Snelling Center for Government

Commission on the Future of Economic Development (CFED)
The Snelling Center is providing executive support services to the Commission on the Future of Economic Development. CFED is a legislatively designated commission with the task of conducting strategic planning on economic development in Vermont. Each commission's five year plan shall identify the long term goals for Vermont economic development and job retention in light of the local and global economic climate and for increasing the wellbeing of Vermonters and their communities. The plan shall identify prioritized criteria by which to evaluate legislative proposals for economic development programs in the coming five years which will best serve the goals of the five year plan. It shall include the development of a meaningful benchmark process that sets economic development goals appropriate for Vermont and measures the state's position relative to those goals.

Transportation Priorities and Finance Options in Vermont
There is no dispute that Vermont’s roads, culverts, and bridges are suffering rapid, net deterioration, and that our rail and public transportation assets need attention. Vermont’s legislative and administration leaders express that restoring existing infrastructure is a top priority. Still, according to VTrans, maintaining the current average bridge condition will require at least $55 million per year in addition to the $57 million we currently spend. Vermont’s legislative and administration leaders share a philosophy that maintaining our current transportation assets is of the highest priority; however there is not yet a shared programmatic strategy to take the state forward. Since we can’t do everything, Vermonters will need to decide the principles of how any additional monies should be spent, and how possibly to reallocate monies that exist. The Snelling Center proposes to research and provide a clear statement of the transportation infrastructure situation and its projected future under a “business as usual” scenario, research and present possible financing options or combinations of options to sustain or strategically increase funding for infrastructure improvement, engage the public in the strategic choices described above: to distill principles, rank priorities, and consider funding alternatives.

AARP, Livable Cities Program
Under contract to AARP-Vermont, the Snelling Center is conducting policy research and organizing public involvement in a long-term effort to make Burlington one of America’s most livable communities for people of all ages. The effort seeks to create an explicit vision for how Burlington will meet the needs of its aging population and make the city a truly livable community for all its residents. The process is focused on three elements: mobility, housing, and community engagement.

Green Economy
The Snelling Center for Government (Snelling Center), working with the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC), facilitated  a process and generated a report that outlines strategic concepts to inform public policy and legislation in advancing development of the green economic sector and green practices in all Vermont businesses and institutions.  GBIC commenced work on this project in the summer of 2007 and contracted with the Snelling Center in December to conduct a fast cycle policy development and outreach process.  The two organizations designed and implemented a multi-step engagement project to solicit the ideas, experiences and recommendations of Vermont's leading green business leaders and stakeholders essential to successful development and implementation of future efforts to create a vibrant green economic cluster and enhance green practices in Vermont.

Agency of Transportation Long Range Plan
The purpose of this project is to update the Long Range Transportation Plan for the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans). The update will incorporate on-going planning work at the state and regional levels, satisfy the requirements of federal legislation, use innovative planning techniques, and be developed as a business plan. The final outcome will be the Vermont Long Range Transportation Business Plan (LRTBP). The Snelling Center is working under contract to Resource Systems Group, Inc. of White River Jct., which is the main contractor for the planning process.

Vermont Council on Education Governance
The General Assembly created the Council on Education Governance in 2003 (Act 68). It directed the Council to engage in a discussion of effective governance structures for delivery of quality public education services to Vermont children and to determine whether Vermont’s overall structure should be modified. The Council is made up of a broad, bi-partisan group of education leaders, state officials, legislators, parents, business representatives and others. They have developed a comprehensive description of Vermont’s current education governance system and examined Vermont law to determine the need for changes to enable productive discussion about changes to governance structures. They have provided grant awards to supervisory unions to support work related to delineation of roles and responsibilities and realignment of governance. The Snelling Center was engaged in a process to help the Council evaluate those grant funded local efforts and to provide a report on the lessons learned at the local level.

Vermont Clean Cities Coalition Project
Under contract to the Vermont Department of Public Service, the Snelling Center is helping to re-establish the Vermont Clean Vehicle Coalition. The two main goals of the work are to meet the goals of the federal Clean Cities Program to “advance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to reduced petroleum consumption in the transportation sector,” and to increase in Vermont the number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) and hybrids, AFV refueling stations, VCVC participants, AFV funding, and increase public visibility for AFVs. A specific outcome of this work will be finding a permanent host for the project and to create excitement around Clean Fueled Vehicles and options for clean transportation in Vermont. The Snelling Center is working with the UVM Transportation Center to permanently establish a Clean Cities program.

Constitutional Amendment Project
In 2007, the Vermont Legislature will again face the questions: ‘Should the Governor’s term be two years or four years? What about other statewide offices such as Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Auditor, Secretary of State and Attorney General? What about state senators and representatives? If there are longer terms, should term limits be considered? Our project will stimulate voters to engage in a serious inquiry of whether two-year or four-year terms of office are in the best interest of Vermont. Voters will be encouraged to take advantage of research, forums, presentations, and other tools. Informed public opinion and a thorough and visible public discussion will be the basis on which the Legislature will make its decision in the 2007 – 2008 biennium.