Scott appoints Nancy Waples to the Vermont Supreme Court
Governor Phil Scott has named Nancy Waples of Hinesburg to the Vermont Supreme Court. Judge Waples has served on the Vermont Superior Court since 2015. Judge Waples is the daughter of Chinese immigrants who fled the communist revolution in China. Because her parents were unable to immigrate to the US due to the exclusion laws, they made their way to Chinatown in Toronto, Canada. When the exclusion laws were replaced by ethnic quotas, only her father could immigrate to the US and the family was separated for four years. When they were able to reunite in the US, her family earned a living, working together, in their small Chinese restaurant outside of New York City. Growing up working in her parents’ restaurant, she learned to speak English at the age of nine.
State releases critical medical wait times report
The state team examining waits for health appointments has released its findings identifying lengthy wait times for Vermonters accessing certain specialty care. Then-Secretary of the Agency of Human Services Michael Smith announced the probe last fall after Seven Days chronicled long waits for appointments. Wait times were longest for Endocrinology (average 113 days), Neurology (114 days) and Dermatology (140 days). A dermatology appointment could be secured within 11 days or 410 days depending on the practice. The waits were shortest for General Surgery (29 days), Orthopedic Surgery (35 days) and Gynecology (35 days). The report states that long waits for some specialty services existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and have likely been exacerbated by staffing shortages, new demands for care, and demand for previously deferred care.
NEFCU and VSECU, Vermont's two largest credit unions, to merge
New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) and Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VSECU), the two largest credit unions in the state, announced in a letter to their members today that they plan to merge. NEFCU, based in Williston, is the state's largest credit union with $1.9 billion in assets and VSECU, based in Montpelier, boasts $1.07 billion in assets. By early 2023 the credit unions will merge under the legal entity of New England Federal Credit Union. Dwyer will remain CEO and current VSECU CEO Rob Miller will become president of the merged entity. They said in the statement that employment levels will not be affected, which combined stand at about 440 now.
Scott bans Russian liquor products, other sanctions coming
Governor Phil Scott has issued the following statement: “Today I directed the Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery to remove Russian-owned products from state agent store shelves and cease purchasing new stock from Russian-owned distilleries until further notice. Later this week, I will issue an executive order detailing further action and state sanctions Vermont will pursue to respond to the illegal and heinous Putin invasion of Ukraine."
GlobalFoundries to continue effort to become independent utility despite PUC ruling
The Vermont Public Utilities Commission has denied a request by GlobalFoundries to make its Essex Junction facility an independent energy utility. GF intends to pursue its petition.
Last April, GlobalFoundries filed a petition with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to do just that, but the PUC denied the request because it would require an exemption to the state’s renewable energy requirements.
The PUC order stated that while it could approve creating a separate utility, but, “We do not have the statutory authority to exempt GlobalFoundries from the statutory requirements imposed on all utilities by Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard.”
Effectively, even as a separate utility, GF would still have to follow the same renewable energy standards.
GF responded to the PUC order by stating that it would continue with its petition and “are aligned with the recommendation to move forward following the Vermont renewable energy standard.”
GF is GMP’s largest customer and consumes about 8 percent or the state’s electricity, which is more than the city of Burlington. It says it pays about 80 percent more for electricity in Vermont versus its plants in upstate New York.
Vermont House passes Reproductive Liberty Amendment (Prop 5)
The Vermont House of Representatives has passed the Reproductive Liberty Amendment (Prop 5) in a vote of 107-41. The amendment will now appear on the 2022 General Election ballot in November and will be decided on by Vermont voters. This was the final step in the four-year legislative process. Governor Scott has reiterated his support for the amendment.
Scott vetoes contractor registry bill, H.157
Governor Phil Scott has vetoed H.157, passed on January 27, and sent the letter below to the General Assembly. H.157 creates a “light-touch” registry for home contractors. The governor maintains that it will hurt small contractors in favor of larger ones, raise costs to those smaller businesses, perhaps driving some out of business, and ultimately increase costs to consumers. The bill passed 20-10 in the Senate and 97-52 in the House. If it came to overriding the veto, lawmakers would need 100 votes in the House and 20 in the Senate to succeed.
Scott vetoes hospital gun bill, S.30
On February 22, Governor Phil Scott returned without signature and vetoed S.30, “An act relating to prohibiting possession of firearms within hospital buildings.” The governor, referring to the sweeping gun laws he signed into law in 2018, said in the veto letter to the Legislature that, “It’s my belief that we need to give these new provisions more time to be fully understood and utilized, and that the Legislature should focus on educating Vermonters on these changes – and on addressing Vermont’s mental health crisis – before additional gun laws are passed.”
As for the “Charleston Loophole” provision of the bill, that it should have some time requirement for the government to do a background check. He suggested seven business days instead of the 30 now contained in the bill or the three required federal law.
