Friday, April 18, 2014
Windsor County Deputy State's Attorney David Cahill
The Vermont State Employees' Association this week filed a petition with the Vermont Labor Relations Board on behalf of 55 deputy state's attorneys, victims' advocates and administrative staffers from six counties — Chittenden, Franklin, Essex, Orange, Rutland and Windsor — who want the right to collectively bargain.
The VSEA said it hopes to expand the union push to include more employees and more counties in the coming weeks, saying the workers have been left in legal limbo due to peculiarities in state law.
“Today, these workers have no right to have a voice in the determination of their working conditions, career progression or pay, but they are determined to continue their fight to obtain these rights,” said VSEA Executive Director Mark Mitchell. “State workers and their union look forward to welcoming these members into the VSEA family and working together towards a respectful first union contract.”
As Seven Days reported back in 2012, deputy state's attorneys and the other staffers find themselves in a legal black hole. Though they receive state paychecks, work at state-controlled offices and enforce state laws, Vermont does not consider them to be state employees. And, while they are hired and fired by individually elected state's attorneys, the state's attorneys don't control the budgets that dictate their deputies' pay.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Is Sen. Bob Hartwell (D-Bennington) truly skeptical that humans are responsible for global climate change?
Does he really think the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change "has come out with some pretty extreme statements about what's going on?"
Did he really suggest that what we call climate change may simply be the result of a naturally warming and cooling earth?
That's what we wrote in last week's Fair Game, quoting from a 15-minute interview conducted with Hartwell on April 7. But Hartwell, who chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, seems to think his words were distorted. After former lobbyist Bob Stannard linked to the column on his Facebook page and wrote that "Vermonters are very disappointed" with Hartwell's comments, the senator posted a four-paragraph statement clarifying his position and calling into question the column's accuracy.
"Unfortunately, some have taken to characterizing my description of the climate change situation without discussion directly with me," Hartwell wrote. "I have and will continue to express my opinion as to what I believe is best for Vermont, even when the press distorts my interviews on occasion, something that often happens to those in public life."
Does he really think the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change "has come out with some pretty extreme statements about what's going on?"
Did he really suggest that what we call climate change may simply be the result of a naturally warming and cooling earth?
That's what we wrote in last week's Fair Game, quoting from a 15-minute interview conducted with Hartwell on April 7. But Hartwell, who chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, seems to think his words were distorted. After former lobbyist Bob Stannard linked to the column on his Facebook page and wrote that "Vermonters are very disappointed" with Hartwell's comments, the senator posted a four-paragraph statement clarifying his position and calling into question the column's accuracy.
"Unfortunately, some have taken to characterizing my description of the climate change situation without discussion directly with me," Hartwell wrote. "I have and will continue to express my opinion as to what I believe is best for Vermont, even when the press distorts my interviews on occasion, something that often happens to those in public life."
Tags: global warming , Sen. Bob Hartwell , Image , Web Only
Alicia Freese
Members of the Burlington School Board finance committee at Ira Allen School Wednesday
When Burlington voters struck down the school budget on Town Meeting Day, the school board was saddled with the unenviable task of trimming it back. Since then, things have gone downhill.
The board is hoping to rally support for a pared-down budget, which is still being developed and is scheduled to go before voters in early June. But several revelations along the way have threatened to undermine residents’ confidence in the school budget’s stewards.
Last week it was the results of an independent audit that exposed a flaw with board’s method for drawing up school budgets, leading to sizeable deficits during the past three years. It turns out, rather than devising a new budget based on the actual spending during the prior year, the board has been using the prior year’s budget as its baseline.
The budget that voters rejected in March would have led Burlington to rack up another $2.5 million deficit in Fiscal Year 2015. The district is already on track to spend $2.5 million more than was allotted in the FY 2014 budget. Miriam Stoll, chair of the finance committee, described the findings as “a very shocking thing to think about.”
Then came the news, broken by the Burlington Free Press Wednesday afternoon, that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is poised to penalize the district for failing to report payroll taxes on time. In an interview with the Free Press, finance director David Larcombe cited as part of the problem the school’s transition to new payroll software.
