News from Beacon Hill
Evangelidis defeated in proposal to return money

State Rep. Lew Evangelidis (R-Holden) supported a measure that would have returned $386,044 to Westminster in the form of additional local aid on Oct. 11.

Evangelidis supported a measure that would send $450 million to cities and towns as local aid or property tax relief. The money is part of the $500 million left in the general fund from FY07, he said.

"I am very disappointed that the Republican amendment to send millions of dollars back to our cities and towns was not supported," Evangelidis said.

The Republican caucus filed the proposals as amendments to a supplemental spending plan authored by Democrats in the House and Senate, according to Evangelidis.

The first amendment would have sent $450 million to cities and towns in the form of unrestricted local aid that communities could spend as they desire. The second amendment would have provided $450 million in direct property tax relief to every homeowner in the state.

Rice files to require inspection postings in our restaurants

State Rep. Robert Rice (D-Gardner) and state Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) signed onto a proposed bill that would require local health departments to adopt regulations that state that after an inspection of a restaurant, cafeteria, or other vending locations "a local health agent shall post a copy of each page of the food establishment inspection report in a prominent location at or near the main entrance."

The regulations would require the report remain until the health agent replaces it following the next inspection. Local boards determine how often restaurants inspected and determine the inspection requirements based on state and federal guidelines.

Rice believes this is an important, low to no cost requirement that will give the public the most recent report from their local board of health.