2018 Annual Report

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

2018 Annual Report STAFF From the David Snedeker, Tina Gonyaw, Frank Maloney, Executive Director Administrative Assistant Planner Executive Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] One of NVDA’s greatest strengths is our Judy Butson, Lorna Higgs, Tracy McIntyre, Business Manager Project Manager GIS Specialist 2018 Annual Report agility in forming strategic partnerships with [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] local, state, and federal entities to bring about Karen Geraghty, Economic Alison Low AICP CFM, Irene Nagle AICP, lasting impacts. This year, these collaborative Development Specialist Senior Planner Senior Planner [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] efforts were at work in several community Bruce Melendy, and economic development initiatives. Emergency Management Specialist [email protected] NVDA staff continued to work on projects that Doug Morton, came to fruition through our participation in Senior Transportation Planner the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s [email protected] Community Visits. In recent years we have taken part in visits to St. Johnsbury Back row, left to right: Tracy McIntyre, Alison Low, Dave and Craftsbury (2015); Hardwick (2016); and Burke, Lyndon, and Brighton (2017). Snedeker, Irene Nagle, Doug Morton. Front row: Karen Geraghty, In 2018 it was Newport’s turn to convene and mobilize. The Community Visit Lorna Higgs, Frank Maloney, Tina process always results in motivated groups of citizens working to implement Gonyaw, Bruce Melendy, Judy Butson. priority projects with strong local support. Current endeavors include the Photo: Tina Mitchell-Stowell / Yellow Barn Business Accelerator in Hardwick; rail trail master planning in St. Captured Moments Photography Johnsbury; road, trail, and wastewater projects in Burke; and now, business TOWN APPOINTED MEMBERS OF CALEDONIA COUNTY development and an expansion of community events in Newport. Danville: Kenneth Linsley Ryegate: Claudette Sortino Groton: Peter Lyon Sheffield: Keith Ballek This year NVDA adopted a comprehensive amendment to the NVDA Regional Hardwick: Jim Lovinsky St. Johnsbury: Jim Brown, Larry Donna Plan for the Northeast Kingdom, which includes an enhanced energy section Kirby: Rebecca Hill-Larsen, James Sawhill Sutton: Paul Brouha that gives us greater standing in the Public Utility Commission’s Section 248 Lyndon: Martha Feltus Walden: Jonathan Augeri permitting process. Our updated plan was certified by the Public Service Newark: Kim Fried, Mark Whitworth Waterford: Brent Beck, Fred Saar Department, so NVDA can now review and certify local enhanced energy plans. Peacham: Jennifer Surat In a statewide effort to minimize the impacts of our transportation infrastructure TOWN APPOINTED MEMBERS OF ESSEX COUNTY on water quality, NVDA staff worked with every Northeast Kingdom community to Brighton: Joel Cope Guildhall: Gary Brown Canaan: Gregory Noyes Lunenburg: Amos Colby remediate potential impacts on road segments connected to water bodies. Runoff Concord: Cynthia Stuart Maidstone: Bruce Hobaugh and water quality remains a key concern statewide, and NVDA is collaborating East Haven: Kirwin Flanders Norton: Patricia Whitney with state agencies, municipalities, and local and regional non-profit organizations Granby: Reginald Bunnell Unified Towns & Gores: Peter Rodin to meet new permit requirements under Act 64 (the Water Quality Act). TOWN APPOINTED MEMBERS OF ORLEANS COUNTY Developing a skilled and ready workforce is a critical issue locally and statewide. Albany: S. Christopher Jacobs, Edward