Category Archives: State

Gov’s budget

Posted on March 4, 2015 | Comments Off on Gov’s budget

This alert from the Mass Municipal Assoc. this afternoon.  The Governor seems to be doing what the MMA has long been requesting, to tie municipal state aid to towns to increases in state revenues, so that towns are in more of a “revenue sharing” model with the state, than a hat in hand, beholden model –

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

GOV. BAKER FILES $38.1 BILLION FISCAL 2016 BUDGET PROPOSAL
• UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID WOULD INCREASE BY $34 MILLION (3.6%)
• CHAPTER 70 AID WOULD INCREASE BY $105.3 MILLION (2.4%)
• MOST OTHER MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTS LEVEL-FUNDED

Earlier this afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker submitted a $38.1 billion fiscal 2016 state budget plan with the Legislature, proposing a spending blueprint that would increase overall state expenditures by 3 percent, as the new Administration seeks to close a projected $1.5 billion structural budget deficit by restraining spending, eliminating 4,500 state jobs through an early retirement program, increasing state employee contributions to health insurance, and offering a tax amnesty plan.

The Governor’s budget includes a $34 million increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid, and a $105.3 million boost to Chapter 70 school aid.

Most other municipal and education aid accounts in the Governor’s budget proposal would remain at post-9C fiscal 2015 levels.  This includes the special education circuit breaker, charter school reimbursements, payments-in-lieu of taxes, regional school transportation, Shannon anti-gang grants, and library aid.

The Governor would increase McKinney-Vento reimbursements by $1 million, and fund METCO at the original fiscal 2015 level, restoring the mid-year 9C cuts.

• Click here to see the UGGA and Chapter 70 Aid amounts listed by community in the Governor’s budget:
http://www.mass.gov/bb/h1/fy16h1/os_16/h3.htm

• Click here to see the Division of Local Services preliminary fiscal 2016 Cherry Sheet aid amounts for your community, based on the Governor’s proposed budget:
http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/municipal-data-and-financial-management/cherry-sheets/2016-cherry-shets/

• Click here to see DESE’s calculation of fiscal 2016 Chapter 70 aid for your city, town, or regional school district, based on the Governor’s proposed budget:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/chapter70/

UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID
In a major victory for cities and towns, House One (the Governor’s fiscal 2016 budget submission) would provide $979.8 million for UGGA, a $34 million increase over current funding.  This fulfills one of Gov. Baker’s major campaign promises to increase direct municipal aid in fiscal 2016 by at least 75 percent of the growth rate in state tax revenues, with a target of reaching 100 percent in future years.

The $34 million would increase UGGA funding by 3.6 percent, which is 75 percent of the projected 4.8 percent increase in state tax collections next year.  This would be the largest increase in discretionary municipal aid in nearly a decade.  Every city and town would see their UGGA funding increase by 3.6 percent.

CHAPTER 70 SCHOOL AID
The Governor’s budget submission also proposes a 2.4 percent increase in Chapter 70 education aid of $105.3 million, with a provision providing every city, town and school district an increase of at least $20 per student.  House One would continue to implement the target share provisions enacted in 2007.  This Chapter 70 increase would be similar to growth levels in recent years.  Because most cities and towns only receive minimum aid (203 operating districts in cities, towns and regions would only receive minimum aid under House One), the MMA has urged the Governor and Legislature to agree on a budget that provides minimum aid of at least $100 per student, and will continue to advocate for higher funding.

House One contains language that would continue to allow communities to count retiree health insurance toward their net school spending, but only if they have done so beginning when the school finance law first went into effect in 1994, or if they have already voted to adopt last year’s local-option provision in section 260 of the fiscal year 2015 general appropriations act to allow a phase-in of retiree health insurance costs in their net school spending calculation.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER UNDERFUNDED
The Governor’s budget would level-fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker program at $253.4 million.  Because special education costs are expected to rise in fiscal 2016, this means that the Governor’s budget likely underfunds reimbursements by at least several million dollars.  This is a vital account that every city, town and school district relies on to fund state-mandated services.  The Legislature has fully fund the program for the past three years, and the MMA will again be asking lawmakers to ensure full funding in fiscal 2016.

CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS UNDERFUNDED
Under state law, cities and towns that host or send students to charter schools are entitled to be reimbursed for a portion of their lost Chapter 70 aid.  The state fully funded the reimbursement program in fiscal 2013 and 2014, but is underfunding reimbursements by approximately $36 million this year.  The Governor’s budget would level-fund charter school reimbursements at $76.8 million, which would guarantee another major shortfall in fiscal 2016, and result in cutbacks for the majority of students who remain in the traditional school setting.

REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENTS LEVEL FUNDED
Last November, former Gov. Patrick used his 9C budget powers to eliminate the $18.7 million increase regional school transportation reimbursements that the Legislature originally enacted for fiscal 2015, reducing the final amount to $51.5 million.  Gov. Baker’s budget submission would level-fund regional transportation reimbursements at the $51.5 million amount.  This will be a hardship for virtually all communities in regional districts.

McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS WOULD INCREASE BY $1 MILLION
The Governor’s budget would add $1 million to increase reimbursements for the transportation of homeless students to $8.4 million.  While the account remains below the full reimbursement called for under the state’s unfunded mandate law, it would be the first increase since fiscal 2013.  Separately, the Governor has proposed a new reserve fund and action plan to decrease the placement of homeless families in hotels and motels, which would reduce the cost of the mandate on cities and towns, over time.

METCO FUNDING WOULD BE RESTORED TO ORIGINAL FISCAL 2015 LEVELS
The Governor’s fiscal 2016 budget would increase funding for the METCO program by $1.2 million, returning it to the $19.1 million level passed in the original fiscal 2015 budget.  The $1.2 million reduction in fiscal 2015 came from 9C cuts in November and February.

PAYMENTS-IN-LIEU-OF-TAXES (PILOT), SHANNON GRANTS, LIBRARY AID ACCOUNTS ALL LEVEL FUNDED
The Governor’s budget would level fund PILOT payments at $26.77 million, Shannon anti-gang grants at $7 million, and continue to fund library grant programs at $18.5 million.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY AND CALL ON THEM TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO INCREASE UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID BY $34 MILLION – THIS INCREASE IS VITAL TO LOCAL BUDGETS IN EVERY CORNER OF MASSACHUSETT

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Posted in Budgets, State

BAKER PLANS $105 MILLION INCREASE IN SCHOOL AID

Posted on March 3, 2015 | Comments Off on BAKER PLANS $105 MILLION INCREASE IN SCHOOL AID

John Nunnari regularly emails town officials news from the legislature, and this story by the State House News Service is a preview of a fairly rosy municipal and school aid proposal in the budget for next year –

 

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MARCH 3, 2015….State aid for public schools would rise by 2.4 percent next fiscal year and unrestricted local aid would increase by 3.6 percent in Gov. Charlie Baker’s budget proposal, which is set to be fully released on Wednesday.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said the increases fulfill the governor’s pledge during the campaign to boost state aid in concert with rising state revenues – state tax collections are due to rise 4.8 percent in the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

The Chapter 70 school aid account in Baker’s budget will feature a $105 million increase, which means a minimum increase of $20 per student, Polito told the News Service during an interview Tuesday prior to a meeting with mayors and other municipal officials.

Unrestricted local aid, which is predominantly generated by Lottery profits, would increase to $980 million in Baker’s budget plan, which will undergo review and redrafting in the Legislature in the coming months.

Specific information about levels recommended for other local aid accounts – regional school transportation, payments in lieu of taxes, and special education, for example – was not available.

“We felt the focus should be on Chapter 70 school aid and on the unrestricted aid, and let the school districts and the municipal managers determine how best to utilize those dollars,” said Polito, a former state representative and local official.

The extra state aid will help cities and towns cope with rising health care costs, school enrollment increases and snow management costs, Polito said.

“Level funding is a cut,” she said. “And we felt that it was necessary to increase the percentage for both school aid and unrestricted aid in order to help our communities perform the services to the quality they need to help our families and our hardworking taxpayers.”

Baker budget aides say his spending plan will also restore fiscal 2015 budget levels for the METCO program, which enables students from Boston and Springfield to attend schools outside those cities.

Baker and Gov. Deval Patrick cut METCO funding in recent months as part of efforts to address a deficit in this year’s state budget.

A Baker budget aide said the governor’s spending plan would include “a lot of level funding.” The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation has estimated a $1.5 billion gap between expected revenues and expenses next year.

Baker is tackling that budget gap without recommending any tax hikes and does not plan to draw money from the state’s stabilization fund, which lawmakers have regularly used to support spending plans.

The governor’s budget bill, which will be the subject of hearings starting next week, also won’t include any “one-time gimmicks,” Polito said. “It’s a straight-forward budget that reflects the priorities that we have, which are helping our cities and towns succeed,” she said.

END
03/03/2015
Serving the working press since 1910
http://www.statehousenews.com

 

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Posted in Budgets, Schools, State

MEMA on coming storm

Posted on February 13, 2015 | Comments Off on MEMA on coming storm

Mike Sullivan forwarded this email from MEMA about the Saturday to Sunday storm.  Interestingly, if you page down far enough you see to which towns the equipment from NY, PA, NJ, and other states has been deployed (none to Medfield that I saw) –

FYI. Mike

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: MEMA State Control (CDA)
Date: Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 12:27 PM
Subject: Situational Awareness Statement #18 – Winter Storm Recovery Operations and Weekend Snowstorm
To: “Schwartz, Kurt (EPS)” “Packard, Christine (CDA)”
Cc: CDA-DL – Dispatchers <

DATE: February 13th, 2015

TIME: 12:00 PM

SUBJECT: Winter Storm Recovery Operations and Weekend Snowstorm

 

Forecast Summary from the National Weather Service

Saturday into Saturday evening, low pressure out of the Great Lakes will sweep southeast of New England during which time light to moderate snow will spread across the region.

