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The Department of Correction announced Thursday "plans to conclude housing operations at the Old Colony Correctional Center minimum-security men’s facility," saying the facility would need $2.6 million in capital investments to continue on. There are 70 people currently incarcerated at the facility, which was built to accommodate about 160 people. The announcement did not indicate whether the facility would be used for migrant housing as has occurred in a former Norfolk correctional facility.
FRANKLIN AND BEYOND
Mon. Aug. 26
Master Plan-Housing and Economic Development Subcommittee
5:15pm
Tues. Aug 27
Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Board Meeting
1:00pm
7:00pm
Franklin School Committee Meeting
7:00pm
Weds. Aug 28
7:00pm
Thurs. Aug 29
Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting
7:00pm
7:30p
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Gov. Maura Healey returns from a week spent making the rounds on the national political circuit to a state still embroiled in a hospital crisis that hasn't changed much since her dramatic press conference just before leaving for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer remain on pace to close by the end of next week as state officials have not heeded to calls from supporters of those hospitals to find a way to keep them open. The looming closures are approaching even though state public health officials this week concluded that both facilities provide "essential service necessary for preserving access and health status within the hospital’s service area." Hospitals on the perimeter of the Carney and Nashoba Valley service areas are preparing for more patients, who will have to travel further to get care. The state has more than $8.8 billion saved up in the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund. Draws on that are permissible for "any event which threatens the health, safety or welfare of the people," but there's been no interest among state leaders in using the rainy day fund to try to keep the two hospitals afloat until an outside operator is found.
Meantime, Healey's team still hasn't released details of a multi-year public financing plan the governor highlighted a week ago, designed to help potential operators keep six other Steward hospitals operating in Massachusetts. "At this time, we cannot comment on financial terms or discussions due to ongoing negotiations," Olivia James, spokeswoman for Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, told the News Service on Friday, a statement that suggests the financial terms may be evolving. The loud "no comment" comes after others allegedly involved in the "agreements," as Healey called them on Aug. 16, declined to comment on plans to put those hospitals in new hands. Those deals still haven't been finalized in federal bankruptcy court. Hospital sale hearings continue to get pushed off, with the latest one now penciled in for Tuesday, and no one knows, or will say publicly, how much the state's steps to transition to new owners is going to cost the taxpayers of Massachusetts. Elected officials continue to rail against Steward's handling of the hospital crisis and simultaneously look to the bankrupt company for planning guidance and to deliver severance pay and accumulated time off money owed to about 1,200 workers at the two facilities that are closing. "The closure of Carney is a catastrophic blow to a community that has been dependent on this institution and its essential health care for over 160 years," Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley said at a July 29 rally. Amid the so-far unmet pledges to hold Steward accountable and pass legislation addressing the risks of private equity in health care, patients are being left to wonder where they'll go for care in September.
As that crisis plays out, Massachusetts voters have one more full week to evaluate candidates before the Sept. 3 primaries here, which are among the latest in the country. While some races stand out and will be highlighted by the News Service next week, the overarching story of the primary and general election ballots this year is the lack of interest in serving in public office, including the Legislature. Both the Democrat and Republican primary ballots are littered with references to "no nominations." The dearth of competition can lead to complacency in the Legislature, where top Democrats couldn't agree this year on a series of high-impact and popular bills but don't seem too concerned about it, in part because there's no chance of blowback at the ballot.
Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024
CAPUANO ON 5: Former Congressman Mike Capuano is the guest on WCVB's "On The Record" program. Hosts Ben Simmoneau and Sharman Sacchetti plan to talk about the DNC and the election in November. Boston Globe columnist and associate editor Adrian Walker and Republican political analyst Lizzy Guyton join the roundtable discussion. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
Monday, Aug. 26, 2024
BOSTON HOUSING FUNDS: City of Boston hosts an applicant conference to discuss funding available for housing development. The Mayor's Office of Housing made available about $21 million to support affordable rental, cooperative and homeownership developments plus $4 million to create and preserve supportive housing for homeless and aging populations. The city's Neighborhood Housing Trust is also offering $15 million to support creation and preservation of housing. (Monday, 10 a.m., More Info)
WEBSTER HISTORIC PAINTING: A portrait of industrialist Samuel Slater is returned to his hometown of Webster after 50 years away. After years of search, descendants of Slater, led by Sarah “Sally” Hewitt McInnis (Slater’s great-great-great-great granddaughter), found the painting and purchased the artwork with the intention of donating it to the Samuel Slater Experience. The museum opened in 2022 to tell the story of Slater, who founded the town of Webster and is credited with creating the American factory system. (Monday, 11 a.m., 31 Ray St., Webster)
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Legislative and Budget Subcommittee of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets virtually. The agenda features a guest speaker, Colin Killick, executive director of the Disability Policy Consortium. (Monday, 11 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
HOUSE: House meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., Hearing Room A-1 Livestream)
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Disability Employment Subcommittee of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets virtually. Agenda includes an overview of a benefits project with the Department of Economic Research and a discussion about fiscal 2024 goals. (Monday, 12 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
MATERNAL HEALTH SIGNING: Gov. Healey hosts a ceremonial bill-signing for the maternal health law she signed Friday. (Monday, 12:30 p.m., Grand Staircase)
CLEAN ENERGY HEARING: Department of Energy Resources holds a virtual public hearing on proposed changes to the Clean Peak Energy Standard, which deals with increasing clean energy when the demand for electricity is at its highest point. The changes involve adjusting the minimum standard "in response to anticipated near-term undersupply and long-term oversupply conditions in the market," as well as adding a "Near-Term Resource Multiplier for standalone energy storage systems connected to the distribution system that are able to come online before January 1, 2027," officials say. Written testimony will be accepted through 5 p.m. (Monday, 1 p.m. | More Info and Register)
