Vermont

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Government Operations - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 02/13/2024

Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the Senate Committee on Government Operations.

On Tuesday, he committee discussed a new draft.

S.55, Draft 3.1:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.55/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.55~Tucker%20Anderson~Draft%203.1,%20Strike%20All%20Amendment~2-13-2024.pdf

Vermont State House Special Event - Public Hearing: Governor Recommended FY 2025 Budget 02/13/2024

From ORCA Media:

Vermont State House Special Event

Moments with Melinda: Interview with Scott Thomas 02/10/2024

From Melinda Moulton:

Dr. Scott Thomas is the twelfth President of Sterling College. Scott has 25 years teaching and leadership experience at private and public institutions.

For more information visit: http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/

Finding Hope From Within: Art Created by Incarcerated Women in Vermont 02/10/2024

From the organizer:

An invitation to hear and engage in a discussion, not a debate, on the proposed new women's prison. The beautiful and powerful artwork created by incarcerated women at C.R.C.F. displayed on the walls of the Fletcher Room inform and bear witness to this heartfelt conversation. Participants on the panel: Tiffany Harrington of Free Her and formerly incarcerated at C.R.C.F; Heather Newcomb, manager of Justice Impacted Services with Vermont Works for Women; Toni Foote, Shelter Coordinator, CVOEO; and a representative with the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Montpelier Happy Hour - Reflecting on 50 years at the Women's Freedom Center 02/09/2024

From BCTV:

The Women's Freedom Center turns 50 this year. The local domestic and sexual violence organization serves Windham and Southern Windsor Counties. To learn more about the Women's Freedom Center's work: https://womensfreedomcenter.net/

Christine Hallquist and the Vermont Community Broadband Board 02/09/2024

Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, hosts a conversation with Christine Hallquist, the Executive Director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board. They discuss the plans for Broadband buildout, what it will take and why it is important, and what the office is trying to do on the legislative front.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 02/07/2024

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

On Wednesday, the Senate Government Operations & Military Affairs committee took testimony on S.55 and proposed some changes to the bill. The committee heard from the League of Cities and Towns, the Deputy Secretary of State, Isle La Motte Selectboard Chair, and Vermont School Boards Association for feedback on how draft 2.1 would affect public meetings going forward. Some possible changes which came out of this testimony were allowing emergency meetings to be held fully remote, fully in person, or hybrid, removing the Secretary of State from the lead report requirement, and allowing fully remote meetings to continue for some time after the bill’s passage. The committee also heard from the Joint Fiscal Office which estimated the cost of outfitting a medium room (30 person occupancy or less) would be about $4,800 for most towns. The committee and legislative council is working on drafting a new version of the bill.

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

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 02/07/2024

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

On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means walked through H.657, a broad telecommunications modernization bill that covers a variety of topics. Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, noted that the section of this bill that would have instituted a 1% fee for AMO capital costs, has been removed; and, that the content of H.575, which would create a Community Media Benefit Fund with revenues from a new pole attachment excise tax to fund AMO operational costs, has been incorporated into H.657. Both items are great news! The part of H.657 that VAN opposed has been removed, and the content of H.575, which VAN supports, has now been integrated into H.657. Royle walked through the entire bill, including the Community Media Benefit Fund sections. Then 10 witnesses testified, sharing various points of view about the content of the bill. The general takeaway was this was a solid first hearing in HWM, with much more to come.

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

Governor Phil Scott: Press Conference - Make it Easier, Less Expensive, and Faster to Build Housing 02/07/2024

From the Office of Governor Scott:

Governor Phil Scott and Administration officials will hold their weekly press conference.

All Brains Belong VT - Brain Club: Connection is the Path to Health 02/06/2024

Recorded on February 6, 2024.

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!