The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 11

Arthur site a hidden treat for history bulTs (j7) Braves, Marlins sweep NL series SPORTS SECTIOXB Community: 2B Sports: 5B Vermont Saturday. October 4. 1 997 Metro Editor Rob Eley, 660-1862 or (800) 427-3124 Vergennes police chief ousted Report criticizes chaotic operation, lack of communication New supervisor A retired hiem YcyV Dty Poice lieutenant co-authored a report critical of Pie Vcgennes Police Department has ag'eed to oversee trie oepatnsent for the rest of the year. Ted MmaS wl be paid S2S an hour to run the police force, but mi get no benefits. Tne maximum pay is $900 a week.

City Manager Mel Ha ley sad. M.naH. a 24 year police veteran, has ag'eed to serve as "full-time supervisor" for the department. Ha ley said. Minal will not hold the title of police chief because he is not certified as a law enforcement officer Vermont.

Haw ley sad the city hopes to have a permanent chief by Jan. I Mmall works for Hunter North Associates of Spofford. N.H.. a consulting firm retained by Vcgennes to investigate its police department. The report was written by Mmall and Robert God-erre.

a former Vermont State Police trooper. and cmplovee misconduct breed in departments which lack strong supervisory structures." the report said. The report notes: There was a lack of standardisation in investigative files and a failure to properly secure juvenile records. Citiiens said non-response to complaints and lack of investigative follow-up became the accepted level of performance. Poor scheduling procedures would create either a shortage or excess of personnel.

There was no cmplovec performance evaluation svstem in place. Middlebury Police officers filling in Set VERGENNES, 2B By Mike Donoghue ret Pres Stall Uniir Embattled Vergennes Police Chief John Dugan. convicted in July of destroying evidence in a friend's drunken driving case, is out of a job. Dugan's removal by City Manager Mel Ha Icy comes as a consulting firm filed a report damning the chaotic operation of the police department and the lack of internal communication. Relations between Dugan and his officers were so bad the chief talked into a dead phone line for more than a half hour to avoid having a department meeting, the report said.

ley said in his summary of the report by Hunter North Associates, a police management consulting firm hired by the city of Vergennes. The report says the public has lost confidence in the department, but it can be restored with increased day-to-day contact with the officers and a new chief. "Dugan did not offer any constructive direction in either administrative or operational matters," the report noted. When asked technical or procedural questions, the 17-year police veteran would respond "1 don't know." "This lack of super ision and personnel direction poses a severe threat of potential civil liability. Police corruption Attempts to reach Dugan were unsuccessful Dugan has been on tick leave for 12 weeks and had used up all his sick and vacation time by late last month.

Haw ley said he wrote Dugan last month to tell him he was expected to return to work Wednesday, but the chief never responded. Haw ley said it was his decision to remove Dugan. The report notes there have been longstanding administrative problems on the police force. The department "has been in a state of disorganization for an extended period of time due primarily to the absence of strong leadership on the force." Haw- Teachers get lesson on putting blueprint to work in schools Information The state Education Department's website contains information about the Vermont Framework for Standards and Learning Opportunities. To access the site, go to: www.atate.vt.uteduc.

WV-. r- Lawyer's suspension is upheld By Oavld Gram The AsuH iated Press MONTPELIER The Vermont Supreme Court has upheld a three-year license suspension for Cavendish lawyer William Hunter, rejecting Hunter's plea for leniency based on his now-treated mental health problems. The justices upheld the Professional Conduct Board's finding that Hunter neglected client business on several occasions and that he shifted money from one client to another without the first client's permission. Hunter appealed the Professional Conduct Board's recommendation he be suspended. In a June hearing, he told the high court he had suffered from attention deficit disorder, or ADD, and depression, but therapy and medication had improved his conditions.

