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Sen. Marc Pacheco shakes hands with a protester dressed as the Grinch at a State House rally on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 as hundreds of state employees called on the Legislature to fund their overdue raises. "I mean, it's been negotiated, they've been waiting. They're absolutely correct. You know, there's no reason why we have waited this long to have these contracts ... implemented and funded," Pacheco said, calling the situation "not fair" and "ridiculous."
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Mon. Nov. 27
Franklin School Committee MASC Workshop Agenda
6:00pm
Agricultural Commission Meeting
7:00pm
7:00pm
7:00pm
Tues. Nov 28
7:00pm
7:00pm
Davis-Thayer Building Reuse Advisory Committee Meeting
7:00pm
7:00pm
Wed. Nov. 29
5:00pm to 6:30pm
6:30pm
Thurs., Nov 30
Franklin Housing Authority Special Board of Commissioners Meeting
2:30pm
Conservation Commission Meeting
7:00pm
7:30pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Another week was not enough time for House and Senate Democrats to come to agreement on a spending bill they couldn't lock down on the final night of formal sessions back on Nov. 15. That means that talks, texts and emails will continue among the few powerful figures charged with making decisions, and a state financial report that was legally required by Oct. 31 will be even later. House and Senate Democrats hold an overwhelming numerical advantage over Republicans on Beacon Hill but have demonstrated that they have trouble making timely choices, opting instead to both dig in on their positions and refuse to talk publicly about their differences. Six-member conference committee panels are set up to forge spending and policy agreements when the branches differ and their meetings are open, under legislative rules, but lawmakers routinely vote to meet only in private if they meet at all (electronic communications appear to have taken the place of face-to-face meetings). In the case of the pending spending bills, that means the public and the press do not get a sense from the negotiators themselves of their back and forth over Gov. Maura Healey's management of the emergency shelter crisis, whether to create a special law to allow a soccer stadium to be built in Everett, or other cost-benefit calculations. Comptroller William McNamara was blunt with legislators in a recent letter regarding the hung-up $2.8 billion supplemental budget, telling them that he's in violation of state law by having failed to file a state financial report by Oct. 31 and relaying that further, prolonged delays on the spending bill would put him in what he called an "untenable position." Private talks have also been the chosen path for branch leaders looking to rewrite state gun laws. The House this fall held a public hearing on its reform bill and passed it without substantive changes the next week. Senate Democrats have been working all year on their firearms law proposal and a joint committee hearing next week will give people a chance to weigh in on dozens of gun bills before senators roll out their package in the new year. Also, as the year winds down, the watch continues for Healey's first pick for the Supreme Judicial Court. A five-member nominating panel has been tasked since September with evaluating potential successors to Justice Elspeth Cypher, who is set to retire in January. Probate and Family Court practitioners are also awaiting their first judicial appointments from Healey, Lawyers Weekly reported, after the Legislature included funding for eight new probate judgeships in this year's budget.
The week ahead starts with major disruptions to commuting in and around Greater Boston as significant Green Line closures begin Monday. A joint legislative committee will convene a public hearing on gun reform legislation Tuesday, preceding the Senate's release of a firearms bill in 2024. The Senate returns to full strength -- and the House loses a member -- when Republican Rep. Peter Durant gets sworn in Wednesday following his Senate special election victory. Experts convene Thursday to discuss the economic outlook at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event. And on Friday, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services hosts a virtual hearing to weigh updated payment rates for elder care services.
Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023
GOV. HEALEY: No public events scheduled.
