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Traveling through Boston by sea is about to get more expensive, and the cost of getting to and from the city's airport in a car could soon follow. Massachusetts Port Authority officials on Thursday approved a new fee that will reach as much as $15 per cruise traveler once fully implemented. They could also vote next month on additional charges for motorists driving to Logan International Airport, including a ride-hailing fee that one company contended would be the "highest in the world." The new charge on cruise passengers will help fund the majority of a $105 million infrastructure project that Massport officials also approved Thursday. The project combines a series of improvements officials say will better equip the Flynn Cruiseport to accommodate larger ships and higher passenger volumes. The project will include purchase of a new passenger boarding bridge, renovations to the "hold room" and, most significantly, installation of shore-to-ship electrical power, which will allow vessels to run on mainland electricity while in port instead of their onboard diesel engines
FRANKLIN
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MEDWAY
Tues.,
Feb. 18
Medway
Redevelopment Authority
6:00pm
7:00pm
7:00pm
Weds.,
Feb. 19
Elderly
Relief Committee Meeting
4:00pm
Energy
& Sustainability Committee Meeting
7:00pm
Zoning
Board of Appeals Meeting - CANCELLED
7:30pm
Thurs.,
Feb. 20
4:30pm
Conservation
Commission Meeting
7:00pm
STATEHOUSE
AND BEYOND
House Speaker Ron Mariano this month said he can't keep up with the speed of President Donald Trump's sweeping executive orders. It's been a little easier so far in 2025 to keep track of legislative affairs on Beacon Hill. Aside from passing a spending bill to shore up emergency family shelter accounts that were severely underfunded in the annual budget, the Legislature has done very little. Mariano said last year that leadership assignments and committee appointments are "always" done the same week as the college hockey Beanpot. That tournament came and went this week and lawmakers are still waiting for marching orders, which are expected by the end of the month or early March in both the House and Senate. For now, 44 days into the new session, the Legislature plans to take another traditional pause, in a nod to public school vacation week. Appointments and assignments generally occur after the branches adopt rules packages, and the Senate went first this session, agreeing to Senate and joint rules this week. The House plans to take up its rules on Tuesday, Feb. 25, but House Democrats haven't said when they plan to unveil their proposal.
Democrats have also not shown much eagerness over jumping into the annual vetting of Gov. Maura Healey's proposed fiscal 2026 budget. The $62 billion bill has been sitting in the Temporary House Committee on Ways and Means for more than three weeks and legislators have not begun or even revealed their list of planned budget hearings. Those hearings last year began Feb. 7, with the bulk of the gatherings held throughout March. The Legislature in recent years has been unable to complete its annual budgets on time, and has struggled to reach timely agreements on non-budget bills as well. Having pushed a large batch of significant bills across the finish line during lightly-attended informal sessions over the latter half of 2024, lawmakers are starting the new session slowly while also giving serious consideration in their rules to legislative calendar and bill-flow reforms. While both branches approved a shelter funding and policy bill less than two months into the term, they are also at least a week behind the traditional pace to get routine organizational tasks completed. The first rules package got a vote 43 days into the 2025-2026 term, but in four of the five prior terms, both branches -- not just one -- had already approved their own rules no later than day 37 post-inauguration. Committee assignments were unveiled no later than day 50 in each of the five most recent terms dating back to 2015. In addition to the $425 million shelter budgets that must be quickly reconciled since the system is out of funds, legislators may wade back into supplemental budgeting again since they have not dispensed with a large surplus of income surtax funds and face pressure to bail out other accounts, like funds to pay caregivers who help senior citizens to live at home. Gov. Maura Healey, who got the shelter funding debate and income surtax spending discussion rolling by putting her own proposals on the table, is waiting on those measures as she prepares to visit Washington D.C. late next week for the National Governors Association winter gathering, which often includes a meeting with the president.
