Economy & Business

Burlington Board of Finance 01/29/2024

For more information on current procedures and meeting dates for the Burlington Board of Finance, please visit burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/BOF/Schedule.

Town Meeting Day Election Forums: Winooski School District Budget Presentation 01/29/2024

Presenters: Kamal Dahal - WSD Board Vice-Chair; Nicole Mace - WSD Board Member; Wilmer Chavarria - Superintendent

Moderator: Emily Brewer

For more information about upcoming Town Meeting Day 2024 coverage visit bit.ly/TownMeeting2024

Town Meeting Day Election Forums: South Burlington School District Budget Presentation 01/29/2024

Presenters: Violet Nichols - Superintendent; Tim Jarvis - Senior Director of Finance and Operations

Moderator: Emily Brewer

For more information about upcoming Town Meeting Day 2024 coverage visit bit.ly/TownMeeting2024

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 01/26/2024

Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the House Committee on Government Operations.

On Friday, the committee continued testimony but did not come to any conclusions on possible language. During committee discussion, the role of stakeholders briefly came up - VAN was mentioned by name as one possible contributor. They also discussed definitions, which will be important in the final bill. Links to the most recent version of the bill and Friday’s meeting are below.

S.55 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Introduced.pdf

Attorney General Charity Clark: Press Conference - Data Privacy Day - January 28 01/26/2024

Recorded January 26, 2024.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means - Testimony of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 01/25/2024

VAN testimony of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Lauren-Glenn Davitian testified on behalf if VAN. Kristen Christopher also testified on behalf of Comcast. JFO and Leonine Public Affairs also testified on other aspects of H.657.

H.657 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Maria%20Royle~As%20Introduced~1-11-2024.pdf

Moments with Melinda: Interview with Ellen Kahler 01/25/2024

From Melinda Moulton:

Recipient of the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial and Community Leadership from the Vermont Community Foundation; The Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership for the Vermont Natural Resources Council; and the Jan Eastman Excellence in Leadership Award from the Snelling Center for Government.

For more information visit: http://VSJF.org

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 01/24/2024

Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the House Committee on Government Operations.

On Tuesday, the Senate Government Operations Committee took further testimony on S.55, the bill that would amend the Open Meeting Law to authorize public bodies to meet through electronic means without designating a physical meeting location. Witnesses included the Deputy Secretary of State and representatives from the Green Mountain Care Board, the Public Utility Commission, the Vermont Press Association, the Human Services Board, the Vermont League of Vermont Cities and Towns, and the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.

S.55 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Introduced.pdf

Attorney General Charity Clark: Press Conference - $300,000 in Refunds to Vulnerable Vermonters 01/24/2024

Recorded January 24, 2024.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Finance - Opposition of S. 181 Community Media Public Benefit Bill 01/24/2024

Opposition of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 at the Senate Committee on Finance.

On Wednesday, the committee continued taking testimony on S.181. The committee heard from Mike Burke, Vice President of Field Operations at Green Mountain Power, Jeremy Crandall, Assistant Vice President State Legislative Affairs at CTIA - The Wireless Association, and Anna Lucey, Executive Vice President of Legislative and External Affairs at NECTA. Those who testified raised concerns about the affordability and legality of the bill. Included below are links to the start of each testimony, start of committee questions, and materials presented to the committee.

S.181 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0181/S-0181%20As%20Introduced.pdf

S.181 Opposition Jeremy Crandall CTIA Testimony:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Finance/Bills/S.181/Witness%20Documents/S.181~Jeremy%20Crandall~CTIA%20Testimony~1-24-2024.pdf

Featured Story

CCTV Receives NEH Grant to Support Community Archives

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is pleased to announce receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant alongside 32 peer archival institutions across the country. This $49,927 grant award will support efforts to preserve and expand access to audio/visual community history materials in the CCTV Archives. Read more about this opportunity here!