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Lawn signs were sprinkled this week throughout Palmer, which describes itself as the gateway to Western Massachusetts, opposing Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman Michael Day's bill "modernizing" the state's firearms laws. HD stands for House Docket. Day filed his bill in late June, but it's become known for its docket number and won't receive an official bill number until House and Senate Democrats can agree on which committee will review it. The proposal has hung in limbo through July and August. Top Democrats in both branches have shown an openness to changing gun laws and there are scores of proposals awaiting public hearings as the two-year session enters its ninth month. - Michael P. Norton/SHNS
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Tuesday, Sept 5
CANCELED - Community Preservation Committee Meeting
7:00
Wednesday, Sept, 6
10:00am
5:00pm
Franklin School Committee Comprehensive Facilities Sub Committee Meeting
5:00pm
5:30pm
7:00pm
Thursday, Sept. 7
Conservation Commission Meeting
7:00pm
Cultural District Committee Meeting
7:00pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Attorney General Andrea Campbell is set to make a series of critical decisions by Wednesday that will dictate which potential 2024 ballot questions may advance and which ones will be derailed because they do not meet Constitutional requirements. Proposals in the mix deal with rent control, the role of the MCAS exam, auditing the Legislature, app-based drivers' rights, decriminalizing mushrooms and other natural psychedelic substances, and voting rights for incarcerated individuals. The Massachusetts Constitution requires that proposed initiative petitions "be in proper form for submission to voters, not be substantially the same as any measure on the ballot in either of the two preceding statewide elections, contain only subjects that are related to each other or mutually dependent, and not involve matters that are specifically excluded from the ballot initiative process by Amendment Article 48 of the Massachusetts Constitution," according to the AG's office. Petitions cannot be certified if they relate "to religion, religious practices, or religious institutions; the powers, creation, or abolition of the courts; the appointment, compensation, or tenure of judges; a specific appropriation of funds from the state treasury; or if it infringes on other enumerated rights, such as trial by jury, freedom of the press and freedom of speech." Initiative petitions are an option for those who are unable to get their policy wishes through the Legislature, but require participants to engage in a time-consuming process and deal with well-financed opposition campaigns. The process has been used in recent years to enact new laws imposing an income surtax on the wealthy (Constitutional amendment), requiring access to vehicle repair data, banning discrimination based on gender identity, legalizing recreational use of marijuana, preventing the gas tax from being indexed to inflation, and banning dog racing.
Coming out of Monday's Labor Day holiday, the Healey administration is gearing up to begin staffing hotels that are serving as emergency shelters with National Guard members. Public schools are up and running, college campuses are filling up, the U.S. House plans to come back on Sept. 12, and the U.S. Senate is set to return on Tuesday to deal with appropriations bills and judicial nominations, according to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. On Beacon Hill, senators and representatives remain in the dark about concrete plans. In contrast to Congress, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka haven't said when the Legislature will return and use work plans that span a week at a time. The branches are entering their sixth consecutive week of relative inaction. Legislative rules require a recess this year by Nov. 15 that will run into the first week of January. Potential action items for the fall include annual budget veto overrides and amendments, the "closeout" budget that will complete fiscal 2023 activity, and House plans to take up a bill changing the state's gun laws. Democrats this year have talked up the urgency of solutions to myriad problems, but few bills have made it to the floor, and debate has been rare and limited to select bills chosen by top House and Senate Democrats.
Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023
EDUCATION REFORM: Jon Keller talks with Oscar Santos, former Boston "Teacher of the Year" and executive director of the Center for Collaborative Education, and Michael Contompasis, former superintendent of Boston Public Schools and headmaster of the Boston Latin School, about the 30th anniversary of the 1993 Massachusetts education reform act. They will discuss education progress, problems, and potential solutions. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
SPILKA ON 5: Senate President Spilka is on WCVB's "On the Record" to discuss priorities for sessions leading up to the mid-November recess. The Legislature has yet to strike a tax relief deal or advance gun reform legislation. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
Monday, Sept. 4, 2023
LABOR DAY BREAKFAST: Gov. Healey, U.S. Sens. Warren and Markey, Congresswoman Pressley and Boston Mayor Wu are scheduled to attend the Greater Boston Labor Council's Labor Day breakfast and rally. The Legislature's own employees have been struggling in pursuit of union rights for months and local commercial building and airport workers are also clamoring for help, but the focus Monday is on supporting striking writers and actors who are members of SAG-AFTRA union, according to the council. The Legislature includes a handful of current or former SAG-AFTRA members in Reps. Tackey Chan of Quincy, Steven Howitt of Seekonk and Kelly Pease of Westfield. Labor leaders, including representatives from the Greater Boston Labor Council, Greater Boston Building Trades Unions, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and Massachusetts AFL-CIO are also scheduled to attend. The breakfast will take place at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, followed by the rally in Downtown Crossing. SAG-AFTRA members are on their eighth week on strike. Andrea Lyman, the Northeast regional president of SAG-AFTRA, said workers want to be recognized for their talent, dedication and value and secure protections tied to the use of AI. "We refuse to be overshadowed by technology; we demand protection against the encroachment of AI, ensuring that our craft retains its human touch," Lyman said in a statement. "And as we rally, our steps reverberate with the legacy of generations who fought for workers' rights, reminding us that our struggle is a torch passed down through time. Let our presence today be a testament – we are unyielding, we are united, and we are shaping the future we deserve." (Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., Boston Park Plaza, Ballroom A, 50 Park Plaza, Boston | Rally at 11 a.m., Downtown Crossing Plaza, Washington St. and Franklin St., Boston)
BREAD AND ROSES HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Bread and Roses Heritage Festival in Lawrence starts with an opening ceremony that memorializes the 1912 union-led protest by Lawrence textile workers. Traditional labor songs will be performed. Performances take place throughout the day, capped off by a finale from the Bread and Puppet Theater at 5 p.m. Trolley and walking tours of the mill district will be available during the festival. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., Campagnone Common, Lawrence)
MARLBOROUGH PARADE: Marlborough hosts its 71st annual Labor Day parade, featuring public officials, the USS Constitution honor guard, the Assabet Technical High School Junior Marines ROTC Color Guard, the Marlborough High School Marching Panther Band, the Aleppo Shriners, Worcester Red Sox mascots and "Chick-Fil-A featuring their cow mascot." Organizers say the event is the "Largest and Most Prestigious Labor Day Parade in New England." (Monday, 12 p.m., starts at Pleasant and Lincoln streets, Marlborough)
STATE HOUSE CLOSED: State House is closed to the public on Labor Day, per building management. (Monday)
Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023
TUITION EQUITY: Senate President Spilka and Sen. Edwards are on El Mundo Boston to discuss the new state law that allows undocumented immigrants who attend a Massachusetts high school for at least three years to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid at public colleges and universities. (Tuesday, 7:30 a.m., | El Mundo Boston)
HOUSE AND SENATE: House and Senate start the short workweek with a informal sessions. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers | House Livestream | Senate Livestream)
WESTERN MASS SOLAR: UMass Amherst Clean Energy Extension hosts the first event in a series of online public discussions focused on solar development in western Massachusetts. The first session -- the first of four throughout September that make up "Part I" of the forum series -- is titled "Solar in Massachusetts - Past, Present, and Future." Experts will discuss solar energy basics, the state's climate goals, the solar market in 2023, current state laws, solar energy storage and the grid. State climate action plans released in 2022 estimate that between 27 and 34 gigawatts of solar energy would be required in 2050 to reach decarbonization goals, or more than 10 times the amount of solar currently installed in Massachusetts. To meet these goals, the state will have to triple or quadruple its current annual rate of solar installations, a recent study found. (Tuesday, 12 p.m. | Register)