Tags: burlington school board , school budget , teachers , Image , Web Only
Paul Heintz
Gov. Peter Shumlin speaks Wednesday at the state's Emergency Operations Center in Waterbury.
Evidently, not much.
Speaking Wednesday morning at a Waterbury press conference, the gov weighed in on a newly leaked memo outlining a scaled-back approach to increasing health insurance coverage in Vermont. Written by legislative consultant and Emory University professor Kenneth Thorpe, the proposal has been whispered about for weeks in the halls of the Statehouse, but was first publicly revealed Tuesday by Vermont Public Radio's Peter Hirschfeld and Hamilton Davis.
The way Shumlin sees it, there's nothing new or compelling about the alternative plan, which he said was based on "a failed model that hasn't worked."
"It shouldn't surprise us that some folks are taking some old ideas and tunin' them up, puttin' em back on the table," he said.
Tags: Vermont legislature , health care , single payer , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Sanders might be the one considering a run for president, but Sen. Patrick Leahy outraises him this quarter.
File: Paul Heintz
Sen. Patrick Leahy at a fundraiser in fall 2013 at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
During the first three months of 2014, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) raised more than $223,000 between his two campaign accounts, according to documents filed this week with the Federal Election Commission. In that same period, Sanders' campaign accounts brought in $114,00, while Congressman Peter Welch's (D-Vt.) took in nearly $105,000.
Of the three, Sanders is still sitting on the biggest pile of cash. The second-term senator has more than $4 million in his reelection campaign account and another $196,000 in his leadership political action committee, called Progressive Voters of America. If he sits out the 2016 presidential race, Sanders won't face another election until 2018.
Tags: Senator , Vermont Congressional delegation , fundraising , campaign finance , PACs , Bernie Sanders , Image , Recommended Reading , Web Only
Monday, April 14, 2014
After years of drawn-out lawsuits, property disputes and heartbreak, Don and Shirley Nelson are leaving Lowell Mountain.
The neighbors of the 21-turbine Kingdom Community Wind project announced a settlement with Green Mountain Power this morning. GMP will pay $1.3 million for the Nelsons' 540-acre farm in Lowell, which has been in the Nelson family for 72 years. The Nelsons can remain in their home for up to two years and will retain 35 acres of property in Albany — but according to their statement, they intend to move to "a location well away from the turbines." The couple claims the giant windmills have brought them grief and ill health since they were constructed three years ago.
The Nelsons couldn't be reached for comment this morning but said in a press release that they felt it was clear that the turbines "were not coming down and the effect on Lowell Mountain was irreversible."
When Seven Days visited Lowell Mountain in 2012, Nelson spoke over the dull rush of a turbine turning in the distance — it sounded like a fast-moving river. At the time, Nelson was collecting signatures from neighbors attesting to the noise. “Some didn’t care much at first, but, boy, are they opposed now,” Nelson said. The retired dairy farmer blinked back tears, muttering, “Goddamn it," as he tried to express what the turbines had done to his wife's health and well being.
GMP spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure said in a statement that the settlement "represents an opportunity for both to move forward, and we are pleased to have reached agreement." She also said that Kingdom Community Wind marks an important investment in renewable energy in Vermont, and that Vermonters place a high value on the energy produced at the ridgeline wind farm. Since 2012, she said, the project has generated enough electricity to power more than 24,000 homes.
“We believe that this settlement represents an opportunity for both to move forward and we are pleased to have reached agreement.”
The neighbors of the 21-turbine Kingdom Community Wind project announced a settlement with Green Mountain Power this morning. GMP will pay $1.3 million for the Nelsons' 540-acre farm in Lowell, which has been in the Nelson family for 72 years. The Nelsons can remain in their home for up to two years and will retain 35 acres of property in Albany — but according to their statement, they intend to move to "a location well away from the turbines." The couple claims the giant windmills have brought them grief and ill health since they were constructed three years ago.
The Nelsons couldn't be reached for comment this morning but said in a press release that they felt it was clear that the turbines "were not coming down and the effect on Lowell Mountain was irreversible."
