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  • Rockport ZBA: Affordable housing missing from MBTA measures

    Rockport ZBA: Affordable housing missing from MBTA measures

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    ROCKPORT — Alan Battistelli and his fellow Zoning Board of Appeals members said the Planning Board’s effort to create an MBTA housing district in town may have missed the mark.

    There is no specific consideration for affordable housing in the zoning articles to be presented for consideration by Monday’s Special Town Meeting, said Battistelli, chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

    And which board, Planning or Zoning, should have jurisdiction is up for debate, he said.

    “The chair of the Planning Board (Jason Shaw) is aware the Board of Appeals is not supportive of the Planning Board being the board that is handling the MBTA district,” Battistelli said. “We’re also unhappy that there is no affordable housing element in the bylaw.”

    “We realize there’s a clock ticking,” he said. “We just want the two boards to walk in together at Town Meeting with the warrant articles we favor. We decided that we unanimously do not want to see the Planning Board try to practice zoning. We believe strongly the ZBA should be practicing zoning.”

    Shaw said the both the Zoning and Planning Boards want a component in the town bylaw before Town Meeting that addresses an affordable housing. Any amendments to be made to the measure will probably be offered by the Rockport Affordable Housing Trust.

    “We certainly have a desire to have a certain percentage of family units as affordable housing,” he said. “We understand that. We are on the same page. It’s more a matter of timing and scope.”

    No controversy exists between Shaw’s board and the Zoning Board.

    “Site plan review is under the Planning Board’s jurisdiction,” he said. “We felt it would be more efficient and more cohesive with one board overseeing the article.”

    However, meeting Wednesday night, the Zoning Board voted 4-0 to support a move to create an ad-hoc committee to direct Rockport’s MBTA housing plan.

    The ad-hoc group could be made up of two members each from the Zoning and Planning Boards, and the Rockport building inspector, Battistelli said.

    The state has imposed a Dec. 31 deadline for MBTA communities like Rockport to present their plans for an MBTA housing district.

    The articles

    Special Town Meeting on Monday will consider Articles A and B, both related the state’s new multi-family zoning requirement for MBTA Communities.

    Article A is a multi-item measure that includes questions about amending the zoning bylaws and the “Transit-Oriented Village Overlay District” (TOVOD).

    Article B is aimed at creating a multi-family overlay district near the MBTA train station off Railroad Avenue by amending zoning bylaws.

    The new MBTA Communities Zoning Act requires that an MBTA community, like Rockport, have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria set forth in the statute:

    — There must be a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre.

    — The district must be located not more than a half mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station, if applicable.

    — No age restrictions can be made and the housing must be suitable for families with children.

    The planning measures regarding the creation of a new MBTA housing district, while well intended, fall short of what is needed for Rockport, Battistelli said.

    “We don’t want to get a multi-family district created without the responsibility of some affordable housing,” he said. “The affordable housing component is not written into the warrant article. It doesn’t mandate that there would be 10% affordable.”

    A motion may be made on the Town Meeting floor to attempt to modify or amend the proposed multi-family district to add multi-family housing, Battistelli said.

    “Right now, there’s zero affordable in the bylaw,” he said. “I believe that without it, we shouldn’t do this.”

    Timing for affordable housing aspect of measure

    Shaw suggested a consultant may be hired in the near future to advise all town boards about the nature of the proposed MBTA housing district. He said the consultant being considered has not yet been hired but that talks were taking place to sign a possible contract.

    It would be prudent to wait until fall Special Town Meeting to address the affordable housing aspect of the MBTA housing measure.

    “We’ll have a consultant who will be working with all boards,” he said. “It’s not a controversy at all. We’re all on the same page. It’s more a matter of do you want something now where things are incomplete, or should we wait until the fall? We’d have a more complete picture and a more complete bylaw.”

    For his part, Battistelli said the Zoning Board will likely make a separate motion to move jurisdiction of the MBTA zoning district from the Planning Board to the Zoning Board, which he believes is appropriate.

    “Otherwise, you have two boards making decisions in the same neighborhood,” he said. “One of the first things we do is teach our members how to write up these legal decisions and they stand up in court.”

    Of the five-member board, two members are attorneys.

    “We’ve saved the town millions by having these volunteers on the Board of Appeals,” Battistelli said.

    Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday at Rockport Middle and High School, 24 Jerden’s Lane. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. You can find the full warrant at https://bit.ly/3JCJmCI.

    Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.com.

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    By Stephen Hagan | Staff Writer

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  • Teachers, others back suspended North Andover school superintendent

    Teachers, others back suspended North Andover school superintendent

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    NORTH ANDOVER — About 80 teachers and school advocates turned out at the School Committee meeting Thursday night with signs supporting School Superintendent Gregg Gilligan after he was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday.

    The teachers read statements and cheered each other on in the North Andover High School auditorium. The signs ranged from “We support Dr. Gilligan, Dr. Mealey, and the administrative team” to “S.O.S. Save Our Superintendent.”

    “He has been a very good superintendent for us,” said Juliette Darmon, president of the North Andover Teachers Association. “He works collaboratively with the association.”

    Gilligan was placed on paid administrative leave following an announcement at a Select Board meeting Monday that the school district is facing a projected deficit of $3,122,565, or about 6% of the district’s budget for fiscal 2024.

    In explaining the deficit to the board Monday night, Gilligan said the district faced “some major hits” this year. They included increases in special education and homeless student transportation costs, a lack of elementary and secondary school emergency relief funding, and the need for 38 long-term teaching substitutes as of Monday.

    On Tuesday, School Committee Chair Dave Brown suspended the superintendent.

    “In my judgment, this was in the best interest of the district,” Brown said at the committee meeting Thursday. “This is me taking on the responsibility I was elected to do.”

    The committee decided unanimously Thursday night to keep Gilligan on paid administrative leave to allow for an investigation of the deficit. No timeline was discussed.

    Prior to the meeting Thursday, Brown asked Assistant Superintendent Pam Lathrop, an educator since 1989, to serve as acting superintendent. The committee approved.

    “I never expected to be saying yes to this,” said Lathrop, who joined the district in July. “I wanted to be part of Dr. Gilligan’s administrative team … . In my short time that I’ve been here, I’ve seen incredible leaders do incredible work.”

    Lathrop said she and the rest of the administration, including Gilligan, take full responsibility for the “mistake” that occurred. She told a story about how when Gilligan hired her, he told her that at any moment she may need to step up and that he trusted her to do so.

    Two residents said during the public comment session Thursday that they voted “no confidence” in Gilligan, saying he was not transparent in financial matters for years and “not cut out to lead the district.”

    Some teachers and staff members criticized the move, calling the administrative leave “reactionary and unnecessary” since Gilligan was unable to answer any questions prior to being put on administrative leave.

    Gilligan has worked for North Andover Public Schools since 1998, serving as a teaching assistant, high school history teacher, principal of Thomson Elementary School and assistant superintendent. He accepted his current position in 2018 and his contract runs through 2026.

    Three principals spoke on behalf of the district’s administration at the meeting Thursday, highlighting Gilligan’s impact on the community. They said Gilligan’s work has been “ignored or overlooked.”

    “We believe this was a profound lapse of judgment,” said Joseph Clarke, principal of Franklin Elementary School, calling the move “calculated and cruel.”

    “A School Committee couldn’t find a superintendent more invested in our community than Dr. Gilligan,” he said.

    Darmon presented a letter, signed by the four former association presidents as well, to the committee on Thursday night to show the union’s support.

    “We hope he gets reinstated as soon as possible,” Darmon said. “We feel this was completely uncalled for.”

    Multiple teachers also spoke up during the public comment session prior to the superintendent discussion They called the $3 million deficit “not unique nor an anomaly.”

    “It is evident from the information that Dr. Gilligan and Dr. Mealey presented to the (Select Board) that even the most careful planning could not have compensated for the unprecedented overtures this year,” according to a statement from the association read by many teachers.

    “Rather than blaming our school leaders let’s take a look at where the responsibility might fall,” the statement said.

    Kathleen Tanis, the association’s vice president, said the deficit was “bound to happen.”

    “This is not a unique situation to North Andover. The fact is this is occurring in neighboring towns across the state of Massachusetts and the nation,” Tanis said. “Right now, we should be focused on keeping our administration in place to help steer us through these difficult times.”

    Follow Monica on Twitter at @MonicaSager3

    Follow Monica on Twitter at @MonicaSager3

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    By Monica Sager | msager@eagletribune.com

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  • State sued over special education for young convicts

    State sued over special education for young convicts

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    BOSTON — State education officials are being sued over claims that they aren’t providing adequate special-needs services for older, incarcerated youth serving time in county jails.

    A lawsuit filed in state Superior Court last week alleges the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education failed to fulfill its statutory obligation to provide special education to youth with disabilities in houses of correction throughout the state, which is depriving them opportunities they are entitled to under state law.