ENDICOTT NURSING SCHOOL OPENING: Endicott College celebrates the ribbon cutting for its new Cummings School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The college has three advanced laboratories with high-fidelity simulators, interactive lab spaces and tools, according to the school. "With current predictions of a crucial nursing shortage, employment options for nurses will continue to grow faster than all other occupations combined," says a release from the college. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Cummings School of Nursing and Health Sciences, 367 Hale St., Beverly)
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - JEAN PARDON: Governor's Council holds hearing on the proposed pardon of convicted bank robber Kenny Jean, whose clemency petition won approval from the Parole Board and Gov. Maura Healey and now faces a final confirmation vote before the council. Jean's conviction is more recent, and more serious, than with most of the other pardons recommended in the last couple of years. Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney is set to chair the hearing which normally would feature a public interview with Jean -- but Devaney said he would feel "overwhelmed" in a hearing room "surrounded by people," so Wednesday's meeting of the seven-member council will be a venue for supporters or opponents of his clemency bid to make their voices heard. Jean robbed the Seekonk branch of BayCoast Bank in 2015, was convicted of armed robbery, and served prison time from 2016 to 2018 when the Haitian immigrant was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He told the Parole Board he wants a pardon so he can apply for a new green card or U.S. citizenship to avoid deportation to Haiti and find work as a chef. Much of his childhood was spent in Department of Children and Families custody, and a memorandum from his attorney said he has been "diagnosed over the years with PTSD, Reactive Attachment Disorder, ADHD, and significant cognitive limitations including a borderline IQ of ~70." (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
HATE CRIMES: The data oversight subcommittee of the Task Force on Hate Crimes meets virtually, with agenda items including goals and objectives. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Agenda and Access Info)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: Governor's Council meets and could schedule a public interview with Sarah Beth Coughlin, Gov. Healey's pick to fill one of three vacant seats on the Parole Board. A clinical social worker, Coughlin works for Mass General Brigham as director of community engagement and partnerships. Healey has not announced nominees for two other open spots on the board. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
CLEAN WATER TRUST BOARD: Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees meets. Treasurer Goldberg will chair the meeting. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. | Zoom)
LABOR-RELATED ART EXHIBIT: Sen. Feeney hosts a reception to unveil the art exhibition "The Arc of the Moral Universe: A Labor Day Celebration at the Massachusetts State House." The exhibition is intended to honor Massachusetts labor unions and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Throughout the 1960's Dr. King gave a series of lectures to the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and AFSCME among others that attempted to unite labor and civil rights in common cause," says a release from Feeney's office. Artist Zach Horn said he drew inspiration from Dr. King's words, the recent unveiling of The Embrace and new contract that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for UPS workers recently fought for. "When I started planning this exhibition, the fate of the UPS contract was uncertain. Combining images of UPS workers with the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. seemed to join their humanity with his righteousness. Dr. King is the closest we have to a civic saint; his words, next to our friends and neighbors, gives moral weight to their cause. And, his exhortations, echoing from the past, shows us how far we have to go to make work fair. As Dr. King said, 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice,' Horn said. The Teamsters and UPS agreed to the contract in August. Sen. Feeney said he and Horn began planning this exhibition before the pandemic. "I believe Zach's work aptly meets the moment in our country while appropriately recalling its past, and the work and legacy of Dr. King," Sen. Feeney said. "I'm really excited to see and absorb the work." The exhibition will be shown from Sept. 5 until Sept. 15. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., Room 222)
SMALL BUSINESS BONDING TRAINING: The MBTA's Capital Programs Strategy and Innovation, in conjunction with the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights, hosts a training session about bonding for small businesses. "This training was specifically designed to assist small businesses including women, minority, and DBE owned businesses with securing a bid/performance or payment bond. Additionally, this training will focus on the importance of securing capital and credit line increases," according to the MBTA. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. | Register )
