House Journal, October 24, 2002

Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. Sullivan of Braintree in the Chair (having been appointed by the Speaker, under authority conferred by Rule 5, to perform the duties of the Chair).

Prayer was offered by the Reverend Robert F. Quinn, C.S.P., Chaplain of the House, as follows:

Gracious God, we depend upon You, Your guidance, direction and assistance, which we need daily, as we begin today’s legislative session. In this information and technological age with vast amounts of data at our fingertips, inspire us to use these innovations in a reasonable, positive and ethical manner. May the new knowledge, which is available to us at the moment, help us to achieve a productive, meaningful and purposeful life in which the rights and dignity of all are recognized and respected. Let the violence against people and institutions be replaced by sound moral principles and standards in the hearts and minds of all people.

At the request of the Chair (Mr. Sullivan), the members, guests and employees joined with him in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

A message from Her Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor, recommending legislation relative to making certain amendments to the General Appropriation Act for fiscal year 2003 and other technical corrections (House, No. 5359) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Wednesday, October 23.

The message was read; and it was referred, under Rule 30, with the accompanying draft of a bill, to the committee on Ways and Means.

The following resolutions (filed with the Clerk) were referred, under Rule 85, to the committee on Rules:

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Caron of Springfield) congratulating Coach Frank A. Wolcott on the occasion of “Coach Frank Wolcott Day”;

Resolutions (filed by Ms. Donovan of Woburn) congratulating William Stukey, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Ms. Flavin of Easthampton) commending the Center for Human Development on the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary;

Resolutions (filed by Ms. Kaprielian of Watertown) recognizing the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Miceli of Wilmington) congratulating Charles William Hyde on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday;

Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Provost of Sandwich) congratulating Molly Sicchio on receiving the Gold Award of the Girl Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Stanley of Waltham) congratulating Kevin James on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Stanley of Waltham) congratulating the First Baptist Church of Waltham on the occasion of its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary;

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Timilty of Milton, Ayers of Quincy and Sullivan of Braintree) congratulating Ron Pirrera on the occasion of his retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Timilty of Milton, Ayers of Quincy, Sullivan of Braintree and Galvin of Canton) congratulating Richard Wells on the occasion of his retirement; and

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Vallee of Franklin and Loscocco of Holliston) congratulating Police Lieutenant Richard C. Malo on the occasion of his retirement;

Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committee on Rules, reported, in each instance, that the resolutions ought to be adopted. Under suspension of the rules, in each instance, on motion of Mrs. Paulsen of Belmont, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

The annual report of the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (under the provisions of Section 8 of Chapter 161B of the General Laws) for the fiscal year 2002, was placed on file.

Petitions.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:

By Mrs. Creedon of Brockton, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Geraldine Creedon and Robert S. Creedon for legislation to authorize the Department of Correction to establish a sick leave bank for Saillens Dumay, an employee of said department.

By Ms. Polito of Shrewsbury, petition (subject to Joint Rules 12 and 9) of Karyn E. Polito and Guy W. Glodis (by vote of the town) relative to establishing the Shrewsbury economic and industrial evelopment corporation.

Severally, under Rule 24, to the committee on Rules.

A Bill relative to the recording of certain trust instruments (Senate, No. 866) (on House, No. 1795), passed to be engrossed by the Senate, was read; and it was referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

A petition of Richard T. Moore and Paul Kujawski for legislation to allow the State Retirement Board to grant creditable service to William Thibault, a former employee of the Department of Revenue, for time served as a selectman in Blackstone, came from the Senate referred, under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Public Service.

The House then concurred with the Senate in the suspension of said rule; and the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2488) was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Public Service.

By Mr. Rogers of Norwood, for the committee on Ways and Means, that the Bill to limit outdoor night lighting, conserve energy and reduce light pollution (House, No. 3528) ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefor a bill with the same title (House, No. 5360). Referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the amendment pending.

Engrossed Bills.

The engrossed Bill validating certain votes taken by the town of Hopkinton (see House bill printed in House, No. 5343) (which originated in the House), having been certified by the Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage, was passed to be enacted (more than two-thirds of the members having agreed to pass the same); and it was signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

Authorizing the city of Quincy to pay or provide for health insurance benefits to its employees and retirees (see Senate, No. 2487) (which originated in the Senate); and Establishing a capital investments fund in the town of Rochester (see House, No. 4623) (which originated in the House);

Severally having been certified by the Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage, were passed to be enacted; and they were signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

Mr. Finneran of Boston moved that the vote be reconsidered by which the House, on Thursday last, concurred with the Senate in its still further amendment striking out the date: “Thursday, October 31” (inserted by further amendment by the House) and inserting in place thereof the date: “Monday, November 4” with a still still further amendment striking out said date: “Monday, November 4” and inserting in place thereof the date: “Monday, November 18”, to the House Order relative to extending Joint Rule 10; and the motion to reconsider was entertained, and it prevailed.

Pending the recurring question on concurring with the Senate in its still further amendment, as amended, the same member moved that the vote be reconsidered by which the House, at said sitting, adopted said still still further amendment; and the motion to reconsider was entertained, and it prevailed.

On the recurring question, the still still further amendment was rejected.

The House then concurred with the Senate in its still further amendment.

Designating a portion of the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage Park as the Honorable William A. L. Bazeley Memorial Recreation Area (Senate, No. 1089); and

Authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey a certain parcel of land to the Taunton Development Corporation (Senate, No. 1591, changed);

Severally reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn, were read a third time; and they were passed to be engrossed, in concurrence.

Relative to payment of fire insurance claims to mortgagees (House, No. 2348, amended) (its title having been changed by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading); and

Relative to veteran’s agents and veterans’ benefits (House, No. 5216);

Severally reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn, were read a third time; and they were passed to be engrossed. Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The House Bill relative to abandoning a certain rail line in the town of Falmouth (House, No. 4990) was read a second time; and it was ordered to a third reading.

Order.

On motion of Mr. Finneran of Boston,—

Ordered, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M.

The same member then moved that as a mark of respect to the memory of Joseph B. Walsh, a member of the House of Representatives from Boston from 1961 to 1972, inclusive, and a member of the Senate from 1972 to 1988, inclusive, the House adjourn; and the motion prevailed.

Accordingly, at twenty-three minutes before twelve o’clock noon, on motion of Ms. Rogeness of Longmeadow (Mr. Sullivan of Braintree being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.