O’Leary Holland: Andrew Bouchard In FY2018, NVDA committed to partner in the statewide VT Talent Pipeline Barton: Robert Croteau, William Davies Irasburg: Ron Holland, Michael Sanville Management (VTPM) initiative. This important effort convenes businesses Brownington: Bill Davis, Laurence Thompson Lowell: Calvin Allen Charleston: Teri Gray Morgan: Robert Guyer from different industry sectors to identify their industry-specific issues and Coventry: Jeanne Desrochers, Michael Marcotte Newport City: Paul Monette, Laura Dolgin develop employer-led workforce solutions. The industries that convened during Craftsbury: Farley Brown Newport Town: Real Lanoue FY2018 were construction, health care, and advanced manufacturing. Derby: Beula-Jean Shattuck, Grant Spates Troy: Robert Langlands, Mark Sanville Glover: Hope Colburn Westfield: Scott Dunn Changes at all levels of government continue to place new demands on Greensboro: Michael Metcalf Westmore: Louisa Dotoli the limited resources of our municipalities. They rely on our services and technical support more than ever. The map on the following page change AT LARGE MEMBERS represents the diversity and extent of our services, all of which support our Conrad Doyon, John Morley, Tom Robinson underlying mission to the Northeast Kingdom. I continue to be amazed by LEGISLATORS how much our relatively small staff can accomplish in Vermont’s largest Northeastern Vermont SENATORS BY DISTRICT: Development Association region, which encompasses one-fifth of the state’s land mass. Caledonia: Joe Benning Esq., Jane Kichel; Essex-Orleans: John Rodgers, Robert Starr Jr. REPRESENTATIVES BY DISTRICT: 36 Eastern Avenue, Suite 1 As always, NVDA looks forward to exploring new partnerships Caledonia-1: Marcia Martel; Caledonia-2: Joseph “Chip” Troiano; PO Box 630 and opportunities for collaboration in the coming year. Caledonia-3: Scott Beck, Janssen Willhoit; Caledonia-4: Martha Feltus, Richard Lawrence; St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819 Caledonia-Washington: Catherine “Kitty” Beattie Toll; Essex-Caledonia: Constance Quimby; Northeastern Vermont Please call 802 748-5181 David Snedeker Essex-Caledonia-Orleans: Paul Lefebvre; Orange-Caledonia: Charles “Chip” Conquest; Development Association or email [email protected] Orleans-1: Lynn Batchelor, Brian Smith; Orleans-2: Michael Marcotte, Gary Viens; Orleans-Caledonia: Vicki Strong, Sam Young; Orleans-Lamoille: Mark Higley NVDA is an equal opportunity employer, lender, and provider. www.nvda.net Northeastern Vermont Development Our broad array of services supports our mission to the 55 municipalities and scores of businesses in Association (NVDA) is a unique entity in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties: “Improving the Vermont where regional economic development quality of life in the Northeast Kingdom through planning, promoting economic development, and preserving the and planning are combined for great effect. region’s natural environment.” ORLEANS NEWPORT CITY WARNERS GRANT WARREN GORE AVERY’S GORE FY2018 Highlights Unaudited Financials for COUNTY Downtowns and Village Centers: Our work to Fiscal Year 2018* CANAAN revitalize the region’s downtowns and villages NVDA’s revenues came from numerous sources, including a share of the state’s property NORTON continues. Our staff provides ongoing technical JAY NEWPORT DERBY HOLLAND transfer funds; private, state, and federal grants; and annual appropriations from each TROY support to downtown efforts in Newport and TOWN of our 50+ member communities. We also received rental income from the Charles E. AVERILL St. Johnsbury. This year, we helped Wheelock, Carter Business