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Vermont Law School, ranked Number 1 in the nation for environmental law and in the Top 20 for clinical training, has received a gift of $500,000 from an anonymous donor. Given by a trustee who wishes to remain anonymous, the unrestricted gift may be used to support any number of programs and initiatives at the school, from leadership and faculty development to scholarships.

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Big box stores, parking lots and scattered rural development could become the target of the state’s land use and development law, under a proposal wending its way through the Legislature.
The Shumlin administration is backing a proposal that would amend the state’s Act 250 land use law to limit strip development as part of a plan to revitalize the state’s downtowns.
Noelle Mackay, commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, testified before a panel of lawmakers Wednesday on a proposal to make changes in the state’s land use and development permit process. Photo by John Herrick/VTDigger
Developers, meanwhile, are putting pressure on lawmakers to eliminate the new provisions.

Vermont Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding, on behalf of Governor Shumlin, today announced two key staff appointments integral to the governor's efforts to strengthen Vermont’s economy by growing jobs, helping to contain rising health care costs and reform health care delivery, and ushering in a universal, publicly financed health care system in Vermont. Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) Secretary Lawrence Miller will become Senior Advisor to the Governor and Chief of Health Care Reform. In this capacity, Miller will be tasked with overseeing the state’s health care reform efforts and transition to Green Mountain Care. He will report directly to the governor. To replace Miller as Commerce Secretary, the governor is appointing Patricia Moulton who served as Deputy Secretary at ACCD until February 2013.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org The House Health Care Committee is working this week on revisions to a Senate-passed health care reform bill, S.252, which is likely to see significant changes before it hits the House floor.
Much of the bill focuses on requirements that the Shumlin administration furnish legislators with information they need to craft laws defining the contours of Green Mountain Care, Vermont’s planned universal health care program.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Vermont’s union roots are shallow at best when it comes to construction and building trades. It’s estimated that less than 10 percent of the state’s construction workers belong to a union.
Legislation up for a final vote in the House on Thursday wouldn’t change that, but it would push companies toward a union business model when it comes to paying for labor on state-funded construction projects.
H.878 would require companies to offer certain benefits if they want to bid on state jobs. Alternatively, companies that don’t offer benefits could boost employee wages for an amount equal to the value of what their benefits otherwise would be. The bill would accomplish all this by shifting Vermont’s prevailing wage laws from a unique state model to a federal standard. “Prevailing wage” refers to standards for how much construction workers should be paid on publicly funded projects.

The results of the annual U-Haul National Migration Trend Report are in, reflecting the nation's top growth states for families that moved during 2013. The report, titled "U-Haul 2013 Top 10 US Growth States," indicates that for states with more than 20,000 families moving, Florida had the highest percentage of growth, with 4.85 percent more families moving into the state than out. In addition to Florida'sgrowth exploding in 2013, Texas and Washington also showed substantial growth increases.
For states with 5,000 - 20,000 families moving, Vermont had the highest percentage for the second year in a row, with an astounding growth rate of 8.12 percent in 2013. Maine and Delaware took second and third place respectively.
U-Haul Top 10 U.S. Growth States
January - December 2013
With More Than 20,000 Families Moving

RANK

STATE

%GROWTH

1.

FLORIDA

4.85%

2.

TEXAS

4.40%

3.

WASHINGTON

The first annual Made in Vermont Marketplace will take place this weekend, April 12th & 13th, at the Blue Pavilion Building at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. This the only trade show in Vermont that showcases the wide variety of quality products made right here in the Green Mountains. The show will feature wood producers, specialty food products, Vermont’s finest spirits and so much more.
This is your opportunity to come and enjoy browsing, tasting and purchasing products all under one roof. You will be able to meet and talk with each artisan, maker and manufacturer of these fine goods. With over 75 exhibits, you will discover products you did not know existed in Vermont. SEE LIST OF EXHIBITORS BELOW.

by John Herrick vtdigger.org An environmental consultant previously hired by the state has suggested placing a “broad-based fee” on plastic packaging materials sold in Vermont to support the state’s transition to new recycling program.
DSM Environmental Services, an environmental consulting group that wrote two reports guiding policy aimed at preparing for a transition to a new recycling system, told lawmakers they could raise millions by requiring manufacturers to pay a fee on plastic packaging materials.
“Without some type of a broad based fee on packaging in general we are missing a real opportunity,” Ted Siegler, the principal for the consulting group, told lawmakers on Friday. “And I think that’s an area where Vermont really could take the next step. Which is to say relatively small fees, I’m talking less than a penny per package.”

SCORE, mentors to America’s small businesses, is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Since 1964, SCORE volunteer mentors have assisted more than 10 million entrepreneurs in starting or growing their enterprises and are dedicated to serving another 1 million by 2017. 2014 marks the kickoff of a year-long celebration of the milestone that will showcase the great work SCORE mentors and clients have achieved in the small business world.
SCORE CEO Kenneth Yancey says, “We are so excited to be celebrating this monumental milestone in our organization’s history. In 50 years, our volunteers have made a real impact on the success of entrepreneurs across the country. We’re ready to kick off 50 more.”
Throughout the year, the Vermont SCORE District will be hosting:
- Local entrepreneur events
- Educational workshops
- FREE, confidential, one-on-one business mentoring

by Morgan True vtdigger.org At the suggestion of the Attorney General’s Office, Senate lawmakers will introduce false claims legislation this week targeted at preventing fraud in the state’s health care system.
“As we’re moving to a world where the state’s role in health care is greatly expanded, ensuring that Vermont has the tools to protect its money from waste fraud and abuse is critically important,” said John Treadwell, chief of the criminal division in the Attorney General’s Office.
Vermont’s planned universal health care program would make state government the primary payer of nearly all medical claims, hence the aphorism single-payer.

During an audit of the City of Barre Firefighters IAFF Local 881 union finances, a number of internet charges and some other suspicious charges were discovered in the time frame between October 1, 2012 and January 9, 2014. The incident was referred to the Vermont State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate.
During the course of the investigation it was learned that Jeffrey Cochran, the union president, had control of the union's finances. Cochran is also a lieutenant with the Barre City Fire Department. The suspicious transactions were investigated and it was found that Cochran fraudulently converted money for his own use. He is being charged with one count of Embezzlement in excess of $100 making this a felony charge. The Washington County States Attorney's Office will be prosecuting.
Source: Vermont State Police 4.9.2014

by John Herrick vtdigger.org A New York economic development group is urging Vermont officials to support Vermont Gas Systems’ natural gas pipeline expansion to the International Paper mill in Ticonderoga, NY.
The North Country Regional Economic Development Council last week passed a resolution encouraging Vermont planners to approve the second phase of a proposed pipeline expansion because it would cut heating costs and bring cleaner fuel to the plant. The town of Ticonderoga has also approved the pipeline.
The Addison County Regional Planning Commission will decide whether to approve Vermont Gas’ pipeline expansion from Middlebury to New York on Wednesday. The commission has previously backed the company’s proposal to build phase one, a 41-mile, $86 million pipeline to connect Colchester to Middlebury.