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Rose Arruda (left), a program manager at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, points out some of her favorite entries in the heirloom category at MDAR's annual tomato contest Tuesday outside the Boston Public Market. [Sam Doran/SHNS]
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Monday, Aug. 28
Agricultural Commission Meeting
7:00pm
7:30pm
Thursday, Aug. 31
7:30pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Students are heading back to classrooms and campuses next week and it appears work is winding down inside the Sumner Tunnel, but the Legislature remains in vacation mode, and Democrats on Friday had no timetable to offer when asked about when they will return to formal sessions. Gov. Maura Healey and legislative leaders started 2023 with bold promises, but outside of spending and borrowing bills have taken a minimalist approach in the ensuing months toward the idea of passing new laws. In the governor's case, her reworked version of the tax relief bills that Beacon Hill considered last session is the only major proposal of its scale that Healey has before the Legislature. Healey and the Legislature did roll a slew of significant investments, and some public policies like a free community college program for adults 25 and older, into the new annual state budget. A handful of smaller Healey-proposed funding injections have become law via separate spending bills. And the governor is also in the midst of circumventing the Legislature and using the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement sex education changes that House Democrats have gone out of their way over the years to avoid addressing. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued draft regulations just as K-12 schools were closing for the summer, and public comments are due by Monday on the proposed overhaul of sex, health and physical education standards in public schools. Also next week, Friday, Sept. 1 is the deadline to withdraw for any of the 10 communities in line to participate in a demonstration requiring new building construction or major renovation projects within their borders to be fossil fuel-free. The communities, who are the first 10 to have filed home rule petitions with the Legislature, are some of the state's wealthier towns. In order, they are Arlington, Lexington, Brookline, Acton, Concord, Cambridge, Lincoln, Newton, West Tisbury and Aquinnah. The week ahead brings another deadline on Tuesday, which is the last day for potential entrants in the Worcester and Hampshire Senate special election to file required nomination signatures. The winners of an Oct. 10 primary will face off in the Nov. 7 special election.
Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023
KASHINSKY ON 4: Politico Massachusetts reporter Lisa Kashinsky talks with Jon Keller about delayed action on tax relief on Beacon Hill, the situation in Boston's Mass. and Cass section, and the impact of the GOP presidential debate on the New Hampshire primary. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
WU ON 5: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is the guest on WCVB's "On The Record" program, which will have a focus on her plans to deal with the ongoing crisis at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
DRISCOLL ON CAPE: Lt. Gov. Driscoll attends the annual meeting of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. (Sunday, 1 p.m., The Dennis Inn, 25 Scarsdale Road, Dennis)
Monday, Aug. 28, 2023
HATE CRIMES: The legislative subcommittee of the Task Force on Hate Crimes meets virtually. (Monday, 11 a.m., Virtual | Agenda and Access Info)
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches meet in informal sessions. (Monday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers | House Livestream | Senate Livestream)
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT: The Disability Employment Subcommittee of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets virtually. The agenda includes discussions on an annual report and fiscal 2024 goals. (Monday, 12 p.m., Virtual | Agenda and Access Info)
NONPROFIT EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT: Treasurer Goldberg chairs a Statutory Committee meeting of the state's CORE Plan, a "tax deferred and post-tax 401(k) savings plan developed for employees of eligible small nonprofit organizations that choose to adopt it." (Monday, 12:30 p.m., Zoom)
CANNABIS EQUITY: Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board holds a virtual meeting. The agenda includes a discussion on regulations for the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, which is meant to boost participation in the cannabis industry, particularly among communities disproportionately affected by marijuana prohibition and enforcement. The money is distributed as grants and loans. (Monday, 4 p.m., Virtual | Agenda and Access Info)
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023
DCR STEWARDSHIP: DCR Stewardship Council holds a virtual policy meeting, which includes public comments on its two-year strategic oversight plan. Priorities from the plan call for improving council governance and transparency, focusing on climate change and biodiversity, and supporting stakeholder engagement. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Virtual | Agenda and Access Info)
TRAN COURT CASE CONTINUES: Former Sen. Dean Tran, who was arraigned last July on six charges related to his alleged theft of a Colt .45 gun from an elderly constituent and then allegedly misleading the investigation into the incident, returns to court for a lobby conference. (Docket 2285CR00170.) Tran pleaded "absolutely not guilty" last summer, and the past year has featured three pre-trial conferences. He is represented by Michael Gillis and Joseph Rogers of Newton law firm Gillis and Bikofsky, P.C. and Michael Walsh of Lynnfield-based firm Walsh and Walsh LLP. Tran served in the Senate as a Republican from 2017 to 2021. He was penalized by his colleagues in 2020 after the Senate Ethics Committee found that his office staff had worked on his reelection campaign while on state time. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Worcester County Superior Court, 225 Main St., Worcester)
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Transportation holds hybrid hearing on 31 bills dealing with data and privacy as well as road and bridge dedications. Bill topics include license plate readers, third-party delivery data reporting, and confidential license plates for judges. Many bills propose commemorative or honorary names for specific roads and bridges in Massachusetts. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Room A-2 and Virtual | Agenda and Livestream)
BOSTON IMMIGRANT OFFICE: Boston City Council's Committee on Government Operations holds a hearing on proposed ordinance filed by Councilor Julia Mejia that would codify the city Office of Immigrant Advancement within Boston's charter. "The Mayor created an Office of Immigrant Advancement, but this Office was never codified into law, giving the people of Boston an opportunity to define for themselves how they would like to see the City serve our immigrant population," the preamble to the ordinance says. The docket is cosponsored by eight of Mejia's colleagues, including Council President Flynn and Councilor Arroyo, who chairs the Government Operations Committee. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Zoom | Agenda and Access Info)
