Joint Assembly elects Eileen Dickinson and Mark Mahali to Vermont State Colleges trustees
February 15, 2024 | SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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The joint assembly of the Vermont General Assembly elected two legislative trustees to the Vermont State Colleges Corporation on Feb. 15, 2024.
Representative Durfee (Shaftsbury) nominated Representative Dickinson, recounting her long service on state higher-education boards, committee experience and leadership during the system’s restructuring. The nominator used the name "Lynn Dickinson" in the nomination remarks; the chair, however, referred to the nominee as Representative Eileen Dickinson when announcing the motion and results. Representative James of Manchester seconded the nomination and endorsed Dickinson’s steady leadership.
Representative Coffey (Guilford) nominated Representative Mark Mahali of Calais, summarizing Mahali’s legal background, nonprofit governance experience, academic leadership as past president and dean of Vermont Law School, and experience addressing higher-education fiscal and operational challenges. Representative Harrison seconded Mahali’s nomination.
The chair stated that two names had been submitted to the Secretary of State for the official ballot and that the assembly would proceed under temporary rules in JRS 39 permitting plurality voting for the two vacancies. With no other nominations and no objection under Joint Rule 10(a), the chair called for a voice vote, and the assembly answered “aye.” The chair declared that Representatives Eileen Dickinson of St. Albans Town and Mark Mahali of Calais were elected trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation with terms commencing March 1, 2024.
Note on inconsistent statements in the record: the clerk’s reading of JRS 38 at the start of the session described trustee terms as four years (Mar. 1, 2024–Mar. 1, 2028), while at one point the chair described trustee terms as six years. The chair’s final announcement declared four-year terms beginning March 1, 2024. The transcript contains inconsistent name spellings and local place names for nominees (see audit).
Representative Durfee (Shaftsbury) nominated Representative Dickinson, recounting her long service on state higher-education boards, committee experience and leadership during the system’s restructuring. The nominator used the name "Lynn Dickinson" in the nomination remarks; the chair, however, referred to the nominee as Representative Eileen Dickinson when announcing the motion and results. Representative James of Manchester seconded the nomination and endorsed Dickinson’s steady leadership.
Representative Coffey (Guilford) nominated Representative Mark Mahali of Calais, summarizing Mahali’s legal background, nonprofit governance experience, academic leadership as past president and dean of Vermont Law School, and experience addressing higher-education fiscal and operational challenges. Representative Harrison seconded Mahali’s nomination.
The chair stated that two names had been submitted to the Secretary of State for the official ballot and that the assembly would proceed under temporary rules in JRS 39 permitting plurality voting for the two vacancies. With no other nominations and no objection under Joint Rule 10(a), the chair called for a voice vote, and the assembly answered “aye.” The chair declared that Representatives Eileen Dickinson of St. Albans Town and Mark Mahali of Calais were elected trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation with terms commencing March 1, 2024.
Note on inconsistent statements in the record: the clerk’s reading of JRS 38 at the start of the session described trustee terms as four years (Mar. 1, 2024–Mar. 1, 2028), while at one point the chair described trustee terms as six years. The chair’s final announcement declared four-year terms beginning March 1, 2024. The transcript contains inconsistent name spellings and local place names for nominees (see audit).
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