Vermont HCR 62: House concurrent resolution honoring firefighter extraordinaire and former Marshfield Moderator Tom Maclay

Bill Text

R-80 Page 1 of 2
2019

VT LEG #340270 v.1
No. R-80. House concurrent resolution honoring firefighter extraordinaire and
former Marshfield Town Moderator Tom Maclay.
(H.C.R.62)
Offered by: Representative Ancel of Calais
Offered by: Senators Perchlik, Cummings, and Pollina
Whereas, the citizens of Marshfield and all Vermonters are most fortunate that Tom
Maclay has dedicated much of his life to volunteer public service of a caliber and longevity
that few persons are privileged to achieve, and
Whereas, Tom Maclay’s firefighting odyssey began in September 1962 when he joined
the Marshfield Volunteer Fire Department, and
Whereas, this new recruit was destined for an illustrious career involving every
imaginable aspect of fire protection, from dousing local blazes at all hours to statewide fire
protection leadership, and
Whereas, as the department’s secretary-treasurer, he kept consistently accurate minutes
and carefully oversaw departmental finances, a duty he also exercised for 46 years as a
member of the Marshfield budget committee, and
Whereas, from 1995 to 2005, Tom Maclay was the respected Marshfield Fire Chief,
mentoring new members and supervising the departmental response to a wide range of
emergencies, and
Whereas, a related office that Tom Maclay held with distinction for 36 years was
Marshfield Town Fire Warden, and
Whereas, beyond the town’s borders, for over 20 years, Tom Maclay served as the
exemplary secretary-treasurer of the Coalition of Fire and Rescue Services, an organization
advocating at the General Assembly on matters affecting all first responders, and on the
coalition’s behalf he regularly testified before legislative committees, and
Whereas, for more than two decades he volunteered for the Vermont Dry Hydrant
Program, a key resource for rural departments, becoming an expert on all aspects of the
program and closely collaborating with the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts,
and
Whereas, in a completely different sphere, Tom Maclay developed nimble
parliamentary skills, serving for 23 years as the exemplary Marshfield Town Moderator, a
tenure that was among the longest in the State and featured lively deliberations under his
watchful eye and trusty gavel, which ensured Town Meeting was conducted in accordance
with Robert’s Rules of Order, and
Whereas, this hardworking Vermonter has received special recognition in the
Congressional Record, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly honors firefighter extraordinaire and former Marshfield
Town Moderator Tom Maclay, and be it further

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2019

VT LEG #340270 v.1
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Tom Maclay and the Marshfield Volunteer Fire Department.