YCQM - Tom Evslin - April 4, 2010 - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

YCQM - Tom Evslin - April 4, 2010

April 4, 2010 -- Tom Evslin, the chief technology officer for Vermont, joins Darren Perron and Jack Thurston to discuss restructing state government and the Challenges for Change Report.

TRANSCRIPT:

FROM VERMONT'S MOST TRUSTED NEWS SOURCE, WCAX BRINGS YOU YOUR NEWS MAKERS, YOUR NEIGHBORS.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I'M DARREN PERRON. >> I'M JACK THURSTON.
HAPPY EASTER. VERMONT LAWMAKERS ARE REVIEWING CASH-CAVING PROPOSALS CALLED
CHALLENGES FOR CHANGE. THEY WOULD RE-ORGANIZE STATE GOVERNMENT TO POTENTIALLY SAVE $38 MILLION TO PLUG THE STATE'S BUDGET GAP TO TALK ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING, OUR NEWS MAKE ITERIS TOM EVSLIN. >> WE'LL HAVE YOUR NEIGHBORS IN
THE NEWS. TATER TOTS RETURN. A WILD ADVENTURE FOR A DOG. ALSO A TALENTED TEEN TRIES TO WIN OVER GOOGLE. HAIR CUTS FOR $1.50. NOT A BAD DEAL.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHERE AND WHY. AND VERMONT COMPANY GOING STRONG AFTER 170 YEARS. IT'S ALL COMING UP.

> FIRST, OUR NEWS MAKER, THE STATE OF VERMONT'S CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER TOM EVSLIN. THE FORMER TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY UNDER GOVERNOR
SNELLING. HE'S WORKED FOR HIGH-TECH COMPANIES LIKE AT&T AND MICROSOFT AND TAKEN THE LEAD ON CHALLENGES FOR CHANGE. IT'S A SERIES OF PROPOSALS AFFECTING EVERY STATE AGENCY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. YOU'VE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT CHALLENGES FOR CHANGE SHOULDN'T BE SEEN AS TRADITIONAL BUDGET CUTS.
WHAT THEN ARE THEY? >> WHAT THEY ARE IS A SERIES OF EFFORTS -- AND I THINK THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL, THE STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE WORKED ON THEM AND HAVE USED A LOT OF ENERGY AND LOT OF INGENUITY TO MAKE STATE GOVERNMENT BETTER
WITHIN A TIGHTER BUDGET. IT'S NOT -- WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS WHERE WE'RE GOING
TO SPEND MONEY, NOT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CUT. WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH AND SAY
LET'S TAKE OUT A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND HALF A DESK AND CUT A LITTLE BENEFITS HERE.
WE WENT THROUGH AND SAID HOW CAN WE DELIVER THE OUTCOMES THE LEGISLATURE TOLD US TO DELIVER BETTER GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE. AND SO THAT'S LET US BUILD WHAT WE THINK ARE CONSTRUCTIVE ALTERNATIVES. ALTERNATIVES THAT FRANKLY CHANGES IN THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT DOES BUSINESS, THAT WE OUGHT TO MAKE EVEN IF WE WEREN'T SHORT OF MONEY. IT'S THE MONEY SHORTAGE THAT PUT
US INTO IT. IT'S THE MONEY SHORTAGE THAT CREATED THE URGENCY. THESE ARE VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS TO DELIVER GOVERNMENT SERVICES BETTER, EVEN WITH A CONSTRAINED BUCKET. >> DOES THAT SUGGEST THAT VERMONT HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING
EFFICIENTLY FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS? >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT
IN THE FUTURE. WE WEREN'T PERFECT IN THE PAST. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CRISIS TO
GET YOU TO LOOK VERY DEEPLY AT THINGS AND CHANGE THE WAY YOU'RE DOING THEM.
BUT IF WE RESIST TO CHANGE JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE CHANGED SOONER, SHAME ON US. WE WANT TO BE AS GOOD AS WE CAN BE. >> SOME OF THE PROPOSALS ARE REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD LIKE TRY TO GET MORE REVENUE OUT OF SAY STATE PARKS BY ENCOURAGING A NEW WEB SITE THAT COULD SELL MORE PASSES.
HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE PROPOSALS ARE MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT.
SUCH AS ELIMINATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICES IN SOME WAY AND CREATING BASICALLY ONLY NINE REGIONAL OFFICES GOING FROM 55. SO IT HAS BEEN MET WITH SOME RESISTANCE. WHAT HAS THE TONE IN YOUR VIEW, AT THE STATEHOUSE, BEEN THIS WEEK. >> WELL, IT'S BEEN MIXED. BUT I THINK BY THE END OF THE WEEK, VERY CONSTRUCTIVE. THIS IS NEW. THIS IS A NEW PROCESS FOR THOSE OF US IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, IT'S A NEW PROCESS FOR THE LEGISLATURE, THAT TYPICALLY THE LEGISLATURE MICROMANAGES. THAT'S THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS. IT'S THE WAY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS USED TO THEM DOING BUSINESS. THEY PASS PROGRAM AFTER PROGRAM, SOMEHOW PROGRAMS DON'T USUALLY GO AWAY. AND THEY DON'T REALLY SPECIFY WHAT OUTCOMES THEY WANT FROM THE PROGRAM. WELL IN THIS PROCESS, WHICH ONLY APPLIES TO A FAIRLY SMALL PART OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, THE LEGISLATURE SAYS THIS IS THE OUTCOME WE WANT, THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE TO ACHIEVE THE OUTCOME. BY THE WAY, YOU CAN HAVE INVESTMENT MONEY TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE. NOW YOU COME UP WITH HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THEM. WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ASK FOR CHANGES IN OLD STATUTES THAT PROHIBIT US FROM DOING THINGS AS EFFECTIVELY AS WE WANT TO.