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025
BOSTON REAL ESTATE: Greg Maynard of the Boston Policy Institute talks with Jon Keller about the policy debate over his group's report on the impact of Boston's commercial real estate crash, and the debate over issues in the Boston mayoral race including housing and bike lanes. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
BOSTON POLICE: Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox is the guest on "On The Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
SIX INVITATIONAL: Lt. Gov. Driscoll attends the Six Invitational Grand Finale, a video game tournament. (Sunday, 2 p.m., MGM Music Hall, 2 Lansdowne St., Boston | More Info)
SAND MINING: Activist and attorney Meg Sheehan provides an update on the latest developments in the efforts to stop three sand mines in southeastern Mass. (Sunday, 7 p.m., Center Hill Preserve, 158 Center Hill Road, Plymouth | Zoom)
Monday, Feb. 17, 2025
JFK LIBRARY FESTIVAL: The JFK Library hosts its 14th annual Presidents Day Festival. Actors portraying Presidents John Adams, Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Abigail Adams will share stories. "In Good Company" will perform "Hail to the Chief" and cover the history of campaign songs from Washington to Kennedy. Visitors can explore the museum, participate in the crafts or activities set up, play presidential jeopardy, and join a "Kennedy-style State Dinner." The festival will close with a free concert by the Harvard Din & Tonics, who will perform Kennedy campaign songs and popular music from the 1960s and today. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., JFK Library, Columbia Point, Boston)
QUINCY WINTERFEST: Quincy holds its annual Presidents Day Winterfest through 7 p.m. Programming includes puppet and dinosaur shows, ice sculpture demos, jugglers, acrobats, educational shows, fire performances and music. Events are located in and around Hancock Adams Common, as well as Quincy City Hall and the Church of the Presidents. (Monday, 12 p.m., 1305 Hancock St. | More Info)
PLYMOUTH RALLY: Democrats, progressives and supporters hold a "Not on Our Watch" Presidents Day rally. Organizers say they want to "show our support for the American government, which provides essential services and support to our community." (Monday, 1 p.m., Plymouth Rock, 79 Water St., Plymouth)
USS CONSTITUTION OPEN: The USS Constitution is open for public visitation for Presidents Day. President Washington, whose birthday the holiday celebrates, named the ship. There will be a 21-gun salute at approximately 12 p.m. Guided tours will be available every half hour, with the final tour of the day beginning at 3:30 p.m. As the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and America’s Ship of State, USS Constitution played a vital role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, safeguarding American sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. (Monday)
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
BUILDING CODE APPEALS: Building Code Appeals Board meets remotely. Dockets deal with properties in Cambridge, Berkley, West Springfield, Wareham and Andover. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
CANNABIS ADVISORY - RESEARCH: Research Subcommittee of the Cannabis Advisory Board meets. Agenda includes a legislative update and an update on federal cannabis rescheduling discussions. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
NURSING BOARD: Board of Registration in Nursing Complaint Committee meets remotely. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
OCCUPANCY CODE: Occupancy Code Committee of the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations meets remotely. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)
EMBALMING, FUNERAL DIRECTING: Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing meets. Agenda includes an executive director report, discussion of a regulation change for continuing education requirements, license application reviews, and an investigative update on licensed establishments. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 1000 Washington St., Conference Room 1D, Boston | Agenda and Livestream)
TEACHERS RETIREMENT: Teachers unions hold a rally to support bills that would address issues stemming from the original 2001 rollout of the Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan, which the unions say negatively impacts some of the state's longest-serving educators. The program allowed teachers to retire earlier if they raised their pension contribution to 11% of their salary. Unions say the application and enrollment process was "riddled with confusion and mistakes" for teachers hired before July 1, 2001 and support bills (HD 3452 / SD 2208) that would allow a one-time opportunity for teachers hired before July 1, 2001 to enroll, with conditions. Impacted educators speak before visiting legislative offices. Event hosted by American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, Boston Teachers Union, and Massachusetts Teachers Association. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Room 428)
TRAHAN FOOD ASSISTANCE: Congresswoman Trahan hosts a roundtable discussion with local food assistance organizations "about the consequences of President Donald Trump’s attempt to freeze federal funding for their organizations and Republican proposals to slash that funding permanently." The president last month ordered a freeze on federal grants and loans, worrying nonprofits around the country, including food banks. A House Republican federal budget proposal unveiled this week would cut $230 billion in federal spending on agriculture programs, which support food assistance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP.) Trahan will be joined for the discussion by Merrimack Valley Food Bank Program Director Roberta Emerson, Middlesex Community College President Phil Sisson, Lowell Public Schools Superintendent Liam Skinner and Community Teamwork, Inc. CEO Carl Howell. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Merrimack Valley Food Bank, 1703 Middlesex St., Lowell | Media RSVP)
SENATE SESSION: The Senate meets in an informal session. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Agenda)
HOUSE SESSION: The House meets in an informal session. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)
