68° and Patchy rain nearby
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The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) joined Plumbers & Gasfitters UA Local 12 and Building Pathways this week to celebrate Women in Construction Week.
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Mon. Mar 11
Franklin Public Schools Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting
5:00pm
6:30pm
7:00pm
Tues. Mar. 12
Franklin Public Schools Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting
5:00pm
6:30pm
7:00pm
Wed. Mar 13
Franklin Public Schools Comprehensive Facilities Planning Sub Committee Meeting
5:00pm
Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting
5:45pm
Friends of Franklin Library Meeting
7:00pm
7:00pm
Franklin Cultural Coucil agenda
7:30pm
Thurs. Mar 14
Charles River Pollution Control agenda
3:00pm
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting
7:00pm
7:30pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
With three major bills now awaiting settlement in conference committees, legislators are set for a public hearing Tuesday on changes in state laws that apply to tipped service workers, and the Senate on Thursday plans to take its second run in three years at a bill to expand access to early education and fortify that sector's workforce. A House redraft of Gov. Maura Healey's $58.1 billion fiscal 2025 budget is now about a month away from being released and members of the Joint Ways and Means Committee will hold public hearings Monday in Burlington and Tuesday in Springfield as they grind through hundreds of line items and policy riders that will influence life in Massachusetts in the fiscal year that starts in July. Before the big budget passes sometime this summer, the Legislature will likely agree to yet another fiscal 2024 supplemental budget. According to Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues, the Senate will "very shortly" take up its own version of a House-approved $260 million spending bill that caps the number of months families may stay in emergency shelters and extends the to-go alcoholic beverages policy that is favored by restaurants and opposed by package stores. The to-go drinks authorization is set to expire March 31 without legislative action -- the House bill makes the policy permanent.
Storylines in Progress
... The wing of the Republican Party backing chair Amy Carnevale appears confident that it won enough state committee races to keep her in charge. State election officials say the results of those committee races should be available early next week, though any recount requests could delay that timeline ... The next move in bringing the Supreme Judicial Court back up to its full seven members is up to Gov. Maura Healey, who has not yet scheduled a swearing-in for Gabrielle Wolohojian, the Appeals Court judge who won confirmation to the SJC on Feb. 28 ... House Speaker Ron Mariano also has some unattended business to catch up on: former Rep. Josh Cutler's departure from the House more than a month ago and he was the chief House negotiator on a six-member conference committee formed more than four months ago to assemble a wage transparency bill compromise. Mariano has not named a new conferee, so that panel currently has three senators and two representatives ... Top Democrats migrate to Springfield on Monday and Tuesday to speak to people in the building trades ...
Sunday, March 10, 2024
SUPER TUESDAY ANALYSIS: Boston Globe political analyst James Pindell talks with Jon Keller about Super Tuesday and "hidden" winners and losers. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
SHELTER CRISIS: "On The Record" looks at the state's emergency shelter crisis with guests David Shapiro of the YMCA of Greater Boston and Danielle Ferrier of Heading Home. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
HARBOR SHAMROCK SPLASH: Save the Harbor hosts its 14th annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash to raise money for free events and programs on Massachusetts beaches. Participants compete for round-trip flights from JetBlue for biggest fundraiser and best costume. The funds raised support Save the Harbor's Better Beaches Program partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Last year the Better Beaches Program awarded over $300,000 in grants to 95 organizations to support free beach festivals, concerts, sailing and kayaking instruction and youth programs in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull. (Sunday, 11 a.m., Constitution Beach, East Boston)
OSCAR NOMINEES: Ahead of the Academy Awards Sunday evening, WCVB's "CityLine" program explores Massachusetts connections. Actress Erika Alexander talks about filming "American Fiction," which is nominated for five awards, in Boston; she'll also discuss her production company that looks to elevate underrepresented voices and stories. Also spotlighted is two-time Oscar winner Ruth Carter, a Springfield native, who in 2017 was the first Black woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. (Sunday, 12 p.m. | WCVB Channel 5)
GOLDBERG TO WASHINGTON: Treasurer Goldberg attends the National Association of State Treasurer's annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C., through Tuesday. (Sunday)
Monday, March 11, 2024
GAMING HEARING: Mass. Gaming Commission holds an adjudicatory hearing on the "durable" suitability of Plainridge Park Casino to hold a sports betting license. (Monday, 10 a.m., More Info and Access)
HOUSE: House meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)
SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
HHS BUDGET HEARING - BURLINGTON: Joint Ways and Means Committee continues its review of Gov. Healey's $58.1 billion fiscal 2025 budget proposal. The hearing is the first of two to focus on health and human services issues. Secretary Kate Walsh could testify to give lawmakers more info on how the governor's budget would affect the Executive Office of Health and Human Services generally. Testimony is also expected from the Office of Medicaid, Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Department of Children and Families, Department of Developmental Services, Health Policy Commission, Center for Health Information and Analysis, and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. (Monday, 11 a.m., Northeastern University Innovation Campus, 147 S Bedford St., Burlington | Virtual)
HIGHER ED: Executive Committee of the Board of Higher Education meets. (Monday, 2:30 p.m. | More Info and Zoom)
EARLY EDUCATION BILL: Amendments to the Senate Ways and Means draft of an sweeping early education bill, S 2697, are due by 4 p.m. (Monday, 4 p.m.)
