>> WEEK THREE OF VERMONT'S FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS AND STATE LAWMAKERS STEP IN TO BEGIN TO PIECE TOGETHER FLOOD ASSISTANCE.

BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH?

>> THE AFTERMATH OF THE FLOOD REPRESENTS A MONUMENTAL SHIFT IN WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT LAUNCHING 20 MILLION TO HELP BUSINESSES UNDER WATER ACKNOWLEDGING IT WON'T COME CLOSE TO MEETING THE TOTAL NEED.

>> THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE GEARS UP FOR A FIGHT IN COURT.

ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

I'M YOUR GUEST HOST CALVIN CUTLER.

JOINING US IS LIAM ELDER-CONNORS WITH VERMONT PUBLIC, ANNE WALLACE ALLEN, BUSINESS REPORTER WITH SEVEN DAYS AND LOLA DUFFORT, POLITICS REPORT WERE THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WHAT A WEEK IT HAS BEEN.

THE END OF WEEK THREE OF THIS FLOODING THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND THE RECOVERY EFFORT CERTAINLY CONTINUES AND YOU HAVE BEEN IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN.

WHAT HAVE YOU SOON AND WHAT ARE WE FACING NOW?

>> AS YOU STAYED THREE WEEKS OUT AND THERE'S STILL SIGNS OF DEVASTATION EVERYWHERE.

THERE ARE TREE LIMBS WHERE THERE DIDN'T USED TO BE HERE.

RIVERS OF SILT AND RUINED ACRES.

THERE'S HUGE PILES OF TRASH OUTSIDE HOMES WAITING TO BE PICKED UP, STILL EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND FEMA IS HOLDING EVENTS FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND START APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THEIR HOMES.

MONTPELIER WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT PLACES AND IT'S OBVIOUS WHEN YOU GO THERE NOW JUST HOW LONG THE CLEANUP IS GOING TO TAKE AND HOW MUCH MONEY IT'S GOING TO COST TO RESTORE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES STRIPPED TO THE STUDS.

THEY LOST THEIR INVENTORY.

THEY LOST THEIR CONTINUITY AND THOUSAND THEY HAVE TO DO CONSTRUCTION WORK.

I TALKED TO ONE BUSINESS IN LONDONDERRY, ALSO HARD HIT, AND THEY HAD JUST LEFT IN THEIR ELECTRIC INSPECTOR THE DAY AFTER THE FLOOD.

SO ALL OF THE NEW WORK THAT THEY WERE DOING TO HAD PUT INTO THEIR CANNABIS STORE THEY HAVE HAD TO RIP OUT.

THEY ARE ALL WONDERING, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO COME BACK.

>> CERTAINLY THE IMMEDIATE CLEANUP, THAT'S THE BIGGEST STORY.

DRYING OUT.

ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE FLOOD.

WE HAVE A SOUND BITE FROM A FAMILY WHO WAS IMPACTED AND CERTAINLY IS STILL PICKING UP THE PIECES.

>> BECAUSE IT HAD TO WAIT SO LONG IF THERE WAS A CHANCE OF SAVING THE HOME WE'RE PAST THAT WINDOW NOW.

EVERYTHING IS MOLDED.

EVERYTHING IS FALLING IN.

THE FLOORS ARE FALLING.

WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS WHERE SOMETIMES WE'RE JUST REALLY SAD AND WE CRY A LOT.

OTHER TIMES WE'RE ANGRY.

WE JUST ARE WORKING THROUGH AT THE BEST WE CAN.

>> LOLA, YOU HAVE BEEN IN AND AROUND CENTRAL VERMONT TALKING WITH BUSINESSES, MUNICIPAL LEADERS, FAMILIES SUCH AS THAT ONE.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN?

>> I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THAT.

I THINK YOU KNOW WE'RE IN THIS PERIOD WHERE THE KIND OF INITIAL ADRENALINE HAS WORN OFF AND A LOT OF PEOPLE RUSHED IN AND STARTED GETTING THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO TRY TO DRY THEM OUT AND SOMETIMES THAT WORKED.

SOMETIMES THAT DIDN'T.

I WAS JUST TALKING TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHICH HAD TO EVACUATE SOME TENANTS AND MOMENTS BEFORE THE SHOW I WAS GETTING A QUICK UPDATE FROM HER AND SHE SAID WE HAVE TO EVACUATE MORE.

