Mountain Times - Volume 49, Number 21 - May 20-26, 2020

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6 • The Mountain Times • May 20-26, 2020 By Rep. Jim Harrison Bruce the Spruce lightens the discussion This past Friday, the House gave preliminary approval to H.673, which gives authority to towns to adopt a shade tree regulation plan. The legislation is only enabling and was advanced by the agriculture and forestry committee on a unanimous vote, which usually means quick passage on the House floor. While the measure ultimately passed on a wide margin, it generated a number of questions during the remote House session. A plainspoken colleague from the Northeast Kingdom, Rep. Brian Smith, asked questions of the bill’s presenter as to how this might impact his favorite tree, Bruce, who is a spruce tree. After he got his questions answered, he said “I don’t think Bruce the Spruce thinks much of this bill.” Meanwhile, other representatives couldn’t help sharing tree jokes on Zoom’s chat feature as the discussion wore on, for which members received a light reprimand by Speaker Johnson for using the chat tool for other than procedural questions. “What did the tree do when the local bank closed? It grew a new branch.” “Did the tree falling in the woods make a sound if the tree warden wasn’t there?” The real significance of H.673 may be a return to LOCAL PEOPLE. LOCAL SERVICE. Home Comfort – All season long! BEAT THE HEAT! Get on the schedule for an air conditioning or Mini Split AC Unit Installation. 0 % Down - 0 % Interest For up to 36 months Call us now at 866-326-0535 West Rutland School 2020-2021 Kindergarten Registration Who: All children five (5) years old on or before August 31, 2020 How: Contact Lisa Harvey at lisa.harvey@grcsu.org or call (802)438-2288 for registration information. legislation from pre-Covid emergency. What that means for the coming weeks remains to be seen, but the Senate has begun reviewing climate change bills and Act 250 reforms. Bills with any controversy may be difficult at best, in remote online sessions. Senate Leader Tim Ashe, D/P- Chittenden, has dubbed it the “turning of the spigot” on non-Covid-19 legislation. All this begs the question should the Legislature as a whole adjourn and just let the budget committees continue their work and leave other non-essential bills for another day? Some feel it may be best to save some of the ongoing expenses of the session given the budget challenges ahead. Reopening This past Friday, Governor Scott extended Vermont’s state of emergency to June 15 with modifications. The “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order is now the “Be Smart, Stay Safe” order, further reflecting the new phase we are entering. The addendum also asks adults 65 and older and those with underlying medical conditions to continue to shelter in place to avoid serious illness. As the key restart metrics continue to support incremental openings, the “Be Smart, Stay Safe” order also allows the limited opening of campgrounds, marinas and lodging facilities. These facilities can open May 22 (June 25 for state parks) for Vermont residents only, or those who have met the 14-day quarantine requirement, and will be subject to strict health and safety standards and guidance from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Beginning this Monday, May 18, non-essential retail could reopen at 25% of their capacity; or one customer per 200 square feet; or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater. Operators must post their temporary occupancy limit, and which method was used to determine it, prominently on all entrances. And while not final, the governor has hinted that additional restrictions could be lifted soon, including raising the gathering number to 25 (currently 10). Vermont continues its positive trends with the virus. In the past week we went from a projection of Covid cases doubling every 12 weeks to now doubling every 40 weeks, second best in the country (New Hampshire by The pandemic, its economic fallout, and the resulting social and personal stresses, all beg for analysis. What’s going on? What are proper responses? What mistakes are being made? What fundamental problems are exposed? I’m grateful for the informed, insightful, indeed wise communications I’ve been getting from concerned citizens. It’s gratifying when By Sen. Dick McCormack constituents and I agree. It’s a challenging opportunity for deepened understanding when we don’t. Even wrongheaded ideas contribute to the discussion. To believe in free speech is to trust that, overall, good ideas will prevail over bad ideas in the competitive “marketplace of ideas.” More harmful than wrong ideas are right ideas wrongly applied. The present Covid discussion has many examples. The right to an opinion I suggest that it’s a right idea that everyone has an equal right to an opinion, and an equal right to argue “What did the tree do when the local bank closed? It grew a new branch.” contrast was at a rate of doubling in four weeks). While there are a number of reasons for the positive trends (rural nature of state, initial aggressive measures, reduced visitors, etc.), the numbers should enable additional parts of the economy to open again. State budget The Scott administration has directed various state agencies