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Working to improve public health and safety throughout Vermont —

An ICC Professional Chapter since March 2009

ICC Building Safety Association of Vermont

Robert Howe

The ICC Building Safety Association of Vermont is proud to have had the opportunity to serve with Bob Howe, Deputy Director of the Division of Fire Safety, who has retired after 41 years of dedicated service to the State of Vermont.

The following is from http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/resolutn/HCR171.pdf .  We cannot say it any better...

State of Vermont

House of Representatives

Montpelier, Vermont

Concurrent House Resolution

H.C.R. 171

House concurrent resolution honoring Robert Howe for his 41 years of dedicated public service on behalf of the state of Vermont

Offered by: Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs

Whereas, Robert (Bob) Howe began his public service career in the transportation field where he spent seven years, and

Whereas, for the past 34 years, 29 at the department of labor, and more recently with the division of fire safety within the department of public safety, Bob Howe has developed an expertise in the myriad codes related to fire and building safety, and

Whereas, he began at the department of labor as a field inspector and rose through the ranks to become deputy director of the division of fire safety, the number two fire safety position in Vermont, and

Whereas, as a developer and implementer of fire safety codes, Bob Howe has been required to work closely with other state offices and a variety of interest groups, and

Whereas, these interactions can involve matters of importance and sensitivity, and Bob Howe has repeatedly exhibited an enormous degree of diplomacy and tact in addressing conflicting viewpoints and harmonizing fire safety and related codes with other state regulatory provisions, and

Whereas, a special project, which Bob Howe started 20

Robert Howe is a Charter Member who sat on the Board of Directors for the first 3 years of the Association.  He contributed in many key areas, from the development of the Association by-laws to identifying key topics for education.  We wish Bob a long, happy and healthy retirement!

ICC Government Relations Vice President Dottie Harris commented “Bob Howe has been an exceptional code expert for the Vermont State Fire Marshal’s office and simply wonderful to work with on Training and Certification Programs.  Bob will be missed by all of us that have had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.   We all wish Bob well on his well earned retirement.”

years ago, is the annual third grade fire safety calendar drawing contest in which Vermont’s third graders are invited to submit drawings with fire safety messages for inclusion in the calendar, 20,000 of which are distributed through the schools, and

Whereas, the winners each have their work incorporated into one month’s calendar page and are invited to Montpelier for an award ceremony that includes having their picture taken with the governor, and

Whereas, Bob Howe was also honored at the most recent fire safety calendar ceremony, and despite his best efforts to avoid the limelight, he was deservedly recognized for this outstanding accomplishment, and

Whereas, he is recognized among his regional fire safety colleagues as a foremost expert and is frequently asked to speak in other states on topics of interest to those jurisdictions, and

Whereas, in his personal life, Bob Howe volunteers at his church, helping to provide meals for those in need, and has coached girls’ basketball, and

Whereas, Vermont’s buildings are far safer places as a result of his decades of exemplary public service, and after 41 years of state employment, Bob Howe is retiring this spring, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly honors Robert Howe for his 41 years of dedicated public service on behalf of the state of Vermont, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Robert Howe.

Bob served as the Chief Fire Prevention Officer for the Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire safety. He is a charter member of the National Association of State Fire Marshals and a member of the National Fire Protection Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Code Council, the International Association of Arson Investigators, the New England Association of Fire Marshals, the New England Building Code Association and other professional organizations. He is involved with the development and enforcement of the numerous codes adopted by the department and related education and training programs.