Final Reading: New USDA program aims to help towns access federal disaster relief

As head of the Center for an Agricultural Economy in the Northeast Kingdom, Sarah Waring was surprised by the number of rules the federal government had for a grant to build a simple wooden pavilion in a park in Hardwick.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture told staff, “‘oh, but you actually need to separate the design from the build. And you actually need to have three procurements that are fair,’” and other rules to protect taxpayers dollars, Waring said.

Waring is now the state director of the USDA’s Rural Development office, which announced a new pilot program on Wednesday designed to help Vermont communities clear hurdles to get federal funds.

The $1 million program is geared toward helping municipalities access disaster relief aid that would otherwise be left on the table due to the lack of expertise, staff time or local government systems, Waring said.

About half of Vermont municipalities have no career professionals in their administration and instead rely on volunteers and part-timers, said Ted Brady, executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.

Brady said his organization fielded hundreds of phone calls from municipal workers in the wake of the July 2023 flooding. Many were concerned about how to make sure they qualified for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance funding.

“These are questions like, ‘what contracting rules do I need to follow when I hire the person to grade the road or get that dump truck?’” Brady said.

More than $37 million has been distributed so far in Public Assistance grants for the July 2023 floods, according to FEMA’s website . It’s unclear how many municipalities or projects are still waiting for approval.

The new grant, administered through the League of Cities and Towns, would allow VLCT to hire a full-time specialist to train local officials in finance and governance. Brady’s also hoping to find more experienced clerks or account managers who can “go on the road” to share their wisdom.

Waring thanked Vermont officials for their advocacy for the project, particularly the office of Gov. Phil Scott and Chief Recovery Officer Doug Farnham. Brady added that Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint helped push the program to the top.

Waring noted with pride that the Hardwick pavilion survived the flooding intact. “I’m glad we followed all the engineering and architectural reviews that we had to go through,” she said. “It’s really sturdy, it’s built like a Viking beer hall.”

— Erin Petenko

On the move

After a key vote Thursday, Vermont’s state budget is on its way to the final stages of negotiation.

The Senate voted 26-2 for an $8.6 billion budget, which would take effect at the start of the fiscal year beginning in July. Having passed its own version of the budget last month, the House can now sign off on the Senate’s rewrite or — far more likely — call for a conference committee to hash out the differences.

For the most part, there is little daylight between the Senate and House versions of the budget. Their topline numbers differ by a mere $2.2 million, though the Senate Appropriations Committee did find some wiggle room in its rewrite.

Read more here .

— Sarah Mearhoff

The capacity of Vermont’s motel shelter program for unhoused people could shrink by a third for much of the coming fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

The Senate’s version of its state budget would place a cap on the number of motel and hotel rooms the state would pay for moving forward. A 1,000-room cap would go into effect Sept. 15, and stay in place during the warmer months; during the winter, when the program opens up to anyone experiencing homelessness, the cap would rise to 1,300 rooms.

No such cap exists for the program now, which currently shelters about 1,500 households, though that figure fluctuates somewhat throughout the year. By definition, everyone currently sheltered through the program meets vulnerability criteria set by the Legislature . The group includes families with children, people with disabilities, and elderly people.

Read more here .

— Carly Berlin

The Senate on Thursday voted to approve H.706 , a bill that would ban corn, soy and other seeds treated with the pesticide neonicotinoids, which have been shown to negatively impact pollinators .

The Senate pushed back the effective date of the ban to Jan. 1, 2031, while the House bill had banned the seeds starting in 2029. The bill also bans other uses of neonicotinoids, starting in 2025. Farmers could obtain exemptions for both bans from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

— Emma Cotton

Two bills that would make it simpler for non-citizens to access state programs have advanced in both chambers. A House bill, H.606 , that would allow professionals to submit alternate documentation to a Social Security number when applying for state licensing, has received preliminary approval in the Senate after passing the House. A Senate bill, S.191 , which would allow refugees, asylum seekers and other Vermonters who aren’t U.S. citizens to access certain education and job training grants offered by the Vermont Student Assistance Corp, has passed by the House.

Meanwhile, Gov. Scott announced Wednesday that he signed four bill into law.

• H.363 , which prohibits discrimination based on certain hair types and styles
• H.603 , which allows farmers to sell chicken parts directly to consumers and restaurants.
• H.621 , which requires broader health insurance coverage for diagnostic breast imaging
• H.741 , which requires broader health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening

— VTD Editors

Visit our 2024 Bill tracker for the latest updates on major legislation we are following.

On the campaign trail

Mike Pieciak will run for a second term as state treasurer, his campaign announced on Thursday.

The 40-year old Winooski Democrat — who is widely seen as a contender for higher office — has raked in more campaign contributions than any other statewide incumbent, according to his last campaign filing in mid-March .

“I’m focused on the major challenges facing Vermont: housing, climate resilience, and economic opportunity. I’m seeking another term to continue my work on these issues,” Pieciak wrote in an email response to questions.

Read more here .

— Juan Vega de Soto

Rep. Pat Brennan, R-Colchester, is running for former Democratic Sen. Dick Mazza’s seat representing Grand Isle County — and a sliver of Chittenden — in the upper chamber. The 11-term representative announced his plans in an email to several news outlets Thursday.

Brennan is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee; he previously chaired the House Transportation Committee, serving at the same time Mazza was the chair of Senate Transportation. (Mazza resigned from the seat earlier this month due to health challenges.)

“With Sen. Mazza’s departure, Grand Isle County will need strong, common-sense leadership, and the respect of one’s peers in Montpelier as well as at home in the district,” Brennan told The Islander newspaper this week.

— Shaun Robinson

What we’re reading

Lawsuit accuses Norwich University, former president of creating hostile environment, sex-based discrimination , VTDigger

Bald eagles are back, but great blue herons paid the price , Community News Service

The incentive problem keeping landlords from tackling climate change action , Vermont Public

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