WESTFORD — The Select Board voted to support the Municipal Empowerment Act on Tuesday.
The act was filed by Gov. Maura Healey in an effort to “help local governments across Massachusetts reduce long-term fiscal pressures, attract a talented workforce, provide high-quality services, and streamline operations to best serve residents.”
The Select Board discussed the act at their Feb. 11 meeting, Town Manager Kristen Las gave an overview of the updates and background.
“There was a Municipal Empowerment Act before, it did not make the session vote so the governor has filed the bill again there’s been some of the same and then some revisions or some additions,” Las said.
The act will retain efficiency measures that were part of the legislation filed last session including permanently enabling municipalities to permit hybrid public meetings and reforming procurement rules.
The act will also include updated provisions such as quickening the removal of double poles, supporting the prevention of drug overdoses, easing the acquisition of snow hauling services, expanding the municipalities’ ability to reduce school bus service costs, and empowering communities to generate more local revenue, amongst other updates.
Healey announced the Municipal Empowerment Act in January, as well as filing a Chapter 90 reform bill to make “meaningful investments in municipal transportation infrastructure.”
“Every Massachusetts resident deserves to live in a community with high-quality local services, from safe roadways to access to good jobs and schools,” Healey said in a press release, “Our administration knows that city and town officials know their communities the best, and that’s why we want to empower them with the tools to make the choices they need to provide the best local services that meet the unique needs of their communities.”
The Select Board unanimously supported the act with no deliberation.