WE'RE ONLY JUST STARTING TO TAKE STOCK OF THE DEVASTATION, AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE FINDING OUT IN A LOT OF CASES THAT IT WAS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT BECAUSE MOLD IS SETTLING IN BECAUSE MOISTURE HAS NOT COMPLETELY EVAPORATED.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

WE'RE ONLY JUST STARTING TO SEE AND TAKE STOCK.

>> AS OF THIS THURSDAY AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE GOVERNOR SCOTT SAID SOME 70 HOMES HAD BEEN RED TAGGED, FLAGGED, WE CANNOT LIVE IN THESE ANY MORE BUT AS YOU MENTIONED THIS WILL TAKE A BIG HIT ON OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK, ESPECIALLY WORKFORCE HOUSING IN CENTRAL VERMONT.

HERE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN HAVEN IN BARRE.

>> ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING ASPECTS OF THE FLOOD IS THE LOSS OF HOUSING UNITS.

THERE'S BEEN A BIG IMPACT ESPECIALLY IN APARTMENTS THAT WERE MAYBE MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE AND IN MOBILE HOME PARKS.

THE CITY OF BARRE ALONE 100 UNITS WERE BADLY DAMAGED.

IN TWO MOBILE HOME PARKS IN BERLIN WHERE OUR MAIN SHELTER IS, 40 MOBILE HOMES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

>> I THINK BEFORE THE FLOOD WE WERE IN A WELL DOCUMENTED AND ACUTE HOUSING CRISIS.

THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THAT SO MUCH WORSE.

PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARKET.

AGAIN, THE PICTURES ONLY JUST STARTING TO CRYSTALLIZE, NUMBERS ARE EARLY AND PRELIMINARY BUT IT SEEMS THE HARDEST HIT AREAS WERE ALSO WHERE YOU HAD THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK SO MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITIES AS IN IRENE WERE HIT VERY HARD.

NORTH BARRE CITY WAS HIT EXTREMELY HARD, THE RESIDENTIAL AREA, WHERE YOU HAD A LOT OF RENTALS APPEARED MODEST SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

SO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HIT, I DON'T WANT TO SAW UNIFORMLY, PELL WELL OFF ALSO LOST QUITE A BIT AND WERE HIT BUT DISPROPORTIONATELY THOSE WHO WILL HAVEST TIME BOUNCING BACK WERE HIT.

SOME OF THESE HOMES WERE TERRIBLE BUT SOME WILL NOT BE.

WE WERE ALREADY IN A SITUATION IN VERMONT WHERE WE COULD NOT AFTER TO LOSE ANY HOUSING UNIT.

OUR VACANCY RATES WERE AT ZERO.

I WAS JUST TALKING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF HOUSING IN VERMONT WHO WAS SAYING I'M LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN -- VERIFIED BY FEMA WERE DAMAGED AND THE NUMBER NOT SALVAGEABLE.

FEMA HAS STARTED SCOURING TO SEE HOW MANY RECOMMENDS ARE AVAILABLE WHERE WE CAN RELOCATE PEOPLE AND THE NUMBERS DO NOT MATCH.

RIGHT?

EVEN IF YOU ARE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS TO GET HELP FROM FEMA AND FIND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO LAND.

SO I THINK THAT THE HOUSING REALLY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

>> INDEED.

ANNE, YOU WANTED TO JUMP IN.

>> ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE HOUSING DYNAMIC IS A LOT OF THE LABOR FORCE, WE ALREADY HAD A SHORTAGE FOR BUILDING AND THEY HAVE BEEN PULLED INTO THE REPAIR WORK SO THAT ANY HOUSING THAT WAS UNDER WAY NOW THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

ONE THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE, AND REPAIR CREWS ARE NOT AS AVAILABLE AS THEY USED TO BE.

THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE EMPHASIZED HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN AREAS AND THOSE ARE OFTEN RIGHT AROUND RIVERS, CERTAINLY IN MANY TOWNS BATLY HIT, SO THERE'S SOME QUESTION WHETHER WE SHOULD REPAIR HOMES OR REBUILD OR IF WE SHOULD COME UP WITH A WAY OF MOVING HOUSES UP INTO THE HILLS.

WHICH HAD NOT BEEN A POLICY PRIORITY AT ALL BEFORE.

>> THAT'S A CENTRAL QUESTION NOW.

NOT EVEN JUST ABOUT RESTORING WHAT WE HAVE BUT WHETHER WE SHOULD BE REBUILDING AT ALL IN SOME OF THESE PLACES.

WE NEED MORE HOUSING, BUT IS IT GOING TO BE THE SAME THING TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD?

