>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS TOWN MEETING DAY IN VERMONT FELT PRETTY NORMAL.

DESPITE RISING INFLATION VOTERS WERE IN A GENEROUS MOOD AAPPROVING MOST BUDGETS.

>> THE ELECTORATE UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE SEEING SOCIETALLY AND HOW THOSE CHALLENGES PLAY OUT IN SCHOOLS.

>> EVEN IF SOME PEOPLE CHEERED A RETURN TO IN PERSON GATHERINGS THE FUTURE OF TRADITIONAL TOWN MEETING SEEMS UNCERTAIN.

TOWNS ACROSS THE STAY ISSUED A SPLIT VERDICT ON A TENANTS RIGHTS PROPOSAL.

>> MONTPELIER AND RUT THERE HAVE NEW MAYORS, COLCHESTER IS GETTING A NEW REC CENTER AND ELMORE HAS A NEW SONG.

ALL THAT AND MORE AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

>> WELCOME BACK.

I'M MARK DAVIS, SENIOR EDITOR AT SRERPBLT PUBLIC IN FOR STEWART LEDBETTER.

IT'S FRIDAY, "MARCH" 10.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY AND A FUN WEEK.

HOO REMEMBER THE THREE JOURNALISTS WHO WILL EXPLAIN IT TO US.

FROM VERMONT PUBLIC, APRIL MCCULLUM, FROM SEVEN DAYS COLIN FLANDERS, AND FROM WCAX, KATHARINE HUNTLEY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK.

COLIN, I HEARD ONE OF YOUR COWORKERS REFER TO TOWN MEETING AS JOURNALISTS' CHRISTMAS.

WE SHOULD START WITH BIG TICKET ITEMS.

THAT WOULD BE SCHOOL BUDGETS.

THEY MAKE UP THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF LOCAL SPENDING.

OFTEN THEY PROVOKE IRE BUT THIS WEEK THEY PASSED.

>> THEY DID.

THEY PASS PRETTY OVERWHELM STKPWHREU ACROSS VERMONT.

THERE WERE SOME BIG BUDGETS THAT PASSED.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE EXCEEDED 2 BILLION IN SPENDING.

THE AVERAGE STATE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES IS AROUND 8%.

THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT BUMP THAT DOWN BUT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS DRIVING IT IS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC CONTINUING TO TRICKLE DOWN TO THEIR STUDENTS.

STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING AND A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE STEPPING UP TO FILL THAT NEED.

THE ENACT THEY PASSED SO OVERWHELMINGLY SHOWS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE HURRICANE UH LEANNE EFFORT THESE SCHOOLS WENT THROUGH ADJUST TO THIS NEW NORMAL THAT WE'RE IN.

A LOT OF THINGS ARE DIFFERENT AND SCHOOLS ARE RESPONDING TO SOME OF THE SAME INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AS EVERYONE ELSE.

THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WERE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE SHOWS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.

>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE MENTAL HEALTH ANGLE.

WE EXPECTED INFLATION, I THOUGHT IT WAS STRIKING HOW OFTEN SCHOOLED SAID WE'RE SPENDING A LOT ON MENTAL HEALTH, A LOT ON COUNCILORS.

ADDING COUNCILORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS.

APRIL, THERE IS AN OMINOUS NOTE HERE, THEY ALL PASSED THIS YEAR BUT WE KNOW THIS FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, IS GOING TO EXPIRE NEXT YEAR.

A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENTS WARMED US COME NEXT YEAR THEY MAY HAVE MORE BIG ASKS OF THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BACK IT UP.

>> I DON'T THINK THOSE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE GOING AWAY.

KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THROUGH OTHER STRUGGLES WILL NEED SUPPORT.

WITHOUT THAT FEDERAL FUNDING IT WILL BE TOUGHER AS WELL AS SOME CAPITAL EXPENSES.

VERMONT SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE AGING.

THERE'S A NEED TO REMEDIATE PCBs.

BURLINGTON HAD A HIGH PROFILE EXAMPLE OF GOING THROUGH A PCB CRISIS AND SO OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE WILL ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT ON SOME LEVEL.

SO I THINK IF YOU LOOK AHEAD, THERE COULD BE MORE BIG ASKS FOR VOTERS.

>> OF COURSE THE CONTEXT HERE THIS IS COMING IN MANY COMMUNITIES IN VERMONT SEEING FLAT STUDENT GROWTH OR DECLINING STUDENT POPULATION.