 

Saturday night into Sunday, low pressure will strengthen quickly into the Gulf of Maine the proximity of which will present the potential for blizzard conditions across east/southeast-coastal New England with snowfall amounts in excess of a foot along with strong to damaging winds possibly up to hurricane force. Combination of increasing winds and the Sunday morning high tide presents the threat of minor to moderate coastal flooding.

 

Possible hazards associated with this storm include; poor travel conditions, power outages, strong wind gusts, extreme cold, minor to moderate coastal flooding, and beach erosion.

 

Sunday night into Monday morning some of the coldest air of the season arrives delivering the potential of high temperatures on Monday barely breaking the teens.

 

Updated highlights for the weekend storm include:

  • Potential for a significant snowfall of over a foot with blizzard conditions across east/southeast-coastal New England.
  • Significant impacts to travel.
  • Northerly winds will be gusting 35 to 45 mph Sunday into Sunday night with 50+ gusts possible for Cape / Islands.
  • Snow will be fluffy and combined with winds expect blowing and drifting of snow.
  • Expect visibilities of a quarter mile or less, especially for east/southeast-coastal New England
  • Tides above 10 feet in Boston Sunday morning; surge likely; threat to north-facing beaches (i.e., Cape Cod Bay).

 

Coastal Flooding Highlights:

  • Salisbury to Cape Ann (including Plum Island)

o   Most at risk for moderate coastal flooding and beach erosion

  • Cape Cod Bay Shoreline (Sandwich to Dennis)

o   Significant beach erosion also a concern with minor coastal flooding

  • South Shore (including Hull, Scituate, Marshfield)

o   Risk of some overwash, especially in susceptible areas that were hard hit in the previous blizzard

  • Storm Surge

o   Expecting a 2.0 to 2.5 foot storm surge

o   Highest from Salisbury to Cape Ann

o   Waves approaching 20 feet just offshore for the Sunday morning high tide

 

Storm Total Snow Map

 

 

Maximum Wind Gusts (Midday Sunday Map):

 

 

Coastal Flooding Headlines Map:

 

 

Monday Morning Lows Map:

 

 

Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories:

 

  • Blizzard Watch for east coastal Massachusetts from Saturday evening to Sunday evening.
  • Winter Storm Watch for central and eastern Massachusetts from Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening.
  • Wind Chill Advisory for central and western Massachusetts until 1 PM.
  • Coastal Flood Watch for east coastal Massachusetts, including Nantucket, from late Saturday night through Sunday afternoon.

 

 

MEMA Operations

The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is at Level 2 (Partial Activation) with MEMA staff and state agencies including MassDOT, DCR, DEP, MANG, and MSP. The SEOC continues to provide situational awareness and coordinate assistance to ongoing local and regional snow removal and cleanup efforts.

 

The MEMA Regional offices in Tewksbury, Bridgewater, and Agawam are open and staffed, and are working to fulfill local requests for assistance.

 

Mutual Aid via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)

Pursuant to a request from MEMA through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the states of Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont have agreed to send a total of 28 front end loaders, 76 dump trucks, 14 backhoes, and 36 skid-steer loaders, together with operators and maintenance personnel, to support ongoing snow removal operations.

 

MEMA secured an agreement with New York and deployed 2 snow melters from the City of New York to Boston via EMAC.

 

Pennsylvania is sending 10 personnel to support SEOC operations.

 

MEMA has stood up a State Staging Area (SSA) on the MassPort owned portion of Hanscom Air Force Base, with overflow capacity at Middlesex Community College in Bedford, to receive and support all out-of-state equipment and personnel.  The SSA will operate on a 24/7 basis. Out-of-state resources began arriving at the SSA Tuesday and will continue to arrive through today. Heavy equipment and personnel that arrived yesterday from Pennsylvania and Vermont will deploy today to cities and towns to assist in snow removal operations. Crews and equipment that arrive at the SSA today from Maine and Pennsylvania will deploy tomorrow to cities and towns.

 

Resources that arrived in Worcester Tuesday and are staged/working in Worcester:

  • 3 front end loaders and 4 dump trucks from the NY State Thruway

 

Resources that have arrived at the SSA through last night:

  • 15 front end loaders, 14 dump trucks, and 18 skid-steer loaders from NY DOT
  • 6 front end loaders, 10 dump trucks, and 10 skid-steer loaders from NJ DOT
  • 2  5-yard Loaders, 2 Back Hoe Loaders, 2 Skid steers, 6  20-ton Dump trucks, 6  10-ton Dump trucks from VT National Guard
  • 15 dump trucks and 2 backhoes from PA DOT

 

Resources that arrived yesterday and are staged/working in Boston:

  • 2 snow melters from New York City

 

Resources scheduled to arrive at the SEOC today:

  • 10 personnel from Pennsylvania Emergency Management to support SEOC operations

 

Resources scheduled to arrive at the SSA today:

  • 5 dump trucks and 5 backhoes from PA Turnpike
  • 6 Skid Steer Loaders, 13  10-Ton Dumps, 3  20-Ton Dumps, 3 Back Hoe Loaders, 1  5-Yard Loader and 1  2.5-Yard Loaders from ME National Guard

Resource Requests

Since Monday, February 9, MEMA has received a total of 258 requests for assistance.

