Rutland Region Year in Review
Top Stories of 2009
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Residents on Clover Street wait to be evacuated after a fierce storm flooded the downtown Rutland street. Vyto Starinskas / Rutland Herald |
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Published: December 26, 2009
Downtown floods … again
A little more than a year after downtown Rutland was hit hard by a June 2008 rainstorm that caused basement flooding and left some businesses closed for weeks or months, the community’s resolve was tested again.
A short, midafternoon August rainstorm flooded Rutland with more than an inch of rain in about 40 minutes, forcing employees to evacuate the Asa Bloomer state office building and causing some businesses to close for the afternoon.
By the next morning, however, much had returned to normal.
City officials believe the flooding is caused by the downtown drainage system’s inability to handle water flowing off the West Street hill, and in the fall ramped up talks with state officials to find a short-term fix to the problem.
A trench drain that was to be placed outside the transit center’s West Street entrance is no longer an option given cost estimates much higher than what the state budgeted for the project, however, in October both the city and state tested self-inflating floodgates as an alternative.
Rutland library details
needs, mulls move
In August, a building condition report commissioned by the Rutland Free Library estimated that about $1.2 million in repairs are necessary for the historic Court Street structure, the main building of which dates to 1858.
The study led the library trustees to open conversations with the city about how and when repairs could be made to the city-owned structure, which experienced service disruptions and damage from flooding problems tied to its roofs and foundation.
The building’s condition, and the challenges of operating in a building that doesn’t allow it to serve as a modern library, according to staff, have also led trustees to consider relocating the library to other sites.
Topping that list is the building proposed for construction at the Berwick site, at the corner of Wales and Center streets.
In early December, the city’s Board of Finance passed a resolution stating it would not allow residents to vote on a bond to repair its current building unless the library commits to remain in that location until the loan is paid off.
A decision has yet to be made. The trustees also continue to wait for information about the Berwick building and estimate the costs of overhauling the interior of its current location to better meet its operational needs.
MSJ football makes
move to Division III
Mount St. Joseph Academy has one of Vermont’s most storied histories in Division I football, but with shrinking enrollment and a winless 2009 campaign, the school requested to be moved into Division III.
The Academy petitioned the Vermont Principals’ Association and Vermont Interscholastic Football League to move the school’s football program from Division I to Division III for the 2010 season.
In a letter, signed by Principal Paolo E. Zancanaro and Rutland Catholic Schools Board President Peter Giancola, they say the school’s move does nothing to diminish support for football as a varsity sport and that their intent is to rebuild the program’s numbers.
VPA Activities Director Bob Johnson said MSJ is the smallest school in the state playing football.
MSJ will join Windsor, Bellows Falls, Springfield, BFA-Fairfax, Oxbow, Woodstock, Winooski, Poultney, Montpelier, Mount Abraham and Mill River in Division III.
Jonathan Bruno
found guilty of murder
Two years after John Baptie of Castleton was killed in a downtown Rutland parking lot, a jury found Jonathan Bruno guilty of murdering him.
Bruno, whose attorney argued that her client believed he was acting in self-defense when he cut Baptie’s throat, could be sentenced to life in jail.
Ashley Ellis’ death
brings about change
Following the death of 23-year-old Ashley L. Ellis of Rutland, who died, in part, due to a lack of medication while in a Vermont prison, state officials decide to drop Prison Health Services — the private prison health care provider contracted with the state.
No one was charged with Ellis’ death but the family is suing Prison Health Services.
Killington approves
resort ski village plan
It was years in the making and one of many plans presented over the last three decades but this time, the most talked about development proposals for one of the state’s top ski destinations didn’t stall.
The Killington Planning Commission approved a ski village plan for Killington Resort proposed by resort partner SP Land Company, LLC, in an 8-1 vote early November.
The approval equates to the town agreeing with SP Land’s idea for a 408-acre village that will be developed in six different areas in about nine phases of construction by 2013.
The company is required to go through an arduous environmental permitting process by the state before any construction can begin.
Civil union custody
dispute continues
A first of its kind decision in a parent-custody dispute granted sole custody of a 7-year-old girl to a non-biological parent.
The order, issued in a case involving Janet Jenkins and Lisa Miller who ended a civil union in Vermont in 2003, would place 7-year-old Isabella Miller under the care of Jenkins who is a court-recognized parent.
The Rutland Family Court judge who ordered the transfer did so after finding Miller in contempt of court for denying Jenkins visitation access to Isabella.
An attorney for Miller, Isabella’s biological parent, has promised an appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Pellet stove, mill
business goes bankrupt
Luis Algarin of Vermont Wood Energy promised to bring hundreds of jobs to the state.
Instead, his promise of starting a wood pellet stove manufacturing plant and pellet mill ended in bankruptcy with debts in excess of $4 million.
The Vermont attorney general’s office also got involved when customers complained they didn’t receive their pellets.
Many customers who pre-bought pellets never received their full allotment.
Algarin also promised the first customers who signed up, pellets for $199 per ton for life.
Remains of missing man found after 4 1/2 years
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of William “Mike” Hogan, ended Nov. 15 when a hunter found his skull in the Shrewsbury woods within walking distance from where he was last seen four years earlier.
Hogan went missing from Spring Lake Ranch on May 16, 2005, and police and family had searched nationwide for him for four years before his remains — bones, boots and identification cards — were found.
Police said Hogan’s death wasn’t suspicious.
CVPS goes high-tech; launches Smart Power
Central Vermont Public Service Corp. moved forward with the largest capital investment in its history.
The heart of the $60 million Smart Power program is replacing the company’s 160,000 electric meters with two-way digital meters.
The new meters will give customers greater control over how they use electricity and ultimately how much they pay.