BUT THE COST PER STUDENT IS COMING UP AND YOU WONDER WHERE THE RUBBER WILL MEET THE ROAD ON BUDGET SEASON.

IT WAS NOT THIS YEAR.

THE BUDGETS SAILED THROUGH.

MUCH THE SAME ON THE MUNICIPAL FRONT, MOST TOWN CITY BUDGETS PASSED, VERY LITTLE CONTENTION.

APRIL, YOU WERE FASCINATED WITH WHAT WENT DOWN IN MORRISTOWN.

>> THEY VOTED DOWN THE THEIR BUDGET IT.

WAS AN INCREASE OF 30% DRIVEN BY TOWN EMPLOY YEE SALARIES AND EXTRA POLICE FUNDING AND THE TOWN FELT LIKE THAT WAS NOT DOABLE FOR THEIR BUDGET.

BUT THEY ALSO VOTED DOWN A SIDEWALK FUNDING PROPOSAL BUT THEY HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN BECAUSE THEY MADE AN ERROR ON THE BALLOT.

I WAS FASCINATED BY THAT ONE.

>> WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE MORE HIS TOWN SIDEWALKS.

SOLEMN PLEDGE ON BEHALF OF VERMONT PUBLIC.

KATHARINE, YOU FOLLOWED INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ESSEX TOWN SIDE.

>> ESSEX AND ESSEX TOWN JUNCTION FINALLY SEPARATED.

THEY SAID WE'RE LEAVING.

THEY WERE GOING TO SLOWLY STEP UP THE TOWN OF ESSEX'S TAXES TO MORE EQUALIZE THEM WITH ESSEX JUNCTION BUT THAT HAPPENED IN ONE YEAR SO THE 20% INCREASE IN TOWN TAXES.

SELECT BOARD MEMBERS WERE WORRIED BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT HEARD FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUITY ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN BUT IT TURNED OUT BECAUSE SCHOOL TAXES ARE NOT INCLUDED THAT IT WAS BONNEVILLE $300 PER YEAR, FOR A $280,000 HOME.

I THINK VOTERS WERE OKAY WITH THAT DIRECTION.

THEY DID VOTE NOT TO MERGE.

>> GOT TO LOVE LOCAL ISSUES THIS TIME OF YEAR.

AMONG THE MANY THINGS ON THE BALLOT, TOWN MEETING WAS A SOURCE OF DEBATE IN A LOT OF PLACES.

COLIN, AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC IT SEEMS UNCLEAR WHAT THE FUTURE OF TOWN MEETING DAY LOOKS LIKE IN VERMONT.

>> WHEN I FAR STARTED RECORDING IN VERMONT IT WAS STILL A SANCTIMONIOUS THING.

THERE WAS A REAL IMPORTANCE ABOUT SHOWING UP, CHANGING THE BUDGET ON THE FLY.

PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THAT SWITCHING TO MAYBE A BALLOT BASED VERSION, THE SKY ISN'T GOING TO FALL.

IN SOME CASES THERE IS A MUCH GREATER SAY.

WHEN I USED TO COVER ESSEX SOMETIMES THERE WOULD BE 1, 2% OF PEOPLE VOTING FOR THE ENTIRE TOWN.

ONCE YOU STREUFPD TO AN TRA *EULAN BALLOT IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE COMING TO REALIZE THAT WE'LL STILL BE VERMONT IF WE VOTE MAYBE AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.

>> APRIL, YOU GREW UP HERE THIS.

TENSION BETWEEN MAXIMIZING PARTICIPATION BUT BOTH HAVING THIS IN PERSON GATHERING, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE FUTURE OF VERMONT THAT DOESN'T HAVE IN PERSON TOWN MEETING?

>> I FEEL LIKE WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE SOME ELEMENT OF IT.

I THINK PEOPLE TREASURE THAT FACE TO FACE TIME WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.

CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER OVER FOOD, WHICH CAN SOUND TRIVIAL BUT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

I HEARD PEOPLE AT MY TOWN MEETING TALKING TO EACH OTHER, THE GUY SAID I DISAGREE WITH YOU ABOUT EVER EVERYTHING BUT THERE IS ONE THING WE CAN AGREE ON.

THAT CIVIL DISCOURSE VERMONTERS VALUE.

