Lt. Gov. Scott Favors Returning Most State Workers To Waterbury

(Host)  Vermont legislators are preparing to return to Montpelier early next month.  One issue they'll face is the future of the state office complex in Waterbury and the 15-hundred people displaced by Tropical Storm Irene. 

Waterbury officials argue that rebuilding the complex and keeping the workers there is critical to their community's economy. 

But with the future of the complex up in the air, another central Vermont town is making a bid for the state staff. 

Barre officials want the state to relocate 300 to 500 of the displaced workers to their community. 

Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott says there's merit to putting some people in Barre. But he favors having most return to Waterbury.

(Scott) "My general feeling is that Barre has a good plan.  I don't think it will be maybe the number that they're looking for but I think there should be some employees located in the Barre area, but I also think that relocating the majority of employees back to Waterbury makes some sense."

(Host)  The Shumlin administration wants lawmakers to make a decision on the future of the office complex during the upcoming session.  

It could be two years before state workers are relocated to permanent offices in Waterbury or other communities.