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Senate confirms Beth Festigi as human-resources commissioner and reappoints Margaret Cheney to Public Utilities Commission
Summary
The Senate confirmed Beth Festigi as Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources (27-0) and reappointed Margaret Cheney to the Public Utilities Commission (26-0). Both nominations were supported by committee reports and floor statements describing their qualifications and terms.
The Vermont Senate on Friday confirmed two gubernatorial appointments: Beth Festigi as commissioner of the Department of Human Resources and Margaret Cheney for reappointment to the Public Utilities Commission.
The Senate confirmed Beth Festigi without debate after a motion to suspend the rules. A senator recommended Festigi’s confirmation and described her record in state government, her work on diversity, equity and inclusion training, recruitment and retention initiatives and prior experience in telecommunications and nonprofit boards. The clerk announced the roll-call result: “The ayes are 27, the nay is 0,” confirming Festigi for a term from and including March 1, 2025, to and including Feb. 28, 2027, and until a successor is appointed and qualified.
Later the chamber considered Margaret Cheney’s reappointment to the three-member Public Utilities Commission, a quasi-judicial board that regulates rates, quality of service and financial oversight for Vermont utilities. A senator from Addison reviewed Cheney’s background as a former state representative, her work on renewable-energy policy, and her efforts to make PUC proceedings more accessible to the public. The Senate recorded a roll-call vote; the clerk announced, “The yay is 26, the nay is 0,” confirming Cheney for a term from and including March 1, 2025, to and including Feb. 28, 2031, and until a successor is appointed and qualified.
Committee recommendations accompanied both nominations. The government operations committee recommended Festigi 5-0; the finance committee recommended Cheney 7-0.
