Wednesday, March 10, 2010

WVTK Local & State News March 10, 2010

The Town Meeting Day Recess is over and Vermont Lawmakers are back at the capitol to tackle a number of key issues, the biggest being the budget. The state is facing a $150-Million deficit. To save money, lawmakers are looking at consolidating the state’s 260 school districts into 16 much larger districts. There will be a public hearing tonight from 5 to 8 at the statehouse to discuss the school district consolidation plans.

Voters in Hinesburg have approved a slight increase in the school budget. The proposed budget of over $7.6-Million was approved by voice vote Monday Night after an hour of questions and debate. The approved spending plan represents a 1 percent increase over this year’s budget.

Rutland's economy took a major hit last year, but business leaders are more optimistic about 2010. The 17th annual business expo had the biggest turnout ever Tuesday. The expo gives local companies, a chance to network with other businesses. Organizers say there's light at the end of the tunnel and businesses are taking advantage of every opportunity.

The Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering its approval of the Lake Champlain clean-up plan. The EPA signed off on the state's plan in 2002, but paperwork filed Monday signals it does not think the state has made adequate progress in reducing pollution levels. Governor Douglas called the decision an insult to everyone who has worked to clean-up the lake. Douglas says more than $100 million has been spent on clean-up efforts.

The area's first four-year nursing degree program launches in the fall. Castleton State College already has a large stack of applications for the program, aimed at new and established nurses alike. The school has long offered a two-year associate's degree in nursing, but coordinator Kimberly Ratelle said nurses looking for further education have faced trips to University of Vermont, Southern Vermont College or Norwich.

An anti-nuke group is asking Vermont regulators to close Vermont Yankee now while it is dealing with a tritium leak. The Safe & Green Campaign wants the nuclear reactor in Vernon shut down till the source of the leak is found and repaired. A spokesman for Vermont Yankee says there’s no threat to public health or safety and therefore no reason to shut down now.

Doug Hoffman will once again take on Bill Owens for 23rd Congressional District seat. Bill Owens won the seat in a special election last year. Hoffman said his focus will be reining in government spending and reducing taxes on small business. Hoffman has formally announced that he will again try to win the congressional seat in New York’s 23rd District.

Teachers in the Franklin Central Supervisory Union have a tentative agreement on a new contract. Terms of the deal will not be released until it is ratified by the teachers. The district covers schools in St. Albans City and Fairfield.

A UVM faculty union claims the school pays its female professors less than their male colleagues. The United Academics union has filed a grievance, charging the school discriminated against five female assistant clinical professors. The dispute will be held Thursday by the state's Labor Relations Board.

Berlin Pond is at the center of a fight between Montpelier and a Barre man. Rick Barnett says he's gotten a state permit for an ice fishing derby late this month on the pond, which supplies Montpelier's drinking water. City officials say they'll defend the city's right to restrict public use of the pond.

A week after his boss left, the acting New York State Police Superintendent is also retiring. First Deputy Superintendent Pedro Perez is stepping down after 28 years, following Harry Corbitt, who left the top spot last week because of the scandal surrounding Governor Patterson. Perez says his departure has nothing to do with the attorney general's investigation.

One of Vermont's largest ski resorts has been hit with a hefty environmental fine. Mount Snow has agreed to pay $95,000 to settle a civil case brought by the Attorney General's Office. According to the state, the ski resort improperly handled and mismanaged hazardous materials in 2008. The state says the resort has since fixed the problems.