to develop budget plans with an 8% reduction in mind as they get ready to present a first quarter plan to the Legislature for the first three months of the new fiscal year beginning July 1. How that will be received by the appropriations committees and what it might mean to state services, grants and employees is an open question at this point. The current plan is to adopt a three-month budget by next month and then adjourn until sometime in August, when there is a better picture of what state revenues will look like and whether there will be any additional assistance from Washington for lost revenues. At that point, the Legislature and governor will craft a budget for the remaining nine months. Education tax rates Everyone seems to agree that a 14% or more education property tax hike is unpalatable, but solutions remain elusive. Some want to increase other taxes, like the sales tax or rooms and meals tax, while others hope for a federal bailout. The administration has suggested looking at spending for potential savings. At a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, Finance Commissioner Adam Greshin put forth a suggestion that school districts revote their school budgets for the coming year. He argued that budgets, much like the state’s, were put together last winter in a much different environment. Needless to say, the suggestion of starting all over was given a very cool reception. Jim Harrison represents Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington and Mendon in the State House. Sign up for email updates at eepurl.com/gbxzuz or email him at JHarrison@leg.state.vt.us. Right ideas wrongly applied Rights do not extend to a right to be agreed with. for his/her opinion. But this right idea is wrongly applied when taken to mean all opinions are equal. Bob Dylan sang: “You’re right from your side and I’m right from mine.” Hippies believed that “everyone has their own truth.” Popular pseudo psychology tells us to “trust your feelings.” The rightwing version is when Fox News claims to be “fair and balanced” by airing “both sides” in reporting on climate science. But this claimed equality of all opinions equates the proven with the unproven, or even with the disproven, making intelligent discernment impossible. The learned scientific consensus on global warming, for example, is not merely a show of hands among the world’s climate scientists, but a recognition that the thesis has endured the rigors of the scientific method and “the thing has been proven” (QED). Conversely, as with Covid-19, various nonsensical claims have been proven wrong. You can’t cure a virus by drinking bleach. The pandemic is not a “hoax.” McCormack > 11
The Mountain Times • May 20-26, 2020 • 7 Rep. Harrison announces candidacy for re-election Jim Harrison of Chittenden announced his candidacy for a new term as state representative for the Rutland-Windsor 1 district (Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington and Mendon) on May 14. He was first appointed in 2017 by Governor Phil Scott to replace former Representative Job Tate and was elected to a new term in 2018. Harrison, an independentlyminded Republican, understands the challenges that Vermont will be facing. He said, “The Covid-19 crisis demands that Vermont look at some things differently. Tough decisions will be necessary in order to get back on our feet.” He added, “This is not the time to walk away, but rather step up to the Rep. Butch Shaw announces candidacy for re-election Charles “Butch” Shaw of Pittsford announced his candidacy for reelection to a sixth term to represent the citizens of Brandon, Pittsford and Sudbury in the Vermont House of Representatives on Monday, May 18. Butch was first appointed to the House by former Governor Jim Douglas in 2009 to represent Rutland District-6. Shaw has developed a reputation in Montpelier as a legislator that fiercely represents and protects his district while understanding the challenges of navigating the intricacies of state government. The relationships he has developed with his House and Senate colleagues and with the administration have proven to be a valuable legislative asset in pursuit of developing well thought out legislation. Shaw serves as vice chair of the powerful House committee on corrections and institutions where his experience as a small business owner has proven extremely valuable in preparing the task, which is why I am announcing my candidacy for a new term.” As a state representative, he has developed a reputation for being pragmatic by asking questions and working to improve bills. It will be this ability to probe and understand ramifications that will serve the state well going forward. “With public health in mind, we must work to get our economy moving again. I believe strongly in fiscal responsibility and understand the importance of making investments for our future. As they say, when given lemons, it’s time to make lemonade,” Capital Construction and State bonding budget. He has also been appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve on the influential joint house and senate justice oversight committee where his negotiating skills prove useful in developing justice system policy. “In this unprecedented time of public health and financial insecurity “In this unprecedented time of public health