Wednesday, May 10, 2000 1251
Journal of the Senate
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Wednesday, May 10, 2000
The Senate was called to order by the President.
Devotional Exercises
A moment of silence was observed in lieu of devotions.
Message from the House
A message was received from the House of Representatives by Mr. Palmisano, its First Assistant Clerk, as follows:
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform the Senate the House has adopted Joint Resolutions of the following titles:
J.R.H. 270. Joint resolution honoring Richard Brown for his community service in Bellows Falls.
J.R.H. 271. Joint resolution in honor of Larry W. Messier for his career accomplishments as a public educator.
J.R.H. 272. Joint resolution congratulating the winners of the 2000 Miss Vermont National Teen contest.
J.R.H. 273. Joint resolution honoring Peter Picard for his teaching and coaching accomplishments in the Winooski school district.
J.R.H. 274. Joint resolution honoring Vaughn T. Collins for his service as Executive Director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
In the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested.
The Governor has informed the House of Representatives that on the ninth day of May, 2000, he approved and signed bills originating in the House of the following titles:
H. 584. An act relating to the village of Hyde Park charter.
H. 730. An act relating to clubs and requirements for social events.
H. 857. An act relating to the charter of the town of Windsor.
The House has considered a Joint Resolution originating in the Senate of the following title:
J.R.S. 108. Joint resolution designating December 15 of each year as Bill of Rights Day.
And has adopted the same in concurrence.
Joint Resolution Placed on Calendar
Joint Senate resolution of the following title was offered, read the first time and is as follows:
By Senators Ide and Spaulding,
J.R.S. 109. Joint resolution congratulating the St. Johnsbury Academy team on winning third place at the 2000 national finals competition of "We the People...the Citizen and the Constitution”.
Whereas, the St. Johnsbury Academy team, representing the entire State of Vermont, on May 6-8, 2000, competed in the 2000 national finals of the “We the People…The Citizen and the Constitution” competition in Washington, D.C. and won third place among the state champion teams from all fifty states and the District of Columbia, and
Whereas, “We the People…The Citizen and the Constitution” is a national constitutional law competition in which state championship teams from all fifty states and the District of Columbia engage in vigorous debate and discussions about the history and principles of the United States Constitution, and
Whereas, the St. Johnsbury Academy team won the right to represent the State of Vermont at the national finals by first winning the 2000 Vermont state championship at the state finals competition held at the Vermont State House in Montpelier on February 20, 2000, and
Whereas, the “We the People” national finals competition required the St. Johnsbury Academy team to divide into six separate units, each of which presented three complete discussions of particular areas of constitutional law, for a total of eighteen separate presentations made over three days to a total of fifty-four distinguished judges from every state in the nation, and
Whereas, in winning third place at the 2000 national finals in Washington, D.C., the St. Johnsbury Academy team scored higher than the state champion teams from every state in the nation except Florida and New Jersey and achieved the highest honor ever won by any team from New England in the twelve year history of the “We the People” competition, and
Whereas, the achievement of the St. Johnsbury Academy team demonstrates an extraordinary combination of intelligence, hard work, thorough knowledge of constitutional history and principles, outstanding research skills, superb oral advocacy, individual determination, expert teamwork and the highest civic virtue among all the members of the team, who are Timothy Brousseau, Erica Dreisbach, Steven Frost, Felix Hornicek, Emily Lauffer, Justin Lavely, Linda Little, Dmitri Makarov, Leili Moghari, Timothy Patterson, Sascha Stanton-Craven, Tanika Stewart and Karena Thurston, and
Whereas, recognition of the St. Johnsbury Academy “We the People” team would not be complete without acknowledging the leadership and guidance of teacher and coach Dan Dagenais, and
Whereas, the St. Johnsbury Academy team, in achieving its victory in the name of the State of Vermont at the 2000 national finals of “We the People…The Citizen and the Constitution”, has brought glory and honor to the entire State of Vermont, now therefore be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
That the General Assembly congratulates the St. Johnsbury Academy team on winning third place at the 2000 national finals of the “We the People…the Citizen and the Constitution” competition held May 6-8, 2000 in Washington, D.C., and be it further
RESOLVED: That the General Assembly commends teacher and coach Dan Dagenais for his tremendous contribution to the team’s success, and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Bernier L. Mayo, headmaster of St. Johnsbury Academy.