AND THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT TO ASK OF THE LEGISLATURE IN THE LAST MONTH OF THE SESSION. THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING. WE KNEW THAT IT WAS COMING. BUT STILL IT'S A LOT. THE ALTERNATIVE IS TRADITIONAL BUDGET CUTTING. EVERYBODY IS USED TO DOING THAT VERY QUICKLY. IF WE WANT TO DO BELT -- BETTER, WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES VERY QUICKLY. >> THOSE STATUTE CHANGES, THEREIN LIES THE RUB. I HAVE A PIECE OF TAPE I'D LIKE TO PLAY FOR YOU. PATTY IS A REPUBLICAN FROM DORSET AND EXPRESSED SOME PERSON ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN JUST A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. SO LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT PATTY HAD TO SAY. >> OKAY.
>> A LOT OF CONCERN THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO VOTE AND SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS TO IT. I KNOW A LOT OF THE REPUBLICANS FEEL THAT WAY. WE'RE GOING TO BE ADJOURNING WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL IMPACT
OF THIS. AND WE'RE THE ONES THAT VOTE ON IT AND ANSWER TO THE CONSTITUENTS.
I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS. >> SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT PATTY MENTIONED WERE
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CORRECTIONS AREA. ONE OF THESE PROPOSALS IS TO RELEASE CONVICTS AFTER THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR MINIMUM SENTENCE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. PATTY COMLINE AND OTHERS WORRY IF APPROPRIATE HOUSING IS IN PLACE, IT SEEMS THAT SHE HAS SO VALID POINTS, THAT THE STATE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT MAKING SOME CHANGES BEFORE IT'S REALLY READY. DOES SHE HAVE A VALID POINT? >> SHE CERTAINLY HAS A VALID CONCERN. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE VALID ANSWERS TO HER CONCERN AND THE CONCERN OF MANY OTHER LEGISLATORS. WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO PAT.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO OTHER LEGISLATORS. THEY SHOULD BE ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHAT THEIR JOB IS. THEY SHOULDN'T ASSUME THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS. NOBODY SHOULD ASSUME THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS. WE THINK THAT WE'VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK. THEY FIND WAYS TO DO THINGS BETTER THAN WE DO.
TO TAKE THE CORRECTIONS EXAMPLE. BECAUSE THIS ISN'T TRADITIONAL BUDGET CUTTING, WHERE YOU TAKE SOME MONEY OUT OF DETENTION, TAKE SOME MONEY OUT OF PAROLE. INSTEAD WHAT WE DID IS PUT INVESTMENT OR PROPOSING TO DO IS
PUT INVESTMENT MONEY INTO TRADITIONAL HOUSING. SO THERE WILL BE PLACE FOR
PEOPLE TO GO. PUT MORE MONEY INTO SUPERVISED RELEASE. SO WE'RE NOT SAYING, OH, JUST LET PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL. THAT WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. WE'RE SAYING LET'S PUT THE MONEY INTO THINGS THAT ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN INCARCERATION.