    The legal challenge was filed by the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee and Committee for Public Counsel Services on behalf of several unidentified inmates, who allege that they deprived of services such as speech and language therapy, and little or no access to tutoring from “a grossly understaffed and inadequately monitored” education provider.

    “DESE’s failure to uphold its legal obligation to provide adequate education to incarcerated youth is unacceptable,” Phil Kassel, of the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, said in a statement.

    “Every student, regardless of their circumstances, deserves access to a quality education that meets their individual needs.”

    A spokeswoman for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said the agency will “review the lawsuit” but declined comment further, citing a policy of not discussing pending litigation. The statement said the agency said it is “committed to seeing that all students with disabilities receive the services they deserve.”

    The plaintiffs argue that the failure to adequately provide special-needs services for students increases a likelihood they will not get a high school diploma, which means their prospects after release from jail “are greatly diminished, economically and otherwise.”

    “A high school diploma is necessary to have any reasonable chance to compete in today’s job market,” the lawyers wrote.

    “Without meaningful employment opportunities, youth are substantially more likely to live in poverty and depend on public benefits as adults.”

    “This poverty can exacerbate mental health issues, as well as perpetuate cycles of homelessness and unemployment,” they added.

    A report by the group Citizens for Juvenile Justice highlighted what it described as a lack of education opportunities for 18- to 21-year-olds serving time at houses of correction, alleging that the state, county, and municipal officials are violating young peoples’ right to an education under the state constitution.

    But the group says the DESE lawsuit is “narrow” in scope and won’t have an impact on the overall problem of educational opportunities for incarcerated youth.

    It has called for taking other steps including a proposal that would raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction by the courts to include 18 to 20 year olds.

    “Even if it is successful, the needs of general education students in both HOCs and DOC, as well as special education students in DOC, are not addressed by the litigation,” the group said.

    “It would be more efficient to raise the upper age of juvenile jurisdiction to ensure a state-wide fix, rather than focus on improving county-by-county programming for young adults in HOCs that are reluctant or outright resistant to do this.”

    On Thursday, supporters of the “raise the age” proposal held a rally outside the Statehouse, where formerly incarcerated youth called on lawmakers to approve the legislation.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • Schools face loss of 41 positions due to $3.1M budget gap

    Schools face loss of 41 positions due to $3.1M budget gap

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    The inability of the city of Gloucester and its schools to fully close a $6.1 million shortfall between the cost of a level-service budget and increased funding provided by the city may mean the loss of 41 positions across the school district.

    Driven by skyrocketing out-of-district special education tuition and transportation costs, inflation, and the ending of federal COVID-19 relief funding, the schools administration says what costs $49.74 million to provide to Gloucester students this school year will cost $55.85 million next school year.

    The change represents an increase of nearly 12.3%, or $6.1 million, in the fiscal 2025 school operating budget.

    Superintendent Ben Lummis told the School Committee the city has indicated it can fund $3 million of the proposed $6.1 million increase.

    The city plans to do so through a combination of a $1.5 million supplemental appropriation and some one-time funding for the current fiscal year, which is money that can be used to offset prepaid tuition and special education costs for next year, and a $1.5 million increase in the schools’ operating budget for fiscal 2025 that begins July 1.

    However, the funding shift would still leave a $3.1 million gap to maintain level services.

    Facing a $2 million to $3 million shortfall, Lummis told the School Committee the effects could include:

    A loss of the house structure at O’Maley Innovation Middle School.

    Increased class sizes at O’Maley and Gloucester High coupled with reductions to areas of performing and visual arts, business, technology and physical education.

    Elementary art, music and physical education specialists and some social emotional learning supports.

    “So again, we don’t know if we are here yet,” Lummis said. “Yeah, well, we are here right now, OK, whether we end up here, we don’t know, we are still working on it.

    “It doesn’t mean all these areas are affected. We have to look at all of those and see where we can make changes.”

    He said the effect on social emotional learning programs will not mean all of those supports will go away “but some will.”

    With 83% of the schools’ operating costs tied up in personnel expenses, Lummis said cost reductions are found through staff cuts.

    For the first time, he outlined those cuts by school building, the number of positions and reduction in salary costs:

    Preschool, four positions, $225,000.

    Beeman, four positions, $200,000.

    East Veterans, five positions, $275,000.

    Plum Cove, three positions, $125,000.

    West Parish, four positions, $200,000.

    O’Maley, nine positions, $550,000.

    Gloucester High, eight positions, $550,000.

    District, four positions, $275,000.

    This adds up to cost savings of $2.3 million. Lummis said the reductions are made up of a broad range of positions, not just teachers. Some positions can be moved to grants and positions of staff who leave or retire will not be filled.

    More savings would come through savings from benefits of laid-off employees, moving services and supports to grants, and reductions in instructional supplies and materials.

    The process to finalize notifying staff was scheduled to wrap up last week.

    This week, the administration will meet with Gloucester Teachers Association leaders as dictated by contracts to go over expected cuts of teachers with professional status. Principals and supervisors would then inform staff and provide information on the process and next steps for each individual.

    The week of April 29, the administration would have to determine if further cuts would be necessary based on talks with the city administration. The schools have until May 7 to inform any additional teachers with professional teacher status whose positions are planned for elimination.

    Waiting to inform staff may keep everyone on edge, with the vast majority of the schools’ staff not at risk of losing their jobs, Lummis said.

    “So we are trying to balance speed with the best information we have, our obligation in terms of our contracts and at the same time treating folks with compassion as well,” he said.

    During the School Committee meeting, Lummis presented a slide showing areas of reductions including Tier 2 interventions, which support students in small groups, at all levels.

    At the preK-5 level, the reductions would affect social emotional learning and mental health supports; at the middle school, it would mean the loss of the house structure; and at Gloucester High the loss of preparation and support for post-secondary success.

    School Committee member Melissa Teixeira Prince asked what was meant by the inability to maintain the house structure, asking if this just meant larger class sizes. She said the loss of the house structure at the middle school was “scary.”

    “Parents don’t want to hear that,” she said.

    “It’s in jeopardy,” Lummis said. He said the house structure, while it adds to a sense of belonging with the same students sharing the same teachers, it constrains flexibility in terms of staffing.

    Breaking apart the house structure allows flexibility in terms of fully loading all the classes. He said while the house structure is crucial, it’s something the administration has to look at given the level of cuts.

    “It doesn’t mean at this point it’s definitely going to go away,” Lummis said.

    He also outlined cuts to programs at a $1 million to $2 million level that would not be as deep. This list included delaying the medical assisting exploratory launch as part of the high school’s Career/Vocational Technical Education program until September 2025, along with specialists and electives, reduced staff in one or more core academic areas in the middle and high schools, along with delays in IT infrastructure improvements, among other things.

    Prince said she was sensing the schools were facing at least $2 million in reductions.

    “I don’t want any of this conversation to sugarcoat, like, there’s going to be a happy ending here because I don’t believe there is going to be a happy ending,” she said. “There are going to be cuts. There are going to be cuts that are going to hurt and this is a place we haven’t been in many years.”

    Financial resources from the city “don’t appear to be there to make us whole at this day and time,” Prince said

    A School Committee vote on a public hearing for the budget is scheduled for Wednesday, with a public hearing on the budget scheduled for May 8. The School Committee would then vote May 22 to submit the school budget to the mayor and City Council. Lummis said those dates could change.

    Ethan Forman may be contacted at 978-675-2714, or at eforman@northofboston.com.

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    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • Lawsuit targets MBTA over train safety system

    Lawsuit targets MBTA over train safety system

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    BOSTON — A Japanese high-tech corporation has filed a $158 million federal lawsuit against the MBTA, claiming the public transit agency violated the terms of a contract to install a new safety system on the commuter rail network.

    The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court alleges that the T made changes to the contract to install a Positive Train Control system along the commuter rail tracks that drove up the cost of the project by hundreds of millions of dollars, but refused to compensate the company for the additional costs.

    “Despite Hitachi Rail’s repeated demands and attempts to resolve the claims detailed below, Defendant MBTA has failed and refused to issue Change Orders, to acknowledge delays, or to compensate Hitachi Rail for the costs and other impacts incurred by Hitachi Rail in connection with the same, in breach of the Contract,” the complaint states.

    The T is under a federal mandate to install the system on all of its 15 commuter rail lines. The technology uses antennas on locomotives, radio towers and track sensors to monitor train speeds and locations to prevent collisions.

    Hitachi’s predecessor, Ansaldo STS, was awarded a $338 million contract in 2015 for the work but alleges that the MBTA required the company to perform additional work “beyond the contractual obligations” and then later “refused to pay for it.”

    The company cited the example of the Gloucester Drawbridge Project, alleging that the MBTA failed to issue a change order or pay for the additional work to install safety systems along that new section of commuter rail track.