Resource Center, the Gallery Building, and other income from contracted East Hardwick, and Albany earn Village Center services, such as grant administration and municipal plan and bylaw development. MORGAN Designation; and assisted with a boundary LEMINGTON COVENTRY WESTFIELD adjustment in Lyndonville’s village center and No revolving loans were made in FY2018. LEWIS redesignation of Newport City’s downtown, making CHARLESTON tax credits available for important reinvestment BROWNINGTON projects in these municipalities. Seventeen villages IRASBURG PROGRAMS BRIGHTON BLOOMFIELD and two downtowns in the Northeast Kingdom are LOWELL now participating in the designation programs! REGIONAL ECONOMIC TRANSPORTATION TOTALS PLANNING DEVELOPMENT BARTON BRUNSWICK WESTMORE Local Energy Plans: In FY2018, we assisted ALBANY the municipalities of Brighton, Morgan, and FERDINAND REVENUES $659,758 $ 320,648 $ 485,528 $ 1,465,934 ESSEX Westmore to develop their own enhanced energy NEWARK plans, bringing the total number of communities COUNTY EXPENDITURES $ 636,661 $ 320,648 $ 428,561 $ 1,385,870 GLOVER assisted to nine. When adopted (and certified SUTTON by NVDA), these plans will give each community CRAFTSBURY EAST HAVEN BALANCE $ 23,097 $ — $ 56,967 $ 80,064 SHEFFIELD a stronger voice in the sometimes-challenging MAIDSTONE review process for renewable energy projects. BURKE GREENSBORO GRANBY River Basin Planning: Staff collaborated with multiple stakeholders in some of our regional WHEELOCK watersheds to develop strategic plans to REVENUE SOURCES LYNDON VICTORY protect or restore specific waters and identify GUILDHALL OTHER FEDERAL STANNARD HARDWICK appropriate funding and resources to complete $161,844 $428,975 KIRBY the work. In FY18, work on the Memphremagog Basin Plan was completed, while work on ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS WALDEN LUNENBURG $49,309 CALEDONIA the Passumpsic Basin Plan was initiated. RENTAL ST. JOHNSBURY $212,672 STATE Emergency Planning: Staff assisted with $613,134 COUNTY DANVILLE CONCORD the development of hazard mitigation plans PLANNIN STATUS that can minimize local out-of-pocket costs in Current Plan federal disasters. In FY2018, Barton, Canaan, WATERFORD * Audited financials will be available in December 2018. Expired Plan Greensboro, Kirby, Holland, and Hardwick each adopted Local Hazard Mitigation No Plan PEACHAM Plans. This brings
Recommended publications
  • Transmittal Email to House and Senate Members
    Sent: Monday, March 5, 2018 1:47 PM To: David Ainsworth; Robert Bancroft; John Bartholomew; Fred Baser; Lynn Batchelor; Scott Beck; Paul Belaski; Steve Beyor; Clem Bissonnette; Thomas Bock; Bill Botzow; Patrick Brennan; Tim Briglin; Cynthia Browning; Jessica Brumsted; Susan Buckholz; Tom Burditt; Mollie Burke; William Canfield; Stephen Carr; Robin Chesnut-Tangerman; Annmarie Christensen; Kevin Christie; Brian Cina; Selene Colburn; Jim Condon; Peter Conlon; Daniel Connor; Chip Conquest; Sarah CopelandHanzas; Timothy Corcoran; Larry Cupoli; Maureen Dakin; David Deen; Dennis Devereux; Eileen Dickinson; Anne Donahue; Johannah Donovan; Betsy Dunn; Alyson Eastman; Alice Emmons; Peter Fagan; Rachael Fields; Robert Forguites; Robert Frenier; Douglas Gage; Marianna Gamache; John Gannon; Marcia Gardner; Dylan Giambatista; Diana Gonzalez; Maxine Grad; Rodney Graham; Adam Greshin; Sandy Haas; James Harrison; Mike Hebert; Robert Helm; Mark Higley; Matthew Hill; Mary Hooper; Jay Hooper; Lori Houghton; Mary Howard; Ronald Hubert; Kimberly Jessup; Ben Jickling; Mitzi Johnson; Ben Joseph; Bernie Juskiewicz; Brian Keefe; Kathleen Keenan; Charlie Kimbell; Warren Kitzmiller; Jill Krowinski; Rob LaClair; Martin LaLonde; Diane Lanpher; Richard Lawrence; Paul Lefebvre; Patti Lewis; William Lippert; Emily Long; Gabrielle Lucke; Terence Macaig; Michael Marcotte; Marcia Martel; Jim Masland; Christopher Mattos; Curt McCormack; Patricia McCoy; Francis McFaun; Alice Miller; Kiah Morris; Mary Morrissey; Mike Mrowicki; Barbara Murphy; Linda Myers; Gary Nolan; Terry
