September 2003
Press Release
“Reader’s Corner” Makes Learning
About Vermont Fun- September 8, 2003
Secretary of State Spotlights Vermont
Children’s Books and Authors
Zoning Officials to Meet in
Berlin - September 10, 2003
80 Zoning Administrators to Meet to Discuss Duties
New Resource to Increase Public Access
To Government Records -
September 24, 2003
Secretary of State Unveils Web Publication On Vermont’s Public
Records Law
For Immediate Release:
September 8, 2003
Contact
Marianne Lynch 802-828-2148
"Reader’s Corner" Makes Learning About
Vermont Fun
Secretary of State Spotlights Vermont
Children’s Books and Authors
Montpelier. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced today the
addition of the "Reader’s Corner" to her website’s Kids Page. The
"Reader’s Corner" promotes books for children that are about Vermont,
Vermonters, and Vermont related subjects. Markowitz said, "reading
stories set in Vermont is a great way to help kids learn about our
unique culture, our rich history and our varied geography." The
"Reader’s Corner" is the result of a collaboration between the Vermont
Department of Libraries and the Office of the Secretary of State.
Secretary Markowitz said "our Kids Page website receives nearly 1500 hits a
day and 10,000 visitors each month. Many of them are Vermont children and
children from other states who are learning about Vermont."
The "Reader's Corner" has four components:
- A bibliography of Vermont books categorized by age and genre;
- Highlighted books recommended by The Secretary of State and The State
Children’s Librarian;
- Student book reviews; and
- Interviews with Vermont authors conducted by students (with an initial
review of award winning Vermont Author Katherine Patterson).
Visit the Vermont "Reader’s Corner" web page at:
/Kids/readers_corner/readers_corner.html
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For Immediate Release: September 10, 2003
Contact
Marianne Lynch 802-828-2148
Zoning Officials to Meet in Berlin
80 Zoning Administrators to Meet to Discuss Duties
Montpelier. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz today hosted a workshop for
eighty zoning administrators from towns around the state. The workshop is to
introduce a new handbook for zoning administrators written by Markowitz,
Attorney Paul Gillies and Regional Planner Adam Lougee and published by the
Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Markowitz said "I am very pleased
that so many zoning administrators took time from their busy schedule to join
us."
Today’s program is designed to provide basic training to Vermont’s zoning
administrators so that they are better able to assist applicants through the
local land use regulation process.
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For Immediate Release: September 24, 2003
Contact
Marianne Lynch 802-828-2148
New Resource to Increase Public Access
To Government Records
Secretary of State Unveils Web Publication On Vermont’s Public
Records Law
Montpelier. Today Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz announced a
new web publication on the Vermont public records law. Markowitz said,
"we regularly field questions from citizens, members of the press and
government officials about what information created by state or local
government must be made available for public inspection. Because of the
complexity of the laws, and because of the importance of open government
to a free society, we decided to create a website to help
people navigate the requirements of Vermont’s public record law."
The web publication is intended to help government managers and the
public understand the statutory mandates governing access to records.
The publication is laid out as a series of questions government managers
should ask when developing a record keeping system. It answers such
questions as what is a public record and what are the basic rights to
access. It lists the various exemptions to disclosure and describes the
procedures government employees must follow when responding to a public
records request. The publication also addresses the more complex issues
of the requirements to create and manage public records.
The secretary of state is the constitutional officer with specific
responsibilities for government recordkeeping, including administration of the
state archives. The web presentation is part of a series of initiatives
Secretary Markowitz has launched to promote better management of public records
in order to realize technology’s promise of a more accountable, effective and
visible government.
Markowitz said "the 2003 legislative session featured a number of lively
debates over access to public records, sparked by conflicting concerns of
government accountability, security, and the right to personal privacy. The move
toward e-government, which allows for greater sharing of information across
agencies and with broader public, only heightens these concerns." Secretary
Markowitz believes that, "Technology itself will not make government more
accountable or effective. We need to have a better understanding of the special
requirements public entities have in promoting accessibility and protecting
privacy. By compiling and publishing our various record requirements I hope to
encourage an informed public dialogue that is essential to the development of
our democratic government."
This new web publication can be found in the Archives section of the
Secretary of State Office’s website,
www.sec.state.vt.us.
Click here to link to the new section of the site.
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