As a pre-schooler in the early-1970’s, I feasted on a steady diet of Sesame Street, Brady Bunch….and Zoom! Who’d a thunk that nearly a half-century later I’d be spending a good chunk of my days with Zoom looking at a Brady Bunch screen? Since Governor Scott’s emergency declaration on March 13th and with the community spread of the COVID-19 virus throughout Vermont, the State House building has closed. The work of the Vermont legislature has moved to kitchen tables and home

Local leaders, I neglected to put this into the "express envelope" last evening. I'll chalk it up to staff error. First, and of most direct importance to municipalities, yesterday afternoon the Governor signed both H.681 and H.742, the bills the legislature passed last week that extend unemployment insurance, expand health care worker licensing, and temporarily amend the state's open meeting and election laws. If you haven't already seen this memorandum from the Secretary o

Town Leaders, What day is it? The legislature operates on a strict Tuesday through Friday calendar with very predictable times we meet on the Floor (Tuesdays @ 10am, Wednesdays at 1pm, etc.), when committees break for lunch (always noon-1pm), and deadlines when legislation has to be completed and sent to the Senate (second Friday after Town Meeting Day). With the legislature now having telephonic meetings seven days a week, being home confined, and having kids around all th

Town Leaders, First, today Governor Scott closed Vermont schools for in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year. You can read the Governor's directive here. Schools had originally been closed for in-person instruction until April 6th. The Agency of Education will give guidance regarding end of school year gatherings and graduations by May 8th. Second, Senator Leahy announced today that the Federal stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Senate would send approxima

Town Leaders, Back to drinking from the fire hose today in the wake of the Governor's new Executive Order last evening directing VTers to close businesses and stay home. Again, if you haven't read it, take a look. Important directives in there on what businesses/non-profits can continue to report to work and which must stay home and/or work remotely. First, today I spoke with several business owners and leaders about how the Executive Order does or does not apply to them.