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB: Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new teen center in Saugus. Congressman Moulton, whose office said he secured $900,000 in federal funding to support construction, attends. (Monday, 1 p.m., Square 1 Mall left of Dick's Sporting Goods, Saugus)
'HANDS AROUND NASHOBA': Facing the imminent closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center, community members are asked to participate in an event dubbed "Hands Around Nashoba Medical." Organizers say participants will form a circle around the hospital, "sharing love and appreciation for a place and the people who have supported our community for many generations." Participants will thank health care workers for their service and look to boost involvement in efforts to save Nashoba. (Monday, 6 p.m., Nashoba Valley Medical Center EMS, 200 Groton Road, Ayer)
Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024
MCCA DIRECTOR SEARCH: Massachusetts Convention Center Authority's executive committee meets in executive session to consider or interview candidates for executive director of the agency. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Agenda)
CCC DIRECTOR CANDIDATES: Cannabis Control Commission's Executive Director Search Subcommittee meets to go into executive session to conduct virtual screenings with prospective candidates for the agency's executive director job. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., More Info and Access)
LOTTERY COMMISSION: Treasurer Goldberg chairs the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission Meeting. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. | More Info & Access)
ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS: Massachusetts Office on Disability hosts a "quarterly tea" focused on making events and meetings accessible. The training will address legal obligations regarding accessibility, how to choose accessible event venues and online platforms, and best practices for adhering to reasonable accommodation requests. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. | Register)
BRANDEIS UNION RALLY: Unionized employees at Brandeis University and their allies rally "to demonstrate unity as union contract negotiations drag on," according to organizers. Participating workers include custodians, tradespeople, groundskeepers, librarians and graduate students. Organizers say about 450 direct and contract employees are working without a final agreement in place. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Outside Brandeis University main entrance, Old South Street, Waltham)
HOSPITAL SALE HEARING: Deals related to the sale of Steward Health Care's hospitals in Massachusetts (as well as Arkansas and Louisiana) could be presented to Judge Christopher Lopez at a hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The hearing was originally scheduled for July 2, but Steward has repeatedly postponed it in the absence of final agreements. Gov. Healey announced Aug. 16 that agreements were in place to sell St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton to Boston Medical Center, for Lawrence General Hospital to buy the Holy Family Hospital facilities in Methuen and Haverhill, and for Lifespan to take over Morton Hospital in Taunton and Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River, but there was no movement towards finalization of those deals as of Friday afternoon. A Steward attorney said Thursday that the company was "very close to the finish line" and "still fully engaged in mediation." (Tuesday, 2 p.m., More Info)
VOTE EARLY, GRILL LATER: With early voting for the state primaries underway, Walpole Republican Town Committee hosts a "Vote Early, Grill Later" cookout with prizes for voters who have cast their ballots. Candidates for U.S. Senate, including Robert Antonellis, and U.S. House attend, as do representatives of the state campaign for Donald Trump. Under new party chair Amy Carnevale, Republicans this year are fielding candidates in only two of the state's nine U.S. House districts. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Walpole Sportsman's Association, 499 Lincoln Road, Walpole | RSVP and tickets)
DISCLOSING DISABILITIES: Massachusetts Office on Disability holds a workshop exploring when and how people should disclose their disability throughout the employment process. Attendees will learn about the pros and cons of disclosing their disability, how to describe their limitations, and how to handle specific employment situations where they may need to discuss their disability. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. | Register)
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024
SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY: Massachusetts School Board Authority meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | To access contact Maria.Puopolo@MassSchoolBuildings.org)
LITERACY UNLIMITED: Senate President Spilka attends the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Literacy Unlimited Area of the Framingham Public Library. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., 49 Lexington St., Framingham)
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Massachusetts Office on Disability holds a workshop focused on reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Attendees will learn how to request a reasonable accommodation, how to describe their limitations, and a review a job description to identify the role's "essential functions." (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. | Register)
UPTON CULVERT REPLACEMENT: MassDOT hosts a virtual public hearing for a Route 140 (Milford Street) culvert replacement project in Upton. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Zoom)
Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024
STATE RETIREMENT BOARD: Massachusetts State Retirement Board meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs. (Thursday, 10 a.m., To access contact MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us)
OLIVEIRA AT SPRINGFIELD ZOO: Sen. Oliveira presents a ceremonial check to Sarah Tsitso, executive director of The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center, celebrating a $75,000 fiscal 2025 budget earmark for the zoo. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 293 Sumner Ave., Springfield)
SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION: Massachusetts Office on Disability hosts a workshop about disability discrimination at work. It will cover how to recognize workplace interactions that could constitute disability discrimination, how to prevent or address discrimination, and how to document potentially discriminatory work situations. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m. | Register)
FIREWORKS: Boston Harbor Now and Meet Boston host the 10th Illuminate the Harbor Labor Day weekend fireworks display, the first one in two years. "What better way to bring in the traditional last weekend of summer than with fireworks? Every Labor Day weekend, people are chasing that last feeling of summer, and a magnificent fireworks display on a warm evening brings all the summer vibes," Rebecca Smerling, director of programs at Boston Harbor Now, said. Live music kicks off the festivities at Piers Park in East Boston and Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in the North End at 7 p.m. (Thursday, 8:30 p.m., Boston Harbor)
