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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 31, 2020 Page 15 BEACON | FROM PAGE 13 WARRANT (H 4860) House 83-76, approved an amendment to a section of the bill which sets the rules under which a judge can issue a “noknock warrant” that does not require a law enforcement officer to knock and announce his or her presence and purpose before forcibly entering a residence. The measure requires the request for the warrant to establish probable cause that if the law enforcement officer announces their presence, then their life or the lives of others will be endangered. The amendment would require that the police officer filing the affidavit swear that he or she has no reason to believe that minor children or adults over the age of 65 are in the home. Amendment supporters said the amendment would wisely limit the use of no-knock warrants. They cited cases in which young children and senior citizens were accidentally shot by police executing a no-knock warrant. “The bill already limits the scope surrounding issuance of no-knock warrants to matters where weapons are present, and for life-safety concerns,” said Rep. Whelan. “The amendment further restricts the issuance of no-knock warrants, even when weapons and firearms are believed to be present and compromises the safety of the police officers serving these warrants in highly dangerous situations.” (A “Yes” vote is for requiring that the filing officer swear that he or she has no reason to believe that minor children or adults over the age of 65 are in the home. A “No” vote is against requiring it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No TEAR GAS (H 4860) House 38-121, rejected an amendment that would ban the use of tear gas by law enforcement officers in Massachusetts. “When thousands of people gather to protest the state-sponsored murder of black people, the response shouldn’t be to fire chemical weapons at them,” said the amendment’s sponsor Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge). “But, too often, we have seen the indiscriminate use of tear gas on our streets, even though tear gas is actually prohibited in international warfare by the Geneva Protocol and the Chemical Weapons Convention. To be sure, the underlying bill we are considering today will add some limitations on the use of tear gas, but this amendment would have made the bill even stronger.” “This amendment would have prohibited law enforcement’s use of tear gas in all situations,” said Rep. Michael Day (D-Stoneham), vice chair of the Judiciary Committee. “The underlying bill imposes heightened restrictions and regulates the use of tear gas by requiring law enforcement to exhaust crowd de-escalation measures [first]. This bill also establishes substantial oversight over the use of tear gas by requiring law enforcement agencies who do use it to provide a written report detailing all measures taken in advance of the event to reduce the probability of danger and all de-escalation measures taken. The independent commission will then review that report and determine whether further investigation or corrective action should be taken.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that bans the use of tear gas. A “No” vote is for allowing the use of tear gas.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No POLICE DOGS (H 4860) House 43-115, rejected an amendment that would strike a section of the bill that allows an attack on a person by a police dog to be the basis of an inquiry into an officer that can lead to his or her decertification. Amendment supporters said the injuries or death caused by a dog should not be the basis of an inquiry that can lead to decertification of an officer. They noted the dogs are trained but are not human beings. The purpose of a police dog is rarely to show force but rather a tool that is used to find missing persons, detect illegal drugs, or detain a person. “The bill regulates the use of canines by law enforcement and empowers the independent commission to investigate officer-involved injuries or deaths,” said Rep. Day who opposed the amendment. “If police use of a dog causes injury or death, we want the commission to be able to review the circumstances of the incident. We further require the commission to make a report to the Legislature of all complaints and actions, including officer-involved injuries or deaths.” (A Yes” vote is for the amendment and therefore against allowing an attack on a person by a police dog to be the basis of an inquiry into an officer that can lead to decertification of the officer. A “No” vote is for allowing it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes STROKE PATIENTS (S 2835) Senate 40-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would allow first responders to transport stroke patients to the facilities best equipped to treat them, rather than the closest, as currently required. The measure is designed to ensure patients experiencing the most severe cases of stroke are triaged by ambulance crews and transported to hospitals capable of performing procedures to remove the blood clot causing the stroke, restore blood supply to the brain and save threatened tissue. “What is particularly troubling is that in many cases the death and disability is largely preventable,” said sponsor Sen. Marc Montigny (D-New Bedford). “We must act now to implement ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ CITY OF EVERETT BOARD OF APPEALS 484 BROADWAY EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS 02149 (617) 381-7445 To Whom It May Concern: This notice is to inform you that a public hearing will be held on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 7:00 PM in regards to an application for zoning relief. In response to Governor Baker’s declaration of a public health emergency and the related Emergency Executive Order dated March 12, 2020, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be meeting remotely until further notice. The audioconferencing application Zoom will be used for this purpose. An online link and telephone access number will be provided on all meeting agendas and also on the Board’s website. This application will permit the public to access and participate in future Board meetings and hearings. Instructions for joining meetings in this manner will be provided on the City and City Clerk’s website. In addition, Everett Community TV (ECTV) may provide coverage of these meetings. We extend our thanks for your understanding and participation in this manner, which is intended to keep members of the Board and the public safe. Whereas a petition has been presented by: Property Address: Map/Parcel: Person Requesting: 178-180 Hancock Street C0-01-000155 Timothy Penso 178-180 Hancock Street Everett, MA 02149 The applicant proposes to construct a dormer at the rear of the single-family structure located at the back of the lot. The existing lot is 6000 sf and is located in a Dwelling District and contains a single and a two-family structure. The dormer with increase the nonconforming nature of the structure as to the rear setback. Reason for Denial: Permit was denied in accordance to the City of Everett Zoning Ordinance Appendix A: Section 3 General Requirements paragraph C. Existing non-conforming structure or uses may be extended or altered, provided that such extension, alteration or change of use shall be permitted only upon the grant of a Special Permit by the zoning board of appeals after a public hearing and a finding by the board that such extension, alteration or change of use shall not be substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood than the existing non-conforming use or structure. MARY GERACE – Chairman ROBERTA SUPPA - Clerk BOARD OF APPEALS July 31 & August 7, 2020 necessary reforms so that our loved ones can receive the very best care and treatment. The things we can do now through this bill are pretty simple and reflect what many medical professionals agree are necessary to modernize our system of care. Lives are simply more important than the bottom line of any business or desire to maintain the status quo.” “If you’re having a stroke, it’s critical that you get proper medical attention right away,” said Allyson Perron Drag, government relations director for the American Heart Association in Massachusetts. “Getting the right treatment immediately may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. This bill will save lives and prevent disability.” According to the American Heart Association, in 2017 stroke accounted for about one of every 19 deaths nationally. In Massachusetts, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death, claiming 2,370 lives per year. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) BEACON | SEE PAGE 17

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