DON'T COUNT OUT TOWN MEETING YET EVEN THE TOWNS THAT WERE DISCUSSING CHANGING THE FORMAT, A FEW OF THEM MOVED TO AUSTRALIAN BALLOT BUT MARSH FIELD SPENT TWO HOURS TALKING ABOUT HOW AND WHEN THEY WOULD VOTE IN THE FUTURE.

THEY DECIDED TO MOVE THE DAY OF THEIR VOTING BUT UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED ANY MOVE TO AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.

IT'S STILL A TREASURED AND VERY IMPORTANT TRADITION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF BAKED GOODS IN THE EQUATION.

THE PIES, WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO.

CHELSEA WAS A SOUGHT OFFER ASSIGNMENT.

THE BUDGET INCREASES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ARE GOING TO PUSH PROPERTY TAX RA RATES UP.

SEVERAL TOWNS TOOK A LOOK AT LOCAL OPTION SALE TAXES.

>> THEY HAVE THE OPTION FOR LOCAL OPTION TAXES 1% TACKED ON ON LOCAL TRANSACTIONS FOR SALES, ROOMS, MEALS, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

THEY CAN PICK WHICH THEY FEEL ARE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR TOWN.

A NUMBER OF TOWNS DECIDED TO ADOPT THEM OR EXPAND THEM, SHELBURNE, RUTLAND AMONG THEM.

>> COULD WE SEE MORE IN THE FUTURE?

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT A BIG SCHOOL BUDGET FIGHT NEXT YEAR.

MIGHT WE SEE MORE DEBATE TO COUNTER BALANCE?

>> LOCAL OPTION TAXES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

A LOT OF TOWNS HAVE THEM.

IT'S NOT A NEW TREND NECESSARILY BUT I THINK IT DOES GIVE THE TOWN MORE WIGGLE ROOM, ESPECIALLY AS SCHOOL BUDGETS ARE GOING UP AND THERE'S NO PRESSURE ON THE ED PROPERTY TAX.

THIS ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE INCREASES ON THE MUNICIPAL SIDE OR AS WE SAW IN COLCHESTER THEIR NEW RECREATION CENTER WHICH WE MAY TALK ABOUT WAS FUNDED BY THE LOCAL OPTION TAX.

THEY CAN USE IT FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS IF THEY WANT.

>> I WANT A MEMBERSHIP IN THIS REC CENTER.

>> HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE TOPIC A, IN VERMONT.

THERE WAS A PUSH BY SOME TO PASS WHAT THEY CALL JUST CAUSE EVICTION PROTECTIONS AFTER GOVERNOR SCOTT'S VETO OF A SIMILAR MEASURE PASSED BY BURLINGTON VOTERS LAST YEAR.

ADVOCATES SAY THIS YEAR'S VOTES SEND A STRONG MESSAGE.

>> THIS ISSUE ISN'T JUST IN THE LARGER CITIES, IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

SENDS A STRONG MEASURE TO MONTPELIER THAT THEY ACTUALLY PASS T. >> THAT WAS TOM PROCTOR.

LOOKS LIKE VOTERS ISSUE A SPLIT VERDICT ON THIS.

>> THEY DID.

I THINK AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM TOM THIS IS PART OF A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE MONTPELIER TO TAKE THIS UP.

THE THINKING IS A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT WOULD MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO ADOPT A STATEWIDE POLICY.

MOST INTERESTING WAS IN BRATTLEBORO.

THEY DECIDED TO SHOOT THEIRS DOWN BY A HEFTY MARGIN.

WE SAW STRONG PUSHBACK FROM THE LANDLORD COMMUNITY WHO MADE THE POINT THAT TENANTS ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

THE POINT THAT TENANTS ACTIVIST GROUPS WERE MAKING IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE AND TENANTS NEED MORE PROTECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT GETTING KICKED OUT NOT FOR NOT PAYING RENT OR BREAKING LAWS BUT BECAUSE THEIR LEASE EXPIRED N. BRATTLEBORO HE WERE GOING TO CAP INCREASES IN RENT AT 12% TO PREVENT THESE DEFACTO INCREASES.

I HAVE TO WONDER HOW MUCH THAT PLAYED IN AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THE BIG THING IS SEEING WHAT HAPPENS IN MONTPELIER.

GOVERNOR SCOTT VETOED BURLINGTON'S BUT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MORE OF AN ADVANTAGE NOW.

THEY PICKED UP SEATS IN THE LAST VOTE.

