By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Boston, MA) At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner provided an update on new legislation being filed. As part of her regular meetings with the City’s legislative contingent, Senator Jo Comerford, Representative Natalie Blais, and Representative Susannah Whipps, the Mayor was informed of multiple bills being filed that would benefit western Massachusetts.
One bill, an Act creating municipal and public safety authority will create a process for funding public buildings other than schools and libraries. The funding is proposed to come from the marijuana tax revenue. Previously, there had not been a state or federal level funding stream to support municipal buildings outside of schools and libraries. City Council Vice President Chris Forgey asked the Mayor if the funds could be used retroactively and the Mayor’s response was “it’s put in place going forward.” The Mayor also said she would be advocating for this bill on behalf of the smaller communities whose public safety buildings are “terribly inadequate.”
Another bill coming up for hearings is the Act relative to tax deeds and protecting equity, otherwise known as the “Equity Tax Bill.” And one other bill being filed is the Act fairly reimbursing local school transportation of foster children.