When Seven Days visited Lowell Mountain in 2012, Nelson spoke over the dull rush of a turbine turning in the distance — it sounded like a fast-moving river. At the time, Nelson was collecting signatures from neighbors attesting to the noise. “Some didn’t care much at first, but, boy, are they opposed now,” Nelson said. The retired dairy farmer blinked back tears, muttering, “Goddamn it," as he tried to express what the turbines had done to his wife's health and well being.
GMP spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure said in a statement that the settlement "represents an opportunity for both to move forward, and we are pleased to have reached agreement." She also said that Kingdom Community Wind marks an important investment in renewable energy in Vermont, and that Vermonters place a high value on the energy produced at the ridgeline wind farm. Since 2012, she said, the project has generated enough electricity to power more than 24,000 homes.
“We believe that this settlement represents an opportunity for both to move forward and we are pleased to have reached agreement.”
Tags: wind turbines , Lowell , Image , Web Only
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Sen. Bernie Sanders was in New Hampshire on Saturday, denouncing U.S. economic inequality in a speech at St. Anselm College in Manchester. He had to feel pleased with the first comment from the audience. “If you could give this address in every home in America,” a middle-aged man declared, “I think you'd be elected president.”
Indeed, that's why Sanders was there — New Hampshire hosts the nation's first presidential primary, and Vermont's junior senator acknowledges that he's considering a race for the White House in 2016.
The 200-plus, mostly older listeners who filled the auditorium at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm were predisposed to Sanders' message, despite its unrelievedly bleak tone. They voiced their enthusiasm by giving him a standing ovation before he spoke.
Sanders, 72, did not rely on notes as he segued smoothly from topic to topic, at times jabbing his index finger, waving his arms and shouting in cadenced tempos. He let loose lines such as: “a $7.25 minimum wage is obscene” and “it's morally grotesque to talk about cutting Social Security” and “health care in America is to a very significant degree about making money for private health-care companies.”
The audience was on its feet again at the conclusion of the socialist politician's 70-minute talk. His themes would have been familiar to many Vermonters, but clearly struck some Granite State residents as novel in their radicalism.
Caroline French, a Dover, N.H., resident, expressed delight with Sanders' remarks. “What he's saying isn't being addressed by any other candidate,” French observed following the speech. “He has a solid platform to run on. Inequality is getting worse and worse and could be the demise of this country.”
Indeed, that's why Sanders was there — New Hampshire hosts the nation's first presidential primary, and Vermont's junior senator acknowledges that he's considering a race for the White House in 2016.
The 200-plus, mostly older listeners who filled the auditorium at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm were predisposed to Sanders' message, despite its unrelievedly bleak tone. They voiced their enthusiasm by giving him a standing ovation before he spoke.
Sanders, 72, did not rely on notes as he segued smoothly from topic to topic, at times jabbing his index finger, waving his arms and shouting in cadenced tempos. He let loose lines such as: “a $7.25 minimum wage is obscene” and “it's morally grotesque to talk about cutting Social Security” and “health care in America is to a very significant degree about making money for private health-care companies.”
The audience was on its feet again at the conclusion of the socialist politician's 70-minute talk. His themes would have been familiar to many Vermonters, but clearly struck some Granite State residents as novel in their radicalism.
Caroline French, a Dover, N.H., resident, expressed delight with Sanders' remarks. “What he's saying isn't being addressed by any other candidate,” French observed following the speech. “He has a solid platform to run on. Inequality is getting worse and worse and could be the demise of this country.”
Tags: Senator , politics , Bernie Sanders , New Hampshire , Presidential Campaign , health care , Image , Recommended Reading , Web Only
Friday, April 11, 2014
Winooski Police Chief Steve McQueen is leaving his job in September, after serving the Onion City for 30 years.
What's next for the chief? Consulting work? Police academy instructor? Golf courses and swimming pools?
"I'm going to retire to Disney World," said McQueen, whose office is littered with Magic Kingdom posters, knick knacks and a calendar. You don't have to be a detective to realize he's dead serious.