I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHETHER THIS -- IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE VETOED WHR-FPL THEY CAN PUSH IT THROUGH, I HAVE TO IMAGINE MORE TOWNS MIGHT CONTINUE TO PICK THIS UP.

>> HOUSING PRESSURES DON'T SEEM LIKE THEY ARE GOING ANYWHERE.

BURLINGTON 2% VACANCY RATE.

WE TALK ABOUT HOME PRICES AND MORTGAGE RATES.

BUT THE TENANTS, THE APARTMENT SEEKERS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

SPEAKING OF BURLINGTON, POLICE REFORM CONTINUES TO BE A HOT TOPIC.

THERE WAS SOME PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGES THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE OVERSIGHT OF POLICE.

>> THIS WAS PROGRESSIVE LED, WHICH WOULD CREATE AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY CONTROL BOARD.

NOBODY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN SERVE AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE FROM BURLINGTON TO SERVE.

IT WOULD CREATE A NEW CITY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE FUNDING AS WELL.

VOTERS PRETTY HANDILY VOTED THAT DOWN.

THERE WAS A HUGE PUSH TO GET IT VOTED DOWN BY THE DEMOCRATS AND SPECIFICALLY MAYOR WEINBERGER, BUT NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN VOTED DOWN I SPOKE TO THE MAYOR I BELIEVE YESTERDAY AND HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE BRINGING THE CHIEF BACK UP OR THE ACTING CHIEF BACK UP FOR ANOTHER CONFIRMATION VOTE AFTER HE NARROWLY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CHIEF.

>> THIS DEBATE IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ACROSS VERMONT.

IT SEEMS UNENDING IN BURLINGTON THE PAST FEW YEARS.

WHAT ELSE WERE YOU KEEPING AN EYE ON ON BURLINGTON ON TUESDAY?

>> THERE'S ACTUALLY SIX CHARTER CHANGES ON THE BALLOT, A MASSIVE BALLOT FOR BURLINGTON.

I WENT BACK 11 YEARS, NOTHING CLOSE THAT THAT I COULD SEE.

BIG THINGS, RANK CHOICE VOTING PASSED.

BURLINGTON HAD IT IN 2009 THEN REPEALED IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HAPPENED.

THE GUY WHO WON THE MOST AMOUNT OF FIRST PLACE VOTES DIDN'T END UP BEING THE MAYOR.

SO THEY REPEALED IT BUT IT'S BEAK AND NOW ALL ELECTIONS IN BURLINGTON INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL WILL BE RANK CHOICE VOTING.

THEY ALSO HAVE ALL RESIDENT VOTING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN NOW.

>> RUTLAND AND MONTPELIER HAVE NEW MAYORS.

RUTLAND, IN MON PAOELTER JOHN McCULLOUGH REPLACES ANNE WATSON.

KATHARINE, HERE IN WINOOSKI WE HAVE A HISTORIC SLATE OF CITY COUNCILORS.

>> THEY ARE ALL LGBTQIA PLUS PEOPLE ON CITY COUNCIL.

FROM WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS SAYING, 2017 PALM SCREENS BECAME THE FIRST CITY TO HAVE THAT.

RIGHT NOW A TOWN OUTSIDE FT. LAUDERDALE HAS IT.

WINOOSKI COULD BE THE THIRD IN THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE ALL LGBTQIA PLUS REPRESENTATION.

>> SOMEWHAT FITTING WINOOSKI MIGHT BE THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN VERMONT RIGHT NOW.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

ACROSS THE STATE OVER IN ORANGE COUNTY THE TOWN OF NEWBURY CONTINUES TO FIGHT A STATE PLAN TO LOCATE A JUVENILE TREATMENT FACILITY THERE.

THERE WAS A BALLOT ITEM TUESDAY TO HELP THE TOWN VOICE OPPOSITION.

VERMONT PUBLIC'S CONNOR CYRUS VISITED AND FILED THIS FOUR MINUTE REPORT.

>> THIS YEAR ON TOWN MEETING DAY THE HOT BUTTON ISSUE HERE IN NEWBURY IS ARTICLE 8, ASKING RESIDENTS IF THE SELECT BOARD SHOULD SEND A LETTER TO-GOER SCOTT, THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO BUILD A YOUTH DETENTION FACILITY IN THEIR TOWN.

SINCE THE CLOSURE OF WOODSIDE IN 2020, THE ONLY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER IN VERMONT, THE FIGHT OVER WHERE TO BUILD THE NEW FACILITY TO HOUSE YOUTH IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS GOTTEN HEATED.