 

As of 11 AM, MEMA is coordinating a total of 158 active resource requests from 103 communities for snow removal assistance, including heavy equipment, snow melters, digging out fire hydrants and storm drains, and deliveries of salt.

 

The following heavy equipment missions were in progress or deployed as of 11:00 AM:

 

Please note: All heavy equipment is deployed with operators.

 

  • Acton: MassDOT: 2 Front End Loaders and 2 Dump Trucks
  • Amesbury: DCR: 1 Dump Truck
  • Arlington: MassDOT: 1 Dump Truck, 1 Skid Steer and 1 Front End Loader
  • Athol: MassDOT: 1 Front End Loader, 3 Dump Trucks
  • Auburn: MassDOT: 1 Front End Loader, 1 Dump Truck
  • Berlin: DCR: 1 Dump Truck
  • Boston: PA DOT: 1 Backhoe; MANG: 4 skid steers; CT Contractor deployed 5 Teams (1 Front End Loader, 1 Bobcat, 1 Backhoe, 3 Dump Trucks per team)
  • Boylston: PA DOT: 2 dump trucks
  • Brockton: VT NG: 6 Dump Trucks
  • Braintree: MANG: 4 Front End Loaders
  • Chelsea: MANG: 1 Dump Truck
  • Cohasset: NY DOT: 1 Front End Loader; VT NG: 2 Dump Trucks
  • Essex: NY DOT: 2 Front End Loaders, 3 Skid Steers, 3 Dump Trucks
  • Fall River: PA DOT: 8 Dump Trucks; MassDOT: 2 Front End Loaders, 1 Backhoe
  • Gloucester: MANG: 6 Front End Loaders, 6 Dump Trucks
  • Hanover: MassDOT: 1 Front End Loader
  • Ipswich: MassDOT: 2 Front End Loaders, 2 Dump Trucks; NY DOT: 1 Front End Loader
  • Lawrence: NY DOT: 1 Bobcat, 1 Dump Truck
  • Leominster: MassDOT: 1 Backhoe, 1 Dump Truck; NY DOT: 1 Front End Loader; VT NG: 4 Dump Trucks
  • Lunenburg: Northern Tree: 2 Dump Trucks and 2 Front End Loaders
  • Malden: MassDOT: 1 Front End Loader; NJ DOT: 1 Bobcat, NY DOT: 2 Front End Loaders, 1 Dump Truck
  • Millville: MassDOT: 1 Front End Loader, 1 Dump Truck, 1 Wing Plow
  • Nahant: NJ DOT: 2 Front End Loaders, 2 Dump Trucks
  • Newburyport: PA DOT: 1 Front End Loader, 5 Dump Trucks
  • Newton: NY DOT: 3 Front End Loaders, 3 Bobcats and 3 Dump Trucks
  • Norwell: NJ DOT: 4 Front End Loaders
  • Phillipston: MassDOT: 1 Grader with Wing Plow
  • Revere: NY DOT: 2 Front End Loaders, 1 Dump Truck
  • Salem: MANG: 1 front end loader, 3 dump trucks and 2 skid steers
  • Scituate: NY DOT: 2 Bobcats, 2 Dump Trucks
  • Somerville: NY DOT: 1 Front End Loader; NJ DOT: 6 Bobcats, 6 Dump Trucks; MassDOT: 2 FELs, 1 Dump Truck
  • Topsfield: MassDOT: 1 wing plow
  • West Boylston: DOT: 1 Backhoe
  • West Bridgewater: NY DOT: 1 Bobcat, 1 Dump Truck
  • Weymouth: NY DOT: 3 Bobcats, 3 Dump Trucks
  • Worcester: Northern Tree:  3 Front End Loaders and 11 Dump Trucks; NY State Thruway: 3 Front End Loaders and 4 Dump Trucks; PA DOT: 1 Backhoe, 3 Dump Trucks

 

Shoveling Missions:

MANG teams are deploying to the following communities today:

  • Ashland: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Attleboro: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Auburn: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Beverly: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Billerica: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Bridgewater: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Brockton: 4 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Dudley: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Easton: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Gardner: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Hanover: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Holbrook: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Ipswich: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Leominster: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Lynnfield: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Malden: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Marshfield: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Medford: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Medway: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Mendon: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Middleton: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Milton: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Natick: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Newton: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Norton: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Norwell: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Oxford: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Pembroke: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Sharon: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Shrewsbury: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Spencer: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Sterling: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Stoughton: 2 teams of 4 MANG troops
  • Taunton: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Topsfield: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Uxbridge: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • West Bridgewater: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Westford: 1 team of 4 MANG troops
  • Weymouth: 1 team of 4 MANG troops

 

Salt Missions:

