Controversy Surrounds Procedures of Notification
by Alicia Morissette
HYDE PARK - "The employee has been disciplined," said Lamoille North
Supervisory Union Superintendent Terry Bailey during a school board
meeting at Lamoille Union High School (LUHS) on Tuesday, March 15.
Bailey's comment was the result of discussions both before and during
executive session, which involved concerns about LUHS staff following
school procedures.
The incident prompting this discussion began with Heather Sheppard, a
new Cambridge resident, arriving at a Women Infants and Children (WIC)
appointment at the Morrisville Health Department.
According to a letter from Sheppard addressed to LUHS Principal Sharon
Fortune and Lamoille Union Middle School (LUMS) Principal Paul Lowe,
Sheppard went to her appointment on January 27, and one of the nurses
who saw her daughter began a conversation.
During the course of the friendly conversation, the nurse told Sheppard
that "a girl (unnamed) came into the school nurse's office very upset
and thought she was pregnant," according to Sheppard's letter. The
letter continued, stating the nurse "proceeded to tell me that 'I knew
just what to do. I made a call... and took her to Planned Parenthood,
and her parents will probably never know.'"
Soon after, according to Sheppard's letter, the nurse said, "incest and
abuse are big problems in Lamoille County. Her parents will probably
just beat the crap out of her if she told them she was pregnant."
Sheppard then had a meeting with Bailey on February 14, and it was
agreed that Bailey would investigate the incident, and responded with a
letter, in which he wrote that the nurse "may have discussed with you
details of her responsibilities and views of her job that were not
appropriate for social conversation."
Bailey's letter continued by stating that a parent must provide
permission for a student to leave early, that Fortune had interviewed
counselors and nurses on related procedures and found that students are
encouraged to talk with parents or guardians and that Planned Parenthood
does not send counselors to the school and does not offer transportation.
Then, Bailey's letter stated that the Planned Parenthood Medical
Director "found nothing to support the statement made in your letter."
Furthermore, Bailey wrote, "We were not able to ascertain that the
incident you reported in your letter had occurred and... [the nurse]
also indicated that it did not occur."
After receiving this letter, Sheppard was unsatisfied with Bailey's
conclusions and actions in the matter, so she decided to bring up the
subject during the board meeting. Sheppard wrote a letter, which she
read to the board. She discussed her concerns about school procedures
not being followed, the options the school gives to students and the
lack of parental notification.
In her packet of handouts, Sheppard also addressed the legal aspect of
mandated reporting, and included a copy of the statute. Vermont Statute
Title 33 Chapter 49 states that certain people, including nurses, who
have reasonable cause to believe that any child has been abused or
neglected shall report or cause a report to be made within 24 hours.
A discussion ensued, and Fortune stated that LUHS has procedures in
place, and staff have been apprised of them. Fortune added that only a
parent or legal guardian has the authority to release or transport a
student.
When the topic of referrals came up, Bailey stated, "we do not make
referrals." Fortune stated counselors only give students a list of
options, and she knows this because she is a licensed counselor and has
been a counselor in the past.
After establishing her credentials in the subject of counseling, Fortune
addressed the issue of confidentiality. Sheppard had stated, "privacy
for a student must not circumvent parental involvement." However,
according to Fortune, the relationship between counselors and students
are confidential; the only way this confidentiality may be breached is
if abuse is suspected, which leads back to mandated reporting.
The school board then made a motion to go into executive session to
"discuss a personnel matter." Once open session resumed, Bailey stated
that the board had come to a "unanimous consensus" that LUHS and LUMS
has procedures in place, and they "believe employees are adequately
following procedures." Mandated reporting was also believed to have been
followed.
Bailey then stated, "the employee has been disciplined," and she did not
fight the disciplinary action, and ended the issue by saying, the board
"hopes parents will build a strong relationship with their children."

