East Longmeadow signs Community Compact with the state

April 20, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

East Longmeadow Town Manager Denise Menard signed the Community Compact with (left to right) Town Council President Kevin Manley, Lt. Gov. Kayrn Polito and state Rep. Brian Ashe looking on. Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs



EAST LONGMEADOW – Town Manager Denise Menard called the signing of the Community Compact with the Commonwealth “a great step forward” for East Longmeadow.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito signed the document for the Commonwealth and said the town is the 270th community to enter into the program.

“It’s a milestone for this community,” Polito said.

According to website of Gov. Charlie Baker, “The Community Compact Cabinet elevates the Administration’s partnerships with cities and towns, and allows the Governor’s Office to work more closely with leaders from all municipalities. The Cabinet champions municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies, and develops, in consultation with cities and towns, mutual standards and best practices for both the state and municipalities.  The creation of Community Compacts creates clear standards, expectations and accountability for both partners. As Gov. Baker said when signing the Executive Order, the Community Compact Cabinet ‘gives cities and towns a real seat at the table’ in the Baker-Polito Administration.”

Polito noted it was the first executive order issued by Baker that created the program, which is funded by the Legislature.

As the website explains, “Resources for technical assistance from the Commonwealth will be prioritized for those communities entered into a Compact and seeking to implement their best practice(s).”

In East Longmeadow’s case, improving human resources was one of the areas the compact will address.

Kevin Manley, president of the Town Council said the new arrangement with the Commonwealth would allow the town to “get down the road quicker without the pain and suffering.”

Polito said the program is another form of state aid to cities and towns and said, “ We’re getting closer to the goal to have all communities signed up.”

She described the other benefit of the program is the Baker-Polito Administration “learns a lot,” especially about how “regulation is putting strain” on communities.

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