WVTK Local & State News July 15, 2011

Tax rates in Middlebury will decrease. The 2011 – 2012 residential property tax rate will decrease by four cents. Officials attributed the decrease in large part to schools holding the line on expenses. Middlebury’s residential education property tax rate will decrease by slightly more than six cents. The UD-3 2011 – 2012 school budget calls for just over 2 percent less in spending which helped keep the tax rate down.

An increase in the budget and state education tax has added about 5 cents to the tax bill for Brandon residents. The Select Board approved the new tax rate during its meeting this week without much discussion. Nonresidents of Brandon will be paying even more in taxes with an increase of about 8 cents. The approved tax rates went into effect on July 1st and the first payment is due around August 15th.

The case against former Rutland Police Sgt. David Schauwecker ended yesterday with a no contest plea to a single misdemeanor and a $1,000 fine. He was scheduled to appear in Rutland criminal court for a final hearing before going to trial on misdemeanor charges of neglect of duty and lying to police but instead opted to accept a plea deal from the Assistant Attorney General. In exchange for his no contest plea, prosecutors dismissed the misdemeanor charge of lying to police.

Two people have been rescued after sliding down a steep, rocky bank on Mt. Philo in Charlotte. Charlotte Fire Department Battalion Chief Dick St. George says 1 of the hikers lost his footing on a wet trail on Thursday and slid down the 60-foot embankment. The other hiker went down the bank to help him. St. George says the hikers suffered bumps and bruises.

On Tuesday the Solar Addison County program that was organized by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group was launched. The group is offering a solar hot water system from Sunward suitable for a family of four at a substantial savings. Vermont Public Interest Research Group offers free site evaluations, installation of a roof-mounted system and financing through a 10-year loan with a 4.99-percent interest rate, which works out to a payment of $52 a month. The offer will be in effect until the end of 2011 and is aimed at both homeowners and businesses alike. For more information on this program, visit www.solaraddisoncounty.com.

The Bristol select-board is exploring the possibility of moving the annual meeting of the Bristol police district from its usual late May date to the annual Town Meeting Day in March. The change could take place as soon as next year. Earlier this week select-board members discussed the idea with Police Chief Kevin Gibbs, who supports the move.

A blaze at a trailer severely damaged the dwelling at the end of Wendy Knolls Road in Leicester on Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters from Brandon and Salisbury were called to the home at the end of the dirt lane at about 3PM Wednesday. When they arrived, Brandon Fire Chief Robert Kilpeck said the trailer was fully engulfed on its southern end with flames and black smoke streaming from the roof. He said there was nothing immediately suspicious about the blaze. However, he said he was still trying to determine the cause of the blaze and might call on state police fire investigators for help.

Officials planning a major makeover of Middlebury Fire Department facilities have managed to reduce the most recent $5.2 million estimate for the project by more than $400,000. Eliminating a proposed paved driveway on the southern side of the site that would have extended from Seymour Street to parking at the rear of the station is part of the reason for that savings.

The Bristol Planning Commission moved quickly through the new town draft at its meeting on Tuesday. Planners came to a consensus on language, data and formatting used in sections one through 11. During the session there was little debate and public comments were few, but the planners decided to aim for a September 20th public hearing to gather input on the new town plan draft.

Beginning next Friday, hundreds of firefighters from around Vermont will be arriving on the campus of Middlebury College for the 122 annual Vermont State Firefighter Association Convention. The Addison County Firefighters Association in Middlebury hosts this year’s event. All VSFA State Convention meetings and public demonstrations will take place July 22-24 at the Middlebury College Sports Complex. Events that will be open throughout next weekend will include a fireworks display at MUHS, VSFA State Muster Games, to just looking at and enjoying all types of fire apparatus ranging from antique fire trucks, rescue vehicles, and high reaching aerial trucks.

The Ilsley Public Library summer reading program kicked off recently with "One World, Many Stories" The program runs through August 5th and is open to children of all ages, from preschool through high school. The program allows young people to set their own reading goals, using a punch card to keep track of the Books they read during the summer. For more information about these and many other exciting activities, visit Ilsley Public Library children's room or check out the library website at: www.ilsleypubliclibrary.org.

In two recent public information meetings, the Westport officials who have spent a decade planning the town's proposed municipal building once again explained and defended their plan in front of concerned and often frustrated local citizens. Westport residents will vote on the proposed project next Tuesday (July 19th) from Noon to 8PM at the town hall. In a similar referendum last year, the plan was defeated by seven votes.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed bills to extend sales tax increases for a dozen counties including in Essex and Franklin. The measures were sponsored by legislators from the regions and passed by the Assembly and Senate.

A New York court has refused to dismiss negligence claims against state inspectors who annually certified the capacity limit for a Lake George tour boat before it capsized in 2005, killing 20 of the 48 on board. The Appellate Division panel concludes the inspectors are not immune from claims since they failed to exercise their discretion. Plaintiffs alleging state negligence now say they expect a Court of Claims trial in October.

The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce is in need of volunteers for the information booth, located next to Liberty Monument in Moses Circle. The Chamber is looking for volunteers to staff the booth on Saturdays during the summer season. Volunteers with basic knowledge on the area as well as historical knowledge are encouraged to contact the Ti Area Chamber of Commerce if interested.

Federal prosecutors in Vermont say they've charged a hotel robbery suspect with being a felon in possession of a firearm. 43-year-old Sean Miller, of New York, who has two felony robbery convictions, is charged with using a pistol during a holdup Sunday at a Rutland hotel. He isn't charged in the alleged robbery, but he could get 10 years if convicted of the firearms charge. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Conroy ordered him held without bond yesterday at his initial appearance in federal court in Burlington.

Warren Buffett's sister is offering $200,000 to a Vermont group to create a second home for formerly homeless teens and young adults. The Burlington Free Press reports the challenge grant from Doris Buffet's Sunshine Lady Foundation requires Burlington's Spectrum Youth and Family Services to raise a matching amount for the project.

Senator Patrick Leahy is looking to enlist public support as he gets set to chair a hearing next week on repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. The repeal effort would dump the Clinton-era law denying same-sex couples federal benefits reserved for married couples.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says he's not running for re-election - yet. He's just raising money in case he does. Shumlin's comments on Thursday came one day before the deadline for filing the first campaign finance reports of the 2012 election cycle, and Shumlin's is expected to be a key measure of his political strength. Shumlin's only been governor for a little more than six months, and he says he's too busy with a range of projects to be thinking about campaigning right now.

Are you sick of your wallet being filled with old receipts? There's a cure for that. Chain stores such as the Gap, now offer emailed receipts instead of traditional paper ones. E-Receipts are catching on with local Vermont based stores as well, including Small Dog Electronics. But not everyone thinks handing out an email address at the checkout is such a good idea because of the potential for spam or “junk” email. Stores like Small Dog are reassuring customers that their receipts come spam free. Some businesses feel, like most new things, it will take time to catch on.

Killington is hoping a first-ever event, Killington Dog Days, will be the perfect precursor to a popular canine competition coming Columbus Day. Town economy leaders have created this weekend’s event to serve as a taste of what’s to come, the national championship of Dock Dogs, the official international competition for retrievers that jump and fetch off docks into water. The town hosted a leg of Dock Dogs last year but is introducing the two-day Dog Days for the first time this weekend. Activities will begin at 10AM Saturday and Sunday at the Sherburne Library fields on River Road.