The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 23

fcbelBurlingtonJfreeJDress Brooks named leader of House Democrats Page9B section Energy assistance, courtesy Exxon Courts giveth, Congress taketh away '80s. The state has received $7.5 million in oil overcharge money stemming from federal court decisions involving Exxon, Stripper and Diamond Shamrock oil companies. Nationwide, Exxon alone was Ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court to pay more than billion. 1 Vermont has received an additional $1 million in interest from past overcharge decisions and expects to receive more than $1 million more over the next five years as the result of a decision involving Congress has twisted the intent of the court decisions and poor Americans may suffer.

Historically, the state has directed about 15 percent of its federal fuel assistance block grant toward Vermont's Weatherization Assistance Program, said Pamela Greene, director of the state Office of Economic Opportunity. The oil overcharge money appeared to be a great way to supplement that funding source, she said. Always vigilant in finding ways to trim the federal budget, somebody on Capitol Hill noticed Turn to CONGRESS, 11B James E. Bressor Press Staff Writer MONTPELIER Although oil overcharge has helped hundreds of Vermonters reduce energy costs, Congress has found a way to this small windfall into a nightmare. Courts ruled that Exxon and other oil had to hand millions of dollars over to states as a way of reimbursing consumers for fuel.

That in itself appears to be an act justice. according to several state officials, By James E. Bressor Free Press Staff Writer MONTPELIER When a 90-year-old Orange County woman recently complained about unexplained health problems, money from a special fund brought a state official to her house. Not only did the woman learn she had been inhaling dangerous fumes because her propane heater's vent had separated from the wall, she received a complete study of her home's energy needs. Money from the same fund is helping dozens of schools convert from electric heat to less-costly forms of heat, such as oil, natural gas and wood.

And next year when a few hundred Vermont farmers start using innovative methods of saving electricity, such as extracting heat from their bulk tank By Free money their turn companies the overpriced of But compressors to clean milking equipment, again the money will come from the same source: a multi-million dollar pool of dollars genericly known as the oil overcharge money. In each case, the energy-saving and in the case of the elderly Orange County 0 Texaco. Although each decision varies slightly, the courts have generally ruled thai states must spend the money on programs intended to save energy. Gov. Madeleine Kunin appointed an Oil Overcharge Task Turn to OIL, 3B Caucus system criticized Popularity contests may invite scandal By Enrique Corredera Free Press Staff Writer Starting this week, with the Progressive Coalition going first, the three major political factions will soon pick a candidate to represent them in March's mayoral election.

The process by which the mayoral candidates are picked is known as the caucus. Under the caucus system, the contender who manages to bring the most supporters into the room wins the endorsement. Progressive candidate Peter Clavelle last week announced his bid for mayor. Democratic aldermen Bill Aswad, D-Ward 4, and Nancy Chioffi, D-Ward 5, and Rick Sharp, also a Democrat and a Burlington lawyer, all intend to seek their party's nomination. No Republicans have yet joined the race, but Margaret Green is reportedly considering a run for the GOP nomination.

The caucus system has been used in Burlington for as long as people can Turn to CAUCUS, 12B sound off XT Sunday, December 4, 1988 City Editor, Sam Hemingway Phone: 863-3471, ext. 2017 State notes Charlotte man injured in collision with train CHARLOTTE A Charlotte man was injured, and his car was demolished in a collision with a train Saturday afternoon. George Fox, 44, the driver, was admitted to the Medical Center of Vermont with chest injuries after his car struck a two-car Central Vermont Railway excursion train that was crossing Ferry Road in Charlotte. Fox was driving west on Ferry Road less than a mile from U.S. 7 at aboil noon at the time of the accident, according to state police in Colchester.

The warning signals at the crossing were working, but Fox failed to see them, police said. Fox saw the train at the last minute and attempted to stop, but struck the train, police said. No one was injured on the train that had been rented by a private party, and no citations were issued, police said. The warning signals were damaged at the crossing and will not operate for a week. Power outage strikes downtown Burlington A brief power outage early Saturday afternoon tripped security alarms and shut down traffic signals in some areas of downtown Burlington.

The incident occurred at 12:23 p.m., said Don Rabidoux, dispatcher for the Burlington Electric Department. "We lost one of the major feeds off the East Avenue bus," he said. "That's one of our three main ties to the outside world." The outage hit South Prospect and Pearl streets parts of downtown and the University of Vermont and the Medical Center Hospital. At the time, other parts of the city were hit with a power surge. Although the downed area had power 35 minutes later, it took power company workers until 5:30 p.m.

to finally restore the system. "We located the problem," Rabidoux said. "You could call it a bad wire." Albany auto wreck kills Irasburg woman ALBANY An Irasburg woman was killed Saturday in a single-car accident in Albany, just four miles from her home. State police in Derby said Cynthia Strong, 33, was traveling north on Vermont 14 in Albany at 11:55 a.m. when she lost control of her car.

After completing a curve, Strong veered off the west of the road, hit a tree stump and was pinned to her car, a police spokesman said. She was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. Strong's death brings to 118 the number of fatalities on Vermont highways this year, compared to 109 this time last year. Long Trail land project gets financial boost The Green Mountain Club is $10,000 closer to preserving a parcel of land in Johnson that includes two miles of Vermont's Long Trail. The Fund for Vermont's Third Century gave the club the challenge grant, which must be matched by $30,000 from other sources, so it can purchase the 607 acre parcel.