Sanders Gets House Approval of Millions forRail Trail & Notch Projects
submitted by Rep. Bernard Sanders office

Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) has announced that the U.S. House approved
$16 million in transportation projects for Vermont at his request as
part of the larger transportation reauthorization bill. Part of that
total, $1,085,514, will go to construct the Smugglers' Notch Scenic
Highway Corridor's Visitor and Interpretive Centers and $7,268,486 will
fund the creation of a 96 mile Four Season Trail that will go through
Lamoille County.
Sanders said, "I am gratified that the U.S. House has approved $16
million for Vermont transportation projects that I submitted. Included
in this amount are important road construction and recreational trail
initiatives that will benefit the people of Lamoille County. Not only
will they benefit Lamoille County from a transportation standpoint but
they will also be good for the economy. In the short-term jobs will be
created to complete the projects and in the longer term these
enhancements to the area's transportation and recreational
infrastructure will pay dividends for decades to come."
The transportation bill that was approved by the House will have to be
reconciled with the version currently being considered by the U.S.
Senate. Sanders described himself as "cautiously optimistic" that the
funding would receive final approval by Congress and the President.
This year Sanders not only got the U.S. House to re-approve the projects
from last year, that didn't go through, but managed to increase the
total amount for Vermont projects by over $2.5 million.
A description of the projects follows:
$1,085,514 for the construction and engineering of the Smugglers' Notch
Scenic Highway Corridor Visitor and Interpretive Centers.
$1,085,514 was included for the Lamoille County Planning Commission in
Morrisville to construct the Smugglers' Notch Scenic Highway Corridor's
Visitor and Interpretive Centers.
Specifically, this funding would be used for engineering design and
construction of the Southern Gateway's Barnes Camp Visitor Center and
the Notch Proper's Outdoor Interpretive Centers located along the
Smugglers' Notch Scenic Highway Corridor.
The Lamoille County Planning Commission is the project manager for the
project in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
This project proposes the creation of both indoor and outdoor
interpretive centers along the scenic highway corridor, including
information kiosks and interpretive trail networks among other
enhancements.
The Smugglers' Notch Scenic Highway Corridor is a 3.5 mile corridor that
winds between the Stowe and Smugglers' Notch ski resorts. The engineer
consultant has estimated that the total cost of this project is $3,993,750.
Permitting and final designs have been completed. A Memorandum of
Understanding is already in place between the core partners.
Since the completion of the Corridor Management Plan, the project has
been on the Lamoille County's Regional Transportation Improvement
Program list and part of the state's TIP. The region further documents
the critical need for this project in the Regional Transportation Plan
and the Regional Plan.
The project is located in the region's most fragile environment. The
overall purpose of the project is to provide the necessary facilities to
educate the one million annual visitors to the area. The project was the
first to have received National Scenic Byways funding and the first to
have developed a corridor management plan. As a result, the project is
further along in the planning, design and construction of its facilities
than any of the state's other scenic byway projects.
$7,268,486 for the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers to construct
the 96- mile four-season Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
The $7.3 million in federal funding was included in the House
Transportation bill for the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers to
construct the 96-mile four-season Lamoille Valley Rail Trail along the
right of way of a non-operative railroad. The grantee for this project
will be the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc. (VAST). VAST is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It has been in existence since 1967
and its primary purpose is to coordinate the operation of the snowmobile
trail program in Vermont. Currently, VAST coordinates the operation of
more than 6,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Vermont - the Statewide
Snowmobile Trails System (SSTS). This is accomplished, in part, by
public funding that VAST receives through a cooperative agreement with
the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources' Department of Forests, Parks
and Recreation. More than two-thirds of VAST's $2,800,000 budget is
derived from the private sector through user fees and grants.
The State of Vermont currently owns a non-operating railroad known as
the Lamoille Valley Railroad (LVRR), controlled by the Vermont Agency of
Transportation (AOT). The railroad bed is 96 miles in length and runs
from St. Johnsbury in the east to Swanton in the west. It runs though
the heart of some of Vermont's prime agricultural lands and also through
16 Vermont communities in need of economic development. Recently, AOT
sent out an RFP for the future use of the LVRR right-of-way. VAST and
several communities formed a separate committee, the Lamoille Valley
Recreation Trail Committee. The purpose of this committee is to develop
a response to the RFP that would create a 96 mile four season Rail Trail
along the Right of Way (ROW) of the now non-operative railroad. The
proposal is to remove the rails and ties and to create a minimum 12-foot
wide four season recreational trail over the old rail bed. The entire
96-mile distance of the rail bed would be "rail banked" and the
integrity of the ROW protected for future rail use, if needed.
Since 1995, the LVRR rail bed has been subjected to at least three
floods that have been declared disasters. The floods have caused damage
to bridges and structures along the railroad as well as causing many
washouts and riverbank erosion along the length of the Lamoille River.
The above project will require extensive repairs in many areas. It will
also be necessary to re-establish agricultural fences along the rail bed
to ensure the safety of the users and the crops and/or livestock of the
adjoining landowners. In order to obtain the desired recreational trail
width it will be necessary to remove the old rails and ties and then
level the old rail bed ballast and install approximately one foot of new
limestone, or similar hard pack base suitable for use by all
recreational activities.
The completion of this project will assist the federal government in
meeting its goals to provide alternative transportation modes and
infrastructure, as well as meeting the goal to provide all citizens with
the opportunity to have access to recreational facilities within a few
miles of their homes. In addition, this project will also provide a much
needed economic boost to the communities along the rail bed. Recreation
has become an important part of Vermont's economy. Snowmobiling alone
contributes more than $220,000,000 annually to Vermont's economy. Users
of this trail will require many kinds of services as well as lodging and
food. This rail trail would intersect an existing rail trail in
northwest Vermont as well as connecting to a well established Canadian
Rail Trail System, thus promoting international as well as U.S. tourism.
As a result, much needed economic development will take place in those
communities.
The Vermont AOT will lease the LVRR ROW to VAST for no charge and VAST
will enter into a construction and maintenance agreement with them. In
addition, AOT will also be responsible for the removal and disposal of
all rails and ties currently existing on the LVRR rail bed.

