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Topics - Barbara
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136
« on: February 12, 2016, 02:06:42 PM »
February 9-12, 2016 The week ended with a moving floor time as the House recognized the Pages who have served the General Assembly for the first third of this session, including BFA 8th grader Ayla Bishop. Members of the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America were present to hear the resolution honoring the 2015 Eagle Scout Rank recipients. Three legislators spoke to introduce guests in the gallery, with us for the reading of the resolution to honor the Black Lives Matter movement. Their words were voted to be journalized and will be available on the website – http://legislature.vermont.gov/The Transportation committee continues to work on details of the DMV portion of the Fee Bill as well as take testimony on the Transportation Bill. Barbara Donovan, the Public Transit Program manager for the Agency presented an overview of the progress being made in this area and the Go!Vermont program. Wednesday, I was pleased to have the opportunity to welcome three Fairfax local officials (Pat McNall, Robin Chapman and Colin Santee) at the Statehouse for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ Local Government Day. BFA’s Middle/Elementary Principal, Tom Walsh also visited that afternoon, to attend the Farm to School event at which he accepted an FTS Planning grant.
137
« on: February 05, 2016, 10:14:44 AM »
Tuesday morning, a joint hearing with House Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources and House Transportation was held with testimony from the Agency of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Conservation. The topic of Stormwater Mitigation was on the table and included the complicated system of accountability and fee structure between the state and municipalities. This is an ongoing discussion.
Other topics that were part of this weeks committee discussion included DMV fees, Public Transit, Rail, Aviation and the Transportation Bill. The DMV fees have not been reviewed in four years, one year beyond the targeted three year rotation. They are all being brought up to date with a CPI adjustment, rounded up to an even dollar amount. This is projected to bring up to ten and a half million dollars in new revenue. One million goes to several dedicated funds and the rest is for the two transportation general purpose funds.
138
« on: January 29, 2016, 05:27:44 PM »
This week the Floor took most of our focus. The 2016 Budget Adjustment passd on roll call without my support. It does not attend to a $10 million obligation for the 53rd week of Medicaid. That will have to be addressed in 2017. Much debate occurred over amendments proposed to the Education bill from the Senate. Again there were roll calls and procedural questions, but the bill passed to return to the Senate. Their response is a compromise and received by House leadership Thursday evening. Friday's committee work was lost to floor calls. At one minute after midnight tonight we will reconvene to take up the bill.
139
« on: January 28, 2016, 10:04:30 AM »
Week 2 - January 11-15, 2016
Many more bills have been introduced and sent to their respective
committees. The deadline for requesting drafts for new bills was Friday,
which means the flow will begin to ebb. Bill H545 is being considered by
the Transportation committee and we took testimony from a young man who
spent 4 months in ICU after hitting a chain, put across a road he was
traveling with his ATV. Thursday evening I attended the Transportation
Advisory Committee meeting in St Albans to hear the presentation from Jim
Ryan of the Agency of Natural Resources on the new guidelines from the Clean
Water Act for municipal road departments. The House Committee for
Transportation continues to hear reports from the various Agency's
Departments.
Rep Barbara Murphy
bmurphy@leg.state.vt.us
140
« on: January 28, 2016, 08:43:57 AM »
The House Education committee worked long hours this week on S233, the Senate bill to repeal the spending thresholds of Act 46. Their efforts have produced a three part amendment which will come to the House floor next week. An attempt was made to speed one of the proposed amendments through the House today; the roll call vote did not support that action.
The Transportation committee heard the Agency of Transportation’s evaluation of an Adopt a Park and Ride/Highway Program. The main take away was Green Up day does great work towards the goals of such programs. Fairfax has historically been a strong participant in Green Up day. Testimony was also heard on H560-an act relating to traffic safety, the VTrans/UVM Cooperative Research Program and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.
The Governor addressed the Joint Assembly on Thursday to present his 2017 budget. Following this formal event the Transportation committee was given an overview of the Agency of Transportation 2017 budget by Secretary Chris Cole.
