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Taking care of business

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One of the first orders of business in the new legislative session was committee assignments and while much for Rutland County's representatives remained the same, there were a few changes that could prove important.

Most noticeably, these adjustments are additions to the Senate and House Transportation Committees. Republican Sen. Hull Maynard has recently made a point of voicing his desire, and past offers, to serve again on the Transportation Committee, as well as the fact that Addison, Rutland and Bennington counties have been underrepresented in this area. A week ago, he plainly told Gov. James Douglas as much when Douglas was in town to address the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce's legislative breakfast. Could that have played a part in his reappointment to that committee Thursday morning? Last session, Maynard served on the Agriculture and Finance committees; his seat on Finance remains the same.

In the House, Rep. Gale Courcelle, a Rutland City Democrat, found herself moved from last session's assignment on the Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee to the Transportation Committee as well. She joins Rep. Dave Potter, a Clarendon Democrat, who sat on the committee last session and this year becomes its vice-chairman.

Could their presence aid Rutland with such issues as the looming possibility that the Ethan Allen Express train service could be cut?

As for the rest of the delegation, the appointments of Sens. Kevin Mullin and Bill Carris remain the same. Carris remains on the Finance and Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs committees, while Mullin, the new assistant minority leader, remains on the Health and Welfare and Judiciary committees. The House delegation includes two new faces, Democratic Rep. Megan Smith of Mendon and Peter Fagan, a Republican from Rutland City, who will serve on the Commerce Committee and the Fish, Water and Wildlife Resources committees, respectively. Fagan's appointment maintains the county's presence on that committee.

Returning to their prior committee assignments: Republican Rep. James McNeil, of Rutland Town, Agriculture; Democratic Rep. Margaret "Peg" Andrews, of Rutland City, Human Resources; Democratic Rep. Steve Howard, of Rutland City, Ways and Means; Republican Rep. Andrew Donaghy of Poultney, Judiciary; Republican Reps. Joseph Acinapura of Brandon and William Canfield of Fair Haven, Natural Resources and Energy. Republican Reps. Joseph Baker of West Rutland, Robert Helm of Castleton and Peg Flory of Pittsford also return to the General, Housing and Military Affairs Committee, the Appropriations Committee and the Judiciary Committee, respectively, as ranking members.

Mullin got right to work on Friday, introducing or co-introducing eight bills, including legislation that would prohibit the use of lighted tobacco products in the workplace and two others relating to the consolidation of supervisory unions and their financial management. The entire Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, also introduced a 58-page act relating to the development of a "comprehensive, statewide approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse," according to the bill.

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