Clarification
The News & Citizen would like to clarify a point made to us by one of
the architects consulted on the town office construction sites. In last
week's front page article entitled "Architects Say Joint Project Cheaper
Option," the report cited was a draft copy. Architect John Hemmelgarn
said there would be changes, probably relatively minor, in the final
document.
The News & Citizen also learned that the draft of the findings were not
made public until the Friday before Town Meeting, because that Friday
meeting had initially been planned for a week before when bad weather
caused its postponement. It was held in Montpelier as that was more
convenient for both architects involved.

Locals to Testify for Bypass
by Amy Kolb Noyes

A contingency of regional and local officials headed down to the State
House Wednesday, March 16, for what has come to be known as their
"annual visit" with the legislative transportation committees regarding
the Morrisville Alternative Truck Route (bypass) project. This week's
testimony before the Senate Transportation Committee, however, seemed to
have more urgency than in the past.
While the bypass has been on the books for over 30 years, the project
has been creeping forward in recent years. Planning documents have been
updated and the state has gone forward with some property acquisitions
to make way for the new road. While the project has, until now, been
included in the "one year capital program," there has been no funding
attached to the Morrisville bypass in the next transportation budget.
While the project has not been taken off the books, Lamoille County
Planning Commission Senior Transportation Planner David Pelletier said
it's been "bumped back in the book." He said all the transportation
project funds are going to big projects in the front of the book,
including Chittenden County's Circ Highway and the Bennington Bypass.
Pelletier said the local contingency was going to Montpelier to reaffirm
the region's support of the project.
Officials from the Agency of Transportation, the Town of Morristown, the
Lamoille County Planning Commission and the Lamoille Economic
Development Corp. joined Senator Susan Bartlett at the State House.
Pelletier said their goal was to get some token funding attached to the
project, perhaps enough for right-of-way acquisitions to continue, to be
a placeholder for the project in the front of the book, with other
currently funded projects.
While Pelletier said AOT engineers and planners are still moving forward
on the Morrisville project, the lack of new funding leaves the
perception that the project is being shelved.
"It's momentum in the wrong direction," Pelletier commented.

