Government Operations schedules confirmation hearings for two State Police Advisory Commission nominees

The Senate Government Operations Committee said Jan. 14 it will hold confirmation hearings for two nominees to the Vermont State Police Advisory Commission: returning member Allison Crowley and nominee Seth Shamp.

The chair told members that “there were about 63 appointments ... the government operations committee has jurisdiction over 2 of the 63,” and identified Allison Crowley as a returning member and Seth Shamp as a new nominee. The committee intends to interview both nominees, then take a committee vote on whether to recommend their appointment to the full Senate.

Why it matters: confirmation hearings are the committee’s formal role in vetting and recommending executive appointments. The committee’s recommendation accompanies the nomination when it returns to the Senate floor for final action.

Process and timing: the chair said one or both nominees may appear at an upcoming meeting as early as the next day; the interviews will be followed by a committee vote. The chair noted that because these nominees are not secretaries, deputy secretaries or commissioners, the committee’s process will be to read the names and report the approvals on the floor in the customary way.

Ending: No vote on the nominations occurred during the Jan. 14 session; the committee scheduled the interviews and said it would vote after hearing from the nominees.