RECOUNT DEADLINE: Following Tuesday's races for seats on the Democrat and Republican state committees, candidates face a deadline to request a vote recount. More than 1.2 million Bay Staters voted in the primary, Galvin's office said. (Monday, 5 p.m.)
GALENTINE'S DAY: Senate President Spilka hosts her second annual "Galentine's Day" event, celebrating "accomplishments and progress of Massachusetts' influential women." Rescheduled from the week of Valentine's Day. Closed to press. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., City Winery Boston, 80 Beverly St., Boston)
ROUTE 24 BRIDGE: MassDOT holds a virtual public meeting related to the proposed replacement of a Route 24 bridge over Canton Street in Randolph. (Monday, 6 p.m., Virtual)
BUILDING TRADES UNIONS: Massachusetts Building Trades Unions (MBTU), representing over 75,000 union construction workers statewide, gather for their 105th annual convention in Springfield. Gov. Healey, U.S. Sen. Warren, North America’s Building Trades Unions Steve Courtien, State Auditor DiZoglio, and Secretary of Labor Jones are scheduled to attend. Gov. Healey will make remarks Tuesday at 11 a.m. Press invited to the convention. (Monday and Tuesday, MGM Springfield, One MGM Way, Springfield)
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
RED CROSS ADVOCACY DAY: Rep. Bill Driscoll and Sen. Pavel Payano give keynote remarks as the American Red Cross hosts its annual advocacy day to highlight its statewide programming in biomedical services, veterans and armed forces support, disaster relief, and more. The morning program also includes hands-only CPR training and educational displays will be available through the afternoon. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Nurses Hall)
BALLOT QUESTION COMMITTEE - TIPPED WORKERS: The legislative committee considering potential 2024 ballot questions holds a public hearing on whether to require the full minimum wage for tipped workers with tips on top (H 4254). The proposal would gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers over a five-year period, until it reaches 100 percent of the minimum wage by Jan. 1, 2029. Through the end of 2028, the proposal would make employers pay tipped workers the delta between the minimum wage and what the tipped worker earns in hourly wage plus tips, according to the bill summary. The proposal also allows for a "tip pool," in which employers who are paying its workers at least the minimum wage could combine all tips and dole them out to all workers, including non-tipped workers. The minimum wage under existing state law is $15 per hour, but tipped workers can earn $6.75 per hour as long as gratuities make up the difference. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Room A-2 | More Info)
GAMING COMMISSION: Mass. Gaming Commission meets to review and approve draft licensing decisions for sports betting operators. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
FRANKLIN CUMMINGS TECH: Franklin Cummings Tech holds a ground-breaking ceremony for its future Nubian Square campus. Attendees include Lt. Gov. Driscoll, Mayor Wu, City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, MassDevelopment CEO Dan Rivera, and Franklin Cummings Tech President Aisha Francis. Organizers say the ground-breaking is a "major step in transforming Nubian Square into an educational, cultural, and entrepreneurial hub in Roxbury." (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., 1011 Harrison Ave., Roxbury)
HHS BUDGET HEARING - SPRINGFIELD: Joint Ways and Means Committee Joint Committee continues its review of health and human services aspects of Gov. Healey's $58.1 billion fiscal 2025 budget proposal. The second HHS budget hearing of the week is expected to include testimony from the Executive Office of Veteran Services, Department of Transitional Assistance, Department of Youth Services, Mass. Rehab Commission, Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Commission for the Blind, Office of Refugees and Immigrants, and the state's soldiers homes in Holyoke and Chelsea. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Springfield Technical Community College |Virtual)
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: Restorative Justice Advisory Committee meets virtually. Agenda includes a presentation about restorative justice from Dennis Everett Jr, director of restorative justice and practices at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and Robert Ferullo, executive director of the Municipal Police Training Committee. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. | More Info and Livestream)
DISCLOSING DISABILITIES: Massachusetts Office on Disability hosts a virtual workshop advising people on whether to disclose their disabilities during the employment process, as well as how to describe their limitations. (Tuesday, 12 p.m. | More Info and Register)