Starting in 2011, several hundred in-home smart meters will be installed randomly in the Rutland area as part of a pilot project.
The pilot project will determine what kind of price incentives, smart meters and communication methods work best to motivate customers to manage their electric usage more efficiently during peak load periods.
CVPS anticipates replacing all its meters by the end of 2012.
FairPoint fiasco follows sale
FairPoint Communications took sole possession of the former Verzion landline business in Northern New England and ran into problems from the get-go.
Customers overwhelmed FairPoint’s customer service call centers with complaints about e-mail problems, billing and delays in getting new service.
It was the worst-case nightmare scenario predicted by critics of the deal who said the North Carolina-based company was too small to absorb the phone and Internet business in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
The problems frustrated customers switching to other providers.
The lost business and the company’s debt led FairPoint to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Poor police morale brought to light
Two morale surveys detailing low morale and a lack of confidence in the leadership at the city police department over a three-year period was brought to light.
The revelation stirs the attention of the city’s Board of Aldermen, which begins working with the city’s Police Commission to address the issue.
The results of the board’s and the commission’s efforts is still pending.
Amtrak’s Ethan Allen spared
A swell of grassroots enthusiasm from the western corridor of the state helped not only to spare Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express from budgetary rescissions last spring, but to turn efforts toward extending service between Rutland and Burlington.
Elimination of the service was first proposed by the governor in Dec. 2008, but after months of debate, including testing of bus service between Rutland and Albany as an alternative, funding was restored by the Legislature.
Much of the community effort was led by the Vermont Rail Action Network, a statewide group of train advocates, and the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce.
Currently, the state is awaiting word on federal stimulus grant applications totaling $125 million in rail improvements for both the eastern and western rail corridors; $75 million of that is planned for renovations and extensions of the rail between Bennington and Burlington.
Voters to get say on general fund budget
Only months after passing a fiscal year 2010 budget that featured much fought-over layoffs of three city employees, city officials returned to the drawing board this fall to prepare a fiscal year 2011 budget that, for the first time, will be put before the voters on Town Meeting Day in March.
The shift in budgetary procedure is the result of a charter change proposed by the Rutland United Taxpayers and passed by voters in Nov. 2008.
Under the change, the mayor presented a general budget to the aldermen by Nov. 1 and the aldermen will pass their version by Dec. 31.
The charter change had some unintended consequences, however. It effectively eliminated the 85-cent general fund tax cap, allowing Mayor Christopher Louras to present a budget that included a 12-cent increase to cover initiatives including energy efficiency improvements, a modified duty fund and the hiring of three new firefighters.
Book details Italian neighborhood
Former Rutland resident Sandy (Varga) Levesque traces the story of her grandparents from Randazzo, Sicily, to Rutland in her book, “Under a Fig Tree.”
The book gives insight to a way of life in Rutland’s once thriving Sicilian neighborhood that has changed radically over the last 50 years.
Levesque shares stories about her upbringing as the oldest grandchild and shares insight into community life in parochial school and church.
Lake Champlain bridge closed
Vermont and New York officials closed the bridge connecting Addison to Crown Point, N.Y., in October after an inspection showed its supports were degenerating faster than previously thought.
Officials condemned the 80-year-old bridge after additional inspections.
The closure threw several Addison County businesses into disarray, cutting them off from customers, employees or both.
People living on one side and working on the other had to choose between a long detour or waiting in long lines for a ferry.
State officials decided to demolish the bridge with a controlled implosion.
A temporary ferry and a new bridge are planned.
The cost of the new bridge is estimated at $65 million to $90 million.
Wind farm proposed and opposed
A Charlotte developer looking to build an 80-megawatt wind farm in and around Ira has met with stiff resistance.
Area residents discovered the plan when one of them stumbled onto the Web site describing it. It would be the largest wind farm in Vermont.
Developer Per White-Hansen eventually held a series of public meetings around the state on the project, recruiting former Rutland mayor Jeffrey Wennberg as a spokesman and bringing in a major European utility for capital and technical support.
Opposition quickly came together in the form of a local citizens group, joined by Vermonters for a Clean Environment and the Clarendon Select Board.
The project cleared its first hurdle in August when the Public Service Board issued a permit for temporary testing towers in the area.
Patrick Farrow dies
Patrick Farrow, who died in June at the age of 66, created what is probably the best known piece of art in Rutland County — the statue downtown of a dog straining against an invisible leash.
Brother of actress Mia Farrow, Patrick Farrow worked out of his home gallery on Main Street in Castleton, a converted church, creating distinctive sculptures and a line of jewelry.
He inspired other Vermont artists and was active in the local community.
Farrow’s death, which was ruled a suicide, attracted national media attention.
Rutland voters adopt school budget for first time
In their first chance to weigh in on school spending, Rutland voters resoundingly approved the city public school district’s $44.5 million budget for fiscal year 2010.
The school’s budget was on the city ballot for the first time and Rutland school officials formed an “information task force” earlier in the year to ramp up support for the district’s spending plan.
Citywide voters approved the budget 2,295 to 1,380 and saw their homestead tax rate go up 2 cents.
Champlain lamprey treatments
BENSON — The catching of distinctly bigger, healthier salmon, lake trout, walleye and northern pike in Lake Champlain in early 2009 apparently stemmed in part from fewer wounds from sea lamprey seen starting in the summer of 2008.
The landing of walleye and pike in the lake around Benson Landing was particularly surprising and rewarding to local fishermen.
One angler said he hadn’t caught walleye in the lake in 10 years. A downside to the chemical treatments was the loss of 512 mudpuppies, a rare salamander, killed by the pesticide TFM in a treatment of the Lamoille River in October.
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