    [Show full text]
  • Forum: a Child of an Era of Fear
    Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 11:20 AM To: Maxine Grad Subject: Bob Williamson shares Hailey Napier's powerful letter from the VALLEY NEWS Dear Chair Maxine Grad, Below is Hailey Napier’s letter from the VALLEY NEWS. Hailey eloquently expresses how today’s youngsters feel when mass shootings occur and lawmakers do little to address the lethal problem. Best, Bob Williamson…And here’s the letter: http://www.vnews.com/ Forum: A Child of an Era of Fear When I was 12 years old, I began scanning for exits at every movie theater I went to and carefully thought through escape scenarios as the previews played. I assessed the space between the seats and the floor. Would I be able to crawl between the armrest and the wall unseen? That was the year of the Aurora shooting. If you don’t remember the details, 12 people were murdered in a Century 16 theater in Aurora, Colo.. They were watching The Dark Knight Rises. I had begged to see the movie myself, and as I read the headlines online, I realized that innocent people had died, and that I could easily have been one of them. I am a child of an era of fear. Born almost exactly a year after Columbine, I grew up with the pitch black, unspoken terror of lockdown drills. Hiding in corners and closets and behind desks, as if turning the lights off will convince a killer that school’s been canceled on a Tuesday in May; as if a bookshelf will protect me from the rain of bullets driven by some arbitrary vendetta against society.
    [Show full text]
  • Congratulations, Falcons! to Be Appointed by Joseph Gresser
    Al Elliott Lake House returns to finish ordered to close memoirs for four days. 1B 12 the Chronicle THE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF ORLEANS COUNTY TWO SECTIONS, 52 PAGES VOLUME 44, NUMBER 11 MARCH 15, 2017 ONE DOLLAR Newport City Council Two aldermen Congratulations, Falcons! to be appointed by Joseph Gresser NEWPORT — The city’s three council members will appoint two aldermen to serve until the annual meeting next March, or until voters petition the council to hold a special election. That was the primary result of the special meeting held by the Newport City Council Monday night. Mayor Paul Monette and Aldermen John Wilson and Denis Chenette were put on the spot by the unexpected resignation of city council President Neil Morrissette and Alderman Steven Vincent after the results of Town Meeting Day balloting were known. Both men submitted letters of resignation immediately after learning that Alderman Jacques Roberge had lost his re-election bid to Mr. Chenette. “At this time and under the current conditions I can no longer serve,” both men wrote in submitting their immediate resignations. Mr. Morrissette had another year left in his term, and North Country Union High School seniors Dana Marsh, left, and Dawson Cote carry the championship banner Mr. Vincent had just been re-elected with the leading the Falcons hockey team in a victory lap around the ice at Gutterson Field House on Thursday in highest vote total in the four-way contest. Burlington. The Falcons defeated Harwood Union 4-3 to capture the Division II hockey crown. For more pictures (Continued on page twenty-four.) and a season wrap-up, please see page eighteen.