LEE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: MBTA hosts virtual public hearing on the Meadow Street Bridge Replacement project in Lee. The hearing will update residents about the proposed replacement of the span that runs over Powder Mill Brook in Lee. (Wednesday, 7 p.m. | Register)
BALLOT Q CERTIFICATION: Attorney General Campbell has until Wednesday to complete her review of 42 ballot questions (proposing 38 laws that could be decided at the 2024 ballot and four constitutional amendments that could be decided in the 2026 election) filed by the early August deadline. For each petition, the office must either certify it, which keeps a proposal moving forward in the process, or decline to certify, which ends its progress barring a successful court challenge. The decisions are based on whether the questions comply with a set of requirements in the state constitution governing initiative petitions. Questions have to be "in proper form for submission to the people," can only contain subjects that are "related" or "mutually dependent," and cannot feature a proposal "substantially the same" as anything that went before voters in either of the two most recent biennial statewide elections. They also can't touch certain topics, like religion, judges, specific state appropriations and portions of the state's Declaration of Rights. Campaigns that get the green light Wednesday will need to collect 74,574 signatures and file them with local officials by Nov. 22, and then with the secretary of state's office by Dec. 6. (Wednesday)
Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023
EXPLORE POSSIBILITY SUMMIT: The Rehabilitation Commission hosts its Explore Possibility Summit for members of the disability community. Jake Haendel of AccessNOW Inc. will deliver a keynote. Workshops will include sessions on maximizing disability housing resources, tips for navigating local transportation, and supporting disclosure of disabilities in the workplace. There will also be networking opportunities. (Thursday, 8 a.m., Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, 1657 Worcester Rd., Framingham | Register)
DISABILITY COMMISSION WORKFORCE SUBCOMMITTEE: Workforce Supports Subcommittee of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets. President emerita of the Human Services Research Institute Valerie Bradley is scheduled to speak. Subcommittee members will discuss their annual report and goals for fiscal 2024. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | Virtual)
BOSTON BUSING HISTORY: The Boston Desegregation and Busing Initiative, comprised of more than three dozen members, holds a press conference to kick off a three-year series that looks into the city's busing crisis in the 1970s and examines ongoing racial and education challenges at Boston Public Schools. Attendees include Michael Curry of the National NAACP Board of Directors; Lew Finfer of MA Action for Justice; Karilyn Crockett of MIT and former chief equity for Mayor Martin Walsh; Leola Hampton, who was bused in 1974; Lydia Peters, who's worked for 25 years on desegregation and education equity; Bob Monahan, who was involved in busing protests, of South Boston Association of Non-Profits; and Ira Jackson, former chief of staff to Mayor Kevin White during the busing crisis. Organizers say the programming involves state and city leaders, activists, educators, and people with lived experience across multiple forums and exhibits. The initiative is a partnership with Boston Public Schools, Boston Public Library, Massachusetts Historical Society, Embrace Boston, Freedom House, the South Boston Association of Non-Profits, the Archives at Northeastern University, UMass Boston, City of Boston, GBH, and Facing History and Ourselves. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Room 428 | Virtual)
SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM: Department of Agricultural Resources' Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund Advisory Committee meets. Agenda features discussion of the Spay/Neuter Voucher Program including numbers, wait list, and provider recruitment. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Zoom | Meeting ID: 6176261740 Passcode: animal | Agenda)
HOUSE AND SENATE: House and Senate plan to hold informal sessions. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers)
EARLY ED COUNCIL: Early Education and Care Workforce Council holds a virtual meeting. Agenda items include highlights from the new state budget; updates on Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants, which received $475 million in the budget signed by Gov. Healey last month; and a discussion on college scholarships for early educators. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Agenda and Access Info)