>> MY THOUGHTS ARE THE STATE FOR SOME REASON IS TRYING TO RAM IT DOWN THE TOWN'S THROAT.

>> DAVID "SUPPORTED" ARTICLE 8.

THE ARTICLE ON THE BALLOT WOULDN'T DIRECTLY IMPACT WHETHER OR NOT THE FACILITY IS BUILT IN THE TOWN BUT RESIDENTS HOPE IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO MONTPELIER.

>> IT'S IN A CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

NEWBURY DID NOT WRITE ITS TOWN PLAN AND SET UP CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND SO ON WITH THIS IN MIND.

>> THE VERMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COURT SIDED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DISAGREEING WITH THE TOWN.% THE TOWN IS NOW CHALLENGING THAT DECISION IN THE VERMONT SUPREME COURT.

SHELLING OUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO KEEP THE FACILITY OUT OF NEWBURY.

DOWNTOWN MEETING DAY THE SELECT BOARD WANTED TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW RESIDENTS FELT.

THEY WANT TO FIGHT THE NARRATIVE THAT IT'S JUST A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT THE FACILITY IN THEIR TOWN.

SO HERE'S WHAT VOTERS HAD TO SAY.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO REHAB AN OLD HOUSE THAT THEY DON'T THINK SECURITY WILL BE THERE.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE FACILITIES ARE NEEDED BUT WE'RE SO RURAL.

WE DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF POLICE FORCE NEEDED AND WE'RE JUST SO RURAL WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF CERTAIN ROADS.

>> THE VOTES SEEMED TO BACK THEM UP THIS.

SMALL TOWN HAS JUST OVER 1500 REGISTERED VOTERS.

601 VOTED FOR THE LETTER, 56 VOTED AGAINST IT.

SO DOES THE MAJORITY OF THIS TOWN HAVE A CASE OF NIMBYISM?

NOT IN MY BACKYARD?

SELECT BOARD MEMBER AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE PARSONS SAYS NO.

>> WE'RE NOT SAYING NO WITH A TOWN WITH NO SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR A BUILDING LIKE THIS.

IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM WHICH WE HOPE IT IS IT HAS TO START FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A GOOD PROCESS, SOEPBTING REQUIREMENTS, WORKING WELL WITH THE TOWN, HAVING SUPPORT SERVICES AROUND AND THIS REALLY DOESN'T.

>> SENATOR DICK SEARS SAYS OF COURSE ANY BUYISM IS INVOLVED.

THAT GIVES THE STATE POWER TO BUILD GROUP HOMES.

NO TOWN IS GOING TO WANT THEM AND THAT COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

>> IF THAT BALL IS THROWN OUT IT WOULD PUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IN DISARRAY.

SO IT'S BIGGER AND BROADER THAN JUST NEWBURY, BUT I I CONTINUE TO BACK DCF, AND ITS EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM FOR THE HARD TO PLACE JUVENILES.

>> SO WHILE WE WAIT TO SEE IF AND HOW THE GOVERNOR, DF, AND THE LEGISLATURE RESPOND THEY ARE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES LIKE ST. ALBANS.

FOR NOW RES DID DENTS KA FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE MORE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR TOWN.

>> I THINK THERE'S A REAL DANGER THAT IF YOU GO THROUGH THE FARRYL SIGNIFICANT EFFORT EVER VOLUNTEER PEOPLE IN CREATING A NEW TOWN PLAN EVERY SEVERAL YEARS TO HAVE IT MEAN NOTHING WHAT'S THE POINT?

>> WHAT'S NEXT?

NEWBURY RESIDENTS ARE WAITING FOR A DECISION FROM THE VERMONT SUPREME COURT BUT THAT STILL LEAVES THE QUESTION DOES STATE GOVERNMENT OVER ROLL LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO PRIVATE BUSINESS?

I'M CONNOR CYRUS IN NEWBURY.

>> THANKS, CONNOR.

JUST ANOTHER FASCINATING STORY ABOUT THIS NEVER ENDING DYNAMIC IN VERMONT, STATE CONTROL VERSUS LOCAL CONTROL AND AUTONOMY.

WE'LL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THAT GOING TPWAORD.

>> COLIN, YOU HAD A RECENTLY REALLY GOOD AND PRETTY ALARMING STORY ABOUT THE STATE OF EMS SYSTEM ACROSS VERMONT.