    [Show full text]
  • Citizen Initiatives Teacher Training Gas Taxes
    DEFENDING AGAINST SECURITY BREACHES PAGE 5 March 2015 Citizen Initiatives Teacher Training Gas Taxes AmericA’s innovAtors believe in nuclear energy’s future. DR. LESLIE DEWAN technology innovAtor Forbes 30 under 30 I’m developing innovative technology that takes used nuclear fuel and generates electricity to power our future and protect the environment. America’s innovators are discovering advanced nuclear energy supplies nearly one-fifth nuclear energy technologies to smartly and of our electricity. in a recent poll, 85% of safely meet our growing electricity needs Americans believe nuclear energy should play while preventing greenhouse gases. the same or greater future role. bill gates and Jose reyes are also advancing nuclear energy options that are scalable and incorporate new safety approaches. these designs will power future generations and solve global challenges, such as water desalination. Get the facts at nei.org/future #futureofenergy CLIENT: NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) PUB: State Legislatures Magazine RUN DATE: February SIZE: 7.5” x 9.875” Full Page VER.: Future/Leslie - Full Page Ad 4CP: Executive Director MARCH 2015 VOL. 41 NO. 3 | CONTENTS William T. Pound Director of Communications Karen Hansen Editor Julie Lays STATE LEGISLATURES Contributing Editors Jane Carroll Andrade Mary Winter NCSL’s national magazine of policy and politics Web Editors Edward P. Smith Mark Wolf Copy Editor Leann Stelzer Advertising Sales FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Manager LeAnn Hoff (303) 364-7700 Contributors 14 A LACK OF INITIATIVE 4 SHORT TAKES ON
    [Show full text]
  • Refer to This List for Area Legislators and Candidates
    CURRENT LEGISLATORS Name District Role Email Daytime Phone Evening Phone Sen. Richard Westman Lamoille County [email protected] Rep. Dan Noyes Lamoille-2 [email protected] (802) 730-7171 (802) 644-2297 Speaker Mitzi Johnson Grand Isle-Chittenden Speaker of the House [email protected] (802) 363-4448 Sen. Tim Ashe Chittenden County Senate President [email protected] (802) 318-0903 Rep. Kitty Toll Caledona-Washington Chair, House Appropriations Committee [email protected] Sen. Jane Kitchel Caledonia County Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee [email protected] (802) 684-3482 Rep. Mary Hooper Washington-4 Vice Chair, House Appropriations Committee [email protected] (802) 793-9512 Rep. Marty Feltus Caledonia-4 Member, House Appropriations Committee [email protected] (802) 626-9516 Rep. Patrick Seymour Caledonia-4 [email protected] (802) 274-5000 Sen. Joe Benning Caledonia County [email protected] (802) 626-3600 (802) 274-1346 Rep. Matt Hill Lamoille 2 *NOT RUNNING IN 2020 [email protected] Sen. Phil Baruth Chittenden County Chair, Senate Education Committee [email protected] (802) 503-5266 Sen. Corey Parent Franklin County Member, Senate Education Committee [email protected] 802-370-0494 Sen. Randy Brock Franklin County [email protected] Rep. Kate Webb Chittenden 5-1 Chair, House Education Committee [email protected] (802) 233-7798 Rep. Dylan Giambatista Chittenden 8-2 House Leadership/Education Committee [email protected] (802) 734-8841 Sen. Bobby Starr Essex-Orleans Member, Senate Appropriations Committee [email protected] (802) 988-2877 (802) 309-3354 Sen.
