Weekly RoundUp for 03/17/2019
Housing crisis leaves seniors feeling stuck in Massachusetts • Hopkinton is proud to kick off Sunshine Week 2019 • Related articles on Sunshine week: Transparency laws in Massachusetts, Public payroll records made available through public database, Lax travel policies could put Metrowest towns at risk • Bittersweet Restaurant Public Hearing • Solar project being reconsidered by Hopkinton Planning Board • Town Election Update
Housing crisis leaves seniors feeling stuck in Massachusetts
The housing crisis facing seniors in Massachusetts is unique, multifaceted and has far-reaching repercussions. Limited housing stock coupled with economic growth and a growing population are driving up home prices in the Bay State, which in turn increases property tax bills. The growing costs are especially challenging to moderate- and low-income seniors who own homes and live on fixed incomes.
The Town of Hopkinton, MA is proud to kick off Sunshine Week 2019 with the launch of a new Project Portal.
Here is a report published on the Downtown Corridor project using the portal’s transparency tools.
https://www.cleargov.com/massachusetts/middlesex/town/hopkinton/projects/120/downtown-corridor
OTHER RELATED ARTICLES ON SUNSHINE WEEK:
SUNSHINE WEEK: As newspapers close, role of government watchdog disappears
“Those are the kinds of things that journalists do,” Boren said.
It’s the kind of journalism — holding local government officials accountable for problems that affect the lives of real people — that is in danger of being lost in many communities around the country.
Sunshine Week highlights transparency laws in Massachusetts
It’s your right to know. That’s the simple message of Sunshine Week, a March celebration of people’s right to an open government. The rules involved, however, are anything but simple. Sunshine Week highlights transparency laws in Massachusetts.
Digging into public payroll records: A searchable public database
The Daily News dived into the public payroll and expense reports this year for Sunshine Week, in order to provide readers with information.
The database of 2018 salaries includes: Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Natick, Northborough, Sudbury and Upton.
Sunshine Week: Lax policies on travel, meals could put MetroWest, Milford area towns at risk
Over the past five weeks, Daily News reporters asked 21 cities, towns and regional school districts in MetroWest and the Milford area to provide copies of their written policies on expense reimbursements. The paper found nearly all were missing one or more oversight features recommended by the state Inspector General’s Office, the state’s independent government watchdog agency.
Sunshine Week: These are the highest-paid employees in MetroWest
In Massachusetts, information about state government spending is available on a public website. Some cities and towns, including Framingham, have followed suit, launching data portals that allow technologically-savvy users to find everything from building permits to municipal payroll records.
RELATED RESOURCES:
Town of Hopkinton Transparency Center
http://www.hopkintonma.gov/residents/transparency_center/index.php
Sunshine Week – It’s Your Right to Know
March 10-16, 2019
Join ASNE and the Reporters Committee in the annual nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community.
Bittersweet Restaurant Public Hearing
The Hopkinton Board of Selectmen will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 7:15 p.m., to act on a Section 12 Restaurant alcohol annual license application, submitted by owner Mr.Ciaran Dunne, of Bittersweet, 22-24 Main Street, Hopkinton, to operate a food establishment during the day along with entertainment to be held on Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Proposed Manager of Record is Mark Pironti.
http://ma.mypublicnotices.com/PublicNotice.asp?Page=PublicNotice&AdId=4815521
Solar project being reconsidered by Hopkinton Planning Board
The Planning Board will reconsider its denial of a proposed solar-power facility off Wilson Street after the developer filed an appeal challenging the decision in land court.
The Planning Board will reconsider its denial of a proposed solar-power facility off Wilson Street after the developer filed an appeal challenging the decision in land court.
The company and the Planning Board filed a joint motion for a judge to remand the decision, according to Planning Board Chairwoman Muriel Kramer.
Town Election Update
A 4th candidate now for Library Trustee, but still no takers for Board of Assessors! Town Election Update | eHop | Hopkinton
https://ehop.org/2019/02/town-election-update-2/