Current News

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Lawmakers are finalizing exceptions and clarifications to a proposed mandatory sick leave law. Representative Helen Head, D-South Burlington, said her House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs hopes to move an amended H208 to the House Appropriations Committee on Friday or Tuesday.
Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury, questions Ed Larson (foreground) of the Barre Granite Association about his testimony opposing mandatory paid sick leave. Photo by Hilary Niles/VTDigger
The changes likely will carve out exceptions for some medical professions, substitute teachers and potentially agricultural workers. The new version also would assure employers that, if they already provide at least 56 hours per year of sick leave to full-time workers, they would not have any additional requirements.

New unemployment claims fell again last week to their lowest levels since early fall. For the week of February 1, 2014, there were 680 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is a decrease of 55 from the previous week's total, and 5 more than they were a year ago.
Source: Vermont Dept of Labor
Altogether 8,810 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 71 from a week ago and 799 fewer than a year ago. The Department also processed 200 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 10 fewer than the previous week.
In addition, there were 6 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is equal to the week before. There were zero Tier III claims. The Tier I, II and III programs expired on December 28, 2013. Congress would need to act to renew these extended benefit programs.

Meach Cove Farms and groSolar have completed the Limerick Road Solar, LLC, project, a 2.96 MWdc solar photovoltaic (PV) system in Shelburne, Vermont. Project design and solar engineering was performed under the direction of LW Seddon, LLC, and the installation and construction was managed by groSolar. The project is located on 15 acres of the 1,000-acre Meach Cove Farms, a certified organic farm focusing on efficiently using local natural resources.
"The Limerick Road Solar project enhances the mission of Meach Cove Farms and will provide many benefits to our surrounding community. As an organization we conduct research on projects which provide renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels. This solar project represents an important step forward in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating clean, renewable energy for the community," said Christopher W. Davis, manager of Meach Cove Farms.

by John Herrick vtdigger.org The Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill Thursday to regulate lakeshore development. The bill sets standards for new construction within 100 feet of the state’s shorelines and includes fees to cover the cost of administration of the law.
State Sen. Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden. Photo by John Herrick/VTDigger
There are no statewide standards for shoreland development in Vermont. According to a 2013 report on Vermont’s lakes, the state’s natural shoreline vegetation is less than the national average.
Replacing a lake’s natural shoreline vegetation with manicured lawns and cottage expansions, for example, can cause shoreline erosion, habitat degradation and add to pollution, according to the report.
Sen. Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden, vice chair of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, said the state is behind schedule in setting protection standards for Vermont’s shorelands.

Vermont Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe announced today that Vermont has nominated three schools to the US Department of Education (US ED) Green Ribbon Schools program. The three nominees are Camels Hump Middle School, Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU), and Lake Region Union High School.
‘We have built effective partnerships to collaboratively engage students in the environment, health, and education,’ said Camels Hump Middle School Assistant Principal Suzanne Gruendling. Camels Hump actively promotes and practices a rich education that includes a focus on the environment, renewable energy, nutrition, and wellness. Throughout the school year, students can be found on Lake Champlain research vessels, local farms, rivershore preserves, wildlife refuges, and granite quarries.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) has announced $40,000 available to agricultural producers and food hubs serving institutional markets through the Local Food Market Development Grant program for 2014.
Any Vermont producers, processers, community food organization, or food hub interested in a Local Food Market Development grant can find more information and download an application athttp://agriculture.vermont.gov under the ‘Grants’ tab on the homepage.
Maximum grant awards will be $7,500 with a 25% cash or in-kind match requirement by producers and 50% match requirement by community groups and food hubs. All applications must be received by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture no later than 4:30 pm on Monday, March 3, 2014.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org
Lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee say they are skeptical of the Shumlin administration’s proposal to double the health care claims tax to fill a $14 million hole in the state’s health care fund.
‘I’m not sure (the claims assessment tax) is the right option,’ said Rep. Carolyn Branagan, R-Georgia.
Branagan and several other committee members said they want to know exactly how much needs to be raised. They question the $14 million figure in Shumlin’s budget and how the claims assessment money will be spent.
The committee rejected the same proposal last year, but did not come up with an alternative revenue source.
As a result, when the Legislature approved a health care spending package, a $14 million deficit was left in the state’s Health Care Resources Fund. The fund pays for Medicaid and other Department of Vermont Health Access programs.

General Fund revenues totaled $149.62 million for January 2014, -$2.14 million or ‘1.41% behind the monthly target, as the vital Personal Income Tax was below expectations. Year to date, General Fund receipts are $773.52 million, -$2.14 million or -0.28% below the cumulative target. Year to date revenue is +$23.03 million (+3.07%) ahead of the same period for the prior fiscal year (FY 2013). Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding released the January 2014 General Fund (GF) revenue results Thursday. January is the seventh month of fiscal year (FY) 2014.

MyWebGrocer, based in Winooski, Vermont, announced Wednesday that it has completed the acquisition of Buy4Now Limited, a private eCommerce software and services company based in Dublin, Ireland. This transaction builds upon MWG’s earlier acquisition of Buy4Now’s U.S. subsidiary in 2008, and provides MWG the technology platform, personnel, and client base to replicate its business model in Europe. Financial terms were not disclosed.
With more than a decade operating a successful eCommerce services business in Europe, Buy4Now will accelerate MWG’s global expansion. Buy4Now is a leader in the European grocery industry highlighted by a longstanding relationship with the Musgrave Group, Ireland’s largest grocery retailer. Additionally, Buy4Now’s extensive general merchandise capabilities will expand MWG’s solution offerings.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org
Just as IBM is reportedly planning another round of layoffs at its plant in Essex Junction, Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan is calling for better notice and more authority over such ‘workplace actions.’
The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, known as the WARN Act, is not ‘right-sized’ for Vermont, Noonan told the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Wednesday afternoon.
She said it only applies to businesses that are relatively large by Vermont’s standards, and even then it doesn’t afford enough time for an effective response.

Results from the October 2013 administration of the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) were released today at Barre City Elementary & Middle School. This is the final year the NECAP will be given for reading, writing, and mathematics as Vermont is transitioning to the Smarter Balanced Assessment system. This spring 27 schools, including all three schools in the Barre Supervisory Union, will participate in the Smarter Balanced field test.

Vermont Student Assistance Corp is being honored with a gold level award for its employee wellness program from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and Vermont Department of Health.
Awards will be presented at the Worksite Wellness Conference, March 27, at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in South Burlington. VSAC is one of 99 businesses that applied for the 2013 awards. This is the second year the company is being honored after receiving a bronze recognition last year.
‘I thank the Governor and Department of Health for this award. We place a high value on our employees’ health and wellbeing. It is a cornerstone of how VSAC operates and, in turn, how we take care of Vermont students and their families as they pursue studies after high school,’ said Scott Giles, president and CEO.