STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
UMASS TO MEET UNDER CRIMINAL SECTION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION LAW
A University of Massachusetts committee plans to meet in a private executive session Wednesday under a state law governing meetings of public bodies pertaining to investigations into criminal issues. According to the agenda of the University of Massachusetts Audit Committee, the panel plans to consider a report of the university’s director of internal audit at its 10 a.m. meeting in Boston, before a scheduled executive session where there’s an update planned on an “on-going investigation pursuant to General Law Chapter 30A, section 21(a)(5).” That section of state law governs the purposes of executive sessions of public bodies and in particular sessions “to investigate charges of criminal misconduct or to consider the filing of criminal complaints.” A UMass spokesman declined further comment Tuesday afternoon. – Michael Norton/SHNS
BAKER URGES LOCAL OFFICIALS TO PRESS AHEAD WITH SOLAR PROJECTS
Story Developing. Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday urged local officials to encourage the construction of new solar energy projects, despite the fact that the cap on the amount of solar power that can be sold back to the grid has already been hit for nearly half the state’s communities. Baker, who last month filed legislation that would lift the cap on what’s known as net metering, said during a meeting of the Local Government Advisory Council that installing solar generators can still be financially worthwhile even without the ability to sell the extra electricity to the grid at retail rates. “A cap does not mean that there is no benefit financially to a community, to a household, to a commercial property owner going ahead and doing a solar project,” Baker said. “All a cap means is that you get reimbursed on the net meter at a wholesale price rather than retail.” – Katie Lannan/SHNS
BAKER: LOCAL GOP CANDIDATES HAVEN’T ASKED FOR HELP
Gov. Charlie Baker hates being asked about presidential politics, and usually sidesteps direct questions by reaffirming that his focus is on Massachusetts. But as fall municipal races and a special election for state Senate heat up, the governor’s appetite to get involved in local politics is also in question. Among the five lawmakers seeking other offices this November, two are fellow Republicans. Sen. Robert Hedlund is challenging Weymouth Mayor Sue Kay and others, and Rep. Geoff Diehl is running for the Republican nomination to succeed the late Sen. Thomas Kennedy of Brockton. Baker told reporters on Tuesday, after meeting with the Local Government Advisory Council, that he has not engaged so far in any fundraising or campaign activities in those races. “I’m certainly rooting for Senator Hedlund, and I’m certainly routing for Representative Diehl, but I haven’t gotten involved in any of that activity,” Baker said. Asked whether he would lend a hand to his fellow Republicans, Baker said, “It will depend. I mean, no one’s asked me, so to some extent I don’t normally get involved if no one’s asked.” – Matt Murphy/SHNS
POLITO: INVOLVEMENT IN GOP PREZ SWEEPSTAKES NOT A PRIORITY [+ VIDEO]
Like Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito doesn’t appear anxious to get involved in presidential politics. Polito said Tuesday that endorsing a Republican candidate for president is not a priority. “We are so focused on the municipal issues that I’m caring for for our administration and other issues that it’s not something that’s on the top of my list, especially with more than year from now an election on that topic,” Polito told the News Service Tuesday following a meeting of the Local Government Advisory Committee at the State House. [WatchLt. Gov On 2016 Race] Asked if she had a particular interest in any of the Republican presidential candidates, Polito reiterated that her focus is elsewhere. “I’m really focused on doing what I do for the cities and towns. I’m doing a lot on the domestic violence, sexual assault front and small business development and doing a whole lot of work day to day with the governor, that we love so much,” she said. Gov. Charlie Baker has repeatedly avoided weighing in on his own party’s crowded presidential primary and has not endorsed a candidate publicly. – Antonio Caban /SHNS
BAKER SENDS NEWTON COUNCIL BILL BACK WITH AMENDMENT
Gov. Charlie Baker has withheld his signature from a bill that would change the name of Newton’s Board of Aldermen to a gender-neutral city council, returning it with an amendment that he said would more accurately reflect the changes sought by town officials sought. The bill, filed by Rep. Ruth Balser of Newton, changes the name of the governing body in Newton to the Newton City Council, and replaces all gender-specific terminology in the city’s charter with neutral language. Baker, in his amendment letter to the House and Senate, said the bill that reached his desk “inadvertently omitted” some of the changes requested by the city in a “red-lined version” of the city charter submitted as part of Newton’s home rule petition for a charter change. The Board of Aldermen approved the changes in a March 16 vote. “To ensure that this enacted home rule bill accurately reflects the town’s authorization and intentions, I recommend that House Bill No. 3563 be amended,” Baker wrote, recommending several changes including the replacement of one reference to “committeeman” with “committee member.” The House on Tuesday referred Baker’s amendment to the Committee on Bills in Third Reading, chaired by Rep. Theodore Speliotis of Danvers. – Matt Murphy/SHNS
VOTERS HIT THE POLLS FOR MUNI ELECTIONS
With temperatures expected to soar past 90 degrees, Voters in Boston, Chicopee, Greenfield, Springfield, Worcester and West Springfield head to the polls for preliminary municipal elections Tuesday. In Boston, voters will cast ballots for City Council candidates in district four — where longtime incumbent Charles Yancey faces three challengers — and in district seven — where incumbent Tito Jackson goes up against five challengers. In Springfield, incumbent Mayor Domenic Sarno and six challengers are on the ballot Tuesday, but only the top two vote getters will secure a spot on the November ballot. The Worcester ballot features 16 candidates vying for a total of six City Councilor-at-Large seats and four candidates running for the lone district two councilor seat. The West Springfield mayoral race will trim the field of candidates from three down to two, and voters in both Greenfield and Chicopee will narrow the fields of candidates running for various municipal offices. Polls will be open until 8 p.m. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3. – Colin A. Young /SHNS
