SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 16 nance Committee. The Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing the Town’s annual budget and any financial articles on the Town Warrant and advising Town Meeting on their feasibility. Interested parties should send a letter of interest citing their qualifications to the Town Moderator at precinct4steve@ gmail.com Fall curbside leaf collection dates BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 vocacy, including the tireless contributions from the Partyka family, whose son, Sgt. Matthew Partyka, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran from Hingham, died by suicide in 2022. Matthew’s family has been instrumental in raising awareness about veteran suicide and pushing for legislative change. “We brought forward this legislation in direct response to the tragedies that have left holes in the fabric of our communities and in order to build awareness to prevent future tragedy,” said sponsor Rep. Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “[The bill] is an important step in offering support to both our active service members and veterans.” CAR RENTALS (H 4705) – The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey a bill that supporters said would align the Bay State with the majority of other states by updating car rental insurance requirements to maintain liability coverage on a secondary basis, making rental companies responsible only if the renter is uninsured or underinsured. If a lessee or operator of a leased vehicle already has a valid liability policy or equivalent financial security meeting the state miniTown Manager Scott CrabTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – WEDnESDAy, nOVEmbEr 26, 2025 Paper leaf bags are the pretree announced this week that fall curbside leaf collection will take place from Monday, Dec. 8 to Friday, Dec. 12. Residents may dispose of leaves curbside on their regularly scheduled trash and recycling collection day, between Monday and Friday on these dates listed. Leaves should be left outside at the curb by 7 a.m. on the appropriate days. Please ensure that leaf containers are physically separated from trash and recycling. mum requirements, the lessor’s coverage obligation is considered satisfied. Supporters said that by shifting primary liability to the renter’s personal auto insurance, the legislation helps make car rentals more affordable and accessible for Massachusetts residents, reducing costs while maintaining necessary protections. “When friends visited me on Cape Cod this summer, they were stunned at just how expensive it was to rent even a small sedan for the weekend,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “And they’re not wrong — rental car prices in Massachusetts are higher than almost anywhere else in the country, in part because we’ve kept an outdated insurance requirement on the books. We’re one of the only states where rental companies, not your own insurance, are required to carry primary coverage, and the cost of that policy gets passed right along to consumers.” Cyr continued, “By aligning Massachusetts with the rest of the country, we’re helping lower rental car prices for families, travelers and anyone who needs to rent a car in a pinch. I’m proud the Senate has taken this step to make life just a little more affordable for our residents and visitors.” ferred method of leaf disposal. If you are using barrels, they must be clearly marked with yard waste stickers. Yard waste stickers, which are free, may be obtained at Inspectional Services in the lower level of Saugus Town Hall at 298 Central St., or at the Saugus Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Barrel covers must remain removed so that the leaves are visible. Plastic bags, cardboard boxes, branches and brush will not be accepted. Please PROTECT COMMUNICATIONS OF LABOR UNIONS (H 2087) – The House gave initial approval to a measure that would protect the confidentiality of all modes of communications between labor unions and their union members, except in the rare circumstances where disclosure appears necessary to prevent injury from a crime or when legal claims are brought in formal proceedings against unions. “Workers need to know they can bring issues on the job to their union without fear of reprisal or retaliation,” said Lindsay Kenney, Legislative Director of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “If workers don’t feel safe to disclose safety issues – they won’t disclose. If workers fear inquiring with a union about representation could get them fired – they won’t seek out union representation. “[The bill] would address that issue by establishing a legal privilege preventing labor organizations and workers from being compelled to disclose confidential communications made in the course of seeking or providing representation.” Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge), the sponsor of the bill, failed to respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her to comment on the Page 19 note that separate trucks collect the rubbish, recycling and leaves, so the leaves may be collected at a different time of day. Missed pickups will not be conducted. Please contact Recycling Director Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press re - leases, news announce - ments, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadpassage of the proposal. SAFETY OF CANDIDATES (S 2742) – Sen. Becca Rausch last week filed a bill that supporters say will enhance the safety and security of candidates for public office and other professionals by removing home addresses from ballots, nomination papers and other materials. The measure also similarly would protect from disclosure personal contact information maintained by government entities on elected officials, judges, judicial officers, law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, public defenders and state licensed professionals whose work subjects them to an elevated safety risk. Supporters said that Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that unnecessarily puts people at risk by requiring candidates to put their street addresses on nomination papers and ballots. “Amid harassment, intimidation, assault and cold-blooded murder of elected officials and their families, as well as health care professionals, law enforcement officers and others, we must do everything we possibly can to protect our existing public servants and make it safe for anyone to run for and serve in office,” said Rausch. “Notably, this is not a partisan issue, as figures spanning the political spectrum have faced terrible violence. I am proud to direct my deep expertise in elections and public records laws to the widely shared goal of safety and security for all by crafting and filing this comprehensive legislation.” HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the line is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or a photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978683-7773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of November 17-21, the House met for a total of 14 hours and 13 minutes and the Senate met for a total of ten hours and 16 minutes. Mon. Nov. 17 House11:01 a.m. to 11:07 a.m. Senate 11:02 a.m. to 11:12 a.m. Tues.Nov. 18 House11:01 a.m. to4:59 p.m. No Senate session. Wed. Nov. 19 House11:00 a.m. to6:55 p.m. Senate 11:04 a.m. to9:05 p.m. Thurs. Nov. 20 House11:00 a.m. to 11:14 a.m. Senate 11:07 a.m. to 11:12 a.m. Fri. Nov. 21 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.
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