Discover More from This Category: Opinions

Education Reform: start earlier to yield better outcomes, reduce costs

March 2, 2016
By Rick Davis The recent Picus report on Vermont’s education spending suggests the state can save money by reducing spending on special education. While I agree generally with that statement, we need new thinking about how we get there. Artificial spending targets or extra tutors aren’t the answer. If we want to reduce spending and…

Why am I running for Alderman?

February 24, 2016
By Jim Riley My name is Jim Riley and I am running to serve on the Rutland City Board of Aldermen to be involved in our beautiful, friendly and historic city. I am looking for an opportunity to work for the benefit of our children, neighbors and the Rutland community at large. I want to…

Yankee, divestment votes fail to put Vermonters over special interests

February 24, 2016
By Richard Mazza, Robert Starr, and Peg Flory In recent years, the political winds of promised change have blown in and out of Vermont like a nor’easter. But as the dust has settled, we seem to be falling short, in some important areas, of the open, pragmatic, well governing Vermont that we all know and…

Truth in numbers

February 24, 2016
Dear Editor, I have read and studied in detail Mr. Haff’s interpretation of the town report numbers and his plan for the town. There is so much lack of accuracy and misinformation. Town report numbers from past years show it was Mr. Haff’s years in office when the can was truly kicked down the road.…

Tate update: Creating a culture of prosperity

February 24, 2016
Dear Editor, Something’s missing. Your Vermont General Assembly is back in full swing and once again the body is forced into a posture of reaction—reacting to continued drops in student population, the highest health care premiums in the United States, rampant drug use, stagnating wages and ongoing budget deficits. Montpelier has shown its ability to…

Get out and vote

February 24, 2016
Dear Editor, As the current President of the Killington Pico Area Association, I would like to thank everyone for the efforts in making 2015 a great year. How did we get there, you may ask? We accomplished it by working together; the business community, Killington Resort and the town. Most significantly, we transitioned the Chamber…

Haff time: my plan

February 17, 2016
By Jim Haff, Killington Candidate for Select Board My plan is to once again get our town back to running the core departments of our municipality, which include highway/roads, recreation, library, fire safety and police. Included in recreation should be maintaining our golf course capital and our swimming pool. Included in the fire safety and…

Citizen advocates, good governance ensure all Vermonters are heard

February 17, 2016
By Deb Markowitz, Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources When I was first elected to public office at the age of 37, I was lucky enough to have a mentor, Tom Lehner, who had spent most of his career in public administration. I first met him when I was a young law clerk to Supreme…

McGrath issues a rebuttal to “Haff time”

February 17, 2016
Dear Editor, Accuracy and truth matter. I read with a certain amount of both disdain and amusement Mr. Haff’s letter, who is running for Killington selectman. First he insinuates that I do not pay attention to the nuts and bolts because I am more interested in economic development. Nothing is further from the truth. Both…

Black River-Lafayette Lodge #85 requests extended tax-exempt status

February 17, 2016
Dear Editor, At the annual meeting of the town of Ludlow, Vt., Article 4 will be presented for consideration. The article deals with the renewal of tax-exempt status of the property located at 22 Buttermilk Falls Road, owned by the Ludlow Masonic Building Association a.k.a. Black River-Lafayette Lodge #85 F & AM. The Brethren of…

Sooner or later, climate change economy will happen

February 17, 2016
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Joe Fusco, who is a vice president of Casella Waste Systems Inc. He served as a member of the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council. He is also co-chair of the Advisory Board for the University of Vermont’s MBA program in sustainable entrepreneurship. Over the past year, as the Vermont…

Patrick Kennedy: Say “No” to marijuana legalization

February 11, 2016
The epidemic of drug addiction and overdoses gripping Vermont, and our country at large, cries out for reform. We must change the perception that jail is an effective treatment for the disease of drug addiction, and give mental health issues the attention and funding they deserve, an opinion I know many Vermonters share. But the…

How to tell if Congress is working again

February 11, 2016
How to tell if Congress is working again By Lee H. Hamilton There have been encouraging signs that the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill wants to make Congress function again. They’ve talked about a series of changes to make the process more open for rank-and-file members, and insist they want to restore a healthy legislative…

Killington town priorities must be balanced

February 11, 2016
Dear editor, Jim Haff made some interesting points in his last letter to the editor last week. As a selectboard member I agree that it is our job to set the budget and take care of existing infrastructure, etc. It is also our job to set policy for the town concerning its present and its…

Easy does it on Killington Road

February 11, 2016
Dear Editor, The letter by Leo Khmelniker (The Mountain Times, Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2016) brings to mind several facts not known by the general public. Information furnished by the Rutland Region Planning Commission shows Killington Road to have the highest accident rate in Rutland County. These accidents occur at no specific location. They may involve…