Page 24 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 27, 2022 BEACON | FROM PAGE 14 “I voted against the cannabis bill fi rst based on the principle that I believe legalization was a mistake,” said Rep. Jeff Turco (D-Winthrop), one of only two members who voted against the measure. “I believe this bill compounds the mistake by using taxpayer funding to fi nance new entrants into the cannabis market. In addition, this bill will allow people convicted of distributing cannabis in a school zone and to children to be permanently expunged from their criminal record. In light of all of these concerns, I voted against the bill.” Rep. Marc Lombardo (D-Billerica), the only other representative who voted against the measure, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it). Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE LICENSING (H 4791) House 29-126, rejected an amendment that would require that a public hearing be held prior to the signing of an agreement between a host city or town and a marijuana business. “Under current law a public meeting must take place in a community prior to a cannabis business applying for a license from the Cannabis Control Commission,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn). “However, that public meeting can and has taken place after a host community agreement is already signed and agreed to between the business and community offi - cials. My amendment sought to require that the public meeting must take place prior to the signing of the host community agreement. This way residents, especially those impacted by the location of such a business, can have input prior to any agreement on addressing im- LEGAL NOTICE - CITY OF EVERETT pacts being fi nalized. It makes the process far more transparent and consistent from community to community.” R ep. Dan Donahue (D-Worcester), co-chair of the Committee on Cannabis Policy. opposed the amendment. “Currently municipalities are allowed to host, have their host community agreement meetings before a host community agreement is required,” said Donahue during the debate in the House. “The Cannabis Control Commission under this legislation will have the ability to promulgate new regulations … which …could include possibly the preference to have a host community agreement meeting before they sign … This bill is about setting the boundaries for what could be included in a host community agreement. It doesn’t deal with the processes for which a municipality will engage their community members in signing the host community agreement.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it). Rep. Joseph McGonagle No BORROW $5 BILLION FOR STATE PROJECTS(H 4790) House 155-0, approved and sent to the Senate a $5 billion bill that borrows money for hundreds of projects—the majority involving maintenance and modernization projects of buildings—many of which are decades old. The House added $125 million during consideration of the package. A key provision imposes a fi ve-year moratorium on any prison or jail construction in Massachusetts. There was no debate on the House fl oor during consideration of the package. There were 256 amendments fi led by members, many of which were fi led by legislators for projects in their own district. Members pitched their amendments behind closed doors. In the end, there was no debate or vote on individual amendments but - LEGAL NOTICE - CITY OF EVERETT rather approval of a single mega-consolidated which included some, but not all, of the 256 amendments. “I’m pleased that the House of Representatives advanced this critical legislation to ensure funding for several governmental facility projects,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “The House bill also includes a moratorium on the construction of all new prisons in the commonwealth. This moratorium is consistent with the goals of the Legislature’s 2018 criminal justice reform legislation, which looked to reduce our prison population, limit solitary confi nement and increase access mental health support.” Rep. Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough), the House chair of the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on passage of the bill. Her committee held a hearing on the original version of the measure sponsored by Gov. Charlie Baker back in January. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill). Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL EVERETT CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY2023 PROPOSED BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS To all interested parties, To all interested parties, The Everett City Council, in accordance with Section 6-4 of the City Charter, shall conduct a public hearing at a special meeting of the council on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers at Everett City Hall, Third Floor, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149. At said meeting, the public shall be allowed to speak on the proposed City of Everett’s Fiscal Year 2023 Proposed Budget Appropriations including the General Fund Budget, the Water/Sewer Enterprise Fund Budget and the ECTV Enterprise Fund Budget. A copy of the corresponding budget documents is available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office. A copy of the FY2023 City budget documents has also been posted to the Budget Department section of the city’s web site. These documents can be found at the following link: https://cityofeverett.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ Proposed-Fiscal-Year-2023-Budget.pdf. Questions and comments may be directed in advance of the public hearing to the Legislative Aide for the City Council, Michael Mangan at Michael.Mangan@ ci.everett.ma.us or 617-394-2237. John F. Hanlon, President Michael Mangan, Legislative Aide May 27, 2022 The Everett City Council, in accordance with Section 6-5 of the City Charter, shall conduct a public hearing at a special meeting of the council on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at Everett City Hall, Third Floor, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149. At said hearing, the public shall be allowed to speak on the proposed City of Everett’s Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvement Plan. A copy of the corresponding plan documents is available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office in the FY2023 City Budget Book. A copy of these documents has been posted to the Budget Department section of the city’s web site as a part of FY2023 Budget document. This document is located at the following link: https://cityofeverett.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ Proposed-Fiscal-Year-2023-Budget.pdf. Questions and comments may be directed in advance of the public hearing to the Legislative Aide for the City Council, Michael Mangan at Michael.Mangan@ ci.everett.ma.us or 617-394-2237. John F. Hanlon, President Michael Mangan, Legislative Aide May 27, 2022 EVERETT CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY2023 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN ALLOW CITIES AND TOWN TO IMPOSE WATER FEES (S 2869) - The Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a virtual hearing on legislation that would allow cities, towns and water or wastewater districts to impose “reasonable” fees that would be used only to remedy/off set impacts that water withdrawals and discharges have on the natural environment. Supporters said that “water banking” at the local level has proven to be an eff ective tool for mitigating the impacts of water withdrawals on both the natural environment and local and regional water infrastructure systems. “In response to administrative consent orders and increasingly stringent regulatory mandates, communities are being encouraged to establish water banks or mitigation funds,” said sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). “These funds are needed to design and construct water, sewer and stormwater improvements that are required to mitigate environmental impacts directly attributed to new or increased demands placed on these essential services.” RAISE FINES FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY (H 2132) – Stuck in BEACON | SEE PAGE 25
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