141
« on: January 09, 2016, 02:25:18 PM »
There will be a brief talk during the service January 10th, tomorrow, on the concept of "white fragility".A discussion will follow the service on how we can all strengthen our ability to notice racism in the world around us. White Fragility is a concept, developed by author and educator Dr. Robin DiAngelo, which outlines the struggle for dominant communities to tolerate discussions on race without feeling shame, guilt, or victimization. Service begins at 10 AM at the Church on the corner of Main and Fletcher roads. Please come join us.
142
« on: January 09, 2016, 02:10:48 PM »
January 5 to 8th, 2016
As I re-entered the Statehouse Tuesday I felt the same privilege and awe as last year, but with a bit more familiarity. A few new bills have been introduced that pertain to Transportation from both the House and Senate. No testimony has been taken on the House side for any of them yet. Several Concurrent Resolutions were introduced, including HCR 189 honoring former Fletcher Town Clerk and Treasurer Elaine Sweet.
Senate bill S233 was introduced to repeal the spending caps in Act 46, last years education bill. The Governor gave this an endorsement in his State of the State address but there is strong push back from the House Committee on Education. The Senate took action Wednesday to suspend Senator McAllister which diminishes Franklin county's representation by half. The Franklin County legislative delegation is strongly committed to doing what is best for Franklin County and her citizens.
Rep Barbara Murphy
143
« on: April 05, 2015, 08:26:42 AM »
Thinking of the many Easter Sunrise services you led. The full spectrum of spring weather was covered over the years. Happy Easter! He is Risen, He is risen indeed.
144
« on: February 20, 2015, 07:40:34 PM »
Tomorrow, Saturday, February 21st at 9 AM please come join the Franklin county delegation at the Fairfax firehouse.
145
« on: February 02, 2015, 07:59:58 AM »
The mention of 104A in my prior stream was ironic as I had researched its status in the highway projects book. It is not there. As my committee members will attest, I have made a bit of a pest of myself on this topic. Although all evidence is in that it has been properly identified as a road in need, the main holdup I can find is that the traffic load is considered moderate to low. When considered against all the other candidate roads it doesn't make the cut. Not being in 'the book', means it is at least 6 to 8 years away from being done. In the next few weeks the roads identified to be "level coated" with the money in the line item for paving will be identified. There is hope that 104A will at least make the list and the ride will smooth out for a few years. This is a bandaid approach rather than a solution to the condition of the road but with the need spread across not only the county but the state, sometimes you have to accept what is doable rather than what is needed.
146
« on: January 12, 2015, 01:34:42 PM »
First, if you wish to email me please use bmurphy@leg.state.vt.us as my address. I am checking that religiously while at work. My other addresses and phone numbers are still valid but messages left there may not be recieved as promptly during the week. I hope to continue to be at Foothill's Bakery around 10 AM Monday mornings for an hour or so in case anyone wants to catch my ear in person.
My first week was awe inspiring and historic and I feel privileged to be Fairfax's Representative in our State House. In the vote for Governor I echoed the result from Faifax of November 4th's election and cast my ballot for Mr. Milne. I have been placed on the Transportation Committee and hope to serve Fairfax and Vermont well there.
147
« on: January 01, 2015, 07:09:08 PM »
Please come meet the Franklin County Delegation of legislators at Peoples Trust Company Franklin West location in St. Albans at 9 AM Saturday January 3.
Share your thoughts before the session starts.
148
« on: December 27, 2014, 09:12:35 AM »
Today is a very special individual's birthday!
Happy Birthday Rev Liz, and thank you for the gift you are to our community.
Barbara
149
« on: December 19, 2014, 11:53:06 AM »
As required by state statute our Supervisory Union is assessing the cost of transportation. It is now the duty of this office to provide students within the district with transportation. Fairfax is currently operating under a waiver to continue to own the fleet but has been informed that the waiver is for this year only. When the bids from contracting bus services are opened, they will be balanced against the current systems cost, with Fletcher and Georgia using contracted services (including purchasing some from Fairfax!) and Fairfax's bussing costs. There is also an efficiency component to be considered, which is more subjective. On January 8, 2015, FWSU has a scheduled board meeting and I encourage anyone interested in this topic to attend; I will be unable. As more of the services provided to our students are consolidated in the district model, people need to think of connecting with the district board and its meetings.
150
« on: November 23, 2014, 08:25:48 AM »
Due to a furnace issue, this morning's service at 10 AM will be in the Baptist building. Please come join us!
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