INSURANCE PREMIUMS: Division of Insurance holds an information session examining the health care costs driving up premiums. This forum focuses on "non-hospital" costs and utilization. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. | More Info and Register)
HIGHER ED BOARD: Board of Higher Education meets. Members will be asked to approve Greenfield Community College's plan to award an associate degree for applied science in surgical technology; guidelines for an early childhood educator loan repayment program; and the fiscal 2026 rent schedule and operating budgets of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority. There will also be a discussion on the commissioner's annual performance evaluation. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. | Agenda and Zoom)
PCA COUNCIL: Person Care Attendant Workforce Council meets in an executive session dealing with complex care. (Tuesday, 3 p.m. | More Info)
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025
MUNI POLICE: Municipal Police Training Committee's Standards Subcommittee meets. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 42 Thomas Patten Drive, Randolph | Agenda and Livestream)
REAL ESTATE BROKERS: Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons meets remotely. Agenda includes reports from the executive director and board counsel. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
PIPEFITTERS, REFRIGERATION TECHS: Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians and Sprinkler Fitters meets. Agenda items include an executive director report and a jurisdictional report by the Office of Public Safety and Inspection. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
FIRE PREVENTION: Fire Prevention Regulations Appeals Board meets. Members will hear a case involving a Boston property. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)
FIRE PREVENTION: General Requirements Code Committee of the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations meets. Members will review code change proposals. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Department of Fire Services, Classroom 119, 1 State Road, Stow | Agenda)
MUNI POLICE: Municipal Police Training Committee meets. Agenda includes an update on instructor certification revocation appeals and an executive director's report. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 42 Thomas Patten Drive, Randolph | Agenda and Access)
MERIT RATING BOARD: MassDOT's Merit Rating Board meets. Agenda includes an update from Director Sonja Singleton. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Zoom)
MASSDOT CAPITAL PROGRAMS: MassDOT Board of Directors Capital Programs Committee meets. Members will discuss and take potential action on projects in Dennis, Lowell, New Bedford, Boston, Marion, Lawrence, Dracut, Methuen and Arlington. Agenda also includes a discussion on a South Coast Rail lines transfer. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
STATE REHAB COUNCIL: State Rehabilitation Council's State Plan Committee meets remotely. (Wednesday, 11 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
CHILDREN'S WINTER FESTIVAL: The annual Children's Winter Festival is presented by Boston Mayor Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. The free festival, which runs through 2 p.m., includes music, dancing, giveaways, treats, crafts, and large inflatables. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Boston Common | More Info)
TEACHING ABOUT RACE: State Library's author talk series features Raphael Rogers, author of "Representing Black Girl Magic with Contemporary Picture Books," which deals with how teachers can approach race in the classroom. A professor at Clark University, Rogers also wrote "The Representation of Slavery in Children's Picture Books: Teaching and Learning About Slavery in K-12 Classrooms," and his biography describes him as an "active collaborator" with the state Department of Education. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Room 341 | Livestream)
NEW BEDFORD DTA: Department of Transitional Assistance's New Bedford Advisory Board meets. (Wednesday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Access)
MUNI POLICE: Executive Director Search Committee of the Municipal Police Training Committee meets. Members will start in an open meeting before going into executive session. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 42 Thomas Patten Drive, Randolph | More Info)
CANNABIS COMMISSION: Cannabis Control Commission meets. Agenda suggests the CCC will go into executive session "to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation because the open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body." (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Agenda and Access Info)
NATIONAL GRID HEARING: Department of Public Utilities holds a public hearing on National Grid's forecast and supply plan, which will cover Nov. 1, 2024 to Oct. 31, 2029. Officials say they are reviewing the plan to "ensure that the forecast accurately projects the gas sendout requirements of the utility's market area." (Wednesday, 2 p.m. | Zoom)
ATHOL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: MassDOT holds a virtual public meeting about a proposed bridge replacement project in Athol, which involves Route 2A/Main Street over the G&W Railroad. The design includes bicycle accommodations. (Wednesday, 6 p.m. | Register)
THE FINAL IWO JIMA DAY: Marine Corps League hosts its annual Iwo Jima Day services at the State House, marking the 80th anniversary of the bloody World War II Pacific Theatre battle that claimed thousands of lives. The Marine Corps League is not sure if any Iwo Jima veterans will be able to make this year's ceremony, which is planned to be the final event in a series that began 25 years ago. The featured speaker at this final Iwo Jima Day is Gen. Christopher Mahoney, assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Honorees include Marine Corps veteran Daniel Penny, the Wahlberg family, and former representative and retired judge Hank Naughton. (Wednesday, Memorial Hall)
FED PRESIDENT IN CT: Boston Fed President Susan Collins travels to Connecticut, most of which is within the Boston division of the Federal Reserve Bank, to meet with employers and others to discuss the state and regional economy. Collins plans stops in Groton and Hartford. (Wednesday)
