Vermont ethics commission warns staffing shortfall is stalling municipal advice, asks Senate to back two new positions

The Vermont State Ethics Commission told the Senate Committee on Government Operations on Jan. 27 that it needs two additional staff positions and roughly $601,000 in total funding so the office can resume advising municipalities and prepare to implement enforcement powers added by recent legislation.

Paul Ermbaum, chair of the Vermont State Ethics Commission, said the commission is operating with "a half-time executive director and a half-time administrative assistant" and that "the continued existence of the commission is precarious." He told senators the commission has suspended advisory and complaint services to municipalities because it cannot keep up with demand after the municipal code went into effect.

The request stems from Act 171 and the 2022 state code of ethics, which expanded the commission's responsibilities to include municipalities and provided investigatory and hearing powers for state public…