ontpelier Notes, An occasional email for Pownal and Woodford residents. If you would prefer
not to receive these notes please reply to botzow@sover.net and I'll remove you from the list. If
you would like to be added please let me know. I do not give your email address to others. --Bill
Botzow
January 5, 2014
Hello all,
I hope your New Year is off to a good start and the roller coaster weather hasn’t set you back.
Today as I write it is sunny and seasonable though we all know wintery mixes and bitter cold
likely will come.
These notes have three community announcements and five reports from colleagues in the
legislature on summer study meetings. As you will see, summer study committees work on
continuing issues that were not completed in the previous session and on long range issues.
Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts on the issues.
Saturday January 11, 2014 at 5:00 PM Benefit Dinner for Keith Coon and Family
American Legion, Pownal
Keith is a longtime Pownal fire department member and now Chief. Recently his wife Maureen
passed away unexpectedly at age 48. His friends have organized a benefit dinner to help with
unanticipated expenses. I hope you can attend. Bruce and Caroline Martel have sent the
following details.
The Public is invited to a Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Keith (Woody) Coon and Family
The dinner will be held at the American Legion Post 90 in Pownal, Route 7, Pownal, Vermont.
Dinner will include: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Tossed Salad, Italian Bread and Butter, Coffee,
Tea and assorted Desserts.
Donations: Adults $10.00
Children 12 and under $6.00
Tickets are available at Winchester’s Store, Pownal Fire Departments and the American Legion
in Pownal.
There will be a 50/50 raffle and Basket raffles.
Searching for Pownal Art
From Walt Klinger
The Pownal Historical Society is looking for locally made "works of Art" for inclusion in our
display at the Vermont state historic fair this summer.
"Works of Art" here is defined as broadly as possible and includes "folk art", quilts, weaving and
tapestry, carvings, furniture, as well as paintings and photographs. We are particularly interested
in finding pieces by artists who attended the Pownal Art School here during the late 1940s and
1950s.
Any items made available will be photographed, and included (the photo, not the actual item) in
our display at the fair.
So, here's your chance to start you spring cleaning early. Rummage through that back closet for
Aunt Ethyl's favorite painting that just didn't fit with your French provincial decor. Or drag that
tractor seat bird bath and wind chimes Uncle Fred made on a dare. Share your Pownal made
treasures with us, please. Give me a shout at: 802-823-5197, or uposl@comcast.net.
Eagle Scout Project
David Hojnowski of Pownal writes:
“Hello, my name is David Hojnowski and I'm a Life Scout with Troop 353 (Bennington,
Vermont). I've been in scouting since I was 7 years old and I’m so excited to now be working on
my eagle service project. I wanted to do something to benefit my “alma mater”, Pownal
Elementary. It is a great rural school here in southern Vermont. I learned that the school has
wanted soccer goals for some time, but they have been unable to afford them. This really spoke
to me – I had played soccer myself for 10 years and loved the game. I also remembered playing
soccer during recess out behind the school, so I could imagine how much the goals would be
used and appreciated.
For my Eagle Project I will be constructing 2 soccer goals for the school, as well as hosting a
mini soccer clinic. I am fund-raising to cover the cost of the goals. I would be most grateful for
contributions of any size to help. Any extra money that is donated will be given directly to
Pownal Elementary School.”
David is raising funds for the project which he estimates will take around $1800. Donations are
payable to Boy Scout Troop 353 and can be mailed to David Hojnowski, 1094 Hidden Valley
Rd. Pownal, VT 05261.
David would also be happy to talk to you about his project and his number is 802 823-5929. You
can also donate online at www.GoFundMe.com/5p4euw
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SUMMER STUDY MEETINGS
Governor’s Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission, by Rep. Rebecca Ellis
Act 38 (S.30) of 2013 required the House and Senate Committees on Natural Resources and
Energy to meet jointly during adjournment to review the report submitted in April 2013 by the
Governor’s Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission. In two joint hearings held in the
fall, the Committees heard from the director of the siting commission, the secretary of the agency
of natural resources, the commissioner of the public service department, and over 20 members of
the public. The siting commission’s twenty-eight recommendations fell in three broad
categories: (1) planning, (2) improved public process, and (3) greater protections for the
environment, agriculture and health in the energy siting process. Many of the commission’s
recommendations sought to improve transparency and efficiency of the public service board,
including an improved PSB website, a new case manager position, and a tiered permitting
process. The commission’s planning suggestions focused on the role of regional and municipal
planning commissions in energy siting. And finally, the commission sought greater weight for
environmental, agricultural and health considerations in the PSB permitting process. By
unanimous consent, the committees took no action on the reports. Any further action will
proceed following the normal course of events.
Lake Shoreland Protection Commission, by Rep. Bob Krebs
The Lake Shoreland Protection Commission was created in Section E.126.1 of the 2013
Appropriations Bill (Act 50). The Commission was comprised of the Senate Natural Resources
Committee and 5 Representatives from the House Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
committee. Six public meetings were held in Newport, Fairlee, Bomoseen, Middlebury, North
Hero and Burlington, and included collaboration with regional and municipal planning
commissions and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
The creation of the commission was in part due to the passage of H.526, a bill crafted to establish
shoreland protection standards for Vermont lakes and ponds in excess of 10 acres. The Senate
needed additional time to collect more input from the public, including lakeshore owners and
businesses, and to provide more outreach and education regarding the current health and vitality
of Vermont’s lakes. There was also a demonstrated need to summarize current regulations, to
investigate the need for additional regulation, and to revisit antidegradation policies with regard
to the Lake Champlain TMDL plan.
