Waterbury Hires Lobbyists, In Effort To Keep State Offices

The town of Waterbury has hired two lobbying firms to make the case to state officials that 1,500 state jobs should remain in the community after flooding from Tropical Storm Irene made their offices unusable.

The offices at the sprawling state complex in the village of Waterbury have been closed since last month's flooding. Most of the state employees are now working in other locations.

Selectboard Chairwoman Rebecca Ellis tells the Burlington Free Press it's a critical juncture in the history of the town.

Ellis says one lobbyist will be paid $3,000 to do a 14-day media push. Another firm will be paid $2,500 for a month to make Waterbury's case to state officials.

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