MEMA continues to work with salt vendors to provide salt to the following communities:

  • Avon
  • Bridgewater
  • Bedford
  • Fitchburg
  • Leominister
  • Lunenburg
  • Princeton
  • Rehoboth
  • Sharon

 

MA National Guard Deployments

MA National Guard (MANG) teams continue to be deployed throughout the Commonwealth to support local public safety and public works personnel with critical public and life safety issues and enhancing critical services. These teams have been instructed to work with local officials to define specific missions. Examples of permissible missions include: digging out fire hydrants, opening storm drains and catch basins to prevent flooding, clearing snow from HVAC vents at public facilities and critical infrastructure, and ensuring access to critical infrastructure such as police and fire stations, pumping stations, and public facilities that provide necessary health and social services.  While cities and towns may have other snow removal needs, it is important that MANG teams first address these types of public and life safety missions across the Commonwealth before taking on secondary missions. Once these teams complete critical missions in a community, they will move on to other communities. MEMA and the MANG ask that communities that receive these teams work with them, and the soldiers, to assign missions that meet the specific criteria.

 

MassDOT / MBTA Update

 

Transit
General Conditions and Impacts
Due to weather-related Orange Line delays, Haverhill Line passengers are strongly encouraged to transfer to the Orange Line at North Station, not Malden Center.

The Commuter Rail will continue to operate on published weekday schedules on Friday, February 13. Some trains may be cancelled due to weather-related issues.

See line specific details below.
Service Conditions
Mode/Line Status
MBTA
▬ Blue Line The Blue Line will operate today, but with fewer cars and less frequent service.
▬ Orange Line The Orange Line will resume regular weekday service today, Friday, February 13. Customers should continue to anticipate weather-related delays in service.
▬ Red Line ·         Limited Red Line service will be available between Alewife and Ashmont Stations. Red Line trains will also resume on the Braintree branch to North Quincy Station with shuttle bus replacement of Red Line trains between North Quincy and Braintree Stations through Sunday, February 15. This means that Braintree branch subway service between North Quincy and Braintree Stations is replaced with shuttle buses through the end of service on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Customers are strongly encouraged to use Commuter Rail service that will stop at Braintree and Quincy Center.

·         Buses will replace service on the Mattapan Trolley Line from start to end of service on Friday, February 13.
▬ Green Line The Green Line will operate today, but with fewer cars and less frequent service.
▬ Silver Line Operating; delays possible due to road conditions.
▬ Bus All bus routes will operate a regular weekday schedule on Friday, February 13. Many bus routes will experience weather related delays and may operate on snow route.
▬ Commuter Rail The Commuter Rail will operate on published weekday schedules beginning at the start of service on Friday, February 13, 2015 with the exception of the following cancelled trips:

·         Providence Line 800

·         Franklin Line 702

·         Fairmount Line: 734/744

·         Stoughton Line: 901/902

·         Worcester Express: 582

·         Anderson/Woburn Line 351/352 & 355/356 & 357/358

·         Reading Line 259/260 & 263/264

·         Beverly 051/052 & 053/054
▬ Commuter Boat ·         Due to icing conditions at Hingham Shipyard, all Hingham vessel departures and arrivals on Friday, February 13, will operate between Hingham and Rowes Wharf exclusively.

·         Hull Ferry service to Hull, Logan Airport, and Long Wharf will operate as scheduled on Friday, February 13, but with no connections in Hingham. Connections to Hingham from Long Wharf, Logan Airport, and Hull are currently suspended and will resume when icing conditions improve.

·         Charlestown Ferry service will operate on a weekday schedule on Friday, February 13.
▬ The RIDE Operating; however delays and cancellations are likely; customers should check with the operator.
REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES
All Other No impacts reported
OTHER SERVICES
Concord Coach No impacts reported
Dartmouth Coach No impacts reported
Boston Express Bus Boston Express Bus is extending the suspension of “Commuter Loop” stops through next Friday, February 20, 2015.  Commuter loop trips will go directly to South Station.
Peter Pan Bus No impacts reported
Plymouth & Brockton No impacts reported
Amtrak No impacts reported
Logan Express No impacts reported
Steamship Authority No impacts reported

 

DCR Update

  • DCR employees will be training with MassDOT on the newly acquired snow melting machines today.
  • DCR and DEP are providing 64 traffic cones/delineators to supplemental State Staging Area ‘Springs’ with delivery around noon.
  • DCR is continuing snow removal operations at DCR facilities and roadways. Rehab and repairs are being done today in preparation for tomorrow’s storm.
  • DCR salt supplies remain low.
  • The Central MA Mosquito Control Project dump truck returned to Berlin to assist with snow removal today.
  • The NE Mass Mosquito Control Project’s dump truck returned to Amesbury to assist with snow removal today.

 

DEP Guidance on Snow Disposal in Open Waterways

Due to the extraordinary weather experienced by the Commonwealth in the past several weeks, municipalities throughout the Commonwealth are facing significant challenges in their efforts to clear, remove and dispose of historic accumulations of snow. MassDEP recognizes that cities and towns may need to undertake emergency measures to ensure protection of public safety.