    [Show full text]
  • HOUSE COMMITTEES 2019 - 2020 Legislative Session
    HOUSE COMMITTEES 2019 - 2020 Legislative Session Agriculture & Forestry Education Health Care Rep. Carolyn W. Partridge, Chair Rep. Kathryn Webb, Chair Rep. William J. Lippert Jr., Chair Rep. Rodney Graham, Vice Chair Rep. Lawrence Cupoli, Vice Chair Rep. Anne B. Donahue, Vice Chair Rep. John L. Bartholomew, Ranking Mbr Rep. Peter Conlon, Ranking Member Rep. Lori Houghton, Ranking Member Rep. Thomas Bock Rep. Sarita Austin Rep. Annmarie Christensen Rep. Charen Fegard Rep. Lynn Batchelor Rep. Brian Cina Rep. Terry Norris Rep. Caleb Elder Rep. Mari Cordes Rep. John O'Brien Rep. Dylan Giambatista Rep. David Durfee Rep. Vicki Strong Rep. Kathleen James Rep. Benjamin Jickling Rep. Philip Jay Hooper Rep. Woodman Page Appropriations Rep. Christopher Mattos Rep. Lucy Rogers Rep. Catherine Toll, Chair Rep. Casey Toof Rep. Brian Smith Rep. Mary S. Hooper, Vice Chair Rep. Peter J. Fagan, Ranking Member Energy & Technology Human Services Rep. Charles Conquest Rep. Timothy Briglin, Chair Rep. Ann Pugh, Chair Rep. Martha Feltus Rep. Laura Sibilia, Vice Chair Rep. Sandy Haas, Vice Chair Rep. Robert Helm Rep. Robin Chesnut-Tangerman, Rep. Francis McFaun, Ranking Member Rep. Diane Lanpher Ranking Member Rep. Jessica Brumsted Rep. Linda K. Myers Rep. R. Scott Campbell Rep. James Gregoire Rep. Maida Townsend Rep. Seth Chase Rep. Logan Nicoll Rep. Matthew Trieber Rep. Mark Higley Rep. Daniel Noyes Rep. David Yacovone Rep. Avram Patt Rep. Kelly Pajala Rep. Heidi E. Scheuermann Rep. Marybeth Redmond Commerce & Rep. Michael Yantachka Rep. Carl Rosenquist Rep. Theresa Wood Economic Development General, Housing, & Military Affairs Rep. Michael Marcotte, Chair Judiciary Rep. Thomas Stevens, Chair Rep. Jean O'Sullivan, Vice Chair Rep.
    [Show full text]
  • Caledonia County Choose
    2016 Gun Owners of Vermont Voter Guide CALEDONIA COUNTY CHOOSE Contest District Party Name On Ballot For President National Republican DONALD TRUMP: MIXED Vice President National Republican MIKE PENCE: STRONG PRO 2A For President National Libertarian GARY JOHNSON: STRONG PRO 2A Vice President National Libertarian WILLIAM F. WELD: ANTI-GUN For US Senate National United States Marijuana CRIS ERICSON For US Senate National Liberty Union PETE DIAMONDSTONE State Level Candidates Contest District Party Name On Ballot For Governor State Republican PHIL SCOTT For Lieutenant Governor State Republican RANDY BROCK Secretary of State State Democratic / Republican JIM CONDOS For Auditor of Accounts State Republican DAN FELICIANO For Attorney General State Republican DEBORAH 'DEB' BUCKNAM Local Level Candidates Vote For Is candidate Contest District Party Name On Ballot # Pro or Anti? For State Senate Caledonia STRONG PRO Republican JOE BENNING ONLY 1 (incumbent) Senate 2A Caledonia For State Senate MARIJUANA GALEN DIVELY III UNKNOWN Senate For State Senate Caledonia Democratic JANE KITCHEL ANTI-GUN (incumbent) Senate For State Representative MARCIA ROBINSON STRONG PRO Caledonia-1 Republican (incumbent) MARTEL 2A ONLY 1 ONLY 1 For State Representative Caledonia-2 Republican LAWRENCE W. HAMEL PRO 2A For State Representative STRONG PRO Caledonia-3 Republican JANSSEN WILLHOIT (incumbent) 2A ONLY 2 Updated 11/6/16 http://www.gunownersofvermont.org/wordpress/research-analysis/Candidates/Candidate_Reports.htm For State Representative Caledonia-3 Republican
    [Show full text]
  • April 26 on Friday, April 23, the House Gave Final
    Rep. Scott Campbell, St. Johnsbury VT 2021 Front Porch Forum updates, 1 of 11 April 26 On Friday, April 23, the House gave final approval to the Pension Bill, H.449. The day before, the bill had advanced on a roll call vote of 125-22. It now goes to the Senate. This bill addresses what became a key issue for the 2021 session, following State Treasurer Beth Pearce's report in January. Her recommendations were based on changes made by the VT Pension Investment Committee, attached to her office, following an "experience study" that is done every five years. The changes VPIC made after the experience study resulted in a $600 million jump in long-term liabilities and a 50% increase in this year's annual payment — nearly $100 million — compared to last year's. Although these increases result from a change in calculations, it's important to recognize that that does not make them less real. This year, without massive Federal pandemic funding and an unexpected State surplus, finding $100 million in the General Fund would have been incredibly difficult. But that difficulty remains on the horizon, as Federal largesse dissipates. Most concerning, when, not if, the next recession hits, the clash of scarce revenues versus need for services will be greatly exacerbated by the share of the budget required by annual pension fund payments. H.449 as passed tackles the problem in two steps. First is governance. VPIC will be restructured as an independent Commission, separate from the Treasurer's office, with more financial expertise and training.