LOUIJEUNE ON 4: Boston At-Large Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune talks with Jon Keller about Mayor Wu's performance, the migrant and affordable housing crises, and how she plans to handle the city council presidency. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
AUGUSTUS ON 5: Housing Secretary Augustus is on "On The Record" talking about potentially creating more shelter sites in addition to the one opened this week in the Transportation Building. Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti host this week's program which also features a roundtable with political analysts Rob Gray and Mary Anne Marsh. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
COCOANUT GROVE MEMORIAL: Groundbreaking ceremony for the Cocoanut Grove Memorial, which will honor the 492 victims who died in the nightclub fire in 1942. The ceremony marks the 81st anniversary of the fire. Mayor Wu attends. (Sunday, 1 p.m., Statler Park, 100 Columbus Ave., Bay Village | More Info)
ANDERSON TREE LIGHTING: Boston Mayor Wu attends and delivers remarks at the 43rd annual Anderson tree lighting event. (Sunday, 4:45 p.m., Hyde Park Community Center, 1179 River St., Hyde Park)
Monday, Nov. 27, 2023
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Public Service begins to accept written testimony (through 5 p.m. Tuesday) on three bills: exempting the position of deputy fire chief of the town of Chelmsford from the civil service law, relative to the town of Plymouth Harbormaster employees, and relative to the creditable service of former employees of the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. Testimony should be emailed to Fiona.BruceBaiden@mahouse.gov. (Monday, 9 a.m., More Info)
TRAHAN IN LAWRENCE: Congresswoman Trahan visits Family Services of the Merrimack Valley and meets with CEO Liz Sweeney and COO Lori Howe to talk about issues including the nonprofit's work answering calls for the Merrimack Valley region's 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline. (Monday, 10 a.m., 430 North Canal St., Lawrence)
GAMING COMMISSION: Mass. Gaming Commission holds a meeting to receive third-quarter reports from four online sports betting providers: Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Penn Sports Interactive and WynnBet. Each company will have someone from its compliance or regulatory operations team present on third-quarter activity to the commission. (Monday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access)
HOUSE: House holds an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)
SENATE: Senate meets without a calendar. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
TRAHAN IN HAVERHILL: Congresswoman Trahan holds press conference on a $4.1 million FEMA grant that will aid Haverhill in adding 16 new firefighters and a permanent staffed ladder truck for the city's Bradford Fire Station. Mayor-elect Melinda Barrett, Fire Chief Robert O'Brien, Sen. Payano, and Reps. Vargas and Hamilton are scheduled to attend. (Monday, 12 p.m., 486 South Main St., Haverhill)
BOSTON GUARANTEED INCOME: The Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means holds a hearing to discuss a guaranteed basic income program for families living below the poverty line in the city. The docket offered by Councilors Lara, Arroyo, Breadon, Coletta, Louijeune, Worrell and Durkan, says 18.9 percent of Boston residents, and 1 in 3 children in the city are living in poverty. "Programs in Cambridge, Chelsea, the State of Alaska, as well as various other locations, have demonstrated that implementation of programs based on guaranteed basic income is capable of relieving economic stress for low-income households," the docket says. The Chelsea program resulted in recipients spending 75 percent of the $2.1 million on food, the councilors claim. "It is the responsibility of any city, state, or federal government to meet the basic needs of its constituents, a temporary guaranteed basic income program residents living in poverty can economically stabilize and support individuals, lift them out of poverty, and improve living standards and quality of life," the docket says. (Monday, 2 p.m., Iannella Council Chamber, 5th Floor, City Hall, Boston | Livestream)
UMASS ADMISSIONS AGREEMENT: UMass Lowell and Bunker Hill Community College announce an admissions agreement. BHCC students who wish to pursue bachelor's degree or other advanced degrees will be encouraged to apply to UMass Lowell. BHCC is the largest community college in the state. UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen and BHCC President Pam Eddinger will meet with leadership from both institutions. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., UMass Lowell, University Crossing, 4th Floor, Suite 490, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell)
JOHN WALSH WAKE: Visiting hours are held through 8 p.m. for former state Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh, who died Nov. 20. (Monday, 4 p.m., SEIU 1199, 108 Myrtle St., Quincy | Obituary)
GREEN LINE SHUTDOWNS: Green Line service will be suspended all day from start to end of service starting Monday through Sunday, Dec. 3 on the Green Line branches going west. Service will close on the B branch between North Station and Babcock Street Station, on the E branch between North Station and Heath Street Station, and on the C and D branches between North Station and Kenmore station. "This service change is in place as part of the MBTA’s Track Improvement Plan and will accommodate structural repairs at Boylston Station, track reconstruction throughout the Green Line underground central subway, and work to alleviate a speed restriction on Commonwealth Avenue in Allston," says a release from the MBTA. On the B line, shuttle buses will operate between Babcock Street and Copley Station. To travel farther east, the MBTA is recommending riders walk from Copley to Back Bay Station on the Orange Line to continue downtown. For the C and D Lines, shuttle buses will run between Kenmore and Copley Stations and, again, riders will need to walk to Back Bay Station to take the Orange Line farther into downtown Boston. Shuttle buses are not being provided to replace E line service. The MBTA is instead asking riders to use the parallel Route 39 bus service, which will be free and operates from Heath Street station along Huntington Ave. to Back Bay Station. Additionally, evening Green Line trains on both of the Green Line Extension branches will be suspended beginning around 8:45 p.m. through the end of service every day starting Monday through Dec. 10. Shuttle bus service will replace trains between North Station and Medford/Tufts. A shuttle is not being provided to Union Square, and the MBTA is encouraging Green Line riders who use the Union Square branch to instead take alternative bus routes. Starting Monday, Green and Orange Line stations will also be disrupted in downtown Boston, due to the continued demolition of the Government Center Garage by private developer HYM Construction. Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 22, Orange Line trains will bypass Haymarket Station, and Green Line service will be suspended between North Station and Government Center Station, and riders will be asked to walk above ground between these stations. (Monday)
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023
CAPITAL GAP REPORT: The Boston Foundation releases new data on capital access for Black, Latino and Asian small businesses and entrepreneurs. The report is an update to a 2021 study, "The Color of the Capital Gap: Increasing Capital Access for Entrepreneurs of Color in Massachusetts," which covered racial disparities in capital access for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and laid out suggestions for how that gap could be closed. Tuesday's presentation of new data will be followed by "a solutions-oriented panel discussion" with business leaders about new efforts to grow capital. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 75 Arlington St., 3rd Floor, Boston | Register)
LOTTERY COMMISSION: Massachusetts State Lottery Commission meets remotely and is chaired by Treasurer Goldberg. For access, contact 781-917-6057 or gpolin@masslottery.com. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.)
