Saturday, March 31, 2012
Amendments to suggestion awards board could pay up to $10,000 to residents.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, March 31, 2012
If you woke up on Saturday morning and were not $600 million richer from the lottery, take heart. The Massachusetts Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight has given a favorable nod to pending legislation that could pay state residents up to $10,000 for new ideas that save taxpayers money. The proposal, sponsored by State Representative Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), who represents Medfield, amends the existing Suggestion Awards Board law to allow cash awards to all Massachusetts residents who propose money-saving ideas. The current law limits cash awards only to state employees. Awards are funded as a percentage of money saved by new ideas, up to a $10,000 per idea limit. "The citizens of the Commonwealth are the best …
Monday, February 27, 2012
Medfield State Representative Dan Winslow sends model bylaw for town meeting consideration.
Medfield's State Representative, Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), has sent a model local bylaw to the Massachusetts Municipal Association that, if adopted by local town meetings or city councils, would allow municipalities to require better maintenance of utility lines by utility companies to reduce the risk of extended power outages from tree damage after storms. Medfield experienced significant power outages as a result of Tropical Storm Irene this past August and last October's Nor'easter. "The utilities have spent millions on lobbyists at the State House to block pending legislation which would increase competition or create incentives for better management of our power grid," said Winslow. "But lobbyists have zero influence at a local town …
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting was postponed because Senator James Timilty was not able to attend due to the death of his sister.
The Medfield Board of Selectmen postponed Tuesday's meeting with Senator James Timilty and State Representative Dan Winslow due to the death of Senator Timility's sister, Kelly Timilty, earlier Tuesday after a brief illness. Assistant Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler said the selectmen decided to postpone Tuesday's meeting out of respect for Sen. Timilty. Kelly Timilty was a member of the Governor's Council where she represented the Second District which includes Medfield. The selectmen were to discuss a possible casino in Foxborough, a proposed railroad expansion that would run from Worcester through Medfield to Foxborough, and the status of the Medfield State Hospital property. The meeting will be rescheduled at a later date.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Rep. Dan Winslow recently sent a letter to Mass. DOT opposing the use of public funds to be used to support rail expansion or upgrades from Boston to Foxborough/Walpole, Worcester or Providence in light of reports confirming potential development of a Fox
Medfield's State Representative, Daniel Winslow (Norfolk-R), recently sent a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation opposing the use of public funds to be used to support rail expansion or upgrades from Boston to Foxboro/Walpole, Worcester or Providence in light of last Friday's reports confirming potential development of a casino at the Foxboro stadium site. In the letter, Winslow says, "In my view, not one thin dime of limited public money should be spent for the private benefit of billonaires in a private transaction." To see Winslow's letter in its entirety, click on the PDF file in the photo section of this article.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Massachusetts transgender equal rights bill was approved by legislature this past week.
The Huffington Post reported this week that "Massachusetts will become the 16th state to treat transgender citizens as a protected class after legislature passed the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, which not only adds protections to the state's civil rights laws against employment, education, housing and credit discrimination, but also adds gender identity and expression to the state's hate crimes law," according to the Huffington Post's article. The bill still needs final approval from both branches and will need to be signed by Governor Deval Patrick. Medfield's State Representative, Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) said he voted in favor of the bill. "This week I voted in favor of a bill that secures the civil rights for members of the …
Friday, November 18, 2011
State Representatives, including Medfield's Dan Winslow, support House Bill 3811, referred to as Melissa's Bill.
Medfied's State Representative Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) and Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk) joined lead sponsor Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich), House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and the entire House Republican Caucus in supporting the legislation after several representatives voted in favor to pass a bill that would keep repeat offenders in jail. House Bill 3811, referred to as Melissa's Bill, was filed in 2000 in memory of Melissa Gosule, a teacher who was murdered by a repeat offender who served less than two years in prison for a total of 27 convictions. House Republicans offered several amendments to the bill, including mandatory written notification of parole hearings to the Attorney General, District Attorney, local …
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
State representative Dan Winslow will be part of a special commission to study the state's criminal justice system.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Medfield's State Representative, Dan Winslow (R- Norfolk), has been chosen to join a special commission to study the Massachusetts criminal justice system, which will review aspects of the state’s criminal justice system, including prisoner classification, probation, overcrowding in prisons, the recidivism rates, and juvenile detention centers, among other things. The commission will begin meeting this month and will submit a report by the end of March 2012 with recommendations for improving the criminal justice system. “There are many sections of the Massachusetts criminal justice system that could be upgraded and improved to better serve the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Winslow. “We are facing problems with overpopulation in …
Thursday, November 3, 2011
U.S. Senator Scott Brown has endorsed Medfield's State Rep. Dan Winslow's power outage rebate bill.
Medfield's State Rep. Daniel Winslow (R-Norfolk) is getting attention for a bill he proposed that would require utility companies to provide rebates for long power outages. Winslow said he proposed the bill after the outages caused by Tropical Storm Irene. "It would require the utilities to rebate customers two days for every one day where they went more than eight hours without power," he said. "The utilities are a monopoly — they're not subject to competitive pressures." He said this bill would incentivize companies to aggressively trim tree limbs and upgrade their power stations. Winslow pointed to the town of Princeton, Mass. as an example. He said Princeton's municipal electrical department worked aggressively after Irene devastated …
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Winslow urges action on power outage rebate legislation.
A local legislator has called for utility companies to take responsibility for extended outages. Medfield State Rep. Daniel Winslow (R-Norfolk) has asked the House Rules Committee to take action on a power outage rebate bill. According to a release from Winslow's office, the bill would require rebates to customers who go without power for more than eight hours. The rebate would be for two days of their average bill for each day the customer is without power. "We need to make sure the residents of Massachusetts are being taken care of and the utility companies are held accountable to fix the problem in a timely manner," Winslow said. The bill, Winslow said, would incentivize preventative maintenance like tree removal. He said the efforts by…
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
NSTAR customers encouraged to attend post-Tropical Storm Irene public hearing in Framingham on Nov. 16.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Medfield's State Representative, Dan Winslow, (R-Norfolk) announced the State Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will conduct a public hearing for NSTAR customers on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Walsh Middle School, 301 Brook St. in Framingham to discuss NSTAR’s response and procedures for post-Tropical Storm Irene power outages. "The DPU has the power to regulate utility companies that fail to conform to their emergency response plans and to direct fines to offset costs to customers," said Winslow. "This meeting is an important and effective platform for town residents and officials to share their experiences with power outages as a result of [Tropical Storm] Irene and to demand that utilities be more responsive and better …
Richard DeSorgher
3:57 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
I would hope that this new regulation does not mean open season on the town's road-side shade trees. Rather than decimate the trees NStar should begin a long range program of getting into the 21st Century. The stringing of wires on poles through the trees began with the end of the Pony Express in the mid 1800's. Clearly the future is putting the wires underground as many neighboring town centers … more ›