IRENE WAS A DOZEN YEARS AGO, THE SAME PLACES GOT HIT AGAIN.

IN LOOKING AT WHAT MITIGATION WORK POST IRENE I'M HEARING MORE PEOPLE TALK -- AFTER IRENE IT WAS HOW WE REBUILD STRONGER NOW I'M HEARING MORE SHOULD WE REBUILD.

SHOULD WE BE IN THREES PLACES.

IT'S TOUGH.

>> I'M HEARING WHETHER WE SHOULD DOUBLE DOWN ON THE KIND OF HOUSE BUY-BACK PROGRAM THAT WE SAW AFTER IRENE.

I THINK A HUGE CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW WE NEED TO RETREAT FROM THESE AREAS BUT THAT TAKES A LOT MORE TIME AND MORE MONEY THAN SIMPLY FIXING AND REBUILDING.

WHEN THERE'S ALREADY NO PLACE TO PUT PEOPLE, I THINK POLICY MAKERS AND ALSO INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS OR LANDLORDS ARE GOING TO FIND THEMSELVES TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH DO WE DO?

BOTH WILL HAVE HUGE DOWNSIDES.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

>> IT'S TRUE.

WE HAVE FOLKS IN BARRE WHO ARE REFLECTING ON THAT AS WELL.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> MONEY THAT WENT INTO MY ACCOUNT IS LIKE GIVING A STARVING CHILD A SMALL COOKIE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENED ON MY PROPERTY.

>> I'M 75 YEARS OLD.

I CAN'T REHAB THAT HOUSE, THROW $100,000 INTO IT AND HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT YEAR WHICH IS LIKELY.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, RENTERS MAKING THESE CHOICE WHR-S TO REBUILD, DO WE REBUILD IN THE SAME PLACE, REALLY EXISTENTIAL QUESTIONS.

THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK WE HAD A JOINT HEARING OF HOUSE AND SENATE LAWMAKERS THAT MET AT THE STATE HOUSE TO REALLY BEGIN TO U.S.S.

OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE FLOOD RECOVERY AND REALLY WHAT THE NEXT SIX, EIGHT, TEN MONTHS WILL LOOK LIKE.

ANNE, YOU WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

>> A LOT OF IT WAS THE MEETING WAS HELD WITH THE TWO OF THE MAJOR COMMITTEES THAT HANDLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE SENATE AND HOUSE SIDE.

A LOT OF IT THE PURPOSE WAS TO GET AN IDEA OF ESTABLISH A REPORT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW.

THEY HEARD IMMEDIATELY FROM SOME BUSINESS GROUPS SAYING THEY ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PRIVATE FUND-RAISING GOING ON AND THERE HAS BEEN A VERY STRONG EFFORT TO DO THAT AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN RAISED WITHIN VERMONT BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IF I LOST ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, VERY, VERY FEW BUSINESSES, I THINK UNDER A THOUSAND, HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN.

EVEN IF THEY HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE THEY HAVE HUGE DEDURABILITYIBLES, AS MUCH AS $100,000.

THEY NEED CASH.

THE MONTPELIER FUND IS ONLY $1 MILLION BUT WHEN YOU PARCEL IT OUT IT'S NOT MUCH MONEY.

THEY ARE PUSHING LAWMAKERS HARD ALREADY TO FIND SOME MONEY FOR THEM.

THIS IS ONE THING THAT CAME UP REPEATEDLY AT THIS MEETING, THIS JOINT MEETING AT THE STATE HOUSE YESTERDAY.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE WAS ALSO TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE RESPONSE TO THE OVER ALL SITUATION IN MONTPELIER WHERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS THERE WAS A LOT OF TRASH PILED UP ON THE STREET.

PEOPLE WERE PICKING THROUGH IT AND IT WASN'T A SECURE SITUATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE REPORTED THEFTS FROM THEIR STORAGE DURING THAT TIME.

LAWMAKERS HAVE A LOT OF COMPLICATED EMERGENCY MANAGEMET TYPE POLICY TO ARRIVE AT AS THESE TYPE OF EMERGENCIES KEEP HAPPENING.

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY SITUATION, WHAT BUSINESSES ARE FACING, THE SCOTT ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED $20 MILLION THAT THEY THEY WERE ABLE TO FREE UP AND WILL RELEASE NEXT WEEK TO BUSINESSES TO ESSENTIALLY HELP THEM WEATHER THE STORM AND TO BEGIN TO REBUILD.

