Journal of the Senate
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore.
Devotional Exercises
Devotional exercises were conducted by the Reverend Barbara Dwyer of
Waitsfield.
Pledge of Allegiance
The President then led the members of the Senate in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Bills Introduced
Senate bills of the following titles were severally introduced, read the first
time and referred:
By Senator Crowley,
S. 138. An act relating to granting credit to Group C members of the
teachers’ retirement system for service during the years they elected not to be
members of the system.
To the Committee on Government Operations.
By Senators Shumlin, Ankeney, Backus, Chard, Cummings, Kittell,
MacDonald, McCormack, Munt, Ptashnik, Ready, Rivers and Sears,
S. 139. An act to increase the minimum wage.
To the Committee on General Affairs and Housing.
By Senator Doyle,
S. 140. An act relating to the municipal employees’ retirement system and
a separate retirement group for public safety officers.
To the Committee on Government Operations.
By Senator Doyle,
S. 141. An act relating to including state law enforcement officers in the
public safety retirement group.
To the Committee on Government Operations.
By Senator Ready,
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S. 142. An act relating to mobile home park parcels, general permits for
water supplies, and taxing the incineration of sludge.
To the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.
By Senators Backus, Illuzzi, Munt and Rivers,
S. 143. An act relating to health insurance for unemployed Vermonters.
To the Committee on Health and Welfare.
By Senator Ready,
S. 144. An act relating to creating a 20-year statute of limitations for
enforcement of municipal land use permits and to providing that
noncompliance with or failure to obtain these permits does not create a cloud
on title.
To the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.
By Senator Ide,
S. 145. An act relating to school district collaboration in purchase of goods
and services.
To the Committee on Education.
By Senators Ide, Bartlett, Greenwood, Morrissey and Spaulding,
S. 146.
authority.
An act relating to a Vermont independent school financing
To the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Backus, Munt and Rivers,
S. 147. An act relating to the joint health care committee.
To the Committee on Health and Welfare.
By Senator Backus,
S. 148. An act relating to the department of taxes and Vermont health care
coverage data and the employee retirement income security act.
To the Committee on Finance.
By Senator McCormack,
S. 149. An act relating to creating and funding the position of a hazardous
materials team coordinator.
To the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.
By Senator Bahre,
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S. 150. An act relating to the powers and duties of the state board of
education, the department of education, and appointment of the commissioner.
To the Committee on Education.
By Senators Sears and Morrissey,
S. 151. An act relating to income sensitivity for persons over 62 and to
current use enrollment for persons over 65.
To the Committee on Finance.
Joint Resolution Placed on Calendar
Joint Senate resolution of the following title was offered, read the first time
and is as follows:
By Senator Bloomer,
J.R.S. 22. Joint resolution honoring the contributions of Welsh-Americans
to the State of Vermont.
Whereas, citizens of Welsh descent are an important part of our nation’s
diverse ethnic tradition, including, for example, our third President, Thomas
Jefferson, and
Whereas, citizens of Welsh descent are also an important part of Vermont’s
diverse ethnic tradition, including our thirtieth President, Calvin Coolidge, and
Whereas, it is fitting that we join with all Welsh-Americans to celebrate St.
David’s Day in tribute to the patron saint of Wales and in recognition of the
important cultural heritage of this proud Celtic people, and
Whereas, Welsh-Americans have worked faithfully to preserve and promote
the traditions of their heritage which is reflected throughout Vermont, now
therefore be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
That the Vermont General Assembly proclaims March 1, 1999 as St.
David’s Day in Vermont and urges all Vermonters to join in paying tribute to
the patron saint of Wales and to the accomplishments of Welsh-Americans,
and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State be directed to forward a copy of
this resolution to Ms. Janice Bruso Edwards, Membership Secretary of the
Poultney Area St. David’s Society.
Thereupon, in the discretion of the Chair, under Rule 51, the joint resolution
was placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow.
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Adjournment
On motion of Senator Mazza, the Senate adjourned.
AFTERNOON
The Senate was called to order by the President.
Proposals of Amendment Amended; Further Proposals of Amendment;
Point of Order Sustained; Bill Passed in Concurrence with Proposals of
Amendment; Bill Messaged
House bill entitled:
H. 130. An act providing adjustments in the amounts appropriated for the
support of government.
