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Polito pledges more western Mass. support By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer HOLYOKE – Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito met with Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse yesterday as part of a western Mass. tour, the first since recently inaugurated Governor Charlie Baker issued an executive order to release $100 million in Chapter 90 funding for road and bridge repair to the Bay State’s 351 cities and towns. Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said yesterday morning that the city of Westfield will be receiving approximately $600,000 from the administration to be used for a “variety of uses” including “design of some safety upgrades on the Shaker Road rail trail crossing and evaluating pavement management options.” Polito, a former state Representative from the Worcester suburb of Shrewsbury, also announced yesterday that the Baker administration has created a new Municipal Commonwealth Compact Cabinet. “It’s a way of telling cities and towns they have a seat at our table, that we value the work of our mayors, managers and elected officials,” said Polito, adding that she is excited to serve as a liaison for the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts, not just Boston. “You will see our administration spreading out outside the Commonwealth so we can grow jobs region-by-region,” she said. “I will be the champion, the voice and point of contact for our cities and towns for state government.” Polito stated that a new position – Commissioner of the Division of Local Services – had been created to oversee the Municipal Commonwealth Compact Cabinet. Polito pledged not to balance the state budget deficit of $765 million “on the backs of Massachusetts cities and towns.” “We will protect local aid in the rebalancing of the current year,” she said. “The very first action the Governor took when he was sworn into office three weeks ago was releasing Chapter 90 funds to fix bridges, roads and pot-
are no longer afraid do we begin to live.” — DOROTHY THOMPSON
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 027
“Only when we
WHS student extinguishes school fire By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A Westfield High School senior – and volunteer firefighter – is being credited with extinguishing a smoky fire in a school hallway yesterday morning. Firefighters and police responded to a 9:59 a.m. pull-station alarm at the school but the responding firefighters found little to do when they arrived thanks to the quick work of Joe Graydon, a senior at the school and a member of the junior officer program of the Huntington Volunteer Fire Department. Det. Lt. David Ragazzini reported that the fire originated in a trash barrel located in the foyer of a rear entry on the north side of the school near the rear doors of the cafeteria and auditorium. He said that when the fire was discovered by a teacher, a pull-station alarm was activated and the school was evacuated. The natural evacuation route for some of the students took them right past the burning barrel on their way to the rear door and one of them took action. “I think the kid did a noble thing,” said State Trooper See School Fire, Page 3
Mass. Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse met with reporters yesterday to announce the creation of a new cabinet position in the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker that will serve as a liaison to cities and towns. (Photo by Peter Francis) holes.” Polito also recited a mantra that Mass. Republicans have long recited during the administration of former Gov. Deval L. Patrick – that Massachusetts has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. “The revenue is coming in at 4 percent, but we’re spending 8 percent. You can’t spend more than you have coming in,” she said, declining
to say where cuts would be made to balance the budget but again pledging not to touch local aid. Polito said she looked forward to working with new State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who will succeed former Treasurer Steve Grossman as the state’s Lottery Commissioner, in exploring how more of the See Polito, Page 3
Elderly found dead after blizzard By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer YARMOUTH — Police in Massachusetts say a 97-yearold man and an 84-year-old woman were found dead outside their homes in different towns after this week’s blizzard. An officer found Richard MacLean Sr.’s body next to a carbon dioxide exhaust vent on his Yarmouth home on Cape Cod on Wednesday evening. MacLean’s son in Arizona had called police to check on his father. Authorities believe MacLean died while trying to clear the vent. Police also say Olive Dupuis was found dead next to her See Found Dead, Page 3
Audit says Baker didn’t violate NJ law By MICHAEL CATALINI Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey treasury audit has found Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker did not break pay-to-play rules when he donated to Republicans here in 2011. The report, which suggests both Baker and the firm he worked with resisted the notion of any wrongdoing, was shared with reporters yesterday after a meeting of the state panel that oversees the investments of the state’s $80 billion public pension system. New Jersey’s regulations bar the state from investing with a firm whose managers made political contributions within a two-year window. The audit says while Baker was an
In this Jan. 8, 2015 file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks with people on the floor of the House Chamber of the Statehouse, in Boston, following the inauguration of Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
investment professional, he did not provide the kinds of services the policy prohibits “The Governor is pleased that this matter is now resolved,” said Baker spokesman Tim Buckley. Baker won the Massachusetts gubernatorial election last fall with the help of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who chaired the Republican Governors Association. The RGA spent at least $10.5 million to support Baker through the Commonwealth Future super PAC, and Christie, who is considering a 2016 bid for the White House, endorsed Baker’s unsuccessful 2010 gubernatorial bid. The audit centered on Baker’s See Baker, Page 3
Max Gomez shovels his vehicle out at his home in Boston’s Charlestown section, Wednesday, one day after a blizzard dumped about two feet of snow in the city. The storm buried the Boston area in more than 2 feet of snow and lashed it with howling winds that exceeded 70 mph. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Massachusetts lawmakers vote to eliminate term limit By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers have voted to eliminate term limits for state House speakers — a change pushed by Democratic Speaker Robert DeLeo, who supported term limits when he was first elected to the powerful post. The 109-45 vote yesterday was largely on party lines, with Republicans favoring term limits and most Democrats siding with DeLeo. DeLeo defended his decision earlier yesterday, speaking with reporters after emerging from a closed-door
caucus with Democratic lawmakers. DeLeo said he didn’t feel he was going back on his word, pointing to the experience he’s gained as speaker. The earlier rule that was backed by DeLeo in 2009 limited speakers to four, two-year terms. Under that rule, DeLeo, elected speaker in 2009, would have to step down in 2017. The change allows the Winthrop Democrat to remain speaker as long as House members continue to elect him. “From six years in 2009 to hence my opinion has evolved,” DeLeo said. “I wouldn’t say I’m going back
on my word as much as the fact that over six years, rightly or wrongly, I have learned … in terms of what the importance is of doing away with the term limits that we have in our rules.” Democratic supporters of the change said the term limits puts DeLeo at a disadvantage during negotiations with newly elected Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and new Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat, where he could be seen as a lame duck. Baker steered clear of the debate. “I’m a big believer in letting the House and the Senate make their own
decisions with respect with how they want to manage their affairs and they’ll make whatever decision they think makes sense for them,” Baker said yesterday. The group Common Cause Massachusetts also opposed the change. It issued a statement Wednesday arguing in favor of term limits, saying they serve an important function, given that speakers aren’t subject to statewide election. They said without term limits, a speaker must either be See Term Limit, Page 3
ROBERT DELEO D-Winthrop