BUT BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYBODY. STILL PROTECT THE COMMUNITY, THEY GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO RE-ENTER SOCIETY. LET'S USE TECHNOLOGY. THE CORRECTIONS PEOPLE HAVE COME UP WITH AN INTERESTING CONCEPT. IT WAS INCARCERATION AT HOME.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING VERY GOOD FOR SOMEBODY -- THE MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINALS ARE REPEAT D.U.I. OFFENDERS IN TERMS OF HOW LIKELY THEY ARE TO DO HARM TO
SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE. THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM CRIMINALS, BUT THEY ARE DANGEROUS. WELL, ADMISSION INTERLOCKS ARE ONE WAY TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING DANGEROUS. OR, PERHAPS INCARCERATION THEM IN THEIR OWN HOMES. LIKE BEING IN JAIL. YOU DON'T GET OUT. IT'S CHEAPER FOR THE STATE, BETTER FOR THEM, BETTER FOR
EVERYBODY IF YOU DO THAT. THESE HAVE BEEN WELL THOUGHT THROUGH BY CORRECTIONS, CORRECTIONS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE JUSTICE COMMUNITY ON
THESE PROPOSALS. BUT PATTY AND OTHER LEGISLATORS ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO BE
EXAMINING US CLOSELY ON THIS. IT IS A CONDENSED SCHEDULE. BUT WE'VE BEEN MEETING AND THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF HARD WORK. WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF
HARD WORK. I THINK WE'RE ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS. IF THEY FIND QUESTIONS, WE'LL
CHANGE. A LOT OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS HAPPENING. THESE PROPOSALS, THEY OUTLINE A
POTENTIAL $38 MILLION. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, THAT'S SORT OF LIKE IN AN IMAGINARY WORLD. IN A PERFECT WORLD WE WOULD GET $38 MILLION. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY THAT ALL $38 MILLION IN SAVINGS WILL REALLY BE ACHIEVED. >> ALL $38 MILLION WILL REALLY BE ACHIEVED. >> REALLY THINK SO? >> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S ALREADY -- YOU KNOW, THE VERMONT -- WE MAY HAVE A HABIT OF SPENDING TOO MUCH IN VERMONT. WHAT WE DON'T HAVE A HABIT OF DOING IS GOING INTO DEFICIT OR SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN WAS APPROPRIATED. REMEMBER THE APPROPRIATION ESSENTIALLY FOR THE AREAS THAT ARE CHALLENGED WAS DONE WHEN THE CHALLENGES BILL WAS PASSED ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AGO. WE KNOW WHAT THE APPROPRIATIONS ARE. WE BUILT OUR PLANS TO LIVE WITHIN THOSE APPROPRIATIONS AND WE ABSOLUTELY WILL LIVE
WITHIN THE APPROPRIATIONS. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER AREA OF STATE GOVERNMENT WILL LIVE WITHIN THE APPROPRIATIONS. THE QUESTION IS HOW CONSTRUCTIVELY DO WE ACHIEVE THE SAVINGS. WE WILL ACHIEVE THEM. WE DON'T RUN OVER OUR BUDGET. WE DON'T DO THAT HERE. BUT ASSUMING THAT WE CAN – THAT THE LEGISLATURE GIVES US THE RELIEF WE'VE ASKED FOR OR THE EQUIVALENT, THEN WE WILL ACHIEVE THOSE. I BELIEVE IN VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS. IF WE WERE TO GET NO LEGISLATIVE RELIEF, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THEN WE HAVE TO DO THINGS LOOK LIKE TRADITIONAL BUDGET CUTTING AND AREN'T AS CONSTRUCTIVE. BUT EITHER WAY THE SAVINGS WILL
BE ACHIEVED. >> GOTCHA. WELL, BUT $38 MILLION IS JUST A TINY, TINY SLICE OF THE TATE'S BUDGET IN THE WHOLE SCHEME OF THINGS. >> YEAH. I'M GLAD YOU PUT IT IN THAT
PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE A $1.2 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND A LOT OF OTHER FUNDS THAT ARE IN THERE AS WELL. SO $38 MILLION WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, IT IS LESS THAN 4% OF THAT N. ENTIRE BUDGET. NOW IT'S A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET GAP THAT WE WERE FACING. THAT WE BELIEVE WE'RE FACING A GAP OF ABOUT $154 MILLION. SO THERE YOU'RE ADDRESSING A REASONABLE PERCENTAGE, BUT STILL
NOT MOST OF THE GAP. AND THE REST OF THE GAP WAS FILLED WITH TRADITIONAL BUDGET
CUTTING IN A WAY. THIS WAS THE HAPPIEST PART OF REDUCING THAT BUDGET GAP.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT TO PUT THAT INTO THAT PERSPECTIVE, JACK. >> THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT REVENUES ARE DOWN CONTINUALLY IT SEEMS. IF WE HAD A MAGIC WAND, YOU KNOW, THEN WE WOULD MAKE THE REVENUES GO UP AGAIN. THE ECONOMY WOULD BE BETTER. YOU KNOW, IT'S -- NO ONE REALLY KNOWS YET. >> RIGHT. >> AREN'T WE GOING TO BE DEBATING BUDGET ISSUES VERY SERIOUSLY FOR THE VERY LONG TIME, WELL INTO EVENING NEXT YEAR?>> YES. AND THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP. BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO DO SUSTAINABLE BUDGET CUTS. THIS ISN'T CUT THIS – DEFER MAINTENANCE AND HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR YOU HAVE MORE MONEY. IN FACT, THE CHALLENGES -- THE
WAY THAT THEY'RE IMPLEMENT READY BRING MORE THAN $70 MILLION IN SAVINGS IN FISCAL '12. THE $38 MILLION FIGURE YOU USE IS FOR FISCAL '11. THERE ISN'T ANY MAGIC IN THIS. WE'LL BE PHASING IN THE CHALLENGES IN FISCAL '11 AND HE WON'T GET A FULL-YEARS BENEFIT. WE'LL GET A FULL YEARS' BENEFIT AND GET MORE SAVINGS IN '12. THIS IS SUSTAINABLE SAVINGS. REVENUES DON'T JUST COME BOUNCING BACK TO BUBBLE LEVELS.
BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL. EVEN IF REVENUES CAME BACK QUICKLY, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS, THEN TO LET GOVERNMENT GROW TOO BIG AGAIN. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY IN THAT WAY THAT WE CAN GROW VERMONT'S TAX BASE AND VERMONT'S ECONOMY. SO THESE ARE SUSTAINABLE CUTS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THESE ARE CHANGES TO STATE PROGRAMS WHICH
ARE REALLY POSITIVE. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO UNDUE THEM IF YOU HAD MORE MONEY IN MOST PLACES. >> WELL, GETTING THE STATE OF VERMONT TO CHANGE THE WAY IT
DOES BUSINESS, I MEAN IS THAT SORT OF LIKE GETTING A CRUISE SHIP TO NAVIGATE THE ROUNDABOUT? THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A BIG CHANGE IN CULTURE? >> ABSOLUTELY.
AND YOU'RE SEEING SOME OF THE SHOCK AT THAT CULTURE CHANGE. BUT THERE -- IF THERE WEREN'T A CRISIS, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET THAT KIND OF CULTURE CHANGE.
SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER TO MOVE SLOWER THAN FASTER. YOU CAN'T LEAVE OVER A IS CANYON IN TWO SMALL JUMPS. SOMETIMES YOU REALLY HAVE TO SET YOUR SIGHTS HIGH AND MOVE VERY QUICKLY TO MAKE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE. ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS FOR ME WORKING WITH THIS IS THAT AT FIRST STATE EMPLOYEES AND A LOT OF STATE EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN MAKING THESE PLANS. WE'RE VERY SKEPTICAL. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATIONS BEFORE. THIS IS JUST BUDGET CUTTING BY ANOTHER NAME. AS THEY SAW THE CONSTRAINTS WERE REALLY OFF AND HAD A CHANCE TO GET BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THEIR CLIENTS, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS AND THERE'S A REAL ENERGY NOW AMONG THE STATE EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATED AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN PUTTING THESE CHANGES IN PLACE. AND IT'S, OF COURSE, THAT ENERGY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE CHANGES SUCCESSFUL IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE. >> YOU INVITED THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. YOU PUT THESE PROPOSALS ONLINE. YOU SET UP AN EMAIL ACCOUNT. WE'RE TAPING THIS BROADCAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON. YOU TOLD ME THURSDAY MORNING THAT ONLY A COUPLE PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY EMAILED YOU.
>> YES. >> AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, HOW MANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE YOU GOTTEN ON THIS? >> MAYBE A DOZEN. TONE A DOZEN. >> DOES THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING, THOUGH, THAT ONLY A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE WEIGHED IN? DOES IT GET IT HOW CONFUSING IT IS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC? >> ONLY TEN OR 12 HAVE WEIGHED
IN BY EMAIL. MANY HAVE COME TO THE STATEHOUSE AND BEEN VERY VARIOUS COMMITTEE HEARINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING. BUT I THINK IT IS A TOUGH
SUBJECT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE'RE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY NIGHT AT 5:00 IN THE STATEHOUSE. I'M HOPING THAT THEY'LL BE A GOOD TURNOUT THERE. AND SO THE EMAIL ADDRESS IS JUST ONE OF THE WAYS OF GETTING COMMENT. I ALSO THINK THAT AS WE GET OUT MORE AND, YOU KNOW, MY APPEARING ON "YOU CAN QUOTE ME" AND OTHER SHOWS, THAT WE'LL GET MORE COMMENTS, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE SOME MORE IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE COMMENTING ON. >> SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE TESTIMONY. SO TUESDAY AT 5:00 P.M. HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK? >> THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE, WHICH
IS THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY SENATOR SNELLING, WHO ARE THE SPONSORS OF THIS, THE CHAIRS, THE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEES, I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THOSE OF US IN THE ADMINISTRATION WHO ARE ON THE STEERING TEAM, WILL BE LISTENING. WE'RE NOT TALKING. WE'RE LISTENING.
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO COME. IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF DECENT
TURNOUT. WE'LL STICK TO A TWO-MINUTE TIME LIMIT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO TALK. PEOPLE CAN ALSO GIVE US WRITTEN MATERIAL AND WE'LL TREAT THAT
WRITTEN MATERIAL THE SAME WAY WE TREAT THE EMAIL WE'LL GET. WE'LL CIRCULATE IT BOTH TO THE COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION, FOR WHATEVER THE COMMENT HAPPENS TO
TO BE AND THE EXECUTIVE AGENCY THAT'S WORKED ON THAT PART OF THE CHALLENGE.
SO THIS IS A CHANCE FOR US TO LISTEN. >> I IMAGINE THAT YOU EXPECT THE
MOST CONTENTIOUS TESTIMONY TO COME IN THE HUMAN SERVICES AREA.