Was taken up.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator Spaulding, on behalf
of the Committee on Appropriations, moved that the Senate further propose to
the House to amend the bill in Sec. 90, on page 63, line 2, by striking out the
following: “Eight (8) vehicles in enforcement” and inserting in lieu thereof the
following: Vehicles in enforcement. The department shall give consideration
to extended cab vehicles in making vehicle purchases
Which was agreed to.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senators Illuzzi, Canns,
Greenwood and Ide moved that the Senate further propose to the House to
amend the bill as follows:
First: In the 17th Senate proposal of amendment, in Sec. 88, subdivision
(5), subparagraph (A), by striking out the last sentence of the first paragraph of
subparagraph (i) and the remainder of subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) in their
entirety (constituting the remainder of subparagraph (A)).
Second: By adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 88a to read as
follows:
Sec. 88a. 10 V.S.A. chapter 156 is added to read:
CHAPTER 156. CHAMPION LAND TRANSACTION;
NORTHEASTERN VERMONT
§6401. PROVISIONS OF TRANSACTION
(a) Before $4.5 million of the funds appropriated by H.130 of the 1999
session of the general assembly to the Vermont housing and conservation
board may be released in connection with the acquisition of certain specified
interests in the 133,000 acres of land offered for sale by Champion
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International Corporation, the governor shall certify to the general assembly
that permanent, irrevocable and enforceable easements protecting the
following concerns have been recorded as deed restrictions which run with the
land in perpetuity in the land records of the towns in which the lands are
located, or in the case of unorganized towns and gores, in the office of the
Essex County clerk:
(1) Public Access. The general public shall have permanent access to
the land for all types of dispersed, pedestrian-related recreational purposes,
including but not limited to hunting, fishing, trapping, training hunting dogs,
hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, bird watching,
cycling, and environmental education, at no charge by the landowner to any
member of the public, and without special permission. Such public access
shall be consistent with any applicable laws and rules, and as to the state land,
public access to the land owned by the state may be restricted only as part of a
duly adopted wildlife habitat and wildlife management plan approved by the
secretary of natural resources.
(2) Snowmobiling. The general public shall have access on the former
Champion lands through the network of snowmobile trails that shall remain at
least as extensive as the existing network shown on the 1999 snowmobile trail
map of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST). The trails shall
be designated in the initial recreation access plan.
(3) Private Roads. The general public shall have access on the former
Champion lands through the vast network of private roads as it has existed.
Public access shall be managed in a fashion which does not interfere with
forest management activities.
(4) Timber Harvesting. The approximately 85,000 acres which the
Conservation Fund intends to resell to private purchasers shall be subject to a
"working forest" easement, whose purpose is to conserve this property to
enable the production and harvesting of forest products. The easement shall be
co-held by the secretary of natural resources and the Vermont Land Trust.
Forest management and harvesting activities, including the establishment,
maintenance and reclamation of log landings and skid roads, shall be based on
the acceptable management practices approved by the department of forests,
parks and recreation which are applicable throughout the state. The easement
shall also protect wetlands, riparian zones, natural communities and unique
ecological resources that exist on the land, especially those found in the
Nulhegan Basin, Ferdinand Bog, and East Mountain old growth portions of the
land, and the deer wintering area adjacent to the Wenlock Wildlife
Management Area.
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(b) Camp Leases. The five-year leases for camps, in effect as of January 1,
1999, on the land which will be owned by the state, shall be renewed for the
life of the leaseholder, for up to 50 years, but for not less than 20 years should
the current leaseholder die.
Which was disagreed to on a roll call, Yeas 9, Nays 21.
Senator Illuzzi, having demanded the yeas and nays, they were taken and
are as follows:
Roll Call
Those Senators who voted in the affirmative were: Bahre, Bloomer,
Chard, Crowley, Greenwood, Ide, Illuzzi, Maynard, Morrissey.
Those Senators who voted in the negative were: Ankeney, Backus,
Bartlett, Brownell, Canns, Costes, Cummings, Doyle, Kittell, Leddy,
MacDonald, Mazza, McCormack, Munt, Ptashnik, Ready, Riehle, Rivers,
Sears, Shumlin, Spaulding.