The Supreme Court said that although those conditions might have contributed to disorganization in Hunter's law practice, they could not explain the improper money shifting. "The proffered evidence does not suggest, however that ADD caused (Hunter) to engage in the misconduct that the board considered most egregious," the court said in a decision signed by all five justices. "The misconduct that 'shocked the conscience of the board' was (Hunter's) misappropriation of his client's money by loaning it to another client without the first client's authority," the decision said. The allegations about shifting money between clients make up part of an 11 -count mail fraud and bankruptcy fraud indictment returned by a federal grand jury against Hunter in July. Fie has denied any criminal actions, saying none of the financial transactions under scrutiny was meant to enrich him.

This week Hunter filed eight motions in federal court, among them bids to throw out evidence seized in a 1995 search of his home and office on the grounds the search warrant executed in a pre-dawn raid was carried out By Anne Geggis Free Press Stall riltr SOUTH BURLINGTON More than 350 educators became students for a day Friday learning how a statewide education blueprint can be translated into classroom activities. The Vermont Framework for Standards and Learning Opportunities, adopted last year, is an exhaustive list of skills students should have as they move from kindergarten through 12th grade. Helping students achieve these skills is taking on a renewed urgency this year as a new statewide assessment system virtually guarantees all students will be tested on these standards. Kicking off the conference, Vermont Deputy Education Commissioner Marge Petit underscored the urgency of the mission teachers face by recounting a recent meeting with Husky Injection Molding Systems President Robert Schad in her keynote address. She said she suggested Husky, which is building a new plant in Milton, start talking with area high schools about apprenticeships high school graduates could take at the plant and was taken aback by his reply.

"He said, i don't believe we'll have a need for students who have just graduated from high school we've talked with VTC (Vermont Technical College) and the engineering department at UVM (University of she said. "I pause here to let that sink in. "You see, the skills needed to work at the Husky plant are high-tech," she continued. "We've seen the future. It's now." Educators were offered demonstrations of how the Vermont Framework for Standards and Learning Opportunities can be interpreted in the classroom.

Though it imposes a statewide ADAM PIKE RIESNER, Free Press University of Vermont President Judith Ramaley reads with third grader Ngoc Nguyen at H.O. Wheeler Elementary School on Friday. Ramaley and Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle participated in the national America Reads program, which seeks to ensure every child can read by the end of the third grade. Burlington leaders promote reading vision of what skills students should have when they graduate, the subject matter studied to achieve those skills is left up to individual school districts and classroom teachers. For example, students in kindergarten through fourth grade are supposed to be able to use a scientific method to describe, investigate and explain phenomena.

Katie Sullivan, a teacher at Warren Elementary School, explained why she chose mold for her third- and fourth-grade students to study. "Anything that's disgusting is appealing to third- and fourth-graders," she said, drawing laughter from the group. The culminating event of her mold unit is the mold symposium, in which students present their hypothesis and results. One student, for example, theorized mold would grow more quickly on bread inside a plastic bag, than inside a paper one. The student had to write a report and make a presentation to classmates about why no mold grew on either sample.

That activity fulfills skills listed under the communication section of the Vermont framework: "Students organize and convey information and ideas accurately and effectively." Laura Johnson, principal of East Montpelier Elementary School, said she came to the conference for new ideas. "I just need to hear the standards-based message again and again," she said. To learn more UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT: For more information about the University of Vermont's involvement with America Reads, call the Center for Career Development, 656-3450. VERMONT STATE COLLEGES: For information about the Vermont State Colleges' involvement, call the Chancellor's Office at (800) By Sona Iyengar Free Press Staff Writer Sitting in the corner of Mrs. Tewksbury-Frye's third-grade classroom.

University of Vermont President Judith Ramaley cracked open a slim, colorful volume on water birds. Next to her, Mayor Peter Clavelle turned the pages of Eleanor Roosevelt's life story. The two came to the H.O. Wheeler School Friday to read to students part of the national America Reads program that aims to get children reading well by the end of third grade. They were joined by other adult volunteers who divided into groups, each taking three students and a pile of books.

