Since last year there has been whispered speculation in the Paradise City regarding Mayor Mary Clare Higgins’ future, as she was an early and rabid supporter of Deval Patrick during his successful campaign for the governor’s office. Some that follow Northampton municipal affairs closely have expressed belief that Higgins will be tapped for a position in the east, because she served on Patrick’s transition team and has an association with Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray, but nothing has been forthcoming so far. In my view it would be refreshing for some new perspectives to emanate from Northampton’s corner office, but with the State Hospital’s Old Main now gone to be replaced with who knows what, with the Academy of Music debacle now in our ‘rear-view mirrors’, with Smith College expansion secured, and with Green Street’s demise upon us soon, we citizens of Nohamp along with Higgins’ successor, will have to live with her policy decisions, for better or worse whether she leaves office or not. Maybe she feels her work here is done and that now it’s time to move on, but she hasn’t publicly indicated what her professional aspirations are and I wonder how her impending departure might impact those of us that would remain here as she forges ahead. Higgins’ probable re-election this fall could very well serve as a stepping-stone for her to make a move up and out from our midst, a move that for some of us would be appreciated. How might that come about? Here’s one conjecture:
On January 29, 2007 the Boston Globe ran an editorial, The crisis in municipal health insurance by Mary Clare Higgins and Ralph White, advocating for new legislation "to create a new local option for municipalities to join the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC), which already provides health insurance to more than 285,000 government employees and their dependents." Higgins and White asserted, "We need to pass this legislation early this year, so municipalities can begin considering this new option–and bring their insurance costs down." They added that health insurance costs "constrain the ability of cities and towns to attract and keep the employees who provide frontline services" and that the Commission "will add new commissioners to represent municipal government and municipal workers." The article concluded in part, "Mary Clare Higgins is mayor of Northampton and immediate past president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association" (MMA). Note the word "immediate" which indicates Higgins is an ex-officio member of the MMA Board of Directors and likely still has voting privileges.
Providing political symmetry, about two weeks later on February 15 a legislative proposal entitled, "An Act Establishing the Municipal Partnership Act" (PDF) was filed by Governor Patrick. Contained in Section 6 is an amendment to Section 3 of chapter 32A of Massachusetts General Laws: "In addition to the members described in the previous sentence, there shall be at least 2 but not more than 4 municipal representatives who shall be members of the group insurance commission. One management representative shall be appointed by the governor from a list of 3 representatives provided by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and 1 labor representative shall be appointed by the governor from a list of 3 representatives provided by the president of the teachers’ union with the greatest number of active and retired members enrolled in commission health plans. In addition, on the transfer of 25,000 subscribers from municipal governmental units to the group insurance commission under section 19 of chapter 32B, there shall be a second management representative appointed by the governor from a list of 3 representatives provided by the Massachusetts Municipal Association and second labor representative appointed by the governor from a list of 3 representatives of municipal public safety employees provided by the president of the Massachusetts chapter of the AFL-CIO. If the governor fails to take action within 180 days to appoint any of these representatives to the commission, a representative from the list from which no action has been taken shall be appointed to the commission by the relevant organization."
The private nonprofit MMA which up until recently was guided by Higgins, is a strong advocate of the Municipal Partnership Act and has significant influence in the Governor’s office as the previous paragraph can attest to. On their website the MMA claims to represent "the interests of the cities and towns of Massachusetts" but also maintains a "Members Only Resources" section that is not available to the general public. Besides elected officials, volunteer and paid personnel from most of Massachusetts’ 351 municipalities are MMA members. In a telephone interview Patricia Mikes, MMA’s Communications and Membership Director, indicated that a formula based membership dues applied to each community, depending upon their size, fund the MMA. Mikes didn’t have specific figures, but added that the MMA also raises operating revenues from registration fees generated from its Annual Meeting and Trade Show.
Held in January at the Hynes Convention Center & Sheraton Boston Hotel, attendees of the show could choose from 27 workshops conducted on issues ranging from Business Improvement Districts to getting voters to say ‘Yes’ to tax overrides. Banquet speakers included Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona and entertainment was provided by the popular comedy troupe Improv Asylum. With various fees ranging into the hundreds of dollars per person for the Annual Meeting and Trade Show combined with the annual dues levied on member communities, citizens across Massachusetts are likely contributing their tax dollars in order for municipal officials to participate in MMA activities, and in some cases to work on furthering their careers.
Though not necessarily contained in the Municipal Partnership Act, here’s more from the current MMA Legislative Package:
"Indemnification of municipal employees: Indemnification of municipal employees does not continue after the individual is no longer employed by the municipality. This exposure of former municipal employees should be eliminated. The MMA bill would amend the indemnification law to cover actions taken during an individual’s tenure in a municipality, even if the individual is no longer employed by the municipality." In other words, the MMA is moving to exempt public officials from incurring penalties or liabilities for official actions taken during their public tenures, after they leave the public sector.
The MMA is also looking to:
- Shorten state pension vesting requirements from 10 years to five
- Liberalize wastewater and water treatment facility contracts exempting them in the future from public building and public works construction laws
- "Raise the threshold, from $1 to $5,000, for the requirement that cities and towns solicit three written quotes for the procurement of goods and services under chapter 149, Section 44A. Under the MMA bill, "sound business practices" would be required for procurements under $5,000." If approved, officials could easily subdivide jobs into numerous free-standing phases, each priced under $5,000, and exempt themselves from collecting three written quotes and in the process apply what they feel are "sound business practices" as defined by whomever is in charge. ugh.
- Enact a local meals tax of up to 3% (there’s also a move to increase hotel occupancy taxes by 1%-notable because of the 100-room Hilton Garden Inn planned for the Round House parking lot ).
- Inclusionary zoning that would require up to 25% of housing units proposed in new subdivisions be set aside for persons earning not more than 120% of area median income.
- Amend MGL Chapter 40A statutes
- Allow for the establishment of post-retirement insurance liability funds
- Allow for debt exclusion overrides for health insurance benefits
It’s arguable whether Higgins tenure has been good for Northampton and she certainly has an ample supply of loyal and notable supporters willing to defend her policy decisions to the end. With her political might she could probably go on winning the mayor’s post indefinitely, but there could be more transpiring. Higgins is adept at merging her personal ambitions with the career opportunities that avail themselves to her while working in the public interest, and there’s nothing wrong with that-personal growth is usually deemed a positive. Her roots in New York and nonprofit child care, she has skillfully parlayed a part-time interest on Northampton’s City Council into the seat in Northampton’s highest public office. However, Higgins’ interests might be expanding beyond her city hall redoubt, as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ GIC might come calling seeking her municipal expertise. Though the commission’s members are volunteers, the GIC oversees more than 40 employees and 285,000 clients and will be looking to expand its operation if the proposed legislation is approved and tens of thousands of new clients are added. This could very well create an opportunity for Higgins, who will be playing a role in choosing two of the new commissioners that will be charged with running the GIC, should the Municipal Partnership Act be adopted by the State Legislature.
If this scenario begins to play out, or one similar does, Northampton citizens will need to begin thinking about municipal affairs in a post Higgins era, as local politicos likely have been doing since Patrick’s election. Who will end up in the corner office next, and what alliances will be formed to make it so?