>> WELL, THERE -- I'M NOT SURE THAT'S TRUE. YOU WOULD THINK SO. AND HUMAN SERVICES TOUCHES A LOT. BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN VERY CLEAR HOW CONSTRUCTIVE MANY OF THESE THINGS ARE FOR HUMAN SERVICE CLIENTS. PARTLY BECAUSE IN HUMAN SERVICES
PARTICULARLY WHAT WE'VE DONE IS ACCELERATED PROGRAMS THAT WERE ALREADY WORKING. IT'S NOT THAT IT WAS ALL BRAND-NEW STUFF. SOME OF IT IS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOCUS ON THE CHILD IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INSTEAD OF HAVING I DON'T KNOW 17 DIFFERENT SILOS THAT SERVICES ARE INTEGRATED SO A CHILD GETS NOT A SMATTERING OF THIS AND A SMATTERING OF THAT. BUT A PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY TARGETED TO WHAT THAT CHILD OR FAMILY NEEDS. THEY STARTED ON THAT AND THEY'RE JUST ACCELERATING THAT EFFORT. AND PEOPLE KNOW THAT THESE EFFORTS ARE ALREADY SUCCESSFUL. SO THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF FAITH THAT IN CONTINUING DOWN THAT SAME PATH OF WORK. SAME THING WITH EXTENDING BLUEPRINT TO HEALTH, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH. EXTENDING TO MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM. YES, CERTAINLY CONTENTION FROM PROVIDERS FROM THE VARIOUS MIDDLEMEN, BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY THAT THEY WORK AS WELL.
BECAUSE OUR FOCUS IS NOT ON SAVING PROGRAMS, OUR FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THE BENEFICIARIES GET WHAT THE BENEFICIARIES NEED.  >> OKAY. WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPLAINING THIS MORNING FOR US, TOM. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, JACK.>> HERE'S DARREN WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE NEWS. >> SHE SURVIVED A MAJOR CRASH AND THREE DAYS ON THE LAB. WE HAVE TATER TOT'S AMAZING
STORY AFTER THE BREAK. >> A HAPPY ENDING FOR A FAMILY FROM WARREN. TRISH DALE SURVIVED A HIGH-SPEED CRASH, BUT HER DOG FLED FROM THE CAR DURING THE CHAOS AND DISAPPEARED. KATE DUFFY HAS MORE ON THE EFFORT TO BRING TATER TOT HOME.>> OKAY. >> TATER TOT AND HER BROTHER BUDDY ARE EXCITED TO BE HOME. >> VERY HAPPY. >> JOHN AND TRISH DALE FEARED HOW EMPTY THEIR HOUSE AND LIVES WOULD BE WITHOUT THE DOG THEY NEARLY LOST. >> TATER TOTTER, YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO BE RESTING.
LOOK AT YOU.>> TATER TOT SPENT THREE DAYS LOST IN THE WOODS IN MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER TRISH WAS IN A CAR CRASH ON INTERSTATE 90 LAST THURSDAY NIGHT.
>> THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER WAS THE CAR KIND OF HITTING THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE DITCH. AND THEN WE JUST STOPPED. AND I LOOK IN THE BACKSEAT TO TELL THE PUPPIES WE'D BE OKAY. AND IT WAS SURREAL. THEY WERE GONE. >> SOMEONE GRABBED BUDDY RIGHT AWAY. BUT TATER RAN AWAY. AND RAN ACROSS FOUR LANES OF RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC.>> WHILE TRISH WAS TAKEN TO THE  HOSPITAL TO GET HER OWN INJURIES
TREATED, SHE WAS ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DOGS. >> I KNEW MY NOSE FELT A LITTLE  BLOODY AND MY SHIN HURT. TO ME THAT FELT PRETTY SUPERFICIAL. BUT THEY WERE GONE. HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND YOUR KIDS ARE GONE.
IT'S YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE. >> FOR THREE LONG DAYS, WHILE TRISH RECOVERED FROM A CONCUSSION AND A BROKEN NOSE, THE COUPLE WORRIED. AND FIGURED TATER TOT WAS
WORRIED, TOO. >> I'M SURE SHE WAS JUST SCARED AND SAY, MOMMY, DADDY, COME GET
ME. >> WE WOULD SIT IN THE ROOM AT THE HOTEL AND JUST LOOK AT EACH
OTHER AND WE COULD HARDLY TALK. BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID TO ADMIT THAT SHE MIGHT NOT COME BACK.>> THEY MADE POSTERS AND CALLED A LOCAL TV STATION.
ORGANIZING A SEARCH PARTY FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON. 100 PEOPLE, NEARLY ALL OF THEM STRANGERS, SHOWED UP TO HELP. TATER TOT WAS SPOTTED ABOUT FOUR
HOURS LATER, INJURED AND EXHAUSTED, BUT SAFE. >> TATER CAME UP OVER A KNOLL AND SAW ME AND RAN DOWN AND JUMPED ALL OVER ME AND BUDDY CAME OVER AND THAT WAS BASICALLY THE HAPPIEST MOMENT OF EVERYBODY'S LIVES. >> WORDS DON'T DESCRIBE HAVING HER BACK. BECAUSE SHE'S -- SHE IS OUR FAMILY. >> A FAMILY SEPARATED ON THE INTERSTATE, NOW TOGETHER ON THE  ROAD TO RECOVERY. KATE DUFFY, CHANNEL 3 NEWS, WARREN.
