Williston Observer

Disappointing 2009 legislative session

May 28, 2009

By Mike Benevento

Earlier this month, the Vermont Legislature concluded its somewhat disappointing 2009 session. Sadly, the Democrat-led body appeared at times to be more interested in promoting an activist liberal agenda than creating a sustainable budget.

The Legislature started on the right path by passing a child predator bill. Sadly, it took 12-year-old Brooke Bennett’s rape and slaying for the Legislature to adopt a stronger law against sex offenders. Among other provisions, S.13 creates a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence for aggravated sexual assault of a child.

In an issue with a local twist, the Legislature approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Jim McCullough of Williston to study alternatives to chloramine. Because some residents have complained that the disinfectant causes health problems, H.80 uses federal money to study other options for treating water supplies.

There is little doubt that House Speaker Shap Smith and Senate leader Peter Shumlin did not let a declining worldwide economy stand in their way. They came to Montpelier with their own agenda — confident they had a veto-proof majority to get it done.

As time went on, it appeared that the two leaders did not listen to what the majority of Vermonters wanted. Instead of focusing on the most important issues — the economy and the budget — they pushed the Legislature to pursue a liberal agenda.

While most Vermonters grew increasingly concerned about the economy, Democrats took action elsewhere. Shumlin sponsored S.115, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry. Despite relatively little discussion, the Legislature voted to legalize such civil marriages. Although polls show the majority of Vermonters do not favor same-sex marriage, the state Legislature overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto — making it the law starting Sept. 1.

The liberal agenda continued to be on display when the Legislature authorized S.125. Besides expanding the sex offender registry, the bill creates a juvenile crime when teens electronically send explicit photos. Of course, the “sexting” part of the bill drew nation-wide criticism. As the Republican leaders noted, “Your job may be in jeopardy, but your 13-year-old daughter will be able to text a pornographic video of herself to her 18-year-old boyfriend with no worries.”

Perhaps because liberal causes distracted the Legislature, it did not appropriately focus on the budget. Thus, instead of making difficult choices on social services, it chose to delay cuts until future years. The lack of time and the Democratic propensity to spend money resulted in increased spending at a time when Vermonters are already overtaxed. Although Vermont has America’s highest state tax rate, the Democrats passed a budget including $26 million in tax increases.

With every Republican voting against it, Democrats truly own this year’s budget. Because Douglas will veto the package, he called for a special legislative session next week to improve it. However, Democrats are confident they have enough votes to override Douglas’ veto and their budget will become law without further changes. Both of Williston’s representatives, Democrats Terry Macaig and McCullough, voted for the budget.

The budget relies on federal stimulus money and tax increases to make up for declining revenue in order to avoid cutting the size of government. Still, the Democrats’ budget totals $200 million in deficits over the next two years. These deficits will surely grow when federal funds run out.

Besides the tax increases and funding deficits, Douglas and Republicans point out that the budget does not address a $160 million shortfall in Vermont’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Additionally, while student enrollment continues to decline, the budget does not cut education spending. Finally, as noted by Angelo Lynn, publisher/editor of the Addison Independent, the plan allocates just $4.1 million in a $4.5 billion budget for economic development and job creation investments.

In the end, Democrats refused to make meaningful cuts to state government and the result is a budget greater than what Vermonters can realistically afford.

“This bill demonstrates this Legislature’s inability to make the hard decisions needed to assure Vermonters’ financial health,” said Rep. Tom Koch, R-Barre. “It manifests an attitude that the taxpayers can always be tapped to do just a little more.”

Over the next few years — as revenues continue to decline and the federal stimulus money dries up — the Legislature will face two choices: Cut spending or increase taxes. As Rep. Rick Hube, R-South Londonderry, wrote, “Those who would write budgets that overspend will have a tendency to fund them by overtaxing.” Since the Democratic-led Legislature has already shown it cannot cut spending, get ready to pay higher taxes for the foreseeable future.

Michael Benevento is a former Air Force fighter jet weapon systems officer. He has a bachelor’s degree in Military History and a master’s in International Relations. Mike resides in Williston with his wife Kristine and their two sons, Matthew and Calvin.

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The legislative session: triumph and compromise

May 28, 2009

By Steve Mount

“It ain’t over ’til it’s over,” said baseball sage Yogi Berra. So it is with this year’s legislative session. Though they have adjourned, they will be back.

At least one act of the Legislature will have a lasting and profound effect on Vermont and, perhaps, the nation.

That act, S.115, has a deceptively meek title: “An act relating to civil marriage.” Known colloquially as the Same-Sex Marriage Act, it will give same-sex couples marriage equity as of Sept. 1, 2009. Plan on extensive news coverage of wedding ceremonies that day.

