Good afternoon MMLA Members –

Moments ago, Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a FY23 supplemental budget package (becoming Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023) that includes an extension of certain COVID-19 relief measures including authority for public bodies, agencies and commissions, as well as Town Meetings, to hold meetings remotely until March 31, 2025, which is currently set to expire at the end of this month.  As previously reported, an emergency preamble was added the bill prior to its enactment in each branch which gives immediate effect to its provisions.

A copy of the signed parchment is available here for your reference.

MMLA has been actively involved throughout the legislative process advocating for these changes including most recently outreach to the Governor’s office.    Thanks to our Legislative Chair and all of you who contacted your legislators and the Governor’s office urging support of these critically important measures.

Onward and upward!

Matthew G. Feher, Esq.President
Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association, Inc.

MMLA Members,

We are pleased to report that competing House and Senate FY23 Supplement Budget packages were negotiated pre-conference, and the agreed-upon bill was enacted and sent to the Governor for signature on Thursday, March 23rd.  The bill before the Governor includes the language contained in each branch’s competing packages that would extend certain COVID-19 relief measures including extension of authority for public bodies, agencies and commissions, as well as Town Meetings, to hold meetings remotely until March 31, 2025, which is currently set to expire at the end of this month.  An emergency preamble was also added the bill prior to its enactment which gives immediate effect to its provisions once approved by the Governor.  The Governor has 10 days to sign the bill, veto the bill or allow the bill to become law without her signature.

The MMLA was actively involved in promoting these provisions of the bill and I refer you to our prior letters to legislative leadership attached to prior updates and on our website.  We encourage all to reach out to the Governor’s office to express support of these important provisions.

We will continue to keep you updated in real time.

Thanks again and be well,

Matthew G. Feher, Esq.
President
Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association, Inc.

Advisory Concerning Enforcement of the MBTA Communities Zoning Law The Office of the Attorney General is issuing this Advisory to assist cities, towns, and residents in understanding the requirements imposed by the MBTA Communities Zoning Law (G.L. c. 40A, § 3A) (the “Law”). The Law was enacted to address the Commonwealth’s acute need for housing by facilitating the development of transit-oriented, multifamily housing. By any measure, Massachusetts is in a housing crisis that is inflicting unacceptable economic, social, and environmental harms across our state – particularly on working families and people of color. The Law directly responds to this crisis by implementing zoning reforms that require MBTA Communities to permit reasonable levels of multifamily housing development near transit stations.  

For the full text of the Advisory,  click on the following link:

https://www.massmunilaw.org/resources/Documents/MBTA%20Communities%20Advisory%20FINAL.pdf

Access the recording and PowerPoint from the presentation on March 2, 2022 here.