our valued customers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin today issued 10 pardons to people convicted of various felonies and misdemeanors. These pardons were issued separately from the marijuana pardon program announced earlier this month. Today’s pardons mark a total of 16 issued by Governor Shumlin to date. Among the pardons is the son of former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro. Ferraro's son John Zaccaro Jr was a student at Middlebury College when he was caught and ultimately convicted in 1988 of selling cocaine to an undercover police officer. Ferraro and Walter Mondale were the Democratic candidates who lost to Ronald Reagan and George H Bush in 1984.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont, already a national leader in clean energy deployment, could spur additional job creation and economic growth by forging new public-private partnerships to increase financing for local clean energy projects, according to a study released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), in coordination with the Northeast Solar Energy Market Coalition (NESEMC).

The analysis shows how the state could expand clean energy financing programs to make additional low-interest loans available to homeowners, businesses and municipalities who want to make energy efficiency improvements, install solar panels, or invest in other types of clean energy projects. Establishing the program with an initial $7 million public investment would leverage $148 million in private sector investments over 15 years, according to the study.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor-elect Phil Scott has announced the appointment of three extended cabinet members. Bradley Ferland has been named as deputy secretary of the Agency of Administration. Ferland has been with the Agency - which is responsible for the state budget and provides administrative and support services - for more than two decades. He currently serves as the deputy commissioner of the Department of Finance and Management and previously as the director of financial operations. Prior to that, he spent 11 years as the director of administrative services in the Department of Buildings and General Services. Ferland is a Veteran of the US Navy, Submarine Duty.  

Ted Brady accepting the 2014 Rising Stars Award from then Lt-Governor Phil Scott and VBM editor Tim McQuiston.