Vermont BGS commissioner outlines operations, energy programs and workforce challenges to Senate Institutions Committee

Commissioner Wanda Manoli, commissioner of Buildings and General Services, told the Senate Committee on Institutions on Thursday that she views the committee as “my committee of jurisdiction” and outlined BGS’s responsibilities, staffing and recent programs. "My name is Wanda Manoli. I am the commissioner of buildings and general services. I started this role on October 14, 2024," she said.

The presentation gave committee members an overview of BGS’s divisions — operations and maintenance, design and construction, planning and property management, purchasing and contracting, safety and security, government business services, state curator — and highlighted several current priorities: energy resilience and implementation grants to municipalities, procurement preferences for Vermont vendors, development of workforce pipelines through paid internships, and outstanding reports due to the legislature. The briefing combined high-level metrics with examples of day-to-day work, such as building maintenance, leasing for agencies and managing…