MASSCORE WEBINAR: Voices for Academic Equity Coalition releases a report on MassCore, which provides high school curriculum guidelines that are recommended but not required for graduation by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. MassCore, adopted by BESE in 2007, was designed to prepare high school students for college and careers. But the coalition says there's a patchwork of district graduation requirements across the state and disparities among which students are meeting MassCore standards. The webinar will highlight the first part of a two-part research report. There will also be a panel discussion featuring Robert Hendricks of He is Me, John Papay of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Nyal Fuentes of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and North Adams Superintendent Barbara Malkas. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. | Register)
CAREER PATHWAYS: Department of Early Education and Care holds an information session about the Early Childhood Educator Career Pathways program, which provides funding to support the workforce at the state's 15 community colleges. The session is geared toward educators in western Massachusetts and opportunities at Springfield, Holyoke, Greenfield and Berkshire community colleges. (Tuesday, 7 p.m. | More Info and Register)
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL: Public Health Council meets virtually. DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein gives an update. The council will also vote on determination of need requests from the Children's Medical Center Corporation and Mass General Brigham. There's also a presentation about updating the state's immunization regulations. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
SPILKA TALKS EARLY ED: Senate President Spilka is scheduled to talk about Senate leadership's early education bill on Strategies For Children's "The 9:30 Call," which her office describes as "a daily call with statewide early education and care providers." Press can RSVP to aoleary@strategiesforchildren.org. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Virtual | More Info)
MASSDOT FINANCE: MassDOT's Finance and Audit Committee meets virtually. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Virtual)
ID THEFT PROTECTION: Boston's Center for Working Families and Chase Bank hold an identity theft financial literacy class. Attendees will learn how to protect their personal information and prevent identity theft. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Register)
DISABILITIES COMMISSION: Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets and will hear a presentation from the Department of Economic Research on people with disabilities in the Massachusetts labor force. Gov. Healey's fiscal 2025 budget proposal is also up for discussion. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Hearing Room A-2 | Virtual)
MASSDOT CAPITAL PROGRAMS: MassDOT's Capital Programs Committee meets virtually. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Virtual)
RTA COUNCIL: Regional Transit Authority Council meets. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | Virtual Access)
YOUTHBUILD COALITION: Students from Massachusetts YouthBuild programs will gather to meet with senators and representatives from their districts, as well as other YouthBuild members from around the state. Before afternoon legislative visits, the group will hear from multiple YouthBuild student speakers and have lunch in the Great Hall. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Great Hall)
SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats meet in a private caucus. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Senate President's Office)
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Massachusetts Office on Disability holds a virtual workshop about requesting reasonable accommodations at work and supports needed to perform "essential job functions." (Wednesday, 12 p.m.| More Info and Register)
MWRA BOARD: Mass. Water Resources Authority Board meets. Agenda includes contract amendments or change orders for projects in Waltham, Medford, Somerville and Arlington. MWRA's Water Policy and Oversight, Administration, Finance and Audit, Wastewater Policy and Oversight, and Personnel & Compensation committees will meet before the board, starting at 10 a.m. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., MWRA Administration Building, Conference Rooms 2C and 2D, 2 Griffin Way, Chelsea | Virtual Access and Agenda)
HIGHER ED ADVISORY COUNCIL: Board of Higher Education's Evidence-Based Policy Making Advisory Council meets. (Wednesday, 2 p.m. | More Info and Zoom)
SPONSORING IMMIGRANT WORKERS: An information session about sponsoring low-wage immigrant workers for green cards is hosted by the Boston Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement, Boston Public Library and Pathway for Immigrant Workers. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Boston Public Library, Commonwealth Salon, 700 Boylston St., Boston |More Info)
CHESTERFIELD ROAD IMPROVEMENTS: MassDOT holds a public meeting to discuss the proposed North Road and Damon Pond Road improvements in Chesterfield. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Community Center, 400 Main Road, Chesterfield | More Info)
Thursday, March 14, 2024