 

As communities proceed with necessary emergency snow disposal, it is recommended you use the best management guidelines included in MassDEP’s Emergency Disposal Guidance (http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/regulations/snow-disposal-guidance.html), including:

 

  • Dispose of snow in open water with adequate flow and mixing to prevent ice dams from forming.
  • Do not dispose of snow in saltmarshes, vegetated wetlands, certified vernal pools, shellfish beds, mudflats, drinking water reservoirs and their tributaries, Zone IIs or IWPAs of public water supply wells, Outstanding Resource Waters, or Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.
  • Do not dispose of snow where trucks may cause shoreline damage or erosion.
  • Consult with the municipal Conservation Commission to ensure that snow disposal in open water complies with local ordinances and bylaws.

 

Communities that intend to dispose of snow in open water as outlined above must provide advance notification to DEP by calling (888) 304-1133. Communities must also consult with their Conservation Commission prior to disposing of snow in open water.

 

Stay Informed

Online Resources

For additional information and resources, visit:

 

 

 

Kurt Schwartz

Undersecretary, Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

508-820-2010 (Office)

508-820-2000 (24/7 Communications Center)

 

 

 

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Posted in State

New state-municipal partnership

Posted on February 11, 2015 | Comments Off on New state-municipal partnership

Letter today from the new Lt. Gov. –

February 9, 2015
Dear Municipal Leaders,
As the Baker-Polito Administration’s liaison to local officials, I am excited to write to you about some early actions our Administration has taken to support municipalities and local officials. On our first day in office, we released $100 million in Chapter 90 funds, for a total $300 million annual commitment to local roads and bridges. Second, Governor Baker signed his first ExecutiveOrder creating a Community Compact Cabinet (Cabinet) during the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Annual Meeting. Third, the Baker-Polito Administration elevated the Division of Local Services within the Department of Revenue, and we’re thrilled that your colleague, Brookline Deputy Town Administrator Sean Cronin, has agreed to become Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Local Services.
As chair of the Cabinet, I will champion local government issues throughout the Administration and will work with you to create a true partnership between the state and cities and towns. Together,we will work to identify best practices and innovations that provide better, more effectivegovernment both at the local and state level. The Baker-Polito Administration will use the Cabinet to bring together the relevant high-level state officials to develop and execute our commi
tments to municipalities. One task I will highlight is that we are working to identify unfunded mandates, onerous regulations, and bottlenecks in state government that inhibit the success of your cities and towns. In March, the Division of Local Serviceswill circulate a survey to seek your input.
To hear directly from local leaders, I’ve already started a statewide tour to meet with municipal officials and I hope to be able to connect with you soon. I am eager to hear your ideas about how we can help y
ou grow the economy, provide a quality education for every child, and responsibly manage your community’s budget.
I have attached a summary of the Executive Order, and I look forward to working with you to create a great Massachusetts.
Sincerely,
Karyn E. Polito
Lieutenant Governor
 Elevating the Municipal Partnership
Baker-Polito Administration
The Baker-Polito team is committed to elevating its partnership with Massachusetts cities and towns. The Administration’s first act was to release $100 million in new Chapter 90 funding for local roads and bridges. In addition, we have pledged to hold harmless local aid accounts as we deal with a $765 million budget gap in FY15, and
we will increase local aid in a way that tracks state revenue growth.
Both Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito served as selectmen and
intimately understand the challenges facing municipalities.  Therefore, today we are elevating municipal concerns directly into the Governor’s Office.
Via Executive Order, we are empowering Lt. Governor Polito to be a champion for municipal issues across state government; we
are restructuring the Department of Revenue to include a new Senior Commissioner for the Division of Local Services, reporting directly to the Commissioner; and we are creating a Community Compact Cabinet that will work toward mutual accountability, work to reduce red tape, promote best practices, and develop specific “community compacts” with local governments. Community compacts will create clear, mutual standards, expectations, and accountability for both the state and municipalities as we seek to create better government for our citizens.
Executive Order 537
The Municipal Affairs Coordinating Cabinet
September 2011
Leadership:
Agency: Exec. Office of Admin. & Finance
Chair: The Deputy Commissioner for Local Services; Department of Revenue

 

Membership:
State Purchasing Agent
State Chief Information Officer
Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance
Executive Director of the Group Insurance Commission
Personnel Administrator
Chairman of the Civil Service Commission
Any member of the Governor’s Cabinet or their designee and any other person whom the Secretary of ANF may designate
Charge:

1.to implement policies and coordinate activities throughout the executive branch that are designated to enhance the partnerships between local and state government;

