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DEC outlines wetland building policies

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2 years ago

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DEC outlines wetland building policies


BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Buying land is a big decision. With so much wetland in Vermont, state leaders are making sure you don’t end up in a soggy situation.

It’s American Wetlands Month, and Vermont’s Department of Enviromental Conservation wants buyers to be informed before they buy.

Regulations can impact whether a property on wetlands can be developed or require a special permit. Some parcells known as swamp lots are mostly wetlands and may not be allowed to be developed under state rules.

You can visit Vermont DEC’s website for a map of Vermont’s wetlands and development and permitting policies.

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Vermont state employees’ union files labor complaint over Gov. Phil Scott’s return-to-office plan — and sues – VTDigger

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6 hours ago

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November 21, 2025

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Vermont state employees’ union files labor complaint over Gov. Phil Scott’s return-to-office plan — and sues – VTDigger


State employees enter the state office complex in Waterbury as the Vermont State Employees Association opposes Gov. Phil Scott’s return to work mandate on Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

The union representing Vermont state employees is turning to two legal venues to challenge Gov. Phil Scott’s order that many of its members return to the office in person.

On Nov. 10, the Vermont State Employees’ Association filed a charge with the state’s Labor Relations Board alleging the Scott administration skirted a union demand to enter formal bargaining over the return-to-work plan, in violation of labor protection laws. The plan will require many employees to come into the office at least three days a week. 

The union also filed a separate grievance with the Labor Relations Board arguing that parts of the plan violated the collective bargaining agreement it has in place with the state. 

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Then, on Nov. 12, the union filed a lawsuit in Washington County Superior civil court asking a judge to bar the Scott administration from implementing its workplace plan — set to take effect Dec. 1 — until the labor board adjudicates the union’s complaints. 

The union wrote in its lawsuit that “neither the unfair labor practice charge nor the grievance is capable of being decided” by the labor board before Dec. 1. The suit seeks a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction that allows state employees to continue working remotely.

Steve Howard, the union’s executive director, said in an interview Wednesday that he hoped the suit would at least slow the implementation of the governor’s directive. He said he thought a hearing could be held on the lawsuit as soon as next week. 

The legal challenges mark a significant escalation in the monthslong fight between the union and the administration over the plan to have state workers, with some exceptions, return to the office. The union contends that the hybrid work mandate will cause experienced employees to quit, decreasing the quality of state departments’ work. 

At the same time, administration officials say that the order will improve government services by boosting collaboration and helping to preserve institutional knowledge. They’ve argued Vermonters want government workers to be present in-person.

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In a statement Thursday, Amanda Wheeler, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, said the union’s legal challenges had no impact on Scott’s support for the plan. 

“The Administration’s decision to implement this standard is well within our authority,” Wheeler wrote. “The Governor’s position on returning to a hybrid work standard has not changed, he continues to believe human connection is an important part of employee engagement, as well as team building and learning from each other.” 

According to court filings, after the administration formally announced its return-to-work plans in late August, it wrote to the union in September requesting a meeting to discuss the plans and hear the union’s concerns. In that letter, which is attached to the lawsuit, John Berard, the state’s director of labor relations, said the plan did not need to be the subject of formal bargaining. That’s because the planned hybrid work requirement was permissible under an existing teleworking policy for state employees, he said.

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State leases more space in Waterbury as employees’ deadline nears for return to officeAdvertisement


by Shaun Robinson


But the union doesn’t see it that way. In court filings, the union contends state leaders agreed to remote working arrangements for their employees, starting at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, that did not fall under the stipulations of the teleworking policy. Those arrangements “have become an established condition of employment which the State is not free to change” without entering formal bargaining, the union wrote in an Oct. 24 letter to the state. It demanded, in that letter, that bargaining take place. 

Berard then wrote the union back Nov. 10 saying the state’s position had remained unchanged, according to court filings. That’s the same day the union filed its challenges with the state Labor Relations Board.

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The legal challenges are set to play out as the state has expanded its workspace ahead of the planned return to office for many employees. On Monday, it signed leases for three new office spaces in the privately owned Pilgrim Park complex in Waterbury, which records show would be used by workers at the state Agency of Human Services.

That agency has been facing a shortage of office space at the nearby Waterbury State Office Complex, where much of its operations are based. The shortage could delay the restart of in-person work for some employees past Dec. 1, officials said previously.

