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PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
FOR COURT RELOCATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The
Trial Court's Court Relocation Committee formed to identify
court locations for potential consolidation has announced
its schedule of public meetings to seek comment on its
preliminary recommendations. The Committee's efforts
are one component of major cost reduction efforts underway
within the Trial Court to reduce the number of layoffs
required by a shortfall in the FY11 budget. Relocations
also are required to manage court operations given the
loss of more than 700 employees, which has left many
local courts severely understaffed.
The
public meetings will be held as follows from 5 p.m. to
7 p.m.:
August
4, 2010 |
Worcester Trial
Court, 225 Main Street, Worcester
for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester Counties
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August
11, 2010 |
Brooke Courthouse, 24 New
Chardon St., Boston
for Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk Counties
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August
12, 2010 |
Covett Courthouse, 215 Main
St., Brockton
for Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties
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The
Committee's preliminary recommendations were based on
its review of all 103 courthouse facilities. The recommendations
represent the beginning of a process that will involve
further analysis and review using the public input gained
from these sessions.
The
Trial Court's FY11 budget stands at $534.8 million, which
compares with an FY10 budget of $559.5 million and FY09
initial appropriation of $605.1 million. Other cost saving
measures underway include the announcement of a five-day
furlough for judges, clerks, and court managers, announcement
of incentives for retirement, voluntary layoffs, and
work hour reductions, as well as the extension of an
absolute hiring freeze in place since 2008. As with prior
relocations, the proposed court relocations or consolidations
will not cause employee layoffs at those locations. Any
layoffs required by budget cuts will be determined by
a separate process.
The
criteria established by the Committee to identify potential
sites for relocation and consolidation include lease
terms and expenses, personnel impact and staffing levels,
the condition of facilities, building functions, caseload,
geography and transportation issues, as well as access
to justice. The Trial Court will make decisions on the
temporary relocation of court operations. The permanent
closure of courthouses requires action by the Legislature.
The
Court Relocation Committee, co-chaired by District Court
Chief Justice Lynda M. Connolly and Housing Court Chief
Justice Steven D. Pierce, was convened by Chief Justice
Mulligan in February and includes the following members:
Anthony M. Doniger, Esq., Sugarman, Rogers,
Barshak & Cohen / Boston (Access to Justice Commission
Member)
Douglas Martin, Esq., Law Offices of Douglas Martin / Malden (Mass.
Bar Association Representative)
Elizabeth Pattullo, Beacon Health Strategies (Court Management
Advisory Board Member)
John J. Regan, Esq., WilmerHale / Boston (President, Boston Bar
Association)
Edward P. Ryan, Jr., O'Connor and Ryan / Fitchburg (Former President,
Mass. Bar Association)
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