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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 15, 2024 Page 23 BHRC | FROM PAGE 22 veloping even more of them. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment allowing low income residents to be eligible. A “No” vote is against allowing it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No VETERANS’ PREFERENCE (H 4460) House 154-0, approved an amendment that would require that veterans in the shelter program are automatically given the maximum length of time to stay in the program, regardless of other factors. “My amendment prioritizes veterans when it comes to our emergency shelter program,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “While other families will have restrictions on staying in the program based on employment and job training status, this amendment says that veterans in the shelter program are automatically given the maximum length of time to stay in the shelter program, regardless of other factors. Fernandes continued, “Our state is one that recognizes the selflessness which veterans have served our commonwealth and country and we give priority to veterans in many other state programs. I believe they deserve priority when it comes to shelter and this amendment enshrines that priority.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment giving veterans preference.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL LEARNING DISABILITY SCREENING DAY (H 4210) – The House gave initial approval to a bill designating October 2 as Learning Disability Screening Day, to raise awareness of the necessity of screening for reading disabilities. “Former Duxbury Rep. Josh Cutler filed this legislation to promote awareness around dyslexia and other reading disabilities,” said Cole Angley, a Cutler spokesman. “Dyslexia affects an estimated 20 percent or one in every five people of the U.S. population. However only around one in 20 of the population are diagnosed. This legislation would help to promote awareness and screening across the commonwealth.” Cutler resigned from the House on February 4 to become Gov. Maura Healey’s Undersecretary of Apprenticeship, Work-based Learning and Policy in the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. LOCAL PLANNING BOARDS (H 3555) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that allows associate members of local planning boards to act on any matter before a planning board, mirroring the current law that applies to associate members of Zoning Boards of Appeal. An associate planning board members is one that is appointed to act in place of regular members because of absence, conflict of interest or when a seat is vacant. Supporters of the bill said that the attorney general has ruled that associate members may only act on a special permit application, and none of the other many functions of a planning board. They said that the attorney general’s ruling can handicap a planning board when trying to attain a quorum to open a meeting, or when voting on other matters and permits before them, such as site plans or subdivisions. “Planning Boards have many responsibilities including but not limited to long range planning and permitting of special permits, site plans and subdivisions,” said sponsor Rep. Kristin Kassner (D-Hamilton). “This will help the Planning Boards in our communities keep permitting on track and move through the business in front of them. Amendments like this clear up confusion in the law and provide needed tools for community success.” $22 MILLION TO EXPAND HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING - The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech announced the launch of the Residential Internet Retrofit Program, a $22 million statewide program that will be used to equip public and affordable housing units across the state with highspeed internet. “A substantial portion of public housing buildings are more than 50 years old,” said MBI Director Michael Baldino. “Low-income families in these buildings face barriers to accessing the speeds offered by broadband service if the wiring in their apartment predates the internet age. The Retrofit Program will lead the charge to engage with property managers and then to engage internet service providers, who will work together to build out cutting-edge infrastructure that fully connects public and affordable housing units to high-speed internet.” HEALEY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES PLAN TO END VETERANS’ HOMELESSNESS – Gov. Maura Healey announced a $20 million campaign to end veterans’ homelessness in Massachusetts. “Our administration is committed to making Massachusetts a national leader in veterans services,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Today, we are proud to launch the largest investment in our state’s history to end veteran homelessness in Massachusetts. It is through this initiative that we will work to ensure that every veteran in our state has a safe and stable place to call home.” “This campaign signifies a monumental commitment to addressing veteran homelessness in Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Veterans Services Jon Santiago. “Our mission is clear: bring veteran homelessness to functional zero and establish the necessary infrastructure to sustain this achievement.” “No one who served our country should ever worry about having a roof over their heads,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “This campaign acts on our administration’s shared commitment to restore dignity, provide hope and keep a promise to our veterans that they will never be forgotten or left behind. As the daughter of a veteran, I appreciate the positive impact this initiative will have on all of Massachusetts’ veterans.” For more information on the End Veteran Homeless Campaign, visit mass.gov/endvethomelessness QUOTABLE QUOTES – By the Numbers Edition Research by AAA has found that vehicle crashes tend to increase in the days following moving the clocks ahead in the Spring as drivers get behind the wheel while sleep-deprived and with their circadian rhythms out of whack. Studies have outlined the risks associated with drowsy driving: drivers who slept for less than five hours BHRC | SEE PAGE 24 OBITUARIES Antoinette M. (Alba) Broderick O f Everett. Entered into eternal rest at home, surrounded by her loving family Tuesday, March 12, 2024. She was 94 years o l d . Born in E ve r - ett, Antoinette was a lifelong resident. He worked at the Kontron as an Inspector for 9 years. Antoinette was the daughter of the late Francesca (Prinzivalli) and Giachino Alba; beloved wife of John J. Broderick for over 71 years. Dear and devoted mother of John J. Broderick, Jr. and his wife, Lucia of Peabody, Michael Broderick and the late Frances Broderick; twin sister of Anna Alba of Everett, and sister of Jacqueline Dineen of Everett, and the late Agnes Zappitelli, Mamie Finocchio, Catherine Piotrowski, Josephine Cirino and Mary Bagarella; and loving Grandma of 8 and great-grandmother of 1 great-granddaughter. Services are pending. Michael A. Doyle O f Everett. Entered into eternal rest unexpectedly, March 3, 2024 in the Massa - chusetts General Hospi - tal. H e was 86 years old. Born in Malden, Mike lived in Everett for most of his life. He worked as a school teacher at the Everett Vocational High School and also at the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department. Mike also served in the Massachusetts National Guard. He was the son of the late Augustine and Margaret (Keating) Doyle; the beloved wife of Pauline (Gentile) Doyle for over 66 years; the dear and devoted father of Karen Smigielski of N. Carolina, Paula G. Parsons and her husband Steven of PA, late Michael P. Doyle and Janet A. Arsenault and her surviving husband, Mark; the dear brother of Paul Doyle of Wakefield, Ronald Doyle of Stoneham, and the late George Doyle, Jean Hussey, Mary Burton and twin, Adrian Doyle; loving grandfather of Christen Custodio and husband, Juan, Roland Demers, Amanda Sharples and her husband, Michael, Elizabeth Lemmon and her wife, Kathleen Lemmon, and Harrison Arsenault; and 4 loving great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends were invited to attend Michael’s visitation in the Cafasso & Son Funeral Home, Everett, Wednesday, March 6. A funeral home service was held on Thursday followed by his burial at the Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Peabody. Contributions in Michael’s memory to the National Kidney Foundation, 220 West Central St., Ste. 220, Natick, MA 01760 would be sincerely appreciated.

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