Week in Review
Toolbox
Published: May 30, 2009
Our thoughts on the news of the week:
T
he U-32 High School probably doesn't need to hire someone to watch over the front door – almost a guard, if you will. The School Board was right to table that proposal at a recent meeting. But it's clear from a recent incident — in which the parents of one student allegedly entered the school and assaulted another girl who apparently had a dispute with their daughter — that the middle and high school should tighten security (the parents involved have pleaded not guilty to related charges stemming from the incident). It's a little too easy to walk into U-32 and gain access to classrooms and other areas with students without being noticed by anyone in authority. The board should continue to discuss security at the school, given recent incidents of violence and weapons at schools in Vermont and nationally. There's probably no way to assure such incidents never occur, but there might be ways to make it a little harder for wrong-doers to do wrong.
Barre City Councilor Paul Poirier is right to urge the council to consider easing the 8 percent penalty charged to residents who pay their property taxes or water and sewer bills a day late. There are legitimate reasons why taxpayers might be a little late in paying their bill, including working into overtime on tax day or a health issue. That doesn't mean anyone should get a free ride to take advantage of the system; perhaps a graduated penalty could be implemented to increase the late fee with each passing day. It's nice to think everyone plans ahead and even makes their payments early, but the reality is many taxpayers wait, for financial reasons, until the last minute to pay. Poirier isn't suggesting easing the penalty on people who are routinely or significantly late on payments. But it does seem reasonable for a small community to ease a firm deadline and establish a grace period for those who mean well but slip a day or two past the payment date. It could happen to any of us.
There's good news from Washington D.C. that Vermont could be receiving up to $70 million in federal money to expand broadband access in this rural state. Tom Evslin, who is in charge of overseeing plans for Vermont's stimulus money, is moving swiftly to put together proposals for the funds, and we wish him luck. Broadband access, which isn't available in too many rural areas of the state, is critical to helping businesses in small communities stay competitive, or enabling students in rural high schools to access the same educational tools as their urban counterparts. Gov. James Douglas set a goal of universal broadband access by 2011. It's important to keep the pressure on to meet that date so the small businesses in Calais and Orange have the same access to online customers and information as the company in Burlington.
Two of Vermont's largest health insurance providers were fined by the state for offering what have been called "phantom networks" of available doctors to clients. Cigna and Magellan Health Services, which contracts with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, were fined for providing customers with lists of doctors, including psychiatrists, who aren't really in business or not taking patients. The problem was highlighted when Rep. Michael Fisher of Lincoln pretended to be a patient looking for mental health help and found himself mired in problems. Fortunately, lawmakers last year passed a law giving the state more regulatory authority over heath insurance companies' provider lists, so this matter will be resolved. It's hard enough to deal with mental health issues without having the additional burden of fighting roadblocks and misinformation.
We send our thanks to Donald "Smitty" Smith for his 15 years of coordinating Montpelier's Memorial and Veterans Day parades. Smitty has devoted many hours every year to making sure Vermont veterans get the recognition they are due, and ensuring that the next generation "know what the flag represents … It means a lot to me, it ain't just a piece of cloth." Well said, Smitty.
15