Perhaps some "dry" reading but very important to residents, in my opinion.

An Act to Modernize Municipal Finance and Government

Legislation Progress

Filed with the House on December 7, 2015 and given House Docket # 4338.

Filing Letter

December 7, 2015

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives:

We are filing for your consideration a bill entitled “An Act to Modernize Municipal Finance and Government.”

As former local officials, we clearly understand the significant challenges encountered in our local communities and are committed to supporting and investing in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. 

To that end, since taking office in January, we have released $100 million in chapter 90 transportation funds, worked with you to increase local aid in the FY2016 budget, distributed $30 million to help cities and towns fill potholes, and provided additional funding for MassWorks.  In addition, because supporting our communities goes beyond direct aid, we elevated the Division of Local Services to the senior deputy commissioner level within the Department of Revenue and created the Community Compact Cabinet, which has already signed best-practice agreements with seventy-one municipalities. 

We have continued our commitment to cities and towns across the Commonwealth by seeking input on how we can empower them to be more efficient and better equip them to address local issues. 

This Municipal Modernization Act addresses many of the concerns we have heard from cities and towns.  It promotes smarter and more efficient government at both the state and local level by updating obsolete laws, increasing local independence, streamlining state oversight, and providing municipalities with greater flexibility. 

We look forward to working with you to pass this legislation and continuing our work on these important issues in the future. 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles D. Baker
Governor

Karyn E. Polito
Lieutenant Governor

SECTION 55.   Section 56 of said chapter 41, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence  the following sentences:- For purposes of this section, the board of selectmen and any other board, committee or head of department consisting of more than 1 member authorized to expend money may designate any 1 of its members to approve all bills, drafts, orders and payrolls; provided, however, that the member shall make available to the board, committee or other department head, at its next meeting, a record of such actions.  This provision shall not limit the responsibility of each member of the board in the event of a noncompliance with this section.

All of the changes can be read on the DLS web page under "municipal modernization" section.

Jeff Bennett