WALK FOR PEACE BRIEFING: Louis D. Brown Peace Institute hosts a community briefing with survivors, sponsors and elected officials ahead of its 28th annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. The briefing will cover the walk route, the post-walk program, sponsorship opportunities and more. RSVP closed March 7. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Hampshire House, 84 Beacon St., Boston)
DCR STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Department of Conservation and Recreation's Stewardship Council meets virtually. Agenda includes a report from DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo and a trout stocking presentation. (Thursday, 9 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
MBTA FINANCE: MBTA's Audit and Finance Subcommittee meets virtually. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Virtual)
EARLY ED RALLY: Senate President Spilka and Sen. Lewis plan to rally with early education and care advocates on the Beacon Street sidewalk before the Senate takes up its early education bill during a formal session at 11 a.m. (Thursday, 10 a.m., State House steps)
MBTA WORKFORCE: MBTA's Planning, Workforce, Development & Compensation Subcommittee meets virtually. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Virtual)
DA RYAN ANTI-HATE: Middlesex County DA Ryan holds meeting of her Anti-Hate Anti-Bias Task Force. Contact Sarah.Lamson@mass.gov for more information. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Virtual)
IMMIGRANTS AND TAXES: Black and Latino Caucus and the Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition co-host a briefing on how working immigrants are prevented from claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit each year and how 10 other states have acted to address the issue at the state level. Organizers said speakers will include immigrants who work but are barred from claiming the EITC because they file tax returns with IRS-issued Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers instead of Social Security numbers. The Mass. Budget and Policy Center reported last month that about 21,000 to 26,000 households, representing between 61,000 and 76,000 individuals, would benefit from Massachusetts extending its EITC to all immigrant taxpayers. The report pegged the estimated cost of extending the EITC to all eligible immigrants at between $22.6 million and $28 million. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Room 222)
TRANSITION AGE YOUTH: Children's League of Massachusetts presents a briefing on "transition age youth," or people between 18 and 22 years old who "age out" of the foster care system and into adulthood without the support of permanent family. These young people will be at the briefing to answer questions. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Room 428 | RSVP)
SENATE SESSION - EARLY EDUCATION BILL: Senate meets in a formal session to debate a sweeping early education reform bill (S 2697), a promised version of a bill the Senate passed almost two years ago. The bill would lay out a framework for future allocations based on $1.5 billion in funding for early education included in this year's state budget. The bill would expand child care subsidies from households whose incomes equal 50 percent or less up to 85 percent, and eventually up to 125 percent of state median income. It includes a critical caveat: "subject to available funding." The bill would require that parents' out-of-pocket fees for subsidized children be no more than 7 percent of family income; make Commonwealth Cares for Children grants to providers permanent; and seeks to increase early educator's salaries to commensurate with public K-12 school teachers. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
HOUSE: House plans to meet in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
MBTA HEALTH & SAFETY: MBTA's Safety, Health & Environment Subcommittee meets virtually. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Virtual)
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING: MassDOT's Office of Outdoor Advertising holds a virtual hearing. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Agenda and More Info)
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY LOBBY: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network holds its state lobby day. Speakers include Sens. Feeney, Moran and Rush, Reps. Kilcoyne and Murphy, cancer survivor Jung Han and Dr. Michael Constantine from the Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists. Volunteers will meet with their legislators to advocate for passing of legislation ensuring patient access to biomarker testing (H 1074 / S 689) and breast cancer screening equity (H 4410 / S 711) (Thursday, 11 a.m., Grand Staircase)
LOWELL WHITE RIBBON DAY: Middlesex County DA Ryan speaks at the Lowell White Ribbon Day ceremony hosted by Alternative House "in support of ending domestic and sexual violence in our communities." (Thursday, 11 a.m., City Hall, 375 Merrimack St., Lowell)
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION: Massachusetts Office on Disability holds a virtual workshop about recognizing disability discrimination in the workplace. Attendees will discuss real and hypothetical cases, as well as learn how to prevent discrimination and how to document potentially discriminatory work situations. (Thursday, 12 p.m. | More Info and Livestream)