HERE'S HOW GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT DESCRIBED THIS GRANT PROGRAM.

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR, RIGHT UP FRONT, $20 MILLION WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.

WON'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO MEET THE TOTAL NEED OR EVEN REACH ALL IMPACTED BUSINESSES.

IN SHORT, THIS IS NOT A PERFECT OR COMPLETE SOLUTION TO THE CHALLENGES EMPLOYERS FACE BUT WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO WHAT WE CAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> AS YOU JUST HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE 20 MILLION REALLY ISN'T BEGINNING TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE.

LOLA, HOW FAR WILL THIS MONEY GO.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LAWMAKERS AS WELL, WHAT DO YOU SEE THIS DAMAGE AND ALL OF THIS MONEY HAVING ON STATE'S BOTTOM LINE?

>> I THINK BIG REASON WHY THE SCOTT ADMINISTRATION PUSHED THIS OUT THE DOOR TO BUSINESSES IS WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS FROM FEMA, IT'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, NOBODY WILL BE FULLY MADE WHOLE, BUT BUSINESSES ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS LOANS.

SO MANY OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY KIND OF OVER-LEFT RAEUPLGED FROM THE COVID ERA SO THEY ARE SAYING I CAN'T TAKE OUT ANOTHER LOAN.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

I THINK THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT GOVERNOR SCOTT SAID WAS JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AT THE STATE LEVEL I'M SEEING OFFICIALS SAY CLEARLY TRYING TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.

I THINK THERE'S AN AWARENESS THAT THIS IS GOING TO COST SO MUCH MONEY AND THAT THE MONEY IS NOT THERE.

WE'RE SEEING FEDERAL DELEGATION SAY THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR VERMONT TO GET AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN, BUT WHAT THEY ARE REALLY FIGHTING FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FEMA'S FUNDING DOESN'T DRY UP.

I THINK THAT OUR EXPERIENCE WITH COVID FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE IS GOING TO BE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE STATE SEES WITH THE FLOOD RECOVERY.

BECAUSE DURING COVID, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN AND SPENT AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF MONEY AND IT WAS STRANGE.

COVID WAS TRAUMATIC AND DIFFICULT, BUT FOR THIS BRIEF MOMENT MONEY WAS NOT AN OBJECT FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENT, RIGHT?

WE HAD THE MONEY THAT WE NEEDED.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME.

OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE.

THEY WILL LIKELY BE SUCCESSFUL BUT LIKELY SUCCESSFUL AT JUST GETTING FEMA -- CONGRESS TO REPLENISH FEMA'S EXISTING DISASTER FUND.

WHICH IS ALREADY RUNNING LOW WITH HURRICANE SEASON RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE KINDS OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE SAW DURING COVID.

THAT'S GOING TO BE EXCRUCIATINGLY DIFFICULT FOR BUSINESSES, RENTERS, OWNERS, LANDLORDS.

AND THE STATE.

>> CERTAINLY HAVING SENATOR LEAHY NOT BE IN OFFICE ANY MORE, HAVING FRESH FACES IN OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, CERTAINLY THAT IS A CHALLENGE.

OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WROTE A LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK SAYING VERMONT'S SMALL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEEDLY AND ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THE RECENT DEVASTATION.

INSTEAD IN THE DAYS SINCE THE STORMS TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE RELIED ON RESIDENTS TO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR JOBS AND FAMILIES TO HELP CLEAN UP ROADS, DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AND HOMES.

THEREFORE WE ASK THE FHWA PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF QUICK FUNDING POSSIBLE UNDER THE FHWA ER PROGRAM TO SAUL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO DESPERATELY NEEDED CAPITAL.

SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS AS YOU ALLUDED TO IT WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY ARE URGING EVERYONE AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD TO REGISTER WITH THE 211 NUMBER.

THAT IS THE KEY TO GETTING A SENSE OF HOW MUCH DAMAGE THERE WAS AND WHO WAS AFFECTED.

STATE OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THAT'S KEY TO GETTING FEMA TO PAY ATTENTION AND DIRECT MORE FUNDING TO THE COUNTIES AND TO THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS.

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP BUSINESSES.

THERE ARE NO BUSINESS GRANTS FROM FEMA.