JOHN WALSH SERVICE: Celebration of life is held in Faneuil Hall's Great Hall to remember the late John Walsh, former state Democratic Party chairman and a key architect of Deval Patrick's 2006 gubernatorial victory. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Faneuil Hall, Boston | Obituary)
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PANEL: Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Chairs Sen. R. Kennedy and Rep. Livingstone host a discussion on youth homelessness to close out November's National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month. The discussion will feature a panel presentation led by president and CEO of Boston-based nonprofit Bridge Over Troubled Waters Elisabeth Jackson. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room 428)
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE - GUN BILLS: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security convenes a hearing on 56 gun-related bills. The joint committee hearing comes ahead of Senate Democrats releasing their proposal in the new year for firearms reform legislation, which Senate President Spilka said she wants to put on Gov. Healey's desk by the end of the term. After months of procedural dispute, the House circumvented the joint committee process and approved its own controversial gun legislation after a single, lengthy hearing hosted only by representatives without any senators present. Gun safety organizations praised the House's proposal, which included measures designed to crack down on proliferation of ghost guns and restrict the presence of firearms in certain public spaces, while gun owners groups slammed it as a dramatic and unnecessary overreach. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium | Agenda and Livestream)
CHELSEA VETERANS' HOME: Chelsea Veterans' Home Board of Trustees meets. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Conference Room, QMLTC Building, 100 Summit Ave., Chelsea)
WAREHAM RIVER PUBLIC COMMENT: Department of Environmental Protection holds a public meeting seeking comments on a draft plan to reduce nitrogen in the coastal waters of the Wareham River Estuarine System in Buzzards Bay. The Wareham River is currently impaired with an excess of nutrient concentrations, which can lead to algae blooms and extreme decreases in dissolved oxygen concentrations that threaten aquatic life, among other issues. At the public meeting, MassDEP staff will present the draft proposal to limit nitrogen in the system, mainly from improved wastewater treatment, but also through better controlled stormwater and fertilizer runoff. Public comment ends at 5 p.m. on Dec. 28. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. | Register)
AUTISM COMMISSION: Autism Commission meets virtually. Agenda includes a presentation from the Department of Developmental Services. For access, contact Carol.M.Gracia@mass.gov (Tuesday, 3 p.m. | Agenda)
MORRISSEY BOULEVARD STUDY: Morrissey Boulevard Commission holds its first meeting, more than a year after it was established by lawmakers. The panel was created in August 2022 via a transportation infrastructure bill and directed "to study and examine the transportation, resiliency, infrastructure and multi-modal needs of the regional corridor of Morrissey boulevard in the city of Boston," with an original deadline of June 1, 2023. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Southline Boston, 135 William T. Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester | Zoom Option)
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023
MAYORS-ELECT TRAINING: Massachusetts Mayors' Association holds a training session for mayors-elect, which will include advice from veteran mayors. Experts will also discuss labor negotiations, media and social media management, municipal budgeting and fiscal management. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. | More Info)
RETIREMENT BOARD: Massachusetts State Retirement Board meets remotely and is chaired by Treasurer Goldberg. For access, contact MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us. (Wednesday, 10 a.m.)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - HOUSING COURT: Governor's Council interviews attorney Benjamin Adeyinka of Tewksbury, who was nominated Nov. 9 for a Housing Court judgeship after working the past nine years as a deputy administrator and administrative attorney in the Housing Court's Boston office. Prior to 2014, Adeyinka was a staff attorney and evictions senior paralegal at Orlans Moran PLLC in Waltham. He graduated Mass. School of Law with a JD in real estate law in 2011. Earlier in his career, he worked in New York on commercial loans for First Niagara Bank, residential real estate closings for Harris Beach PLLC, and retail lending for HSBC Mortgage Corporation. Adeyinka is 43, and if confirmed would be eligible to serve on the court until 2050. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
CULTURAL GRANT AWARDS: Mass Cultural Council hosts event to celebrate $810,000 in new grants awarded to 54 state-designated cultural districts, a program that officials say "offers support to municipalities looking to preserve and foster local cultural, community, and economic development." Senate Minority Leader Tarr joins. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main St., Gloucester)