    The MBTA said it is reviewing the complaint but argues it has “no impact on the MBTA’s ability to work closely with the contractor and deliver a project that improves safety for both customers and employees of the commuter rail system.”

    “While the MBTA continues its efforts to resolve any outstanding issues with the contractor, the work of accomplishing these important safety enhancements is in its final stages, and both parties are firmly committed to ensuring the project is successfully completed,” the T said in a statement.

    The project is part of a long-delayed federal mandate to equip the nation’s rail lines with the Positive Train Control system, which is designed to prevent train-on-train collisions, speed-related derailments and other safety issues.

    In 2008, Congress approved the mandate in response to a series of deadly train crashes involving speed and other rail safety issues.

    Initially, the federal government set a 2015 deadline for freight railroads covered by the law to implement it, but under industry pressure congressional lawmakers have pushed back the deadline several times.

    In the lawsuit, Hitachi claims that in Massachusetts the safety upgrades have been plagued by problems stemming from the MBTA’s handling of the project.

    “These include delays driven by the aforementioned changes to the contractually agreed work, ongoing lack of MBTA supplied flagger support necessary for Hitachi Rail to perform work in the right of way, MBTA track access denials, MBTA mandated re-sequencing and COVID-19 impacts,” the complaint states.

    The T is also under a congressional mandate to install the Automatic Train Control system on all of its commuter rail lines by this year.

    Similar to PTC, the system uses satellites and wayside radio signals to monitor trains. If any problems are detected — such as excessive speeds — on-board computers can take over to slow a train or bring it to a complete stop.

    Nationwide, the rail industry has spent nearly $14 billion installing train control equipment over the past several years, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

    The National Transportation Safety Board says the technology could have prevented 145 railroad accidents, saved an estimated 300 lives and averted more than 6,700 injuries over the past 45 years.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • Article would move library renovation plans ahead

    Article would move library renovation plans ahead

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    MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — To residents Gretchen Wood and Lisa Bonneville, the town’s library is a dream.

    But Wood and Bonneville want that dream to be accessible for all who visit Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library — including those who are disabled. Both are members of the town Americans with Disabilities Advisory Committee.

    Access for all to the library’s offerings is critical, but is a challenge because “the library is very small and it has very tight spaces,” Wood said Thursday. “We have some pretty deep concerns about the library’s accessibility.”

    Wood and Bonneville hope the town shows its support for the library, calling for the approval of a financing measure at annual Town Meeting on Wednesday that would lead to a potential library building project.

    Article 9 asks the town to apply for, accept and expend Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program grant funds and re-appropriate $150,000 of the $200,000 previously appropriated for restroom renovations at the library, 15 Union St.

    Library Director Cynthia Gemmell, who supports passage of Article 9, said she will be at Town Meeting to potentially answer questions about the measure.

    “I would very much like to see the town support the article,” she said. “This is a preliminary step to see if we could have a plan for the potential renovation and expansion of the library. This will allow us to address the space issues, accessibility issues, lack of programming space, lack of meeting space and lack of collection space.”

    Successful passage of Article 9 would enable the town to apply for a matching state grant that will help finance the planning and design of the library project, Wood said.

    “This will not fund it,” she said. “It will merely get us into this round of grant funding. We can’t go forward unless we are accepted. It’s a small ask.”

    Library Trustee Sarah Davis said Article 9 is supported by the Trustees, the Select Board, and the Americans with Disabilities Advisory Committee.

    “It’s a requirement for keeping us in the running for a potential grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners,” she said. “It’s a requirement.”

    The town needs to apply for the grant by May 31, Davis said.

    “We’ve been working on the application for years,” she said.

    Access for everybody

    Wood, who served as town clerk in Manchester for 23 years before stepping down 13 years ago, will volunteer as a timekeeper during Town Meeting deliberations on Wednesday.

    The library, she said, needs attention, adding using the restroom in the building is impossible for some.

    “It’s a very tiny restroom,” Wood said. “That’s a problem.”

    Access to the young adult programs is limited since the programs are held on the library’s upper level – reached only by climbing a narrow full flight of metal stairs.

    “Imagine the feelings of a young person with physical challenges facing this obstacle,” reads the letter by Wood and Bonneville. “Searching for a book in the stacks would be impossible for anyone in a wheelchair. Then, there is the problem of the existing very small restroom tucked into a corner of the reading room, where it is hardly adequate for anyone, but certainly completely inaccessible to anyone in a wheelchair or walker, or a parent with a child in a stroller.”

    The library is a resource in Manchester that needs to be optimized, Wood said.

    “We have a beautiful building that is very valuable to the town,” she said. “It’s time to use it.”

    Ground was broken and construction began on the library in 1886. The building, designed by noted architect Charles P. McKim, was dedicated on Oct. 13, 1887, according to the library’s website.

    “It’s an architectural gem,” Davis said, who added the library’s limited accessibility, limited meeting space and the narrow staircase to the upstairs loft are among the problems faced by patrons and library staff.

    “We want to have more meeting space to support programs, hold meetings and make interactions possible,” she said. “It’s really important to act now.”

    Town Meeting is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Elementary School at 43 Lincoln St. in Manchester.

    Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.com.

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    By Stephen Hagan | Staff Writer

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  • SENIOR LOOKOUT: Need a reason to volunteer? Here are a few

    SENIOR LOOKOUT: Need a reason to volunteer? Here are a few

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    April is National Volunteer Month and next week (April 21-27) is a highlight of the month as National Volunteer Week. This began as a celebration to honor the contribution women made on the home front during World War II.

    After the war, interest resurged in the late 1960s and early 1970s and April became National Volunteer Month as part of President George H.W. Bush’s 1000 Points of Light campaign in 1991. National Volunteer Month is a time for organizations to honor volunteers and recognize the irreplaceable impact volunteers make on our communities.

    In 2023, more than 375 volunteers from SeniorCare’s RSVP Volunteers of the North Shore contributed 39,614 hours of volunteer service, sharing their time, skills, and talents, while spreading kindness and compassion throughout the community.

    Volunteers are driven, for their own reasons, to help and support their neighbors, their communities and the world. Why do people volunteer? What is the motivation?

    Here are a few of the many reasons people volunteer:

    Personal passions. You may have grown up in poverty, your sister may have had breast cancer, your grandmother may have been on hospice. Your heart has been touched, and you want to give back.

    Learn a new skill. Perhaps you are in college and are building your resume, mid-life looking for a new career, or retired and curious. Regardless as to why, volunteering is a great way to learn something new.

    Cultural diversity. You want to learn about other cultures so you volunteer abroad teaching English to Japanese students, or you go to another country and work in a refugee camp. This not only helps the people you will be serving, but you get the opportunity to expand your understanding of other cultures.

    Setting a good example. You work all week, take care of two teenage kids, but you find time to serve a meal to those less fortunate than you once a month. You certainly are helping others, but you are also modeling good behavior for your kids.

    Meeting like-minded, motivated, positive people. Connecting over shared interests in a cause while helping others is an excellent way to meet new friends. When you volunteer, your circle of friends can broaden quickly.

    New opportunities. There are volunteer opportunities that could lead you to experiences you might not otherwise have. Volunteering to usher for a theater will allow you to see a production you might otherwise not be able to see. Volunteer at a zoo and you might get the opportunity to develop a friendship with a giraffe.

    A need to focus on the positive. In today’s world of never-ending, instant — and often disheartening — news, volunteering presents a proactive way of doing something to make the world a better place. Even the smallest gestures make a difference.

    Empowerment. Maybe someone offered you a helping hand when you were down and out. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to pay that favor forward. Often times, a word of encouragement and a little assistance to those in need can help them get back on their feet.

    Volunteering is quite easy. There is a nonprofit organization for just about every interest or cause out there. Finding the right organization to volunteer for is just an internet search away, or SeniorCare’s RSVP Volunteers of the North Shore can help you find the best fit for volunteering. You can call RSVP at 978-281-1750 or visit www.thevolunteerlink.org.

    A big thank you to all volunteers! You make the world a better place.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

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    Senior Lookout | Tracy Arabian

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  • Shelter money fading but new funding explored

    Shelter money fading but new funding explored

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    BOSTON — State dollars for the emergency family shelter system are dwindling, and restaurateurs who for years enjoyed expanded outdoor dining and the ability to sell drinks to go remain “in limbo” amid a sustained period of legislative disagreement.

    House and Senate Democrats broke for another long weekend Thursday without announcing any deal on a spending bill that would replenish shelter funding for the remainder of the fiscal year.

    While negotiators remain at odds over how much they want to draw from state savings and exactly what kind of time limits to place on shelter stays — plus whether restaurants should resume takeout drink sales — funding could run out in less than two weeks, a Healey administration official confirmed Thursday.

