A little more than a year after Gov. Charlie Baker signed his first executive order, creating the Community Compact Cabinet program to promote best practices in municipal government, Lt. Gov. Karen Polito gave an update on the program at the April 12 meeting of the Local Government Advisory Commission.
 
The lieutenant governor reported that 167 communities have signed compacts, with 34 more signing ceremonies scheduled. Another 16 communities have yet to schedule signing ceremonies, and 15 applications are under review.
 
Participating communities mirror the statewide population distribution, with nearly half coming from towns with a population below 10,000.
 
The 232 applications from communities so far cover a total of 506 chosen best practices. The most popular best practice areas are financial management, housing and economic development, technology, and regional collaboration.
 
Lt. Gov. Polito chairs the Community Compact Cabinet, which was created to increase collaboration and communication between local government and the administration. Participating communities receive technical assistance from state agencies as well as bonus points on grant program applications.
 
The Community Compacts “create clear, mutual standards, expectations, and accountability for both the state and municipalities as to create better government for our citizens,” according to the program’s website (www.mass.gov/governor/administration/groups/communitycompactcabinet).
 
At the LGAC meeting, Lexington Selectman Michelle Ciccolo thanked the administration for its work on the Compact program and with local governments.
 
Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday also spoke to the benefits of the program, citing $5 million in new state funding for the development of a downtown parking garage in her city that followed Newburyport’s signing of its Community Compact. The garage is expected to give a welcome boost to economic development for the downtown area.
 
Sean Cronin, senior deputy commissioner for the Division of Local Services, lauded the cities and towns that have applied.
 
“Communities have gotten very creative in the ways they use this program,” he said.
 
Lt. Gov. Polito stressed that the process will be re-opened on July 1 to all municipalities, even those that have already signed compacts. She said the administration is continuing to review the submitted best practices and will post all final project reports on the Community Compact website.

By David Lakeman and John Ouellette
 

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