Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 537: Strengthening the level of partnership and collaboration between state government and cities and towns

Date: 08/25/2011
Issuer: Deval L. Patrick
Mass Register: No. 1192
Revoking and Superseding: Executive Order 480
Revoked and Superseded by: Executive Order 554

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, cities and towns are the primary service providers for the residents of the Commonwealth;

WHEREAS, cities and towns are a vital partner in creating the conditions under which economic development flourishes throughout Massachusetts;

WHEREAS, cities and towns have the primary responsibility of educating children throughout the Commonwealth and providing children with the foundation that will enable them to compete in a global marketplace;

WHEREAS, the most crucial and visible interactions between government and citizen - education, public safety, transportation, public health, technology, finance, business development, conservation, recreation and more - occur locally;

WHEREAS, cities and towns have been burdened under a statutory and regulatory scheme that often stifles innovation, reduces flexibility and in many instances leaves local government wholly dependent upon state government;

WHEREAS, regionalization of local services provides municipalities the opportunity to form strong, lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships, and fostering and improving these partnerships are important goals; and

WHEREAS, the revitalization of cities and towns will begin with an emphasis on greater service collaboration between local and state government, enhanced opportunities for regional collaboration, a renewed emphasis on providing cities and towns with the flexibility to address their unique challenges and a direct and daily forum to foster regular, honest and open communication between local government and the executive branch of government.

NOW, THEREFORE, I , Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, Part 2, c. 2, § I, Art. I, hereby order as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established within the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, a Municipal Affairs Coordinating Cabinet.

Section 2. The cabinet shall be chaired by the deputy commissioner for local services of the department of revenue. The cabinet may also include the state purchasing agent, the state chief information officer, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, the executive director of the group insurance commission, the personnel administrator, the chairman of the civil service commission, any member of the Governor's Cabinet or their designee and any other person whom the Secretary of Administration and Finance may designate.

Section 3. The cabinet shall have the following responsibilities:

  • to implement policies and coordinate activities throughout the executive branch that are designed to enhance the partnerships between local and state government;
  • to assess ways in which state government may provide assistance to local government in the provision of services, including, but not limited to, technology, procurement, construction, employee benefits and other areas where the assets of state government may be utilized to assist local governments; and
  • to assist in interpretation and implementation of the various municipal partnership bills signed into law over the past five years in order to assist cities and towns in reducing costs, streamlining operations and generating revenue.


Section 4. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue in effect until amended, superseded or revoked by subsequent Executive Order.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 14th day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and thirty-five.

DEVAL L. PATRICK
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth

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