    “Direct funding for emergency assistance shelters has been expected to be exhausted early this spring. It’s possible that could occur as soon as this month,” Matt Murphy, a spokesperson for the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, said in a statement. “We are both grateful to the Legislature for the work they have done so far to advance our supplemental funding request and hopeful that legislation can be finalized quickly for our review to address this time sensitive need.”

    “If we do exhaust the direct funding available for shelters, we have some flexibility to shift other available funds as a short-term measure to avoid any disruption in services until the supplemental budget passes,” he added, referring to “additional money from the last (emergency assistance) supp that wasn’t direct shelter funding that can be used.”

    Murphy said the administration “continues to call on the federal government to address this federal problem, including by providing additional funding to states.”

    Both branches have already approved competing versions of a mid-year spending bill that would steer more money to the shelter system, but they cannot send it to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk until they iron out differences.

    The House and Senate adjourned with plans to return Monday, April 22, which is the earliest they could act to send a compromise to the governor — if top Democrats can strike an agreement by then.

    Sean Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Michael Rodrigues, declined to make the senator available for an interview Thursday, but said the conference committee is “continuously engaged and remains focused with ongoing and productive conversations.”

    “We remain optimistic that we’ll have an agreement soon,” Fitzgerald said.

    A spokesperson for House Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz did not reply to a News Service request.

    Legislative leaders have said for months the money currently propping up shelters is set to run out by spring, though they and the Healey administration have been less than forthcoming about when exactly that might be.

    Michlewitz was the first to identify the “early spring” timeline, way back in November when his chamber approved the last multi-million dollar injection into the state’s emergency family shelter system.

    That supplemental budget, signed in December, steered $250 million to the emergency shelter crisis, with $50 million set aside for overflow shelter and $75 million targeted for school funding relief related to the shelter crisis.

    “From what we gather, this would take us through the winter, neatly through the winter, and probably early into the spring,” Michlewitz said at the time. “Then it will all depend at that point moving forward on how many families we have in the system.”

    Since Michlewitz’s remarks last fall, the number of families looking for a spot in shelters has only grown, with 713 families as of Wednesday on a waitlist set up by Healey.

    Healey got the ball rolling on the next funding injection for the overburdened system on Jan. 28, saying the additional supplemental budget would have enough money to keep the shelters running through the end of June.

    Michlewitz said again in February that they were “managing with that timeline” that “the (Emergency Assistance) shelter money will run out in the spring.”

    When asked at that point exactly when in the spring the funding was set to run out, the chairman and House Speaker Ron Mariano laughed.

    “When are the crocuses?” Mariano quipped. Michlewitz jumped in, “What, is March 21 the first day of spring?” as the speaker chuckled.

    The House approved its version of Healey’s supplemental budget bill on March 6, and the Senate took its vote on March 21. Now, almost a month later and nearly a third of the way into spring, it still has not emerged from negotiations.

    Rodrigues said last week that the administration told him family shelter money could run out “sometime mid- to end of April” and that the administration has “other flexible funds that they can use,” which Murphy appeared to confirm Thursday. Mariano said Sunday on WCVB that he “never got a date from the governor as to when it was gonna run out,” only that “sometime in the spring, it would run out.”

    Republican Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer told the News Service on Thursday that the conference committee’s delay could indicate the money is not needed as urgently as some Democrats have said.

    “We’ve also heard that the governor has said that she has a few more levers to pull somewhere, so we can finance it,” Durant said. “So I’m not sure it’s as critical as everybody might think that it is. Certainly as this drags on, it would appear that it’s not as critical as it’s made out to be.”

    He said financing the emergency family shelter system through supplemental budgets over the course of the year, rather than a lump sum through the annual budget — which could be the approach Democrats take again in fiscal 2025 — leads to uncertainty.

    “That’s a real challenge for the leadership here. How exactly are we going to pay for it, how does it look going forward? And I just don’t think that we have a lot of really good answers to that yet,” Durant said. “Even when the speaker says, ‘We’ll fund this budget for half the year and then we’ll see what happens in December, maybe we’ll have the same president, maybe we’ll have a new one’ — there’s just so many unanswered questions. Everybody’s just playing it by ear.”

    Sen. Nick Collins of South Boston, a Democrat, said there’s not “too much concern just yet” about shelter funds running out, as “the indications from the administration tell us that we’re not at the end of the line here.”

    “The number-one issue in the state of Massachusetts on taxpayers’ minds is the cost of this. So there’s a lot to think about,” Collins said. “And I think that’s what’s taking the time.”

    The lack of consensus on the legislation does not only impact the emergency assistance shelter system. Legislative leaders opted to use the supplemental budget bills as the vehicle for revisiting some pandemic-era policies that have been in place on a temporary basis for years, like a streamlined process for restaurants securing permission to serve patrons in certain outdoor spaces.

    Both branches voted in favor of making permanent the outdoor dining overhaul and a graduate student nursing program, but they were split on whether to allow restaurants to continue selling alcoholic beverages to go. The House is in support and the Senate is in opposition.

    Because the branches still have not found compromise on the underlying bill, all of those provisions — including the ones both the House and Senate back — expired March 31, pushing many restaurants back toward a pre-COVID status quo.

    “Marathon Monday is always the first sign of the weather turning the corner in Boston and around Massachusetts. That day has come and gone, and I think I speak for most people that we are ready to welcome some great weather,” Steve Clark, president of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said in a statement. “With great weather, comes the want and desire to eat outside. Unfortunately, a number of restaurants across the state are in limbo without extended outdoor dining authorization, hopefully we are able to get this issue resolved quickly.”

    Clark added that many of his members have asked about the prospects of bringing back takeout drinks.

    “Menu evolution is always happening, but it takes time and effort to remove items off of menus; at the same time, license holders take their responsible service of alcohol seriously and do not want to run afoul of the laws that come with it,” he said.

    However, the policy might be up against a major hurdle, as one of the lead negotiators has come out against the idea.

    “I personally do not support cocktails to go. I believe we have cocktails to go, it’s called package stores,” Rodrigues said earlier this month. “We have bricks and mortar businesses, retail establishments, that that’s what they provide.”

    The chairman said he has not heard about to-go alcoholic drinks from one restaurant. “I’ve heard a lot from inside the building, I hear a lot from the media, but from restaurants, they want outdoor dining,” he said.

    Mariano, asked on WCVB’s “On The Record” to respond to Rodrigues’ comments, gave a vague endorsement of the idea.

    “It was something we came up with during the pandemic to help restaurants. It seemed to be successful, some people liked it. It didn’t really cause any problems that we were aware of. So we just thought if restaurants want to do it, we’ll let them do,” he said.

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    By Sam Drysdale and Chris Lisinski | State House News Service

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  • Toe photo doesn’t save motorist from parking fine

    Toe photo doesn’t save motorist from parking fine

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    NEWBURYPORT — When City Clerk Richard Jones recently received a photo of a man with a partially amputated left toe, little did he know it would open the door to a larger debate about how much the city fines motorists for illegally parking in a handicap-only spot.

    On Jan. 1, the penalty for parking in a municipal handicap spot without a placard jumped to $300, up $100 from the previous year. The change was formalized roughly nine months ago after City Council approval. 

    Jones, who also also functions as the city’s parking clerk, said he recently received an email from a motorist upset about being hit with the $300 fine after illegally parking in a Pleasant Street handicap spot. 

    The unhappy motorist also sent along photos of his semi-missing toe in, what Jones said was, an attempt to justify his parking decision.

    “It looks like he took the picture in the hospital, right after he had surgery,” Jones said. “I think he left the hospital thinking he could park in handicap spaces. But you can’t do that without a placard. The law is pretty clear.”

    The city has roughly a half-dozen handicap parking spaces located on downtown streets, according to Jones, who added there is also one for every 25 spots in municipal parking lots.

    “Parking is at such a premium in the downtown, when you put in a handicap parking space, it’s not used 24/7. So it takes a space off the grid,” Jones said. 

    The Registry of Motor Vehicles issues handicap parking placards and license plates, according to Jones, who added the state allows very little latitude when it comes to fighting violations. That left Jones in the unenviable position of having to stand his ground in terms of appeasing the annoyed motorist. 

    Ward 2 City Councilor Jennie Donahue, who also serves as the council’s liaison to the Commission on Disabilities, said she also heard about the man’s complaint and the photos. 

    According to Donahue, the motorist is arguing that he applied for a placard and should be allowed to park in a handicap spot while waiting for it.

    But just because the man expects to receive a placard that doesn’t cover a current violation, she countered. 

    “The laws apply to everybody and there’s really no wiggle room to that,” she said. “You can’t really wave a fine if someone’s going to have a placard in the future.”

    Jones added that many people try to illegally use the downtown handicap parking spaces as a pickup and drop-off location.

    “If you talk to anyone who is truly handicapped, you will hear that’s not a valid excuse,” he said. “Because, if someone’s in that space, they don’t pull up and ask them to use it. They just drive on and don’t get a space.”

