Local Legislators Offer Guidance and Assistance During COVID-19 Outbreak

BOSTON- As our Commonwealth, and our nation, grapples with the COVID-19 outbreak, it is more important than ever that we, as your state legislators, remain connected to you during these unprecedented times.

Information is changing quickly so it is difficult for us to write a “timely” message. Some of what we describe about the outbreak may be outdated by the time you read this but one message will not change: We are here for you.

As of last Monday morning, Governor Baker had declared a state of emergency and issued five additional emergency orders. Subsequent orders and news about legislation will follow, likely daily for a while. For now, we’d like to make sure you know that public and private schools are closed for at least a three-week suspension. All bars and restaurants in Massachusetts are currently shut down to on-premise consumption. Gatherings are limited to crowds of 10 or fewer. Please stay up to date with these and future emergency orders by visiting mass.gov/covid19

Throughout this health emergency, we will continue to be guided by actions that will ensure our resources are dedicated to responding to this epidemic in a fair, timely and effective way. We have already introduced and/or are supporting legislation related to extending and increasing unemployment insurance, moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures during the time of the Emergency Order, increased funding for our regional transit authorities, deferral of payment of hospitality-related taxes, and providing assistance to public institutions of higher education and their host communities.

Our colleagues from around the state are frequently taken aback by the collegiality practiced in our counties. They admire how well our businesses and non-profits seamlessly engage with one another for the betterment of all communities. They marvel at how county lines disappear so that municipalities can support each other and advance solutions that serve the entire region. The reality is that we do not have the luxury of doing otherwise. We know we are strongest when we work together and that has never been as true as it is right now.

In this time of uncertainty, know that each one of us is working to ensure that we all have the most timely and accurate information pertaining to the COVID-19 virus. We encourage you to be in touch with us and have included our contact information below. Even if we don’t know the answer to your question right away, we will get you the information as quickly as we can.

If you can, please join us in practicing social distancing which at this time includes staying home as much as possible, working from home, and abiding by the emergency order banning large group gatherings. This is not only for your health but it is designed to stop the spread of the infection. Stopping the spread of infection at this time is about protecting both the health of vulnerable neighbors and the health care system upon which we all rely. But there is more we can all be doing: Let’s check in with our neighbors by phone. Contact your local council on aging to see if there are seniors alone in the community in need of a phone call. Make a financial donation (online) to a local food pantry if you can. Continue washing our hands and practicing good personal hygiene. Take care of yourself. And, reach out if you need assistance.

We want to thank all public officials, boards of health, medical providers, first responders, public safety personnel, school staff, transit authorities, small business owners, and everyone charged with the care and well-being of Commonwealth residents.

We stand with you. Today and always.

As we continue to learn more about this virus, improve testing and gather data, the situation may get worse before it gets better. But it will get better. We have already seen so many beautiful examples of individuals in our communities reaching out to support one another. Let’s continue to support each other in the coming days. In this time of social distancing, know that we are not just here for you - we are here with you.

Anne M. Gobi
State Senator

Harriette Chandler
State Senator

Dean Tran
State Senator

Susannah Whipps
State Representative

Todd Smola
State Representative

Natalie Blais
State Representative

Kim Ferguson
State Representative

Donald Berthiaume
State Representative

Brian Ashe
State Representative

Auditor Bump Asks Municipalities to Report on Early Voting Spending from 2020 Presidential Primary
Bump renews call on Legislature to permanently address early voting unfunded mandate

Boston, MA – After Bay State voters went to the polls to take part in early voting in the presidential primary election for the first time last month, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump is asking city and town clerks to provide an accounting of unfunded, mandated costs related to that service. Bump will use this information to provide a formal certification of these costs to the legislature and ask it to allocate funds in a future supplemental budget to reimburse these communities. Bump is asking for responses from cities and towns by Monday, April 20.

“Cities and towns spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to make voting in the presidential primary easier and more convenient. This is a good thing. However, with no process to reimburse them, these communities could be stuck with a bill that should be covered by the state,” Bump said. “The legislature must allocate funds to reimburse these communities and remove uncertainty about future elections by establishing a permanent and predictable method to fund this important service.”

In 2017, through her office’s Division of Local Mandates, communities were reimbursed $1,144,156.22 for mandated early voting expenses.

Auditor Bump has worked with Rep. Steven Ultrino and Rep. Brad Jones to pass legislation that would establish a permanent method to fund mandated municipal costs associated with early voting.

Audit Calls for Improved Oversight of Background Checks and Financial Activities at Mount Wachusett Community College

Boston, MA – In an audit released today, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump found Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) could not demonstrate that all students in its early childhood education (ECE) program had passed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks before beginning their teaching practicums with students. The audit, which examined July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018, also found MWCC was not reporting the full costs of operations in its financial statements which help guide important decisions about the school’s activities.

“Mount Wachusett Community College has many significant responsibilities, but two of the most important are public safety and sound financial management. Our audit makes clear the college must do a better job to ensure they’re not putting children at risk, and use all the financial information at its disposal so it can make informed decisions,” Bump said. “These are serious matters and I’m encouraged that the school has indicated it is taking steps to address them.”

During the audit, MWCC stated that CORI checks were performed for all students participating in practicum courses, but auditors found the college did not have records of CORI reports for 40 of the 95 students. The audit notes that allowing students to participate in practicums without ensuring that required CORI checks were performed could pose a risk to children at the facilities, specifically local daycare centers. In its response, MWCC reported it was taking steps to resolve this issue.

Past audits of Bristol Community College and Quinsigamond Community College found similar issues related to criminal background checks not being performed regularly.

Additionally, the audit found MWCC’s financial reports, used to measure operating performance, were incomplete. Auditors revealed MWCC’s financial statements did not include indirect costs, such as operations, maintenance, depreciation, and administration, for its Green Street Cafe (GSC) and Mount Fitness Center (MFC), which are part of the college’s auxiliary services. The audit notes that since the café and fitness center are subsidized by the college, it is prudent that financial statements provided to the board of the college reflect indirect costs so they can properly allocate resources and set tuition and fees for students. Further, the audit notes MWCC management did not use detailed management reporting, which considers costs, revenue, and operational activities, to guide decisions for GSC and MFC.

MWCC is one of 15 public community colleges in Massachusetts. The college offers three programs in the ECE major to help prepare students to work with children professionally. Students must participate in a practicum course that requires 150 hours of working directly with children in a supervised ECE setting. As of December 31, 2018, there were 118 students enrolled in ECE programs.

The full audit report is available here.