LOTTERY COMMISSION: Lottery Commission meets, with Treasurer Goldberg as chair. Agenda includes a vote to authorize the executive director to purchase vehicles. For remote access info, call (857) 208-8030 or email jgoggin@masslottery.com. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. | More Info)
HATE CRIMES: The victim support subcommittee of the Task Force on Hate Crimes meets virtually. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Virtual | Agenda and Access Info)
CENTRAL MASS. SENATE SPECIAL - PAPERS DUE LOCALLY: Candidates in the central Massachusetts special Senate election, to fill the vacancy left by former Sen. Anne Gobi, have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to submit their nomination papers to town and city clerks' offices. Certification of papers by the local registrars or election commissioners must then be wrapped up by Friday, ahead of a Sept. 5 due date for candidates to get their paperwork to the secretary of state's Elections Division. Four candidates have been campaigning to succeed the Spencer Democrat: Republican Rep. Peter Durant of Spencer, Democrat Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik of Gardner, Republican Bruce Chester of Gardner, and Libertarian Janel Holmes of Spencer. Gobi resigned June 4 and residents of the Worcester and Hampshire District will have to wait until November to again have representation in the state Senate. The special primary elections are set for Oct. 10 followed by a general election Nov. 7. (Tuesday, 5 p.m. | Special Election Calendar)
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023
SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY: Mass. School Building Authority Board meets, with Treasurer Goldberg as chair. Email Maria.Puopolo@MassSchoolBuildings.org for virtual access. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | More Info)
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL: Boston City Council meets. Mayor Wu's proposed ordinance allowing Boston police to take down tents, tarps and other temporary structures around Mass. and Cass is slated to be introduced. The proposal's goal is to crack down on escalating violence around Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, including drug dealing and human trafficking. The council has 60 days to adopt or reject Wu's proposal, according to the city charter. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Iannella Council Chamber, City Hall, Boston)
GOLDBERG AT JIMMY FUND RADIO-TELETHON: During the 21st annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, Treasurer Goldberg presents a check returning unclaimed money to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The Red Sox play the Astros at 4:10 p.m. (Wednesday, 2:50 p.m., Fenway Park)
BUNKER HILL ANNIVERSARY PREP: As the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill approaches, the National Park Service hosts a "neighborhood update" on its continuing $1.4 million preservation and restoration project for the Bunker Hill Monument, which was built between 1827 and 1842. The granite obelisk memorializes a battle that saw more than 1,000 British casualties and around 300 to 500 Americans killed, wounded, or captured, according to NPS. The 250th anniversary, or sestercentennial, will arrive June 17, 2025 and leads up to a landmark anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026. Historical architect Lance Kasparian leads the restoration update followed by a question-answer period with NPS staff. Ongoing work, which began in July, includes "critical masonry repairs to address chronic water infiltration at the top" and is scheduled to wrap up by year's end. The observation deck at the top of the 221-foot obelisk is still open to tourists, "but restoration work will cause obstructions after Labor Day." (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Bunker Hill Museum, 43 Monument Sq., Charlestown)
WARREN IN NEEDHAM: U.S. Sen. Warren holds a town hall in Needham. Doors open at 5 p.m. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., First Parish, 23 Dedham Ave., Needham)
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023
RETIREMENT BOARD: Treasurer Goldberg chairs a meeting of the State Retirement Board. Those interested in virtually attending can email MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | More Info)
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches plan to hold informal sessions. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers)
BUZZARDS BAY INTERNET: As fast internet service launches in Buzzards Bay, the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce celebrates with OpenCape, which describes itself as the only 100 percent fiber optic network in the region. The groups will mark the rollout of 10G internet at the chamber's "Concert by the Canal" event. "OpenCape's state-of-the-art 10G XGS PON on Main Street Buzzards Bay will provide businesses and nearby residents with secure, resilient fiber connection with unmatchable upload and download speeds, and a reliable connection every time," organizers said in a media advisory. Chamber President and CEO Marie Oliva said OpenCape's infrastructure has already demonstrated success in Falmouth, Woods Hole, and Hyannis. "Businesses there are no longer affected by our many coastal storms or lack of bandwidth during the Cape's busy tourist season. Buzzards Bay businesses are now going to be able to count on the same reliability," she said. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Buzzards Bay Park, Main Street, Buzzards Bay | More Info)
Friday, Sept. 1, 2023
FOSSIL FUEL FREE PILOT: The 10 priority communities for the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project must submit their letters of intent with the Department of Energy Resources to participate in the pilot program. Friday is also the deadline for communities to submit a letter of withdrawal from the program; communities that don't submit either letter will be withdrawn. The program allows the communities to adopt or amend zoning regulations requiring that new buildings or major renovation projects are fossil fuel-free, meaning they do not use coal, oil, nature gas, or other fuel hydrocarbons and and fossil fuels, according to state regulations. The priority communities -- with the classification partially based on being the first 10 to file home rule petitions -- are Arlington, Lexington, Brookline, Acton, Concord, Cambridge, Lincoln, Newton, West Tisbury and Aquinnah. (Friday)
SUMNER TUNNEL REOPENS: The Sumner Tunnel is expected to reopen after a two-month shutdown for major restoration work, according to the state's timetable. Normal fares resume for the MBTA system, which had been offering discounted or fare-free options, including the Blue Line and East Boston ferry, during the closure. A MassDOT official said the Sumner Tunnel will reopen to traffic no later than 5 a.m.. (Friday)