THE RESIDENTS MAY GET REIMBURSED FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THE BUSINESSES ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT FROM FEMA SO THEY ARE DIRECTLY APPEALING TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THAT EXTRA ONE OR 200 MILLION THEY HAD DURING COVID.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OTHER TOPICS I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON OUR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY AS WELL THIS WEEK WE'RE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTALITY OF SOME OF THE DAMAGE ON FARMS AND CANNABIS BUSINESSES, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO STATE OFFICIALS TOURED FARMS ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY SAID THERE'S ABOUT 1,000 ACRES AT LEAST THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE STORM.

HERE'S WHAT THE STATE'S TOP AGRICULTURE SECRETARY SAID ABOUT SOME OF THE FLOODING THIS WEEK.

>> MAY BE ONE WEEK, THREE WEEKS, THREE-MONTHS, A YEAR.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL THE RESOURCES FROM CONGRESS, THE STATE, OUR PARTNERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, EXTENSION SERVICE THEN PRIVATE DONATIONS.

THAT'S ANOTHER ASPECT THAT'S REALLY HELPING NOW.

>> WE'RE CONFIDENT WE WILL RECEIVE SOME HELP.

IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY EVERY NEED?

NO.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIG DEEP.

WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE.

WE HAVE TO REACH INTO EVERY POT IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THIS.

>> OF COURSE WHILE THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IS WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES, ANNE, I WANTED TO COME BACK TO YOU QUICKLY, THERE WERE CHALLENGES FOR FOLKS IN MARSHFIELD THIS WEEK GETTING CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

>> THEY HAD A MINI-LANDSLIDE.

ONE OF ITS ROADS WASHED ON TO ROUTE 2 WAND IT THE WATER PARTNERSHIPS.

THE VILLAGE WAS OUT OF WATER FOR TEN DAYS.

IN THAT TIME THE HEAD OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN COMING UNDER A LOT OF CRITICISM FROM BUSINESSES TOO.

IN GENERAL THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS COME UNDER A LOT OF FIRE FOR THE WAY THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN ORGANIZED.

THAT'S JENNIFER MORRISON.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW MARSHFIELD HAD NOT HAD RUNNING WATER FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE WAS A FLOOD OF AID INTO WHERE I LIVE.

IT WAS A GRASS ROOTS RESPONSE IN MARSHFIELD, ROUTE 2 CUT OFF ON BOTH SIDES SO OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR JUSTIN CAMPBELL, WHO IS A VOLUNTEER, WAS HANDLING REBUILDING, GETTING DRINKING WATER, TRYING TO WORKER WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TO GET MORE HELP FOR RESIDENTS WHO DIDN'T HAVE RUNNING WATER.

FOR SOME REASON THERE WAS LACK OF COMMUNICATION IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER REALLY KNEW THAT MARSHFIELD DIDN'T HAVE WATER.

WE ONLY HAVE TWO TOWN OFFICIALS AND THEY WERE CALLING.

BUT LUCKILY I WILL SAY THAT OUR RUNNING WATER WAS RESTORED.

TODAY OUR BOIL WATER ORDER WAS LIFTED.

>> GOOD TO HEAR HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

>> I WANTED TO TURN TO NONFLOOD NEWS.

THE GEARS OF GOVERNMENT ARE STILL TURNING ALONG.

LIAM, THIS WEEK WE SAW THERE WAS A BILL PASSED, A PAIR OF BILLS BY THE LEGISLATURE THIS PAST YEAR ABORTION SHIELD PROVIDER SHIELD LAWS.

THERE IS A GROUP THAT IS POTENTIALLY OR THAT IS CHALLENGING IT IN COURT.

>> WE SAW LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THIS BILL WHICH WAS EXPECTED SO NOT TOTALLY SURPRISING THIS WAS HAPPENING.

ESSENTIALLY TWO SO-CALLED CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS ARE SUING THE STATE OF VERMONT SAYING THAT THE NEW LAWS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY RESTRICT SOME OF THEIR ABILITY, FREE SPEECH ABILITY IN THERE.

ESSENTIALLY THE NEW LAW IS A CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW THAT BANS DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING AND PRACTICES.

PROPONENTS SAY THESE CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS DECEPTIVELY MARKET THEMSELVES AS HEALTH CARE AND CLINICS ESSENTIALLY AND THEY ARE REALLY ABOUT TRYING TO SWAY PEOPLE AWAY FROM GETTING AN ABORTION.

THAT'S THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ANGLE.

THEY ARE SUING ABOUT THAT LAW WHICH WAS EXPECTED.

>> HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I DO -- LAWMAKERS WERE TOLD THAT THIS LAWSUIT WOULD COME AND THEY WROTE THE BILL ACCORDINGLY.