'FORMS OF GOVERNMENT' WEBINAR: Massachusetts Municipal Association holds a webinar called "Forms of Government FAQ." Speakers include Michael Dutton of Bridgewater, Andy Sheehan of Sudbury and Paul Bockelman of Amherst. Topics will include common questions during a charter review process, as well as the positions that could change from elected to appointed, like town clerk and assessor. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Register)
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources holds a hearing on hunting, fishing and trapping bills. Measures on the agenda include authorizing deer hunting on Sundays, eliminating the handgun prohibition while hunting, establishing a deer population control commission, studying the idea of repurposing the former Moon Island Sewage Treatment Plant for the purposes of fish and shellfish farms, repealing the ban on the use of leghold traps for capturing furbearing animals like beaver, and waiving sporting, hunting or fishing license fees for people who use a wheelchair as their primary source of mobility. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Access Info)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - APPEALS COURT: Governor's Council holds hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination of Robert Earl Toone Jr. to the Appeals Court bench. Toone, 53, of West Newton, worked under Healey in the attorney general's office and is currently chief of the office's Government Bureau under AG Campbell. He previously worked for a decade at Foley Hoag LLP, spent four years in U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy's office as counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and worked as a staff attorney at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. For a year before entering Yale Law in the early '90s, he also worked as vice president "of a joint-venture Russian-American computer reselling company," he reported in his council questionnaire. Toone would fill the vacancy left by Judge Mary Sullivan, a Gov. Patrick appointee who was confirmed by the Governor's Council in 2011 after Lt. Gov. Murray broke a tie vote. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
DURANT SWEARING-IN: Rep. Peter Durant of Spencer is scheduled to be sworn in as the Senate's fourth Republican, according to President Spilka's office. Durant bested Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik in a special election Nov. 7 to fill a vacancy created back in the spring when Sen. Anne Gobi resigned to work in the Healey administration. The Governor's Council certified the election results Nov. 15. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., Governor's Office)
Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce holds an economic outlook panel featuring Curtis Dubay, chief economist of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Other speakers include Grace Lee of M&T Bank, Yasmine King of Analog Devices and Adam Portnoy of RMR Group. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston)
PRIM BOARD: Pension Reserve Investment Management Board meets remotely and is chaired by Treasurer Goldberg. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m. | Livestream)
CANNABIS COMMISSION MEDIATION: Regulators and staff at the Cannabis Control Commission hold an executive session related to the ongoing mediation regarding its governance, a process intended to "more formally delineate the powers of the commissioners and those of the staff," the then-chairman said when the process began a year and a half ago. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access)
SENATE: Senate plans to hold its second and final informal session of the week. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
BOSTON COMMON TREE-LIGHTING: City of Boston hosts its annual tree-lighting ceremony. Mayor Wu will be joined by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, and her office said it will be "the 52nd year that Nova Scotia has given a tree to the people of Boston as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917, explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor." Entertainment at this year's iteration includes PJ Morton of Maroon 5, cast members from "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," the Flutie Foundation's Spectrum of Sound choir and others. Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour, co-anchors of WCVB Channel 5's CHRONICLE, host a live broadcast. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Boston Common)
Friday, Dec. 1, 2023
ELDER CARE RATES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a virtual hearing on a proposed regulation to update payment rates for elder care services, which would reflect salary benchmarks from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The regulation deals with services provided to clients of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. The increased rate is expected to cost the state $27.5 million, an increase of about 21 percent compared to fiscal 2023, according to the public hearing notice. Written testimony will be accepted until 5 p.m. (Friday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Zoom)