2. to assess ways in which state government may provide assistance to local government in the provision of services, including, but not limited to, technology, procurement, construction, employee benefits and other areas where the assets of state government may be utilized to assist local governments;
3. to assist in the interpretation and implementation of the various municipal partnership bills signed into law over the past five years in order to assist cities and towns in reducing costs, streamlining operations and generating revenue
New Executive Order
The Community Compact Cabinet
January 2015
Leadership:
Agency: Office of the Governor
Chair: Lieutenant Governor
Vice Chair: The Senior Deputy Commissioner, Division of Local Services; DOR
Membership:
Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
Secretary of the Executive Office of Education
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Operational Services
Chief Information Officer
Any other person whom the Lieutenant Governor
may designate from time to time.
Charge:
1. to champion municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies;
2. to develop, in consultation with cities and towns, mutual standards of best practices for both the state and municipalities, working toward the creation of community compacts that will create clear standards, expectations and accountability for both partners;
3. to develop ideas to incentivize adoption of best practices at the municipal and school district level;
4. to work with the Local Government Advisory Commission (the “LGAC”) to resolve issues and implement recommendations made by the LGAC and approved by the Governor;
5. to review state regulatory burdens on municipalities and school districts and recommend reforms to lessen the burdens on municipalities and school districts;
6. to understand the major cost drivers of municipalities and school districts and identify actions that the Commonwealth, municipalities
and school districts can take to control them;
7. to identify and remove barriers to economic development opportunities for cities and towns; and
8. to empower cities and towns and school districts by finding new ways for them to leverage state resources and capacity Leadership
Membership Charge

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Posted in Budgets, State

MMA analyzes the Gov’s budget cuts

Posted on February 5, 2015 | Comments Off on MMA analyzes the Gov’s budget cuts

This from the Massachusetts Municipal Association to explain the details of  Governor Baker’s cuts as they affect towns –

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

GOV. BAKER FILES PLAN TO CLOSE FY 2015 STATE DEFICIT
Governor Protects Unrestricted Municipal Aid and Chapter 70 Education Aid
9C Reductions Impact Only a Few Local Accounts

On Tuesday, February 3, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a comprehensive plan to close a gaping $768 million mid-year state budget deficit.  As the Governor promised to local officials at the MMA Annual Meeting late last month, his budget-balancing plan protects Unrestricted General Government Aid and Chapter 70 school aid, keeping full funding in place for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The Governor’s package contains $514 million in mid-year spending reductions, including $150 million in cuts in state budget items implemented through the Governor’s “9C” emergency budget powers, and relies on $254 million in revenues directed into the state’s general fund, most of which will come from capital gains taxes that otherwise would flow into the Commonwealth’s rainy day fund.

Governor Baker’s 9C reductions cover 300 line items in the state budget, and are much more modest in terms of their municipal impact than any of the 9C cuts implemented over the past decade. In terms of reductions to Cherry Sheet accounts, these are limited to a $943,000 reduction for METCO (5%), and reductions of less than half of one percent for library aid programs ($42,499 from regional public libraries and $38,700 from non-regional libraries).  There were no programmatic cuts to regional school transportation, payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT), or other Cherry Sheet items.

However, there are several 9C reductions to non-Cherry Sheet accounts that are important to cities and towns:

• A $1.9 million reduction in charter school reimbursements (a 2.46% cut below the November level) – this will affect those communities that lose Chapter 70 school aid to charter schools, and rely on the state reimbursement account to make up a portion of the lost funds. This reduction will vary from community-to-community because the $1.9 million will be taken from reimbursements for students in years 2-5 of the formula, so the impact will depend on the specific profile of area students attending charter schools. We recommend that cities, towns and school districts contact DESE for more information;

  • A $5 million reduction to kindergarten development grants (a 21% cut below the November level) – this will impact those communities that are relying on kindergarten grants to offer or expand this service locally;
  • A $1.25 million reduction to Shannon anti-gang grants (a 15% cut below the fiscal 2015 appropriation) ­– this will impact those communities scheduled to get the grants; and
  • A modest $250 thousand reduction to the Special Education Circuit-Breaker (slightly less than 1% below the November level) – the exact impact will be determined by DESE.

Beyond the 9C cuts, the Governor has filed legislation to impose reductions to other areas of the state budget, and implement other revenue transfers and policies.  The Governor’s proposed legislation would generally require a 1.79% reduction to those state accounts outside of his 9C authority – importantly, the legislation specifically exempts Unrestricted General Government Aid and Chapter 70 from mid-year cuts, consistent with the Governor’s pledge. In general, the 1.79% reductions are designed to include the Legislature, judiciary, constitutional officers, and quasi-independent agencies in the budget-balancing plan.

Please click on the following link to see the Administration’s budget-balancing plans in detail, including a list of all 300 9C reductions (“FY15 February 9C Line Item Listing”) and the proposed legislation (“Filed 9C FY15 February Supplemental Legislation”) – http://www.mass.gov/anf/budget-taxes-and-procurement/state-budget/fy15-budget-info/fy15-budget-cut-information/

The MMA will be analyzing the details of the Governor’s legislation and 9C reductions over the coming days. Please monitor the MMA’s website at www.mma.org for continuing updates.

Thank you.