Specifically, McQueen plans to spend his golden years driving the van that shuttles prospective buyers into Disney World's timeshare program — of which he has been a longtime member — around the Orlando facility.
"I just want to do something for the fun of it for a while; that's the whole idea," McQueen said. "If I don't get away from what I've been doing for 36 years, I'll get sucked back in, and I want to let go."
What's next for the chief? Consulting work? Police academy instructor? Golf courses and swimming pools?
"I'm going to retire to Disney World," said McQueen, whose office is littered with Magic Kingdom posters, knick knacks and a calendar. You don't have to be a detective to realize he's dead serious.
Specifically, McQueen plans to spend his golden years driving the van that shuttles prospective buyers into Disney World's timeshare program — of which he has been a longtime member — around the Orlando facility.
"I just want to do something for the fun of it for a while; that's the whole idea," McQueen said. "If I don't get away from what I've been doing for 36 years, I'll get sucked back in, and I want to let go."
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Paul Heintz
Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding announces that Patricia Moulton Powden (left) will take over as secretary of commerce and Lawrence Miller (right) will become chief of health care reform.
Gov. Peter Shumlin’s Mr. Fix-It is taking charge of the administration’s sprawling health-care reform overhaul.
Lawrence Miller, a former business executive who spent more than three years as Shumlin’s secretary of commerce, will become senior advisor to the governor and “chief of health care reform.”
Replacing Miller at the helm of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development will be Patricia Moulton Powden, a former deputy secretary and longtime state government official.
“The governor felt that, since he’s so serious about getting universal, publicly financed health care in place here in Vermont as quickly as we can, that we needed to strengthen out team,” Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding said Thursday afternoon at a Montpelier press conference at the agency’s National Life Building headquarters.
Spaulding said that while many in the administration are involved in various aspects of health care reform, “We actually needed to have a quarterback to make sure that all of us that have a role in this are supported and coordinated.”
Tags: health care reform , politics , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
The newest incarnation of the Burlington City Council elected its president Monday evening in a surprisingly conciliatory fashion. Leading up to the election, there had been murmurings about an alliance among the non-Democratic members that would seek to claim the council presidency. That group appeared to have the upper hand: Last year, after an extended stalemate between Democrat Joan Shannon (Ward 5) and Independent-turned-Democrat Karen Paul (Ward 6), the council struck a deal, agreeing that Democrats would cede the leadership seat the following year in the event of another stalemate.
The conditions were ripe to invoke that deal this year. Republican Kurt Wright (Ward 4) said he had rounded up all seven non-Democratic votes: “I had the ability to be elected. The votes were there.”
But on Monday night, Progressive Jane Knodell (Ward 2) — a longtime friend and political ally of Wright’s — nominated Shannon for a third year at the helm, lauding her dedication and fairness. And she, along with the other four Progressives, Independent Sharon Bushor (Ward 1) and Wright himself, joined in to unanimously reelect Shannon. Shannon described Knodell’s remarks as “so very nice and unexpected.”
Why squander the chance to take control of the council — as the agenda setter, the president can hold significant sway — from the majority? After about a week of behind-the-scenes back-and-forth between the Ds and the non-Ds, Wright said he backed down on the condition that the same deal apply next year.
The conditions were ripe to invoke that deal this year. Republican Kurt Wright (Ward 4) said he had rounded up all seven non-Democratic votes: “I had the ability to be elected. The votes were there.”
But on Monday night, Progressive Jane Knodell (Ward 2) — a longtime friend and political ally of Wright’s — nominated Shannon for a third year at the helm, lauding her dedication and fairness. And she, along with the other four Progressives, Independent Sharon Bushor (Ward 1) and Wright himself, joined in to unanimously reelect Shannon. Shannon described Knodell’s remarks as “so very nice and unexpected.”
Why squander the chance to take control of the council — as the agenda setter, the president can hold significant sway — from the majority? After about a week of behind-the-scenes back-and-forth between the Ds and the non-Ds, Wright said he backed down on the condition that the same deal apply next year.
Tags: Mayor Miro Weinberger , Burlington City Council , Old North End , Burlington Telecom , Image , Web Only