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politics
Media Notes
2/4/14 8:58 AM
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SEVEN DAYS
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802-497-3913 2/17/14 2:51 PM
FAIR GAME 13
As most news outlets have languished and downsized in recent years, Vermont Public Radio has had only good news to report. In the past two years, the station extended the signal of its news station to Brattleboro and its classical station to Rutland and Montpelier. It created several new positions, including a weekend reporter, a digital producer, and an Upper Valley and Northeast Kingdom correspondent. But on Monday afternoon, VPR vice president Brian Donahue emailed the staff to say that the station had laid off two employees earlier that day: an accounting associate and VPR Classical host Joe Goetz. āVPR hasnāt taken a step such as this before, and doesnāt take it now without a great deal of reflection,ā Donohue wrote,
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adding later in the email: āThis is an unusual measure and one VPR does not anticipate needing to take again.ā So whatās going on at VPR? āWe implemented a three-year strategic plan recently, and we recognized that we had new demands and new needs,ā says president and CEO roBin turnau. āWe thought the best way to meet the needs was by restructuring the departments. It shouldnāt in any way be reflective of the performance of the two people who are involved and impacted by the decision.ā According to Turnau, the accounting associate will be replaced by a staff accountant with more training. Goetz will be replaced by a managing producer for VPR Classical, who will also have on-air hosting duties. Turnau says the layoffs were not prompted by financial difficulties at VPR, which brought in $8 million in revenue in fiscal year 2012. Rather, the station needs more accounting expertise as it looks to a $10 million capital campaign and facilities upgrade. And VPR Classical requires someone to play āa leadership role,ā she says. āVPR is doing very well,ā Turnau says. āWeāre on strong financial footing. We have very generous support from our listeners and our underwriters. This was definitely not made for budgetary reasons.ā Goetz, who joined VPR in 2007, served as VPR Classical host from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. According to Turnau, that slot will be filled by Minnesota Public Radio programming until heās replaced. Goetz declined to comment Monday, but he addressed his departure in a Facebook post not long after he was let go. āWell today was interesting,ā he wrote. āEffective immediately, I am no longer employed by VPR. It came as a shock, of course, but these things happen. Iām so grateful to my loyal listeners in Vermont over the past six and a half years and the friendships and musical partnerships Iāve made during my job. Despite my mix of shock, sadness and anger, I encourage all of you to continue supporting VPR for the great work that happens there every day. Now, on to the next adventure.ā m
SEVENDAYSVt.com
comprehensive legislation drawing on several of the ideas Lisman pitched. Her bill, cosponsored by 23 other Republicans and Democrats, would establish a uniform code of ethics for elected and appointed officials, an ethics commission to enforce it, and penalties for violations. She would also require statewide officeholders and appointees making more than $30,000 ā but not legislators ā to disclose their personal finances. āI just want to make sure weāre on the up and up, and I think Vermonters want that, too,ā Scheuermann says. āItās really the perception of a conflict of interest, and perception is reality in politics.ā Itās unclear whether Scheuermannās bill, if passed, would have any bearing on Waite-Simpsonās situation. The legislation would prohibit lawmakers from taking āany official action that materially advances the interest of any person with whom he or she is seeking employment,ā but Waite-Simpsonās vote came well before she sought the job. It would prevent elected or appointed officials from lobbying for two years after leaving office, but Waite-Simpson isnāt a registered lobbyist and hasnāt, of course, left office. But one thing Scheuermann says her bill would do is provide more clarity about what constitutes a conflict. In addition to policing abuses, her ethics commission would also provide guidance to officials wondering whatās OK ā and whatās not. āMy goal is for conflicts not to happen, not to punish people,ā she says.