>> HAPPY ENDING THERE. WELL, VERMONT COULD GET FREE HIGH-SPEED FIBER FROM GOOGLE. A CHAMPLAIN, COLLEGE STUDENT WORKED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO
PRODUCE A VIDEO FOR A NATIONWIDE COMPETITIVE. KRISTIN CARLSON SAT DOWN WITH
NICK STEFANI. >> DID YOU HAVE FUN MAKING THE VIDEO? >> YEAH.
ME AND MY BUDDY STEVE WENT OUT AND WE -- LIKE WITH THE RUNNING STUFF, IT WASN'T VERY – IT WASN'T VERY LIGHT. THERE WAS NO LIGHTING OR ANYTHING. IT WAS JUST NATURAL LIGHTING. >> YOU WERE RUNNING A LOT? >> YEAH. WHAT WAS THE IDEA FOR THE
RUNNING? WAS THAT SHOWING THE CONSECUTIVENESS? >> MORE OF THE KEY POINTS IS VERMONT HAS A LOT OF – VERY DIFFERENT TERRAIN FOR GOING TO TEST OUT. LIKE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN THE CITY, RURAL AREAS.  SO THE RUNNING WAS SORT OF A WAY TO SHOW THAT WITHOUT SOMEONE SAYING WE HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TERRAIN.
YOU KNOW. >> THE BEGINNING IS – YOU COMING OUT OF THE WATER? >> YEAH.
>> WHY START THERE? >> FOR THE LAKE I -- I JUST SORT OF FIGURED IF YOU STARTED OUT
AND GIVE THEM AN IMPRESSION IT'S GOING TO BE, THIS IS VERMONT, A NICE PRISTINE PLACE AND YOU SORT OF LIKE THROW IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
IT'S SORT OF A GOOD WAY TO START IT OUT AND GRAB THEIR ATTENTION QUICK.
BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING THOUSANDS OF VIDEOS. SO YOU WANT TO LIKE -- YOU WANT
THEM TO -- YOU WANT SOMETHING TO JUMP AT THEM,
>> LITERAL. >> YEAH. >> ANY REACTION TO THE VIDEO. >> I POSTED IT ON FACEBOOK AND
EVERYONE IS PRETTY PUMPED ON IT. IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. SEEMED TO APPEAL TO THE OLDER PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE YOUNGER  KIDS, WHICH IS GOOD MASS APPEAL
I GUESS. >> WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF IT? >> NICK, NO RUNNING IN THE
STATEHOUSE. >> SORE.  JIM -- SORRY, JIM. PROBABLY HANGING OUT WITH THE GOVERNOR.
I DIDN'T REALLY HANG WITH HIM. GOING TO THE STATEHOUSE WAS PRETTY FUN. >> DO YOU THINK THIS IS A WINNING ENTRY HERE? >> I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE LIKE THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES. SO I DON'T KNOW. BUT I DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT WILL CATCH THEIR ATTENTION OVER SOME OF THE STUFF I'VE SEEN. >> THE GOVERNOR CAN BE FUNNY, RIGHT. WELL, THE STATE WILL HAVE SOME COMPETITION FROM BURLINGTON AND OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT ARE VYING FOR THAT.  WE'LL HAVE A LINK ON OUR WEB  SITE, WCAX.COM IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT THAT VIDEO. WELL, HAIR CUTS FOR $1.50. SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? WELL, NOT IF YOU WERE IN MONTPELIER LAST WEEK. WE HEAR WHY A BARBERSHOP CUT ITS PRICES.
>> IF YOU STAND ALONG ELM STREET  AND LISTEN CLOSELY, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT HEAR THE BUZZ ABOUT A DEAL THAT SOUNDS, WELL, ALMOST LIKE AN APRIL FOOLS' JOKE.
>> NO JOKE. >> NO JOKE. NO FOOLING. >> JOHN CELEBRATING HIS 45th YEAR AT THE ELM STREET  BARBERSHOP WITH $1.50 HAIR CUTS. THROWBACK TO WHAT PRICES WERE IN
1965 WHEN HE FIRST STARTED WORKING. >> I REMEMBER THE FIRST HAIR CUT I DID HERE. IT WAS A YOUNG, YOUNG BOY. AND THAT TOOK ME FOREVER IT SEEMED LIKE. YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE I WAS NERVOUS AND I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE SHOP. YOU KNOW.
>> TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT?  >> OH, YEAH. YEAH. HE SURVIVED. >> BACK THEN THIS IS CLOSE TO A   DOZEN BARBERSHOPS IN THE CITY. TODAY THERE'S ONLY THREE. SEVERAL CLOSE UP DURING THE BEATLE CRAZE WHEN MEN WORE THEIR  HAIR LONGER AND BUSINESS TOOK A HIT.  >> OH, DROPPED. A LOT OF THEM WENT RIGHT OUT OF BUSINESS.