    Donahue, who is blind, said there are a tremendous amount of misconceptions when it comes to handicap parking and many disabled people often don’t know if they are, or are not breaking the law.

    “People need to understand that it is never OK to take that handicap spot without a permitted placard or plate. And, if you do, you’re going to be subject to a fine,” she said.

    Jones said he has received plenty of complaints from people who have been hit with parking tickets, ever since the fine increase.

    “It would be disingenuous for me not to say the new fee has increased complaints,” he said.

    He also said he has heard rumblings from some that there may be a movement to kick the illegal handicap parking fines back down to $200. 

    “In my opinion, the $200 fine should be sufficient,” he said. “The $300 fine is shocking to some people. But, to be fair, there are a number of communities at $300 or even higher. But they tend to be near Boston.”

    Donahue said she’s in favor of the $300 fine.

    “Typically, you don’t go backwards when it comes to anything to do with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” she said.

    With handicap parking abuse so common in the state, Donahue said more communities will be adopting larger fines to combat the problem.

    “No one can really not bat an eye at $300,” she said. “But that’s the idea and people don’t pay attention to the signs. Then they feel entitled to a break.”

    Donahue also said she could see a system put in place in the future that would allow the Commission on Disabilities to hear from people who believe they were unjustly fined and make a recommendation to the city clerk’s office after that.

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    By Jim Sullivan | jsullivan@newburyportnews.com

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  • Former harbormaster says he was ‘wrongfully terminated

    Former harbormaster says he was ‘wrongfully terminated

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    Former Harbormaster Thomas “T.J.” Ciarametaro says he was “wrongfully terminated” in the wake of revelations by Mayor Greg Verga of “wrongdoing” by the harbormaster’s office regarding forged signatures on standard contracts for two grant programs from the state Division of Marine Fisheries totaling $24,000.

    “Regretfully, I have to report that I was wrongfully terminated from my position as Gloucester Harbormaster after seven years of superb service,” said Ciarametaro, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, in a prepared statement. “I have been unjustly dismissed following baseless accusations of misconduct, which have since been proven to be false.”

    “The events leading to my termination began when I discovered discrepancies in city funds and equipment within the department,” said Ciarametaro, who credited the Waterways Board and harbormaster staff for accomplishments in the office, including digitizing operations, earning recognition from Marinas.com for creating a more welcoming port and collaborating with the Army Corps of Engineers on a project to dredge the Annisquam River.

    Ciarametaro wrote he was fired by the city after catching one of his employees stealing cash from a locked drawer on camera, and turning him over to police under the city’s Whistleblower Protection Policy. He said he was broadsided by “retaliatory accusations” from this “disgruntled employee who had engaged in theft.” The allegations against him were quickly disproven, Ciarametaro said.

    Ciarametaro did not name the employee but his statement came on the same day Gloucester District Court confirmed a criminal complaint had been issued by the Police Department against former Shellfish Warden Peter Seminara, charging him with larceny from a building after being caught on camera in February stealing $71 in cash from a locked drawer in the harbormaster’s office at 19 Harbor Loop, according to a police report and Ciarametaro’s report to Human Resources Director Holly Dougwillo.

    On advice of police after a pattern of items and cash going missing from the office, Ciarametaro installed the cameras.

    “I can’t respond to anything regarding my case as I have retained legal (counsel) beyond the representation afforded me by my union representatives,” Seminara said in an email.

    No date has been scheduled for Seminara’s arraignment as the court clerk’s office said the case may be transferred to a different venue. This may be because the former shellfish warden and former harbormaster have appeared before the court in their official duties which have a law enforcement component. Seminara’s employment with the city ended last month.

    Ciarametaro in his statement urged the administration to reconsider its decision and reinstate him.

    “A claim surfaced regarding the forgery of a signature on a Department of Marine Fisheries Grant application that had already been approved by the Commonwealth,” he said. “I was not involved in such matter and denied any involvement in any such matter. Nonetheless, the mayor suspended me, unpaid, from my position.”

    The city’s deputy harbormaster admitted to the forgery during a meeting at City Hall, Ciarametaro said. Even though the deputy harbormaster made clear Ciarametaro had no knowledge or involvement in the forgery, the mayor immediately fired him, the former harbormaster said.

    In the statement, Ciarametaro does not name the deputy harbormaster, Chad Johnson, who has previously said he had been put on leave and said he had taken part in the forgery.

    “There is no question he made a mistake,” Ciarametaro said.

    The deputy harbormaster did not receive any of the money or seek to benefit personally from the grant, nor did anyone inside or outside the department, and the money went to the city’s sewage pump-out boat capabilities, Ciarametaro said of a $11,000 Clean Vessel Act grant.

    “Nonetheless, I had no idea that the forgery had occurred and therefore had no ability to prevent it, let alone recognize it,” he said.

    The harbormaster’s statement criticizes the Verga administration for the handling of his case, saying his one regret was “placing my full support behind the current mayor and his administrative staff, believing promises of transparency and accountability that have not come to fruition. I truly believed Mayor Verga would help Gloucester turn the page from the vacuum of accountability and transparency that infected the prior administration.”

    In response to Ciarametaro’s statement, the mayor’s director of communications and constituent services, Pam Tobey, wrote in an email “We cannot comment on personnel matters.”

    She said interim Harbormaster John McCarthy is preparing for the summer boating season with the harbormaster office’s staff.

    “The mayor feels confident in former police Chief and City Councilor John McCarthy’s ability to step in as interim harbormaster for the city of Gloucester,” Tobey said. “John’s extensive experience as a city department head, background in public safety, and knowledge of maritime operations is the perfect combination to keep the ship moving forward.”

    Verga had previously written to the City Council saying the city has been working closely with the state Division of Marine Fisheries to maintain the city’s good standing, and that he had “taken action and held the responsible parties within the Harbormaster’s Office accountable.”

    Verga has also called for a management audit of the Harbormaster’s Office.

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    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • Family fighting teen killer’s possible parole board release

    Family fighting teen killer’s possible parole board release

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    GROVELAND — Sean Aylward lost his sister more than three decades ago. It still bothers him that he never got to see her go to the prom, graduate high school, attend college, get married or have children.

    Beth Brodie, who was murdered at age 15, also didn’t get a chance to be an aunt to Aylward’s son, who is now 30.

    “We didn’t get to experience all of that,” Aylward said.

    Brodie, a Pentucket High School cheerleader, was murdered in 1992 by Peabody resident Richard Baldwin, a then-16-year-old boy she had briefly dated. He beat her to death with an aluminum baseball bat.

    Baldwin in 1994 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for Brodie’s murder.

    But in 2013, a controversial state Supreme Judicial Court ruling allowed teen killers once sentenced to life without parole to seek release. The ruling expanded upon a 2011 United States Supreme Court decision holding that because the brains of juveniles were not fully developed, a sentence that forecloses all possibility of rehabilitation is unconstitutional.

    On May 16, Baldwin has a hearing scheduled before the parole board in Natick. Aylward and his family are “adamantly opposed” to any consideration of Baldwin’s release.

    “Our pain and suffering has not subsided since Beth was taken from us. It has in fact increased more pain, suffering and tears for us and Beth’s large circle of friends. The impending threat of parole is re-traumatizing and cannot be mitigated by the mere passage of time,” the Brodie family wrote in a statement posted on social media.

    “Granting parole would only serve to undermine justice and disregard the severity of the crime committed. Releasing this offender, without a doubt, would pose a continued threat to society. We urge the parole board to uphold the original sentencing and deny any requests for parole,” Brodie’s family continued.

    It was unclear what attorney would be representing Baldwin before the parole board.

    Aylward, who lives in Atkinson, New Hampshire, and is a manager at Commonwealth Motors in Lawrence, became an activist after the 2013 SJC decision.

    He, along with other family members and Beth’s friends, maintain social media posts in her memory and dedicated to justice for Brodie on social media. They’re hoping others will join a letter-writing campaign and ask the parole board to deny Baldwin’s release.

    “We need to get people thinking about it,” Aylward said last week. He said he wants the parole board not to view the hearing as “just another day at work.

    “This is a first degree killer,” he said, noting the board may be acquainted with the law “but they didn’t know Beth.”

    Another teen killer is Jamie Fuller, 16, who was convicted of murdering Amy Carnevale, 14, in Beverly in 1991. Fuller is scheduled for a hearing before the parole board on April 25.

    The parole board hearings, at 12 Mercer Road, Natick, are open to the public.

    In 2019, Baldwin had a parole board hearing scheduled. However, the hearing request was subsequently withdrawn.

    Aylward said he will be prepared to fight parole for as long as Baldwin lives.

    “It’s our job to bring Beth back to the story,” he has said.

    Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.