The act also protects religious institutions, specifically allowing almost any such institution in the state to refuse to perform any marriage that violates its beliefs.

The act, in just 10 printed pages, made Vermont a vanguard in the effort to bring marriage equity to the entire nation. Vermont is the first state to have its Legislature open up marriage to same sex couples, rather than have it imposed by the state’s judiciary. After Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed the act, there was uncertainty whether the Legislature could garner the votes to override. On April 7, however, the Legislature was able to override the veto, by the absolute narrowest of margins.

S.115 was the most high-profile bill the Legislature worked on, but not the only one.

For young hunters, H.64 eliminates Youth Hunting Day for Vermonters 16 and under, and expands Youth Hunting Weekend to anyone 15 and under who has taken a hunter safety course.

An important act for wine producers, S.27 allows “manufacturers or rectifiers of vinous beverages” to hold wine-tastings on their property, as long as they provide 14-day notice of the event to the department of liquor control. The act also allows producers to sell products they did not produce, which could increase networking opportunities for this burgeoning industry.

Notably for Williston, H.31 approves our charter changes, including one that allows the town manager to appoint and discharge the zoning administrator. Also important for the Williston community, teacher Al Myers was honored with House Concurrent Resolution 160, the passage of which was witnessed by many Williston students.

Despite all this good work, though, it ain’t quite over yet. The governor is recalling the Legislature into a special session to deal with the budget. The budget approved by the Legislature, in bill H.441, has come under fire from the governor as being irresponsible and unsustainable.

This is the governor’s job — to use his judgment to determine if bills passed by the Legislature are appropriate for the state and to veto them if they are not. Since the budget passed the Democrat-controlled House by a comfortable margin, but not by enough to override a veto, the threat of a veto is being taken seriously. The governor’s proposal is being looked at closely by legislative leaders as they prepare for the special session.

According to news reports, though, those leaders are not happy with what they’ve seen. The governor’s budget has cuts that the Legislature does not want to see, but worse, it envisions savings that have no definite source.

Democrats want to tax higher-income Vermonters, placing a $5,000 cap on itemized deductions and replacing the 40 percent exemption on capital gains tax with the $5,000 cap. The additional funds raised allowed the legislative budget to cut across-the-board taxes and to avoid additional budget cuts. The governor argues against the adjustment because he opposes new revenue in general and wants to see more cuts to the budget.

The budget is an essential part of the running of the government, which is why this dodge and parry is even taking place at all. The governor’s veto pen is his leverage, but the Legislature is not without some leverage of its own. Without a budget, the wheels of government will grind to a halt and, as the executive, the governor will shoulder much of the blame if a compromise cannot be reached.

State Auditor of Accounts Tom Salmon has volunteered to help mediate the differences between the two proposed budgets. This would certainly be a positive step. The best scenario for the state would be for the two sides to come to a compromise before the special session, and then have the session simply rubber-stamp that compromise.

Then, it would be over.

Steve Mount has been a Williston resident since 1996. He is a software engineer at GE Healthcare and is devoted to his family, his country and his Constitution. You can reach Steve at [email protected] or read his blog at http://saltyrain.com/ls.

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May 28, 2009

Welch hires staffers

Rep. Peter Welch has picked a Williston resident to serve on his staff.

Brent Raymond will work in the congressman’s Vermont office as business liaison. Raymond was formerly a vice president at TD Banknorth’s Wealth Management Group and subsequently worked as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch.

Raymond, who originally hails from Swanton, served in the U.S. Air Force and later in the Vermont National Guard. He graduated with honors from Hunter College in New York City.

Raymond lives in Williston with his wife, Leyla, and their 1-year-old son, Brodyn.

Racine receives public service award

State Sen. Doug Racine, D-Richmond, who represents Chittenden County, received the annual Vermont Public Service Award for 2009. The award was given by Vermont’s five Community Action Agencies, and recognizes outstanding support of the Community Action anti-poverty services. It also honors leadership on issues affecting low-income Vermonters.

Racine received the award earlier this month at the Northern New England Community Action Association Annual Conference, held at the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, N.H.

“For the last 25 years no Vermont lawmaker has shown more consistent and vigorous support for programs to help the poor, the disabled and the elderly, than Doug Racine,” Tim Searles, president of the Vermont Community Action Director’s Association, said in a press release.

Connecting Youth Mentoring Program Receives National Training

Nancy Carlson of Williston Central School, the Connecting Youth Mentoring program coordinator, received training earlier this month for the MentorPRO® system. MentorPRO® is an online tool that provides a standardized system for collecting, tracking and analyzing mentoring data. The system helps monitor the relationships between mentors and mentees.

The workshop was sponsored by Mobius, the Mentoring Movement through a grant from The Permanent Fund for the Well-Being of Vermont Children.

