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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 12, 2026 Page 25 BEACON | FROM PAGE 24 opment, including stormwater management, culverts and bike and pedestrian improvements; $200 million for a new accelerated deferred maintenance and modernization program for infrastructure under the care and control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and $200 million for the MBTA for the procurement of electrically powered locomotives. The legislation also reauthorizes $3.18 billion in funding for several programs included in the 2022 Transportation Bond Bill including $2.3 billion for projects on interstates and other federally aided highways; $800 million for improvements to non-federally aided roadways and bridges; $65 million for the Municipal Pavement Program for engineering, permitting, design and climate change adaptation on municipal ways; and $12 million for grants for the Shared Streets Program for improvements to municipal streets to create additional capacity for pedestrians and cyclists. “Today, the Legislature is taking action to fix potholes, repair local bridges and build on the progress Massachusetts public transit has made,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “At the same time, this legislation will help ease serious financial burdens on cities and towns that are navigating a difficult financial landscape.” “Providing funding for critical infrastructure projects through investments in the commonwealth’s public transportation, roads and bridges is one of the most important responsibilities that we have as members of the Legislature,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “I’m proud of the support for local infrastructure repairs that this legislation provides, and of the funding included for the MBTA.” “I am proud to see another annual Chapter 90 bill fund the commonwealth’s immediate municipal roadway and transportation needs,” said Rep. Michael Finn (D-West Springfield), House Chair of the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. “This year’s legislation also gives the Administration the flexibility to deploy additional funds towards large-scale transportation investments which may arise over the next few years.” “Grateful that we can say the winter of 2026 is finally in the rearview mirror, the Legislature has moved forward in addressing long-term capital projects for roadways and bridges all across the commonwealth,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This bond bill provides support for critical capital projects in transportation that will spur housing development, make our roads and bridges safer and continue to build and improve upon the MBTA’s ongoing railway improvement projects.” “As we head into peak construction season, local leaders from every region and corner of the commonwealth greatly appreciate the Legislature’s prioritization of this vital transportation and infrastructure package, which includes critical funding to support local road, bridge, sidewalk and culvert repairs,” said Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine. “The essential Chapter 90 local road and bridge program has a direct positive impact on public safety, economic development and quality of life in every single city and town in Massachusetts, especially as many municipalities face serious fiscal challenges.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $4.58 billion package.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle D i dn’ t Vote Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes AUDIT THE LEGISLATURE AND MORE (H 5469) House 125-28, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would narrow the scope of a voter-approved legislative audit and create a formal process to govern public access to legislative records. Democratic leaders argued the bill preserves the constitutional separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches, where the auditor’s office is positioned. Democratic State Auditor Diana DiZoglio and the Republicans disagreed and argued the bill goes against the will of the voters who, in the November 2024 election, approved Ballot Question 1 asking them if they favor allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature. The question passed overwhelmingly by 72% of the vote. It has now been 19 months since the voters approved the audit but an audit has yet to take place. According to the State House News Service, the bill would limit the auditor’s power to investigate the branch to four categories of administrative functions, rather than the more expansive language outlined in the 2024 ballot law. And the legislation would also create a new statute establishing a legislative records request process and codifying which records would be public — most of which are already publicly available — and subject the governor’s office to the public records law from which they currently claim an exemption. The bill also stops Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office (who usually oversees public records inquiries) from interfering in requests to the Legislature, but allows a path of judicial review, while simultaneously barring the courts from resolving disputes between the auditor and lawmakers. “For you all know, the House does not oppose an audit,” said Speaker Ron Mariano. “The House is already audited every year by an independent auditing firm, the results of which are posted on the Legislature’s website upon completion. What we oppose is a politically motivated audit conducted in violation of the Constitution, which is why we didn’t see a path forward until recently, when the auditor finally specified the scope of the audit before the Supreme Judicial Court.” Rep. Todd Smola (R-Warren), the ranking minority member of the House Ways and Means Committee, questioned the process. He said, “Nobody saw this legislation 24 hours ago,” adding that the committee had 34 minutes between when the poll landed in their inbox and they had to vote on it. “Yet, we had to respond to that poll and ultimately weigh in as members of the committee.” said Smola. “We had members on both sides of the political aisle that were calling each other back and forth to say, ‘Can you explain this portion?’ That’s how confusing some components of this legislation were when we saw it for the first time yesterday.” All 25 Republicans voted against the bill. All Democrats but three voted for it. Five Democrats did not vote. The three Democrats who voted against it were Reps. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge), Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro) and Alan Silvia (D-Fall River). Rep. Susannah Whipps (U-Athol), the one non-party affiliated member in the Legislature, voted for the legislation. “This legislation was drafted in partnership with good government experts to increase access to public records from the executive and legislative branches, and to establish a clear framework for legislative audits conducted by the state auditor,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy), the chief proponent of the measure. “These measures will build on the rules reforms that the Legislature adopted earlier this session, and will ensure greater transparency while respecting legislative privilege and the separation-of-powers principles outlined in the state Constitution. We hope this legislation will put an end to protracted litigation, address an issue that may otherwise come before voters on the ballot and allow the Legislature to refocus on the many issues facing Massachusetts residents.” DiZoglio disagreed. “The people have a co-equal right with the Legislature to create laws, and the courts have a constitutional right to adjudicate laws,” she responded. “With this proposed bill, and under the guise of transparency, your state representatives are not only throwing the 72% voter-mandated law in the dumpster – they’re taking a match and lighting that dumpster on fire, violating the people’s constitutional rights and undermining democracy.” She said House leaders were “painting this as some sort of a transparency measure” while “essentially negating everything that you voted for in the November 2024 ballot question.” “They are conducting a victory lap right now for themselves, patting themselves on the back for helping to ensure transparency and accountability, and using all the buzz words.” “The speaker is acting like an authoritarian, and I am calling on him to resign,” DiZoglio said on Boston Public Radio. She also urged Gov. Healey to veto the bill if it ever reaches her desk. She continued, “The speaker needs to retire, resign, move on. We need new leadership in our state government, in our state Legislature.” She said lawmakers “need to move on” if they “don’t think they need to answer to anybody.” A spokesperson for Mariano responded, “The speaker is calling on the auditor to tone down the rhetoric. Personal attacks will not solve the fundamental flaws with the audit ballot question — the legislation that the House passed this week does exactly that.” “This legislation represents a significant step forward in strengthening legislative transparency in the commonwealth,” said Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley), House Chair of the Special Committee on Initiative Petitions, who supported the bill. “It establishes a formal public records framework for the Legislature and allows the state auditor to review legislative administrative functions. This measure is designed to balance two fundamental principles of democratic governance, the public’s right to understand how government operates and the Legislature’s independence in carrying out its lawmaking responsibilities. Transparency and constitutional integrity are not competing values; they are complementary ones. When thoughtfully balanced, they strengthen public trust, reinforce accountability and increase confidence in our democratic institutions And I believe this bill strikes that balance.” “The voters of Massachusetts made their voices clear when they overwhelmingly supported giving the state auditor the authority to audit the Legislature,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver) who opposed the bill. “This bill does not honor that mandate. Instead, it creates a system where legislative leaders maintain control over what information can be reviewed, who can be interviewed and whether disputes can ever be challenged in court. An audit without enforcement is not accountability,” Gaskey said. “If the Legislature can decide what information to provide, deny requests without meaningful review and prevent BEACON | SEE PAGE 26 CITY OF EVERETT - LEGAL NOTICE - 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 Monday June, 15, 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: Building Permit Property Owner: PROPOSAL: The applicant seeks to convert the existing Two (2) family residence built approximately in 1900 into a Three (3) 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 .57. A variance is required. • Section 17 A line (2) requires off-parking on the lot of Two (2) vehicles (2 spaces per unit. A variance is required as none are provided Rebecca Edmondson Korom - Chairman Roberta Suppa - Clerk of Board of Appeals June 05, 12, 2026 11 Foster Street Everett, MA 02149 L0-03-000297 B-26-338 11 Foster Street 15 N Beacon Street Unit NR Alston, MA 02134

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