Current News

FairPoint Communications recently donated $1,250 to Everybody Wins! Vermont. The donation was made to recognize the volunteer efforts of FairPoint employee Beth Fastiggi of Burlington. Beth began volunteering as a Reading Mentor for Everybody Wins! Vermont in 2003 and currently serves as its Board President.
During her six years as a reading mentor, Beth has worked with several children. This year, she has been spending Wednesday morning breakfast with her friend, Teko at J.J. Flynn School in Burlington. As a board member since 2003, Beth has also been closely involved with the growth and success of the organization.

Week Ending May 30, 2009. There were 932 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, a decrease of 26 from the week before. Altogether 15,020 new and continuing claims were filed, 366 less than a week ago and 7,590 more than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,688 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 59 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 661 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program which is a decrease of 434 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

Commercial and agricultural development projects totaling $38.5 million throughout the state will receive more than $17 million in financing assistance from the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Included in this round of approvals is more than $2 million in low-interest agricultural stimulus financing to Vermont farmers seeking immediate assistance.
The Authority is making investments in projects that will add jobs in almost all sectors of Vermont s economy, said Jo Bradley, VEDA s Chief Executive Officer.

Seventh Generation of Burlington, Vermont, the nation's leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products, today announced the appointment of Chuck Maniscalco, former President and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo's Quaker Tropicana Gatorade business, to the role of Chief Executive Officer.
Maniscalco, who was also elected to the company's board of directors, will be charged with oversight for the company's day-to-day operations, strategic growth and expansion, supply chain and retail distribution expansion, and infrastructure evolution in the highly competitive and rapidly growing environmental product category. According to the market research firm Mintel International, the sector for green cleaning products grew 262 percent from 2003 to 2008 and is projected to grow 873 percent by 2013.

A 2009 change in the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation regulations has confirmed the quality of the wood ash from McNeil Station as a valuable fertilizer, and it has been used as that with the help of Resource Management, Inc.
Burlington Electric Department has partnered with RMI for the past decade to remove all wood ash from the McNeil Generating Plant and recycle it into a useful product. Wood ash, which is produced during the generation of electricity at McNeil Station, is in high demand by farmers who use it as an organic fertilizer. RMI removes it from the power plant and takes it directly to the farmers to spread on their fields before planting their crops.
Barbara Grimes, general manager of BED, said, It is important that we take every measure possible to reduce waste, reduce greenhouse gas, and promote the economic vitality of the region. Turning this wood ash by-product into something useful for area farmers complies with these goals.

The Vermont Legislature voted this afternoon to override Governor Douglas' veto of the state budget. The House vote came earlier and garnered the exact number to override on a 100-50 vote, with all Democrats and all Progressives, plus one independent, voting to override. The Senate vote came at 2:10 and was a foregone conclusion, with the final vote 23-5. Democrats hold 23 of the seats. One Republican joined the Democrats (Snelling R-Chittenden) and one Democrat (Carris D-Rutland) and one Republican (Illuzzi R-Essex-Orleans) did not vote.

Governor Douglas' promise to veto the Vermont state budget unless lawmakers made drastic changes to the $4.5 billion piece of legislation were made official late yesterday afternoon when he returned the bill to the Clerk of the House without his signature. This is the first time in Vermont history that a governor has vetoed the budget. The governor has repeatedly said the budget spends too much, taxes too much and where it does make spending cuts, it makes the wrong cuts. Democratic leaders have been equally faithful to their belief that spending must both meet the added cost in state spending related to things like unemployment and welfare because of the recession, and also that state government, much like the federal government is doing, must assist in economic stimulus by infusing money into the system.

The state is asking for feedback from archeological experts, developers, and the public on a proposed new method to pay for protecting archeological sites and new rules for historic preservation.
Officials with the Agency of Commerce and Community Developments’ Division for Historic Preservation are planning a series of meetings this summer to discuss a new funding system to pay for archeological studies undertaken as part of Act 250, as well as other protection activities.
“We’re looking for feedback as we move forward with proposed rule changes,” said Betsy Bishop, Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. “We want to make sure that the Division for Historic Preservation’s practices are consistent with the law, and that all applicants have clear expectations that everyone agrees upon.”

J.D. Power and Associates ranked People s United Bank highest in customer satisfaction for the New England region in its 2009 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. People's United is the parent company of Vermont's Chittenden Bank.
People s United garnered the highest ranking customer satisfaction score of 751 points, which was 30 index points above the New England regional industry average of 721. The bank performed well in the Customer Satisfaction Study factors: Convenience, Transactions, Account Initiation/Product Offerings, Account Statements, and Fees.

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles will participate in Road Check 2009, an international safety activity that will take place June 2-4 throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. International Road Check 2009 will emphasize promoting both safety and security on North American highways through the inspection of commercial vehicles and drivers. Along Interstate 91 in Guilford and Putney, more than 30 truck and bus safety inspectors from DMV’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, several municipal police agencies, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, I.R.S Fuel Compliance and the U.S. Border Patrol will be on the job night and day during the 72-hour period checking vehicles and drivers at inspection sites. In addition, roving patrols will inspect vehicles and drivers traveling on other highways.
Certified inspectors will check critical vehicle safety elements, as well as determine drivers’ fitness for duty.

Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Peter Welch and a representative of Senator Patrick Leahy announced today the release of $39 million in economic stimulus funds during a press conference at the St. Albans Bay Village Pavilion. The grants and low-interest loans, to be distributed through the Environmental Protection Agency, will go to 41 wastewater clean-up projects and 42 drinking water projects throughout Vermont. The funds, which were made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will help municipalities finance overdue improvements to wastewater and clean drinking water projects essential to protecting public health and the environment, while creating new jobs in Vermont.

Governor Douglas will sign into law five pieces of legislation today at venues across the state: S.26 An Act Relating to Recovery of Profits from Crime, the Disposition of Property Upon Death, Transfer of Interest in Vehicle Upon Death, Homestead Exemption, Unclaimed Property, Credit Card Fee Disputes, and Patient s Privilege; S.125 An Act Relating to Expanding the Sex Offender Registry; H.222 An Act Relating to Senior Protection and Financial Services; H.313 The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and S.51 An Act Relating to Vermont s Motor Vehicle Franchise Laws. The details for the bill signings are below.
S. 26 and S.125