Thereupon, in the discretion of the Chair, under Rule 51, the joint resolution was placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow.
Joint Resolutions Placed on Calendar
Joint resolution originating in the House of the following title was read the first time and is as follows:
J.R.H. 270. Joint resolution honoring Richard Brown for his community service in Bellows Falls.
Whereas, Richard Brown’s 40-year long commitment to serving the Bellows Falls community, through both the public and private nonprofit sector, merits much praise, and
Whereas, as an alumnus of Brattleboro High School, Richard Brown has always felt at home in Windham County, and he decided, after completing his U.S. Naval service, to raise his family in Bellows Falls, which he describes as a village of congenial and friendly individuals, and
Whereas, his activities on behalf of the village, and the town of Rockingham, began in 1962 when he served a term on the Rockingham Selectboard, and
Whereas, for a dozen years, Richard Brown was a member of the Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation, and
Whereas, in 1970, when plans were formulated for a new Bellows Falls Union High School, he was an active member of the Advisory Committee, and
Whereas, Richard Brown’s endeavors in the field of youth athletics have included the creation, with his wife Judy, of the Bellows Falls Middle School’s downhill ski program, coaching and acting as an official for the Bellows Falls Recreational Department and Pee Wee Football teams, and assisting in the radio broadcasts of the Bellows Falls Union High School football games, and
Whereas, Richard Brown is an active member of many fraternal and civic organizations, including local units of the Rotary Club which, in 1988, named him a Paul Harris Fellow; the Chamber of Commerce, which awarded him its Man of the Year award in 1983; the Elks, the Masons, the Moose, the American Legion and the Jaycees, of which he was a local charter member in 1961, and
Whereas, a scholarship is given to a local student each year in memory of his wife Judy, and his brave son Terry who sacrificed his life during service as a volunteer fireman at the Star Hotel fire in Bellows Falls, and
Whereas, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, it is most fitting to honor Richard Brown’s long dedication to the improvement of community life in Bellows Falls, now therefore be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
That the General Assembly is pleased to honor Richard Brown of Bellows Falls for his four decades of outstanding volunteer community service, and to extend to him best wishes on the occasion of his 70th birthday, and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Richard Brown of Bellows Falls.
Thereupon, in the discretion of the President, under Rule 51, the joint resolution was placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow.
Joint resolution originating in the House of the following title was read the first time and is as follows:
J.R.H. 271. Joint resolution in honor of Larry W. Messier for his career accomplishments as a public educator.
Whereas, Larry Messier has dedicated his professional career to educating young students in the public schools of Enosburg and Milton, and
Whereas, he is a native Vermonter who spent his youth in the St. Albans area, and
Whereas, in 1961, Larry Messier began his professional career as an elementary school teacher in Enosburg, and
Whereas, after teaching on both the elementary and junior high levels, he was promoted to the principalship at the Enosburg Elementary School, a position in which he continued for 11 years, and
Whereas, word spread regarding Larry Messier’s very successful tenure as the principal of the Enosburg Elementary School, and
Whereas, the school committee in Milton was so impressed with his record as an educational administrator, the board hired Larry Messier to be the new principal at the Milton Elementary School, and
Whereas, after a dozen years as principal of the Milton Elementary School, and 39 years as a public educator, Larry Messier will be retiring at the conclusion of this academic year, and
Whereas, Larry Messier has earned a reputation as a school principal who is devoted to his school, and its students, and is greatly admired in both Enosburg and Milton, and
Whereas, his wonderful sense of humor, and calming personality, enables him to diffuse otherwise tense situations and place persons at ease, and
Whereas, aside from his scholastic duties, Larry Messier was an active member of the local Lions Club and was featured in the Milton Independent in recognition of his establishment of the annual Thanksgiving dinner for the senior center, a project that brought the young and old together in a unique intergenerational endeavor, and
Whereas, he has been happily married to Joyce Barry Messier for 41 years, and they are the parents of two children, Laurie and Randall, now married to Michelle Messier, and the grandparents of four grandchildren, Jordan, Kate, Christopher and Kyle, and
Whereas, Larry Messier will be missed by the teachers and students of Milton Elementary School who have come to rely on his wisdom and good judgment in performing his administrative duties, now therefore be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
That the General Assembly is pleased to recognize Larry W. Messier, an outstanding teacher and school principal, on the occasion of his retirement, and extends best wishes for many enjoyable years ahead, and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Larry Messier at the Milton Elementary School.
