Proposed bill designed to help towns ‘chart their own course’ 

By Theresa Knapp 

During his report to the Select Board on Feb. 7, Ashland Town Manager Michael Herbert shared with the board information related to the Municipal Empowerment Act which is making its way through the state legislature, and asked members to consider supporting it in the future. 

The bill is available at www.mass.gov/municipal-empowerment-act and is “designed to arm local government with greater tools and supports to chart their own course.” 

Herbert highlighted certain sections that would affect Ashland including: changes to the procurement laws; flexibility for retirees to come back and work; makes permanent some COVID-19 era “flexibilities” such as hybrid meetings, outdoor dining, and to-go alcohol option; changes to amortization schedules related to borrowing for school projects; and allows municipalities to impose a 5% fee on motor vehicle excise tax as well as increase the meals tax 1% (from its current 0.75%). 

Herbert noted it would also allow double pole enforcement after 90 days with up to a $1,000 fee per occurrence. 

The board will discuss the bill at a subsequent meeting. A section by section summary can be found at www.mass.gov/doc/municipal-empowerment-act-section-by-section-summary/download