CAN YOU SHARE WHAT YOU LEARNED WITH US?

>> I WAS LOOKING AT WHAT WE KNOW OF EMS, A PATCHWORK OF COVERAGE AROUND THE STATE, AMBULANCE COVERAGE, PROVIDED MAINLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BY TOWNS, SOMETIMES NONPROFITS THAT PARTNER WITH TOWNS.

THE HEADLINE HERE THAT IS EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, WHICH MEANS THEIR BUDGETS ARE RISING BECAUSE THEY ARE PAYING PEOPLE TO FILL SHIFTS THAT USED TO GET FILLED FOR FREE.

AS THEIR BUDGETS RISE TOWNS ARE REALIZING FOR THE FIRST TIME THEE ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE SERVICES AND THAT'S CAUSING FRICTION IN CERTAIN TOWNS.

ESSEX, THERE WAS REALLY BIG FIGHT OVER THE BUDGET OF THEIR LOCAL NONPROFIT.

THEY WERE ASKING FOR A BIG INCREASE AND THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TO FILL THE SHIFTS.

SOMEBODY THAT TO DO THIS WORK.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE COME TO YOUR DOORSTEP WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

I TALKED TO PEOPLE AND I THINK I WAS CONVINCED THAT THE MOST PROMISING IDEA HERE REALLY IS TO REGIONALIZE THE SYSTEM, TO -- IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE PEOPLE SAY TO HAVE ALL OF THESE SMALL PLANS CREWS RUNNING AROUND.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO, ONE, OFFER THE WAGES THAT WE NEED TO HIRE PEOPLE TO DO THIS VERY DIFFICULT WORK, AND ALSO THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THE OTHER SIDE OF EMS, WHICH IS TRANSPORTING PATIENTS BETWEEN HOSPITALS.

SOME OF THE MOST HARROWING STORIES ARE PEOPLE WAITING IN EMERGENCY ROOMS OF SMALL RURAL HOSPITALS FOR HOURS TO GET TO BIGGER HOSPITALS FOR THE LIFESAVING TREATMENTS THEY NEED.

YOU COULD BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND WAITING FOR HOURS FOR AN PLANS.

SCARY STUFF.

THE PROBLEM AS WE KNOW, AND AS YOU JUST MENTIONED WITH THE TREATMENT CENTER IN NEWBURY, VERMONTERS VALUE THEIR LOCAL CONTROL AND REGIONALIZATION IS OPPOSITE OF THAT, TAKING LOCAL CONTROL AWAY TO A REGIONAL ENTITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH HERE IN VERMONT.

THERE'S NO COUNTY GOVERNMENT SYSTEM.

ANYONE WHO HAS FOLLOWED THE CHITTENDEN COUNTY DITCH PASS CONVERSATION KNOWS HOW DIFFICULT THAT'S BEEN.

IN CENTRAL VERMONT THERE'S BEEN A REALLY BIG FIGHT OVER THE CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC AUTHORITY, THE PROBLEM THERE HAS BEEN THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BUY-IN.

IT'S A REALLY BIG PROBLEM AND I THINK THERE'S NOT A GREAT SOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S COSTLY.

IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY TO PROP UP THIS SYSTEM LONG TERM.

SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY WRACKING THEIR BRAINS, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THIS SYSTEM SURVIVE?

>> I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF THIS AS A PROBLEM FOR THE RURAL AREAS, SMALL TOWN, A LOT OF YOUR REPORTING WAS BASED ON DEPARTMENTS STRUGGLING WHO ARE WITHIN A COUPLE OF MILES OF WHERE WE SIT NOW IN THE HEART OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.

DOES THAT SUGGEST A NEED FOR A STATEWIDE SOLUTION IF THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING EFFECTIVELY EVERYWHERE.

>> TOTALLY.

SOME OF THE MOST STRIKING FUSION I DIDN'T PUT IN THE STORY.

SOUTH BURLINGTON THEIR TOWN BUDGET WENT UP A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO STAFF A SECOND AMBULANCE.

25% OF THE TIME WHEN A RESIDENT CALLED 911 AN AMBULANCE WAS NOT SHOWING UP.

THEY WERE SO OVERBURDENED.

THAT MEANS PLANSES ARE COMING FROM FARTHER AWAY.

BURLINGTON HAS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF TURNOVER.

