Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020 Baker files legislation to address municipal government challenges due to COVID-19 G ov. Charlie Baker recently announced that his administration will file a package of legislation to help address challenges to municipal governance resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, including potential delays in holding town meetings and adopting municipal budgets for fiscal 2021. The legislation would: • Amend the existing statute that authorizes town moderators to postpone town meetings by 30 days during a “public safety emergency” by adding “public health emergency” as a reason that permits postponement. • Permit town boards of selectmen to postpone town meetings beyond the statutory June 30 deadline (end of fiscal year) when the governor has declared a state of emergency and conditions prevent the completion of a town meeting. • Permit boards of selectmen, at local option, to temporarily adopt lower quorum rules. • Permit continued month-tomonth spending into fiscal 2021 by towns based on the prior fiscal year budget with approval of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services (DLS) during a state of emergency. The month-to-month authorization would continue so long as a state of emergency prevents the adoption of a budget. Cities have similar authority under existing state law. • Permit towns to access their free cash balance for fiscal 2021 spending with approval of DLS. This would be based on the July 2019 certified balance and could continue until a fiscal 2021 budget is adopted. • Permit municipal spending from revolving funds at the level set by their fiscal 2020 appropriation until a fiscal 2021 budget is adopted. • Authorize a three-year amorKiwanis Club welcomes guest speaker Vanessa Farino BAKER | SEE PAGE 16 tization period for deficit spending incurred as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The default rule would require a fiscal 2021 tax rate to provide for one-year amortization, and this change would follow the 2015 precedent for snow removal costs. School and other closures Baker also announced a threeweek suspension of school operations for educational purposes at all public and private elementary and secondary (K-12) schools in the Commonwealth beginning Tuesday, March 17, as well as a number of other emergency actions. “We know that a lot of the measures we are putting into place, including mandatory school closures and prohibiting gatherings of 25 people or more, will cause disruption in people’s day-to-day lives,” Baker said. “With the steps we are taking today, we can ensure residents can still access key The Everett Kiwanis Club recently welcomed guest speaker Vanessa Farino to their Tuesday lunch recently. Farino is a former Everett High School student and part of the El Mundo’s Boston Latina under 30! She spoke about her career following high school as an executive assistant to Fortune 500 companies as well as organizing executive assistants throughout Metro Boston offering support and guidance. Pictured from left to right, President Rafael Santos presents Vanessa with the club bell as her proud mom. (Advocate photo)
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