May - 2021

May 25
1 min

Rapid Fire Updates - May 25, 2021

The Department of Revenue, Division of Local Services has issued three new Informational Guideline Releases: 1. Updated Guidance for Supplemental Assessment or Abatement Pursuant to G.L. c. 59, § 2D DOR’s Division of Local Services has issued IGR 2021-12 providing the latest summary of the law regarding the operation of G.L. c.44, § 2D. This statute will apply to real property assessments unless the selectmen reject its application and inform the Department of Revenue. 2. Ext

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Climate Policy, Municipal Light Plants, and Local Taxation

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

May 25
2 min

Climate Policy, Municipal Light Plants, and Local Taxation

Governor Baker recently signed into law “An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy,” Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021. Sections 33 and 34 of that Act bolster the requirement that electricity suppliers derive product from non-carbon emitting sources by adding a new section 11F¾ to M.G.L. c.25A. Municipal light plants are required under this new section to establish a greenhouse gas emission standard to set the minimum percentage of electric power

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It Soon Will Be Time to Reevaluate Those Voting Precincts!

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

May 25
2 min

It Soon Will Be Time to Reevaluate Those Voting Precincts!

It soon will be that time again. M.G.L. c.54, §6 states that “[i]n the year 2001 and every tenth year thereafter”, the Select Board of every town of more than 6,200 or more inhabitants or a town having precincts must divide the town into convenient voting precincts. The statute outlines various requirements for establishing the precincts: Precincts must be composed of compact and contiguous territory. The center line of streets or ways, or other well-defined limits that const

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More Federal Funds Come to Your Municipality; How Can You Use Them?

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

May 25
2 min

More Federal Funds Come to Your Municipality; How Can You Use Them?

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriates federal funds directly to “metropolitan cities” and funds through the state to municipalities with populations under 50,000. You may obtain the estimated amount to be allocated to your municipality here. The legislation requires that the money be used for six main categories related to COVID-19 relief. The U.S. Treasury has released an Interim Final Rule to provide guidance on the proper use of the funds per Section 9901 of th

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Miyares and Harrington, LLP

May 18
5 min

May 18, 2021 Miyares and Harrington LLP Client Alert COVID-19 and Municipal Operations

The Governor has announced rapid changes to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in light of improvements in rates of infection and vaccination. This Alert highlights the most recent changes. Here is a list of the Orders, Acts, and Guidance referenced in this Alert: · May 17, 2021, Governor Accelerates Lifting Restrictions on Masks, Announces June 15, 2021 as Date of Termination of State of Emergency · May 16, 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance When Yo

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