Those Senators absent and not voting were None.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator Greenwood moved
that the Senate further propose to the House to amend the bill by adding a new
section to be numbered Sec. 88a to read as follows:
Sec. 88a. 10 V.S.A. chapter 156 is added to read:
CHAPTER 156. CHAMPION LAND TRANSACTION CITIZEN
ADVISORY COUNCIL
§ 6407. COUNCIL CREATED
(a) A citizen advisory council is created to assist in implementing the
provisions of the Champion land transaction in the Northeastern region of
Vermont authorized by the 1999 session of the general assembly.
§ 6408. FUNCTIONS
(a) The council shall function as a forum to hear and attempt to resolve
concerns brought to the attention of the council regarding ongoing use and
management of the properties constituting the Champion land transaction.
These matters may include, but are not limited to, public access, the recreation
access plan, snowmobiling, motorized, mechanical and equestrian access,
private roads, temporary restrictions, federal ownership, timber harvesting,
land conservation, water classification, economic development and camp
leases.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
(b) The council shall also function as a source of information to persons
interested in learning about the transaction including its legal conditions, or
about the ongoing use and management of the land.
§ 6408. MEMBERS; ORGANIZATION
(a) The council shall consist of eleven voting members appointed by the
Governor as follows:
(1) six persons residing in the northeastern region of the state, made up
of one representative each of the logging industry, another private business
interest in Essex County, a local hunting and fishing group, the Vermont
Association of Snow Travelers, camp leaseholders of former Champion land,
and an elected official of municipal government in Essex County, each with a
three-year term except that initial terms shall be staggered, to be appointed by
the governor from a list of three nominees for each position submitted jointly
by the members of the state legislative delegation of Essex County;
(2) one person representing the new private ownership of a portion of
the former Champion land; and
(3) the secretary of the Vermont agency of natural resources or his or
her designee from within the agency; and
(4) one person representing the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
and
(5) one person representing the Vermont Sportsmen Federation; and
(6) one person representing a natural resources conservation group.
(b) The representative of municipal government from Essex County shall
serve as chair of the council and shall convene the first meeting of the council.
Subsequent meetings will be held at the call of the chair or as scheduled by
majority vote of the council.
(c) The chair of the council shall arrange for council meetings to be held at
a municipal office or another location in Essex County. If requested by the
council, the secretary of natural resources shall provide administrative and staff
support to the council.
Which was agreed to.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senators Ide and Ready moved
that the Senate further propose to the House to amend the bill by adding a new
section to be numbered Sec. 88b to read as follows:
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Sec. 88b. ALTERNATIVES TO REPLACE THE $6.2 MILLION FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR CHAMPION
The Treasurer, with assistance and cooperation of the Legislative Joint
Fiscal Office and the Commissioner of Finance and Management, shall prepare
a report of financing alternatives to the $6.2 million federal purchase of
Champion lands. Said alternatives should include the use of state funds or
other financial arrangements that could result in ownership and control
remaining in state, local or other non-federal hands. The report shall be
presented to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and Natural
Resources by April 2, l999. $10,000 in general funds is appropriated to the
Office of the State Treasurer for the purpose of carrying out this study.
Which was agreed to.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator Rivers, on behalf of
the Committee on Finance, moved that the Senate further propose to the House
to amend the bill by adding three new sections to be numbered Secs. 60a, 60b
and 60c to read as follows:
Sec. 60a. PREBATE CHECKS TO BE PAID IN 1999, 2000 AND 2001
(a) In order to expedite payment of education property tax income
sensitivity adjustments to Vermont homestead owners, to insure that the
payments providing such adjustments are made at a time to assist taxpayers in
the payment of their property taxes and to increase the public understanding
and awareness of these benefits, the General Assembly declares that it is in the
best interest of the state to continue providing education property tax income
sensitivity adjustments in the form of a “prebate” to homestead owners. In
addition, homestead owners shall continue to make payments of their
education property taxes to their municipalities, rather than to the state,
through 2001.