For more information about mentoring in Williston, contact Mobius at 658-1888 or visit www.mobiusmentors.org.

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More applicants than openings for boards

May 28, 2009

By Greg Elias

Observer staff

The Selectboard appointed two new members to sometimes hard-to-fill boards and commissions. But with more volunteers than openings, it delayed a decision on another pair of applicants.

“It’s a nice predicament to be in, to have more volunteers than openings,” said Selectboard member Judy Sassorossi. “Usually we’re begging.”

Three Williston residents applied to serve on either the Development Review Board or the Planning Commission. Michael Alvanos, an architect, and Heidi Auclair, a small business owner, each indicated they would serve on either panel. John Bendzunas, a federal probation officer, applied only for the Development Review Board.

Also seeking appointment was Carol Weston, a project engineer for the city of Burlington, who applied to be Williston’s representative on the Winooski Valley Park District. Kristen Hankins, a University of Vermont student, applied for a seat on the Recreation Commission.

The conundrum for the Selectboard was that there was only one opening on each of the boards and commissions.

It was the first time in recent memory that there were more applicants than vacant seats. In fact, the town has at times struggled to find volunteers. On at least a couple of occasions, boards and commissions have been left without enough members to reach a quorum.

The Selectboard has over the past couple of meetings interviewed applicants and discussed appointments. At its May 18 session, the board settled on a potential solution to the too-many-applicants problem.

Town Manager Rick McGuire noted that Bendzunas had applied for only the Development Review Board. McGuire suggested that Bendzunas be appointed immediately because a full complement of members was especially important for the quasi-judicial DRB, which rules on proposed developments.

Selectboard member Chris Roy wondered if either Alvanos or Auclair could instead be steered toward serving on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, which has an opening but no volunteers.

That option appealed to the Selectboard, which voted to appoint Bendzunas to the Development Review Board and Weston to the Winooski Valley Park District. Each will serve a one-year term.

Kevin Batson was reappointed as an alternate on the DRB.

The board delayed a decision on Hankins, who has yet to appear before the board, until she could be interviewed. It directed McGuire to ask Alvanos and Auclair if they would instead serve on the Regional Planning Commission.

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New restaurant to open next week

May 28, 2009

By Tim Simard

Observer staff

The smell of freshly baked pizza filled the air of Ramunto’s Brick Oven Pizza earlier this week. Co-owner Jeff Paul pulled a hot cheese pizza from one of the restaurant’s many ovens and cut the large pie into tiny slices. Even though the restaurant is not scheduled to open until Monday, Paul was busy getting the word out about Williston’s newest pizzeria.

The cheese pizza Paul boxed up was a free sample for a local office. Handing the pizza over to the “future customer,” Paul shouted, “Tell your friends about us.”

Located in the Taft Corners Shopping Center where Today’s Gourmet used to be, the new restaurant is part of a blossoming Ramunto’s franchise. Founded by Cliff Ramunto in Rutland, the chain has expanded to a handful of locations in New Hampshire and Vermont. The Williston location will be the franchise’s first in Chittenden County, according to Paul.

Paul, who co-owns Williston’s Ramunto’s with longtime friend Kiet Nguyen, said it’s been a dream of theirs to start a business. Paul, an acquaintance of Cliff Ramunto, said opening the franchise was the realization of that dream.

Before owning the franchise, Paul was a director of membership sales at the YMCA in Burlington and Nguyen worked as a bookkeeper for Williston-based Hettena Wright & Horton CPAs, P.C.

“This was an opportunity to be involved in something that would be completely ours,” Paul said.

Paul said Ramunto’s draw is its homemade pizzas, which use fresh ingredients. All dough and pizza sauces are made on-site and cheese is grated daily, he added.

Ramunto’s is also famous for its Garlic Knots — baked dough twists sprinkled with garlic. The restaurant makes a cinnamon version, as well.

Besides specialty pizzas and calzones, Ramunto’s will also offer salads and submarine sandwiches. Paul said the menu would eventually expand as the restaurant gains footing.

Paul and Nguyen have hired 12 employees to help them bring the restaurant to fruition. They’ve also hired a former assistant manager of a Ramunto’s in New Hampshire, Ray Bostock, to be their new manager.

Once the restaurant opens, Paul said he plans to add delivery service and a liquor license. Ramunto’s currently has seating for 24, along with a big-screen television to give the restaurant a comfortable atmosphere, he said.

Paul believes the location in the shopping center at Taft Corners will be successful and he hopes customers will tell their friends about the food.

“It’s a great product,” Paul said. “And when you taste it, you’ll fall in love with it.”

Ramunto’s is scheduled to open Monday, June 1. It will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. Call 879-1000 for more information.

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