The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has updated its Chapter 90 program web portal and released several informational resources related to the program for municipalities.

A new Municipal Guidance Document reviews eligible expenses under the program and details project planning and implementation processes that are considered best practices.

The document provides instructions for municipalities to use MaPIT, a GIS-driven project initiation and screening tool developed by MassDOT that will now support Chapter 90 project requests. MaPIT replaces paper-based Chapter 90 request forms, which have been transferred to this online system.

Another new resource is a toolkit designed to support local planning efforts. An Excel spreadsheet provides templates of the following documents:
• Annual Chapter 90 Checklist
• Asset Condition List
• Bridge Inventory List
• Infrastructure Budget
• Project Planning
• Project Prioritization Matrix (unweighted and weighted)

The MassDOT also developed a two-page Quick-Start Guide that briefly describes how the Chapter 90 funding allocation is calculated, what counts as eligible expenses, and how the program works.

The department notes that these new resources do not change any rules or regulations set forth for the Chapter 90 program and do not impact the funding authorizations established by the governor and the Legislature.

The Chapter 90 program (authorized through M.G.L. Ch. 90, Sec. 34) provides reimbursement funding to municipalities for the implementation of capital improvements on local public ways.

 Feds erase, Templeton makes it up; 

Town Meeting Times is a book/guide put together by the moderators association, it is for Town Meeting, not for, say, an advisory committee meeting. Speaking of moderators and advisory committee, do you know Templeton has a by-law (local governance allowed by commonwealth constitution) that spells out who and how members get appointed to Advisory committee; there is a time frame that allows moderator to appoint a member and after that time frame, the advisory committee can appoint a member to serve until the next annual town meeting. On appointments, there is a state law requirement that elected or appointed members must, within 30 days of being elected or appointed, complete online training on conflict of interest law, there is also a requirement of receiving and signing a form / certificate of receipt of open meeting law materials; it states you have OML, attorney general regulations, open meeting law guide, a copy of each OML determination by AG within last 5 years to the public body of which you may become a member to and in which the AG found a violation of the OML. This form further states, I have read, understand the requirements of OML and consequences of violating it. The is no Templeton by-law, no voted on formal policy overriding this state law on the 30 days after being appointed, again, Newly elected or appointed public employees must complete this training within 30 days of beginning public service, and every 2 years thereafter. In addition, every year all state, county and municipal employees must be provided with the summary of the conflict of interest law. If you wish to volunteer for your community, know the procedures.