WVTK Local & State News December 13, 2011

Essex County has a new budget that increases taxes 10.54 percent and cuts more than 20 positions, including nine through layoffs. During more than three hours of discussions yesterday, the County Board of Supervisors voted on separate resolutions to set the 2012 budget. The budget raises the tax levy by 10.54 percent, which exceeds the state's new 2-percent tax cap. Supervisors needed a 60-percent majority to bust the cap. The spending plan establishes a tax rate of $2.41 per $1,000 of assessment, 27 cents more than the current rate.

Vermont State Police from New Haven responded to a 4-deer, 1-vehicle collision that occurred in the Town of Ferrisburgh at the junction of Route 7 and 22A early yesterday morning. There were no injuries, but minor damages were sustained as the vehicle collided with a deer. The deer was the last of a herd of four deer that bound across the roadway.

Eleven seniors in the Environmental Studies senior seminar at Middlebury College are doing more than completing graduation requirements, they’re conducting research that will actually be used by government agencies, local officials, scientists and consultants. They hope the work they did will improve the health of Lake Champlain and make local neighborhoods healthier places to live. A key part of the research was Lake Champlain, where phosphorous and other nutrients brought in by runoff act as fertilizers. This drives algae growth in the lake, which in turn depletes dissolved oxygen in the lake.

Kathy Alexander who runs the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union foodservice cooperative is hoping to develop a strategy that will build the farm-to-school momentum, spreading the emphasis on fresh, healthy, local food from the classrooms to the cafeteria to the community. During a gathering last week she explained that when estimating the cost of a foodservice program integrated with the curriculum and with the community, it’s difficult to put a dollar value on the less tangible gains, like student health and knowledge of nutrition and agriculture.

For over 20 years, Ilsley Public Library has been collecting books for children in need. The Christmas Shop at HOPE in Middlebury distributes these books to children whose parents might otherwise not be able to afford a new book. To contribute to this year’s collection, you can drop off clean, new, undamaged children’s books at Ilsley Public Library, the Vermont Book Shop, the Bridge School, or Mary Hogan School. Boxes are available until December 21st. For further information, contact Chris Kirby at Ilsley Public Library. (802-388-4095)

Earlier this month clothing maker Geiger of Austria cut five positions at its Middlebury facility. That now brings its total workforce to three from what were once 70. The Executive Vice President of Geiger indicated that with the nature of such a seasonal business it was not feasible to continue with the staff they had.

A new economic-development planner is poised to come to the aid of businesses interested in Ticonderoga. Justin Woods is the new chief executive officer of the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance. He has worked the past 3 1/2 years as the City of Ogdensburg director of planning and development, and has 10 years experience in municipal planning and economic development.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has come up short of a budget savings goal he set just after taking office. Shumlin in January said his administration had found $12 million in state personnel costs that would not involve laying off any workers. But Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Reardon, presenting the governor's proposed budget adjustment bill on Monday, said the administration had come up about $2.6 million short of the $12 million goal.

Concern is growing about planned cuts in federal funding for heating assistance for low-income households. That's got elected leaders and advocates in the Northeast upset. The governors of Vermont and New Hampshire, along with the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts are planning a conference call on the topic today. Meanwhile, three committees of the Vermont Legislature have planned a hearing today to discuss the possibility of the state stepping in to fill the gap.

The administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin is asking lawmakers for nearly $25 million to be added on to Vermont's general fund budget for the current fiscal year to pay for costs related to Tropical Storm Irene. Finance and Management Commissioner James Reardon listed items yesterday to be included in a budget adjustment bill ranging from more than $690,000 for supplies and equipment used by National Guard personnel in responding to the emergency to $1.75 million for cleaning up spills of petroleum products caused by flooding. The $25 million in budget adjustments for Irene are expected to be a down payment on costs to the state that are projected eventually to near $100 million.

Massive damage to Vermont's infrastructure from Tropical Storm Irene left many communities cutoff and unable to communicate with the outside world. Yesterday, the crews that helped reconnect Vermont were honored for their efforts. Governor Peter Shumlin was on hand to extend his thanks to the telecommunications crews that worked tirelessly, like so many other Vermonters, in the days and weeks following Irene.

Yesterday Governor Peter Shumlin swore in the state's newest Environmental Judge. Thomas Walsh took the oath of office in Superior Court in Burlington before family and friends. The legislature created the environmental court in 1989 to balance development and preserving Vermont's natural resources. Walsh will be responsible for hearing Act 250 and zoning appeals. Judge Walsh had his own law firm for years. He begins his new job this morning.

Police at the University of Vermont are warning students about a peeping tom. School officials say a man was discovered on the fourth floor of Tupper Hall at around noon Monday where he used a cell phone to take a picture of a female resident. Police are now looking for a white male in his 20s. He's described as 5-foot-8, with dirty blonde hair and scraggly facial hair. He had two hoop earrings in his left ear and was seen leaving campus in a black sedan. Students are also being reminded not to let strangers into residential buildings and to use caution when using shared and public restrooms.

A $15 million energy research center is planned for the University of Vermont. The Center for Energy Transformation and Innovation, first discussed last year, will focus on new energy technologies and how to connect renewable energy projects and conservation to the national electrical grid. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Governor Peter Shumlin, and representatives from Sandia Laboratories, UVM and Green Mountain Power made the announcement yesterday in Burlington.

Following a strike that shut down schools in the Bennington area for nine school days in October, the local teachers union filed a complaint yesterday with the Vermont Department of Labor alleging the school district has “willfully withheld” almost $300,0000 in salary, but school district officials say they are only taking extra time to make sure teacher paychecks are correct. In their complaint, teachers said the contract called for an increase in pay and a decrease in the amount teachers contribute toward their health care benefits, both retroactive to the first paycheck of the current school year. However, teachers said administrators at the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union have told them they will not see those changes in their paychecks until January 19.

Police here in Vermont say a stolen 1972 Fender Telecaster electric guitar autographed by members of Pearl Jam for a New Hampshire teenager with a brain tumor has been recovered, but the signatures are gone. The Burlington Free Press reports that two men have been jailed on charges of possession of stolen property. Police say the autographs were sanded off. Arrested were 25-year-old Jeffrey Leduc and 51-year-old Timothy Crews, both of Burlington.

Woodchuck Hard Cider of Middlebury just announced the winners of it 20th Anniversary Woodchuck hard Cider Video Contest. The cider maker launched the contest earlier this year to kick of its 20th year of making hard cider. Company officials asked fans to submit videos that represent why and what they love about the nation’s number one selling hard cider. A total of 38 videos were submitted. Winners were from New Jersey, Massachusetts and Georgia.

This holiday season the Tiny Tim Christmas Wish Program, which provides Christmas gifts to needy children in the Ticonderoga area, will service 140 children from 52 families. Many contributed including Ticonderoga Cub Scout Pack 72 who recently purchased toys for the program. The boys picked out and purchased over $110 in toys to be donated to the Tiny Tim program. Tiny Tim gifts will be distributed this Saturday from 8AM to Noon at the Masonic Lodge on Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga.

Panera Bread is set to open its second Vermont bakery café on South Main St in Rutland. The opening is set for next Wednesday December 21st. A Panera menu is focused on soups, salads and sandwiches made on a variety of breads baked in house. Panera’s planned involvement in the community includes its Operation Dough-Nation program. The Rutland store will join Panera locations in Connecticut in giving back through its local Day-End Dough-Nation and Community Breadbox programs. At the end of the day, Panera also donates all unsold bread and baked goods to local area hunger relief agencies as part of the program. The Rutland store is seeking nonprofit partners to collect end of day bread from the café.