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    By Jill Harmacinski | Staff Writer

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  • Fundraising workout, park cleanup planned before annual Lawrence fishing tourney

    Fundraising workout, park cleanup planned before annual Lawrence fishing tourney

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    LAWRENCE — A fundraising workout and park cleanup are being held to get ready for the 8th annual Salt Addiction Fishing Derby this spring. 

    The catch and release fishing derby, held adjacent to the Falls Bridge in Pemberton Park, is set for Saturday, May 18. 

    A fundraising workout will be held on Saturday  and a park cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, said Jamiel Ortiz, a Lawrence fire lieutenant and Salt Addiction fishing tourney organizer. 

    This Saturday Salt Addiction Fishing and Fitness Appeal will be hosting its “sweating for a cause” workout. All fitness levels are invited to work out, he said. 

    The workout begins at 8 a.m. at 250 Canal St. with a $20 donation.

    “Feel free to show up and invite friends and family. This will be a great opportunity to get a good workout in and support our fundraiser,” Ortiz said. 

    Volunteers will gather again at 8 a.m., on April 27 at the boat ramp in Pemberton Park for the cleanup. 

    Gloves and bags will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring trash pickers if possible.

    Salt Addiction is partnering with the River Stewards of New England for the cleanup 

    “Our goal is to clean up the park in anticipation of the upcoming fishing season. We want to make the park safe for the families and anglers that use it during the fishing season,” Ortiz said. 

    Registration for the charity catch and release tournament on May 18 starts at 4:30 am.

    Proceeds from this year’s tournament are being dedicated to Sophia Martinez and Isaiah De La Rosa, both who are affected by cerebral palsy, a group of conditions that affect movement and posture, Ortiz said. 

    In addition fishing prizes, a charity raffle will also be held. 

    For more information, check out the Salt Addiction Fishing page on Facebook and a GoFundMe dedicated to the event.

    Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill. 

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    By Jill Harmacinski jharmacinski@eagletribune.com

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  • Student loan providers make millions of billing errors

    Student loan providers make millions of billing errors

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    Private companies overseeing the federal government’s college loan programs made “millions” of errors implementing new repayment plans, costing student borrowers time and money, according to a new congressional report.

    The report, released by Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, along with two other Democratic lawmakers, said the major loan servicers under contract with the U.S. Department of Education made more than 3.9 million “billing-related errors” once repayment of federal student loans resumed last fall.

    “The four student loan servicers that were under contract with ED at the end of the payment pause had ample time, clear contractual requirements, and sufficient funding from the federal government,” the report states. “Yet, they still made a series of mistakes that harmed millions of borrowers when payments restarted.”

    The report is based on data from the U.S. Education Department and federal audits that detailed delayed billing statements, “miscalculations” for borrowers converting to the new SAVE income-driven repayment plan, and payment miscalculations on borrowers’ income, family size or marital status.

    The loan servicing companies – EdFinancial Services, Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri, Maximus Education and Nelnet Diversified Solutions – responded to the allegations in a series of letters to the lawmakers that detail how they were challenged once loan repayments resumed.

    In a January letter, MOHELA said it has struggled to adjust to “evolving” loan servicing requirements from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid when millions of borrowers resumed repayments after a multiyear pause. A lack of federal funding compounded the efforts, the company said.

    “FSA has allocated only limited funding for servicing during the unprecedented event and throughout the ‘on-ramp’ period, funding which pales in comparison to the enormity of work associated with assisting millions of borrowers in a condensed time frame,” the company wrote.

    Nelnet blamed the federal government, in part, for the bungled resumption of student loan repayments and said it could “have avoided foreseeable borrower impacts and created a better customer experience.”

    “Unfortunately, borrowers were instead met with confusing and conflicting announcements of program changes, were told no payments were required, that interest would not accrue, indefinitely, and were promised their loans would be discharged,” Jeffrey Noordhoek, NelNet’s CEO, wrote to Warren.

    It’s not clear if the congressional report will lead to sanctions against the loan servicers. Last year, the Education Department released guidelines outlining steps it could take to punish servicers who fail to fulfill their contractual obligations, including withholding pay and transferring borrowers to other loan servicers.

    But the lawmakers said in the report that more should be done to help borrowers impacted by the errors, and called on the Biden administration to provide debt relief for those who were overbilled on loan repayments.

    “To remedy servicers’ historic failures and protect borrowers from future harms, there must be a path for debt relief for borrowers harmed by their servicers,” they wrote.

    Federal student loan servicing companies have been under intense scrutiny from Congress, which has held oversight hearings grilling education officials on efforts to reduce student debt. More than 43 million borrowers in the United States are carrying an estimated $1.6 trillion in student loan debt, according to federal data.

    Overall, the lawmakers said loan servicing companies have a “decades-long pattern of failures” and said the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a lack of accountability in the system that “allowed abuses to go unchecked and caused harm for borrowers crushed by student loan debt.”

    “These failures have resulted in borrowers being unable to properly manage their loans and take advantage of long standing student debt relief programs,” they wrote.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • State to pay off another $10M in student loans

    State to pay off another $10M in student loans

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    BOSTON — Financial relief from college debt is coming for hundreds of mental health workers under a state loan repayment program aimed at easing workforce shortages.

    A taxpayer-funded program, which launched in 2022, pays off up to $300,000 in college loans for eligible health care professionals in a variety of disciplines, including dental, medical, mental health and substance abuse.

    The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which oversees the MA Repay program, announced a new round of disbursements earlier this week, totaling $10 million. The latest round of loan repayments will specifically target more than 200 eligible mental health workers, the agency said.

    Gov. Maura Healey said the move will “offer life changing loan repayment to our dedicated state employees who continue to provide care daily to community members with serious mental illness.”

    “Massachusetts relies on our incredible behavioral health workforce to provide essential care to our residents, but far too many workers are being held back by crushing levels of student debt,” Healey said in a statement.

    The MA Repay program was approved as part of a $4 billion pandemic relief bill signed by then-Gov. Charlie Baker in December 2021. It’s aimed at recruiting and retaining new workers in a sector of the state’s health care system that is traditionally among the lowest paid.

    Under the program, psychiatrists are eligible for up to $300,000 if they are employed full time, and $150,000 if they work part time. Psychologists can get up to $150,000 in loans repaid if they are full-time workers, $75,000 if they work part time.

    Nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and social workers with master’s degrees who are employed in mental health settings can get between $25,000 to $50,000. Workers in those professions with bachelor’s degrees can get between $15,000 and $30,000.

    Those who qualify must commit to working for at least four years in the state under a “service commitment” to receive the financial relief. That employment can be with up to two different employers, according to the state agency.

    In August, the state announced the first round of disbursements for nearly 3,000 health care workers, totaling $140.9 million. In October, the state opened a second round of disbursements for $25 million. and in January, another $16.5 million was made available to early education, childcare, home health and other home workers.

    The move comes as President Joe Biden unveiled a new proposal this week that seeks to reduce or cancel federal student loans for 30 million Americans.

    Biden’s latest forgiveness plan calls for offering loan relief to borrowers who have large amounts of interest on their loans, have been paying for decades or those who face financial hardship.

    A group of Republican states filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Biden’s SAVE Plan, arguing the move bypasses Congress and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rejected Biden’s previous loan forgiveness program, which had called for eliminating $400 billion in outstanding college debt.

    To date, $136.6 billion in federal college loans have been forgiven for more than 3.7 million Americans, according to the Biden administration.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • House seeks more money for MBTA upgrades

    House seeks more money for MBTA upgrades

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    BOSTON — House Democrats are seeking hundreds of millions of dollars more for MBTA upgrades and workforce needs as part of their annual spending plan.

    The House’s version of the budget unveiled Wednesday calls for spending what legislative leaders described as a “record” $555 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the next fiscal year and an additional $184 million for regional transit systems that operate across the state.

    House Speaker Ron Mariano said the “historic” level of spending “will allow the new leadership at the T to meet the immense challenges that they face head on.”

    “Given the workforce recruitment and training challenges that have plagued the MBTA, I am particularly proud of the House’s proposal to establish an MBTA Academy that would help to bolster their workforce development efforts,” the Quincy Democrat said in a statement.

    House leaders said the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 would be funded in part by revenue from the state’s new “millionaire’s tax,” a voter-approved law that set a 4% surtax on incomes above $1 million.

    “Having a well-run transit system is critical to the success of the commonwealth,” House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, said in a statement. “This record amount of funding shows the House’s commitment to improving our transportation infrastructure in every area of the commonwealth.”

    The House plan earmarks $314 million for direct operating costs at the MBTA, $184 million for the state’s 15 regional transit authorities, and $75 million for MBTA capital investments.

    The plan also calls for spending $40 million to create an MBTA academy to oversee recruiting and training efforts, and create a pipeline for skilled workers.

    An additional $20 million would be set aside for reduced fares for riders with low incomes, which was recently approved by the MBTA’s board of directors.

    The low-income fare program is expected to cost $60 million a year and Gov. Maura Healey has proposed $45 million in funding from the “millionaire’s tax” in her fiscal 2025 budget proposal. Members of an advisory board that recommended approval of the plan also cautioned that the state does not have a dedicated source of funding.

    The move to pump more taxpayer money into the state’s beleaguered public transit system comes as the MBTA wrestles with projected budget deficits driven by a mountain of debt, some dating back to the Big Dig project.

    T officials estimate the transit agency’s operating deficit for the next fiscal year is $182 million, which is projected to grow to $859 million by 2029.

    Meanwhile, the MBTA said it would need about $24.5 billion to bring the system into a state of “good repair” by replacing tracks, facilities, power equipment, trains and other infrastructure.

    Healey attributes the deficit to a lack of investment in the system over decades and said she wants to make “transformative investments” to improve service and reliability. She touted $250 million in MBTA funding in her $56.1 billion budget proposal unveiled in January.

    Lawmakers are expected to file hundreds of proposed amendments to the House’s spending package, the fate of which will be debated in closed-door leadership negotiations.

    The budget would also need to be approved by the state Senate before heading to Healey’s desk for review.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • State to pay off $10M more in student loans

    State to pay off $10M more in student loans

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    BOSTON — Financial relief from college debt is coming for hundreds of mental health workers under a state loan repayment program aimed at easing workforce shortages.

    A taxpayer-funded program, which launched in 2022, pays off up to $300,000 in college loans for eligible health care professionals in a variety of disciplines, including dental, medical, mental health and substance abuse.

    The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which oversees the MA Repay program, announced a new round of disbursements earlier this week totaling $10 million. The latest round of loan repayments will specifically target more than 200 eligible mental health workers, the agency said.

    Gov. Maura Healey said the move will “offer life changing loan repayment to our dedicated state employees who continue to provide care daily to community members with serious mental illness.”

    “Massachusetts relies on our incredible behavioral health workforce to provide essential care to our residents, but far too many workers are being held back by crushing levels of student debt,” Healey said in a statement.

    The MA Repay program was approved as part of a $4 billion pandemic relief bill signed by then-Gov. Charlie Baker in December 2021. It is aimed at recruiting and retaining new workers in a sector of the state’s health care system that is traditionally among the lowest paid.

    Under the program, psychiatrists are eligible for up to $300,000 if they are employed full time, and $150,000 if they work part time. Psychologists can receive up to $150,000 in loans repaid if they are full-time workers, $75,000 if they work part time.

    Nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and social workers with master’s degrees who are employed in mental health settings can receive $25,000 to $50,000. Workers in those professions with bachelor’s degrees can get between $15,000 and $30,000.

    Those who qualify must commit to working for at least four years in the state under a “service commitment” to receive the financial relief. That employment can be with up to two employers, according to the state agency.

    In August, the state announced the first round of disbursements for nearly 3,000 health care workers totaling $140.9 million. In October, the state opened a second round of disbursements for $25 million. In January, an additional $16.5 million was made available to early education, child care, home health and other home workers.

    The move comes as President Joe Biden unveiled a new proposal this week that seeks to reduce or cancel federal student loans for 30 million Americans.

    Biden’s latest forgiveness plan calls for offering loan relief to borrowers who have large amounts of interest on their loans, have been paying for decades or who face financial hardship.

    A group of Republican states filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Biden’s SAVE Plan, arguing the move bypasses Congress and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rejected the president’s previous loan forgiveness program, which called for eliminating $400 billion in outstanding college debt.

    To date, $136.6 billion in federal college loans have been forgiven for more than 3.7 million Americans, according to the Biden administration.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • SENIOR LOOKOUT: Course offers strategies for savvy caregiving

    SENIOR LOOKOUT: Course offers strategies for savvy caregiving

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    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 14% of the population, 37.1 million people, provide unpaid eldercare in the United States. These millions of individuals provide unpaid care to someone age 65 or older who needs help because of a condition related to aging. This care is provided to family and non-family members living at home, as well as those people living in skilled nursing or assisted care facilities.

    Family members who take on the caregiving role are often under a lot of stress – usually for a long time. When caregivers of a person living with dementia are compared with persons like them who are not caregivers, the potential perils of the situation are clear. These caregivers are:

    — Twice as likely to have health and mental health problems.

    — Two-and-a-half times as likely to be taking medicine for their nerves.

    — Only half as likely to seek medical help for their problems.

    — More likely to feel cut off from their family and friends.

    — More likely to be pinched financially.

    There is an evidence-based workshop available nationwide called “The Savvy Caregiver” for family and friends who are active caregivers, caring for those living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.

    On the North Shore, the Savvy Caregiver six-week workshop is offered several times throughout the year. The next session will be held virtually, beginning April 26, 2024.

    The Savvy Caregiver program is built on the notion that the successful caregiver has three main tasks:

    Manage daily life with the person.

    Find and use help with caregiving tasks.

    Take care of yourself.

    Savvy Caregiver training will help you:

    Understand the impact of dementia on both you and the person for whom you are caring.

    Learn the skills you need to manage daily life.

    Take control and set goals.

    Communicate more effectively.

    Strengthen family resources.

    Feel better about your caregiving.

    Take care of yourself!

    The Savvy Caregiver program offers help for caregivers with two frequent problems:

    Disagreements. Sometimes family members and friends disagree with the caregiver about what’s going on. The program seeks to help all gain a better understanding of the situation and join together in helping the family member with dementia.

    Help. Sometimes, family members and friends don’t know help is needed. Often they don’t know what help to give or how to give it. Savvy Caregivers know the many different tasks involved in caregiving. They are better able to decide which parts others might play and to instruct others in how to perform those tasks.

    Being savvy about caregiving won’t stop the course of what the caregiver is dealing with or make it go away. Savvy caregiving won’t mean there will be no stress in the day-to-day or the long-term situation with which they are dealing. But, savvy caregiving can enable a person to develop a sense of control or mastery. It can help them to find ways to reduce the effects of caregiving stress and to increase their sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

    This program is designed to expand a caregiver’s knowledge and skills. The most important outcome, though, should be that the caregiver will feel more confident of their ability to carry out the role they have taken on.

    For more information about or to register for The Savvy Caregiver workshop, please contact Abbie Considine at 978-281-1750. Advance registration for the workshop is required.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

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    Senior Lookout | Tracy Arabian

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  • Teachers rally for paid parental leave

    Teachers rally for paid parental leave

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    BEVERLY — When Kellie Moulton gave birth two years ago, she used eight weeks of sick time to stay home with her newborn son. When that ran out, the McKeown Preschool special education teacher took another month off without pay.

    Moulton wanted to stay home longer, but the lack of a paycheck made that option unrealistic.

    “I definitely felt I had to come back sooner than I was ready,” she said, “because I wasn’t getting paid.”

    The lack of paid parental leave has become a point of contention for teachers across the region. On Wednesday morning, Beverly was the latest public school district on the North Shore to hold a demonstration demanding paid parental leave as part of their contract negotiations.

    More than 600 teachers and paraprofessionals stood outside all eight of the city’s public schools before they began the school day, holding signs, playing music and waving to people driving by.

    “This is a huge issue for us,” McKeown School paraprofessional Judy Martin said during the rally in front of the school on Balch Street. “Everybody should have this as a benefit.”

    The “walk in” event, as the teachers called it, was part of a coordinated series of demonstrations by more than 5,000 teachers and staff in 11 North Shore school districts this week, according to the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

    The union says although teacher unions were among the strongest advocates for the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act that was approved in 2018, the law excluded municipal workers, including public school employees, leaving unions to negotiate for the benefit independently.

    Beverly Teachers Association President Julia Brotherton said the lack of paid parental leave forces teachers to use sick time, if they have it. The union has asked the Beverly School Committee for several years for paid parental benefits in contract negotiations, and is asking for 12 weeks paid leave in its current negotiations.

    “As more and more education unions win paid parental leave benefits in their contracts, Beverly cannot be left behind. I hope the School Committee sees our commitment, does the right thing, and agrees to fair and just paid parental leave for our members at the bargaining table,” she said in a news release issued by the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

    In an interview outside Beverly Middle School during Wednesday morning’s demonstration, Brotherton, who is a history teacher at Beverly High School, said she was “confident the School Committee will do the right thing about paid parental leave.

    “We all care about kids, and this issue is obviously all about kids and giving kids the right start.”

    Beverly School Committee President Rachael Abell said she could not comment directly, out of respect for the negotiating process.

    “But we look forward to our continued work with the BTA on a fair, equitable, and affordable solution that benefits all Beverly students,” she said in a prepared statement.

    At Beverly Middle School, where about 100 teachers took part in the rally, several teachers spoke about how the lack of paid leave has affected them.

