Vermont

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

On Tuesday, Rep. Peterson offered an amendment to H.657 in House Ways & Means and House Energy & Environment, to offer more protections to phone company copper lines that might be affected by the bill’s Right of Way charges on internet service providers (twisted pair copper lines would be exempt under the amendment, as opposed to coaxial cable or fiber optic lines). The amendment was found unfavorable by HWM (7-2-3) and HEE (10-1-1), but they did decide to offer a new, separate floor amendment in the House to change an instance of wording in the bill, to clarify language that the Right of Way fee is charged on all physical infrastructure (changing “DSL,” which is a service, to “twisted pair copper,” which denotes the physical lines). The HWM vote on this change was favorable 9-0-3.

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, interviews all four of the BHCC Co-Founders/Board of Directors: Lisa Evans, Elise Guyette, and Gail Rosenberg. 

Elise A. Guyette, historian, author, and educator, has a passion for discovering and teaching about stories that were lost because of the traditional telling of history from the point of view of the powerful. Toward that end, Dr. Guyette has published books, articles, and curricula focused on diverse stories, including teacher’s guides to museum exhibits, artifact kits, and theater productions. For three years, she co-directed Turning Points in American History, a million dollar federally funded Teaching American History Grant for Vermont teachers. Her publications include Vermont: A Cultural Patchwork, which she rewrote with a focus on Burlington, and Discovering Black Vermont for which she received the

Richard O. Hathaway prize for outstanding contributions to the field of Vermont history. She co- founded two walking tours: Burlington Edible History and More Than a Market, which told the stories of various immigrant groups along with their food traditions and food businesses. She has led educational and history workshops in places as varied as Albuquerque and Phoenix, Kunming in China, and Durban in South Africa. She is presently on the Board of Directors for Rokeby Museum. Gail Rosenberg is a writer, fundraiser, and communications specialist. As co-founder of the Burlington Edible History Tour and a walking tour of Old North End markets, she has long connected food, culture, and community. Gail co-founded and headed the National Council for Alternative Work Patterns, the first clearinghouse on flexible work schedules, where she garnered national press, and edited and authored many publications, including a retrospective chapter for Carol Burris and the Women’s Lobby (2019). At Shelburne Museum, she promoted the Big Apple Circus for a decade of sold-out performances. She created and ran Howard Center’s first ever capital campaign, raising the $4.6-million goal, and developed Howard’s popular curling event. Gail has published articles on such diverse subjects as flexible work schedules, Vermont circus history, and food, and her stories have appeared in The Washington Post and Seven Days. She has served on many non-profit Boards, currently Partnerships for Literacy & Learning. When the Brooklyn Bridge’s promenade was replaced, Gail ran a fundraiser for a non-profit where she sold (actual!) pieces of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Lisa Evans is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in historical preservation, community engagement, and nonprofit management. She is the former executive director of the Saint Albans Museum, and currently serves as a board member of the Chittenden County Historical Society and as a member of the Saint Albans City Historical Preservation Commission. With a deep understanding of the importance of preserving and promoting local history and culture, Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Burlington History & Culture Center. Her passion for connecting communities and fostering a sense of belonging is evident in her work, and she is dedicated to making a positive impact in the Burlington area.

Learn more at: http://www.burlingtonhistoryandculturecenter.org | Contact: info@burlingtonhistoryandculturecenter.org

From the Mayor's Office:

Mayor Weinberger, Mayor-elect Mulvaney-Stanak, and community partners raise the Burlington Trans Pride Flag at City Hall to recognize Trans Day of Visibility. The Burlington Trans Pride Flag was developed as part of the City’s Trans People Belong campaign, and the flag raised at City Hall was sewn by a community member.

Guests include Mayor Miro Weinberger, Mayor-elect Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, City Councilor Joe Magee, Em Russo from the Pride Center, Robin from Outright Vermont, and community members.

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

On Thursday, the House Government Operations and Military Affairs committee took testimony from Senator Hardy who gave an introduction to the bill. Representative Hango was concerned about small towns and the negative affect this bill could have on them - the committee will have a formal walkthrough of the bill sometime next week from legislative counsel.

S.55: As Passed by the Senate:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf