Rep. Susannah Whipps

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Town of Athol in Massachusetts to issue five extra permits for businesses that sell wine and beer for customers to take home. It overrides a state law that normally limits how many such licenses a town can grant. The new permits must still follow all other state alcohol regulations, but they are exempt from the specific numerical cap set by the existing statute.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of Athol to issue five extra licenses for businesses that sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off-site. It overrides a state law that normally caps the number of such licenses a municipality can grant. The new licenses must still follow all other existing state alcohol regulations. The measure takes effect immediately upon its passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new governing charter for the Town of Orange, Massachusetts, replacing any previous charter. It directly affects all Orange residents by defining how their local government operates under Massachusetts' home rule authority. Key provisions include adopting an "Open Town Meeting-Select Board-Town Manager" structure, requiring a minimum of 75 registered voters for a quorum at Town Meetings, and mandating that budget and capital improvement proposals be included in combined "omnibus" articles. The charter also outlines specific procedures for Town Meeting notices, warrant preparation, and requires committee reviews for financial and land-use matters before voting. This document serves as the town's foundational governing framework.