    Casey Fiore said he took two months of unpaid leave when his daughter was born last August.

    “I would not trade a moment of it for the world,” he said. “But it would have been great if I would have been able to be with my daughter without being worried about bills.”

    Taylor Cross, who is due to have her first baby in May, said she has not taken time off during a difficult pregnancy — even to the point of fainting in class one day — because she is saving up sick days for after the birth.

    “I’m not giving my 100% because I’m not feeling well,” Cross said. “I’m a special education teacher and it’s a demanding job. It’s physically taxing. It’s mentally taxing.”

    Allison Nichols, who is pregnant with her second child, said being pregnant or post-partum “should not be considered the same as being sick.

    “I think it’s really insulting that in a profession where we go above and beyond to care for other children that we’re not afforded the same right to care for our own during the most vulnerable time of a child’s life.”

    Other districts participating in the demonstrations this week include Salem, Danvers, Marblehead, Ipswich, Hamilton-Wenham, Masconomet Regional, Gloucester, Revere, Georgetown and Chelsea, according to the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

    Ann Berman, president of the Salem Teachers’ Union, echoed these sentiments, noting that if both parents of a newborn child are teachers in the same district that causes further complications.

    “This all means that the child is going into daycare much earlier than is really healthy and beneficial. A lot of moms experience postpartum depression — there’s scientific evidence about that, and they’re being forced to come back to work too soon. They’re not ready, their bodies and minds are not healed,” she said.

    “Pregnancy is really, really tough. and then you have this little bundle of joy and you’re handing them over to somebody to care for your child, while you come into work to care for other people’s children. There’s something wrong in the whole dichotomy.”

    “I’m proud of the way that we, in the North Shore, have come together to work towards this goal as a coordinated effort,” Danvers Teachers’ Association President Kathleen Murphy said.

    “It’s something that we all recognize needs to change. I think that the bottom line is that when teachers feel valued, their needs are met, and they can take the time they need, then they will be better employees and teachers.”

    Staff Writer Michael McHugh contributed to this report.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@northofboston.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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  • Their View: Bring respect into tough political year

    Their View: Bring respect into tough political year

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    With a rematch brewing between President Joe Biden and ex-President Donald Trump, the build-up to Nov. 5 is shaping up to be among the most divisive elections ever. The us-versus-them rhetoric on both sides is disturbing.

    For employers and their workers, welcome to a minefield. The divisions evident in the electorate inevitably will show up in workplaces across the country.

    At Walgreens’ corporate annual meeting earlier this year, a shareholder proposal anticipating potential trouble ahead called for special protections for politically conservative employees. The company, based in suburban Chicago, urged voting against it, saying its existing protections are sufficient, and the proposal went down with just 8.2 million votes in favor, and almost 600 million cast against it.

    Walgreens is among many companies dealing with today’s partisan political divisions, and, despite the lopsided shareholder vote supporting the status quo, this year is unlikely to be business as usual. From the top down, it’s best for people to be cautious about flaunting their political convictions, be they center, right or left.

    That gets harder when companies are dragged into political controversies, as Walgreens is with its decision, along with rival pharmacy chain CVS, to sell abortion pills in Illinois and other states where it’s legal to do so.

    As much as companies would like to sidestep political controversies, today’s fevered discourse can make it impossible. High-profile examples such as Disney’s recently settled legal dispute with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida hint at many less-visible controversies at companies nationwide.

    The Environmental, Social and Governance programs common to Walgreens, CVS, Disney and many other leading companies have become targets of far-right attacks.

    On the left, activists have threatened to boycott companies they perceive as caving in to pressure from the right, as when California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined a chorus of Walgreens critics upset last year when the company said it would not sell abortion pills in states where the medications are prohibited by law.

    For employees working under conditions that feel fraught, we humbly suggest restraint. Be circumspect about sharing political viewpoints at work. Tread lightly. Be respectful.

    We recognize this advice runs counter to a trendy philosophy of workplace behavior. For a decade now, employees at many companies have been encouraged to “bring their whole selves to work.” Especially for younger workers, the ability to express their authentic selves has become an important factor in job satisfaction.

    Still, every worker should be aware that being personally outspoken can come with risks.

    Private employers have a lot of leeway in employment decisions. And unlike gender, race or other demographic characteristics, a particular political viewpoint is not a protected class under federal law — though political affiliation can’t be used as a pretext for illegal employment discrimination.

    Some states and cities have more specific protections, as do many public employees and other union workers.

    California is notable for a state law protecting workers who express their political beliefs and engage in lawful political activities, and Illinois provides some spotty support.

    But good luck enforcing those protections: If an office meeting veers into politics, would Illinois then intervene? That’s a nonstarter, in our view. For good reason, the law continues to favor the rights of private employers to make their own decisions about hiring, firing, promoting and disciplining their workers.

    In its response to the shareholder proposal asking it to make special provisions for its conservative employees, Walgreens repeated its long-standing commitment to respecting diversity of expression and refusing to tolerate harassment or discrimination.

    We agree with the company that no special provision was needed to expand on those and other state-of-the-art policies that it has publicly championed.

    At the same time, each of Walgreens’ roughly 330,000 employees needs to use good judgment to do their jobs without prompting any mini-insurrections — and that goes for the rest of us too. This upcoming election will be tough, no matter how it turns out. Let’s meet it with some self-discipline and our best instincts.

    This piece originated with the Editorial Board of the Chicago Tribune.

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  • House unveils $57.9 billion budget plan

    House unveils $57.9 billion budget plan

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    BOSTON — More money for public transportation, education, housing, and workforce development are among the highlights of the House of Representatives’ version of next year’s state budget, which was rolled out Wednesday.

    The $57.9 billion House budget — which is about $150 million more than Gov. Maura Healey’s preliminary budget — boosts local aid in the fiscal year that begins on July 1 to more than $1.25 billion. It also calls for spending $6.86 billion on Chapter 70 school aid, also an increase over the current fiscal year.

    House Ways and Mean Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, said the plan will “allow the commonwealth’s economy to grow, while remaining competitive, and also recognizing the financial realities” facing the state government following several months of declining revenue.

    “This budget aims to do that with major investments in housing, education and workforce development … all while keeping Massachusetts a competitive engine,” he told reporters at a briefing where he touted the state’s fiscal outlook. “We still have the ability to navigate through these choppy waters and meet the needs of our residents.”

    House Democrats shrugged off Healey’s calls to cap spending increases at 2.9% over the previous fiscal year, proposing to hike spending by 3.3% next fiscal year.

    House Speaker Ron Mariano said despite the increased spending, the Legislature will need to tighten the state’s fiscal belt in the next year amid economic uncertainty and diminishing revenue collection.

    “This fiscal year is not going to be like the past few,” the Quincy Democrat said in remarks Wednesday. “And there will be an ever greater demand for fiscal responsibility throughout this budget cycle.”

    A key provision of the plan calls for spending what House leaders described as a “record” $555 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the next fiscal year to cover the cost upgrades and training new workers at the beleaguered agency.

    If approved, the House plan would earmark $314 million for direct operating costs at the MBTA, $184 million for the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities, and $75 million for MBTA capital investments.

    The plan also calls for spending $40 million to create an MBTA Academy to oversee recruiting and training efforts, and create a pipeline for skilled workers.

    Another $20 million would be set aside for reduced fares for riders with low incomes, which was recently approved by the MBTA’s Board of Directors.

    The plan also calls for spending $1 billion in proceeds from the millionaires’ tax on a range of education and transportation programs, along with new initiatives. The new voter-approved law, which went into effect in January, set a 4% surtax on incomes above $1 million.

    The House plan calls for $475 million to continue the Commonwealth Cares for Children program, which has provided grants to about 7,500 child care providers to help them keep their doors open during the pandemic.

    It also recommends spending $35 million to provide “unlimited” free phone calls for inmates at state prisons, correctional facilities and county jails.

    Increased funding for job training, housing, higher education, and expanding behavioral health services also are part of the proposal.

    Healey unveiled a $56.1 billion budget in January that called for capping spending increases at 2.9% across the board, citing the state’s declining revenue collections.

    Debate on the spending plan comes amid concerns about the state’s finances with taxes and other revenue coming in below benchmarks in recent months despite a slight uptick in the previous month, as well as federal pandemic aid drying up.

    Healey wielded her executive powers in February to slash $375 million from the current fiscal year budget to close a gap between spending and revenue.

    The so-called 9C cuts, which didn’t require legislative approval, hit a variety of state agencies and departments, with one of the largest reductions being a $294 million cut at the state’s Medicaid program for fee-for-service payments.

    Lawmakers are expected to file hundreds of proposed amendments to the House’s spending package, the fate of which will be debated in closed-door leadership negotiations.

    The budget also needs to be approved by the state Senate before heading to Healey’s desk for review.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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