The state is set to pay about $2.3 million to lease the new office space over the next five years, according to the leases.





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This Vermont company was ranked 24th ‘most ethical’ in the US

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1 day ago

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November 20, 2025

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This Vermont company was ranked 24th ‘most ethical’ in the US


Job tips: How to prepare for a virtual job interview

From lighting to sound, here are 5 tips to prepare for a virtual job interview.

ProblemSolved, USA TODAY

One Vermont company was deemed among the “most ethical” in the United States by the financial media company MarketBeat.

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MarketBeat said it surveyed more than 3,000 people from different demographics last month to determine which companies they feel best align with their personal ethics and values. The results were then adjusted to reflect national population benchmarks.

The survey found that people value businesses that remain close to their founding towns, prioritize employee ownership and focus on sustainability.

The financial media company pulled together a list of 118 businesses considered to be the “most ethical” across the nation.

See how the Vermont company ranks and how it stacks up against other New England businesses.

MarketBeat’s ‘most ethical’ Vermont company

Here is the Vermont company that made MarketBeat’s “most ethical” list:

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King Arthur Baking Company in Norwich, which sells flours, mixes, and baking tools, was ranked #24 in the country.

The baking company lists four environmental commitments on its website – regenerative agriculture, emissions reduction, zero waste and sustainable packaging.

King Arthur is employee-owned and is focused on “fostering an inclusive and welcoming baking community, taking meaningful steps to ensure all bakers feel they belong,” it said.

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How other New England companies stack up

Here are the New England companies that made MarketBeat’s top 118 list:

  1. Ocean Spray – Lakeville, Massachusetts (#4 nationally)
  2. CVS Health – Woonsocket, Rhode Island (#5 nationally)
  3. L.L. Bean – Freeport, Maine (#12 nationally)
  4. King Arthur Baking Company – Norwich, Vermont (#24 nationally)
  5. Timberland – Stratham, New Hampshire (#30 nationally)
  6. Stonyfield Organic – Londonderry, New Hampshire (#34 nationally)
  7. Taza Chocolate – Somerville, Massachusetts (#56 nationally)
  8. New Morning Market – Woodbury, Connecticut (#65 nationally)
  9. Narragansett Beer – Providence, Rhode Island (#86 nationally)
  10. ReVision Energy – South Portland, Maine (#89 nationally)
  11. Allagash Brewing Company – Portland, Maine (#109 nationally)
  12. Cape Air – Hyannis, Massachusetts (#110 nationally)

Top 20 ‘most ethical’ companies in the US

Here are the top 20 “most ethical” companies in the U.S., from a list of 118, according to MarketBeat:

  1. Hershey Company – Hershey, Pennsylvania
  2. The Campbell’s Company – Camden, New Jersey
  3. Burt’s Bees – Durham, North Carolina
  4. Ocean Spray – Lakeville, Massachusetts
  5. CVS Health – Woonsocket, Rhode Island
  6. Publix Super Markets – Lakeland, Florida
  7. McCormick & Company – Hunt Valley, Maryland
  8. Hallmark Cards – Kansas City, Kansas
  9. Tillamook Creamery – Tillamook, Oregon
  10. Buc-ee’s – Lake Jackson, Texas
  11. Jack Daniel’s Distillery – Lynchburg, Tennessee
  12. L.L. Bean – Freeport, Maine
  13. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  14. Community Coffee Company – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  15. Zapp’s Potato Chips – Gramercy, Louisiana
  16. Ozark Natural Foods – Fayetteville, Arkansas
  17. Clif Bar Baking Company – Twin Falls, Idaho
  18. Peace Coffee – Minneapolis, Minnesota
  19. Honolulu Coffee Company – Honolulu, Hawaii
  20. Milo’s Tea Company – Bessemer, Alabama



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Vt., NH SNAP recipients targeted in phishing scam

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2 days ago

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November 19, 2025

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Vt., NH SNAP recipients targeted in phishing scam


MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – State officials in Vermont and New Hampshire are warning SNAP recipients about phishing scams involving fraudulent phone calls, text messages, and emails.

Officials say scammers are calling and sending messages fraudulently claiming that the client’s EBT card has been “locked” and instructing them to call back to verify their eligibility.

Officials advise recipients not to share personal information with the sender and never give EBT card numbers to an unknown caller.

In Vermont, the scam should be reported to the Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424.

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