(b) Notwithstanding section 6066 of Title 32, the amount of property tax
adjustment available to homestead owners for property taxes assessed in
calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001 shall not affect the local share or statewide
property tax liability of the claimant, but instead shall be paid by September
15, 1999 for claims filed by August 1, 1999; and shall be paid August 15 for
claims filed by the immediately preceding June 1 in 2000 and 2001. Claims
filed after June 1 each year shall be paid within 45 days after filing. If the
claimant's municipality has not adopted a budget at the time of the claim,
however, the claim shall be paid within 45 days after the budget is adopted. A
claimant may file a claim for the property tax reduction payment provided
under this section until December 1 of the property tax year for which a claim
is being filed. Towns shall include with their property tax bills a notice,
prepared and supplied by the Department of Taxes, informing homeowners of
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
the property tax reduction payment program, with forms and instructions for
claiming such benefits.
(c) The commissioner of education shall calculate, for purposes of property
tax adjustment claims made under this section, a statewide property tax rate for
each municipality and a local share percentage for each municipality, using the
municipality's education budget for the fiscal year 2000, 2001 or 2002 for
which the claim is being filed, and the municipality's most current equalized
education grand list. The statewide tax rate and local share percentage
calculated by the commissioner shall be used to determine a claimant's
education property tax adjustment claim under subdivisions 6066(a)(1) and (2)
of Title 32, based upon the most current equalized education grand list value of
the claimant's homestead and the household income of the claimant for the
calendar year preceding the year in which the claim is filed.
(d) Prospective payments under this section shall be in lieu of an income
sensitivity adjustment for homestead owners under subdivisions 6066(a)(1)
and (2) of Title 32 in April 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Sec. 60b. PAYMENT OF EDUCATION PROPERTY TAXES ASSESSED
IN CALENDAR YEARS 1999, 2000 AND 2001
Notwithstanding sections 428 and 511 of Title 16 and section 5403 of Title
32, local share and statewide property taxes assessed on homesteads in
calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001 shall be paid to municipalities in the same
manner as the municipal property tax.
Sec. 60c. APPROPRIATION
There is appropriated from the general fund for fiscal year 1999 to the
department of taxes the amount of $100,000.00 for the implementation of
sections 60a and 60b of this act.
Thereupon, pending the question, Shall the Senate propose to the House to
amend the bill as moved by Senator Rivers? Senator Spaulding, on behalf of
the Committee on Appropriations, moved to amend the proposal of amendment
of Senator Rivers in Sec. 60c by striking out the figure “$100,000.00” and
inserting in lieu thereof the figure $325,000.00
Which was agreed to.
Thereupon, the pending question, Shall the Senate propose to the House to
amend the bill as moved by Senator Rivers, as amended? was decided in the
affirmative on a roll call, Yeas 21, Nays 9.
Senator Crowley, having demanded the yeas and nays, they were taken and
are as follows:
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200
Roll Call
Those Senators who voted in the affirmative were: Ankeney, Backus,
Bartlett, Chard, Cummings, Doyle, Greenwood, Illuzzi, Kittell, Leddy,
MacDonald, Mazza, McCormack, Munt, Ptashnik, Ready, Riehle, Rivers,
Sears, Shumlin, Spaulding.
Those Senators who voted in the negative were: Bahre, Bloomer,
Brownell, Canns, Costes, Crowley, Ide, Maynard, Morrissey.
Those Senators absent and not voting were: None.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senators Morrissey and
Bloomer moved that the Senate further propose to the House to amend the bill
by adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 88c to read as follows:
Sec. 88c. PERSONAL INCOME TAX REDUCTION PAYMENT FOR
TAXABLE YEAR 1998
(a) Each individual income taxpayer subject to filing a personal income tax
return under subchapter 2 of chapter 151 of Title 32 for the 1998 taxable year
is entitled to a personal income tax reduction payment for that taxable year in
an amount determined under this section.
(b) The amount of the reduction shall be determined and calculated by the
Commissioner of Taxes for each taxpayer as the greater of:
(1) the personal income taxes owed by the taxpayer for the 1998 taxable
year measured by 23 percent of the federal tax liability of the taxpayer, and
subtracting that amount from the amount owed by the taxpayer for the 1998
taxable year as measured by the rate established by 32 V.S.A. § 5822, or;
(2) the total state tax liability of the taxpayer if the taxpayer’s taxable
income is equal to or less than 110% of federal poverty level as adjusted for
family size.