Thereupon, in the discretion of the President, under Rule 51, the joint resolution was placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow.
Joint resolution originating in the House of the following title was read the first time and is as follows:
J.R.H. 272. Joint resolution congratulating the winners of the 2000 Miss Vermont National Teen contest.
Whereas, the Miss Vermont National Teen contest encourages young women to demonstrate their talents in a variety of categories, and
Whereas, the Miss Vermont National Teen contest showcases the competitors’ academic accomplishments, public speaking skills and records of community service, and
Whereas, the young women participants must also present themselves well in an interview and show great poise throughout the competitive process, and
Whereas, after a grueling process, entailing multiple phases, Rachel Cobb was crowned Miss Vermont National Teen 2000 in the senior division, and
Whereas, Keri Raymond was awarded the comparable title in the junior division, and
Whereas, both of these contestants are students at Vergennes High School, and
Whereas, they will each be representing Vermont at the Miss National Teen competition to be held in Nashville on August 1-8, and
Whereas, an important duty of the Miss Vermont National Teen winners will be to speak to young persons across the state, inspiring them to set and accomplish their own personal goals, and
Whereas, both Rachel Cobb and Keri Raymond will serve as outstanding role models for teenagers across Vermont, now therefore be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
That the General Assembly congratulates Rachel Cobb and Keri Raymond on being designated Miss Vermont National Teen 2000 in their respective age categories, and wishes them good luck as they proceed to the finals of the Miss National Teen contest to be held from August 1-8 in Nashville, Tennessee, and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Rachel Cobb and Keri Raymond at Vergennes Union High School.
Thereupon, in the discretion of the President, under Rule 51, the joint resolution was placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow.
Joint resolution originating in the House of the following title was read the first time and is as follows:
J.R.H. 273. Joint resolution honoring Peter Picard for his teaching and coaching accomplishments in the Winooski school district.
Whereas, for the past 33 years, Peter Picard has delighted in teaching and coaching at Winooski High School, and
Whereas, during his tenure, he has compiled a record of service and dedication to his students that is second to none, and
Whereas, Peter Picard’s pedagogic and coaching longevity in the Winooski school system has greatly benefited the school’s scholars and athletes, and
Whereas, he graduated from Lyndon State College in 1967 and subsequently earned a master’s degree in 1970, and
Whereas, upon arriving in Winooski school district as a social studies teacher, Peter Picard simultaneously commenced his parallel career as the school’s superb assistant football coach, a position he retained from 1967 to 2000, and
Whereas, he purposely opted for an assistant coaching position, in order to work with his players on a direct one-to-one basis, and
Whereas, Peter Picard’s coaching expertise was an essential ingredient in the Spartans’ clinching the 1992 and 1993 divisional football championships, and
Whereas, for five seasons, the baseball Spartans were also privileged to have him as their assistant coach, and
Whereas, in recognition of Peter Picard’s outstanding performance in the classroom and on the playing field, he was cited as the district’s teacher of the year, and
Whereas, over the duration of his 33-year career, he has compiled a stunning attendance record in excess of 6,000 consecutive school days, having never taken a single sick day or missing any games, and