    [Show full text]
  • S.241: Public Comment
    From: Dave Silberman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2016 11:17 AM To: Maxine Grad; Willem Jewett; Tom Burditt; Chip Conquest; [email protected]; Martin LaLonde; Marcia Martel; [email protected]; Betty Nuovo; Barbara Rachelson; Vicki Strong; Gary Viens Cc: Jeannie Lowell Subject: Colorado Traffic Deaths and ER Admissions Dear Members of the House Committee on Judiciary, This morning, Col. Matthew Birmingham of the VT State Police testified in committee that Colorado has seen "a 32% increase in marijuana related traffic deaths in just one year after 2013", a "29% increase in the number of marijuana related emergency room visits", and a "38% increase in the number of marijuana related hospitalizations". All of these claims are taken from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) 3rd Report, but unfortunately none of them are actually true. Traffic Deaths: RMHIDTA arrived at the claimed 32% increase by comparing the number of fatalities in which a driver (whether or not at fault) tested positive for THC at a blood level of 2 nanograms per mililiter (ng/ml) over just 7 months in 2013 (n=71), to those who tested positive at just 1 ng/ml over the full 12 months of 2014 (n=94). But Col. Birmingham did not tell you that he was comparing just 7 months of data in one year to 12 months of data in another, nor that the threshold was cut in half in order to goose the result. The RMHIDTA report includes an note (see p. 23) explaining, however, that had the threshold not been reduced, only 77 of the 94 drivers in 2014 would have tested positive at the original 2 ng/ml level.
    [Show full text]
  • Weekly Legislative Report No. 2  January 6, 2017 Page 1
    Governor Scott Takes Office ........................................ 1 Vermont House Committee Members ....................... 4 Governor Shumlin Says Good-bye .............................. 2 Summary of New Bills ................................................... 6 House Committees Makeover ....................................... 2 Advocacy Webinars ........................................................ 6 Governor Scott Takes Office Inauguration Day in Vermont is always an occasion to celebrate and showcase our state’s history and the pomp and circumstance that recall it. From the procession of four former governors and numerous dignitaries who were escorted by members of the armed services in Vermont to the singing of “America the Beautiful” by Colchester Police Chief Jennifer Morrison, it was an opportunity for the overflow crowd of Vermonters crammed in the House Chamber to witness their state’s peaceful transfer of power. After Governor Philip Scott took the oath of office, he used his inauguration speech to focus on themes that he had emphasized throughout his campaign for office. He assured Vermonters that he heard their concerns about “struggles to make ends meet as costs and taxes rise and good paying jobs are fewer and fewer.” He committed his administration to strengthening the economy, making living and doing business in Vermont more affordable, and protecting the most vulnerable. He announced that he would sign an executive order that very day directing every state agency to focus on those issues. His purpose in so doing,
    [Show full text]
  • HOUSE COMMITTEES 2017 - 2018 Legislative Session
