Current News

In a dramatic move to make the Causeway Bike Ferry financially sustainable while also expanding service, Local Motion will be implementing the following big changes this season:
¢ More service: Weather permitting, the Bike Ferry will run 10am to 6pm every weekend and holiday from July 3 to Labor Day September 6 - a total of 22 days, up from the 8-13 days of service in past 7 years.
¢ Higher fares: We are suggesting a $10 donation per round trip. A reduced donation of $6 is suggested for Colchester & South Hero residents, Local Motion members, children 12 and under, and one-way riders.
¢ More volunteers: To minimize costs, we will be reducing our on-site staff and depending more on volunteers. We need to fill over 200 volunteer shifts! Email Bob to sign up: [email protected].

The Vermont Agency of Transportation today reopened the Waterbury Park and Ride, which had been closed for expansion and modernization since April 12. The new park and ride has 70 spaces, while the old one had 60 spaces, but since those spaces were not delineated fewer cars may have comfortably fit at times.
The old facility had a recycled asphalt and gravel surface, which is why there were no marked parking stalls. The new facility is not only paved and line striped, but the facility’s lighting is greatly improved. The Green Mountain Transit Agency (GMTA), which suspended service to the park and ride during construction, will once again be picking up commuters near the entrance to the facility, where VTrans installed a newly constructed bus shelter.

Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell announced today that his office has sent letters to owners of forty-four rental properties in downtown Barre requesting that they demonstrate compliance with the Vermont lead law at the properties. The landlords have been given 90 days to respond to his office.
“Vermont has one of the oldest housing stocks in the nation and Barre, in particular, has some of the oldest in the state,” said Attorney General Sorrell. “Landlords need to take steps to make their properties safe for their tenants. These letters represent a chance for the landlords to work with us toward that goal.”

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont have fallen 2.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.77/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has increased 3.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.73/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices yesterday were 13.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 10.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 9.0 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 7.2 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
Source: VermontGasPrices.com 6.21.2010

For more than 40 years, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has recognized an outstanding citizen with this prestigious award. Nomination material will be collected through July 30, and a special selection committee will meet soon thereafter to select this year’s recipient.
Nominees are judged on three criteria: This award is presented to a Vermonter who has made major contributions to the progress and betterment of the Green Mountain State; has been distinguished through outstanding service to his or her community and region; and in the judgment of the selection committee, typifies the true spirit of service and self-sacrifice in representing the finest ideals of Vermont citizenship.

The State of Vermont will receive over $60,000 under a settlement with an international group of vitamin manufacturers. Attorney General William H. Sorrell, along with 22 states and class action plaintiffs, alleged that vitamin manufacturers engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy contrary to state and federal antitrust laws. Under the agreement approved today, the majority of Vermont s share will go toward improving the nutrition and health of Vermont residents. The Vermont Foodbank will receive nearly $50,000 and the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation will receive $10,000 for the creation of a new multi-use trail in Sharon. The remaining funds, approximately $6,500, will go to the general fund for the State s costs. A separate fund has been created to compensate affected businesses.

The Teamsters Union supports efforts by the US Senate to crack down on businesses that illegally classify their employees as independent contractors, an egregious practice that companies use to avoid paying millions in state and federal taxes. The Teamsters referenced a new law in Vermont in this regard that requires coverage of workers with workers' compensation insurance.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing today to discuss efforts to crack down on the growing problem of misclassification. More than 40 states are currently looking into ways to punish bad-acting employers who misclassify workers, and 15 states have said that collectively, misclassification costs them $3.2 billion annually.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2010 was 6.2 percent, down two tenths from the revised April rate and down 1.1 percent from a year ago. Vermont's unemployment rate is fourth lowest in the nation; New Hampshire's (6.4 percent) is fifth lowest. See full US table below.
The unemployment rate continued its gradual decline from the recessionary peak of one year ago said Valerie Rickert, Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor. The trend of the number of people participating in the labor market compared to the number of Vermonters working remains positive over the last several months in spite of the estimated small declines this past month. The numbers continue to point to improvement in the labor market.
Seasonal Job Growth

Representative Peter Welch supported and the House passed legislation late Thursday to increase lending to small businesses and promote job growth.
By a vote of 241 to 182, the House passed the Small Business Lending Fund Act (HR 5297), which creates a $30 billion lending fund to help community banks leverage up to $300 billion in lending for small businesses. The legislation is projected to save taxpayers $1 billion over 10 years.
During the small business roundtables I held earlier this year, I heard again and again that the number one problem facing small businesses is lack of access to credit. Vermont entrepreneurs want to expand their businesses and create jobs, but they simply don t have the capital they need, Welch said. By leveraging private investment, this fund will spur lending and provide Vermont business owners the tools they need to succeed.

Green Living: A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment is the 2010 recipient of the Governor s Award for Environmental Excellence in Education and Outreach. It is the only publication to receive this recognition.
In notifying the company of its selection Jonathan L. Wood, Secretary of the Vermont Agency for Natural Resources, said On behalf of the Governor I am pleased to inform you that a panel of judges has selected Green Living Journal for recognition in this year s Governor s Award for Environmental Excellence in Education and Outreach. Your award-winning project stands out as a model that should inspire all to find innovative approaches to conserve natural resources, safeguard human and environmental health, and prevent pollution before it is generated.

According to Education Week, the leading national publication devoted to covering public education policy, Vermont s high school graduation rate is the second highest in the country, at 82.3 percent for 2007. The highest graduation rate was in New Jersey, at 83.3 percent. The national average was 68.8 percent.
In addition, Vermont s graduation rate had one of the highest percentage increases over the past ten years in the country.
We are thrilled to see Vermont get national recognition for the accomplishments of our students, said Commissioner Armando Vilaseca. Our state continues to lead the nation, thanks to the support of local communities, our dedicated and professional staff, and the future aspirations of our students.
According to the Vermont Department of Education calculations, the figure is in fact lower than the state s actual graduation rate.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation today issued a reminder for political candidates and their supporters of the need to comply with Vermont’s sign control law when posting campaign signs along public roadways.
The Vermont sign law prohibits off-premises signs as well as all types of signs within the limits of public highway rights-of-way, with the obvious exception of traffic-control signs.
Political candidates and their supporters often place campaign signs on lawns near a roadway believing they are on private property when many times they are in the highway right-of-way. Most right-of-ways in Vermont are at least 49.5 feet wide, extending 24.75 feet on either side of the centerline and often are wider.