(c) The difference shall be remitted to the taxpayer by a check from the
Commissioner of Taxes as a one-time 1998 individual tax reduction payment.
Which was disagreed to on a roll call, Yeas 11, Nays 19.
Senator Bloomer, having demanded the yeas and nays, they were taken and
are as follows:
Roll Call
Those Senators who voted in the affirmative were: Bahre, Bloomer,
Brownell, Canns, Costes, Crowley, Ide, Illuzzi, Maynard, Morrissey, Riehle.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
Those Senators who voted in the negative were: Ankeney, Backus,
Bartlett, Chard, Cummings, Doyle, Greenwood, Kittell, Leddy, MacDonald,
Mazza, McCormack, Munt, Ptashnik, Ready, Rivers, Sears, Shumlin,
Spaulding.
Those Senators absent and not voting were: None.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator MacDonald moved
that the Senate further propose to the House to amend the bill, as follows:
First: In Sec. 88 of the bill, in Sec. 277 of No. 147 of the Acts of 1998,
subdivision (5), by striking out subparagraph (F) in its entirety and inserting in
lieu thereof the following:
(F) To the Vermont Council on the Arts in coordination with Friends of
the State House for art acquisition, provided that any amount of the purchase
price of the acquisition above the appropriated amount is obtained from private
contributions.
100,000
Second: In Sec. 88 of the bill, in Sec. 277 of No. 147 of the Acts of 1998,
subdivision (5), by adding a new subparagraph (V) to read as follows:
(V) To the Housing and Conservation Trust Fund, to be used by the
Housing and Conservation Board for the purpose of reducing low-income
homebuyers’ payments for mortgage insurance.
100,000
Thereupon, the first proposal of amendment of Senator MacDonald was
severally disagreed to.
Thereupon, Senator MacDonald requested and was granted leave to
withdraw his second proposal of amendment.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator Ready moved to
amend the seventeenth Senate proposal of amendment as follows:
First: In Sec. 88, subdivision (5), in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking out
subparagraph (I) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
(I) Camp leases. Renewal for the life of the leaseholder or, in
the event of the leaseholder’s death, renewal by immediate family members for
not more than 20 years.
Second: In Sec. 88, subdivision (5), in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking out
subparagraph (I) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
(I) Renew Camp Leases. Renew those leases located on state
lands for the life of the leaseholder or, in the event of the leaseholder’s death,
allow renewal by immediate family members for not more than 20 years.
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Third: In Sec. 88, subdivision (5), in subparagraph (A)(ii), subparagraph
(III), in the second complete sentence, by striking the following “to include
renewal of camp leases for the life of the leaseholder, for up to 50 years but not
less than 20 years” and inserting in lieu thereof the following: to include
renewal of camp leases for the life of the leaseholder or, in the event of the
leaseholder’s death, to include renewal by immediate family members for not
more than 20 years
Which was agreed to.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senators Illuzzi and Ready
moved to further amend the bill by adding three new sections to be numbered
Secs. 107a, 107b and 107c to read as follows:
Sec. 107a. 14 V.S.A. § 118 is added to read:
§ 118. PROHIBITED ANIMAL DISPOSITION
(a) No person shall direct in a will that the disposition of his or her estate
shall include the killing of an animal, as defined in section 351 of Title 13.
The provision of any will that provides for the killing of an animal shall be
void.
(b) When a will contains a provision directing that an animal be killed, or
when a will could be construed as containing such a provision, a person
interested in the estate may bring a complaint as provided by section 117 of
this title, in which case the court shall prohibit such animal from being killed.
Sec. 107b. APPLICABILITY
Subsection (a) of section 118 of Title 14 shall apply to all wills executed
after July 1, 1999. Subsection (b) of section 118 of Title 14 shall apply to all
wills regardless of when executed.
Sec. 107c. EFFECTIVE DATE
This section and Secs. 107a and 107b shall take effect on passage.
Thereupon, pending the question, Shall the Senate propose to the House to
amend the bill as moved Senators Illuzzi and Ready? Senator Canns raised a
point of order under Sec. 402 of Mason’s on the grounds that the proposal of
amendment offered by Senators Illuzzi and Ready was not germane to the bill
and therefore could not be considered by the Senate.
