Development

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means - Testimony of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 01/25/2024

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

Lauren-Glenn Davitian testified on behalf if VAN. Kristen Christopher also testified on behalf of Comcast. JFO and Leonine Public Affairs also testified on other aspects of H.657.

H.657 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Maria%20Royle~As%20Introduced~1-11-2024.pdf

Moments with Melinda: Interview with Ellen Kahler 01/25/2024

From Melinda Moulton:

Recipient of the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial and Community Leadership from the Vermont Community Foundation; The Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership for the Vermont Natural Resources Council; and the Jan Eastman Excellence in Leadership Award from the Snelling Center for Government.

For more information visit: http://VSJF.org

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 01/24/2024

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

On Tuesday, the Senate Government Operations Committee took further testimony on S.55, the bill that would amend the Open Meeting Law to authorize public bodies to meet through electronic means without designating a physical meeting location. Witnesses included the Deputy Secretary of State and representatives from the Green Mountain Care Board, the Public Utility Commission, the Vermont Press Association, the Human Services Board, the Vermont League of Vermont Cities and Towns, and the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.

S.55 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Introduced.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Finance - Opposition of S. 181 Community Media Public Benefit Bill 01/24/2024

Opposition of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 at the Senate Committee on Finance.

On Wednesday, the committee continued taking testimony on S.181. The committee heard from Mike Burke, Vice President of Field Operations at Green Mountain Power, Jeremy Crandall, Assistant Vice President State Legislative Affairs at CTIA - The Wireless Association, and Anna Lucey, Executive Vice President of Legislative and External Affairs at NECTA. Those who testified raised concerns about the affordability and legality of the bill. Included below are links to the start of each testimony, start of committee questions, and materials presented to the committee.

S.181 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0181/S-0181%20As%20Introduced.pdf

S.181 Opposition Jeremy Crandall CTIA Testimony:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Finance/Bills/S.181/Witness%20Documents/S.181~Jeremy%20Crandall~CTIA%20Testimony~1-24-2024.pdf

Williston Development Review Board 01/22/2024

For more information on the Williston Development Review Board and their current procedures and meeting dates, please reference the meeting agendas at town.williston.vt.us/index.asp?Type=B_DIR&SEC={115D5C91-98A1-4712-8C54-031C4200C06D}.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Ops and Military - Discussion H.140 Updating State Grant and Contract Requirements 01/19/2024

Updating State Grant and Contract Requirements at the House Committee on Government Ops and Military.

On Friday, the House Government & Military Affairs committee continued their work on H.140. The committee had a walkthrough of the updated bill from legislative counsel and took testimony from various agencies as well as the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.

H.140 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/H-0140/H-0140%20As%20Introduced.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 01/17/2024

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

On Wednesday, the Senate Government Operations Committee heard testimony on H.55 Wednesday, which is a bill to make changes to Open Meeting laws. Lauren-Glenn Davitian testified at the very end of the meeting for about 15 minutes. Lauren-Glenn read an abbreviated version of her testimony and took a few committee questions. Notably, Chair Hardy asked if VAN would like to be a part of providing consultation with the Secretary of State, League of Cities and Towns, and School Board Association to help develop best practices - LG agreed.

Lauren-Glenn Davitian speaks. State Archivist speaks.

S.55 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Introduced.pdf

Positively Vermont: Shelburne Craft School 01/17/2024

Dennis McMahon speaks with Heather Moore, EdD, Executive Director of the Shelburne Craft School.

For more information visit: https://shelburnecraftschool.org/

Burlington City Arts Releases Findings of Economic and Social Impact Study of Greater Burlington Area’s Arts and Culture Industry 01/17/2024

From Burlington City Arts (BCA):

Burlington City Arts unveils the local results of Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), a comprehensive economic and social impact study of the Great Burlington Area's nonprofit arts and culture industry. The study, conducted by Americans for the Arts in partnership with Burlington City Arts, demonstrates locally as well as nationally that arts and culture are a critical economic driver of vibrant communities.

Results of the study include total spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations as well as event-related spending by their audiences–and the impact of that economic activity on jobs and tax revenue generated to the Greater Burlington Area, Vermont, and the federal government.

The AEP studies series is the nation’s largest and most inclusive study documenting the economic contributions of the arts and culture industry, demonstrating locally as well as nationally, nonprofit arts and culture are a critical economic driver of vibrant communities. Learn more at https://aep6.americansforthearts.org/

For more information visit: https://www.burlingtoncityarts.org/

Burlington Airport Commission 01/17/2024

For more information on the Burlington Airport Commission and their current procedures and meeting dates, please reference the meeting agendas at btv.aero/about-btv/airport-commission.

Featured Story

CCTV Receives NEH Grant to Support Community Archives

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is pleased to announce receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant alongside 32 peer archival institutions across the country. This $49,927 grant award will support efforts to preserve and expand access to audio/visual community history materials in the CCTV Archives. Read more about this opportunity here!