    HOUSE COMMITTEES 2017 - 2018 Legislative Session Agriculture & Forestry Education Health Care Carolyn W. Partridge, Chair David Sharpe, Chair William J. Lippert Jr., Chair Richard Lawrence, Vice Chair Albert Pearce, Vice Chair Anne B. Donahue, Vice Chair John L. Bartholomew, Rkng Mbr Kathryn Webb, Ranking Member Timothy Briglin, Ranking Member Thomas Bock Scott Beck Annmarie Christensen Susan Buckholz Peter Conlon Brian Cina Rodney Graham Lawrence Cupoli Sarah Copeland-Hanzas Mark Higley Dylan Giambatista Betsy Dunn Jay Hooper Adam Greshin Douglas Gage Amy Sheldon Ben W. Joseph Michael Hebert Harvey Smith Emily Long Lori Houghton Linda Leehman, Committee Assist Alice Miller Ben Jickling Loring Starr, Committee Assistant Appropriations Energy & Technology Catherine Toll, Chair Stephen Carr, Chair Human Services Peter J. Fagan, Vice Chair Curt McCormack, Vice Chair Ann Pugh, Chair Kathleen C. Keenan, Rkng Mbr Corey Parent, Ranking Member Sandy Haas, Vice Chair Maureen Dakin Robin Chesnut-Tangerman Francis McFaun, Ranking Member Martha Feltus Robert Forguites Marianna Gamache Robert Helm Laura Sibilia Brian Keefe Mary S. Hooper Warren Van Wyck Michael Mrowicki Bernard Juskiewicz Michael Yantachka Daniel Noyes Diane Lanpher Faith Brown, Committee Assistant Oliver Olsen Matthew Trieber, Clerk Carl Rosenquist David Yacovone General, Housing & Military Affairs Joseph Troiano Theresa Utton-Jerman, Staff Assoc Helen Head, Chair Theresa Wood Maria Belliveau, Assoc Fiscal Officer Thomas Stevens, Vice Chair Julie Tucker, Committee Assistant Job Tate, Ranking Member Commerce & Economic Kevin "Coach" Christie Judiciary Development Rachael Fields Maxine Grad, Chair William Botzow II, Chair Diana Gonzalez Charles Conquest, Vice Chair Michael Marcotte, Vice Chair Mary E. Howard Thomas Burditt, Ranking Member Jean O'Sullivan, Ranking Member Heidi E.
    [Show full text]
  • S.260: St. Albans Cooperative Letter of Opposition
    Representative Maxine Grad, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary Representative Chip Conquest, Vice Chair Representative Thomas Burditt, Ranking Member Representative Selene Colburn Representative Eileen Dickinson Representative Kimberley Jessup Representative Martin LaLonde Representative Ruquaiyah Morris Representative Barbara Rachelson Representative Gary Viens Representative Janssen Wilhoit Dear Chairwoman Grad, Vice Chairman Conquest and members of the House Committee on Judiciary: On behalf of the St. Albans Cooperative and its membership, we strenuously oppose the citizen right of action language that your committee is discussing soon. As a cooperative consisting of dairy farmers, we are unfortunately used to being subject to legislation or policies that are not needed. We also are often unnecessarily targeted by constituencies that have little to no idea about overall dairy farming practices. The ‘citizen suit’ language that has been included in S. 260 is first and foremost, not needed. Both the Agency of Agriculture and the Agency of Natural Resources have regulations in place that deal with non- compliance issues. If the underlying concern is the respective Agency’s ability to enforce, then that is a very different issue. The Agency of Agriculture employees are regularly on all farms and are required to inspect large farms at least annually for compliance. As dairy farmers, we are expected to adhere to rules and regulations that are very different from what other businesses do. The success of our individual business relies on the health of our land and animals. Passage of this language will be costly and time-consuming for our agricultural community. Respectfully, Harold J. Howrigan, Jr. Chairman, St. Albans Cooperative Board of Directors cc: Senator Robert Starr Secretary Anson Tebbetts .
    [Show full text]