The public meetings were generally well attended with approximately 700 attendees. Comments
and questions were provided in written form and over 300 such inquiries have been received,
logged and categorized. There will be a final public meeting on January 8th in Montpelier (Room
11 6-8 PM) that will give participants an opportunity to address the commission directly with
their concerns.
The final commission report is due to the legislature on January 15th. The draft report and public
comments can be found here: https://leg2.vermont.gov/sites/legislature/LSP/default.aspx . The
Senate Natural Resources Committee will continue their work this session weighing the benefits
of protecting and preserving Vermont’s water resources. Senator Snelling has introduced a
similar bill (S.224) that proposes protect our shorelands through the Act 250 process, and there
will most likely be continued debate on how best to proceed.
Public Records Study Committee, by Rep. Linda Martin
The public records study committee met three times this fall to continue the committees charge
in Act 59 of reviewing over 243 statutory exemptions written into law. The goal is not to repeal
exemptions but to consolidate them relating to the same subject into a single exemption where
appropriate. After hearing testimony a few were repealed and some re-written with permission
from the appropriate state agencies.
This year we reviewed exemptions from the following agencies: Transportation & Motor
Vehicles, Agriculture, Natural Resources/Historic Preservation, Professional and
Occupations/Labor, Trade secrets, personal records, Financial Regulations, Courts and Court
procedure and Public Safety/Crime/Criminal. State Auditor, Doug Hoffer, presented a new
exemption he would like the legislature to enact on Whistleblower Protect.
While House and Senate Government Operation Committees have jurisdiction over public
records there is no process for them to review new exemptions. In 2011 we identified 239
exemptions, increasing to 249 in 2012 and 243 in 2013 even with the repeal and removal of some
exemptions. The committee will be reviewing a draft "Process for Referral and Review” by the
House and Senate Government Operations on public records exemptions at their January meeting
to try to ensure that they are written consistently or reduce duplication.
Report on the Child Poverty Council, by Rep. Tess Taylor
The Child Poverty Council, comprised of 14 members, was established in 2007 by the legislature
to make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on methods of improving the
financial stability and well being of children. Members include legislators, advocates and other
stakeholders. The VCPC has a web page: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/workgroups/ChildPoverty/
The VCPC reconvened on September 20, 2013 for the first time since January 31, 2011, and held
4 meetings during adjournment. The Council reviewed the recommendations in the 2009 report
“Improving the Odds for Kids,” identifying which of these had been accomplished or gained
progress, and discussed future actions.
The following sub-committees were formed: transportation, health and nutrition, housing and
homelessness, workforce and education, and childcare. A full report of sub-committee
recommendations will be posted on the webpage as soon as each committee signs off on the
report.
After testimony and sub-committee discussion, the Council is making the following
recommendations:
1. Support H.270 – an act related to providing access to publicly funded prekindergarten
education
2.
Support S.35 – An act establishing and regulating licensed dental practitioners
3. End Child Homelessness – with a policy resolution urging the GA and Governor to work
toward eradicating homelessness among youths in Vermont, considering the impact of policies
on homeless and precariously housed families.
4. Create payment Alternatives for Traffic Fines – Traffic fines can create crushing debt for
a parent struggling to make ends meet and hinder work accessibility. Recognizing that
transportation issues are exacerbated in rural areas, the council considered alternative ideas for
payment / restitution.
5. Amend the Council’s charge- to allow the council to meet during the session without
extra compensation for members.
House members on the Council are: Tess Taylor, Chair, Jill Krowinski and Joey Donovan.
Mental Health Oversight Committee, by Rep. Mary Hooper
The Mental Health Oversight Committee’s principal focus this off-session was in monitoring the
on-going creation of the mental health system of care, which continues to be in crisis. This
system relies on three facilities (Green Mountain Psychiatric Care in Morrisville, Rutland
Regional Hospital and the Brattleboro Retreat) to provide “level one care” with other hospitals,
Fletcher Allen in particular, providing back up. Level one care is acute or emergency/crises
care. The result is occasional long waits for some patients in hospital emergency rooms with a
negative cascading effect on the delivery of care throughout the system.
The Oversight Committee and the Joint Health Care Committee strongly recommend that the
State Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin open all 25 beds as soon as possible and no later than
July 1. The Administration currently plans to open 16 beds in the new Berlin facility when it
moves patients currently in the temporary facility in Morrisville at the end of June. This will
result in a net gain of one bed. Until all 25 beds are opened, currently planned for mid August,
the burden on patients and the hospitals will not be ameliorated.
As is the case with other components of the health care system, the new mental health system is
built on providing preventative assistance and care for individuals (see Act 79 of 2012 and the
great implementation report written in 2013). This assistance and care is slowly coming on line,
with some new facilities opening now, such as new beds (but not more) at the Rutland Hospital
and 2 beds for individuals urgently needing care but not hospitalization due to open shortly in
Rutland. The Soteria House in Chittenden County is delayed and schedule to open pending
Certificate of Need hearings this year. One facility that had been planned for northwestern
Vermont is postponed indefinitely. Until all of the components of the system of care are in
place, the health care needs of Vermonters will not be met and the crises will continue.
On-going issues within the system include:
Management of a decentralized system reliant on private sector partners including ensuring that
seclusion and restraint policies meet state standards;
Sufficient and well trained staff,
Sufficient facilities and housing;
Sufficient funding of designated agencies; and,
Returning focus to the needs of children within the mental health system of care.
A report of the Committee will be issued in the next two weeks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I hope everybody enjoys a good healthy week.
Stay in touch,
Bill
Rep. Bill Botzow
1225 South Stream Rd.
Bennington, VT 05201
802 447-7717
botzow@sover.net
bbotzow@leg.state.vt.us