>> TODAY THOSE LONG-HAIRED CUSTOMERS STILL EXIST. >> YEAH, TWICE A YEAR. >> THE BUSINESS IS CHANGING. MALE BARBERS ARE QUICKLY FADING   AWAY AS ARE BARBERSHOPS  THEMSELVES. THREE WOMEN NOW WORK ALONGSIDE JOHN.
>> DEFINITELY. THAT'S MY WIFE. SHE'LL TELL YOU THAT.  >> SAID THERE'S NOT MANY BARBER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. SO EVERYBODY THAT'S LOOKING FOR WORK NOW IS BEAUTICIANS OR COSMETOLOGISTS.  >> AND THE CUSTOMER BASE IS CHANGING, TOO.
>> YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST STARTED, YOU KNEW WHAT DAY IT WAS AND WHAT TIME OF THE DAY IT WAS BY WHO WAS COMING THROUGH  THE DOOR. THAT'S HOW REGIMENTED THEY WERE, GETTING HAIR CUTS BACK THEN. >> SO THE TIMING -- WHAT IF WE JUST COMING OUT OF >> THE GOVERNOR CAN BE QUITE FUN. RIGHT.
>> THE STATE WILL HAVE COMPETITIVE FROM THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES. IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY WINNERS GOOGLE WILL PICK. WE HAVE A LINK ON OUR WEB SITE, WCAX.COM TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO. >> HAIR CUTS FOR $1.50. SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?  WELL, NOT IF YOU WERE IN MONTPELIER LAST WEEK. KEAGAN TELLS US WHY A BARBERSHOP CUT ITS PRICES. >> STAND ALONG ELM STREET AND  LISTEN CLOSELY, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT HEAR THE BUZZ ABOUT A DEAL THAT SOUNDS, WELL, ALMOST LIKE
AN APRIL FOOLS' JOKE. >> NO JOKE. >> NO JOKE. NO FOOLING. >> JOHN IS CELEBRATING HIS
45th YEAR AT THE ELM STREET BARBERSHOP WITH $1.50 HAIR CUTS.  THE THROWBACK TO WHAT PRICES WERE IN 1965 WHEN HE FIRST STARTED WORKING. >> I REMEMBER THE FIRST HAIR CUT I DID HERE. IT WAS A YOUNG, YOUNG BOY. AND IT -- THAT TOOK ME FOREVER IT SEEMED LIKE. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS NERVOUS. AND I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW -- YOU
KNOW, THE SHOP. YOU KNOW.>> TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT?  >> OH. YEAH. YEAH.
HE SURVIVED. >> BACK THEN CLOSE TO A DOZEN BARBERSHOPS IN THE CITY.
TODAY THERE'S ONLY THREE. SEVERAL CLOSE UP SHOP DURING THE BEATLE CRAZE WHEN MEN STARRED WEARING THEIR HAIR LONGER AND BUSINESS TOOK A HIT.
>> IT DROPPED. LIKE I SAY A LOT OF THEM WENT RIGHT OUT OF BUSINESS.
>> TODAY THOSE LONG-HAIRED CUSTOMERS STILL EXIST.>> YEAH.
TWICE A YEAR. >> THE BUSINESS IS CHANGING. MALE BARBERS ARE QUICKLY FADING
AWAY AS ARE BARBERSHOPS THEMSELVES. THREE WOMEN NOW WORK ALONGSIDE
JOHN. >> OH SURE. DEFINITELY. ASK MY WIFE.  SHE'LL TELL YOU THAT.
>> THERE'S, YOU KNOW, NOT MANY BARBER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.SO EVERYBODY THAT'S  LOOKING FOR WORK NOW IS BEAUTICIANS OR COSMETOLOGISTS. >> AND THE CUSTOMER BASE IS CHANGING, TOO. >> YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST STARTED, YOU KNEW WHAT DAY IT
WAS AND WHAT TIME OF THE DAY IT WAS BY WHO WAS COMING THROUGH THE DOOR.
THAT'S HOW REGIMENTED THEY WERE  GETTING HAIR CUTS BACK THEN. NOWADAYS IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. >> HE ESTIMATES MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE SIT IN THE CHAIR EACH AND
EVERY YEAR, EVERYONE FROM LAWYERS TO POLITICIANS TO EVEN REPORTERS.
>> WE HEAR A LOT. LIKE MORE THAN A PSYCHIATRIST WOULD HEAR.WE HEAR WAY MORE.