Bryer Assumes Chair
by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISVILLE - It's been more than a quarter-century since the Morristown
Select- board has elected a new chair. However, after long-time board
leader Brian Greenia decided not to seek re-election, a new chairman
needed to be identified at the board's reorganizational meeting Monday
evening, March 14.
The position was vice-chair Jim Paige's to decline. Having recently
started a new profession as a math teacher at Barre City Elementary
School, Paige asked his fellow board members if there were any other
takers. Shaun Bryer stepped up to the plate, becoming the first new
selectboard chair in Morristown in 26 years.
This is not Bryer's first taste of leadership in Morristown. He chaired
the Fourth of July Committee for several years. He has also headed up
selectboard subcommittees including, most recently, the search and
hiring committee for a new town administrator. Bryer was first elected
to the selectboard by waging a successful write-in campaign for a
two-year term in 2002. In 2004, he was elected to the three-year seat he
currently holds.
While the board did not take up other assignments and appointments at
Monday's meeting, it appeared Paige was willing to continue to serve as
vice chair. The selectboard, with the help of town administrator Francis
"Tag" Taginski and Town Clerk Mary Ann Wilson, began the process of
creating an organizational "flow chart" outlining the town's governance
structure. That project is expected to take several months to complete.
The selectboard was scheduled to meet with the Municipal Facilities
Committee regarding the status of that group's recommendation for a new
town office complex. However, members of the committee indicated prior
to the selectboard meeting they would not be in attendance. Instead,
Paige reported the committee would have a written recommendation
prepared for the next selectboard meeting on Monday, March 28.
The selectboard also heard from two organizations that would like the
town to act as municipal sponsor for grant applications. Community
coordinator Heidi Krantz reported she is working with the Lamoille
County Child Care Connection. She requested the town sponsor a Community
Development Block Grant application on behalf of the Child Care
Connection, a group seeking to build a nonprofit child care facility in
Morristown. The board unanimously agreed to hold a public hearing on the
issue Monday, April 11.
The Central Vermont Community Land Trust and Lamoille Housing
Partnership are asking Morristown to serve as the Lamoille County
co-applicant to capitalize and staff a revolving loan fund in three
counties. Northfield is serving as the lead applicant and Bradford has
been identified as the other co-applicant. The consortium is seeking a
$750,000 grant to support a revolving loan fund to add and upgrade local
apartments. Based on population, 20% of the loan funds would be
earmarked for Lamoille County. No action was taken on that request.
The board also held, in executive session, discussions on hiring a
highway superintendent and an administrative assistant. Taginski said
the board plans to interview final candidates for both positions at its
next meeting on March 28.

Book Thief Apprehended
by Alicia Morissette

On March 9, 23 year-old Rory Matthews, of Johnson, was arrested by
Northfield Police for grand larceny, and Matthews admitted to removing
many books from Norwich University and transporting them to his house.
However, Norwich University was not the only victim, according to police
releases. Matthews also allegedly stole books from Johnson State College
(JSC), the Johnson Public Library and both the Morrisville and Newport
locations of Community College of Vermont.
Upon investigation of Matthews' financial records, Northfield Police
found Matthews had received $4,246.88 by selling the stolen books on
Amazon.com. This profit was a result of the sale of over 200 books, and
Matthews still had 98 books for sale.
When the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department searched Matthews'
apartment Wednesday, March 9, they recovered over 120 stolen books.
Matthews had agreed to turn these books over.
According to JSC Chief Librarian Joe Ferrara, Matthews may have been
entering the library during after-hours, when parts of the library are
open for public access, and taking books he found lying on desks.
Ferrara said Matthews had an expired account at the library and had been
a student.
Matthews was apprehended due to observant Norwich University security
officer Ed Rearick, who noticed a vehicle in the Faculty/Staff parking
lot that did not have a parking permit. At 2:30 in the morning on
February 16, Rearick left a traffic violation notice on the vehicle.
When he later learned of the book thefts that had occurred, Rearick
informed the police that he had observed books in the car. Rearick then
turned over the copy of the ticket to the Northfield Police.
As of this time, the investigation of the stolen books is still pending,
but Matthews has been scheduled to appear in the Washington County
District Court on April 21. Other charges are pending in Lamoille County
once the Northfield investigation has been completed.
Update for Internet edition: The Norwich University did not lose any of
its books, according to Kreitzberg Library librarian. She was told the
books stolen came from the university's chemistry department.