Thereupon, the President sustained the point of order and ruled that the
proposal of amendment offered by Senators Illuzzi and Ready was not
germane to the bill (which deals primarily with monetary adjustments to last
year’s appropriations bill) and could not be considered by the Senate and the
proposal of amendment was thereby ordered stricken.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator Brownell moved that
the Senate further propose to the House to amend the bill by adding three new
sections to be numbered Secs. 107a, 107b and 107c to read as follows:
Sec. 107a. JOINT LEGISLATIVE Y2K COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE
(a) A joint legislative Y2K compliance oversight committee is created.
The committee shall be composed of three members of the house, appointed by
the speaker and three members of the senate, appointed by the committee on
committees.
(b) Members of the committee shall be entitled to compensation and
reimbursement pursuant to section 406 of Title 2, provided that the committee
shall not meet more than 10 times during the interim between the 1999 and
2000 legislative sessions.
(c) The committee shall:
(1) Review the state of Vermont’s Y2K compliance program and the
administration’s efforts to ensure that state government will achieve Y2K
compliance in a timely manner.
(2) Review the extent to which all branches of state government and all
state entities, including independent agencies, boards, commissions and
instrumentalities, are actively participating in the state’s Y2K compliance
program.
(3) Determine the state of Y2K preparedness among Vermont’s
municipalities.
(4) Review the Y2K contingency planning efforts of state and local
governments and the private sector interface with government.
(5) Review efforts being developed or underway to provide the public
with accurate and useful information, or sources of information, about Y2K
issues and the types of actions that can be taken to avoid or mitigate Y2K
problems.
(6) Investigate issues relating to liability for damages resulting from the
failure of computers to process dates or times, and the additional protections, if
any, that should be made available to state and municipal governments and to
businesses.
(d) The committee may enter into a contract with a consultant to provide
assistance to the committee as it performs its duties.
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204
(e) The legislative council shall provide clerical and administrative services
to the committee. Upon request, the committee shall have the assistance of the
chief information officer and state agencies being reviewed.
(f) The committee shall report its findings and recommendations, if any, to
the general assembly on or before December 1, 1999.
Sec. 107b. APPROPRIATION
The sum of $10,000.00 is appropriated from the general fund to the
legislature in FY 1999 for the purpose of contracting with a consultant to assist
the joint legislative Y2K compliance oversight committee as it performs its
duties under this act.
Sec. 107c. EFFECTIVE DATE; SUNSET
This section and Secs. 107a and 107b shall take effect upon passage and
shall expire on July 1, 2000.
Which was agreed to.
Thereupon, the bill was read the third time and passed in concurrence with
proposals of amendment on a roll call, Yeas 25, Nays 4.
Senator Bahre, having demanded the yeas and nays, they were taken and are
as follows:
Roll Call
Those Senators who voted in the affirmative were: Ankeney, Backus,
Bartlett, Bloomer, Brownell, Chard, Costes, Cummings, Doyle, Greenwood,
Ide, Illuzzi, Kittell, Leddy, MacDonald, Mazza, McCormack, Munt, Ptashnik,
Ready, Riehle, Rivers, Sears, Shumlin, Spaulding.
Those Senators who voted in the negative were: *Bahre, Canns, Crowley,
Maynard.
Those Senators absent and not voting were: Morrissey.
*Senator Bahre explained his vote as follows:
“A provision of this bill clouds the title to 133,000 acres of private property.
“That is injurious to Article I of the Vermont Constitution.
“To cloud the title, Vermonters are taxed 4.5 million or more that is
injurious to Article IX of the Vermont Constitution.
“I vote NO on this bill.”
Thereupon, on motion of Senator Shumlin, the rules were suspended and
the bill was ordered messaged to the House forthwith.
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Bill Called Up
Senate bill of the following title was called up by Senator Backus, and,
under the rule, placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow:
S. 90. An act relating to binding arbitration in municipal labor disputes.
Adjournment
On motion of Senator Shumlin, the Senate adjourned until one oclock and
thirty minutes in the afternoon on Wednesday, February 24, 1999.