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Posted in Budgets, State

Baker to MMA

Posted on January 26, 2015 | Comments Off on Baker to MMA

The State House News Service got the quote from Governor Baker more accurately than I did on Friday.  It is encouraging that the Gov seems so focused on making the state-town relationship work better.  I am looking forward to learning more about the “community compacts.” –

BAKER PLEDGES STRONG TIES TO MUNI LEADERS

[Story Developing] After pledging on the campaign trail to boost local aid in lockstep with growing state revenues, Gov. Charlie Baker told local officials Friday in a major address that he’s creating a community compact cabinet.

The cabinet and the new position, located within the Department of Revenue, was created through the first executive order of Baker’s new administration.

The cabinet, headed by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, will “reduce red tape” and lead to “community compacts,” Baker said in a speech to 900 members of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. “These compacts will create clear mutual standards, expectations and accountability,” he said.

On the campaign trail, Baker pledged to boost local aid in lockstep with growing state revenues. He is due to file his first budget for fiscal year 2016 by early March.

Baker on Friday noted the deficit in the fiscal 2015 budget, which he has estimated at $765 million.

“I would call it challenging, I don’t think it’s any more than that,” Baker said, adding that in 1991 while coming into government as a part of Gov. William Weld’s administration, “We faced a similar budget deficit on a more smaller budget overall and worked our way through that.” – Gintautas Dumcius/SHNS

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Posted in Massachusetts Municipal Association, State

Gov Baker on road $

Posted on January 9, 2015 | Comments Off on Gov Baker on road $

This was the Mass Municipal Assoc alert that came this afternoon –

 

Friday, January 9, 2015

GOV. BAKER RELEASES $100 MILLION IN CH. 90 FUNDS FOR LOCAL ROADS, PLEDGES NO CUTS TO MUNICIPAL AID

Just hours after taking the oath of office on Thursday, Gov. Charlie Baker directed the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to follow through on his campaign promise to release immediately $100 million in Chapter 90 bond authorizations that had been withheld by the previous administration.

In his inaugural address, Gov. Baker also declared that he would oppose further cuts to local aid, even as his administration grapples with an inherited mid-year budget deficit that could reach $750 million, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and other budget experts.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association and local officials from across the state applaud Governor Baker for recognizing the importance of investing in our local transportation systems, and understanding the damage that would be caused by mid-year cuts to local aid. Releasing the $100 million in withheld Chapter 90 funds and protecting municipal aid are important elements of a strong state-local partnership to improve our economy, enhance public safety, and build stronger communities.

A letter from Gov. Baker was issued yesterday informing local officials of his decision to release the funds, meaning that cities and towns will now receive the full $300 million in Chapter 90 funding authorized for fiscal 2015 – a record level of funding.

A $300 million Chapter 90 authorization for fiscal 2015 was included in a $13 billion transportation bond bill enacted last year. Decisions about how much funding to actually release are made by the governor’s office, however, and the Patrick administration decided to release just $200 million.

At the 2014 MMA Annual Meeting last January, then-candidate Baker famously declared that he would release the full $300 million “before I take my jacket off on my first day,” a statement that was met with loud applause from the hundreds of local officials in the audience. The MMA is currently compiling the results of an updated local road funding needs survey, which will be used to document the need for a $300 million annual authorization for Chapter 90 in a multi-year bond bill that needs to pass early this year to ensure that Chapter 90 funding will continue in fiscal years 2016 and beyond.

Please click on this link to read Gov. Baker’s Chapter 90 announcement and letter to municipalities: http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/governor-directs-massdot-to-release-100-million.html

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Posted in Budgets, State

Medfield gets the rest of its road $

Posted on January 8, 2015 | Comments Off on Medfield gets the rest of its road $

Governor Patrick failed to release $100m. of appropriated road repair monies this fiscal year, as he did last fiscal year also, because the legislature failed to appropriate as much as he wanted for the transportation budget.  Governor Baker released those monies on his first day in office.

 

GOV. BAKER WILL RELEASE $100 MIL IN LOCAL ROAD FUNDS

By Matt Murphy
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JAN. 8, 2014…..Gov. Charlie Baker will make good on a campaign promise Thursday afternoon by making his first official action as governor to release $100 million for local road and bridge repairs.

The funding, which had been authorized by the Legislature but withheld by former Gov. Deval Patrick, will be dispersed to cities and towns to pay for local infrastructure projects.

Patrick released $200 million for Chapter 90 last year, but held back the additional funding because he said the borrowing capacity was needed for other transportation priorities.

Lawmakers were highly critical of Patrick’s decision not to release the funding, and Baker during the campaign pledged to release the funding as soon as he took office.

During his inaugural address, Baker on Thursday said he hoped to address a “spending problem” in state government to address a midyear budget gap that he estimated at more than $500 million.

Baker, who supported a November ballot law that unhinged the gas tax from an inflation index, said during his address that he would hold the line on taxes but that everything else was on the table in the upcoming budget-balancing exercise.

The governor must file a fiscal 2016 spending plan by March 4, though a proposal to address the midyear gap could be rolled out before that date.

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Posted in Budgets, Legislature, State, Transportation