Innkeepers are a busy bunch. To save you time, VLA attends Governor Scott’s Covid-19 press conferences and takes notes for you. Below is the summary from 5/10/22.
Governor Scott is still hoping for changes to S.234 before the bill reaches his desk. He says he will continue to work hard for housing funding and permit reform that is not included in the current bill but is needed to address the housing crisis the state is now––make smart growth easier and less expensive in downtown and village centers with Act 250 exemptions, a proposal that passed the House in 2020 but is not in the Act 250 bill. He is also advocating for Act 250 exemption in designated areas of small towns. These and other reforms will make Act 250 more efficient. The current bill may slow down the permitting process with its changes to the appeal process, adding more time and costs and making it more difficult to build homes.
The Governor stood with Burlington Mayor Weinberger and the Executive Director of VT Cities and Towns, Ted Brady. Each spoke of the need for Act 250 permitting reform now and housing expansion and development in downtowns and designated areas.
The bill in its current version would not be signed by the Governor.
- Mayor Weinberger – thoughts on housing in Chittenden County and Vermont
- We are in an acute housing crisis; building less than used to though there is stronger desire than ever
- Shutting people out of cities
- Homelessness rising
- Workers need housing
- Local and state land use problems
- Need to protect natural features and improve permitting build to allow for faster housing building
- Voice of a few or even one can obstruct the process
- Change to appeal process will undo consolidation and add additional cost and complication to many projects and should not include this provision
- Governance reform will make it harder to build in cities and towns, not supported by most mayors
- Ted Brady, Executive Director of VT Cities and Towns
- Legislature has the chance to make a big difference in housing crisis
- Legislature supports record number of resources for building houses, but we must reform underlying rules
- House passed S.234 but it was not balanced because it failed exemption to designated areas to allow for more housing where we want it to occur
- Several years ago, it was agreed Act 250 reform was necessary, with a balance in conservation and housing and need to steer housing where we wanted it to go
- Focus now should be on designated growth centers, not just targeting communities of less than 3,000 people as previously addressed
- S.234 increases Act 250 jurisdiction making it more difficult to develop housing
- We can’t cut off areas of development without aggressive moves to expand where growth is wanted
- Changes to appeal process will mean delays and higher costs
- Accessible and affordable housing is making communities less desirable
- Does not balance conservation and needed expansion
- Dr. Levine
- COVID-19 will continue to evolve
- Seeing more of variant BA-2.12.1 – currently accounts for 30% of cases in New England and 60% in New York
- We are learning to live with these new variants
- Best practice is to stay updated on vaccinations for best outcome if contracted
- Last 7 days: 4% increase in cases, additional 4 deaths
- Half of COVID hospitalization continue to be for conditions other than COVID and continuing trend is those are without booster shot
- 65+ and underlying conditions urged to get 2nd booster
- Wastewater analysis in BTV continues to be high but steady; reporting from other wastewater areas still being analyzed and will be reported
- High risk category should contact healthcare professional as soon as tested positive to discuss seeking treatment therapy
- Another 2,000k Paxlovid treatments to arrive here this week
- The current dashboard reporting will be phased out and a new COVID surveillance report will be available starting tomorrow that shows case trends, impacts on hospitals, vaccination rates, wastewater surveillance, and proportion of variants over time; it will be similar to how the flu is currently monitored
- CDC community level map is still available
- Data on vaccine for kids under 5 being reviewed now and should have report very soon
- Testing on additional booster underway with results in coming months; report will be provided when received
- Today is national fentanyl awareness day; learn where to find fentanyl test strips and Narcan; more info at Opioid Overdose Prevention
- Questions
- Mayor, how do you feel about House sustaining Governor’s veto on the charter change?
- Weinberger: disappointing for many people but fortunately have some of the strongest renter protections in the country
- Scott: good news from my perspective; thought provision would make housing worse; need to address housing crisis first
- Thoughts on failure to override your veto on Clean Heat Standard
- Breaking news to me; PUC plan needs to be presented to the legislative body, put into bill form and through the process in the legislature and give us a seat at the table
- On Economic Development Bill and Budget
- I don’t know all the details yet but there’s a path forward, moving in right direction
- On Yield Bill
- I don’t know where we are at right now; I want tax relief and money for CTEs and we’ll see if included
- You seem frustrated with legislature
- I’ve been part of process for over 20 years and there’s always frustration, especially towards end of session; when more monies are involved it gets harder, more difficult decisions; pandemic remote legislation has played a role; we’ll get through this
- On Rental Registry, Contractor Registry, and Workforce Development
- Legislature is coming along and moving in the right direction; we’ll see where it lands
- On national baby formula shortage
- Just saw that today; we make some here and thought to reach out to Dept of AG and HS to see if we can help
- On increased gun violence in the state
- Scott: obviously concerned, it seems revolved around illegal drug trafficking
- Comm. Schirling: widest swath geographically and frequency any of us have ever seen is very concerning; see problematic activity, engage community leaders and law enforcement
- Was this a record breaking Green Up Day? Any data?
- I didn’t see as much litter as recent years in my area; look forward to getting an update from Green Up officials
- Why housing crisis in Chittenden County with so many apartment buildings built in last few years?
- Josh: studies show we are over 5,000 units behind in housing stock based on current demand and does not include influx of people looking to move here; also need modest single-family homes; need to make communities more equitable and inclusive
- Mayor, what’s happening at City Place in downtown BTV?
- Weinberger: city has done its job and developers needs to deliver in 2022
- Are Title 10 funds being included in current budget discussion?
- I believe so, but will need to confirm and get back to you
- Mayor, how do you feel about House sustaining Governor’s veto on the charter change?