Secretary of State Jim Condos will not seek re-election
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos, 71, has announced that he will not seek re-election. Secretary Condos has been a leader in Vermont politics since 1989, when he was first elected to the South Burlington City Council. Condos, a lifelong Vermonter, has been Vermont’s Secretary of State since 2011. In addition to his leadership in Vermont, Secretary Condos has also gained recognition on the national level, most recently serving as the President of the National Association of Secretaries of State and working to make Vermont one of the most voter-friendly states in the country through the promotion and passage of key legislation that expands voters access. Deputy Secretary to Secretary of State Chris Winters of Berlin then announced he would seek the top job.
Nolan to run as Republican against Welch for US Senate
Christina Nolan, former United States Attorney in Vermont, has announced she will run for US Senate as a Republican. After leaving the US Attorney’s office, Nolan, 42, joined the Burlington-based law firm Sheehey Furlong & Behm PC last April. She would likely face Democratic Congressman Peter Welch in the general election this November, to fill the seat held by retiring Senator Patrick Leahy. Vermont has never sent a woman to Congress.
A lifelong Vermonter, Christina Nolan is a former United States Attorney who was recommended with bipartisan support from US Senator Patrick Leahy and Governor Phil Scott and confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate – the first woman to hold the position in state history. As Vermont’s top law enforcement officer, Nolan led a team of more than 50 people, including prosecutors and support staff, protecting the safety and well-being of all Vermonters, with a focus on combating the state’s raging opiate crisis.
Under Nolan’s leadership, the US Attorney’s Office prosecuted a series of multimillion dollar fraudsters and white-collar criminals, including those in the Northeast Kingdom who perpetrated the EB-5 Ponzi scheme. Her office led the investigation that uncovered an illegal kickback scheme perpetrated by Purdue Pharma to overprescribe highly addictive opioid pain killers. The investigation secured a historic felony conviction and resulted in a settlement of $8.3 billion – the largest ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Scott proposes $51 million to expand cell service to rural areas
Governor Scott is proposing to spend $51 million of federal money to expand cell service into Vermont’s rural areas. The effort would require siting about 100 new towers. The Legislature would have to allocate the money.
Scott said that the marketplace will not solve the problem of gaps in service because if there’s no business case to site new towers, the commercial carriers simply won’t, which is why the state needs to step in.
Scott said the expansion of cell service would complement the $116 million already being deployed to built out the state’s broadband service through the Broadband Construction Grant Program.
State employees ratify 5 percent wage hike over two years
The State of Vermont and the Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) has announced an agreement on successor two-year contracts for the Supervisory, Corrections, and Non-Management Units covering more than 6,000 employees. Terms for the unionized workers include a 3 percent wage increase this year and 2 percent increase in 2023. VSEA members have voted to ratify the contract settlements that include, in addition to the wage increases, lump sum payments, shift and weekend differential increases, hearing aids reimbursement benefit, and options to purchase additional life insurance.
Nurses, UVMMC reach agreement on wage increases
The Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals’ membership has voted to accept a UVM Medical Center wage proposal in advance of the nurses’ contract expiring this summer.
The proposal accepted by the union increases nurse salaries by 10% effective within the next pay period, with an additional 5% increase in October 2022 and another 5% increase in October 2023. The remainder of the contract will be negotiated this summer. The agreement also includes $5,000 stabilization bonuses to all technical employees.
State ends universal mask recommendation for highly vaccinated schools Feb 28
At Governor Phil Scott’s weekly press conference in mid-February, state officials announced that the universal mask recommendation for Vermont schools will not be extended past February 28, 2022. The announcement, which officials called a first step towards eventually fully removing school mask recommendations, means that after February 28, school districts and independent schools may consider lifting mask requirements for schools where the student vaccination rate is over 80%. The governor acknowledged that fewer than half the schools would meet that standard.
CityPlace tenants move out, planning for what’s next begins
Redevelopment of Burlington’s downtown mall, which was largely demolished in 2018 and still sits vacant, could see renewed life this year now that the last of the tenants are moving out. LL Bean is relocating to Williston in June. Starbucks left last October. The other internal tenants are now gone. Burlington Town Center developer Don Sinex told the Burlington Free Press in mid-February that he could have a loan agreement by the end of the month and permits for the reimagined space could be filed this spring.
Sinex announced the original plans for a $225 million redevelopment in 2016. The central part of the mall was them demolished and the project stalled as financing, the economy and the pandemic forced several delays.
Going forward, the new $175 million concept will rely less on office space and more on apartments. With 20 percent of the units “affordable,” Sinex anticipates 426 apartments and eventually 42,000-square feet of retail, to be built out in three phases.