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING: Joint Committee on the Judiciary holds a hybrid public hearing on bills related to civil actions. It is a resumption of the hearing that was disrupted by an electrical fire in July. One proposal before the committee (S 980 / H 1694) would authorize so-called assisted outpatient treatment, sometimes called involuntary outpatient commitment. Massachusetts is one of three states that does not allow judges to mandate outpatient mental health care, WBUR reported. The Sen. Friedman and Rep. Muratore bill would allow court-ordered outpatient mental health care, and is expected to prompt debate. Many mental health groups oppose the legislation, saying that government should not force people into treatment who do not want it. Others, including the Treatment Advocacy Center, say court-mandated treatment "can be life-saving." "Assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) serves those with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses, who, as a result of the illness itself, are unwilling or unable to consistently engage in voluntary treatment ... Studies show that AOT can dramatically improve treatment outcomes and substantially reduce the likelihood of repeat hospitalization and criminal justice involvement for its target population. AOT also reduces cost and strain for treatment systems struggling to serve individuals 'caught in the revolving door' of repeat hospitalizations, homelessness and incarcerations," said a release from Treatment Advocacy Center. Other bills would establish a right to counsel in civil asset forfeiture cases, ban the use of tear gas by law enforcement, and establish penalties for selling tattooing, branding or body piercing devices to unlicensed individuals or minors. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Room A-2 | Virtual)
MASS SAVE STAKEHOLDER HOUR: Sponsors of the Mass Save program host a virtual stakeholder hour to take and answer questions about the Mass Save commercial and industrial programs. (Thursday, 3 p.m., More Info and Access)
"INTERNET FOR ALL" LISTENING TOUR: Massachusetts Broadband Institute hosts first session of a statewide "Internet for All" listening tour about internet access and digital equity. The series will be held in cities and towns where residents can provide feedback to inform state proposals for federal funding. This funding, if acquired, would go toward identifying digital equity gaps, growing the availability of internet-connected devices, boosting digital literacy, and increasing access to affordable broadband service, according to MBI. The funding for the listening tour comes through the Biden administration's Internet for All Initiative, which also announced $6 million in planning grants to Massachusetts -- $5 million for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, and $1 million for the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program through the bipartisan infrastructure law. The Southeast session is being held in Brockton, and participants will also be able to engage in facilitated discussions at the same time at the Manomet Branch of the Plymouth Public Library and the North Dartmouth Branch of the Dartmouth Public Library. (Thursday, 5 p.m., Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, Brockton | Virtual)
Friday, Sept. 8, 2023
CANNABIS REGULATION HEARING: Cannabis Control Commission holds a hybrid hearing to gather public input on the draft regulations it unanimously adopted in late July. The changes, which reflect the cannabis industry reform law Gov. Charlie Baker signed last summer, seek to increase diversity in the field, ramp up oversight on agreements between marijuana businesses and municipalities -- a chronic trouble spot for the young industry -- and move closer to social pot consumption sites. (Friday, 10 a.m., public meeting room, Worcester Union Station, Worcester | More Info and Virtual Access)
PESTICIDE COUNCIL: Massachusetts Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council meets and hears a pesticide program update from Taryn LaScola of the Department of Agricultural Resources, including information about online pesticide use reports. (Friday, 10 a.m., Zoom | Passcode: 099397 | Agenda)
PESTICIDE MEETING: Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council meets virtually. Agenda items include updates on a yearly plan from Eversource about using herbicides in electric rights-of-way, pesticide licensing and online pesticide use reports. (Friday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023
BOSTON LATIN FESTIVAL: City of Boston, Sen. Edwards, ZUMIX, Veronica Robles Cultural Center and East Boston Main Streets host the second annual East Boston Latin Music & Dance Festival "Sonidos de la Gente" at East Boston Memorial Park. Local musicians Eguie Castrillo, La Clave Secreta, Veronica Robles’ Mariachi Band, La Chusma, and ZUMIX's youth Latin ensemble, Porque Puma? will perform. Dancers include Salsa y Control, Samba Viva, Bajucol, and VROCC youth dancers. Local restaurants will serve food and drinks throughout the event. (Saturday, 1 p.m., East Boston Memorial Park)
HAVERHILL LINE DISRUPTION: A two-month disruption to the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line is scheduled to begin. Service will change between Ballardvale Station in Andover and North Station in Boston for 58 days from Sept. 9 through Nov. 5 to accommodate planned construction related to the implementation of the Automatic Train Control/Positive Train Control safety program. The safety program is federally mandated, and will monitor a train's location, direction and speed in real time, and aims to reduce speed when needed to help prevent collisions. Shuttle buses will replace regular train service between Reading and Oak Grove, where passengers can make an Orange Line connection. A shuttle bus will also provide service between Reading and Anderson/Woburn for a connection with the Lowell Line and Haverhill Line trains. (Saturday)