THESE ARE REALLY TOUGH JOBS AND THEY ARE INCREASINGLY SO NOW THAT AMBULANCES ARE PLUGGING THE GAPS FOR A LOT OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SHOWING UP WHEN HOME HEALTH AIDES CAN'T SHOW UP.

DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED AND NEED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTS AND CAN'T ACCESS IT ANYWHERE ELSE.

ANYONE WHO HAS TRIED TO SEE A DOCTOR AT UVM MEDICAL CENTER KNOWS HOW DIFFICULT THAT CAN BE.

THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE IT IS SOMETHING NEEDS TO TAKE A LEAD.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, WHO IS GOING TO STEER THIS CONVERSATION.

>> JUST EXCELLENT STORY.

HOPE YOU STAY ON T. THERE WAS A BOMBSHELL STORY IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" RECENTLY AND IT LED TO A REBUTTAL AS A RESULT OF THAT CONGRESSWOMAN BECCA BALINT ASKED BEN & JERRY'S TO ADDRESS CLAIMS AROUND CHILD LABOR.

SHE SAYS AS A VERMONTER I KNOW THOSE REPORTS ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH BEN & JERRY'S HAVE A VALUES.

THEY BECAME THE FIRST TO IMPLEMENT THE MILK WITH DIG AT THIS TIME PROGRAM AND SEEKS TO ENSURE ELECTRONIC LABOR STANDARDS.

UNILEVER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ITS CUSTOMERS TO ENSURE ITS SUPPLY CHAIN DOES NOT RELY ON CHILDREN WORKING DANGEROUS EXPLOITATIVE AND ILLEGAL JOBS.

APRIL, THESE ARE BIG ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A BELOVED COMPANY.

WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY KNOW?

>> WE KNOW THAT UNILEVER AND BEN & JERRY'S HAVE SAID THEY ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

I THINK WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE REPORTING LIKE THIS TO ACTUALLY KNOW IF THOSE STEPS SOLVE THE PROBLEMS ON THESE FARMS.

>> BURLINGTON LIKE SO MANY COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING SHORTAGE.

WE BROUGHT IT UP EARLIER IN THE SHOW.

THERE'S A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD FORCE THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT TO CURTAIL OWN ENROLLMENT TO HELP EASE THE SHORTAGE.

>> THIS STARTED A YEAR AND A HALF 5:00 ALMOST WITH THE MAYOR'S 10-POINT HOUSING PLAN, HOW HE WANTED TO REZONE PART OF UVM TO ALLOW FOR 500 UNITS OF HOUSING.

THEY DID THE ZONING WORK BUT NOW BURLINGTON DOESN'T WANT TO SIGN OFF UNTIL UVM CAN PROMISE THEY WOULDN'T USE THESE ROOMS FOR UNDERGRAD AND GRADUATE STUDENTS TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT AND PUT MORE STUDENTS OUT INTO THE CITY.

THE LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO STOP THAT.

>> ALL COMES BACK TO HOUSING THESE DAYS IT SEEMS.

BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU OUI HAVE ONE LAST SCENE FROM THIS YEAR'S TOWN MEETING.

IT COMES COURTESY OF VERMONT PUBLIC'S READ.

SHE WAS UP IN ELMORE AND CAPTURED THIS SPECIAL MOMENT FROM THE MODERATOR IN ELMORE, JOHN GILMORE.

I'LL SAY NO MORE.

MORE.

[SINGING] CHECK OUT THE NEIGHBORS, FIND OUT THE NEWS, WE HAVE ALL GOT THE FLOOR TODAY OUR TIME TO CHOOSE.

TOO SYMPTOM SACKS START TO GROWL AND MOODS TURN FOUL.

WE NOURISH OUR OPINIONS OVER LUNCH.

BETWEEN THE GOULASH BITES WE DISCUSS THE WRONGS AND RIGHTS WITH GOBS OF RUMORS -- [LAUGHTER] >> THAT SEW SRAO * AT VERMONT PUBLIC.ORG.

HOW CAN YOU BE CYNICAL ABOUT TOWN MEETING AFTER THAT?

THAT IS IT FOR THIS WEEK.

I WANT TO THANK OUR HARD WORKING PANEL HERE TODAY FROM VERMONT PUBLIC, APRIL MCCULLUM FROM VERMONT PUBLIC, COLIN FLANDERS FROM SEVEN DAYS AND KATHARINE HUNTLEY WCAX.

I'M MARK DAVIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.