VT Fish and Wildlife Positions Saved

From the VT State Employees Assn, a bit of god news from this year's legislature :

Fish and Wildlife Positions Saved

Despite their positions being almost 75% federally funded, VSEA members in Fish and Wildlife were surprised to hear their positions were being eliminated to balance the Department’s budget. Thanks to our friends at the Vermont Natural Resources Council (who testified several times on this issue) the Appropriations Committees added a section to the budget that would preserve their jobs with the Landowner Incentive and Community Wildlife programs:

“It is the intent of the general assembly that the fiscal year 2011 budget provides funding to fill five (5) game warden positions that are vacant as of January 1, 2010, and funds two (2) limited service Fish and Wildlife Scientist II positions (position numbers 640148 and 640150). The Scientist II positions shall continue to implement the Landowner Incentive Program and Community Wildlife Program.”

The Department also just filled my old position with Hunter Education. This should be good news for hunter education instructors and new hunters.