State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan recently announced the appointment of a Special Deputy State’s Attorney to oversee his office’s investigation into the Burlington Telecom debacle. I applaud that decision.

First of all, the choice of Robert Simpson as the Special Prosecutor is a brilliant move. As a former prosecutor and regulator, Mr. Simpson is uniquely qualified to assume oversight of the investigation. Additionally, his reputation as a fair arbiter of facts is beyond reproach. While he held elected office as State’s Attorney, his tenure was non-partisan and the decisions coming out of his office were based on the rule and interpretation of law. Whatever the outcome of his review of BT, no one will be able to point to the decision and charge political motivation.

The second reason to cheer this move is that it is high time to put this issue to rest. This city and our region have been caught up in the morass of BT for far too long. It has dominated the press and the City Council and has hampered efforts to move forward on other critical issues facing the region. The Moran Plant, tax burden, broad-based economic development, and the city’s credit worthiness have all been touched by the lack of resolution on this matter. Reputations have been impugned and the cloud of mistrust that has emerged between elected officials has no place in Vermont or in the City of Burlington. On a related note, the employees of BT have worked diligently and with professionalism under the glare of an unflattering spotlight. Their fortitude has been incredible and they deserve better.

So, our thanks go out to State’s Attorney Donovan for moving this investigation along and we eagerly await the outcome of Mr. Simpson’s work. Whatever the result, we must be prepared to move on.