THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 9, 2026 Page 17 BEACON | FROM PAGE 16 Galvin’s office to see if they contain sufficient signatures. One would place sales tax revenue from sporting goods like golf clubs, RVs and camping gear into a new “Nature for All Fund” that could generate $100 million annually for water and nature conservation and restoration efforts. A second one is designed to make it easier for residents to purchase a home by updating zoning rules. Here are the four proposed laws that were certified last week and the number of certified signatures collected by each group supporting the proposed laws. 1. Improve Access to Public Records (89,013) – Would make most records held by the Legislature and the governor’s office public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. It exempts documents related to the development of public policy and communications between legislators and their constituents, if those communications are reasonably related to a constituent’s request for assistance in obtaining government-provided benefits or services or interacting with a government agency. 2. Change and Regulate Legislative Stipends (96,797) – Make changes to the system under which lawmakers receive extra pay for serving in a leadership position and as committee chairs. The Legislative Effectiveness and Accountability Partnership, the sponsor of the proposal, says that the legislative leadership uses stipends to deliver millions of dollars to favored legislators and calls the money “loyalty pay” intended to bind lawmakers to the wishes of leadership. 3. Allow Public defenders to collectively bargain (86,153) - Would allow employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, which oversees the state public defender system for indigent criminal defendants, to engage in collective bargaining with their employer. 4. Limiting State Tax Collection Growth and Returning Surpluses to Taxpayers (85,588) - Would change the limit on how much revenue the state can collect in a given year. The proposal would limit annual state revenue to the net amount of state revenue from the prior year, increased by a rate equal to the average growth of wages and salaries in Massachusetts over the most recent three years. If revenue exceeds the limit, the excess amount would be refunded to taxpayers the following year. The proposals must be sent by the secretary of state to the Legislature by January 7, 2026 and if not approved by the Legislature by May 6, 2026, proponents must gather another 12,429 signatures by July 1, 2026, in order for the question to appear on the November 2026 ballot. CERTIFICATION OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE PARDONED FELONS (H 2582) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that amends a current law which prohibits the state from certifying or recertifying as a police officer, anyone who has been convicted of a felony. The bill would amend the law by continuing to prohibit certification for a felon even if the person has received a presidential or gubernatorial pardon for commission of the crime. Supporters say that the bill will close a loophole in current law that allows felons, who receive a presidential or gubernatorial pardon for commission of a felony, to be eligible for certification as a police officer. They said that a pardoned felon has still committed the felony and should not be eligible to be a police officer. They argued the loophole goes too far and should be closed. Rep. Mike Day (D-Stoneham), the sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on why he filed the bill and on its passage. Reps. Dan Cahill (D-Lynn) and Christopher Worrell (D-Boston), the House chair and House vice-chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security which approved the bill, did not respond to repeated request by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on why the committee supported it and on its passage. Opponents of the bill say that if a felon is pardoned, he should still be eligible to be BEACON | SEE PAGE 18 CITY OF EVERETT - LEGAL NOTICE - ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 484 BROADWAY, ROOM 24 EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS 02149 To Whom It May Concern: This notice is to inform you that a public hearing will be held on Tuesday January 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM, Everett City Hall, 3rd Floor George Keverian Hearing Room. All interested parties may attend and opinions will be heard regarding the following petition. Whereas a petition has been presented by: Property Address: Map/Parcel: Zoning District: Permit Number: Person Requesting: Proposal: The applicant seeks to convert the existing 1 (one) family residence built approximately in 1890 into a 3 (three) family residence. Violations: • Pursuant to Section 4.B.2.c of the Zoning Ordinance, the maximum allowable floor area ratio (FAR) is .50. The proposed FAR is .88. A variance is required. • Section 17.O.5 requires a minimum driveway width of 18’. The existing structure is 17.5’ from the side lot line, and the proposed driveway appears to be less than eighteen feet wide. A variance is required. REBECCA EDMONDSON KOROM - Chairman ROBERTA SUPPA - Clerk of Board of Appeals Janaury 9, 16, 2026 14 Pleasant Street C0-05-000061 Dwelling B-25-615 Tinh Le 22 Mellen St Dorchester, MA 02124
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