State gets $64 million from opioid agreement with drug distributors and J&J
Attorney General TJ Donovan has announced the final approval of the $26 billion opioid agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – and Johnson & Johnson. Following successful state sign-on and subdivision sign-on periods, the distributors will start releasing funds to a national administrator on April 2, 2022. Vermont will receive approximately $64 million from the agreement.
Agilent and UVM announce the Agilent Laboratory for Chemical Analysis (ALCA)
Agilent Technologies Inc and the University of Vermont have established the Agilent Laboratory for Chemical Analysis (ALCA). The facility will be a hub for advanced instrumentation that will allow students, institutional colleagues, industrial partners, and regional high-tech start-ups to study the composition and structure of chemical samples. It is intended as a shared educational and research space that will play a central role in the education and training of undergraduate and graduate students at UVM, while also serving as a valuable technology resource to local and regional businesses.
Burlington School District presents $98.2 million budget
In advance of Town Meeting Day, Burlington School District (BSD) has published a number of resources designed to help voters have all the information they need to vote on the School District’s proposed budget. BSD’s 2021 Annual Report is now available online along with a budget one-pager that explains next year’s proposed budget, and a line-item budget. All the documents are available at www.bsdvt.org.
Governor vetoes lowering voting age in Brattleboro charter change
On February 28, Governor Phil Scott returned without signature and vetoed H.361, which would lower the voting age in Brattleboro to 16. The charter change would have lowered the voting age in Brattleboro to 16. The voting age in Vermont and the nation is 18. He said it is inconsistent with that and would further confuse what current law in Vermont considers "adulthood."
CVT reaches funding goal to build new Route 2 to Route 14 trail in East Montpelier
The Cross Vermont Trail Association announces that it has met a $75,000 challenge grant awarded by the Northern Borders Regional Commission in 2021 to build the last phase of the Winooski Bridge Project that will extend the trail from the new bridge to Route 14 in East Montpelier. With donations from over 125 local individuals at the end of last year and a recently announced $75,000 grant from the State of Vermont, the CVTA has raised the $200,000 needed to complete the trail on both sides of the new Winooski Bridge built last summer.
Poultney: Bhakta asks for town help to revitalize GMC campus
Some 150 local residents packed the dining hall of Poultney's former Green Mountain College to hear entrepreneur Raj Peter Bhakta describe his plans to transform the 121-acre campus into a resort complex with seemingly everything that anyone could want – and the economic base that the struggling Rutland County town has longed for since the college closed its doors in 2019. The ambitious development venture, with its price tag in the $100 million range, is likely to come to naught without the moral and financial support of the town, the latter in the form of a tax stabilization initiative on which Poultney voters will render their verdict on Town Meeting Day.
C&S brings back Grand Union brand, one in Rutland
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc, an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States has officially brought the iconic Grand Union supermarkets back to its beloved shoppers in New York state and Vermont. GU Markets LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers, will operate these stores. These former Tops Markets include one in Rutland.
Regional Development Corps launch business recovery program
The Regional Development Corporations of Vermont are part of a new Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP) that will deliver technical assistance service contracts to aid Vermont business recovery. This program is part of a national initiative through the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) as part of the Small Business Administration’s CNPP. Funding for the program is coming through the Small Business Administration and Vermont’s COVID community development block grant program (CDBG-CV). U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program provides federal funds, passed through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD).
Auditor report says state must improve oversight to prevent dam failures
State Auditor Doug Hoffer has released a new audit of Vermont’s Dam Safety Program. Housed within the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Dam Safety Program is responsible for overseeing more than 1,000 known dams across Vermont. The audit found that the 10 dams in poor condition that were selected for review, which included state-owned dams, lingered in poor condition, some for more than 18 years. While the Dam Safety Program recommended that dam owners make needed improvements, suggested timeframes were not provided to do so and follow-up didn’t occur until the next inspection of the dam, which in some cases was more than five years later.
David Zuckerman, Kitty Toll launch campaigns for lieutenant governor
Former Lieutenant Governor of Vermont David Zuckerman has announced his bid to reclaim the office he held until running for governor against Phil Scott in 2020. Also, longtime Democratic legislator Catherine “Kitty” Toll of Danville has launched her run for lieutenant governor. She served from 2009-2021. She did not seek re-election in 2020. She previously was chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
Scott announces $1.5M in Newport development grant recipients
Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, the City of Newport and the Northern Vermont Development Authority has announced the award of about $1.5 million in Newport Development Fund (NDF) grants. Available for projects, businesses, and organizations within the City of Newport, the NDF provided for two multi-stage application grant programs – the Newport Development Grant Program and the Discover Newport Business Grant Program. Increased consideration was given to properties and entities that demonstrated they were adversely impacted by the fraud surrounding local projects perpetrated by Ariel Quiros, Sr.