Third Century funds are granted to communities and non-profit groups dedicated to preserving historical, cultural and natural resources in Vermont. The Long Trail is the oldest long distance hiking trail in the nation and was inspiration for the better known Appalachian Trail. Unclaimed money goes back in Megabucks pot About $900,000 In unclaimed Tri-State Megabucks prize money will be turned over to the lottery's players Saturday. The money will go toward the purchase of an annuity that will boost the week's jackpot by $1.8 million. Winning tickets are declared expired if not claimed within one year after announced, according to Megabucks rules.

After tickets expire, the winnings must be returned to lottery players. Since December 1987, a weekly average of $15,000 to $20,000 in Match 3,4 and 5 prize money has gone unclaimed. Inside Around the state 4B Deaths Blrthj2B Your view. 2B Barn destroyed South Burlington firefighter Sonny Audette and farmer John Belter watch as flames destroy a storage barn on Belter's farm early Saturday morning. Firefighters were called to the fire on Ethan Allen Drive at about 5 a.m.

The blaze is under investigation. woman, life-saving initiatives will have found their way into Vermont homes, schools and barns because of federal court decisions ordering several oil companies to reimburse consumers, via state governments, for overpriced fuel sold during the late '70s and early JYM WILSON, FrM Press 4 uiiiiirua i.i CHIsTIR I. A i. ROB SWANSON, Fr. Praii "i 1 "I ti The town grant to study the absorb large "Any mountain is Marc Jaffee, Isle Regional In organizing Corry, said impact the would have telecommunications property he access road "Nothing Zoning attend the "Walt Steel "It seems like once.

It would development, "I think people's or whatever Montgomery residents quick to By Richard Cowperthwalt Free Press Correspondent MONTGOMERY CENTER -Pressing and related issues of a proposed large-scale development off Vermont 242, municipal sewage treatment system and a new elementary school were vigorously debated Saturday at what organizer Charles Corry termed a "more or less spontaneous gathering." A town resident for 13 years, Corry was motivated in part because of what he said was a lack of leadership by town officials on key issues facing the town. He said afterward that the meeting should dispel any notion that townspeople are not interested in the issues and the town's future. Opinions varied among the 40 people who attended the spirited meeting. But there seemed to be a consensus that the session was constructive, the debate healthy, and greater participation is desirable as the scenic eastern Franklin County community close to the Jay Peak ski area braces for and attempts to deal with inevitable changes. "The more you get people talking, the more you break down the rumor mill," said Joe Sherman, the town moderator.

He drew some laughs when he likened the participation issue in Montgomery to a joke: "Is this a private fight or can anybody get into it?" While terming the meeting "terrific," Planning Commissioner Nancy Patch said the commission wants public input and had distributed a survey to townspeople as part of the ongoing process of updating the town plan and revising zoning regulations that date to 1975. A public hearing is scheduled Dec. 20 on the issue. While saying he trusted Patch's commitment to the p' -nning process, resident Barry Kade said the survey question about whether residents favored a municipal sewer system did not address such key issues as cost and its relation to development. A Dec.

13 hearing is scheduled on the town's proposed application for a $750,000 implementation grant for the sewer system. The project has been discussed in part because of problems with septic systems and concern about pollution of the Trout River. The problem of sewage disposal also was a key factor in a School Board proposal to build an elementary school about two miles outside of Montgomery Center off Vermont 118 on property owned by Gordon Mercy. The issue some townspeople think the board instead should wait to see if the sewer system progresses so the school could remain in the center may come before voters at March town meeting. recently received a $10,000 special planning under Act 200, Vermont's growth control law, capacity of sewer and water services to development projects.

large-scale development that happens on the going to have a regional impact," noted executive director of the Franklin-Grand Planning and Development Commission. Saturday's "grassroots discussion," he was particularly concerned about the plans of local businessman Walter Steel on the town. His plans include developing a conference center-community on has purchased along Vermont 242, the to Jay Peak. official has been brought to the town," said Administrator Merle Van Gieson. Steel did not meeting and was not available for comment.

has a vision," Jaffee said in an interview. a lot at once, but it would never happen at be a very evolutionary process, this large-scale if it occurred at all. the question is just balancing the reality of concerns with his vision and meeting halfway, comes out of it," Jaffee said. 1U iV Heritage Preserved 4 1 8 1 Vermont heritage preserved By Kent Shaw Free Press Correspondent Only about a mile apart for the curious tourist or the history buff, two state-operated historical sites on either end of the Champlain Bridge mark a difference in management. In New York, where budgets have allowed for maintenance, staffing and promotion, Crown Point attracts some 50,000 visitors each year.

Across the lake in Vermont, at one of the richer historical sites in New England, fewer than 200 visitors can be expected this year at Chimney Point. Turn to STATE, 3B L- Vermont's historic sites like the Chester Arthur birthplace, above, and the Bennington Monument, right have long been maintained on shoestring budgets, with little or no attention to marketing and promotion. Now the state is taking a new tack toward preserving its heritage..