THAT IS WHY CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS ARE NOW EXPLICITLY INCLUDED IN VERMONT'S CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT.

WE SAW A PREVIEW OF THOSE ARGUMENTS AGAIN.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW JUDGES RULE.

I WOULD EXPECT THIS TO BE APPEALED TO ALL LEVELS.

SO IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY FROM THE STATE.

BUT BASICALLY THEY INCLUDED THESE CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS IN THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT SO THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, RIGHT, AGAINST THEM FOR DECEPTIVE MARKETING.

THE ARGUMENT IS THEY BASICALLY PRESENT THEMSELVES SO THAT A WOMAN WHO FINDS THAT SHE IS PREGNANT AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WILL GO TO THEM EXPECTING TO GET NEUTRAL MEDICAL ADVICE.

THERE ARE OPTIONS INCLUDING AN ABORTION.

THESE PLACE EXIST LARGELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF COUNSELING WOMEN OUT OF GETTING AN ABORTION.

THE ARGUMENT FROM THE STATE IS THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE AN ABORTION CLINIC ALREADY IS SUBJECT TO THESE DECEPTIVE MARKETING LAWS.

THE CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS TECHNICALLY WEREN'T CHARGING FOR THEIR SERVICES, NOW THEY WILL BE.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF THE LEGAL SYSTEM BUYS IT.

VERY CURIOUS TO SEE.

>> ONE STEP AT A TIME.

SPREEING OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM, LIAM, YOU HAD REPORTING THIS WEEK ON THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION.

AS YOU REPORTED POTENTIALLY GEARING UP FOR A LEGAL FIGHT.

>> WE HAVE TWO IMPEACHMENT INQUIRIES GOING ON.

STATE'S ATTORNEY JOHN LAVOIE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY AND THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHAEUFRPB, JOHN GRISMORE, SEPARATE INSTANCES.

THIS WEEK WE SAW FOCUSED ON GRISMORE, THE SHERIF.

THEY SET ASIDE SOME MONEY IN CASE THEY NEED TO BRING HIM TO COURT TO ENFORCE A SUBPOENA THEY SENT.

THE SUBPOENA IS FOR DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THEIR INVESTIGATION OF SOME ALLEGED MISCONDUCT INCLUDING HIM FACING AN ASSAULT CHARGE FOR KICKING A SHACKLED MAN.

THE STATE IS INVESTIGATING THE DEPARTMNT FOR FINANCIAL ISSUES.

WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE SUBPOENA IS SEARCHING FOR.

GRISMORE TOLD ME IT INCLUDES FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS THEY ARE SEEKING.

HE HAS SAID THAT HE INTENDS TO COMPLY WITH THAT SUBPOENA, BUT HE HASN'T GIVEN A TIME FRAME, WHICH IS WHY THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO SET ASIDE MONEY IN CASE THEY NEEDED TO GO TO COURT TO COMPEL HIM TO TURN OVER THESE DOCUMENTS FOR THEIR INVESTIGATION.

>> WE HAVE SHERIFF GRISMORE IN A STATEMENT HE SAID, THE REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTS MADE THROUGH THE SUBPOENA IS ENORMOUS AND WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO PUT TOGETHER.

TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON MY STAFF WHO WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE SAID DOCUMENTS.

WE HAVE MERELY ASKED FOR MORE TIME TO COMPLETE THE REQUEST WHICH IS CERTAINLY ACCEPTABLE.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS GOING?

>> INVESTIGATORS FOR THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE DON'T WANT TO GO TO COURT.

THEY WOULD RATHER WORK OUT A TIMELINE WITH THE SHERIFF BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> AS THERE'S BEEN OF COURSE A FLOOD OF OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND FUND-RAISING FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD.

WE HAD A PAIR OF REALLY HIGH PROFILE VERMONT MUSICAL ARTISTS, NOAH KAHN AND PHISH.

THEY HAVE BEEN HOSTING TWO SEPARATE FLOOD BENEFITS, PHISH OF COURSE IS GOING TO BE PLAYING IN SARATOGA.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A SURPRISE.

SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FANS OF VERMONT JAM BANDS.

I THINK THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LIAM ELDER-CONNORS WITH VERMONT PUBLIC, ANNE WALLACE ALLEN WITH SEVEN DAYS, AND LOLA DUFFORT, POLITICS REPORTER WITH VTDIGGER.

THANKS SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

TUNE IN THIS TIME NEXT WEEK.