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Committee reviews role and appointments for Lake Champlain Basin Citizens Advisory Committee
Summary
Legislative counsel briefed the committee on the history, statutory authority and appointment process for the Lake Champlain Basin Citizens Advisory Committee, which advises the Lake Champlain Basin Program and state agencies on water quality and basin‑wide coordination.
Legislative Council staff briefed the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee on the Lake Champlain Basin Citizens Advisory Committee’s statutory role, membership and appointment process.
Mike Grier of Legislative Council described the committee’s dual role: it serves as a citizens’ advisory committee to the Lake Champlain Basin Program (a federal/state basin program established under the Lake Champlain Special Designation Act of 1990) and provides advice to Vermont state agencies, including recommending policy changes and funding priorities to improve lake water quality. Grier cited the statutory language in 10 V.S.A. §1961 that establishes the committee’s advisory function to the tri‑party Memorandum of Understanding between New York, Vermont and Quebec.
Grier said the basin program issues grants, funds projects and conducts education and technical work; the basin program’s steering committee takes input from the Citizens Advisory Committee. He noted the committee historically has included legislative designees: two legislators (two seats drawn from legislative bodies, appointed per the biennium), and that reappointments or new appointments are needed when legislative terms change. He named two House designees referenced in the briefing—Gary Dolan and Carol Odey—and said the Senate members are appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees while the Speaker selects House appointees; the governor appoints remaining members.
Grier advised the committee that the Citizens Advisory Committee has no regulatory authority: it functions as a coordinating and grant‑making advisory forum and disburses funds from federal appropriations (for example, funds secured by congressional delegations for Lake Champlain projects). He described typical basin‑program activities—monitoring, grants administration, education, and regional coordination with New York and Quebec.
Ending: Committee members were asked to review and consider legislative appointments to the Citizens Advisory Committee and to note the committee’s role in advising state agencies on policy and funding for Lake Champlain water quality work.