M&T Bank and People’s United extend merger agreement
M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE: MTB) and People’s United Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT) have jointly announced that the two companies have agreed to extend their merger agreement from February 21, 2022, to June 1, 2022. The merger received approval from both the New York State Department of Financial Services and the Connecticut Department of Banking in October 2021. Approval by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is the outstanding regulatory approval required to complete the merger. People’s and M&T announced on February 22, 2021, that Buffalo-based M&T would acquire Bridgeport, CT, People’s for $7.6 billion. People’s has branches across Vermont.
Strong personal income tax growth again leads revenue results for January
The usual suspects of personal income, corporate income and consumption taxes continue to bolster Vermont’s revenues. Personal income, the most important General Fund revenue source, was nearly 12% over its target for the month. The volatile corporate income tax was over 81% ahead. And the rooms and meals tax was 28.3% above targets. Combined, General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts in January were a combined $305.9 million, or 5.8%, above upwardly revised monthly consensus expectations.
Kevin Mead to become VCIA president
Vermont Captive Insurance Association, the largest captive membership association in the world, has chosen Kevin Mead as its next president. He starts on February 22, replacing Richard Smith, who led the organization for 12 years. Mead brings a wealth of association management and financial tact to VCIA, having engineered a merger of three global independent accounting associations and forming PrimeGlobal, which represented 2,000 partners and 14,000 employees in 90+ countries. Mead then facilitated rapid membership and revenue growth, increasing the net income 25% from 2 billion to 2.5 billion USD for PrimeGlobal.
Future of Ag report urges immediate action to strengthen Vermont food system
As with many societal challenges we have all faced in the past two years, the pandemic uncovered vulnerabilities in Vermont’s food system, while at the same time highlighting our capabilities and strengths. In response, Governor Scott appointed a Commission on the Future of Vermont Agriculture to grow our food economy. This includes establishing a $20 million VAAFM Strategic Infrastructure Grant Program with $10 million dedicated to storage, distribution, and other infrastructure needed to increase producers’ access to Vermont distribution networks and out-of-state markets, and the remaining $10 million directed toward investments in the meat processing and waste industry.
CoreMap completes $23 million financing for A-Fib cure
CoreMap, based in Burlington, has announced it has closed a $3 million Series A Milestone financing concurrently with a $20 million Series B financing. The financing includes a diverse group of strategic, institutional, venture and individual partners. Founded in 2016, CoreMap’s mission is to develop a cure for atrial fibrillation (AF). The financing will be used to accelerate the company’s ongoing product development efforts and initiate clinical outcome studies.
Burlington City Council blocks confirmation of Jon Murad as police chief
The City Council has voted not to confirm Mayor Weinberger’s appointment of Jon Murad as Burlington Police Chief by a 6-6 vote. Councilors had previously stated that the vote would likely fail. Some of those opposed wanted more time for the process of selecting a new chief. Weinberger issued the following statement: “Tonight, the Council missed an important opportunity to confirm a highly-qualified and committed permanent chief, strengthen our Police Department, and move forward on some of our community’s most pressing issues, and instead dealt another needless blow to public safety in our City.”
Scott announces $1.4 million in grant funding for recovery housing projects
Governor Phil Scott has announced $1.4 million in Recovery Housing Program (RHP) grant funding awarded through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The funding will support four projects throughout the state and will be used to establish stabilized housing to assist individuals and families suffering from substance use disorders.
The largest grant, $500,000, went to the Barre Recovery Residence for three affordable supportive housing units dedicated to women, and women with children, experiencing homelessness and recovering from substance use disorder.
Vermont launches first program in nation to test for PCBs in schools
This spring, schools across Vermont will begin testing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a harmful group of human-made chemicals commonly used in building materials and electrical equipment before 1980. Vermont is the first state in the nation to require PCB testing in schools. If levels are detected at or above school action levels, schools are required to address the sources of PCBs to reduce exposure.
$9.4 million in USDA funding for diverse projects in Vermont & NH
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the Department is investing $1.4 billion to help a diverse rural America keep resources and wealth right at home through job training, business expansion and technical assistance. The programs these investments are being made through are part of a suite of business and cooperative services that are projected to help create or save more than 50,000 jobs in rural America through investments made in fiscal year 2021. This includes $9.4 million in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Hoffer asks if Vermont is ‘Measuring Up’ in evaluation of government performance reporting
State Auditor Doug Hoffer has released a new investigative report examining the quality and usefulness of the Vermont Annual Outcomes Report, which is designed to tell policy makers and the public whether state government is doing a good job serving all Vermonters. His report suggests it is not. “The magnitude of the issues that surfaced in our analysis ranged from fundamental to technical; they all pointed to the need to reassess whether the Outcomes Report is serving its purpose.”
