Controversy Grows Over Future Of Waterbury Complex

(Host) There's a controversy growing about the future of the state office complex in Waterbury.

Business leaders and local officials want the Shumlin administration to commit to reopening the complex and returning state employees who were displaced by the flood.

But as VPRs Bob Kinzel reports, the governor says it's too early to make that pledge.

(Kinzel) Almost 1,600 employees worked at the State Office Complex in Waterbury and many of these workers have been relocated to Montpelier, Barre, Essex and Winooski.  Losing all these employees, virtually overnight, is having a big impact on Waterbury's downtown businesses. 

Jay Provencher runs a physical therapy office. He says business is down more than 30%:

(Provencher) "It has a huge impact on us. We had actually hired a third physical therapist this summer planning. We increased our marketing budget and we were going after a new patient demographic."

(Kinzel) Hiata DeFeo runs Bridgeside Books. She says it's critical for the Shumlin Administration to make a commitment to Waterbury:

(DeFeo) "The ripple effect of not having these employees or the possibility of not having these people in our community is scary and I feel very strongly that if we had a commitment from the Governor and from the State that they would be returning that that would really go a long way as far as alleviating some of this uncertainty and limbo."

(Kinzel) Washington County Senator Anthony Pollina says he understands that the administration can't make a specific commitment at this time to bring back all 1600 employees but he thinks it is reasonable to ask for a general commitment:

(Pollina) "Having this cloud of doubt over this community and over these workers is not going to help us in any way whatsoever. We need the commitment and we need it as soon as possible so we can begin to do the work getting the pieces together and make sure that we when get back to work we do it as efficiently and effectively as possible." 

(Kinzel)The Governor says it's too early to make a commitment because state officials are still assessing the damage to the buildings and their range of options. But he made it clear that's he very unhappy that the Waterbury selectboard hired some lobbyists to represent the town's interests in the Legislature:

(Shumlin) "What I find disturbing and what gets my blood boiling is when I read.........that some community would consider using $25,000 to hire a lobbyist to advocate their case in the Statehouse when those dollars in my judgment would be better spent right down there in Waterbury on the people who are trying to rebuild their homes and businesses."

(Kinzel) Administration officials say it could be several months before they can make an informed decision about the future of the Waterbury complex.  And they say the Legislature will also play an important role in that decision.

For VPR News, I'm Bob Kinzel in Montpelier