UVM is sending students to, Chittenden County schools and reading programs year-round, to tutor children and get them motivated about reading. The Vermont State Colleges also are signing up college students to take part in America Reads. reader," she said. "These young people are discovering the joy of reading." Ramaley read to three third-graders, pointing to pictures of blue-winged teals and loons with rainbow trout in their beaks. "Do any of you have cardinals in your backyard?" she asked her students.

Evan Watson, 8, said he had seen many different birds. "I get lots of little birds and sometimes I have some blue ones. One time I had a finch with a yellow stomach," Watson told the new president. In his group, Clavelle pointed to a picture of Eleanor Roosevelt sitting before a radio microphone. "This was bifore they had TV and the way you talked to people was on the radio," he said.

One of his pupils, Katie Burdo, 8, said she sometimes reads three hours a night. When asked how much television she watched a night, Burdo said: "About two minutes. I hate TV." "Good for you," said the mayor, smiling. "Give me five!" Anne Tewksbury-Frye said the program gives her 22 students one-on-one attention. "It shows them how powerful reading is," she said.

"It shows them that all adults consider reading to be important." Ramaley said her love of reading began around third-grade. "At this age, the critical things are happening that create a life-long Weather almanac Today 1 FRIDAY: High: 53 Low: 40 NORMAL: High: 62 Low. 43 RECORD: High: 82, 1891 Low: 28. 1911 Ski, skate swaps, 2B More things to do, 2B Newberry Congregational Church Fall Festival: Chicken barbecue, fudge, Swedish bakery, food tables, farmer's market, white elephant table, silent auction, arts and crafts, exhibit of quilts, and ox pull demonstrations with antique tool display. 9:30 a.m.

to 4 p.m. in Newbury. 866-5659. Medieval Fair: Medieval marketplace, harvest shop, gaming glen, Trojan Horse course, Jacob's Ladder, javelin throw, catapult games, pageants, music, Scottish Highland Dancers, bagpipes, players gaming on the glen, and a medieval village. 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. at the Grammar School in Putney. Adults $3. children SI. Benefits the school's scholarship fund.

387-5364. Pumpkin Day: The pumpkin display features an array of pumpkins many sizes, shapes, colors, including white, yellow, green and striped. Sample pumpkin bread and ice cream, take home a Jack Be Little pumpkin. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

at Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock. 457-2355. 1 Fall Foliage Art and Craft Tour Studio sale and exhibit by Vermont artists. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday in East Top-sham. Continues Sunday. 439-6921. Fall Foliage Craft Fair: 70 craft booths. 10 a.m.

to 4:30 p.m. in the Hardwick Elementary School gym. Continues Sunday. 472-5906. Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival: Large display of sheep, angora goats, llamas, alpacas and angora rabbits.

More than 60 craftspeople will feature sheep, wool and other natural fiber-related products. Other activities include sheep shearing, sheep dog handling and wool crafts such as carding, spinning, weaving, felting, rug hooking, basketry. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Snowshead Base Lodge in the Killington Ski Resort.

Continues Sunday. 457-2049. "Marrowbone" Theatre Group Ltd. actors, singers, dancers and storytellers TODAY: Some sunshine and milder. High: 66 Low: 54 SUNDAY: A morning shower; clouds breaking for some sun.

High: 68 Low: 52 recite poems, sing songs and tell stories. 1:30 p.m. today and Sunday in Lincoln. Adults S5, $6, seniors S4, S5, children $3, $4. Tickets at Folkheart in Bristol or Sound Source in Middlebury.

Masquerade Ball: Very Special Arts Vermont holds a benefit Masquerade Ball from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Shclburne Farms Coach Barn. Come in costume. Dancing to the James Harvey Quintet, food ani beverages. $50.

860-6220. ADAM PIKE RIESNER, Free Press Katie Sullivan, a teacher at Warren Elementary School, talks with educators about teaching methods and ways to stimulate discussion in the classroom at a seminar Friday..