HEALTH CARE COST GROWTH: Joint Committee on Health Care Financing joins the Health Policy Commission for the annual public hearing on the potential modification of the health care cost growth benchmark for 2025, a statewide target for the rate of growth of total health care expenditures. The benchmark is meant to be a statewide target for the sustainable rate of growth of total health care expenditures, and the HPC was created under a 2012 law to oversee health care system performance and monitor statewide spending performance against the benchmark. The HPC set the 2024 benchmark at 3.6 percent, with an average 3.52 percent average increase in total health care expenditures over the nine years prior. An increase in the rate of health care cost escalation, higher out-of-pocket costs for consumers, and trouble gaining access to care have emerged as challenges across Massachusetts in recent years. (Thursday, 12 p.m., Gardner Auditorium | Livestream)
DMH ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Department of Mental Health's Human Rights Advisory Committee meets. Agenda includes updates on childhood and adolescent services and community services. For remote access, contact Startese.sims01@mass.gov. (Thursday, 2 p.m., DMH central office, 25 Staniford St., Boston | More Info)
ESTATE RECOVERY: Sen. Comerford and Rep. Barber host a legislative briefing with members from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation to discuss their recently released report on estate recovery in Massachusetts. The report, Holding on to Home: A Primer on MassHealth Estate Recovery and Options for Reducing its Impact on Members and Families, analyzes how Massachusetts' estate recovery policies affect MassHealth members and, upon their death, their surviving families. Sen. Comerford and Rep. Barber have a bill (S 726 / H 1168) to limit the estate recovery program so repayment is only sought where it is required by the federal government, to help protect MassHealth members' property after their death for their families. (Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Room 222)
VACCINE PURCHASING: Massachusetts Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council meets. The council works to ensure universal distribution of recommended child vaccines. For remote access, contact cmcreynolds@mcaap.org. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter St., Waltham)
STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL: Board of Higher Education's Student Advisory Council meets. (Thursday, 4 p.m. | More Info and Zoom)
D LINE ACCESSIBILITY: MBTA hosts a public meeting on proposed Green Line D Branch accessibility upgrades. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Brookline High School, MLK Room, 115 Greenough St., Brookline)
BEVERLY DRAWBRIDGE: MassDOT holds a public hearing on the proposal to build a temporary bridge replacement for the Hall-Whitaker Drawbridge, which carries Bridge Street over the Bass River in Beverly, and the demolition of the existing bridge. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Beverly Middle School, Auditorium, 502 Cabot St., Beverly)
NATICK BIKE BRIDGE: MassDOT holds a virtual public hearing on the proposed Spring Street pedestrian/bike bridge superstructure replacement project. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Virtual)
Friday, March 15, 2024
METROWEST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST: MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau holds its annual meeting and legislative breakfast at Framingham State University. Senate President Spilka and Rep. Roy are among the scheduled speakers. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., McCarthy Center, 93 State St., Framingham | More Info)
WESTBOROUGH MMA BREAKFAST: Massachusetts Municipal Association hosts a breakfast as MMA staff, local leaders and elected officials discuss the legislative session. Topics include the fiscal 2025 budget, the Municipal Empowerment Act, road and bridge funding, and Gov. Healey's housing bond bill. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Forbes Municipal Building, Great Hall, 45 W. Main St., Westborough | Register)
WAREHAM MMA BREAKFAST: Massachusetts Municipal Association holds a breakfast in Wareham to discuss the legislative session. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Wareham Town Hall, 54 Marion Road, Wareham | Register)
ENERGY SITING COMMENT DEADLINE: Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting, created by executive order in September to address the process by which clean energy projects and infrastructure are permitted, accepts public input through Friday on a series of questions it posed last month. There is general agreement among utility companies, environmental activists and others that the energy project permitting and siting process as it exists today is a poor model. Figuring out siting is one of the factors that could determine whether Massachusetts makes good on its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. (Friday)
