Commentary | Elizabeth Brown and Alison Despathy: Outsourcing responsibility

In a commentary on Vermont’s governance approach, Elizabeth Brown and Alison Despathy argue that the state increasingly relies on delegating major policy design and implementation to appointed, non-elected boards and commissions. They cite examples including the Climate Council, Regional Planning Commissions, and the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), created by statute with key details to be defined after laws take effect. The authors say this can diffuse responsibility and blur democratic accountability, raising separation-of-powers concerns. They point to how Regional Planning Commissions have gained mandates affecting energy and housing planning, including municipal plan approval. They also describe TRORC’s proposed regional plan language that, if adopted, could restrict new construction using fossil fuels and require EV chargers.