by Guy Page
At a press conference on Wednesday, Gov. Phil Scott outlined nearly $49 million in federal disaster recovery grants that will support housing, infrastructure and mitigation projects in flood-damaged communities.
Scott also:
- agrees with Vermont Democratic Party that DUI-embattled Addison County state’s attorney Eva Vekos should resign;
- May seek to replace the members for the School District Redistricting Task Force who last monthly refused to create a state school district map as required by Act 73 but instead went rogue and recommended administrative sharing and voluntary school mergers
- Said he knows of no plan to build an AI data center in Vermont, but worries that artificial intelligence may increase electricity rates, already on the rise due to climate-change inspired electrification.
Funding for nearly $49 million for flood recovery, almost 200 new homes
Scott announced funding for 25 projects made possible through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program, targeting counties hardest hit by the July 2023 floods. Flood-stricken Washington and Lamoille counties will receive the majority of funding, as required by federal rules, while additional allocations will go to other affected counties approved by HUD.
The grants include $27.5 million for housing, supporting nearly 200 new or restored homes, $13.3 million for resilient infrastructure, and $6 million for mitigation work such as dam removal and floodplain restoration.
Downstreet Housing & Community Development will receive roughly $14.5 million to build 81 new permanently affordable homes in Montpelier; in Barre, where the Stevens Brook Apartments will be built in a flood plain but with proven flood-proof design and construction; and in Johnson, where some college dorms will be converted into affordable housing. Groundbreaking on the Barre project is targeted for June, with fall starts in Montpelier and Johnson.
Scott said the state must still address long-term system-wide housing problems, noting that Vermont has not kept pace with housing construction for decades.
“Our demographic and affordability crisis only gets worse when we make it harder and more expensive to build,” he said.
Vekos: Governor aligns With Dem call for resignation
The governor weighed in on the recent media reports detailing ethics complaints – including alleged insensitivity to female victims of abuse – against Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos. The Vermont Democratic Party has urged Vekos to resign. Scott said he agrees.
“I do think that it’s time to make a change,” Scott said, adding that while he has no direct authority over an elected county prosecutor, he supports the position taken by Democratic leadership.
As reported by Vermont News First reporter Michael Donoghue this October, Vekos reached an tentative agreement this fall to end her 20-month legal battle over a driving while intoxicated arrest when she responded to a homicide to help police: Pleading no contest to the DUI charge in return for a 90-day deferred sentence.
If she resigns, Scott will name a replacement to complete her term, which expires after next November’s election. In 2022 she defeated primary challenger Tim Lueders-Dumont in the then-overwhelmingly Democrat county. Lueders-Dumont is now executive director of the Vermont Sheriff’s and State’s Attorney Association, and it is unclear whether he would seek the post. One dark horse candidate would be attorney, legal cannabis advocate, and Addison County Bailiff David Silberman.
Artificial intelligence: growing power demand, no VT data centers yet
Asked about the national boom in AI data centers and concerns that they strain electric grids, Scott said he is not aware of any proposals for AI centers in Vermont. However, he warned that regional power sharing means large facilities in other states could still affect Vermont ratepayers.
“We need more power as we electrify, and AI is going to take a lot of it,” Scott said. “It’s something we have to be wary of.”
He described AI’s rapid advancement as both promising and potentially destabilizing, particularly if widely circulated AI-generated information is treated as fact.
Redistricting: maps must come first before Task Force decisions
Scott said the state cannot proceed with changes to the Act 73 redistricting and school governance process until district maps are completed. Legislative leaders and the administration are still determining next steps regarding the task force and its membership.
“We can’t make any moves until we have the maps,” Scott said. “Act 73 was clear on that.”
He rejected the suggestion that lawmakers move forward with the foundation formula alone, arguing that would deepen inequities between towns.
“There would be haves and have-nots,” he said. “Some communities could move forward and others would be forced to cut programs kids need.”