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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 27, 2025 Page 25 BEACON | FROM PAGE 24 the budget. The MBTA Communities Act, according to the state’s website, requires that an MBTA community “must have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria” including minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; and a location not more than 1/2 mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. No age restrictions can be applied and the district must be suitable for families with children Sweezey, whose district includes several non-compliant towns said, “Three of my [district’s] towns - Marshfield, Halifax and Hanson - are being penalized for standing by their local planning boards and residents. The conference committee claims it wants to support our communities, yet it is holding critical transportation funds hostage. That is simply not acceptable.” “I was fully prepared to support the final compromise,” said Sullivan-Almeida. “Unfortunately, the conference committee inserted a last-minute stipulation to punish non-compliant towns. This kind of maneuvering doesn’t belong in a budget that is supposed to help all our cities and towns.” Both legislators emphasized their support for the provisions in the supplemental budget that increase funding for education including regional transportation, career technical training and special education as well as provisions for public transit. However, they were clear that they could not support a bill that “leverages essential local funding to coerce compliance with a controversial zoning mandate.” (A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it. The House voted twice on this bill so there are two votes listed for each representative.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes/Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes $532 MILLION FISCAL 2025 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (S 2529) Senate 38-2, approved a $532 million fiscal 2025 supplemental budget that includes $174 million for fiscally strained acute care hospitals and $35 million for community health centers facing financial challenges. The House has already approved a different version of the bill and a House-Senate conference committee will eventually draft a compromise version. Other provisions in the Senate version include $134 million for the Medical Assistance Trust Fund; $400,000 for Women Infants and Children Program Manufacturer Rebates; $60 million for Home Care Services; $35 million for payments to fiscally strained community health centers; $42.9 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition; $4.2 million for the State Police Crime Laboratory; and $60 million for Home Care Services. “Massachusetts has a healthcare ecosystem that is the envy of other states, and that doesn’t happen by accident,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “Supporting every resident is part of what it means to be a leader in healthcare access. This funding will help our hospitals and community health centers provide high-quality care in every region, no matter a patient’s insurance status, as well as provide critical services to our veterans, seniors and municipalities.” “The Senate took action today on reconciling deficiencies of $532 million in the fiscal year 2025 budget, most notably providing $209 million in critical assistance to fiscally strained acute care hospitals and community health centers,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The bill also allocates $134 million to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund, with the remaining $189 million to responsible bill-paying obligations across a broad range of state agencies and programs. We’re fortunate that the commonwealth is in strong financial condition to meet these responsibilities, never more important than now in these continuing uncertain times.” “My primary reason for voting no on this supplemental budget is that it includes a policy initiative allowing electric utility providers to increase rates to seemingly expand electric charging stations, and does so without requiring a response from the Department of Public Utility which oversees these rate hikes,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “When the final bill is negotiated, I hope this is removed, thus allowing me to support it. Rate payers are being hit every which way, and I simply will not support more cost increases on families for higher electric rates, or subsidies for electric vehicle infrastructure when the market doesn’t support it.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $532 million supplemental budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes UTILITY RATE INCREASES (S 2529) Senate 6-33, rejected an amendment that would strike a section of the supplemental budget that would allow any rate increases proposed by utility companies to take effect in 60 days, if the proposed increase is not reviewed and acted upon by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Co-sponsor of the amendment to strike the section, Sen. Kelley Dooner (D-Taunton), said it is not good government for rate hikes to take effect without a full review by DPU and that this would undermine regulatory oversight and expose ratepayers once again to even higher increases. She argued that the Senate should be strengthening oversight, not making it easier for utilities to raise their rates behind closed doors. “An increase in utility rates for the purpose of expanding electric charging stations at a time when families in the commonwealth are struggling to pay utility bills at their current rates is detrimental and unnecessary,” said amendment co-sponsor Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) who voted to strike the section. Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), the chief opponent of the amendment, did not respond to several e-mails from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him why he opposed the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that would prohibit the increase from taking effect without DPU approval. A “No” vote is for allowing the rate increase to take effect without DPU approval.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico No ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL COALITION TO REFORM OUR LEGISLATURE – The Coalition to Reform Our Legislature (CROL) held an event at Church on the Hill across the street from the Statehouse and urged the Legislature to pass two bills the group has filed. CROL defines itself as a bipartisan coalition of citizens working to make the Massachusetts Legislature “more effective, accountable and transparent.” The event, billed as “The People’s Hearing,” featured several speakers including the group’s co-founder Jeanne Kempthorne, former Massachusetts Democratic State Rep. and U.S. Congress member Barney Frank, former Democratic State Rep. Jonathan Hecht, the GOP finance chair Jennifer Nassour, Sierra Club Director Vickash Mohanka, Republican party chair Amy Carnavale and James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University Danielle Allen. The first proposal (H 3892) would establish an independent Office of Legislative Research and an Office of Fiscal Analysis. The Office of Legislative Research would assist legislators and committees on all matters requiring policy analysis, comparative legal analysis, statistical research and fact-finding in connection with legislation or other matters pertaining to the functions of the Legislature as well as assist with bill-drafting upon request by any repreBEACON | SEE PAGE 26 - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS LAND COURT DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT DOCKET NUMBER: 25 SM 001870 ORDER OF NOTICE To: Angela Chiumiento, Trustee of the 91 Francis Street Trust and to all persons entitled to the benefit of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. c. 50 §3901 (et seq): Finance of America Reverse LLC claiming to have an interest in a Mortgage covering real property in Everett, numbered 91 Francis Street, given by Maria Cucuzza to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Mortgagee, as nominee for Finance of America Reverse LLC, dated May 9, 2016, and recorded at Middlesex County (Southern District) Registry of Deeds in Book 67260, Page 50, and now held by the plaintiff by assignment, has/have filed with this court a complaint for determination of Defendant’s/Defendants’ Servicemembers status. If you now are, or recently have been, in the active military service of the United States of America, then you may be entitled to the benefits of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. If you object to a foreclosure of the above-mentioned property on that basis, then you or your attorney must file a written appearance and answer in this court at Three Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 on or before August 4, 2025 or you may lose the opportunity to challenge the foreclosure on the grounds of noncompliance with the Act. Witness, GORDON H. PIPER, Chief Justice of said Court on June 20, 2025. Attest: Deborah J. Patterson Recorder June 27, 2025

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