>> WHILE BARBERSHOPS LIKE THIS ONE MAY SLOWLY BE GOING EXTINT, THIS ONE IS STILL THRIVING. >> YOU DON'T NEED AN APPOINTMENT.  THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY I AM. LESS RULES ARE BETTER. >> A BARGAIN FOR SURE. >> $1.60. >> THAT'S A GREAT PRICE. >> AND A MONTPELIER LANDMARK NOW LOOKING AHEAD TO ANOTHER 45 YEARS DOING BUSINESS THE OLD FASHIONED WAY IN THE CAPITAL CITY. CHANNEL 3 NEWS IN MONTPELIER. >> HIS HAIR LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, RIGHT. THE BAD NEWS IS THE $1.50 HAIR  CUTS WERE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR ONE  DAY BACK ON FRIDAY.  MANY AMERICAN COMPANIES SAY COMPETITIVE FROM MANUFACTURERS IN ASIA IS HURTING THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
BUT ONE VERMONT COMPANY RELIES ON ASIA TO KEEP IT IN BUSINESS. JACK HAS MORE ON THAT. >> JOHNSON WOALEN MILLS AT THE CENTER OF THE VILLAGE FOR NEARLY
170 YEARS. TODAY FINDING APPRECIATE APPROACHES FOR ITS FAMILIAR
PRODUCTS. >> I KNEW THAT WAS WHAT I WAS SUPPOSE TO DO.  >> STACEY IS THE FOURTH
GENERATION OF HER FAMILY TO MAKE AND SELL WOOL OUTDOOR GEAR, BUT WITH A RHYTHM OUTPACING THE ENERGIZER BUNNY IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO EVER RUN THE BRAND. THE POPULARITY WITH HUNTERS USED TO MAKE THIS A BOYS' CLUB.
>> FOR A WOMAN TO OWN AND RUN A BUSINESS, NO. SO THROUGH LUCK IT FINALLY ENDED
UP THAT I COULD GET THE COMPANY AND I AM JUST LIVING MY DREAM. >> SHE STILL  MANAGES THE MEN'S LINE WITH A FORMER MARKETING SLOGAN IN MIND.
>> THE QUALITY LASTS LONG AFTER THE PRICE IS FORGOTTEN. >> BUT ALSO HAVE A LINE OF COATS, VESTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR KIDS AND IS EXPANDING THE WOMEN'S COLLECTION WELL BEYOND THE FAMILIAR GREEN AND RED CHECKS.>> THAT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL. >> BUT HER MOST INGENIOUS IDEA MAY BE WHAT'S KEEPING HER STAFF
OF 35 EMPLOYED. >> THE JAPANESE ARE JUST OUR BEST CUSTOMER. JACK, WE PROBABLY  REALLY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS WITHOUT THEM. >> SHE'S AGGRESSIVELY COURTED
CUSTOMERS IN JAPAN, MOSTLY  THROUGH TRADE SHOWS, TELL HERSTORY THAT CONNECTS WITH THEIR CULTURE. >> AND THE JAPANESE HAVE A GREAT RESPECT FOR HERITAGE.
>> WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE TO A MERCHANDISER FOR JAPANESE STORES, WHO SAYS HIS  COUNTRY RESPECT FOR ITS ELDERS EXTENDS TO THE VERMONT BUSINESS THAT'SBEEN IN ONE PLACE FOR SO LONG. PLUS HE SAYS YOUNG PEOPLE IN JAPAN LIKE THE UNITED STATES,
THEY SEE THESE PRODUCTS AS STURDY AND CAN MAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS LIKE PATTERN  CHANGES. >> A LOT OF HISTORY BEHIND THE PRODUCT AND STILL MADE IN USA
AND, OF COURSE, QUALITY IS GOOD. AND ALSO STACEY AND THE STUFF IS VERY FLEXIBLE.
>> JOHNSON WOOLEN MILLS TOP TEN ACCOUNTS ARE ALL IN JAPAN, WITH NUMBER ONE ON THAT LIST BUYING 200,000 INDIVIDUAL PIECES LAST YEAR.
THEY CALL THESE GOODS TIE BONDS, BASIC TEMPTS FOR DAILY LIFE. >> YOU CAN TELL FROM MY ACCENT, JAPANESE IS NOT MY FORTE.>> DEB WILLIE NOW HAS TO MATCH
JAPANESE CHARACTERS FROM ORDER FORMS TO THE LABELS SHE SEWS
INTO THE GARMENTS. >> SO WE KNOW WHICH LABEL GOES WITH WHICH ITEM.
>> THERE'S ONE BIG WORD STACEY HAS LEARNED FROM JAPAN. >> I CAN SAY YES.
>> AND SHE LOVES SAYING YES TO FOREIGN ORDERS AND BUSINESS, AFTER AMERICAN WORKERS HAVE SO OFTEN SEEN THEIR JOBS SHIPPED OVERSEAS, THIS REVERSAL OF THAT,
THIS FASCINATION FROMGIA SCWHRA  HAN -- JAPAN HAS RE-ENERGIZED THE OLD NAME.
>> WE'RE ALL VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT. >> A LOT OF WARM WEATHER ITEMS
 THERE, JACK. IS THE BUSY SEASON OVER FOR THEM NOW THAT IT'S WARMING UP?
>> DON'T NEED THE WOOLEN COATS TODAY. MAYBE THE JAPANESE ARE BUYING
NOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO WINTER. IN VERMONT OUR SUMMERS ARE UNFORTUNATELY SO SHORT. WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE BUYING OUR COLD WEATHER CLOTHES NOW.
>> ALREADY. THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS EASTER SUNDAY, EVERYBODY.
I'M DARREN PERRON. >> AND I'M JACK THURSTON.HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> SO LONG, EVERYBODY.  CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC WWW.CAPTIONASSOCIATES.COM