Voices From The Week: October 21, 2011

Senator Vince Illuzzi called for a review of the CVPS-GazMetro deal, Beth Robinson was appointed to the Supreme Court, and, after Irene, towns updated their emergency plans and borrowed money for repairs, Governor Shumlin moved to permanently close the State Hospital and schools helped children cope with the fears they experienced during the flooding.

These were some of the voices in the news this week.

Senator Wants Independent Review Of CVPS-GazMet Deal (10/17)

(Essex-Orleans Senator Vince Illuzzi) "This is an unprecedented, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to perhaps acquire the state's interstate highway for the transmission of electricity."

Shumlin Appoints Chief Lawyer To Supreme Court (10/18) 

(Supreme Court Appointee Beth Robinson)  "I think there's a huge difference between my role as an advocate and my role as a judge. And my role as a judge really is first and foremost to uphold the rule of law - which is kind of this concept, it's an abstraction."

After Irene, Towns Update Emergency Response Plans (10/17)

(Bruce Urie, Craftsbury Select Board chair) "We have a dam that holds back two lakes and if that dam should let go Craftsbury village would be vulnerable. So that's been a what if situation that we have discussed."

Towns Borrow Money To Pay For Irene Repairs (10/18) 

(Karen Horn, Vermont League of Cities and Towns) "My poster child town right now is Bridgewater.  Bridgewater has a population of 900.  The week after the flood they took out a $750,000 line of credit.  They spent $500,000 of that in the first month."

Shumlin Wants To Permanently Shut Down State Hospital (10/20) 

(Governor Peter Shumlin) "The facility does not dignify the quality of care that we should be giving to those who are suffering from mental illness. So it is my intention never to go back to Waterbury for the state hospital."

Schools Help Children Cope With Lingering Fears From Flood (10/20) 

(Newbrook School counselor Emily Bullock) "So there's still some ongoing anxiety for kids. They have fears around when it starts to rain or there's a thunderstorm, that is it going to happen again."