Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Board of School Commissioners said today that it and the teachers' union (Burlington Education Association) are considering resuming negotiations on a new contract. Talks broke down two weeks ago as the two sides remained narrowly apart on salary increases, with a one percent increase in health insurance obligations. The board on September 15 then imposed a new salary structure on the teachers, which reflected its last offer. The teachers yesterday staged an "informational strike," which included 300 members, supporters and parents. They planned more such non-school time strikes for early Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, but do not have plans at this point for a work stoppage.

Vermont Business Magazine An unpermitted salvage yard operating in Vershire is now required to pay a $29,000 penalty after failing to follow orders to clean-up oil and gasoline spills and wastes on its property. The Agency of Natural Resources announced today the issuance of a Judgment Order against Allen LaFlamme, owner of Allen’s Affordable Auto Salvage in Vershire, for multiple violations of Vermont Salvage Yard and Hazardous Waste laws. LaFlamme must pay a $29,000 penalty and comply with corrective actions.

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center management has confirmed that the agency’s Board of Trustees have approved a two-year contract with Local 1674 of AFSCME Council 93, which represents 723 Howard Center direct care workers, 112 of whom are members of the union. The agency, based in Burlington, employs over 1500 employees. 

Vermont Business Magazine Tourism Commissioner Megan Smith released her October newsletter and fall travel and tourism report today. Along with the foliage report and information on Market Vermont, among other news, Smith talks about how now is also a great time for continuing, or beginning, a partnership with Discover New England (DNE), the nonprofit cooperative destination marketing organization that promotes New England tourism internationally. Working with all six New England states, DNE provides tangible benefits to tourism organizations intent on growing their international business relationships and are excited to share with you this year’s Gold & Silver Partner Programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Rural Housing Service Deputy Administrator, Bryan Hooper, the top multi-family housing official for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), was in Lyndonville Friday to celebrate nearly $2 million of USDA loans that will help RuralEdge rehabilitate aging housing stock. The funding comes as part of the Agency’s Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zone whose mission is to improve the quality of life in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom through investing in housing, job creation and community infrastructure. 

“By investing in affordable housing, USDA Rural Development invests in rural communities just like Newport and Derby,” said Hooper. “The families who can now afford to live in this town in these homes will work for local employers or start their own local businesses, they will shop at local stores, and contribute to the growth of their communities.”

by Doug Hoffer Voters receive a lot of information during campaigns and it’s important to check the facts. For example, Lieutenant Governor Scott recently said “We’ve lost nearly 2,500 workers per year since 2010” (August 31 Burlington Free Press). This is true, but misleading. Workers are part of the labor force, which consists of those who are working and those who are unemployed but want to work. The issue is that counting workers is not the same as counting jobs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 84% of those 65 or older retire. At that point, they are no longer part of the labor force. Vermont’s population of those 65 and older grew by 18,000 from 2010 to 2015. During that same period, the labor force shrank by 15,000.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has sued a New Hampshire couple for illegally soliciting contributions for a digital projector to “save” the Randall Drive-In located in Bethel. “Crowdfunding can be a legitimate way to raise money for a cause, but it is also subject to abuse. Those who rip off Vermonters through improper use of crowdfunding can expect to be held accountable for their illegal acts,” said Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) today introduced bipartisan legislation with Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA) that would address a loophole in the Medicare 340B Drug Pricing Program that is contributing to the rising cost of health care for consumers and threatening access to lifesaving medications. The introduction of this legislation is the latest in Welch’s efforts to fix the broken prescription drug market that has led to unrestrained price increases for consumers and providers.

The full text of the Closing Loopholes for Orphan Drugs Act can be found HERE.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is on pace for its highest number of reported cases of anaplasmosis – a tickborne disease that is becoming more common in the state. Anaplasmosis is transmitted by the black-legged tick, which is the same tick that spreads Lyme disease, and the most common tick found in Vermont. As of September, 133 cases of anaplasmosis have been reported, only six fewer than were reported for all of 2015.

Although anaplasmosis cases peak in the spring and summer, a second surge in illnesses occurs in the autumn. That is when adult ticks are hungry and looking for another blood meal before winter arrives.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vermont’s Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) announced the employer award recipients for the “Spirit of the ADA” Awards. The Vermont “Spirit of the ADA” Award is given to employers who reflect the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act in their employment practices. Adam Leonard, Director of Human Resources for the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, is to receive the Spirit of the ADA Award on Wednesday, October 12th at 1 pm at the Sheraton. 

Successfully meeting any of the following criteria qualifies employers for eligibility to be nominated:

Vermont Business Magazine The first weekend of October will see a transformation of downtown Bethel into a more walkable area with pop-up shops that highlight its unique culture and assets, public spaces and public art that show off the natural beauty of the area, and improved transportation options for bike riders and pedestrians. Among the installations will be pop-up storefronts and a beer garden, a pocket park, buffered bike lane, street beautification, improved crosswalks, and designated transit stops – all along the town’s Main Street. AARP Vermont is teaming with the Bethel Revitalization Initiative (BRI) and Team Better Block to coordinate efforts. A team of local volunteers and stakeholders will be matched with specific tasks to create the new spaces, and workshops will be held through BRI’s Bethel University to further engage community members and leaders.

Ethan Allen Institute All summer long, VPIRG interns have been knocking on doors, selling Vermonters on the vague idea a “carbon pricing” scheme for our state. These short presentations are misleading people about what is at stake if Vermont were to actually pass a Carbon Tax (a more accurate term that the VPIRG people avoid). The VPIRG doorstep presentations do not inform citizens that implementing the carbon tax in Vermont as they propose will add 88¢ to every gallon of gasoline purchased, $1.02 to every gallon of home heating oil or diesel, and 58¢ for propane and natural gas. Instead, they misleadingly promise that the tax will be levied on out-of-state “big oil” types, without disclosing the fact that these costs will be passed along to you the consumer.

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