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT: Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission hosts a session on recent legal cases. Board members who attend will receive three educational credits. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | Register)
MASS. STATE RETIREMENT: Massachusetts State Retirement Board meets remotely. Treasurer Goldberg chairs. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Email MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us for access)
HOMEBUYER READINESS: Boston's Center for Working Families hosts a homebuyer readiness workshop. Attendees will learn about how a mortgage works, hidden costs to buying a home, saving for a down payment, and available resources. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | Register)
FIRE SERVICE COMMISSION: Fire Service Commission meets remotely. Agenda includes a vote on credentialing, as well as updates from the Department of Fire Services. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
OKRA DANCE COMPANY: The Okra Dance Company performs at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in celebration of Black History Month. Organizers say attendees will experience the influence of African dance, music and rhythm on American culture. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Columbia Point, Boston | More Info)
IDENTITY THEFT, FRAUD: Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation holds an event focused on identity theft and fraud prevention. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., The Quincy Center, 440 East Squantum St., Quincy | More Info)
EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT: Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association holds a webinar about how health care facilities can secure the Employee Retention Credit, a program that ends this year and launched through the CARES Act during the pandemic. Attendees will learn about eligibility requirements. The MHA says "many organizations have yet to realize the full potential of the ERC." (Thursday, 11 a.m. | Register)
HOUSE SESSION: The House meets in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
SENATE SESSION: The Senate meets in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
NURSING BOARD: Board of Registration in Nursing Complaint Committee meets remotely. (Thursday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
CITY AWAKE: City Awake, the young professional network at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, holds its first "Words of Wisdom" dinner of the year. Callie Crossley, host of GBH's "Under the Radar," is the featured speaker. (Thursday, 5 p.m., Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Boston | Register)
HOLDEN BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: MassDOT holds a virtual public hearing about a proposed bridge replacement project in Holden for Salisbury Street over PW Railroad. Officials say an inspection report from March 2020 outlined "severe deficiencies with the deck, railing and girders identified, which warrant repair as soon as possible." (Thursday, 6 p.m. | Register)
NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION: Gov. Healey is expected to attend as National Governors Association kicks off its winter meeting, an annual gathering of state executives from both parties that often features working sessions, a visit with the president and other top federal officials, and interstate networking. The organization said there will be governor-led panel discussions on economic innovation; permitting reform for energy reliability and resilience; workforce innovation; and the intersection of state, territorial and federal initiatives at national borders and ports of entry. Gov. Healey plans to attend the winter meetings, and has paired her NGA travel in the past with state work in the nation's capital. (Thursday, Grand Hyatt DC, 1000 H St. NW, Washington, D.C.)
Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
DCR STEWARDSHIP: Stakeholders Committee of the Department of Conservation & Recreation's Stewardship Council meets remotely. Agenda includes an update from the chair, as well as partnership presentations. (Friday, 8 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
ALLIED MENTAL HEALTH: Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions meets. Board business includes approving and processing applications. (Friday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)
CLIMATE TECH PLAN: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center releases its Massachusetts Climatetech Economic Development Strategy & Implementation Plan, a 10-year roadmap to shape Massachusetts' future as a leader in climate innovation and equitable economic development. MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer and Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Grace Wang participate. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., WPI, 100 Institute Road, Worcester)
SEN. WYDEN BOOK TALK: Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden discusses his new book, "It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change," at an Edward M. Kennedy Institute event. The conversation is moderated by former CNN anchor and White House correspondent Jim Acosta. Wyden is the second-most senior Democrat in the Senate. The program is followed by a reception and book signing. (Friday, 1 p.m., 210 Morrissey Blvd., Boston | RSVP)
GOVERNORS WITH BURGUM: Governors from around the country, including Gov. Healey, meet with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to discuss project acceleration and permitting reform. The former North Dakota governor is now the federal official with significant sway over energy policy. Gov. Maura Healey has pinned the state's clean energy hopes on offshore wind power, and the event, part of the National Governors Association meetings, gives her an opportunity to appeal to other officeholders who oppose wind energy. (Friday, Grand Hyatt DC, 1000 H St. NW, Washington, D.C.)
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025
GOVERNORS MEETINGS: As the National Governors Association wraps up its winter meeting, governors from hold a press conference. Gov. Healey attends the winter meeting. Chair Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado also hosts education leaders for a plenary session on his "Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success" initiative. Panelists include Kara Swisher and Emily Oster. (Saturday, Feb. 22, Grand Hyatt DC, 1000 H St. NW, Washington, D.C.)