and financial insecurity it is imperative to move Vermont forward in a safe, healthy and fiscally responsible manner. I am up to this task,” said Shaw. it is imperative to move Vermont forward in a safe, healthy and fiscally responsible manner. I am up to this task and now announce my candidacy for re-election for another term to represent my constituents in the Brandon, Pittsford and Sudbury district,” Shaw said. Shaw and his wife, Mary, native Vermonters, have lived in Pittsford since 1968 and both have served their community in many different endeavors. Shaw has a proven track record of being a reliable and responsive legislator who puts his constituents and district first. He is looking forward to continuing to represent them in the future. “This is not the time to walk away,” says Harrison. said Harrison. He is known for his frequent updates and written communications. He also prides himself on easy access for district residents. Harrison and his wife, Pat, have lived in Chittenden since 2006 and in Vermont for 35 years. They have two adult children and four grandsons. His experience working with small businesses as the former president of the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association and administrator of the Vermont Specialty Food Association, will continue to serve the region well and find solutions going forward. Courtesy VTF&W Wildlife biologist Alyssa Bennett is the state’s leading expert on Vermont bats. Protecting Vermont’s bats from Covid-19 Bats are once again in the headlines, but not for the reason one might assume — they need help! There is no evidence at this time that North American bats can transmit the virus causing Covid-19 to humans, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. However, there is a very real and growing concern that humans could transmit the virus to the already vulnerable population of bats. As a result, wildlife agencies across the United States and Canada are enacting safety measures to lessen the possibility of spreading Covid-19 to local animals, just as many veterinarians are doing with our pets. This includes temporarily postponing any activity that involves handling bats. The goal is protecting our native bats and other vulnerable wildlife from reverse zoonosis, where infected humans transmit diseases to animals. “Vermont is home to nine bat species, five of those are endangered or threatened,” said VTF&W Small Mammal Biologist Alyssa Bennett. “It’s important that we protect our local bat populations from infectious disease transmission by admiring them from a safe distance and by staying out of caves and mines where bats hibernate so we don’t disturb them or potentially expose them to this virus.” TOWN OF KILLINGTON SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATIONS ADOPTED On May 5, 2020, following eleven months of discussion, the Selectboard adopted amendments to the Killington Zoning Bylaws that require registration of residential units used as Short- Term Rentals. A Short-Term Rental is defined in the bylaw amendments as: “A furnished house, condominium, or other dwelling room or selfcontained dwelling unit rented to the transient, traveling, or vacationing public for a period of fewer than 30 consecutive days and for more than 14 days per calendar year.” The primary goal of the registration program is public safety. Short-Term Rentals will be limited to an occupancy consistent with their wastewater permit (or grandfathered use) and in compliance with Vermont’s Fire & Building Safety Code (as applicable). The Selectboard did agree to a “bonus” of two occupants per dwelling (a three-bedroom house could be rented to 8 occupants, for instance) but this bonus does not apply to condominiums subject to Vermont Act 250 permits. WHAT’S NEXT? The Selectboard will be reviewing the registration form and fee structure for short-term rental registrations at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will be open to the public by videoconference. A link to the videoconference will be posted on the Town website. Prior to that meeting, the Selectboard will interview three short-term rental service providers in executive session. The service providers will be asked to provide pricing and qualifications for address identification, compliance monitoring, mobile permitting through an online portal, and a dedicated 24/7 complaint hotline. An outside service provider is needed to discover and track all available Town of Killington shortterm rental ad listings posted on 30+ hosting sites (Airbnb, HomeAway, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, FlipKey, Tripping, and 23+ others). All decisions about approving registrations and compliance with registrations will be made locally at the Killington town offices. The outside service provider will be just that – a data and service provider. Short-Term Rental Registration applications will be available by July 1, 2020 with a deadline for all active Short-Term Rentals to be registered by November 1, 2020. For more information contact Killington Town Planner & Zoning Administrator Preston Bristow at planner@killingtontown.com or at 802-422- 3242.
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Mountain Times - Volume 49, Number 21 - May 20-26, 2020

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